Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications – Page 236

Space mining is bedrock of Sudbury research venture – by Laura Gregorini (Northern Ontario Business – October 29, 2013)

November 19, 2013

Established in 1980, Northern Ontario Business provides Canadians and international investors with relevant, current and insightful editorial content and business news information about Ontario’s vibrant and resource-rich North.

From space mining suits to terrestrial robotics, Sudbury’s Deltion Innovations is immersed in groundbreaking research and development of space mining technologies and techniques.

Although the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT) eliminated its Innovation and Prototype Development Department earlier this year, the same work it started in 1995 will continue under the new for-profit corporation, said Deltion CEO Dale Boucher.

“There was no longer any interest by NORCAT to carry on space activity and so we thought there was a good opportunity here for Sudbury. We had developed a good global image and so to continue the work of the department we elected to create this company.”

Among the work it will continue is the RESOLVE project (Regolith and Environment Science and Oxygen and Lunar Volatile Extraction), started in 2005, which will confirm the presence of hydrogen, potentially in the form of water ice on the moon. The intent is to use the drilling technology developed here in the 2018 Resource Prospector mission to the moon.

Politicians draw to Cliffs refinery site – by Jonathan Migneault (Northern Ontario Business – November 18, 2013)

November 18, 2013

Northeastern politicians have beating a steady path to the site of a potential ferrochrome refinery in an outlying area of Sudbury. Cliffs Natural Resources has had a continuous presence in Capreol, where it plans to build a ferrochrome processing facility, said councillor Dave Kilgour.

“Cliffs is in town almost all the time,” Kilgour said. “They’re moving forward and they’re spending money every day.” On Nov. 15, Kilgour joined local MPs Glenn Thibeault and Claude Gravelle, and MPP France Gelinas, on a tour of the proposed refinery site with Cliffs officials.

Gravelle said the site, located near the old Moose Mountain Mine, is remote and no major infrastructure has been been built but representatives from Cliffs did show him the plans for the plant. “They did seem very confident the project is going to move forward,” Gravelle said.

Conservative MPP and finance critic Vic Fedeli, representing Nipissing (North Bay) riding, also visited the proposed site, Nov. 12. “I can see why both Cliffs and the City of Greater Sudbury are excited for this project,” Fedeli said.

Finding solutions as partners in Ring of Fire – by William Boor (Onotassiniik Magazine – Winter 2013/2014)

November 18, 2013

http://onotassiniik.com

Grads looking to political and mining company leaders for opportunities

William Boor is the Senior Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, Cliffs Natural Resources

The following is excerpted from a keynote address by Cliffs VP William Boor at the Ontario Mining Forum in Thunder Bay on June 20.

I think we have come to a time that will prove to be really critical in the history of the Ring of Fire development. …
I stand here talking tonight as a face of “industry” … (and) I know what comes with that. As “industry” I am expected to be self-interested for my company’s shareholders only, interested in keeping as much as possible, and by inference, giving as little as possible.…

But I’m asking you to hear me as a person – a person who believes that development, and particularly mining development, creates the possibility for everyone to succeed together. I believe that my position within industry is a wonderful place to change people’s lives.

Geology, habitats and plants throughout northern Ontario – by Andy Fyon (Onotassiniik Magazine – Winter 2013/2014)

November 18, 2013

http://onotassiniik.com

Andy Fyon is the Director, Ontario Geological Survey, Ministry of Northern Development and Mines

When you walk across the land or boat across the water, do you notice the range of plants growing on different types of land? For example, the plants that grow in muskeg areas are very different from those growing on bare rocky areas. This is a pattern repeated over and over.

While observing this, have you ever wondered if geology plays a role in controlling where different types of plants grow?

There is a strong link between Ontario’s geological history and the location of different types of plants. We know that geological forces shaped the land. And yes, geological forces also created habitats – special places where distinctive plants grow. Obviously, different habitats are home to different plants. So, the type of rock and the type of deposit left behind by glaciers are key factors in determining the distribution and types of some plants.

Ontario’s long and complex geological history created many different habitats that sustain different types of plants in different areas.

