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Sudbury Basin

Accent: Families press for mine safety inquiry – by Jonathan Migneault (Sudbury Star – October 26, 2013)

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

Briana Fram misses being able to call her brother Jordan. On June 8, 2011, Jordan Fram, 26, and Jason Chenier, 35, were killed in Vale’s Stobie Mine when they were crushed by a 350-ton run of muck while working at the 3,000-foot level of the mine.

Briana was only 18 months younger than her brother. “It was a very close relationship that we had,” she told The Sudbury Star.

Since his death, she has gone to many of his friends’ weddings. “At every wedding there’s a picture of him standing there,” she said. “We always do a cheers to him. It never feels like the circle is complete, because he’s missing.”

On Monday, Sept. 16, Vale Canada pleaded guilty to three charges — linked to the deaths of Fram and Chenier — under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The company was fined $350,000 on each charge, plus a 25% surcharge. Crown attorney Wes Wilson said it was the largest fine ever levied under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. Six other charges were dropped, as were charges against a mine official.

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Sudbury-polished diamonds heading to Australia – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – October 25, 2013)

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

Diamonds, some of them mined in the James Bay Lowlands and cut and polished in Sudbury, shared centre stage in Australia earlier this week when they were launched there by local journalists and celebrities.

Dylan Dix is group executive of Vancouver-based Crossworks Manufacturing Ltd., which operates the diamond processing facility in downtown Sudbury. Dix attended the Sydney soiree at which Forevermark diamonds from the De Beers group of companies were introduced.

Crossworks Manufacturing cuts some of those diamonds for De Beers. Australia is a new market for Crossworks, said Dix, and six new luxury retailers in Sydney and Brisbane are now carrying the Forevermark diamonds.

Some of those diamonds come from De Beers Victor Mine, 90 km west of Attawapiskat. Crossworks has a deal with the Government of Ontario to process 10% of the diamonds mined at Victor in Sudbury, about $35 million of the sparklers a year.

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Sudbury [mining Vale Glencore] merger likely: Analysts – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – October 15, 2013)

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

Glencore Xstrata and Vale could and likely will one day merge their Sudbury operations. If and when that happens, it will be a marriage of convenience, not a “Rock Hudson- Doris Day romance,” says a nickel analyst.

It would be complicated to join the companies’ operations, but it may be necessary to compete against record-high production of nickel pig iron in China, says Terry Orstlan. He wasn’t surprised last week when Reuters broke the news Vale and Glencore Xstrata were in talks to explore combining their Sudbury operations.

Orstlan has been advising that for years. “Talks, that is exactly what they are, talks,” said Ortslan of TSO & Associates in Montreal. “Let’s have coffee and talk. Let’s have tea and talk. Let’s go out and talk,” he said. It would have made sense 30 years ago for the nickel giants to join forces, said Ortslan.

When Vale was owned by Inco and Glencore Xstrata by Falconbridge, their vastly differ-e nt cultures and powerful unions made a merger unthinkable.

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CEMI, SNOLAB team up to interpret mining data – by Heidi Ulrichsen (Sudbury Northern Life – October 11, 2013)

http://www.northernlife.ca/

A facility which will collect data from underground sensors will help mines improve safety and efficiency, according to an executive at the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI).

With the help of a $750,000 investment from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, CEMI is setting up the Mining Observatory Data Control Centre (MODCC) in the SNOLAB surface building at Vale’s Creighton Mine.

Damien Duff, vice-president of geoscience and geotechnical research and development at CEMI, explains that most mine equipment – everything from load haul dump machines to ventilation systems – already contains sophisticated sensors.

There’s also sensors in the rock itself collecting data about seismicity. MODCC will harness this information so that mines can be operated or designed differently to maximize safety and efficiency, he said.

“So if we get that data collected, integrated and then analyzed through some kind of sophisticated data analysis and then a sharing process, imagine the value we can derive from it,” Duff said.

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Exclusive: Glencore, Vale in talks over Canadian nickel tie-up – sources – by Clara Ferreira-Marques and Euan Rocha (Rueters U.S. – October 11, 2013)

http://www.reuters.com/

LONDON/TORONTO – (Reuters) – Glencore Xstrata (GLEN.L) and Vale (VALE5.SA) have revived talks over a potential combination of the mining groups’ nickel operations in Canada’s Sudbury basin, in an effort to cut costs as prices for the metal languish, sources familiar with the situation said.

The discussions are still at an early stage but have revived hopes of a long-debated Sudbury tie-up, with the companies considering a number of options for their mining and processing operations in the area, the sources said.

Depending on the details of a potential deal, several of the sources said a tie-up could mean substantial savings for both mining heavyweights, if all or part of their mining, milling and even smelting operations are brought together.

In 2006, a proposed merger of Falconbridge and Inco – the then-players in Sudbury, but later taken over by Xstrata and Brazil’s Vale (VALE5.SA), respectively – expected annual synergies and cost savings of about $550 million.

The sources said talks restarted after Glencore completed its acquisition of Xstrata earlier this year. Discussions have progressed against the backdrop of a nickel price that has fallen by around a fifth since January to around four-year lows, weighed down by over-supply.

