FROM THE
UP
bottom A PROACTIVE APPROACH OF LANDFORM DESIGN AND SOURCE CONTROL
> PLUS STRONGER TOGETHER: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND MINING
JUNE/JULY 2022 | www.canadianminingjournal.com | PM # 40069240
VANADIUM MINING IN CANADA: IS V THE NEW Li?
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JUNE/JULY 2022 VOL. 143, NO.5
FEATURES
21 Vanadium use to surge with battery growth: is V the new Li? 28 Costmine: passive road runoff treatment.
FIRST NATIONS
14 Stronger together: Indigenous Peoples and mining.
RECLAMATION & CLOSURE
17 From the bottom up: a proactive approach of landform design and source control.
14
ESG
26 Endeavour’s whistleblower hotline. 35 ESG: what it means for your insurance.
MAINTENANCE
24 How partnering with a technical OEM for equipment monitoring can
help your bottom line.
26
30 Quick and essential miners’ guide to maintenance planning. 32 Komatsu program means big savings for African mine. 33 Trailer maintenance tips.
DEPARTMENTS 4 EDITORIAL | Meet new CMJ Editor in Chief, Dr. Tamer Elbokl. 6 CSR & MINING | A short guide to community centered integrated mine closure. 8 IN MY MINE(D) | How the “demon metal” established an industry despised by the public. 9 LETTER TO EDITOR | Point in Time. 9 CORRECTION 11 FAST NEWS | Updates from across the mining ecosystem. 37 ON THE MOVE | Tracking executive, management and board changes in Canada’s mining sector.
www.canadianminingjournal.com JUNE/JULY 2022
30 About the cover: Water filled mine pit with terraces and emerging vegetation. CREDIT: CTURTLETRA/ISTOCK.
Coming in August 2022 Canadian Mining Journal’s annual ranking of producers (Top 40). We’ll take a look at crushers, conveyors and screens and we introduce our new monthly department on “New Technology”.
For More Information
Please visit www.canadianminingjournal.com for regular updates on what’s happening with Canadian mining companies and their personnel both here and abroad. A digital version of the magazine is also available at https://www.canadianminingjournal.com/digital-edition/
CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 3
FROM THE EDITOR JUNE/JULY 2022 Vol. 143 – No. 5
Meet new CMJ Editor in Chief, Dr. Tamer Elbokl Marilyn Scales
I
t gives me great pleasure to introduce new Editor in Chief, Dr. Tamer Elbokl, to CMJ readers. He took a hold of the reins in mid-April with enthusiasm and optimism. No one planned it this way, but he and I live a few blocks from each other in this Ottawa suburb. This proximity has given us opportunities to meet in person. Tamer is soaking up everything mining and CMJ faster than I thought possible. Tamer says he was raised on the shores or the Mediterranean Sea in Alexandria, Egypt. He’s been in Ottawa over 20 years where he earned a PhD in chemistry from the University of Ottawa. He also holds an MSc in materials science and an MSc in total quality management. He previously lectured at universities and worked in research, quality control and process improvement. In addition, Tamer has over 16 years’ experience in publishing in various roles, and this is part of the reason he is going to be a leader at CMJ. The mining sector and industry observers such as I will share with him everything we know about prospecting, mining and processing in Canada and Dr. Tamer Elbokl abroad. So far he finds it fascinating. I’m certain that when CMJ readers eventually meet Tamer on their mine sites, in their offices or at a conference, they will find him more knowledgeable each time and having a fair amount of common sense. If anyone wants to know, he says he is happily married and enjoys being “Super Dad” to his three (mostly) adorable children. For recreation he plays and watches soccer (Go Liverpool!), plays squash, hikes, paints, reads, and does a bit of gardening. Readers can reach Tamer at TElbokl@CanadianMiningJournal.com. CMJ
4 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL
225 Duncan Mill Rd. Suite 320, Toronto, Ontario M3B 3K9 Tel. (416) 510-6789 Fax (416) 510-5138 www.canadianminingjournal.com Editor in Chief Dr. Tamer Elbokl TElbokl@CanadianMiningJournal.com Interim News Editor Jackson Chen jchen@mining.com Production Manager Jessica Jubb jjubb@glacierbizinfo.com Art Director Barbara Burrows Advisory Board David Brown (Golder Associates) Michael Fox (Indigenous Community Engagement) Scott Hayne (Redpath Canada) Gary Poxleitner (SRK) Manager of Product Distribution Allison Mein 403-209-3515 amein@glacierrig.com Publisher & Sales Robert Seagraves 416-510-6891 rseagraves@canadianminingjournal.com Sales, Western Canada George Agelopoulos 416-510-5104 gagelopoulos@northernminer.com Toll Free Canada & U.S.A.: 1-888-502-3456 ext 2 or 43734 Circulation Toll Free Canada & U.S.A.: 1-888-502-3456 ext 3 President, The Northern Miner Group Anthony Vaccaro Established 1882
Canadian Mining Journal provides articles and information of practical use to those who work in the technical, administrative
and supervisory aspects of exploration, mining and processing in the Canadian mineral exploration and mining industry. Canadian Mining Journal (ISSN 0008-4492) is published 10 times a year by Glacier Resource Innovation Group (GRIG). GRIG is located at 225 Duncan Mill Rd., Ste. 320, Toronto, ON, M3B 3K9. Phone (416) 510-6891. Legal deposit: National Library, Ottawa. Printed in Canada. All rights reserved. The contents of this magazine are protected by copyright and may be used only for your personal non-commercial purposes. All other rights are reserved and commercial use is prohibited. To make use of any of this material you must first obtain the permission of the owner of the copyright. For further information please contact Robert Seagraves at 416-510-6891. Subscriptions – Canada: $51.95 per year; $81.50 for two years. USA: US$64.95 per year. Foreign: US$77.95 per year. Single copies: Canada $10; USA and foreign: US$10. Canadian subscribers must add HST and Provincial tax where necessary. HST registration # 809744071RT001. From time to time we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may interest you. If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us via one of the following methods: Phone: 1-888-502-3456 ext 3; E-mail: amein@glacierrig.com Mail to: Allison Mein, 225 Duncan Mill Rd., Ste 320, Toronto, ON M3B 3K9 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.
