Sudbury Basin – Page 53 – Republic of Mining

Modern mining technologies reviving Sudbury zinc project – by Lindsay Kelly (Northern Ontario Business – May 6, 2013)

May 7, 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.

A Sudbury-area zinc deposit that was once considered unprofitable is now getting a second look because of modern mining and metallurgical technologies.

Xstrata Zinc is currently undertaking simultaneous pre-feasibility and feasibility studies on the Errington and Vermilion mineralization in preparation for a $350-million development that would produce an estimated 2,900 tonnes of ore per day over a seven- to 10-year mine life. The development is expected to create between 200 and 250 jobs.

“Errington and Vermilion don’t have nickel; they’re polymetallic zinc deposits,” said Aline Côté, project director for Xstrata Zinc, during a luncheon to cap off Sudbury Modern Mining & Technology, a week dedicated to raising the profile of the industry amongst area youth.

“To my knowledge, there are very few other zinc anomalies in the entire Sudbury basin.” Both deposits contain zinc, copper, lead and “a fair amount” of precious metals, she added.

Mined for a brief period following their discovery in 1924, the Errington and Vermilion deposits are located west of Sudbury along the Vermilion River and Vermilion Lake.

Xstrata on track to open two zinc mines in Sudbury area – by Sebastien Perth (Sudbury Star – May 4, 2013)

May 4, 2013

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

Xstrata Zinc is on track to reopen two mines in the Sudbury region by 2016 that would employ more than 250 people at its peak.

The Errington-Vermillion mines, which have been closed for decades, are proving to be attractive again with a number of large zinc mines closing around the world. Brad Ryder, of corporate affairs for Xstrata, said there is still work to be done, but if everything goes as it should, construction should start by 2014.

“It’s a $350 million capital project, with 250 direct jobs and more jobs during construction. The mine life, right now we’re looking at between seven and ten year and what we would do is mine the sites sequentially. We’d mine the Errington deposit first and then the Vermillion deposit.”

The Errington mine is the bigger of the two sites, with a six million tonne deposit there, and a three million tonne deposit at the Vermillion site.

“Errington is roughly 5.8 million tonnes ore body with a 4% zinc, 1.4% copper, 1% lead, 50 grams per tonne of silver and 0.7 grams of gold per tonne. We would be looking at a yearly concentrate of around 74,000 tonnes of zinc, 40,000 tonnes of copper, 12,000 tonnes of lead.” Ryder said.

Labour legend [Homer Seguin] laid to rest – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – April 30, 2013)

April 30, 2013

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

United Steelworkers international president Leo Gerard won’t speak of Homer Seguin in the past tense. Seguin, 79, died last week suffering from diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for years, and a short battle with lung cancer.

His work and his memory won’t be forgotten any time soon. “Homer is my friend, not was my friend,” Gerard told family and friends at Seguin’s funeral Monday at St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church in Azilda.

“Homer is the friend of working men and women all over Canada,” not just today, but into the future. The pioneering work Seguin did with United Steelworkers in health and safety in the workplace and occupational disease will one day save the lives of people who haven’t even been born yet, Gerard told the congregation.

Gerard worked all of his union career with Seguin, who started with Inco at 15 in its notorious sintering plant. While he only worked there seven months, fellow USW occupational disease activist, Johnny Gagnon, 85, said it was exposure to nickel oxide and asbestos there that eventually led to his friend’s death.

Seguin moved up through the union movement, serving as president of USW Local 6500 and director, and Gerard recalled working with his friend in contract negotiations with Vale.

‘One death one too many’ – by Jonathan Migneault (Sudbury Star – April 29, 2013)

April 30, 2013

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

The NDP will throw its support behind a push from community organizations for Ontario to have an inquiry on mining deaths in the province, said provincial NDP leader Andrea Horwath during the Workers Day of Mourning in Subury.

“There hasn’t been a review or change to legislation in over 30 years,” said Horwath to a large crowd gathered at the Tom Davies Square council chambers to pay homage to people who have died on the job.

“That’s why we continue to see people’s lives be put at risk in mines, and that’s not acceptable.”

An organization called Mining Inquiry Needs Everyone’s Support (MINES) has lobbied the government to call an inquiry into Ontario mine safety after two miners were killed in Sudbury’s Stobie Mine on June 8, 2011. Since 2007, 11 workers have died on the job in Ontario mines.

“It’s frustrating and damning on all of us that we still have a situation in the province of Ontario where people are not sure they can go to work in the morning and are going to come home in the evening,” Horwath told media after her speech Sunday morning.

Sunday’s ceremony was the 29th International Workers Day of Mourning.

Homer Seguin honoured at Day of Mourning ceremonies – by Darren MacDonald (Sudbury Northern Life – April 28, 2013)

April 29, 2013

http://www.northernlife.ca/

The late labour leader was on everyone’s mind at the annual day to honour people who have died from work

Homer Seguin and his legacy fighting for workplace health and safety was top of mind at ceremonies held Sunday to mark the Day of Mourning.