Transportation costs key for successful Ring of Fire development [Part 4 of 4] – by Stan Sudol (Sudbury Star – November 18, 2013)

November 18, 2013November 17, 2013

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

Throughout this four-part series, transportation infrastructure has been highlighted as one of the key issues — a host of aboriginal concerns is the other — that must be resolved in order for the Ring of Fire’s world-class mineral projects, conservatively worth about $60 billion and counting, to move forward.

Since Cliffs Natural Resources is a billion-dollar multi-national, it seems to have taken up all the attention or oxygen in the room when discussing transportation issues. I have often heard from a variety of mining and government colleagues that Cliffs has the money and size, so their proposal must be the right one.

Last summer, mining and metals analyst John Tumazos found “the total of metal write-downs from 2008 to 2013 will breach the $200 billion mark this year.”

And let’s not forget that Cliffs took a $1-billion write-down in January for its $4.2-billion purchase of Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Ltd. in 2011, as well as another roughly $900 million in other impairments, according to a Globe and Mail report.

ACCENT: Ring’s potential ‘astounding’ – by Stan Sudol [Part 3 of 4] (Sudbury Star – Novmeber 16, 2013)

January 18, 2015November 16, 2013

Ontario Greenstone Belts (Map: Ontario Geological Survey)

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

In Sudbury, when people hear about the Ring of Fire, they think of Cliffs Natural Resources and its plan to ship chromite from a mine in northwestern Ontario to a plant in Capreol for processing that would create between 300 and 400 local jobs. But we should remember that this proposal is only a “benchmark” scenario and that many issues still need to be resolved. As a result, the location of this facility could change.

And Cliffs and its Black Thor mine represent only one of the Ring’s many promising mineral resources and future discoveries.

Located 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, the Ring of Fire contains billions worth of chromite — among the best deposits in the world — plus nickel, copper, platinum group elements, gold, zinc and vanadium metals.

In 2007, an interesting mix of six geologists and junior mining executives – Richard Nemis, Mac Watson, Frank Smeenk, Neil Novack, John Harvey and Don Hoy – collectively discovered the geologically rich Ring of Fire. It is the most significant mineral discovery in Canada since the Sudbury Basin in 1883 and the Timmins gold camp in 1909.

In an engaging presentation about the Ring of Fire at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada convention in March 2013, geologist James Franklin outlined the staggering economic value of the Ring of Fire.

Campus talk raises ethical concerns about UBC’s role in new mining institute – by Vinicius Cid (The Ubyssey – November 12, 2013)

November 15, 2013

http://ubyssey.ca/

On Thursday, Nov. 7, the Social Justice Centre hosted a talk debating UBC’s role in a new mining institute, as well as broader ethical implications associated with the mining industry.

The Canadian International Institute for Extractive Industries and Development (CIIEID) will be funded by a $24.6 million grant from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) which will go to both UBC and SFU. The institution is intended to help educate people in developing countries about the best practices for mining.

Yves Engler, a Montreal-based writer and political activist who has written several books critical of Canadian foreign policy, led the talk. Sam Stime, a UBC civil engineering graduate student involved with “Not From My Campus,” a blog critical of the CIIEID, opened the talk. He introduced the audience to the moral and ethical concerns surrounding overseas mining by Canadian companies and the implications of establishing the CIIEID at UBC.

“This is our time to ask tough questions to our government and universities,” Stime said. “Through this institute, there is now a link between us and the federal government’s agenda of imposition.

Northern Manitoba chiefs representing First Nations on province’s new Mining Advisory Council – by Ian Thompson (Thompson Citizen – November 15, 2013)

November 15, 2013

The Thompson Citizen, which was established in June 1960, covers the City of Thompson and Nickel Belt Region of Northern Manitoba. The city has a population of about 13,500 residents while the regional population is more than 40,000.

Several Northern Manitoba First Nation chiefs as well as mining industry representatives from companies such as Vale, Hudbay Minerals and San Gold are members of Manitoba’s new Mining Advisory Council which aims to help First Nations benefit from the development of new mines, Mineral Resources Minister Dave Chomiak announced Nov. 8.

“First Nations that want to participate will be partners every step of the way as new mines are brought on line and they will share in the benefits of resource development,” said Chomiak in a press release. “There will be new training opportunities, good jobs, revenue sharing and a range of social and economic benefits for First nations communities. This will also send an important message to those who want to invest in Manitoba’s mining sector that we’re open for business.