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CSR & MINING
A short guide to community centered integrated mine closure By Carolyn Burns
M
ine closure is arguably more important than the first great discovery of an asset. When it is not managed well, closure can have disastrous impacts on the economy, environmental and social fabric of a community. There are tons of examples in Canada and around the world that have made global headlines because of the ongoing risks they present for local communities. To prevent these disasters, mining companies need to take an integrated approach to mine closure. This means that closure is a dynamic and iterative process that considers not only the environmental factors but also the social and economic elements related to closure. It means that closure is considered throughout the life of an asset and includes local stakeholders in discussions and decision making. And finally, it also means that companies approach closure as core to the mine’s business. Throughout the life of mine, there are a few things that site teams can do to ensure a successful closure. 1 | Follow the community’s lead. Companies need to engage with local stakeholders throughout the life of mine, but the involvement of local stakeholders in decisions about closure is particularly important because they will be integral to leading initiatives once the mine is closed. Before a mine is even built, it is important to have conversations with local governments and community leaders about the future. How does the community want to use the land moving forward? Do they want to continue mining? Are there other economic initiatives that could be developed? Would they rather use the area for cultural or recreational purposes? Understanding what the community wants from the beginning (and working with them to understand how their vision might adapt over time) will help the company align closure initiatives and programs with the community needs. 2 | Be clear about the timeline. Companies need to be very clear what the life of mine is. This can be challenging because the life of mine can change in response to commodity prices or new discoveries. This makes it even more important that the company is as clear as possible about the life of mine and any changes that might happen. 3 | Start early. It might seem a bit strange to start talking about closure before the mine is even built but initial discussions and planning with stakeholders will set the stage for good dialogue. As closure gets closer, dialogue, planning and decisions will ramp up and become more specific. The general rule is to start
6 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL
Mining companies need to take an integrated approach to mine closure. Companies should approach closure as core to the mines business.
a more detailed planning process five years before the closure date and have a firm plan two to three years before decommissioning. In the years leading up to closure, the social closure plan should be well under way and the site should be having regular meetings with local stakeholders. 4 | Work across the company … it’s not just up to the environment team. Historically, we thought of mine closure as part of the environmental management of the site. We now know that closure has to be managed across many departments like the social performance team, communications and finance team even procurement and hiring have a role to play in managing the impacts of closure. When it’s central to the long term planning and strategy of the operation then each department can play their role in effective integrated mine closure. 5 | Be real about the costs. In most jurisdictions there are regulations that guide how companies cost closure and financial assurance that the company can cover those costs. The reality is that most companies have historically underpriced the cost of closure and/or can’t adequately fund the agreed on closure plans. All too often the true costs of closure creep up on the company and leave the team stressed and scrambling to pull together an integrated closure plan with a limited budget. The company is responsible for funding closure planning and should consider the time and costs associated with engagement, planning and studies required. In addition, the company should be clear with the community what budget they have to support social closure initiatives. For example, if the community is hoping to run a recreational tourist facility, is the company going to invest in it? Will the company lease or sell the land back to the community? 6 | Get Creative. With the right planning and resources closure can be a very exciting time for a local community. A company can be a great resource to share ideas and examples of successful closure initiatives in other regions. Some closed mine sites
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become tourism hubs that showcase the history of mining. Many also become recreation sites for hiking, biking, camping (and snowmobiling in Canada) – for locals as well as tourists. In South America, there are some initiatives that are using the roads and other infrastructure left behind to develop hubs for wind and solar generation. In parts of Asia, old mine sites are used as wildlife conservation areas. In other areas, communities are re-mining deposits themselves because their required rate of return makes the asset workable. Some groups are even working to rehabilitate tailings. For example, RESOLVE and Rio Tinto have announced an MOU to develop a for profit and for purpose company that “will combine the remining and processing of waste with site closure and rehabilitation, with the ambition to create full restoration outcomes.” (Rio Tinto, 2022.) 7 | Train the closure team. Post-closure there is a small team of people who are responsible for ongoing environmental monitoring. This team can also act as a great touch point for local stakeholders, but they need training. Basic engagement and
communications training can go a long way to giving closure teams the tools they need to maintain positive relationships with local communities. These are just a few best practices to get your started. There are a number of great resources on successful mine closure that provide more support. The International Council for Mining and Metals has a suite of guidance material that cover everything from financing, to rehabilitation, to collaboration with local stakeholders. In 2019, the University of Queensland launched The Social Aspects of Mine Closure Consortium, which is a multi-party, industry-university research collaboration that challenges the industry norms and practices and is a great place to get inspired and share ideas related to closure. Working with your peers and other stakeholder groups is a great way to drive creativity and make sure your considering all the elements of an integrated mine closure plan. CMJ CAROLYN BURNS is a director at NetPositive, a non-profit that works with diverse stakeholders to help local communities see sustained positive outcomes from mining (www.NetPositive.org).
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CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 7
IN MY MINE(D)
How the “demon metal” gave Canadian mining a bad name By Marilyn Scales
8 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL
And that very negative perception haunts the mineral industry to this day. The public thinks little of mining except to oppose it. In my 45 years as an industry observer, I have seen numerous campaigns mounted in attempts to change how non-miners think about mining. The Mining Association of Canada mounted a television campaign in the 1980s. Companies such as Teck Resources and the oilsands producers regularly run regional advertising campaigns to keep the public aware of what they do. These efforts have not gone very far toward changing the general public’s mind. Can anything more be done? Yes, but just as the poor public opinion of mining has persisted for over a century, it could take many more decades before the benefits of the mineral industry become widely known. Since the middle of the 20th Century, our industry is waking up to the fact that a social licence to operate is granted one project at a time. The term has become by turns “corporate social responsibility” and now “environmental, social and governance” (ESG). As we refine these concepts and measure how well they are applied one mine at a time, we will eventually get the message out to the public. As they say, “if it can’t be mined, it must be grown.” The need for critical minerals as the world transitions from fossil fuels to clean and renewable energy can help keep mining in the public spotlight. Thanks to the colonialization of North America over the past 350 years, the mining industry also has a large part to play in reconciliation with the Indigenous People. They deserve to benefit from the resources of their traditional lands. Those benefits must come in the form of education, training, well paying jobs, and profit-sharing. They, like everyone else, want a living wage and to invest in business opportunities. Yes, there is still a long way to go before mining is generally seen as a boon to civilized society rather than a destroyer of the land and lives. We are making large strides, but it will take more time. Never give up getting more environmentally, socially and governmentally responsible. And remember to tell the public as well as your shareholders what you are achieving. CMJ
www.canadianminingjournal.com
IMAGE: BETTAPOGGI/ISTOCK
T
he word cobalt came from kobold, a variant of the German word kobalos, a satyr and shape-shifter of Greek mythology who mocked the work of humans. By the Middle Ages, miners in the dark depths reported that touching the metal burned their fingertips, a sure sign that demons were watching them. And so the “demon metal” it became. Cobalt – with a capital C – is synonymous with the silver rush of over a hundred years ago in northern Ontario. The town of Cobalt got its start when silver was discovered in 1903, and that mining rush outshone any gold rush in the previous 200 years. The race to get rich attracted miners, investors, hangers on and fraudsters all hoping to hit the silver jackpot. That there was cobalt – the metal – in the ores was of little consequence, and it was relegated to the waste pile. But the Cobalt silver rush also gave rise to the Canadian mining industry. The technical expertise became famous worldwide. The rush gave the fledgling Toronto Stock Exchange its foundation. Yet, most people lost money to hucksters and flimflam artists, and living in the town was far from comfortable. I have recently read Charlie Angus’s superb history Cobalt: Cradle of the Demon Metals, Birth of a Mining Superpower. In it he gives an insider’s story of the silver rush and the early effects of mining on those who lived there and those were dispossessed so others could make their fortunes. There is an excellent review of the book and interview with the author written by Daniel Sekulich that appeared in The Northern Miner on Feb. 17, 2022. What struck me was the absolute power mining companies were given over the land and the mineral rights. In 1909 Cobalt was a town without clean water, no hint of sanitation and barely any policing. The public good was so far down the line from the good of the mining companies, that it might as well been at the bottom of a hole 10,000 metres deep. The basics of civilized life were simply unattainable. Ontario gave the mining companies the mineral rights and title to the town. They were allowed to dig what and where they wanted. The mines dumped toxic effluent in the nearby lakes, the same lakes from which the townspeople were drawing their drinking water. Private ownership of land was non-existent. One example given by Angus was of a barber who didn’t want to move his shop, so his next door neighbour simply dumped its waste rock on top of his building until it collapsed. And the federal government was complicit. In the 19th Century it did all in its power to round up Indigenous Peoples and move them off their ancestral lands so that the resource industries could exploit the wealth of Canada’s north. Okay, now I have had my rant, which is the long way around to acknowledge how the mining industry earned its bad reputation in the eyes of the public. Who could blame people for bristling at the environmental, social and governance regime that had not the land, people or justice woven into it?
