Mining Education and Innovation – Page 11

Rush for resources drives China’s ‘three-deep’ science quest (South China Morning Post – October 5, 2016)

October 5, 2016

http://www.scmp.com/

Beijing has made it its mission to go deeper on land and sea or farther into space than was thought possible

China’s growing demand for scarce land and resources are just two reasons why it is pushing ahead with its space programme.

The Ministry of Land and Resources’ new five-year programme released last month identified deep space exploration as one of its “three-deep” strategies to help secure the country’s resources needs – the other two being deep-sea and deep-underground exploration.

China will have 27 satellites for terrestrial surveying and scientific research by 2020. The spacecraft will play major roles in land management, mineral deposit exploration and disaster relief. More than 90 per cent of the remote sensing satellites should be domestically produced, the ministry said in the plan.

NEWS RELEASE: Canadian Research Contributes Step Change to World Mining

October 5, 2016

Troubled Industry Lauds Advances in Intelligent Optimization as “Paradigm Shift”

MONTREAL, Oct. 4, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ – The global mining industry has lost some $1.4 trillion of shareholder value in the last 5 years. This is easily explained by the sudden end of the 2004-2011 commodity super-cycle. But such cycles are bound to repeat themselves. Will they have the same consequences? Can we learn from the past? Are there decision-making processes that can be used to improve the mining industry’s performance in the face of uncertainty?

Ground-breaking developments in risk managing optimization technologies for mining operations around the world are the results of several years of research at the COSMO – Stochastic Mine Planning Laboratory of McGill University. These new technologies shift well-established mine planning paradigms to substantially increase gains for mining companies through risk management, while contributing to sustainable development by improving utilization of non-renewable resources.

Applications of the new technology to real-world situations have shown that production forecasts can be improved from 5 to 25%; reserves can be increased by 5 to 15%, and NPV by 5 to 30%.

[$27 million mining research facility] Big payday for LU – by Mary Katherine Keown (Sudbury Star – September 24, 2016)

September 26, 2016

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

Laurentian University has a few more dollars to add to its coffers, after yet another funding announcement on Friday.

The university received $21.1 million from the federal government, as well as $6.3 million from the province — for a total of $27.4 million — to build a new research, engineering and innovation centre at its Ramsey Lake Road campus. The 47,000-square-foot centre will be used to house labs, lecture theatres, a shop and collaborative spaces, as well as shared equipment.

“It will provide space for researchers from the university’s seven faculties, for research and innovation,” Dominic Giroux, the university’s president, said. “We’re being purposeful in designing this new research and innovation space that cuts across the disciplines.”

NEWS RELEASE: CANADIAN AND ONTARIO GOVERNMENTS INVEST $27.4 MILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE AT LAURENTIAN

September 23, 2016

(L to R) Jennifer Witty, Chair of the Board of Governors at Laurentian University, Members of Parliament Marc Serré and Paul Lefebvre, Deputy Premier Deb Matthews, Energy Minister and Sudbury Member of Provincial Parliament Glenn Thibeault, Dominic Giroux, President and Vice-Chancellor Laurentian University.

Part of $60.7 million project to include a new Research, Innovation and Engineering Building

SUDBURY, ON (SEPTEMBER 23, 2016) – The federal government will invest $21.1 million and the Ontario government will invest $6.3 million towards research and innovation infrastructure at Laurentian University. As part of a broad capital program totalling $60.7 million to be completed by March 2018, this $27.4 million investment is earmarked for the immediate construction of a new 47,000 sq ft Research, Innovation and Engineering Building. The announcement was made today by Members of Parliament Marc Serré and Paul Lefebvre, Deputy Premier Deb Matthews and Energy Minister and Sudbury Member of Provincial Parliament Glenn Thibeault.

“The significant support of $27.4 million received today from this joint federal-provincial announcement, the largest infrastructure announcement in Laurentian’s 56-year history, allows for the expansion of much needed research and innovation space in our region,” said Jennifer Witty, Chair of the Board of Governors at Laurentian University. “With this investment, we will build the infrastructure required to support education and research, foster innovation, and create opportunity for students while strengthening the economy.”

For mining companies, digitization is the next gold rush – by John Chambers and John Thornton (Globe and Mail – September 19, 2016)

September 19, 2016

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/

John Chambers is executive chairman of Cisco. John Thornton is executive chairman of Barrick Gold.

Canada was built on its mining heritage. Today, the industry contributes about $54-billion a year to Canada’s gross domestic product – a driving force of the national economy. Yet mining lags behind other industries in one critical aspect: digital innovation.

That shortcoming significantly threatens the industry’s ability to meet future demands and survive in the digital age. By 2020, 75 per cent of businesses will be a digital business or preparing to become one. Companies that fail to embrace this trend will not survive.

