Mining Education and Innovation – Page 13

Battery-powered mining – by Noel Dyson (Mining Monthly – May 25, 2016)

May 26, 2016

http://www.miningmonthly.com/

A 100% Australian-made battery-powered car is leading the charge to remove diesel engines from underground operations.

After all, the emissions from diesel engines underground are a major challenge so removing them makes a lot of sense. The more diesel burnt underground the stronger the mine ventilation system has to be.

A bit of experimental work was done with fuel cells to get around the problem, however, the recent huge advances in battery technology has brought them to the forefront. Tomcar, the guys that set out to make a car ideally suited to the underground mining environment, have come up with an electric model.

The initial Tomcar prototype was a diesel driven vehicle that looked more like a souped up golf buggy with a serious roll cage.

New acid mine water process has huge agri potential in arid areas – by Martin Creamer (MiningWeekly.com – May 25, 2016)

May 26, 2016

http://www.miningweekly.com/page/americas-home

KRUGERSDORP (miningweekly.com) – The newly developed process that yields handsome profits by converting acid mine water into valuable fertiliser materials, also has the potential to process South Africa’s large volumes of currently unusable brackish groundwater.

The use of the process that eradicates acid mine drainage (AMD) for free can thus also be used to turn South Africa’s considerable sustainable groundwater areas in arid regions to positive agricultural account.

“We could turn South Africa into an agricultural Garden of Eden, quite quickly and quite easily,” Trailblazer Technologies director John Bewsey told Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly Online. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video).

South Africa plans levy on mines to tackle acid mine water pollution – by Mfuneko Toyana (Reuters Africa – May 19, 2016)

May 19, 2016

http://af.reuters.com/

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s water ministry plans to charge mining firms two-thirds of the cost for treating polluted water emanating from their century-long operations in Johannesburg’s mining belt.

Water Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane said the new environmental levy will see companies foot 67 percent of the bill for setting up plants to process the waste blamed for threatening the region’s already scarce water supply.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) results from the outflow of acidic water from mines, and often affected water supplies develop pH levels similar to those of battery acid, rendering the water harmful to humans as well animal and plant life. Water is already scarce in South Africa, which is in the midst of its worst drought in over 100 years as an El-Nino weather pattern has caused rainfall levels to plummet.

[Sudbury] The Best Underground Technology Cluster in North America – by Dick DeStefano (Sudbury Mining Solutions Journal – May 2016)

May 17, 2016

Dick DeStefano is the Executive Director SAMSSA.

Northern Ontario Shines in Underground Technologies

Michael Denham, the new CEO of Canada’s Business Development Bank, recently acknowledged that small to medium enterprises (SMEs) represent 99.8 per cent of all Canadian companies, produce 66 per cent of jobs in the country, represent more than 50 per cent of Canada’s GDP and that we need more SMEs generating more growth to sustain our economy in an era of globalization and increasing numbers of free trade agreements.

These observations apply to numerous sectors of the economy, but are especially valid in the most sophisticated underground technology centre in Canada. The number of employees in Northern Ontario with its 500 plus mining supply and service companies employing approximately 23,000 people is double the number of people directly employed by mining companies in Northern Ontario.

Free trade agreements, which are proliferating in the global market, will be advantageous to SMEs offering sophisticated technologies that will enhance productivity. These companies are very visible in our mining cluster in Northern Ontario.

Regreening conference a head-scratcher for industry – by Ella Myers (Northern Ontario Business – May 11, 2016)

May 12, 2016

http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

The opening day of the Sudbury Protocol Conference got off to a shaky start with plenty of unanswered questions thrust upon the organizers. The Laurentian University initiative aims to take Sudbury’s regreening expertise, gained over the last 40 years from repairing the environmental damage from mining, and globally package it for use by other communities adversely impacted by industrial development.

As they launched the conference on May 10, local experts expressed uncertainty about the business side of the project and what financial benefits the protocol is proposing.

“I’m still fundamentally confused by what you’re trying to package. I’m asking you to create a business plan,” said Dick DeStefano, executive director of the Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Service Association (SAMSAA)., on the opening day of the three-day conference held at Dynamic Earth. “If you don’t have a business plan, I can’t sell it.”

EQUIPMENT: Atlas Copco launches its first battery powered underground loader

May 12, 2016

Find your nearest Atlas Copco dealer at www.AtlasCopco.com.

SWEDEN – Atlas Copco is launching its newest zero emissions underground loader, setting a new benchmark in operator safety this week at the MassMin 2016. Look for it in North America before it is gradually rolled out around the globe.

The new Scooptram ST7 Battery has been designed to lift environmental standards in underground mines, lower energy costs as well as operators’ exposure to diesel particulate matter, and may lead the way for the redesign of mines. While there are already electric scoops in underground mines, these units have to be tethered via an electric cable, limiting their limited range and creating other operating challenges.

A new industry that uses bacteria to remediate old mines? – by Jonathan Migneault (Sudbury.com – May 9, 2016)

May 9, 2016

https://www.sudbury.com/

Province grants Laurentian $630,000 to create an Industrial Research Chair position in bio-mining, bio-remediation and science communication

A new Laurentian University Industrial Research Chair position in bio-mining, bio-remediation and science communication has the potential to kickstart a new industry in Sudbury that could create hundreds, or even thousands of jobs, says the director of the Vale Living with Lakes Centre.