EDITORIAL • LETTER TO EDITOR |
Point in Time
I READ WITH INTEREST YOUR ARTICLE Power to Change in the recent Canadian Mining Journal [May 2022]. I notice that you did not mention the Windy Craggy copper-cobalt deposit. This is the largest undeveloped copper-cobalt deposit in North America (British Columbia). This deposit would rival those in the DRC and would be ethically developed. I remember being onsite in 1990 when the U.S. Geological Survey paid a visit looking for cobalt resources. At that time, it was for military purposes. This potential mine in British Columbia would have significant Indigenous participation and have significant benefits for all stakeholders. I refer you to the two articles that I wrote regarding Windy Craggy and published on the website www. ResourceWorld.com (search Windy Craggy). I have given three virtual talks on this subject, Roundup (Vancouver 2021), PDAC (Toronto 2021) and SEG100 (2021) conference in Whistler. I have been working with James Allen (former chief of the
Champagne Aishihik First Nation) since 2011 on this project. This is an interesting story to be told (An Inconvenient Truth and Reconciliation). I could help in many ways as I was project geologist at Windy Craggy and have been involved since 1975. I look forward to your reply. Regards Bruce Downing, MSc, PGeo, FGC, FEC (hon) Note: I was the geologist who drilled the Turnagain deposit in 1997-99 and interpreted the deposit as a low-grade bulk tonnage nickelcobalt-PGE deposit. I was met with skepticism from many in the investment community at that time.
From editor: Former CMJ editor Jane Werniuk, who wrote the Point in Time piece, chose only to include in the timeline projects that went on to become producing mines.
Correction:
On page 24 of the CMJ April 2022 print edition, the amount of contained copper at five projects was erroneously noted as being “billion tonnes.” The amounts should, of course, be “million tonnes.” CMJ regrets the error, and it has been corrected on our website.
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CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 9
FAST NEWS
• BIODIESEL |
Updates from across the mining ecosystem
Greenergy offers biodiesel to Canadian miners
AS THE CANADIAN MINING INDUSTRY transitions to a lowcarbon economy, a Canadian energy supplier is gearing up to power this trend. Currently supplying fuels across one of Canada’s largest mineral and metals producing regions – Ontario – Greenergy offers mining companies ultra-low sulphur, high renewable content diesel that lowers emissions. Renewable content refers to biological materials, including crops, forest residues and organic waste, blended into diesel to produce a lower-carbon (or bio-based) fuel also referred to as biodiesel. This is especially significant for the mining sector because of industry efforts to reduce underground particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel machinery. “Choosing an approved biodiesel blend reduces greenhouse gases and improves underground air quality for miners,” said Mike Healey, Greenergy’s VP of commercial and business development. “Using biodiesel not only helps reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 80%, but also supports the mining industry’s environmental sustainability plans.” With a commitment to meet customer needs, Greenergy focuses on supply reliability because the company is not dependent on domestic refiners or any other third parties for its raw materials. It is also capable of blending custom fuels at its terminals, supplying biodiesel blends to suit customer preferences that can range from the standard B4 to B45 and higher. Healey noted Greenergy’s blending and distribution infrastructure in the Ontario region includes extensive access to rail, as well as road, allowing the company to serve remote mining operations in a cost-effective manner. For Canadian mining operators, switching to Greenergy offers advantages others find hard to match, including the following: > A unique supply chain capability with the flexibility to source JUNE/JULY 2022
Greenergy produces and distributes biofuels made from renewables. CREDIT: GREENERGY
products for its customers through multiple channels, thus reducing dependency on domestic refiners. > Access, at any given time, to numerous supply points for its terminals from the U.S. mid-west to Quebec and Ontario. > Quality fuels, continually tested and verified by third-party laboratories. > A wide range of higher percentage biodiesel blends designed to help customers reduce carbon emissions. > Competitive pricing and a commitment to customer service. Almost all heavy-duty mining diesel equipment can run on biodiesel blends, such as those Greenergy provides. The same can be said for newer, more technically advanced hybrid equipment models and this will be particularly important as the industry continues to evolve and decarbonize. As part of its growth plans, Greenergy is also planning to expand its supply footprint to other regions, bringing its low-carbon fuels closer to mining businesses across Canada. CMJ CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 11
FAST NEWS • BEVS |
Updates from across the mining ecosystem
Epiroc to supply equipment for new Odyssey gold mine
“Over the years, Epiroc has EPIROC has won a large order for clearly demonstrated its willingequipment, including battery-elecness to be a leader in the technical tric machines and automation soluevolution of mining equipment, tions, from the Canadian Malartic whether in electrification or autopartnership, that will be used in a mation. We are privileged that Epimajor new underground gold mine roc has proposed us a collaborative currently under construction – the approach to effectively integrate Odyssey mine in Malartic, Que. their equipment into the Odyssey which will become one of Canada’s mine and actively participate in largest gold mines. this evolution. The benefits from The Canadian Malartic is a 50:50 this collaboration will contribute to joint venture between Yamana making mines even safer and jobs Gold and Agnico Eagle Mines. more accessible in the field,” PatThe Epiroc equipment includes a rick Mercier, general manager of variety of drill rigs, loaders and The Boltec M10 Battery rock reinforcement rig is part of the the Odyssey mine, added. mine trucks. Some of the machines order for Canadian Malartic. CREDIT: EPIROC The equipment ordered during will be battery powered. Automation features include Minetruck and Epiroc also won a large order for drill the first quarter includes battery-electric Scooptram, which are part of Epiroc’s rigs, loaders and mine trucks in the third versions of the Boltec rock drill, Simba Sixth Sense portfolio of digital solutions. quarter of 2021. Epiroc will also provide production drill and Boomer jumbo for By combining these solutions with Epi- service and spare parts, as well as exper- face drilling. It also includes an Easer raise borer, Scooptram loaders and Minroc’s traffic management system, mate- tise on electrification solutions. The Odyssey mine is located just west etruck haulers. The machines will be rial handling is optimized within the mine, bringing benefits such as virtually of the Canadian Malartic open pit gold equipped with Epiroc’s telematics system mine, which is still in operation, and to Certiq, which allows for intelligent monieliminating the risk of collisions. This is the second equipment order which Epiroc in previous years has pro- toring of machine performance and profrom the Canadian Malartic partnership. vided powerful Pit Viper surface drill rigs. ductivity in real time. CMJ
12 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL
www.canadianminingjournal.com
• MINING IMPACT |
USGS, Apple create new waste rock metric
