The following disclosure relates to a system for generating velocity models of salt and subsalt formations. The system provides accurate velocities for both salt and subsalt formations. In some embodiments, the disclosure relies on the combination of three elements: the “long offset” between seismic source and seismic receiver node, the use of multiple seismic signals at different geographic locations, and the refraction of the seismic wave off of the “basement” of the earth's crust. By combining the multiple seismic signals with the “fast basement,” which is accessible due to the long offset of sources and receiver nodes, it is now possible to determine a more accurate seismic propagation velocity for salt and subsalt formations by using FWI-based refraction tomography.
The following disclosure relates to a system for generating velocity models of salt and subsalt formations. The system provides accurate velocities for both salt and subsalt formations. In some embodiments, the disclosure relies on the combination of three elements: the "long offset" between seismic source and seismic receiver node, the use of multiple seismic signals at different geographic locations, and the refraction of the seismic wave off of the "basement" of the earth's crust. By combining the multiple seismic signals with the"fast basement," which is accessible due to the long offset of sources and receiver nodes, it is now possible to determine a more accurate seismic propagation velocity for salt and subsalt formations by using FWI-based refraction tomography.
The present invention relates to a blasting system including blast holes for being blasted. Reporting means is provided for reporting the blast status of respective blasted holes. Advantageously, the reporting means reports the blast status of respective blasted holes which is safer and quicker than a manual inspection by the blaster-in- charge.
BHP BILLITON OLYMPIC DAM CORPORATION PTY LTD (Australie)
Inventeur(s)
Bojcevski, David
England, John Kenneth
Rorke, Gary Vernon
Abrégé
A process for recovering copper, uranium and one or more precious metals from an ore material, including: a. forming a heap of the ore material; b. subjecting the heap of the ore material to an acidic heap leach using an iron containing acidic leach solution in the presence of an oxygen containing gas, and producing a pregnant leach solution and a ripios; c. subjecting the ripios to flotation to produce a copper containing ripios concentrate and tailings; and d. subjecting the ripios concentrate to a smelting process to produce a smelted copper product. e. recovering copper and uranium from the pregnant leach solution.
C22B 3/04 - Extraction de composés métalliques par voie humide à partir de minerais ou de concentrés par lixiviation
C22B 3/06 - Extraction de composés métalliques par voie humide à partir de minerais ou de concentrés par lixiviation dans des solutions inorganiques acides
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system for controlling one or more remote automated mining assets. The system includes a high-altitude platform including at least one high altitude communication apparatus, and for communicating control messages for the mining assets. A low-altitude platform includes at least one low altitude communication apparatus, and is suitable for communicating control messages for the mining assets. Preferably, the high-altitude platform is a long-term communications platform whereas the low-altitude platform is a short-term communications platform that can be more rapidly deployed and flexibly restructured.
BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM (USA)
Inventeur(s)
Miller, Chammi
Mohanty, Kishore K.
Honarpour, Mehdi Matt
Turek, Edward A.
Peck, Douglas G.
Abrégé
Chemical compositions or "cocktails" for injecting into shale oil formations to stimulate oil, condensate and/or gas recovery are disclosed, along with the corresponding processes for stimulating oil, condensate and/or gas recovery. These chemical cocktails or are referred to as energizing fluids, and they deliver improved performance for stimulating recovery and provide a combined or synergistic effect when prepared and used as disclosed.
C09K 8/58 - Compositions pour les méthodes de récupération assistée pour l'extraction d'hydrocarbures, c. à d. pour améliorer la mobilité de l'huile, p.ex. fluides de déplacement
C09K 8/584 - Compositions pour les méthodes de récupération assistée pour l'extraction d'hydrocarbures, c. à d. pour améliorer la mobilité de l'huile, p.ex. fluides de déplacement caractérisées par l'utilisation de tensio-actifs spécifiques
E21B 43/16 - Procédés de récupération assistée pour l'extraction d'hydrocarbures
BHP BILLITON OLYMPIC DAM CORPORATION PTY LTD (Australie)
Inventeur(s)
Rorke, Gary Vernon
Abrégé
1. A method for recovering one or more of copper, uranium and a precious metal from an ore material, including: (a) forming a heap of the ore material; (b) during active heap irrigation, contacting the heap of the ore material with an iron containing acidic leach liquor having a high chloride content in the presence of an oxygen containing gas, and producing a pregnant leach solution; and (c) recovering one or more of copper, uranium and a precious metal from the pregnant leach solution.
C22B 3/06 - Extraction de composés métalliques par voie humide à partir de minerais ou de concentrés par lixiviation dans des solutions inorganiques acides
C22B 60/00 - Obtention des métaux ayant un nombre atomique de 87 ou plus, c. à d. métaux radioactifs
BHP BILLITON OLYMPIC DAM CORPORATION PTY LTD (Australie)
Inventeur(s)
England, John Kenneth
Rorke, Gary Vernon
Bojcevski, David
Abrégé
A process for recovering copper, uranium and one or more precious metals from an ore material, including: a. forming a heap of the ore material; b. subjecting the heap of the ore material to an acidic heap leach using an iron containing acidic leach solution in the presence of an oxygen containing gas, and producing a first pregnant leach solution and a ripios; c. subjecting the ripios to flotation to produce a copper concentrate and tailings; d. subjecting the copper concentrate to an oxidative acid leach to produce a second pregnant leach solution and a leach residue; e. treating at least the first pregnant leach solution in an extraction step to extract uranium and copper; and f. treating the leach residue from step (d) to recover the one or more precious metals.
C22B 3/06 - Extraction de composés métalliques par voie humide à partir de minerais ou de concentrés par lixiviation dans des solutions inorganiques acides
BHP BILLITON OLYMPIC DAM CORPORATION PTY LTD (Australie)
Inventeur(s)
Dudley, Kym, Anthony
Sumner, Robert, John
Abrégé
A process for extracting uranium from an acidic uranium, chloride, iron and sulphate containing solution, including the steps: a. contacting the solution with an organic phase containing a trialkylphosphine oxide to form a uranium loaded organic phase; b. scrubbing the uranium loaded organic phase to remove any impurities and form a scrubbed organic phase; c. stripping the scrubbed organic phase with an acidic sulphate solution to produce an aqueous uranium strip solution; and precipitating a uranium product from the aqueous uranium strip solution.
