Annual Meeting Preliminary Program - Full Brochure (PDF) - SME

TECHNICAL PROGRAM
sive rocks of Tertiary age. Significant gold mineralization is distributed peripheral
to and partly overlapping the REE mineralization. Exploration techniques, including
geologic mapping, geophysics, soil and rock geochemistry and drilling
were effectively used to discover minable reserves of REE and more than 1 million
ounces of gold. Geologic mapping of lithology, structure, alteration, and
mineralization provides a foundation for the exploration of the 50 square mile igneous
complex. Poor rock exposure in the Bear Lodge complex is compensated
by the collection and analysis of over 9000 soil and 7000 rock samples, which reveal
geochemical vectors for both REE and gold mineralization. Geophysical
methods employed include airborne and ground magnetics and radiometrics,
gravity and CSAMT. Specific geophysical signatures are correlated with aspects
of lithology, structure, alteration, and mineralization. These varied data are currently
playing a key role in the delineation of mineralization and district-wide
REE and gold zonation.
9:25 AM
Research on Chinese Rare Earth Current Situation and
Development Strategy
C. Lou and J. Tien; Mining Engineering, Missouri University of
Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
Never is there a kind of mineral like rare earth that catches peoples eyes with its
unique characteristics such as resource-nonrenewable, regional-maldistribution
and function- irreplaceable as well as muti-intervention since globally large scale
mining, development and utilization began in the mid-twentieth century. China,
as the biggest economic entity in rare earth production, application and exportation
currently, plays a significant role in rare earth supplement and raw processing
around the world and cooperates closely with other counties in production,
supplement, quota, pricing and exportation as the economic globalization goes
deeply, however ramifications and contradictions exist. This article will give a
comprehensive exposition about Chinese current situation of REs development,
Chinese government planning for future RE mining and protection as well as the
global trading and cooperation. The article will also thoroughly discuss the RE
project and plan in China deployed by Japan, Australia and United States.
9:45 AM
Molycorp Project Phoenix
D. Cordier; Geology, Molycorp, Greenwood Village, CO
Molycorp will provide an update on Project Phoenix, its historic expansion and
modernization of its flagship rare earth facility at Mountain Pass, California.
where we are the only producer of rare earths in the Western Hemisphere.
Following our modernization and expansion, we will become one of a major
global producer of rare earths. The first phase of our new plant will be completed
in the 4th quarter of 2012. The second phase of our plant expansion will be completed
in 2013.
10:05 AM
High-Neodymium, -Samarium and -Yttrium Contents in Monazite-
(Nd) at Lemhi Pass, Idaho and Montana, USA
G. Schifrin 1 and J. Hedrick 2 ; 1 Minex Exploration, Sandpoint, ID and
2
Hedrick Consultants, Inc., Burke, VA
Rock samples were collected by U.S. Rare Earths (USRE) at various veins along
the Dan Patch fault in the Lemhi Pass area of Idaho and Montana. Rock samples
were analyzed for a range of elements including the REEs using fusion- and ICPmass
spectrometry. Data confirmed and expanded the earlier USGS work by
Mortimer Staatz in 1972 that primarily focused on thorium, but included thoriumbearing
monazite. Based on earlier work by Anthony N. Mariano, Ph.D., the highneodymium,
samarium, and yttrium content is believed to occur almost entirely in
the mineral monazite-(Nd). Research to confirm this was completed in 2011 using
unfiltered short wave ultraviolet reflection which showed no rare-earth bearing
minerals, other than monazite, which exhibited the green reflected light phenomena
caused by the presence of light-group rare-earth elements (LREE).
10:25 AM
Matamec Explorations Inc.: the HREE-Zr-Y Kipawa Deposit and
Other Showings
A. Gauthier and F. Fleury; Matamec Explorations Inc., Montreal,
QC, Canada
The Kipawa Heavy Rare Earth Deposit, under development by Matamec
Explorations, is located in southern Canada, on the Quebec-side of the Ontario-
Quebec border. The deposit is set in a peralcaline intrusive syenite with two silicate
(Eudialyte and Mosandrite) as the main rare-earth-bearing minerals. The
project is in the advanced stages of development, with the beginning of production
set for 2015-2016. In that fast-track optics, a lot of exciting events have occurred
in the past year. Chief among these are a 20 000 meters definition and exploration
drilling campaign, the completion of two 15-ton pilot plants based on
Matamecs simple, 2-step extraction process and the signing of the final papers
with Toyota Tsusho Corp’s subsidiary Toyotsu Rare Earth Canada Inc.