A NEW METRIC TO quantify the amount of waste rock generated by mining critical minerals has been created by the U.S. Geological Survey and Apple. Called the “rock-to-metal ratio,” the new metric indicates how much ore and waste must be mined, moved and processed to produce a given unit of a mineral commodity. This information has not previously been available on a global scale. The new rock-to-metal ratio is explained in a USGS and Apple study recently published in Environmental Science & Technology. The authors used the most current data available to determine the ratios of 25 of the most commonly used mineral commodities. The ratio they developed considers various mining factors, such as ore grades and recovery yields, to estimate the weight of ore and waste produced at more than 1,900 mining operations worldwide. “The rock-to-metal ratio and the underlying data have many potential uses,” said Nedal Nassar, chief of the Minerals Intelligence Research Section at the USGS National Minerals Information Center and lead author of the study. “For instance, manufacturing companies could use our data as one of several deciding factors on where to source minerals and or which materials they use in their products.” While the rock-to-metal ratio can provide some clues to the environmental impacts of various mining operations around the world, Nassar is quick to add that “this is only one piece of a larger puzzle, and the rock-to-metal ratio needs to be used in conjunction with other data to make informed decisions about mineral sourcing or material choice.” The study shows there is a wide range in rock-to-metal ratios among different mineral commodities. For example, iron ore has a rock-to-metal ratio of 9:1. This means for every nine metric tons of waste rock and ore moved and processed, one metric ton of iron is produced. This was one of the lowest ratios found in the study. Gold, on the other hand, was found to have the highest ratio at about 3,000,000:1, which means for every three metric tons of ore and waste rock moved and processed, only one gram of gold is produced. The above ratios are global averages for iron and gold. There is also wide variability among the ratios for each metal, depending on where it is produced. This variability in the ratios for a single mineral commodity is one of the key pieces of data Apple was interested in when they initially approached the USGS to collaborate on this study. The rock-to-metal ratio can also provide companies an additional way to quantify the benefits of recycling by showing how much waste removal and ore mining could be avoided by recycling these materials. A key finding of the study revealed that the worldwide total of ore and waste rock moved in 2018 for the 25 mineral commodities was about 37.6 billion tonnes. This enormous number can be difficult to comprehend, but it’s roughly the equivalent of almost 7,000 Great Pyramids of Giza being moved each year. The 25 minerals analyzed in the study are used by virtually every manufacturing industry in the global economy and include aluminum, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium, gold, JUNE/JULY 2022
A new way to measure the impact of mining is by the amount of waste produced per unit of metal or commodity. CREDIT: MAKSYM ISACHENKO / iSTOCK
iridium, iron, lithium, magnesium, molybdenum, nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, silicon, silver, tantalum, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, zinc, and zirconium. CMJ
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CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 13
FIRST NATIONS
> By Sarah Kemp de Gereda and Scott Trusler
Stronger Together
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND MINING
I
The importance of traditional knowledge, digital solutions, and a culture of understanding
n the past, mining companies have not always acted responsibly when working with communities and the ecosystems surrounding mining sites. In the industry, we know this has been a challenge. We have all seen the newspaper headlines that capture the public’s attention and document negative consequences of irresponsible mining. Thankfully, the tides have been turning in the last few decades. Increased attention to corporate social responsibility has pushed all industries to reconsider how they work with people and the planet. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges are being more widely addressed in business planning. Now, we are seeing positive, incremental change. We have experienced growth in our own mining business operations at Stantec. Especially in services related to how companies collaborate with local communities. There has been an increased demand in services for capacity building, inclusive on-site facilities design, common utilities strategies, and Indigenous and community engagement. With more than two decades of collaborating with Indigenous-owned businesses and communities, we now have 11 formal Indigenous partnership companies across Canada. These partnerships focus largely on mining and environmental services. Of course, any successful relationship is built on a foundation of mutual respect and common goals. But we have also seen how combining digital solutions with traditional knowledge and cultivating a culture of understanding contributes to strong partnerships. Let us look at a couple examples in action of working together and learning from Indigenous communities.
14 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL
www.canadianminingjournal.com
Utilizing digital solutions for remote challenges
Through Neegan Naynowan Stantec LP, our partnership with Attawapiskat First Nation from 2006-2021, we knew we could work together to study the breeding birds in the James Bay Lowlands in the remote part of northern Ontario. The people of Attawapiskat First Nation know these muskeg lands as their traditional territories and a place for food and medicine. They have a deep connection to the land and its resources. The study was aimed at getting a better understanding of bird species in the area (birds that may be affected by a potential diamond mine expansion). Working side by side in the field, we could quantify the population of each species and characterize habitat with a particular focus on provincial and federal bird species at risk. Working with De Beers, our teams developed a sampling program that used autonomous recording units (ARU) to record birdsongs in the study area. Biologists listened to the recordings and viewed the associated sonograms to get a better idea of what birds lived there. This technique allowed us to capture data for more species than with traditional methods and provided cost-effective “around-theclock” sampling. This project was unique because it was one of the first to use JUNE/JULY 2022
ARUs to satisfy regulators’ requirements. Results from this study could then be used to mitigate potential negative effects from the proposed mine expansion. Throughout the field aspects of the project, we collaborated with members of Attawapiskat First Nation, integrating traditional knowledge and scientific findings to improve our interpretation of the area.
Baffin Island Landscape: Meaningful community engagement and relationshipbuilding that focusses on listening and learning leads to development of management measures that effectively respond to community concerns. CREDIT: STANTEC.
Combining traditional knowledge and technical recommendations
“dust audit committee” and facilitate a technical audit. The Baffinland dust audit committee’s goals are to observe and understand present and potential future dust sources. Nunami Stantec, with support from CWA Engineers, is working with committee members to recommend actions and mitigation measures that can reduce dust production and dispersion. The committee is combining traditional knowledge (Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit) with the observations of North Baffin communities and potential mitigation options to develop feasible recommendations for Baffinland. This month, the committee plans to visit Mary River mine for the second time to continue discussions with Baffinland staff. While there, they will also observe dust conditions during spring melt. The Nunami Stantec team regularly commu-
Our teams are also working on an ongoing project with Inuit communities regarding dust sources from mining operations on North Baffin Island, Nunavut. Baffinland Iron Mines operates the Mary River mine and the Milne port facility. Over several years of mine operations, Baffinland has heard concerns from the five North Baffin communities (Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Igloolik, Sanirajak, and Pond Inlet) about dust from the mine. They wanted to know how it is affecting wildlife and ecosystems. Baffinland responded to these concerns by funding an independent audit of present and future dust sources. Baffinland retained Nunami Stantec (a Nunavut-wide partnership with Inuit-owned Kitikmeot Corp. and Sakku Investments) to work with the five communities to establish a
Opposite: Migrating Geese: Combining traditional knowledge with autonomous monitoring technology provided a more complete view of bird species potentially affected by a proposed mine expansion in a remote area of northern Ontario. CREDIT: STANTEC.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 15
FIRST NATIONS nicates with the dust audit committee with the help of translators. This open communication is critical. The team provides updates to Baffinland on a regular basis and will submit a final report on mitigation measures and feasible recommendations towards the end of this year.