Compounding this challenge, the mining industry faces lower commodity prices and maturing mines that are becoming more expensive to operate and less productive. In 2014, the combined value of the top 40 global mining companies shrank by $156-billion (U.S.), approximately 14 per cent.

Sudbury astrophysics research to benefit from a $63M grant – by Jonathan Migneault (Sudbury Northern Life – September 9, 2016)

September 9, 2016

https://www.sudbury.com/

Federal money for Queen’s University to help partner universities and institutions

Laurentian University’s earth sciences and mineral exploration faculty weren’t the only researchers at the institution to benefit from the federal government’s Canada First Research Excellence Fund earlier in the week.

The $900-million fund also granted $63.7 million to Queen’s University to support the creation of the Canadian Particle Astrophysics Research Centre over a seven-year period. While Kingston is about a six-hour drive from Sudbury, the two cities are closely linked in the area of astrophysics.

Art McDonald, who was awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics for his role as director of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory – and the breakthrough discovery that subatomic particles called neutrinos have mass – is also the Patricia Gray Chair in Particle Astrophysics at Queen’s University.

Ring of Fire could benefit from Laurentian University’s new Metal Earth project (CBC News Sudbury – September 8, 2016)

September 8, 2016

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/

The mineral exploration community is welcoming news of a major mining research project. This week, Laurentian University announced it’s starting a seven-year initiative called Metal Earth.

The goal is to figure out more precisely where ore deposits are, making exploration less costly for companies. The president of the Sudbury Prospectors and Developers Association, Joshua Bailey, says it’s great to see more than $100-million being spent on mining research.

Bailey, who is also the vice-president of exploration with Wallbridge Mining and the head of the Ontario Prospectors Association, says there hasn’t been a lot of innovation in mineral exploration.

“A lot of the geophysics that we use was technology initially developed during World War 2, you know, looking for submarines and that sort of thing,” says Bailey.

Editorial: A $114M day for Laurentian is a great day for Sudbury – Editorial (Sudbury Northern Life – September 7, 2016)

September 7, 2016

https://www.sudbury.com/

Ambitious Metal Earth project puts LU on the global map

Few places know the nature of the mining sector better than Greater Sudbury. We know mining is cyclical. We’ve — repeatedly and with regularity — lived through the best and the worst of times. We know that right now, mining is in the trough of that cyclical wave.

We also know that the demand for metals has rarely been higher globally. As more and more developing countries industrialize, their need to access the raw materials hidden beneath the surface of the planet keeps pace.

As we produce and consume more and more advanced technologies, we have to dig up more of the unique and rare metals those technologies require. But there’s an issue: The success rate for finding new deposits isn’t keeping pace with our demand. There’s still a place in the world for prospectors, of course, but mining companies know that what will ensure we can fulfill humanity’s global demand for metal is better science.

Laurentian University celebrates a $114-million day – by Jonathan Migneault (Sudbury Northern Life – September 6, 2016)

September 7, 2016

https://www.sudbury.com/

Laurentian University had a $114-million day Tuesday, in what it’s president, Dominic Giroux, has called an historic moment for the university.

The day started with a $10-million donation to support Laurentian University’s Department of Earth Sciences and its Mineral Exploration Research Centre from David Harquail, the CEO of Franco-Nevada Corporation, through his family’s Midas Touch Foundation.

In honour of Harquail’s donation university’s board of governors renamed the Department of Earth Sciences to the Harquail School of Earth Sciences. Harquail’s donation will help Laurentian improve its mineral development research.

Harquail family gives $10M to Laurentian – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – September 7, 2016)

September 7, 2016

Photo (L to R) James Harquail, Sofia Harquail, David Harquail, Birgitta Sigfridsson, Peter Harquail (Laurentian University Photo)

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

Today is a red letter day for Laurentian University in more than one way. David Harquail announced Monday morning his family foundation is investing $10 million in Laurentian University’s Department of Earth Sciences and its Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC).

Laurentian’s board of governors decided to honour the Harquail family by renaming the Department of Earth Sciences the Harquail School of Earth Sciences and to associate ongoing MERC efforts with the Harquail name. A celebration of the Harquail family’s generosity will be held in the coming weeks.

Harquail is president and chief executive officer of Franco-Nevada Corporation. “Laurentian University is already a global leader in mineral exploration research,” said Harquail. “This is a step towards making Laurentian the leading centre for mineral exploration research in the world.

