Page 3 - MN 2020 Conference Program

1:30pm PROCESSING
Practical Methods for Reducing Tailings Storage Risk
Kurt Schimpke; Barr Engineering Co., Minneapolis, MN Chair: Moe Benda; University of Minnesota Duluth,
Tailings storage can present significant risk to various stakeholders, includ- Duluth, MN
ing mine operators, investors, consultants, regulators, the public, and the
environment. This risk became increasingly apparent following a series of 12:30pm
recent high-profile tailings impoundment dam failures in Canada and Brazil, A Comprehensive, Generic, and Predictive Model for Straight
thereby highlighting the need for safe and responsible tailings management. Grate Iron Ore Pelletizing Furnaces
Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to reduce risk during planning, de- Claire Velikonja, Jayant Borana, Oghenebrorhie Emuophedaro, Umesh
sign, construction, operation, and closure of tailings storage facilities. The Shah, Manuel Huerta, Janice Bolen, Jennifer Woloshyn, Iakov Gordon,
presentation will offer several practical methods that can be employed by and Tom Plikas; Hatch Ltd., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
mine operators and consultants to reduce tailings storage risk. Pellet production, quality, and fuel consumption are critical parameters for
induration machine operation; however, these parameters are commonly
MINING AND EXPLORATION optimized by operators using trial-and-error. Therefore, there is a need for
a comprehensive induration machine model to further operators’ ability to
Chair: Roger Schulz; Big Rock Exploration, optimize existing machines. In this work, a three-dimensional model of the
Minneapolis, MN pellet bed has been combined with a one-dimensional model of the gas flow
network for easy deployment of the model to a range of process gas flow
12:30pm configurations. The model was validated against plant operating data and
then used to improve the operational efficiency of a straight grate induration
Hyperspectral Imaging of Bedrock Core from the Minnesota furnace.
DNR Drill Core Library
Donald Elsenheimer; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources,
St. Paul, MN, Cari Deyell-Wurst; Corescan Ltd, Montreal, Quebec, 1:00pm
Canada and Lionel Fonteneau; Corescan Pty Ltd, Ascot, Westerna NRRI Fixed Bed Dynamic DRI Process Simulator
Australia, Australia Brett Spigarelli; UMD Natural Resources Research Institute, Coleraine, MN,
The Minnesota DNR and Corescan obtained 16,376 feet (4,991 meters) of Kevin Kangas; UMD Natural Resources Research Institute, Coleraine, MN
hyperspectral core imaging (HCI) data from thirty-two (32) archived cores and Steve Schmit; Gradient Technology, Elk River, MN
at the Hibbing Drill Core Library. Core came from five Northern Minnesota Electric arc furnaces have increased demand for a new generation of pellets
focus areas that highlighted distinct mineral resources. HCI is a non-destruc- suitable for making direct reduced iron (DRI), but much of Minnesota’s iron
tive technique that preserves high-value limited core material and identifies industry still produces pellets for blast furnaces. Bench-scale R&D efforts for
mineral abundances and maps mineral textures at 500 micron resolution. upgrading Minnesota’s iron resources and reserves have limited applicability.
Project results support DNR land management decisions on state mineral Thus, NRRI has launched a project to develop a new test method “Fixed-Bed
rights and promote mineral exploration and development. This project for Dynamic DRI Process Simulator” to bridge this gap and enable Minnesota’s
the first time provides public access to hyperspectral imaging data archived iron producers to transition to DRI pellet production. The project was funded
within the Coreshed Virtual Core Library. through the 2016 Minnesota Mining Innovation Initiative. This presentation
®
includes an update on the project (thermal modeling and design fabrication).
1:00pm
Ore Characterization at the NRRI Mineralogy Laboratory in 1:30pm
Coleraine, Minnesota Multicomponent Modelling for Mine-to-Mill Optimization
Rodney Johnson; UMD Natural Resources Research Institute, Duluth, MN, of an Iron Ore Operation
Matt Mlinar; UMD Natural Resources Research Institute, Coleraine, MN Benjamin Bonfils, Walter Valery, Alex Jankovic, Bianca Andrade,
and John Heine; UMD Natural Resources Research Institute, Duluth, MN Erico Tabosa, Sergio Vianna, Peter Holtham, and Kristy Duffy; Hatch,
The Mineralogy Laboratory conducts and supports research performed at NRRI Brisbane, Australia
and process improvement projects. In order to efficiently and effectively op- The benefits of Mine-to-Mill optimization have been understood in the in-
erate mining operations and conduct mineral related research it is essential to dustry for many years. If well executed, with a structured methodology, the
adequately characterize ore, products, and waste material. Ore characteriza- operation overall throughput can be maximized, costs per ton minimized and
tion requires identification of minerals, their liberation characteristics, and their concentrate production optimized. Simulation tools such as JKSimMet and
deportment throughout the beneficiation process. Comprehensive character- Limn have been integrated for Mine-to-Mill optimization of a large iron ore
ization includes analysis of ore, products, tailings and waste rock to reduce operation employing magnetic separation and flotation to recover hematite
mine costs and to eliminate environmental impacts related to mining activities and magnetite. Multi-component modelling was used to track components
and mine waste management. An overview with examples of the methods and like Fe, FeO, P and gangue. In this methodology, factors affecting penalty
instrumentation used at the Mineralogy Laboratory will be presented. elements like phosphorous in final concentrate can be investigated and al-
ternative flowsheet options can be evaluated.
1:30pm
The Reboot of MNDNR’s Aggregate Resources Mapping
Program
Corrie Floyd and Heather Arends; Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources, St. Paul, MN
Construction aggregate are critical natural resources relied upon in our daily
lives. In Minnesota, local scarcity areas develop when utilization, sterilization,
and other factors diminish supply of quality aggregate. The Minnesota Depart-
ment of Natural Resources (MNDNR) provides countywide maps and data to
help a broad audience consider aggregate resource conservation. Directed by
Minnesota Statute §84.94, our program supports comprehensive land use
planning and resource protections that enable responsible development of ag-
gregate resources. New funding has rejuvenated MNDNR aggregate mapping
projects in south-central Minnesota, but nearly 60 Minnesota counties remain
unmapped and are at risk of unknowingly diminishing their supply.

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