Cultivating a culture of understanding
Working effectively with Indigenous CMJad_5-16_1_insert.pdf 5/12/22 communities and businesses also1 means
working internally within a company to encourage staff to understand the importance of this work. This does not just happen without clear intentions and effort from leadership. Companies also need support from all staff members to support education. There are many ways in which compa11:53 AMwork to be more aware of Indignies can
CLEANER, SAFER, MORE PRODUCTIVE CONVEYING
C
M
The James Bay Lowlands is home to many species of shorebirds, like this Red Knot bird. CREDIT: STANTEC.
CLASS IS NOW IN SESSION
Y
artin Engineering offers you and your team a wide variety of virtual or in-person training and education alternatives, easily accessible via the online Learning Center found on our website.
CM
MY
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Foundations™ LEARNING CENTER
Live & on-demand webinars Self-paced online training Customized Zoom sessions In-person classroom sessions On-site training seminars Free book downloads PDH and CEU credits
The many training options within the Learning Center bridge the theoretical and the practical. This expertise gives you the fundamental, real-world knowledge needed to identify, understand, anticipate and resolve specific bulk handling issues. Proper training is essential to reducing losses related to injuries, component failures, fugitive material, and so much more. When unplanned downtime is minimized, your productivity and profitability are maximized. Learn why. Know how.
For factory-direct service, training and sales call 1-309-852-2384 or to access oureducation programs and professional development options visit martin-eng.com and click the Learning Center tab.
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Dust can be a common issue on mine sites, and there are many ways to mitigate dust getting kicked up into the air. A common dust suppression method is to apply water to dirt roads. CREDIT: STANTEC.
enous Peoples and communities. It can be organized through employee groups dedicated to understanding Indigenous culture or stating land acknowledgements during meetings or in email signatures. There are also opportunities to recognize events like Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women National Day of Action, Moose Hide Campaign Day, and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. These all provide spaces to understand and appreciate the diversity of culture as well as historic and current issues impacting Indigenous Peoples.
Building on what works and growing in the future
Looking ahead, it is critical for companies to recognize the rights and title of Indigenous Peoples. It is important that we respect traditional knowledge and connections to the land. While many companies have made tremendous strides, there is still a long way to go. There are great resources to get started, like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action #92 for the Corporate Sector. A shared relationship with the land, combined with technical expertise and experience, helps us envision a sustainable future. One that we can build together. The mining industry has a beautiful opportunity to listen, learn, and develop meaningful community and business relationships with Indigenous Peoples. CMJ Sarah Kemp de Gereda is senior facilitator, Indigenous Services at Stantec. She is based out of Calgary. Scott Trusler is vice-president, mining sector lead, Environmental Services at Stantec. He is based out of Vancouver.
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RECLAMATION AND CLOSURE
> By Gord McKenna and Guy Gilron
FROM THE BOTTOM UP I
A proactive approach of landform design and source control
ncreasingly, two related trends in mine design are becoming apparent. One is mining with the end in mind, or effective landform design (the emerging practice of designing and building truly sustainable mining landscapes from the very outset). The other involves building mine rockpiles that limit the generation and release of potential contaminants within the rockpile (source control) using both old and new technologies, combined with siting and constructing these mining landforms to facilitate the collection and treatment of leachates (leachate control). Together, these trends illustrate a fundamental shift in approach, especially for mines at the permitting stage. At a practical level, it shows the transition from proposing modest measures to control the production and transport of leachate from rockpiles, and then employing adaptive management should conditions worsen, to a proactive approach of limiting water and oxygen fluxes in the design and construction of these landforms that allows for effective capture and treatment of leachates. This strategy better manages the risks by “mining with the end in mind” and adhering to the principles of landform design (see June/July, 2021 issue of CMJ). This article describes how your mine can benefit from these novel approaches. To illustrate this approach, we provide a simplified example drawn from recent efforts to control selenium leaching from metallurgical coal mine rockpiles under neutral pH conditions (this approach is JUNE/JULY 2022
similar for acid rock drainage elsewhere). At many mines, acid rock drainage and metal leaching (ARD/ML), especially from rockpiles, poses a significant problem, often evidenced by bright orange, ironrich acidic seepage waters. Neutral mine drainage with elevated metals and metalloids can also be an issue. At some coal mines, selenium is present in the mined rock at concentrations of about 2 ppm. When the rock is blasted and stacked loosely in piles, water and oxygen enter-
“Doing better” means reducing costs, risks and the need for long term treatment. ing the rockpile cause natural bacteria (the bugs) in the rockpile to oxidize selenium, in turn producing selenate, which is easily leached, reporting to the toe of the rockpile at aqueous concentrations in the range of about 50 ppb and higher. These neutral pH leachate waters flow into local creeks, wetlands, and lakes, potentially leading to bioaccumulation up the food chain, with impacts to fish and bird populations. To manage this situation, many mines employ expensive, long-term seepage and surface water collection facilities, paired with active water treatment plants. Key questions for consideration are how can we “do bet-
ter,” especially for new mines? How can we reduce costs and risks? Can we reduce the need for long-term treatment? To address this issue, landform design can be employed to establish mine rockpiles that restrict contaminant mobility. Initially, a governance team and a multi-disciplinary technical team are established; a design basis memorandum (DBM), which outlines land uses, goals, objectives, and criteria, is clearly set out; and designs are formulated and modelled and subjected to various risk assessments. Pre-planned contingencies are then developed in the case of poor performance, and a monitoring plan is established to identify whether contingencies need to be implemented. The team subsequently monitors the system to ensure that the rockpile is built to design specifications and is performing as intended. A key part of the DBM is to establish acceptable concentrations and leachate loading to the receiving environment. Generally, no single technology or scheme can be relied upon to control leachate. Instead, the use of multiple technologies in a multiple-lines-of-defence approach is used to provide reasonable assurance that the leachates can be effectively managed. This involves incorporating mining and rock handling methods, source control, water management, and mitigation measures (e.g., collection and treatment) into the system from the beginning. CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 17
RECLAMATION AND CLOSURE Ready for prime time?