The event is held to honour those who have died while on the job, or from work-related illness. United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard told a crowd gathered at Tom Davies that Seguin was an inspirational man who proved that one person can make significant change.

“That scoundrel Homer planned everything,” Gerard joked. “He even decided to die on the weekend of the Day of Mourning.” But in life, Gerard said, Seguin made a huge difference, helping to educate people, as well as sparking legislative changes that have improved the safety of workers everywhere.

“Every one of us could make that kind of difference,” Gerard said, speaking to a packed council chambers. “The last time I talked to him, he said, ‘Leo, when I beat this, we still have more work to do.’ He was in his hospital bed. He didn’t have long to go, but he was still there, talking about the work he had to do.”

Sudbury loses labour legend – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – April 26, 2013)

April 29, 2013

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

A man who fought all his life to improve workplaces so employees wouldn’t get cancer and other illnesses from working in them, and who battled to get people compensation if they did get sick at work, died Friday morning.

Homer Seguin, a long-time health and safety activist and occupational disease specialist with United Steelworkers, died at age 79.

Long-time friend Leo Gerard, international president of United Steelworkers, said Seguin’s death was doubly ironic. He died of lung cancer and he died the weekend that his union is commemorating the Workers’ Day of Mourning.

Gerard said his friendship with Seguin spans his entire union career. “Homer’s a pioneer in so many ways,” said Gerard. “There’s just so many stories we could tell.”

From his years of working in Elliot Lake uranium mines, Seguin became such an expert in radiation, USW sent him to France for a global radiation conference where Seguin made a presentation. When he completed it, he received a huge ovation and the master of ceremonies thanked “Dr. Seguin for his terrific presentation.”

Nickel City digs in to recognize mining industry – by Darren MacDonald (Sudbury Northern Life – April 24, 2013)

April 26, 2013

http://www.northernlife.ca/

The city built on rock is gearing up to celebrate a week dedicated to Modern Mining and Technology Sudbury, which runs April 27-May 4.

A number of events are planned for the week, which kicks off Saturday with a Mining Industry Display and Career Fair from 9 a.m. To 5 p.m. at the New Sudbury Centre.

The event offers an opportunity for everyone to learn about mining and mining-related industries. In 2011, roughly 36 per cent of Sudburians were working in mining.

About 30 per cent of workers across northeastern Ontario worked in mining, and 19 per cent in northwestern Ontario. Employment in the southern part of the province, which is home to a number of non-metal mines, as well as mining head offices in Toronto, represented 15 per cent in 2011.

The mall display has evolved to include a career fair highlighted by mining exhibits, industry experts, mining supply and services providers and representations from government and educational institutions.

[Mine safety] Inquiry seekers gain ear -by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – April 22, 2013)

April 22, 2013

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

Two members of a group lobbying to make mining safer in Ontario will take their case to Labour Minister Yasir Naqvi and Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle in Toronto on Tuesday.

Wendy Fram, the mother of one of two miners killed at Vale’s Stobie Mine on June 8, 2011, is chair of a group called MINES (Mining Inquiry Needs Everyone’s Support).

Her son, Jordan, 26, was killed while working with Jason Chenier, 35, when they were crushed by a run of 350 tons of muck at the mine’s 3,000-foot level near the No. 7 ore pass.

Fram and Sudbury community activist Gerry Lougheed Jr., who has been helping with the MINES campaign, have secured a meeting with the ministers to press their demand for an inquiry.

Fram knows it’s a long shot, and has been thinking about what she’ll say to the ministers since she heard from Lougheed late Friday that the pair had secured a meeting with the politicians.

Coincidentally, a letter from Fram appeared Friday in The Sudbury Star, in which she said she was frustrated “with the silence on this topic from Queen’s Park,” especially with Workers’ Memorial Day scheduled for April 28.

Cliffs remains optimistic – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – April 19, 2013)

April 19, 2013

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

Developing its Black Thor deposit in the Ring of Fire continues to be “a viable business opportunity” for the Cleveland-based mining company, says its spokeswoman.

A Reuters story this week, suggesting Cliffs’ failing finances could jeopardize its $3.3-billion investment in the chromite deposit, is speculation, said Patricia Persico.

According to Reuters, Cliffs has been hurt by weak iron ore prices and higher than anticipated costs for a key project, Bloom Lake iron ore in Quebec. Part of that $3.3-billion investment is a $1.8-billion ferrochrome processing plant to be built near Capreol.

“Cliffs has not made any announcements contrary to what we’ve stated to date about our chromite project,” said Persico in an email this week. The feasibility study for the chromite project is expected to be completed on schedule, by the end of September, and “work on all fronts, including discussions with First Nations and the (Province) of Ontario, continue to be encouraging,” she said.

Cliffs is also working with the Government of Canada “on many levels” to move the chromite project forward, said Persico.