C22B 60/02 - Obtention du thorium, de l'uranium ou des autres actinides
C22B 3/16 - Extraction de composés métalliques par voie humide à partir de minerais ou de concentrés par lixiviation dans des solutions organiques
C22B 3/26 - Traitement ou purification de solutions, p.ex. de solutions obtenues par lixiviation par extraction liquide-liquide utilisant des composés organiques
C22B 3/38 - Traitement ou purification de solutions, p.ex. de solutions obtenues par lixiviation par extraction liquide-liquide utilisant des composés organiques contenant du phosphore
10.
REMOVAL OF RADIOACTIVE IMPURITIES FROM A COPPER ORE OR COPPER CONCENTRATE DURING OR AFTER SMELTING
BHP BILLITON OLYMPIC DAM CORPORATION PTY LTD (Australie)
Inventeur(s)
West, Robert Charles
Gee, Anthony Robert
Sun, Shouyi
Jahanshahi, Shafi
Abrégé
A process for the removal of one or more radioactive impurities from a copper bearing copper containing material having a radioactivity greater than a predetermined level, including: (a) forming a melt from the copper containing material, (b) treating the molten copper containing material under conditions sufficient to substantially volatilise and separate the impurities from the molten copper containing material, and (c) producing a copper product from the molten copper containing material.
A process for the removal of ferric iron as hematite from a nickel solution containing ferric and ferrous ions including the steps of: iv) raising the temperature of the nickel solution to between 90°C and the boiling point of the solution at atmospheric pressure; v) raising the pH of the nickel solution to be between 2 and 3; and vi) adding a hematite seed to facilitate hematite precipitation; wherein ferric ions are precipitated as hematite in a predominantly crystalline form.
A system for causticisation of a Bayer process liquor comprising a reactor vessel and a solid/liquid separator. The reactor vessel comprises a wall; a closed upper end and a closed lower end; a liquor inlet for introducing a Bayer process liquor to the reactor vessel; a causticising agent inlet for introducing a quantity of a causticising agent into the reactor vessel to produce a reaction slurry bed within the reactor vessel having a reaction slurry bed level; a gas inlet for introducing a non-reactive gas into the closed upper end to form a gas cap above the reaction slurry bed level; wherein, the causticising agent inlet has a first end terminating outside of the reactor vessel and a second end terminating inside of the reactor vessel within the gas cap, and the liquor inlet has a first end terminating outside of the reactor vessel and a second end terminating inside of the reactor vessel within the gas cap.
C01F 7/06 - Préparation des aluminates de métaux alcalins; Oxyde ou hydroxyde d'aluminium obtenus à partir de ceux-ci par traitement de minéraux alumineux ou de matières premières assimilables à des déchets avec de l'hydroxyde alcalin, p.ex. par lixiviation de la bauxite selon le procédé Bayer
13.
HIGH TEMPERATURE PROCESSS FOR CAUSTICISATION OF A BAYER LIQUOR
A high temperature causticisation process for the causticisation of a Bayer process liquor is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of: a) adding a quantity of a causticising agent to the Bayer process liquor in a reactor vessel operating at a target reaction pressure for a given target reaction temperature, b) allowing the causticising agent to react with the Bayer process liquor for a sufficient residence time to produce a reaction slurry comprising a quantity of reaction solids in a causticised Bayer liquor; and, c) subjecting the reaction slurry to solid/liquid separation at a target separation temperature to produce a separated stream of reaction solids and a product stream of clarified cauticised Bayer liquor. The process is characterised in that the target reaction temperature is not less than 115°C and the target separation temperature is not less than 115°C.
C01F 7/06 - Préparation des aluminates de métaux alcalins; Oxyde ou hydroxyde d'aluminium obtenus à partir de ceux-ci par traitement de minéraux alumineux ou de matières premières assimilables à des déchets avec de l'hydroxyde alcalin, p.ex. par lixiviation de la bauxite selon le procédé Bayer
A process for the production of a high grade nickel product including the steps of: a) providing at least one heap of a nickeliferous lateritic ore and leaching that heap with a suitable lixiviant, preferably sulfuric acid solution, to produce a nickel rich pregnant leach solution (PLS); b) subjecting the PLS to an impurity removal step to precipitate ferric iron, and preferably partially precipitate aluminium and chromium as hydroxides; and c) recovering a high grade nickel product from the PLS preferably by either nickel ion exchange, solvent extraction, electrowinning, conventional multi-stage neutralization, pyrohydrolysis or sulfidation.
A carbon dioxide sequestration process is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of a) introducing a source of carbon dioxide to a caustic aluminate solution to form a first treated stream comprising carbonate ions in solution and aluminium hydroxide in solid form; b) subjecting the first treated stream to solid/liquid separation to recover alumina values in the form of aluminium hydroxide and produce a first clarified treated stream; c) mixing the first clarified treated stream with tricalcium aluminate to form a second treated stream comprising calcium carbonate in solid form, aluminate ions in solution, and hydroxyl ions in solution; and, d) subjecting the second treated stream to solid/liquid separation to remove calcium carbonate within which carbon dioxide has been sequestered, and produce a second clarified treated liquor stream.
B01D 53/14 - SÉPARATION Épuration chimique ou biologique des gaz résiduaires, p.ex. gaz d'échappement des moteurs à combustion, fumées, vapeurs, gaz de combustion ou aérosols par absorption
C01F 7/04 - Préparation des aluminates de métaux alcalins; Oxyde ou hydroxyde d'aluminium obtenus à partir de ceux-ci
A process for recovering alumina values from a caustic aluminate solution is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of: a) introducing a source of carbon dioxide to the caustic aluminate solution in the presence of aluminium hydroxide seed crystals to form a first treated stream comprising carbonate ions in solution and aluminium hydroxide in solid form; b) subjecting the first treated stream of step a) to solid/liquid separation to recover alumina values in the form of aluminium hydroxide and produce a first clarified treated stream; and, c) mixing the first clarified treated stream of step b) with tricalcium aluminate to form a second treated stream comprising calcium carbonate in solid form, aluminate ions in solution, and hydroxyl ions in solution.
C01F 7/04 - Préparation des aluminates de métaux alcalins; Oxyde ou hydroxyde d'aluminium obtenus à partir de ceux-ci
C01F 7/08 - Préparation des aluminates de métaux alcalins; Oxyde ou hydroxyde d'aluminium obtenus à partir de ceux-ci par traitement de minéraux alumineux avec du carbonate de sodium, p.ex. par des procédés de frittage
17.