Mine proponents, regulators, and local communities may be concerned if the proposed technologies are not “proven.” For example, they may still be in the research or development stages. Questions pertaining to technology readiness quickly arise: “Can we rely on a new technology, or do we need to budget for full active water treatment?” Historically, the promise of perfect control and blending of mine wastes and creating anoxic conditions within mine rockpiles, which often resulted in less than stellar results, set source control back several decades. Part of the problem was over-promising and failing to clarify expectations, and part of it was being on the “bleeding edge” of new technologies or testing fallible techniques. Many technologies fail when scaling from the lab scale to the commercial scale. To meet this challenge, we adapted a
scoring system, or technology readiness level (TRL), for use in landform design and associated mitigation measures. It is based on a formulation developed by NASA for space flight technologies. The system provides a simple method to assess technologies and decide on the degree to which they can be relied upon at full commercial scale. The table below illustrates a recent rating using this scoring system to evaluate selenium management in Rocky Mountain coal mines. The choice of mining technology can have a tremendous impact on ultimate leachate production rates. Underground mining produces much less ARD-ML risk since it produces so much less rock than open pit mining. But underground mining is not an option for most major mines. However, selective mining and handling of mine rock is a common technique, though one that requires much greater quality assurance and quality control
NASA Technology Readiness Level (TRL) system for spaceflight adapted to landform design, employed to classify selenium management technologies for metallurgical coal mines.
18 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL
(QA/QC) by qualified and empowered professionals in the field. Much research has been conducted on source control for ARD, as well as for selenium leaching. What is becoming a common practice is the multiple-lines-of-defence approach described above. This approach helps control the production of leachates through a combination of effective rockpile design, careful placement, and a robust cover system. The first step is to limit the flux of oxygen into and within the rockpile. This measure maximizes the size of a suboxic zone (in which oxygen concentrations are a few percent versus the 21% in the atmosphere) that will form and limits the volume of water percolating into the rockpile (either from precipitation, run-on from above the rockpile, or as groundwater inputs from the sides of the rockpile). Source control starts with siting the mine rockpiles. While short hauls and good geotechnical foundation conditions are critical, the landform also needs to be located in an area conducive to the collection of leachates. This usually means avoiding areas in which leachate can percolate into pervious overburden or jointed bedrock with a direct path to the receiving streams. Instead, it requires siting the landform in an area of groundwater discharge in which leachate collection can be conducted reliably. Sometimes a liner under the rockpile will accomplish this objective. Next, the rockpile is built in layers from the bottom up to control the migration of oxygen within the landform during construction and after reclamation. Traditional end dumping creates long sloping zones of cobbles and coarse boulders that literally allow air to whistle through the landform. Instead, constructing thinner lifts, with compacted low permeability surfaces between lifts, limits gas transport, expanding the size of the suboxic zone. Sometimes, it may be necessary to add or blend mine waste or other materials between lifts to control gas flows, always keeping in mind the need for geotechnical stability (as outlined in the DBM). At the boundaries, engineered covers restrict air and water flux into the rockpile, as do wide zones of compacted, finer-grained materials on the downslope faces. And any rock material that is saturated will not oxidize, and as noted below – and under the right conditions – will reduce and precipitate selenium. Nutrients may be added to the
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Water and oxygen fluxes in well-constructed mine rockpiles. CREDIT: DERRILL SHUTTLEWORTH
rockpile material during placement to enhance bacterial reduction, and hence better immobilize the selenium.
Water management
The next step is to put in place seepage and groundwater control measures. Clean surface water is directed away from the rockpile with diversions (either above or on the rockpile), and a cover system is installed as soon as practical to limit water percolation and oxygen influx into the rockpile. Several diverse types of covers can be employed (e.g., soil covers, membranes) depending on the level of performance required. Lentic waters (those that are slow-moving such as wetlands and lakes) are much more susceptible to selenium bioaccumulation. Therefore, wherever possible, the rockpile is designed to discharge into lotic (fast-moving) waters such as a local stream or river. This is key to protecting downstream aquatic resources, particularly fish populations. Inevitably, no matter how well a rockpile is designed and constructed, some leachate will be produced, especially during construction before the cover system can be completed. Mitigation of the leachates draining from the rockpile is part of the design and the monitoring and maintenance program and focuses on collection and treatment. If the rockpile is well sited, surface and groundwater collection can be highly effective. Recently, there has been much interest in the use of saturated rock backfills (SRFs) to precipitate selenium. To this end, major pilots, prototypes, and field monitoring are underway that are supported by laboratory studies and a solid theoretical base. Active water treatment is generally considered a commercial technology; even so, these systems need to be adapted to each mine site and perJUNE/JULY 2022
formance varies. While semi-passive biochemical reactors (BCRs) are also used commercially, they are typically limited to modest flow rates.
The new strategy
The strategy is tiered and includes these stages: understand the materials and
Preventable.
reactions, choose a site for the rockpile that is economical and supports water management for leachate control, construct the rockpile from the bottom up in layers to limit oxygen, blend the waste materials or “add food for the bugs” CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
Prevented. .com
CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 19
RECLAMATION AND CLOSURE during placement, and as soon as practical, install a robust cover system. If feasible, the creation of an SRF to promote selenium precipitation is designed into the landform, typically by dumping leachates into a mined-out pit. Mines will often consider using an active treatment system for several years or decades to manage the stored leachates produced before the installation of the cover. Then, when flows, concentrations, and loads are adequately reduced, they switch to a semi-active system for long-term treatment. The example of selenium management has some unique features; however, with customization, this technique is also applicable to many other methods of mine waste management, including ARD, and for tailings facilities. Although this approach is more effective for new rockpiles, the process of creating a DBM, selecting the technologies, and employing landform design more generally can also be applied to existing active or closed mining landforms, albeit with a reduced set of options available.
In any mine closure and reclamation scenario, there is always inherent residual risk. Failing to understand and accept that risk is a major impediment to every mining stage, from permitting to successful reclamation and aftercare. Getting agreement on residual risk is critical to achieving an acceptable outcome. Some risks come from the adoption of innovative technologies, some from uncertainty in the geological conditions and material properties, some in design and operations, and some in long-term materials and water management. Ultimately, residual risks will fall to the regulator and local communities, necessitating the establishment of a collaborative approach by the mine proponent with these groups throughout all phases of the mining life cycle, from exploration through to permitting, mine development, the decades of operations and progressive reclamation, closure, and final reclamation, and on into the future. It is not easy. Employing the landform design approach, with clearly
defined goals and objectives, thoughtful design, pre-planned contingencies, and an integral monitoring program, within a collaborative stakeholder approach, can be effective at helping mines managing these risks. Then management in turn can provide better assurance for the long-term health of wildlife and wild spaces in the area, generate a better relationship between mines and local communities, and foster a better public reputation for the industry at large. Mining with the end in mind.
Additional guidance
See www.landformdesign.com, the Landform Design Institute’s website, for more how-to guidance on building from the bottom up. CMJ Gord McKenna is a geotechnical engineer with McKenna Geotechnical in Delta, BC, and the founding chair of the Landform Design Institute. Guy Gilron is a senior environmental scientist with Borealis Environmental in North Vancouver, BC.