First Nations representatives on the Mining Advisory Council include co-chairs Chief Donovan Fontaine of Sagkeeng First Nation and Chief Ron Evans of Norway House Cree Nation, along with Chief Philip Buck of Mosakahiken Cree Nation, Chief Clarence Easter of Chemawawin Cree Nation, Chief Jerry Primrose of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, Chief Andrew Colomb of Marcel Colomb Cree Nation, Chief Gilbert Andrews of God’s Lake First Nation, Keewatin Tribal Council Tribal Grand Chief Irvin Sinclair and Opaskwayak Cree Nation Chief Michael Constant.

Is rail or road the best choice for [Ontario’s] Ring of Fire? [Part 2 of 4] – by Stan Sudol (Sudbury Star – November 15, 2013)

November 28, 2013November 14, 2013

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

Earlier this year, KWG Resources released a commissioned report by engineering consulting company Tetra Tech on the costs of a road versus a railroad in the Ring of Fire.

By way of background, KWG wants to build a railway to ship ore out of the Ring of Fire. It’s rival, Cliffs Natural Resources prefers a road. However, KWG has staked some of the land Cliffs needs for such a road. Cliffs appealed to the Mining and Lands Commissioner of Ontario to get access to the land, but lost — a decision it is now appealing.

The study KWG ordered confirmed the initial capital costs (direct and indirect) to construct a single track railroad were about $1.551 billion versus $1 billion for a road. Media reports keep repeating an older figure of $600 million for the road, which most mining industry experts believe is too low.

If the premier’s office has not done so already, a quick discussion with the engineering experts at the Ministry of Transportation, who have been building roads in Ontario for more than a century, should settle this cost issue.

NORCAT gets $1-million mining equipment simulator – by Ben Leeson (Sudbury Star – November 14, 2013)

November 14, 2013

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

Northern Ontario miners will soon have a hands-on, off-the-job training opportunity. The Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT) announced a partnership with the Ontario government, mining companies and Laurentian University to create a mining simulation training centre during a press conference at NORCAT’s facility on Maley Drive in Sudbury on Wednesday.

With provincial funding of $1 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, along with contributions by Vale, Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations (Glencore) and KGHM International, NORCAT will acquire a 360-degree mining equipment simulator.

“Imagine coming to sit in a physical pod, to sit in a chair and you’ll have physical controls that might simulate a scoop,” NORCAT CEO Don Duval said. “Your chair will have movement, vibration reality, you’ll have a 360-degree, high-resolution virtual reality screen and it will visualize you moving the scoop, going forward, in reverse.

“It will have scenarios, brake heating … to have that outside of the operation training opportunities, for skilled labour to practise, to get the muscle memory, understand how to do these elements, it’s an exciting complement to some of the existing training programs that some of the private sector has, as well as what we offer at NORCAT.”

KWG — the chromite mouse that roars – by Stan Sudol [Part 1 of 4] (Sudbury Star – November 13, 2013)

November 28, 2013November 14, 2013

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

Correction: The print edition mistakenly said that Cliffs had invested a total of $48 million on the Ring of Fire, the correct figure is $535 million.

On Sept. 10, Ontario’s Mining and Lands Commissioner set off a nuclear explosion in Ontario mining circles and announced that tiny Canadian-owned KWG Resources would not have to give American iron ore giant, Cliffs Natural Resources, access to its staked mining claims to construct a proposed road into the Ring of Fire.

In a proverbial David and Goliath bruising battle over a much sought-after route into Ontario’s newest mining camp, it was a precedent-setting sucker punch no one expected. The Mining Commission report started with an understatement of the century: “The North is not a quiet place.” And with good reason.

Located 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, the Ring of Fire contains at least $60 billion and counting of chromite, plus nickel, copper, platinum group elements, gold, zinc and vanadium metals. The Cliffs’s chromite project has become a never-ending soap opera, similar in drama and intrigue to the failed Inco/Falconbridge merger in the middle of the last decade.

This is the latest setback that has a very bitter-sounding Cliffs issuing threatening news releases and interviews stating the entire project could be dropped if the Ontario government does not intervene and resolve this and other issues, including subsidized power rates and conflict over the terms of a provincial environmental assessment.