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Space mining the new frontier – by Mary Katherine Keown (Sudbury Star – September 13, 2013)

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

Known worldwide as a mining town, Sudbury is poised to launch into the vast universe of space mining and intergalactic resource extraction.

Deltion Innovations Ltd., a local firm, started working under its new banner earlier this month. Previously a department within NORC AT (the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology Inc.), Sherry Schmidt, Deltion’s chief administrative officer, says she and seven of her colleagues decided to go independent and for-profit when NORCAT opted out of aerospace work.

“If we’re going to have any long-term existence on the moon, whether for manufacturing or habitat, we need to be able to create items and use the resources that are actually there,” Schmidt says. “It’s very, very expensive to take anything from the Earth to the moon.”

Because fuel is so expensive, Schmidt explains it will eventually be cheaper to develop moon-based sources. Deltion’s current work focuses on the extraction of hydrogen and water from the moon for the manufacture of fuel.

“For us, the end goal is to produce hardware that can be taken to the moon and Mars,” Schmidt says.

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A premier’s best friend [Sudbury diamonds] – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – August 30, 2013)

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

The partnership between government and industry that resulted in a diamond processing plant in Sudbury is the model for the kind of work the Liberals are doing to ensure business thrives in Ontario, says Premier Kathleen Wynne.

The premier visited Crossworks Manufacturing Ltd., for the second time, to kick off a northern tour in which she’s delivering a couple of messages. One is that her government’s commitment to create jobs and fuel the economy extends to all parts of Ontario, including Northern Ontario.

Another is that Wynne is premier of the entire province, not just ridings in which Liberals are elected. Under an agreement between De Beers Canada and the government of Canada, De Beers is making 10% of the annual rough diamond production from Victor Mine, in the James Bay Lowlands, available for processing in Ontario.

Crossworks was offered the opportunity by the province and the Diamond Trading Company to purchase about $35 million worth of rough stones a year and cut and polish them at the downtown Sudbury plant.

Wynne toured the plant where 35 experienced diamond cutters, the majority of them highly skilled tradespeople from Vietnam, were at work.

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Crossworks inks deal with Chinese firm – by Star Staff (Sudbury Star – August 29, 2013)

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

Craftspeople at Sudbury’s Crossworks Manufacturing Ltd. plant will soon be cutting and polishing diamonds for the world’s largest jewelry company, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd.

Crossworks president Uri Ariel has just signed a long-term supply and licensing agreement with the Chinese firm to provide Crossworks’ patented hearts and arrows ideal cut square diamond to the company.

Under the terms of the agreement, Chow Tai Fook will have exclusive distribution rights to sell the uniquely cut diamonds through its extensive retail network in Greater China.
Crossworks Manufacturing Ltd., a member of the HRA Group of Companies, is a Canadian company with five polishing facilities in Canada, Vietnam and Namibia. One of the Canadian plants is located in downtown Sudbury, where about 35 cutters process 10% of the diamonds mined by De Beers in the James Bay Lowlands.

Crossworks designed the square cut hearts and arrows diamond to enhance the brilliance, fire and scintillation in a square cut diamond, company spokesman Dylan Dix said in a release.

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NEWS RELEASE: Wallbridge Mining Provides Mid-Year Exploration Update (August 13, 2013)

Toronto, Ontario — August 13, 2013 – Wallbridge Mining Company Limited (TSX: WM, FWB: WC7) (“Wallbridge”) today provided a 2013 mid-year exploration update. Exploration activities to date in 2013 have included over 4,000 metres of exploration diamond drilling on the Sudbury area projects. Exploration activities are ongoing, focused on joint venture projects with partners Lonmin Plc (“Lonmin”), Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (“Implats”), and Xstrata Nickel (“Xstrata”). In addition, work is continuing to advance the Broken Hammer PGE-copper project through feasibility and into production.

On the Parkin Offset Joint Venture, which covers a nine kilometre strike length of the Parkin Offset, a review and compilation of the existing and historical drill information has been completed and an updated geological model was created in the first half of 2013. Various targets have been identified within the Parkin Offset Dyke from surface down to 1500 metre level. Follow up drilling and geological interpretation has been proposed for the 2013-2014 exploration program. This $1.0 million 2013/2014 program was approved by the Management Committee. Implats has elected to not participate in the 2013/2014 program. In light of this, Wallbridge will implement a reduced program on the joint venture this year.

The Parkin Offset Dyke hosts platinum, palladium, nickel, copper and gold mineralization typical of other offset dykes in Sudbury with examples at Vale’s Copper Cliff North and South mines and Vale’s Totten mine development. Mineralization on the Parkin Offset includes the Milnet Mine with reported past production of 157,130 tons averaging 2.25 g/t platinum, 2.98 g/t palladium, 0.93 g/t gold, 1.49 % nickel and 1.54 % copper.

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Modest growth forecast for Sudbury – by Laura Shantora Nelles (Sudbury Star – August 8, 2013)

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

Greater Sudbury’s economy is set to grow this year by a modest 1.2%, and the city can expect slow but steady growth over the next five years, a Conference Board of Canada report said Wednesday.

