Abstract SYMPHOS 2011

16
A NOTE ON HUBBERT’S HYPOTHESES AND TECHNIQUES
Pierre-Noël Giraud
Professor of Economics at Mines ParisTech and Paris-Dauphine
Mining KN1
Many have attempted to forecast the date of the production peak and the volume of the ultimate reserves of a
mineral commodity, using techniques derived from Hubbert’s thesis.
This note aims at exploring the scientific foundations and therefore the scope of validity of these forecasting
techniques. Looking at the basic assumptions of Hubbert’s thesis, it concludes that these techniques should not
be used to forecast neither the peak (or plateau) of the annual production rate, nor the ultimate reserves of any
mineral, unless given exceptional conditions.
RECENT TECHNOLOGY BREAKTHROUGHS IN PHOSPHATE PROCESSING
Mining KN2
Patrick Zhang,
Ph.D, Research Director – Beneficiation and Mining, Florida Industrial and
Phosphate Research Institute
This paper gives a review of promising technologies for phosphate processing, covering flotation, analysis and
process control, and tailings treatment and utilization. Air bubbles of micron-size range in combination with
relatively large bubbles has been demonstrated, both in the lab and on pilot scale, to improve flotation dramatically
by reducing reagent use while improving product grade. Innovative use of polymers has allowed rapid dewatering
of fine tailings with a final product that does not segregate. The first on-line LIBS analyzer was born allowing rapid
analysis of wet samples using the laser technology. Many large commercial projects are taking off for utilization
of phosphogypsum. Research has become very active in recovering many valuable minerals associated with
phosphate rock, such as uranium and rare earth elements.