Nickel prices a huge challenge: Vale VP – Staff (Sudbury Northern Life – April 16, 2013)

April 18, 2013

http://www.northernlife.ca/

Strong says $7 nickel today equals $2.50 a decade ago

Current nickel prices of a little more than $7 a pound are comparable to $2.50 a pound a decade ago, creating huge challenges for Sudbury’s largest nickel miner.

Kelly Strong, Vale’s vice-president of Ontario and UK operations, made the comparison Tuesday at a packed luncheon at the Howard Johnson in Sudbury, hosted by the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce.

Strong said several factors have substantially increased mining costs, including oil prices that have increased by 350 per cent, and the Canadian dollar, which has increased in value by 60 per cent compared to the U.S. dollar.

“Today’s prices are actually as low as historical recessionary prices,” Strong said. “And those of us who lived through those price cycles know how challenging they were.”

He also paid tribute to three miners who were killed on the job at Vale – Jordan Fram, Jason Chenier and Stephen Perry. Strong said the company has gone through a dark period and has put a renewed emphasis on safety.

Vale’s commitment to Sudbury exemplified with $2.7 billion investment: Strong – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – April 17, 2013)

April 17, 2013

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

Anyone who doubts the commitment of Vale to Sudbury need look no further than a spread sheet, according to a Vale executive.

The Brazil-based miner invested $2.7 billion in Sudbury from 2007-12 – equivalent to the cost of building eight hospitals the size of Health Sciences North.

Another way of look at it is this: $2.7 billion is the approximate net worth of Oprah Winfrey, Kelly Strong told an audience Tuesday at a luncheon sponsored by the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce.

Strong delivered the message 225 people wanted to hear – that Vale has a long and bright future in the Nickel City and intends to spend billions more here in the next few years.

Appointed vice-president of Ontario and U.K. operations by Vale in November, Strong gave his first major public speech at the luncheon. Sudbury can expect to hear more from the mining engineer turned executive, whose hometown is Espanola.

After an aggressive period of growth in which Vale aimed to become one of the biggest mining companies in the world, its corporate philosophy has changed.

Vale faces ‘new world’ – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – April 15, 2013)

April 15, 2013

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

Vale is no longer aiming to be the largest mining company in the world, says the man in charge of its Sudbury operations.

It’s looking instead to generate more value from the business it has, focusing on its core assets and ensuring they generate the capital necessary to rein-vest in operations.

Kelly Strong, a mining engineer who has worked at Vale operations in Ontario since 2001 except for a three-year stint in Indonesia, was named the company’s vice-president of Ontario and U.K. operations last November.

Strong hasn’t spoken much publicly since then, but spoke of some of his priorities in an editorial board meeting with The Sudbury Star last week. That meeting was conducted underground at the 7,400-foot refuge station at Creighton Mine, where a $247- million expansion program is underway.

The timing of Brazil-based Vale purchasing the former Inco in 2006 was good, said Strong, given Inco didn’t have the “kind of money” to invest in aging infrastructure. The operations were at the “critical stage where we had to start investing back in the business” or it would have had significant challenges.

Sudbury Mining a bright future – by Carol Muligan (Sudbury Star – April 13, 2013)

April 15, 2013

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

Editor’s Note: Sudbury Star managing editor Brian MacLeod, photographer John Lappa and reporter Carol Mulligan spent Thursday at Vale’s Creighton Mine, at the invitation of Kelly Strong, Vale’s vicepresident of Ontario and UK operations. Look for news coverage of our conversation with Strong next week in The Star.

Of the 330 people who work at Vale’s Creighton Mine, Pat Shell says he has the best job.

A production miner described by his supervisors as a proud hockey dad and “bolter extraordinaire,” Shell turns off the piece of machinery he’s operating at Creighton’s 7,910-foot level mid-morning Thursday. He’s been installing ground control supports to make the area safe for people to work.

Shell explains what he’s doing to three journalists touring the mine, led by Vale vicepresident of Ontario and UK Operations Kelly Strong and other Creighton managers.

The mine has come a long way from the open-pit operation it began as in 1901, evolving into one of the most storied, well researched, highly regarded and, no doubt, profitable nickel mines in Canada, if not the world.

Trip underground brings reporter closer to father – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – April 13, 2013)

April 15, 2013

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

What seemed like a good idea was questionable Wednesday at 2:30 a.m. mid-panic attack.

It started weeks back with a request to Vale’s Angie Robson for an interview with Kelly Strong after he was appointed vice-president of Vale’s Ontario and U.K. operations.

It ended Thursday with The Star’s managing editor Brian MacLeod, photographer John Lappa and I going 1.5 miles underground.

Strong suggested we do the interview underground and we settled on Creighton Mine after I mentioned my father had worked there decades ago.

I was looking forward to it until Robson sent me a fact sheet about Creighton two days before our visit and it registered that Creighton Mine is as deep as 4.5 CN Towers stacked up. Gulp.

My father, Ernie Mulligan, worked there for at least a dozen years before he died in 1963. As a girl, I pestered my dad to go to work with him. At age nine, I was wounded when my boy cousin could accompany his electrician father to work in a residence, when I couldn’t see where my dad worked.