PROCESS FOR LEACHING REFRACTORY URANIFEROUS MINERALS
BHP BILLITON OLYMPIC DAM CORPORATION PTY LTD (Australie)
AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION (Australie)
Inventeur(s)
Rorke, Gary, Vernon
Ring, Robert, John
Gee, Anthony, Robert
Garrard, Neil
Kittelty, Daniel, Arthur
Liebezeit, Vanessa, Gaye
Bojcevski, David
Abrégé
A process for leaching uranium from a refractory uraniferous mineral including the step of treating a slurry containing said uraniferous mineral and ferrous ions in a reactor with an acid and an oxidant to increase the ORP in the reactor to a value of at least 550m V vs Ag/Ag Cl reference electrode in order to oxidise the ferrous ions to ferric ions, which are used to oxidise said refractory uraniferous mineral and contribute to leaching of uranium from said uraniferous mineral,wherein the slurry has an elevated total dissolved iron content.
C22B 3/06 - Extraction de composés métalliques par voie humide à partir de minerais ou de concentrés par lixiviation dans des solutions inorganiques acides
C22B 60/02 - Obtention du thorium, de l'uranium ou des autres actinides
This invention relates to open cut mines and in particular an improved slope to of an open cut mine. The slope includes a substantially vertical batter face (5) with a plurality of reinforcing members (10) spaced from a crest (7) of the batter face (5).
A method of agglomerating a nickel laterite ore comprising the steps of: i) feeding a nickel laterite ore material to be agglomerated into an agglomeration circuit; and ii) adding a sulfuric acid containing agglomerating solution to the ore material in the agglomeration circuit to provide an agglomerated ore material, wherein the acid concentration of the agglomerating solution is between 100 to 400 g/L.
A method for separating nickel containing lateritic ore into limonite and saprolite fractions, the method including the steps of : (a) providing said lateritic ore in particulate form; (b) forming a slurry of said particulate ore; (c) subjecting the ore slurry to a size separation procedure to separate the limonite and saprolite fractions on a selected threshold particle size basis wherein the threshold particle size is determined by i) providing a representative sample of said lateritic ore containing said limonite and saprolite fractions, each having a characteristic compositional range of at least one indicator element, ii) subjecting said sample to a particle size classification procedure in which the sample is separated into a number of particle size fractions; iii) analysing a selected number of the particle size fractions to determine the amount of said at least one indicator element in each fraction analysed; and iv) determining said threshold particle size based on the analysis of the particle size fractions by determining a particle size where substantially all of the particles having the characteristic compositional range of the at least one indicator element for limonite are smaller than the determined threshold particle size, and/or substantially all of the particles having the compositional range of the at least one indicator element for saprolite are larger than the determined threshold particle size.
BHP BILLITON OLYMPIC DAM CORPORATION PTY LTD (Australie)
Inventeur(s)
Rorke, Gary Vernon
Abrégé
A process for producing a ferric containing solution by the controlled oxidation of a ferrous containing solution, said process including providing a solution containing at least ferrous ions; treating the solution with one or more inlet gases containing sulfur dioxide and oxygen in order to oxidize said ferrous ions to ferric ions, wherein the delivery rate of the sulfur dioxide gas is oxidation rate limiting; and controlling the concentration of dissolved oxygen in said solution at an optimum value.
A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material (as herein defined) including a step of leaching said titaniferous material with a leachant to form a process solution that includes an acidic solution of titanyl sulfate and iron sulfate, wherein said sulfate process further includes a filtration step comprising filtering said leachant to at least substantially remove titanyl sulfate particles from said leachant prior to supplying said leachant to said leach step.
C22B 3/00 - Extraction de composés métalliques par voie humide à partir de minerais ou de concentrés
C22B 3/20 - Traitement ou purification de solutions, p.ex. de solutions obtenues par lixiviation
C22B 3/22 - Traitement ou purification de solutions, p.ex. de solutions obtenues par lixiviation par des procédés physiques, p.ex. par filtration, par des moyens magnétiques
A method for leaching a material containing one or more target metals using an acidic leaching solution to extract said one or more target metals, said method including (I) empirically determining an optimal acid concentration range for said acidic leaching solution by: (a) determining the relationship between the concentration of extracted target metal/s and acid consumption in said leaching solution, (b) utilizing said relationship to evaluate value parameters for the target metal containing material as a function of said acid consumption, and (c) determining said optimal acid concentration range, which is the pH range corresponding to an optimal value parameter; and (II) controlling the concentration of said acidic leaching solution such that its pH is substantially within the optimal acid concentration range throughout said material.
C22B 3/06 - Extraction de composés métalliques par voie humide à partir de minerais ou de concentrés par lixiviation dans des solutions inorganiques acides
24.
MANDREL FOR MANUFACTURING A HOSE, AND RELATED METHODS
A mandrel for manufacturing hose, comprising a mandrel body, around which the hose may be arranged, and means for adjusting the diameter of the mandrel body.
A process for the recovery of nickel and cobalt from a nickeliferous oxidic ore by heap leaching and/or atmospheric agitation leaching, the process including the steps of: mixing a sulfur containing reductant selected from reductants that do not include copper into a nickeliferous oxidic ore; leaching the reductant/ore mixture with an acidic leach reagent to produce a pregnant leach solution including nickel, cobalt, iron substantially in a ferrous form and other acid soluble impurities; and recovering the nickel and cobalt from the pregnant leach solution.
C22B 3/06 - Extraction de composés métalliques par voie humide à partir de minerais ou de concentrés par lixiviation dans des solutions inorganiques acides
A mandrel for manufacturing hose, comprising a substantially non-metallic body, around which the hose may be arranged, and a cutting member attached to the body, such that the application of tension to the cutting member causes the body to cut, whereby the mandrel can be removed from the hose.
B29C 33/48 - Moules ou noyaux; Leurs détails ou accessoires comportant des moyens ou conçus spécialement pour faciliter le démoulage d'objets, p.ex. des objets à contre-dépouille avec des moyens rétractables ou démontables
B26D 1/547 - Coupe d'une pièce caractérisée par la nature ou par le mouvement de l'élément coupant; Appareils ou machines à cet effet; Eléments coupants à cet effet comportant un élément qui ne suit pas le mouvement de la pièce ayant un élément coupant du genre fil
A process for the recovery of a metal sulfide from a metal ion containing solution, including the steps of: a) providing a slurry containing seed particles of said metal sulfide; b) adding a sulfide ion containing solution to said slurry to form an activated seed slurry; c) mixing said activated seed slurry with said metal ion containing solution to thereby form a metal sulfide precipitate; and d) recovering said metal sulfide precipitate.