Record $114-million day for mining education at Sudbury’s Laurentian – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – September 7, 2016)

September 7, 2016

CFREF Announcement-Metal Earth (Laurentian University Photo)

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

Tuesday was a $114-million day at Laurentian University and that had Laurentian president and vice-chancellor Dominic Giroux grinning ear to ear. Two multi-million donations, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, contained more zeroes than most people will see in a lifetime of pay cheques.

Mining entrepreneur David Harquail announced in the morning his family’s Midas Touch Foundation was donating $10 million to Laurentian University’s Department of Earth Sciences and its Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC). The department is being named the Harquail School of Earth Sciences in recognition of the contribution from the Franco-Nevada Corporation chief executive officer and his family.

Monday afternoon, Sudbury Liberal MP Paul Lefebvre and Nickel Belt Liberal MP Marc Serre announced their government was investing almost $49.3 million in the Metal Earth project at the university. The money comes from an unprecedented investment of $900 million by the federal government through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund.

NEWS RELEASE: Federal Government Invests $49M in $104M Mineral Exploration Research

September 6, 2016September 6, 2016

Funding is the largest single investment in University’s history.

SUDBURY, ON (September 6, 2016) – Laurentian University is launching an unprecedented research effort to help the mineral industry make lower risk exploration investments in Canada and abroad and reverse the current lower discovery rates of new mineral deposits.

This seven-year initiative named Metal Earth received a boost of $49,269,000 over seven years from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF). The announcement was made today by Sudbury Member of Parliament, Paul Lefebvre and Nickel Belt Member of Parliament, Marc Serré on behalf of the Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan. Twenty-two partners from academia, industry and government are providing $55 million in cash and in-kind contributions to this $104 million effort.

“Laurentian University is already #1 in Canada in economic geology research funding and among the best in the world,” said Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre. “We are proud to support Laurentian and its Mineral Exploration Research Centre at the Harquail School of Earth Sciences in becoming the undisputed global leader in mineral exploration research,” added Lefebvre.

NEWS RELEASE: Harquail Family Invests $10 Million to Advance Mineral Exploration Research at Laurentian University

September 6, 2016

Photo (L to R) James Harquail, Sofia Harquail, David Harquail, Birgitta Sigfridsson, Peter Harquail

Laurentian’s Department of Earth Sciences will now be known as the Harquail School of Earth Sciences

SUDBURY, ON (September 6, 2016) – David Harquail announced today that his family foundation is making a $10 million investment to support Laurentian University’s Department of Earth Sciences and its Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC). The University’s Board of Governors has unanimously decided to honour the Harquail family by renaming the Department of Earth Sciences as the Harquail School of Earth Sciences and associate ongoing MERC efforts with the Harquail name. A celebration of the Harquail family’s generosity will be held in the coming weeks.

“Laurentian University is already a global leader in mineral exploration research,” explained David Harquail. “This is a step towards making Laurentian the leading center for mineral exploration research in the world. Laurentian has mining in its DNA with its location next to mines and a cluster of mining related government departments and research agencies on campus. Success will come from the development of new concepts and tools to find the next generation of ore deposits.”

Mission impossible: mining suppliers to save the world – by David Robinson (Sudbury Mining Solutions Journal – August 22, 2016)

August 25, 2016

http://www.sudburyminingsolutions.com/

The mining supply sector is invisible, disrespected and dumb, but it could be responsible for saving the world

Invisible for two reasons. The first is just statistical. According to the Standard Industrial Classification, there is no mining supply industry. Firms from hundreds of industries supply the mining sector.

That is why the distinguished Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity in Toronto failed to notice a mining supply cluster in Sudbury for the second time when it published its second inventory of Canadian clusters. They couldn’t see what Statistics Canada didn’t measure.

The mining supply sector is also invisible because it is dumb — dumb in the dictionary sense of “unable to speak.” Mining suppliers are diverse, geographically scattered, generally small and largely unorganized. Few are fully specialized in mining. They are defined in terms of the industry they supply.

‘Digital mine for a digital future’ – by Mary Katherine Keown (Sudbury star – August 19, 2016)

August 19, 2016

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

It is part video game, part life-saving training course and all very, very cool (and novel).NORCAT’s new Ferdeno simulation mine, housed at Dynamic Earth, has been dubbed a “digital mine for a digital future” and it definitely seems to be inspired — at least in part — by James Cameron’s futuristic film, Avatar.

Deep in the belly of Dynamic Earth, the new simulation uses gyroscopic technology, with players sitting inside gaming pods, complete with surround sound, and becoming the character on the screen. This is the world’s first interactive and digital underground mine and it provides opportunities for training, development and immersive learning.

“The impetus for Ferdeno is to really demonstrate that the world of training and development has dramatically changed and (being) engaged in immersive learning, we believe, is the way of the future,” Don Duval, NORCAT’s CEO, said Thursday.