“It’s not an exaggeration to say there will be an entire industry built around this,” saidLaurentian professor John Gunn, who is also the Canada Research Chair for stressed aquatic systems. “The demands are so big.”

Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault announced Monday the province is investing more than $630,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation to create the five-year research chair position at the university.

Mining needs better decision-making: North American Palladium president – by Lindsay Kelly (Northern Ontario Business – May 3, 2016)

May 5, 2016

http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Coming up through the mining industry, a mentor once shared these words of wisdom with Jim Gallagher: “Hope is not a management tool.” That resonated with Gallagher, now the president and CEO of North American Palladium (NAP), who spoke during the kickoff to Sudbury’s annual Modern Mining and Technology week on April 22.

To a large extent, he said, the mining industry has no one to blame but itself for failed projects because of the poor management, poor engineering, and poor decisions that have been made when trying to advance mines.

“I want to be proud of this industry, and you’ve got to stand up when we screw up and say, ‘We didn’t do enough engineering, we didn’t do enough drilling, and it wasn’t unexpected,’” he said. “It was unexpected because we went in there with hope.” Some of the most promising mines flounder, Gallagher said, because companies haven’t done sufficient legwork to prove up their projects, instead blaming their failures on things like “unexpected geological complexity,” a term he dislikes.

[CEMI Doug Morrison Interview] Sudbury mining companies remain cautious as industry slowly rebounds (CBC Sudbury News – May 2, 2016)

May 3, 2016

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

A veteran mining engineer says commodity prices have turned the corner, but spending and jobs may not follow right away. Sudbury’s George Darling, who says he has worked in the business for 40 years says February marked the lowest point for nickel and copper prices.

They’ve been slowly rising since, based on consumption in the United States and China. But mining companies continue to be cautious. On Friday, KGHM announced it’s reducing the pace of development at its Victoria project in Sudbury.

Darling said companies will continue to be conservative until they’re sure the downturn is over. “Once you’re at the bottom, it’s very hard to predict how fast things are going to come up again,” he told CBC News. “Then capital spending stays slow until we see a sustainable high level of prices.”

CROSH in Sudbury receives $1.2M for research – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – April 30, 2016)

May 2, 2016

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

Research being conducted at Laurentian University will make it safer for workers to go underground, work in construction, operate heavy machinery and make office environments less stressful.

The Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health, or CROSH, has received $1.2 million in new funding to help make that happen. CROSH received more than $1 million to purchase and equip a mobile laboratory and conduct research, and almost $2,000 to construct a workplace simulator.

An announcement about the funding was made Friday at the Ben Avery Building at Laurentian. The mobile laboratory or M-CROSH will equip researchers to travel the North and enable research in areas such as musculoskeletal disorders, mobile equipment ergonomics, vibration, air quality, fatigue management and mental health.

COMMENT: Mining industry talent forecast – by Mary Murray (Canadian Mining Journal – April 12, 2016)

April 13, 2016

http://www.canadianminingjournal.com/

TORONTO – The cyclical nature of the mining sector means that there is frequently a gap between supply and demand for talent, which in turn affects the availability of mining related academic programs. A number of universities closed their mining programs in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and the impact of this is still being felt today, as the number of fresh graduates with relevant degrees is insufficient to meet even the basic needs of the industry during booms.

Moreover, more than 40% of mining sector employees are over 50 years old, with one-third expected to retire by 2022. As the industry recovers, many mining companies will try to tempt back their retirees in order to mentor younger recruits.

Many companies now think that it is relatively easy to find skilled professionals, but the shortage of technical skilled labour is still one of the most pressing concerns in the sector. For example, metallurgists are always hard to source. Many of the university programs that have been cut involved metallurgy and metallurgical engineering, and students do not necessarily choose the subject as a specialisation when it is offered within mining engineering programs.

India launches space technology to tackle illegal mining – by Sharon Masige (Australian Mining – April 12, 2016)

April 12, 2016

https://australianmining.com.au/

Rising levels of illegal mining in India is seeing the government implement space technologies in an effort combat the issue. Each state was also asked to gather information on past illegal mining activities and methods used to check them.

According to the Economic Times, Balvinder Kumar, India’s mines secretary, said mapping of mines by satellite will begin with major metals such as gold and iron ore, gradually expanding to include sand and limestone – where the problem is more prevalent.

In September 2015 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the use of space technology to prevent illegal mining activities. “Once fully implemented, the move will bring about transformation in the Indian mining industry. We have identified large chunks of illegal mining in many areas,” Kumar said.

Mining sector eyes treetop needles, bark for help with hitting pay dirt – by Geordon Omand (Canadian Press – April 11 2016)

April 12, 2016

http://www.metronews.ca/

VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s trees could hold the key to unearthing the whereabouts of promising new mineral deposits hidden in remote and inaccessible regions of the province.

A provincial science group has released the results of an innovative pilot project that collects and studies samples from the tops of spruce trees for trace amounts of precious minerals in order to help mining companies hit pay dirt.

“It’s a bit of a holy grail,” said Bruce Madu, vice-president for minerals and mining with Geoscience BC, an independent public agency. “Imagine if you can only sample the vegetation to learn about what’s in the soil, as opposed to actually having to dig holes.”