A process for the treatment of a solution containing at least ferric ions, and one or more metal values, said process including the step of maintaining a controlled concentration of ferric ions in solution for a sufficient residence time to control iron hydroxide or oxide crystal growth, and precipitating the iron as a relatively crystalline iron hydroxide or oxide while minimising the loss of the ore or more metal values with the iron hydroxide or oxide.
A heap leach process for the recovery of nickel and/or cobalt from a laterite ore, said process including the steps of : a) providing one or more heaps of a nickeliferous laterite ore; b) leaching the ore in a heap leach step by applying acid to one or more heaps to provide a pregnant leach solution; c) neutralising the pregnant leach solution with ground saprolite ore; and d) recovering the nickel and/or cobalt from the neutralised pregnant leach solution.
C22B 3/06 - Extraction de composés métalliques par voie humide à partir de minerais ou de concentrés par lixiviation dans des solutions inorganiques acides
A process for the recovery of nickel and/or cobalt from a nickel and/or cobalt containing solution comprising: (i) contacting the nickel and/or cobalt containing solution with metallic particles of at least one metal that is more electronegative than nickel and/or cobalt thereby enabling a cementation process to occur between the nickel and/or cobalt in the solution and the metallic particles to produce a nickel and/or cobalt cementate; and (ii) separating the nickel and/or cobalt cementate from the metallic particles thereby producing a slurry including nickel and/or cobalt cementate.
Organic compounds that are associated with production of nickel sulphide concentrates are a major cause of the generation of odours in flotation processing plants and in stock-piled concentrates. The present invention discloses a process for producing a mineral concentrate product that at is at least a substantially odour-free product from a mined material that comprises floating selected mineral particles from a slurry of the mined material and forming a wet concentrate in the form of a froth product slurry, which includes a collector in the form of an organic xanthate compound for adsorbing selected mineral particles and promoting the flotation of the mineral particles, and treating the froth product slurry with heat and the addition of one or more chemicals selected from the group consisting of nitrate, molybdate, activated carbon and mixtures thereof, to prevent residual organic xanthate compounds or mineral concentrates from being converted to odorous compounds.
A process for producing a mineral concentrate product that at is at least a substantially odour-free product comprises any one or more than one of (a) organics removal by (i) treatment of a froth product slurry containing floated mineral particles to remove organic compounds from the mineral particles and/or (ii) thermal treatment, and (b) addition of chemicals to prevent residual organic compounds on mineral concentrates being converted to odorous compounds, particularly while the concentrates are being stock-piled or transported.
A process for the recovery of nickel and/or cobalt from a sulfate solution that also contains iron wherein a substantial proportion of the iron present is in the ferrous state, said process including the steps of: a) oxidising the majority of the ferrous ions in the sulfate solution to ferric ions to precipitate iron as a ferric hydroxide, ferrihydrite, goethite or para-goethite; b) separating the precipitated iron from the solution; and c) recovering the nickel and/or cobalt from the resultant solution.
An atmospheric leaching process for the recovery of a nickel and cobalt from a lateritic ore, said process including the steps: (a) preparing a slurry of the lateritic ore with saline or hypersaline water having a total dissolved solids (TDS) content greater than 30 g/L; (b) leaching the slurry of the lateritic ore with sulfuric acid at atmospheric pressure, (c) recovering nickel and cobalt from the resultant leachate.
A method of smelting a nickel intermediate product in a smelter that contains a molten bath of metal and slag to produce a nickel product, the method comprising supplying the nickel intermediate product and a solid reductant to the smelter and smelting the nickel intermediate product to produce molten nickel, and controlling the chemistry of the slag so that the slag has (a) a high solubility for elements and compounds in the nickel intermediate product that are regarded as contaminants in the nickel product and (b) a liquidus temperature in the range of 1300-1700 C.
The present invention provides a method of separating nickel bearing sulphides from mined ores or concentrates of mined ores that contain talc particles is disclosed. The method comprises adjusting the Eh of a slurry of mined ores or concentrates of mined ores and making particles of nickel bearing sulphides less hydrophobic than talc particles and floating the nickel bearing sulphide particles from the slurry.
The present invention provides a method of separating nickel bearing sulphides from mined ores or concentrates of mined ores that contain talc particles is disclosed. The method comprises adjusting the Eh of a slurry of mined ores or concentrates of mined ores and making particles of nickel bearing sulphides less hydrophobic than talc particles and floating the nickel bearing sulphide particles from the slurry.
A method of separating nickel bearing sulphides from mined ores or concentrates of mined ores that contain talc is disclosed. The method comprising treating a slurry of mined ores or concentrates of mined ores in at least one flotation stage with an initial grinding step, separating the slurry on the basis of particle size into a coarse particles stream and a fines particles stream and processing the coarse particles stream in a coarse particles flotation stage, and the fines particles stream in a fines particles flotation stage. The method further comprising a series of regrinding steps of particles in the respective process streams whereby particles in the slurry in the coarse particles stream and the fines particles stream are subjected to more than one grinding operation, wherein at least one regrinding step involves regrinding part of a concentrate from the coarse particles flotation stage and the fines particles flotation stage.
A method of separating nickel bearing sulphides from mined ores or concentrates of mined ores that contain talc is disclosed. The method comprises treating a slurry of mined ores or concentrates of mined ores in at least one flotation stage and in at least one cleaner circuit. The method further comprises sequenced re-grinding, as described herein, of particles in the slurry.
A heap leach process for the recovery of nickel and cobalt from a lateritic ore, said process including the steps of leaching and/or agglomerating the ore with a lixiviant that includes ferrous ions, wherein the lixiviant is able to liberate cobalt from the cobalt containing minerals within the ore in preference to nickel, to produce a cobalt rich pregnant leach solution relatively free of nickel.
A process for heap leaching a laterite or said process including the steps of: a) providing a primary and a secondary heap, said primary heap comprising predominantly a nickel and cobalt containing sulfide or saprolitic type ore, and said secondary heap comprising predominantly a nickel and cobalt limonitic type ore; b) leaching the primary heap with a sulfuric acid solution to generate a solution that includes ferrous ions; and c) using said solution that includes the ferrous ion as the lixiviant to leach the secondary heap, to produce a pregnant leach solution that includes nickel, cobalt and manganese ions.