Feasibility Study is scheduled for 2013, with production slated for 2015-2016.
10:45 AM
The Nechalacho Rare Metal Deposit, Northwest Territories,
Canada The Importance of Mineralogy
W. Mercer 1 , M. Heiligmann 1 , V. Moller 2 , T. Grammatikopolous 3 ,
A. Williams-Jones 2 and J. Pedersen 1 ; 1 Exploration, Avalon Rare
Metals Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada; 2 Earth and Planetary Sciences,
McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada and 3 SGS Minerals,
Peterborough, ON, Canada
The Nechalacho rare earth element (REE), Zr, Nb and Ta deposit is hosted in the
Aphebian Blachford Lake alkaline intrusive complex. Avalon Rare Metals is focused
on development of the high heavy rare earth Basal Zone. Basal Zone measured
and indicated resources comprise 72.66 Mt grading 1.53% TREO (total rare
earth oxides) including 0.26% HREO (Eu through Lu, including Y). REE mineralization
is hosted in hydrothermally altered >1100 m thick, 2 km wide, layered
aegirine-nepheline-sodalite syenite. Mineralogical studies involving petrography,
electron microprobe, Qemscan© and Laser ICP-MS has enhanced understanding
of REE-mineralogy and textures leading to successful metallurgical processing.
The ore zone contains an assemblage of zircon, monazite, allanite, bastn‰site,
fergusonite, columbite, magnetite, biotite and quartz replacing primary magmatic
zircono-silicates such as eudialyte and other minerals. Textures referred to
as cumulate, pseudomorphs and wavy banded have been recognised and logged
in detail. These are recognised as geometallurgical ore types and are a key input
into understanding the metallurgical performance of the deposit.
11:05 AM
Spectral Studies of Neodymium (III) in Bastnasites and Monazite –
Extreme Nephaleuxetic Effect
S. Sinha 1 and J. Hedrick 2 ; 1 Rare Earths R Us, Dayton, OH and
2
Hedrick Consultants, Inc., Burke, VA
Europium is a menber of the light-group rare-earth elements (LREE) with six f-
electrons in its ourer shell. Europium oxide occurs as a sesquioxide with the formula
Eu2O3, however it will readily form divalent compounds.This property is
important in separating it from the orther rare-earth lelemens. Its electronic structure
in both the trivalent and divalent states sets europium apart from the rest of
the group and provides it with a myriad of properties and charateristics. An array
of colors can be created from europiums compounds, creating reds, greens, and
blues, and combined to create white. .Although its phosphorescent compounds
are its primary use its structure as both a metal, alloy, and compound provide an
array of applications.
Mining & exploration:
Implementing Success:
Global Mining Standards and Guidelines
for operational excellence
9:00 AM • Tuesday, February 26
H. Ednie 1 ; P. Wan 2 ; A. Chapman 3 ; T. Skinner 4 ; Z. Lukacs 5 ; 1 CIM
Mining Standards and Guidelines Committee, Montreal, QC,
Canada; 2 Teck Resources, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 3 Barrick Gold
Corporation, Toronto, ON, Canada; 4 SMART Systems Group,
Calgary, AB, Canada; 5 KMC Mining, Calgary, AB, Canada
Mining operations around the globe strive to operate safely, efficiently, while
achieving continuous improvement. The high tech, complicated operating environment
is further challenged by a sense of operating in silos, as mining companies
aim to increase performance. In this environment, a more cohesive approach
is needed. The CIM Mining Standards and Guidelines Committee (MSGC) was
launched in spring 2012 to fill a void and create an information hub and global
network on standards and guidelines for mining, and to support the advancement
of utilization of standards and guidelines in the global mining industry. MSGC
brings all stakeholders together, supporting the creation and application of new
and existing standards and guidelines.
This is the Technical Program as of September 1, 2012. IT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
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Please see the Onsite Program for final details.