In its five-year forecast, the Conference Board predicted Sudbury’s unemployment rate will dip to 5.7% in 2017. In June, the unemployment rate was 7.5%. Conference Board economist Jane McIntrye said increased production in mining and non-residential construction sectors will help boost growth in Greater Sudbury.

“The opening of the Clarabelle and Totten mines, as well as the water sports centre and the addition to Dynamic Earth, (along with) road construction and those type of projects, will contribute to growth on the non-residential side.”

The board said housing will begin to pick up next year. Sudbury’s residential housing starts were down 9.9% in 2012 from 2011, due to a steady decrease in population over the last five years.

McIntyre said the city’s population is expected to remain about the same, which should help get the housing market back on track next year.

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Xstrata-Glencore merger prompts name change (CBC News Sudbury – August 6, 2013)

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

Sudbury’s Xstrata Nickel to become Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations

One of Sudbury’s major mining companies is going through another rebranding exercise. Xstrata Nickel operations in Sudbury — formerly known as Falconbridge Ltd. before it was bought by Xstrata in 2006— will now go by the name Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations, or Sudbury I-N-O.

The name change comes as a result of Xstrata’s merger with another Swiss mining company — Glencore. The vice president of Sudbury I-N-O said the takeover means more independence for local operations.

“The interesting thing about Glencore is that it really relies on its local management to develop the business opportunities, [and that’s reflected] in the naming nomenclature,” Marc Boissonneault said. The company’s short-term plans include revitalizing its Fraser Operations near Onaping and to work on a joint project with Vale.

Future rebranding will continue to take place for the next few months, Boissonneault added. “You’ll see our signs change in coming weeks, those are the more visible ones. Other things will just take weeks and, in some cases, maybe a couple of months.”

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NEWS RELEASE: KGHM International Enters Into Agreement With Vale, Becoming Sole Operator of the Victoria Project

2013-08-02

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwired – Aug. 2, 2013) –KGHM International Ltd., formerly Quadra FNX Mining Ltd. (the “Company” or “KGHM International”), is pleased to announce that an agreement between KGHM International and Vale Canada Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vale S.A. (“Vale”), the global mining company, has been reached regarding the development of the Victoria project as well as the ore off-take to Vale’s processing facilities in Sudbury, Canada.

The Victoria project, located in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, is a great discovery and world-class project in the Sudbury Basin. The deposit containing ore rich in copper, nickel and precious metals will be extracted as an underground mine.

Under the new arrangement with Vale, KGHM International will build and operate Victoria as the sole owner of the project and Vale will receive a royalty and off-take on all future production from the project.

KGHM International and Vale also re-negotiated the off-take arrangement for all of KGHM International’s production from its mines in the Sudbury Basin in Ontario, Canada. Vale will purchase polymetallic ore from KGHM International and process it at Vale’s Clarabelle mill in Sudbury. The contract is valid for the full life of all KGHM International’s Sudbury mines, including future production from Victoria.

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De Beers’ Victor Diamond Mine court U.S. billionaire – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – July 26, 2013)

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

Billionaire businessman Warren Buffett has a standing invitation to visit a diamond mine in Northern Ontario. Buffett, 82, has been asked to join a junket in September, in which Crossworks Manufacturing will fly possible investors and diamond buyers to De Beers’ Victor Diamond Mine.

Victor is the first Canadian diamond mine in Ontario, and De Beers’ second Canadian diamond mine. It is located in the James Bay Lowlands, 90 kilometres west of Attawapiskat, so it’s safe to say Buffett has likely never visited that region.

Buffett purchased Omahabased Borsheims, one of the largest jewelers in the United States, in 1989. It’s part of his famous holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. Unfortunately, Buffett isn’t available for the trip.

But Uri Ariel, president and chief executive officer of Vancouver-based Crossworks, said the offer remains open to show Buffett around the mine that produces high-quality diamonds.

Greater Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk and representatives from Asian diamond companies, such as Chow Fai Took Jewellery Group, and Asian journalists have been invited along.

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A cut above [Sudbury diamond cutting] – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – July 25, 2013)

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

It pales in value to the 69.42-carat diamond Richard Burton famously gave to Elizabeth Taylor in the 1960s. But a 35-carat diamond mined in the James Bay Lowlands, and being processed in Sudbury, is setting a record for the largest diamond to be mined, cut and polished in Canada.

The unassuming stone, which uncut is about the size of a small wad of gum, will soon reveal its magnificent sparkle and brilliance under the skilled and gentle touch of a trusted, experienced diamond-cutter.

Uri Ariel, president and chief executive officer of Vancouverbased Crossworks, said the stone comes close in size to the famous Taylor-Burton diamond. While the latter was of a higher calibre, Burton wouldn’t have “offended” Taylor by presenting her with this stone, Ariel told a small group in the boardroom at Crossworks’ downtown Sudbury plant.

The stone was mined three years ago at De Beers’ Victor Diamond Mine. Ariel put it aside until three or four months ago when he was confident his company could process it to its best advantage.

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