A filtration element (10) comprises two filter supports (12) disposed in a mutually facing spaced apart relationship to form a gap (26) therebetween. Each filter support (12) comprises a plurality of openings (14) through which a liquid can flow into the gap. In addition each filter support (12) has a footprint area and an effective surface area wherein the effective surface area is greater than the footprint area. A pliable filter medium (28) surrounds the filter supports (12). Thus liquid first passes through the filter medium (28) then through the openings (14) into the gap (26). The filter medium allows the liquid to flow through while blocking passage of solid particles above a predetermined particle size, forming a filtrate that flows into the gap (26). The filtrate can be discharge thought a conduit (30) that is in fluid communication with the gap (26).
B01D 29/19 - Eléments filtrants avec des supports agencés pour la filtration à courant dirigé vers l'intérieur sur des cadres pleins à surface cannelée ou analogues
A collector bar for electrical connection to a busbar system of an electrolytic cell, the collector bar being received within a recess in a cathode block of the cathode of the electrolytic cell; wherein the collector bar comprises a first conductor which electrically connects to the busbar system, the first conductor having an external surface or surfaces which electrically contact the cathode block and at least one second conductor having a lower electrical resistance to the first conductor, the second conductor being positioned on at least one external surface of the first conductor in electrical contact with the first conductor.
A method of producing a nickel product (including nickel alloy products and products such as nickel matte) from a nickel intermediate product is disclosed. The method comprises smelting a dried nickel intermediate product in a molten bath-based smelter and forming a molten pool containing a molten metal and a slag, with the molten metal being the nickel product. Intermediate and end products produced by the method are also disclosed.
A process for the recovery of sulfuric acid from a metal sulfate in solution, including the steps of : a) providing a source of metal sulfate in solution; b) converting the metal sulfate in solution into a crystallised metal sulfate salt; c) calcining the crystallised metal sulfate salt to produce the corresponding metal oxide and sulfur dioxide gas; and d) generating sulfuric acid.
A process for producing a stable metal sulfate product including the steps of : a) providing a source of metal sulfate crystals; b) adding a sub-stoichiometric amount of a stabilising compound to the metal sulfate crystals to form a paste or slurry like intermediate product; and c) allowing the paste or slurry like product to solidify.
A process for the recovery of nickel and/or cobalt from a lateritic ore by heap leaching, the process including the steps of : a) forming one or more heaps from a lateritic ore body wherein that lateritic ore body includes a blend of both limonitic and saprolitic type ores; b) leaching the one or more heaps with a leach solution; and c) recovering the nickel and/or cobalt from the resultant heap leachate.
C22B 3/06 - Extraction de composés métalliques par voie humide à partir de minerais ou de concentrés par lixiviation dans des solutions inorganiques acides
An end fitting (200) for a composite hose (100) of the type comprising a tubular body (106) of flexible material arranged between inner and outer gripping members (102, (104). The end fitting (200) comprises a first member (202) adapted to be disposed within the hose (100), and a second member (208) adapted to be disposed around the outside of the hose (100), whereby the end of the hose (100) can be sealed between the first and second members (202, 208), and wherein at least part of the end first member (202) and/or at least part of the first member is made of a composite material.
F16L 33/01 - Dispositions d'assemblage des manches avec des organes rigides; Raccords rigides pour manches, p.ex. éléments unitaires s'engageant à la fois dans deux manches spécialement adaptées pour des manches ayant une paroi à plusieurs couches
F16L 33/22 - Dispositions d'assemblage des manches avec des organes rigides; Raccords rigides pour manches, p.ex. éléments unitaires s'engageant à la fois dans deux manches avec moyens non mentionnés dans les groupes précédents pour saisir la manche entre l'extérieur et l'intérieur
A hose (100) comprising a tubular body (106) of flexible material arranged between inner and outer gripping members (102, 104), wherein at least one of the gripping members (102, 104) is made of a material, especially a composite material, which expands on cooling.
A pipeline (100) comprising an outer rigid conduit (30), which is formed of a composite material, the composite material being arranged such that thermal expansion in the longitudinal direction is an effective longitudinal CTE from zero to about -/+10씟10-6 °K-1.
An atmospheric leach process in the recovery of nickel and cobalt from lateritic ores, said process including the steps of : a) providing limonitic and saprolitic ore fractions of a laterite ore; b) separately slurrying the limonitic and saprolitic ore fractions to produce a limonitic ore slurry and a saprolitic ore slurry; c) separating any limonitic type minerals from the saprolitic ore slurry to produce a saprolitic feed slurry; d) milling or wet grinding the saprolitic feed slurry; e) leaching the limonitic ore slurry with concentrated sulfuric acid in a primary leach step; f) introducing the saprolitic feed slurry to the leach process in a secondary leach step by combining the saprolitic feed slurry with the leached limonite slurry following substantial completion of the primary leach step, releasing sulfuric acid to assist in leaching the saprolite feed slurry, wherein the saprolitic feed slurry is substantially free of all limonitic type minerals before it is introduced to the leach process.
C22B 3/06 - Extraction de composés métalliques par voie humide à partir de minerais ou de concentrés par lixiviation dans des solutions inorganiques acides
A process for leaching nickel and/or cobalt containing laterite or partially oxidised laterite ore including the steps of : a) providing a laterite or partially oxidised laterite ore; b) leaching the ore in a leach step with an acid in the presence of a reducing agent, to produce a leach discharge containing nickel and/or cobalt values; c) recovering the nickel and/or cobalt from the leach discharge leaving a nickel and/or cobalt barren discharge liquor; and d) treating the discharge liquor to recover at least a portion of any sulfur present as sulfur dioxide and/or sulfuric acid; wherein the reducing agent is present in a sufficient amount to lower or maintain the Eh of the leach step such that the majority of the iron (III) present in the leach process is converted to the iron (II) state.
C22B 3/06 - Extraction de composés métalliques par voie humide à partir de minerais ou de concentrés par lixiviation dans des solutions inorganiques acides
C22B 3/20 - Traitement ou purification de solutions, p.ex. de solutions obtenues par lixiviation
53.
NICKEL RECOVERY FROM A HIGH FERROUS CONTENT LATERITE ORE
A process for the recovery of nickel and/or cobalt from laterite or partially oxidised lateritic ores having a substantial proportion of the iron present in the ferrous state, said process including the steps of : a) providing a laterite or partially oxidised laterite ore wherein a substantial proportion of the iron present in the ore is in the ferrous state; b) acid leaching the ore to provide a product leach solution containing at least ferrous iron, nickel and cobalt together with acid soluble impurities; and c) recovering the nickel and cobalt from the product leach solution with a selective ion exchange resin in an ion exchange process leaving the ferrous iron and other acid soluble impurities in the raffinate.