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PLAN NOW TO REACH CANADA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL MINING AUDIENCE Canadian Mining Journal’s 2022 Editorial Calendar and media kit is now available via this link: https://mediakit.northernminer.com/canadianmining-journal/ You can also contact the Publisher, Robert Seagraves, at rseagraves@canadianminingjournal.com or 1-416-510-6891 for more marketing information. www.canadianminingjournal.com
BATTERY METALS
> By Tamer Elbokl, PhD
Is V the new Li? Vanadium use to surge with battery growth
IMAGE: JCROSEMANN/ISTOCK
E
nergy storage has transformed the electricity industry with huge growth in the U.S., for example, of more than six times in the last few years. The demand is growing exponentially for the batteries used in portable devices, energy storage, and electric mobility. Both lithium and vanadium are reliable sources of energy storage. Recently, the Biden administration announced it will spend more than $3 billion to support the domestic manufacturing of advanced batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage. Additionally, about $3.16 billion in grants will be made available to produce key battery metals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, according to the U.S. Energy Department’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains. Currently, the largest source of lithium production is hard rock mining in Australia. However, most deposits are found in the salt flats of Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile. Recently, the demand has been surging for vanadium because of its potential use in the battery market; and whether lithium can be dethroned by this new challenger in the battery industry or not remains a very legitimate question that we will also try to answer in this article. Lithium-ion batteries have the biggest share of the energy storage market, but technological advances in flow batteries that could reduce costs and improve the safety and environmental friendliness are likely to boost the emergence of utility-scale battery storage for energy. Also, the interest in vanadium exploration is driven by the experts’ forecast for all battery metals JUNE/JULY 2022
to witness supply deficits in the next decade, as several mining projects struggle to start production in addition to the fact that lithium-ion battery cell prices are set to increase as the cost of raw materials now is set to absorb the effect of the technological advancements in mining in the last few years. As Canada starts building its battery metals industry, with a huge emphasis on the recycling of battery metals, there is a need to consider the potential advantages of using vanadium in battery manufacturing for energy storage and the potential vanadium exploration and mining projects in Canada.
What we know about Vanadium?
Vanadium (V) is a hard, silver-grey metallic element that is named for Vanadis, the Nordic goddess of beauty. In addition to being a ductile transition metal, it is also known for its resistance to corrosion and its stability against alkalis, acids, and salt water. Vanadium is naturally found in over 60 different minerals, including vanadinite, carnotite, and roscoelite. Vanadium has an atomic number of 23. In nature, vanadium is a combination of two isotopes, 50V (0.24%) and 51V (99.76%).
What V can be used for
Vanadium is mainly used in steel alloys, as a pigment, as a catalyst, in the manufacturing of smart construction material, and in several medical applications. Most recently, vanadium is used in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) to create a reliCONTINUED ON PAGE 22
CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 21
BATTERY METALS able, safe, and stable alternative for the storage of energy. The Chinese government is promoting vanadium-flow batteries as an alternative to lithium-ion. A massive backup power facility (twice the size of Tesla’s plant in Australia) is under construction in Dalian.
Advantages of VRFBs
Currently, the dominant form of energy storage is lithium-ion batteries, but there are several advantages of VRFBs: they last longer (VRFBs have a lifespan of 25+ years) and can be charged and discharged repeatedly without any significant drop in performance. They offer immediate energy release, and unlike lithium batteries, vanadium-flow batteries can always discharge at 100%, without any damage to the battery (there is no decaying over time). They are also low maintenance and easy to recycle (they use only one element in the electrolyte, vanadium oxide (V2O5), and vanadium electrolyte can be re-used and does not need to be disposed of). VRFBs are good for projects where space is not an issue (superior to lithium-ion in large-scale grid storage applications) in both grid and off-grid settings. They have improved safety over lithium-ion batteries, as they are non-flammable and non-explosive because the electrolyte is water-based. In general, the versatility offered by VRFBs energy storage guarantees uninterrupted power supply. Further advancement will be made as the technology of VRFBs develop and once future innovation leads to cost reductions allowing their use in a more economic scale.
Vanadium exploration in Canada
There is a huge potential for vanadium exploration in Canada. The table shows all current 23 Canadian vanadium properties that are in different development stages. The projects are scattered across Canada from coast to coast to coast with a special emphasis on the provinces of Newfoundland, Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia. After Quebec, Ontario comes second with five surface projects. Vanadium production from most of those properties would occur as a by-product of gold, iron, titanium, and sometimes uranium mining. Only seven properties are exclusively explored for vanadium, three of which are in British Columbia, one in Newfoundland, one in Ontario, one in Manitoba, and the last one is in the Northwest Territories. The latter “Valley of Vanadium” (also called “Dempster Valley of vanadium project” by the new owners) was originally 100% owned by Strategic Metals. Early in 2019, Corcel plc (LSE: CRCL) exercised an option to acquire a 50% interest in the Dempster project that was first announced on Dec. 6, 2018. The project includes 196 claims covering almost 41 km2 with up to a 20 km potential strike. An exploration program started at the site in August 2020 to increase the understanding of the geology at the site and to produce drill targets for 2021. According to Corcel’s website, the entire property lies alongside the Dempster Highway, some 65 km north of the Eagle River Lodge, in the northern Yukon. The area already has the infrastructure, including highways, and access to ports and logistics. This project aims to identify and exploit vanadium in black shales, a potentially ideal source of material for the battery metal markets. Previous work on the property was focused primarily on
22 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL
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nickel, and it was from the seven existing drill holes dating back to 2006 that vanadium results were initially identified at 0.26% V2O5 in roadcut. Soil, silt, and rock sampling outlined broad zones of anomalous vanadium. All those findings, along with possible government investment matching, lead Corcel to identify the Valley of Vanadium as a low-cost, blue-sky exploration. Another example of vanadium exploration is the Huzyk Creek property in Manitoba. In 2019, Vanadian Energy (TSXV: VEC) completed two holes totalling 745 metres of NQ drill core there. Both holes successfully intersected vanadium-bearing
graphitic metasediments (0.22% V2O5 / 9.74 metres). Vanadian Energy is building a leading vanadium-focused resource company. The results confirm that the graphitic metasediments within the Huzyk Creek property host significant vanadium mineralization, which is a new exploration target in Manitoba. According to the company, there was no previous exploration for this type of vanadium mineralization in the province. Vanadian has an option granted by Rocas del Norte whereby Vanadian can earn up to a 100% interest in Huzyk Creek. CMJ
Canadian vanadium properties. Property