Ontario juniors push innovation to advance projects – by Wendy Parker (In Support Of Mining.com – November 12, 2013)

November 13, 2013

http://insupportofmining.wordpress.com/

Ontario’s mineral developers may be struggling to generate interest in the financial markets — but they’re certainly having no trouble generating interesting research in the lab.

Northern Graphite, developer of the Bissett Creek graphite project east of North Bay, announced this week that it has partnered with Tennessee-based Coulometrics LLC to “manage development of the company’s proprietary technologies for manufacturing spherical graphite and improving the performance of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.”

Pointing to the industry’s current dependence on supplies from China, Northern CEO Greg Bowes said his company’s objectives are “to provide Li-ion battery manufacturers with a stable, secure source of high quality, advanced graphite materials produced in an environmentally acceptable manner, and to capture additional margin from value added, upgraded products.”

Also on Monday, Thunder Bay’s Zenyatta Ventures, which is working to advance its unusual Albany deposit northwest of Hearst, said it has signed an agreement with the National Research Council that will provide technical advice and financial assistance of up to $350,000 for its metallurgical testing.

Union wants ONTC to play role [in Ring of Fire] – by Gord Young (North Bay Nugget – November 11, 2013)

November 12, 2013

http://www.nugget.ca/

The Ontario Northland Transportation Commission should play an integral role in providing access to the Ring of Fire, says the group representing its unionized workers.

“We are the transportation corporation for Northern Ontario. I don’t see why the government wouldn’t want the ONTC to be involved,” said Brian Kelly, spokesman for the ONTC’s General Chairperson’s Association.

His comments come on the heels of an announcement by the province Friday of plans to create a development corporation for the chromite deposit that will bring together private and public parties to address infrastructure needs.

The province also called on the federal government Friday to help cover the costs of the infrastructure needed to access the remote area in the James Bay Lowlands.

“Ontario is prepared to make a substantial contribution to the infrastructure needed to access the resources,” Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said in a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

50 years ago: Discovery of Kidd Mine – by Len Gillis (Sudbury Star – November 10, 2013)

November 12, 2013

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

It was the most important thing to happen in Timmins since the discovery of gold. And it happened 50 years ago, on Nov. 7, 1963.

It was Thursday November 7th, 1963. Texas Gulf exploration geologist Ken Darke directed a diamond drill crew where to set up for drilling on the mineral anomaly known as Kidd 55. The very first drill hole was K-55-1. The drilling crew was set up in the northeast section of Kidd Township, roughly 24 kilometres from Timmins Town Hall.

Aside from a handful of drillers and geologists, no one would witness the incredible event that would happen the next few days in that drill shack, as core samples from hole no. K-55-1 were being pulled out of the ground and placed in core boxes.

As the story goes, one of the samples displayed a length of solid copper nearly a foot long. Ken Darke knew immediately he was standing on a major discovery. It would become the world-class Kidd Creek orebody; so huge and so rich it was a geological freak of nature. It was a good Friday in Timmins, although no one in Timmins knew it yet.

It would be another six months before Texas Gulf formally announced the discovery on April 16, 1964, causing whoops of joy, kicking off a major staking rush as well as a rush on buying shares in any company anywhere near the Kidd Township discovery.

Mongolia gears up for the fight of its mining life – by Frik Els (Mining.com – November 11, 2013)

November 12, 2013

http://www.mining.com/

On November 3 Mongolia’s new, friendlier foreign investment law came into force. Probably not a day too soon. The Asian nation of three million citizens, dependent on the mining sector to fuel growth, is desperate to turn around the slump in its economy and the steep fall-off in foreign investment.

Foreign direct investment in the country dropped 49% to September 2013 compared to last year which already marked a 17% year-on-year decline, the value of the currency, the tugrik, is down 20% this year, inflation has returned to double digits and the Mongolian central bank’s off-balance sheet spending is burning through foreign reserves as foreign debts balloon to 55% of GDP.

The path to prosperity for Mongolia, ranked 155th in the world according to GDP per capita, has always been a rocky one. The country has been bailed out by the IMF no fewer than five times and it suffers a domestic bank failure on average every 18 months.

While the changes to the 2012 Strategic Entities Foreign Investment Law (SEFIL) including greater certainty surrounding mining taxes and royalties and the scrapping of the distinction between private foreign and domestic investors are being universally welcomed as a positive step, a number of issues remain unresolved.