A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material (such as an iron-containing titaniferous material such as ilmenite) is disclosed. The process includes digestion and/or leach steps that form a process solution that includes an acidic solution of titanyl sulfate (TiOSO4) and iron sulfate (FeSO4) from the solid titaniferous material. The process also includes hydrolysis and other steps that form titania from the titanyl sulfate in the process solution. The process is characterised by a ferric ion treatment step of treating the process solution and lowering the concentration of ferric ions from the process solution.
C22B 3/46 - Traitement ou purification de solutions, p.ex. de solutions obtenues par lixiviation par des procédés chimiques par substitution, p.ex. par cémentation
C22B 3/44 - Traitement ou purification de solutions, p.ex. de solutions obtenues par lixiviation par des procédés chimiques
A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material (such as an iron-containing titaniferous material; such as ilmenite) is disclosed. The process includes precipitating titanyl sulfate from a process solution produced in the process. The titanyl sulfate precipitation step includes subjecting the precipitated titanyl sulfate to a shearing action during the course of precipitating titanyl sulfate from the process solution or after precipitation has been completed.
C22B 3/46 - Traitement ou purification de solutions, p.ex. de solutions obtenues par lixiviation par des procédés chimiques par substitution, p.ex. par cémentation
C22B 3/44 - Traitement ou purification de solutions, p.ex. de solutions obtenues par lixiviation par des procédés chimiques
A process for producing a metallic nickel product with a low iron content, including the steps of: (i) providing an acidic product liquor containing at least nickel and iron; (ii) subjecting said acidic product liquor to an ion exchange process wherein an ion exchange resin selectively absorbs said nickel and part of the iron from said product liquor; (iii) eluting the nickel and iron from said resin with an acidic solution to produce an eluate containing said nickel and iron. (iv) neutralising said eluate to a pH value in the range from 2.5 to 3.5 to cause precipitation of a substantial amount of said iron, leaving an iron depleted eluate; (v) neutralising the iron depleted eluate to a pH value in the range from 7 to 8 to cause precipitation of nickel hydroxide containing low iron; (vi) calcining said nickel hydroxide to convert it to nickel oxide; (vii) subjecting said nickel oxide to direct smelting in the presence of a reductant to produced a molten nickel phase; and (viii) refining said molten nickel phase by oxidation to produce a metallic nickel product with low iron content.
C22B 3/24 - Traitement ou purification de solutions, p.ex. de solutions obtenues par lixiviation par des procédés physiques, p.ex. par filtration, par des moyens magnétiques par adsorption sur des substances solides, p.ex. par extraction avec des résines solides
A pipe (100) comprising an outer rigid conduit (30) and an inner tubular structure, the inner tubular structure comprising a flexible hose (10), wherein the hose comprises a tubular body disposed between inner and outer gripping members, the tubular body including a sealing layer, and being formed of a material capable of withstanding cryogenic temperatures, wherein the inner tubular structure has insulation properties sufficient to protect the outer conduit from the low temperature of cryogenic fluid flowing within the inner tubular structure.
A hose (10) comprising a tubular body (12) of flexible material arranged between an inner and an outer helically wound wire (22,24). The hose (10) further comprises an elongate member (130) having opposing longitudinal edges, the elongate member being helically wound around the tubular body such that the opposing longitudinal edges of the layer are in an adjacent or overlapping arrangement, wherein each longitudinal edge includes a formation capable of interengaging with a cooperating formation on the opposing longitudinal edge, wherein the elongate member is provided at least one reinforcing member (135) which extends along the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.
A hose (100) comprising an inner tubular structure (10), an outer tube (30) and an insulation layer, wherein the inner tubular structure (10) comprises a tubular body disposed between inner and outer gripping members, the tubular body including a sealing layer, and being formed of a material capable of withstanding cryogenic temperatures, wherein the outer tube (30) comprises a rubber layer (32) and a reinforcing layer (34, 36) disposed around the rubber layer (32), wherein the insulation layer is either incorporated in the inner tubular structure and/or is disposed between the inner tubular structure and the outer tube.
A hose comprising a tubular body (12) of flexible material arranged between an inner and an outer helically wound wire, the tubular body serving to transport fluid through the hose and to prevent fluid leakage through the body, the tubular body comprising a reinforcing layer and a sealing layer, wherein the hose further comprises axial strengthening strips (20) extending along the length of the hose.
F16L 11/115 - Manches, c. à d. tuyaux flexibles en caoutchouc ou en matériaux plastiques flexibles à paroi ondulée avec des armatures qui ne sont pas noyées dans la paroi
A method and an apparatus for generating power via a gas turbine are disclosed. Coal bed methane and/or natural gas, air or oxygen-enriched air, and steam are supplied to a combustor of the gas turbine. Coal bed methane and/or natural gas is combusted and resultant combustion products and a flue gas drive the gas turbine and generate electricity. A hot flue gas stream from the gas turbine is supplied to a heat recovery steam generator ('HRSG') and the generator produces high pressure steam and low pressure steam. High pressure steam is supplied to the combustor of the gas turbine. CO2 is recovered from a flue gas from the HRSG. The recovered CO2 is supplied to a suitable storage region, such as the coal bed seam that produced the coal bed methane used in the gas turbine.
F02C 3/30 - Addition d'eau, de vapeur ou d'autres fluides aux composants combustibles ou au fluide de travail avant l'échappement de la turbine
F01K 23/10 - Ensembles fonctionnels caractérisés par plus d'une machine motrice fournissant de l'énergie à l'extérieur de l'ensemble, ces machines motrices étant entraînées par des fluides différents les cycles de ces machines motrices étant couplés thermiquement la chaleur de combustion provenant de l'un des cycles chauffant le fluide dans un autre cycle le fluide à la sortie de l'un des cycles chauffant le fluide dans un autre cycle
F02C 7/22 - Systèmes d'alimentation en combustible
A method and an apparatus for generating power in a power plant with no CO2 emissions are disclosed. The method comprises separating coal bed methane and water extracted from an underground deposit, using the coal bed methane as a source of energy for operating a gas turbine and ultimately generating electricity, in a power plant and using the water in the power plant, for example in a cooling water circuit of the power plant. The method includes separately or in combination supplying steam to a combustor of the gas turbine.
