Page 8, June 1980 Cassiar Courier

FROM ROCK

The new mill, which was completed in 1972, produces an average of 430 tons daily. This is a far cry from the tonnage produced when the original mill began opera-

Jim Forbes — Acting Mill Superintendent :

tions in 1953 - it handled only 150 tons of ore daily,

which was trucked down from the mine.

The new Mill Air Building was added in 1977 to provide more “Processing” and “Environmental” air. It takes approximately 45 tons of air for each ton of fibre pro- duced. Also, in 1979 the new Fibre Storage Building was completed.

Cassiar produces 9 grades of fibre, which -are sold: in every part of the world.

The Mill operates 24 hours a day on a 5-day basis, and the establishment consists of a mill superintendent, 3 assistant mill superintendents, 3 general foremen, 11 foremen, 79 mill and 34 maintenance employees.

Below is a pictorial story of the mill operation.

Cassiar Courier June 1980, Page 9

Betty Cartwright - Mill Clerk

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The ore is carried by Tramline to the concentrator where it is crushed and screened. The

About 20% of the tonnage is rejected as barren rock tramline can deliver 399 tons of ore per hour, loads and unloads automatically and has

The remainder goes to the Dryer Building, through the

and goes to the Tailings Pile.

Dryers and then to the Dry Rock Storage

142 buckets each holding 2 tons.

The asbestos fibre “fluffs up” as it is repeatedly crushed and screened and becomes lighter in weight than the serpentine rock from which it is separated as it is passed through the screening process. It “floats” on the surface of the crushed rock and the separated rock falls away by gravity for further crushing and the fibre is vacuumed (aspirated) off and carried by air ducts, then it goes to the cyclone collectors. It is then dropped through an air lock to the next screening process where it is cleaned. The ‘fibre is separated’ into grades amd the finished product goes to the fibre bin for bagging,

TRAMLINE DISCHARGE

on

The fibre is taken from the bins in pre-weighed 100 Ib. units and dropped into the pressure packer which compresses and bags it. The bags are then sent by conveyor to the sewer for sealing and on to the Shrink Wrap area where it is sorted out into grades. As the lanes fill up the bags of fibre are sent to the Palletizer where it is palletized into one ton units. These units are then wrapped in plastic and completely sealed, and stored in the storage

area, which has a capacity of 10,000 tons, until the Lab test results are in. ae IN : O

ROCK CIRCUIT FIBRE CIRCUIT

——— See STORAGE €) C) : t» BELT CONVEYOR ASP = 10. = si en | | ieee a J GRADE MA” \ Grape AY 3. IMPACT CRUSHER Oe One a) >) WE : he apes! Ps 4. FLUID BED CLASSIFIER Oa O / \ STOCKPILE ; ‘5. CYCLONE eee as la ay a 6. FAN 2. ws ieee ws _{ ] 6 (3) Se ae 7.- DUST GOLL. Sa o/s 8. DRYER —~f GROUP 4 7. GROUP 4 CESSIAR] | [CASsaiarR LEGEND = : |. BELT CONVEYOR | ees 3 GRADE AX : BRADE ‘ AK 2. SCREEN RETURN 3. CONE CRUSHER ad ; 1 | 4. FIBERIZER : il ate BAGGING sO DRY ROCK STORAGE pan Mawes e Oy FIBRE STORAGE ’ 6. DEDUSTER j E All fabricating, installation and maintenance of 7 FAN OPENER | TAILINGS CASSIAR tt : equipment in the mill is done by the Mill Maint- ‘ 8. BIN The Bagging Floorman takes. samples of all enance Department. This covers welding, sheet- 5 oO 2 aaee COLL "; o grades of fibre and sends them to the lab metal work, mechanical and general repairs. ae Mts CONCENTRATOR CIRCUIT 10.;,0US ‘ | SORROW TING where they are constantly tested to see they Guido DeCecco is the General Forerian in this “Tas Sam ne

meet grade specifications.

area. —

GROUP 5

ASBESTOS FIBRE | BRADE AY _