F02C 3/22 - Ensembles fonctionnels de turbines à gaz caractérisés par l'utilisation de produits de combustion comme fluide de travail utilisant un combustible, un oxydant ou un fluide de dilution particulier pour produire les produits de combustion le combustible ou l'oxydant étant gazeux aux température et pression normales
F02C 3/30 - Addition d'eau, de vapeur ou d'autres fluides aux composants combustibles ou au fluide de travail avant l'échappement de la turbine
F01K 23/10 - Ensembles fonctionnels caractérisés par plus d'une machine motrice fournissant de l'énergie à l'extérieur de l'ensemble, ces machines motrices étant entraînées par des fluides différents les cycles de ces machines motrices étant couplés thermiquement la chaleur de combustion provenant de l'un des cycles chauffant le fluide dans un autre cycle le fluide à la sortie de l'un des cycles chauffant le fluide dans un autre cycle
F02C 7/22 - Systèmes d'alimentation en combustible
E21B 43/34 - Aménagements pour séparer les matériaux produits par le puits
63.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A GRAPHICAL WORKBENCH ENVIRONMENT WITH INTELLIGENT PLUG-INS
An apparatus and a method for analysis of point-gathered data. The apparatus and method provide a platform that includes a workbench providing a graphical working environment for a user to view and perform operations on point-gathered data and to interact with the platform, one or more plug-ins that operate on the point-gathered data, including plug-ins that receive inputs from a user through workbench and issue commands as messages and that actively save their state by passing the state as a message, and a message framework that receives all messages from producer plug-ins and passes the messages to an intended consumer. The platform actively saves the workbench state and plug-in states as messages passed to the message framework.
G06F 15/16 - Associations de plusieurs calculateurs numériques comportant chacun au moins une unité arithmétique, une unité programme et un registre, p.ex. pour le traitement simultané de plusieurs programmes
G06F 9/46 - Dispositions pour la multiprogrammation
64.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A GRAPHICAL WORKBENCH ENVIRONMENT WITH INTELLIGENT PLUG-INS FOR PROCESSING AND/OR ANALYZING SUB-SURFACE DATA
A system and method for performing processing and/or analysis of sub-surface data in a graphical working environment. The system and method may include a workbench that provides a graphical working environment for a user to interact with a plurality of components. The plurality of components include one or more commanders that receive inputs from the user though the workbench, issue commands and receive responses, and one or more self- commanders that receive inputs from the user through the workbench, issue and receive commands, and issue and receive responses. Each commander includes state-saving, state-restoring and message passing capabilities. The platform also includes a message framework that receives the commands and responses as messages from a producer component and passes the messages to an intended consumer component. The platform actively saves component and workbench state as a message passed to the message framework.
G06F 19/00 - Équipement ou méthodes de traitement de données ou de calcul numérique, spécialement adaptés à des applications spécifiques (spécialement adaptés à des fonctions spécifiques G06F 17/00;systèmes ou méthodes de traitement de données spécialement adaptés à des fins administratives, commerciales, financières, de gestion, de surveillance ou de prévision G06Q;informatique médicale G16H)
A hose (10) comprising a tubular body (12) of flexible material arranged between elongate inner and outer gripping members (22, 24), wherein the tubular body (12) comprises a sealing layer (18) arranged between inner and outer reinforcing layers (14, 16), and wherein the outer gripping member (24) is made of a flexible non-rigid material capable of being wound around the tubular body.
The invention relates to composite hose, which is capable of being used without leakage, and which has a longer length and/or diameter than has been previously achievable. A composite hose (10) comprises a tubular body (12) of flexible material arranged between an inner and an outer helically wound wire (22, 24). The hose (10) further comprises an axial strengthening means (20) adapted to reduce deformation of the tubular body (12) when the tubular body (12) is subjected to axial tension, the axial strengthening means (20) being adapted to exert a radially inward force on at least part of the tubular body (12) when axial strengthening means (20) is subjected to axial tension. The hose (10) can have length above 30m and a diameter above 400mm. A method of, and apparatus for, making the hose (10) are also described, which involves the use of a non-metallic mandrel.
A bellows hose (210) comprises an inner tubular bellows (212) and an outer tubular bellows (214). An insulation layer (216) is provided between the bellows (212 and 214). An armoured layer (218) is provided around the outer bellows (214), to improve the insulation further. The hose can have length above 30m and a diameter above 400mm. A method of, and apparatus' for, making the hose are also described, which involves the use of a non-metallic mandrel.
A method for estimating and/or reducing uncertainty in reservoir models of potential petroleum reservoirs comprises receiving the results of a stochastic seismic inversion, and transforming the inversion data into a form suitable for reservoir modelling and flow simulations, while honoring inter-property and inter-layer correlations in the inversion data as well as measured well data and other geological constraints.
A method, apparatus and computer program for pit mining with waste dumping is disclosed, in which material is extracted from an open pit and some of that material is sent to waste. The method optimises a joint extraction and waste refill schedule. The method defines a road network (14) having a plurality of nodes 16 with at least some of the nodes (16a) defining entry points to a plurality of waste dumps. The waste dumps are either in pit waste dumps or external waste dumps. Waste material is moved along the road network from a location in the pit to an entry node relating to one of the waste dumps and deposited at the waste dump. Material can be moved from external waste dumps to in pit waste dumps. The in pit waste dumps are determined from a block model providing a joint extraction and refill schedule, and refill aggregate spaces are determined which comprise aggregates of blocks which have already been mined so that material is removed from those blocks to define a refill aggregate space which is then available to act as a waste dump for return of waste material to the pit.
A process of recovering magnesium oxide from a source of magnesium sulfate, said process including the steps of: (a) providing a source of magnesium sulfate in solution that is derived from part of a process that is associated with the leaching of a metal containing ore or concentrate; (b) converting the magnesium sulfate in solution to solid magnesium sulfate; (c) contacting the solid magnesium sulfate with elemental sulfur in a reducing atmosphere; and (d) recovering the magnesium as magnesium oxide, and the sulfur as sulfur dioxide gas.
A process for recovering solid magnesium sulfate hydrate from a source of magnesium sulfate in solution said process including the steps of: (a) providing a source of magnesium sulfate in solution that is derived from part of a process associated with the leaching of a metal containing ore or concentrate; (b) adding sulfuric acid to the magnesium sulfate solution to salt out the magnesium sulfate as magnesium sulfate hydrate crystals in a salting process, and partially diluting the sulfuric acid; (c) recycling the diluted sulfuric acid for use in the process of leaching the metal containing ore or concentrate; and (d) recovering the solid magnesium sulfate crystals.
An atmospheric leaching process in the recovery of nickel and cobalt from a lateritic ore, said lateritic ore including a low magnesium ore fraction and a high magnesium ore fraction, said process including the steps of: (a) forming an aqueous pulp of said lateritic ore, (b) leaching said aqueous pulp with a concentrated mineral acid at atmospheric pressure to produce a slurry containing a pregnant leach liquor and a leach residue, (c) treating the pregnant leach liquor either separately or as part of said slurry to recover dissolved nickel and cobalt therefrom, leaving a magnesium containing barren solution, (d) treating said magnesium containing solution to recover a magnesium containing salt therefrom.
C22B 3/06 - Extraction de composés métalliques par voie humide à partir de minerais ou de concentrés par lixiviation dans des solutions inorganiques acides
A process for electrochemically reducing a titanium oxide in a solid state in an electrolytic cell that includes an anode, a cathode, a molten CaCl2-based electrolyte containing CaO, and titanium oxide feed material in contact with the molten electrolyte is disclosed. The process is characterised by controlling the process by controlling the concentration of CaO in the electrolyte.
A method, system and computer program for modelling an optimal mine plan is disclosed. The life of mine is divided into a plurality of increasing lengths of time (Figures 2 and 3) and performing optimisation steps, with each step being performed once for a predetermined time period for the remaining life of mine. Material may be stockpiled or may be sent direct to product or to waste without any stockpiling. A decision (block 10 in Figure 1) is made as to which material is sent to product in each time period for the remaining life of mine. In each predetermined time period, material with a grade greater than a marginal grade that is not sent to produce is sent to stockpile and all material less than a marginal grade is sent to waste (14). In the remaining life of mine, after the predetermined period, it is required that all material not sent to produce be sent to waste and determining an initial movement of material to and from the stockpile and to and from the mine to product over the life of mine in increasing lengths of time.
A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material as disclosed. The process is characterized by a particular leach step for leaching titaniferous material.
A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material as disclosed. The process is characterized by particular steps of separating precipitated titanyl sulfate from solution and subsequently treating the precipitated material prior to hydrolysis.
A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material as disclosed. The process is characterized by a particular step of precipitating titanyl sulfate.
A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material as disclosed. The process is characterized by a particular step of precipitating titanyl sulfate from solution.
An apparatus for supporting anodes above a cathode in an electrolysis cell comprising a superstructure, an anode beam to which a plurality of individual anodes (24) are attached, each anode having an anode stem (26) for attachment to the anode beam by a main clamp (54), the anode beam being adjustably mounted to the superstructure, an auxiliary clamp (56) for each anode stem (26), and at least one electrical beam (50) having connectors (52) providing electrical connection between the electrical beam (50) and the anode stems (26).
A process for supplying solid chloride-containing electrolyte to an electrochemical cell (3) is described. The process includes supplying solid electrolyte into a section of the cell through at least one delivery means (13) in the cell that at least substantially isolates the solid electrolyte from the remainder of the cell and melting the solid electrolyte in the delivery means. The delivery means is formed and positioned in the cell so that HCl gas that is produced as the solid electrolyte melts is confined at least initially within the delivery means.
A roller assembly for a conveyor belt assembly is disclosed. The roller assembly simplifies roll changeover. The roller assembly includes at least one roller (7) and a carriage (9) that supports the roller and is movable between an operative position in which the roller engages an undersurface of a conveyor belt (5) and an inoperative position in which the roller is positioned at least partly to one side of the conveyor belt and is accessible from a walkway running along the side of the conveyor belt.
An electrolytic cell (10) for the production of metal by electrolytic reduction of a metal bearing material dissolved in a molten bath, the cell including a shell (12), and a lining on the interior of the shell, the lining including a bottom cathode lining and a side wall lining including a plurality of fluid ducts positioned against the interior surface of the shell for conducting fluid there through, the fluid ducts (26) extending along the sides of the shell, and communicating with pump means to flow fluid through the fluid ducts (26).
A process for minimising reoxidation of reduced material is disclosed. The process applies to reduced material that has been formed by a process of electrochemically reducing a metal oxide feed material, such as titania, in a solid state in an electrolytic cell containing a molten electrolyte. The process for minimising reoxidation includes applying an electrical potential to reduced material at least while the reduced material remains immersed in the molten electrolyte.
A process for selectively forming a morphology of reduced material is disclosed. The reduced material, such as titanium, is formed by a process of electrochemically reducing a metal oxide feed material, such as titania, in a solid state in an electrolytic cell containing molten chlorine-containing electrolyte in the cell. The process for selectively forming the morphology of reduced material includes sintering the reduced material and forming a morphology that is susceptible to subsequent washing of retained electrolyte in the reduced material.
A method of producing titanium semi-finished or ready-to-use products from titanium oxide powders and/or pellets is disclosed. The method produces products that are not affected adversely by levels of chlorine that have an impact on performance, particularly weldability, of products made by other methods.
C25C 3/28 - Production, récupération ou affinage électrolytique de métaux par électrolyse de bains fondus du titane, du zirconium, de l'hafnium, du tantale ou du vanadium du titane
C22B 4/00 - Traitement électrothermique des minerais ou des produits métallurgiques pour obtenir des métaux ou des alliages
B22F 9/16 - Fabrication des poudres métalliques ou de leurs suspensions; Appareils ou dispositifs spécialement adaptés à cet effet par un procédé chimique
A metal oxide feed material for an electrochemical reduction process is disclosed. The feed material is in the form of powders and/or pellets that have sufficient porosity, typically 35-60%, to enable penetration of molten electrolyte into the powders and/or pellets during the course of an electrochemical reduction process in an electrolytic cell and subsequent washing of electrolyte from the powders and/or pellets after the powders and/or pellets are discharged from the cell. A process for preparing the metal oxide feed material is also disclosed.
The scheduling of extraction of a resource within a mine is disclosed which comprises obtaining drill hole grade data relating to the resource and creating a plurality of different block models, with each block in each model having a resource grade and each of the block models honouring the drill hole grade data. An extraction schedule is determined based on a cut-off grade policy to increase expected net present value of the mine. The cut-off grade policy can be a variable cut-off grade and the scheduling using the variable cut-off grade is converted from a non-linear representation to a linear representation and a mixed integer programming formulation is used for simultaneous optimisation of the extraction schedule and the cut-off grade.
brevets