Company (Interest %)
Work Type
Province
Development Status
Commodity Exposure
Surface
British Columbia
Prospect
Vanadium
1 Blackie
Carlyle Commodities (100%)
2 Buttercup
Magnor Surface Quebec Exploration Exploration (100%)
Iron Ore, Titanium, Vanadium
3 Caster
Geomap Surface Quebec Exploration Exploration (100%)
Iron Ore, Titanium, Vanadium, Magnetite
4 Central Mineral Belt
Consolidated) Uranium (100%
5 Croteau
Metals Creek Resources (100%)
6 DAB
Contigo Surface Quebec Exploration Resources (100%)
7 Duddridge Lake
Searchlight Surface Saskatchewan Resources (100%)
Underground
Newfoundland
Exploration
Uranium, Vanadium
Surface
Newfoundland
Exploration
Vanadium
Advanced Exploration
Magnesium, Titanium, Vanadium, Iron – Total Cobalt, Uranium, Vanadium
8 Eagle Two Wyloo Metals (100%) Surface Ontario Exploration
Chromium, Copper, Gold, Nickel, Palladium, Platinum, Silver, Vanadium
9 Eagle’s Nest Wyloo Metals (100%) Surface Ontario Feasibility
Chromium, Copper, Gold, Nickel, Palladium, Platinum, Silver, Vanadium
Northern Shield Surface Ontario Exploration 10 Highbank Lake Resources (60%) and Impala Platinum (40%)
Chromium, Copper, Iron Ore, Nickel, Palladium, Platinum, Titanium, Vanadium
11 Huzyk Creek
Rocas del Norte (100%)
Surface
Manitoba
Exploration
Vanadium
Advanced Exploration
Iron Ore, Titanium, Vanadium
12 La Blache
Nevado Resources (70%) Surface Quebec and Neometals (30%)
13 Mont Sorcier
Voyager Metals (100%) Surface Quebec Feasibility
14 Moran Lake
Labrador Uranium Surface Newfoundland (100%)
Advanced Exploration
Copper, Gold, Uranium, Vanadium
15 Otish / Beaver Lake
Ditem Explorations Surface Quebec Exploration (100%)
Diamond, Uranium, Vanadium
16 Peneece
Carlyle Commodities Surface British Columbia Exploration (100%)
Iron Ore, Titanium, Vanadium
17 Pipestone Lake (Cross Lake)
Cross Lake Mineral Surface Manitoba Exploration (50%) and Gossan Resources (50%)
Advanced Exploration
Iron Ore, Titanium, Vanadium
18 Porcher
Carlyle Commodities (100%)
Surface
British Columbia
Prospect
Vanadium
19 Star
Carlyle Commodities (100%)
Surface
British Columbia
Prospect
Vanadium
Open-Pit/ Underground
Ontario
Exploration
Vanadium
21 Titan
Silver Elephant Mining Surface Ontario
Advanced Exploration
Iron Ore, Titanium, Vanadium
22 Valley of Vanadium
Strategic Metals (50%) Surface and Corcel (50%, earning 100%)
Exploration
Vanadium
23 Vanadium Ridge
Argentum Silver (80%) Surface British Columbia Exploration and Ares Strategic Mining (20%)
20 Thunderbird Wyloo Metals (100%) Canada
JUNE/JULY 2022
Northwest Territories
Iron Ore, Titanium, Vanadium
Vanadium, Magnetite
CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 23
PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE
> By Wilm Schulz
DO NOT COMPROMIZE ON
vibrating SCREEN HEALTH
V
How partnering with a technical OEM for equipment monitoring can help your bottom line
ibrating screens work at the heart of an operation; every ton of material must be screened at least once before it is loaded into a truck for sale. And just like the human heart, they need to be kept strong and healthy to do their job well. Maintenance crews have a lot to take care of; from vibrating screens and crushers to conveyors and load trucks, the list is a long one. It’s tough to be an expert on every piece of equipment. By partnering with an original equip-
24 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL
ment manufacturer (OEM) that also specializes in equipment monitoring, operations can rely on a team that not only manufactured the equipment, but offers comprehensive diagnostic tools, product-specific knowledge, and years of engineering experience. The result can be peace of mind, minimized downtime through faster problem solving, and lower repair costs down the line. There is a wide range of OEMs to choose from. While many have engineered reputable screening equipment,
it’s important to consider the services they offer to take care of that equipment for the long run. One that has dedicated research and development will be that much further ahead.
Vibration analysis and monitoring
Vibration analysis is one such tool dedicated to measuring the health of vibrating screens. These systems measure and transmit real-time vibration data such as acceleration, orbit, deviations and more. The data are transmitted while the
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Left: Partnering with an OEM can include the benefits of site visits by certified technicians. Below: Monitoring can provide historical as well as real-time data. . CREDIT: Haver & Boecker Niagara
machine is in operation via sensors that are placed at dedicated locations on the screen body. The information is recorded to software in a phone, tablet, or computer, or to a cloud service where it can be viewed from multiple devices. Some systems also store historical data to predict the machine’s future performance and schedule maintenance accordingly. All data is used to fine tune equipment for optimal performance and maximum output, as well as locate issues that could lead to larger repair costs or machine failure and unplanned downtime if not addressed. An OEM should perform a vibration analysis on any new vibrating screen before it even leaves the factory. This provides a baseline for how the machine should run. At each service visit, vibration analysis should be used to better understand the machine’s condition before any repairs are made. Once tech-
nicians make necessary repairs, another vibration analysis should be completed to ensure the problem has been solved and to document that the machine is running at optimal condition once again. The vibration analysis sensors themselves are something to consider. Some are wired and require the user to stand within range while holding the connected device. Others are wireless, providing the safety benefits of allowing the user to stand farther away. A vibration analysis setup may include one sensor that must be moved to multiple parts of a machine for a full reading. Others save time by including multiple sensors, allowing for a comprehensive look at the entire machine at the same time. JUNE/JULY 2022
Condition monitoring, sometimes called continuous monitoring, systems include permanently affixed sensors for 24/7 monitoring. Some condition monitoring systems include automated alerts if problems are detected, allowing for a quick shutdown before the problem becomes potentially catastrophic. The accumulating data can be used to improve efficiency by illustrating trends, making predictions as to how long before an issue may arise, and more. Some around-the-clock monitoring systems allow OEM certified technicians to monitor results remotely, analyze the data, and send expert recommendations to ensure equipment longevity. While many vibration analysis and condition monitoring tools are available, only a small number are manufactured by a vibrating screen OEM. An OEM offers the benefit of having engineered the equipment, fully understood its operational parameters, and being able to provide in-depth analysis and recommendations. In one recent example of an operation benefiting from these tools and services, a British Columbia producer worked with an OEM to conduct a vibration analysis on a vibrating screen that appeared to be healthy. The resulting data indicated a problem, however, and caused the operation to discover a broken spring which had led to damage to the vibrating screen’s foundation. Catching the problem early saved the producer money in downtime and repair costs. Many producers conduct biannual vibration analysis tests on their vibrating screens. Another western Canadian producer has saved significant time and money through the service by detecting problems early on that he and his team were not able to immediately otherwise identify, including a twisted frame on one of the vibrating screens. In this case, they knew something was wrong, but it took a vibration analysis to determine exactly what was wrong.
Plant simulation software
Plant simulation tools offer a high-level view of an entire operation’s efficiency. This helps optimize processes and look at opportunities for improvement in both existing sites and new mines or quarries for all mineral processing operations. The software also helps operations spot and fix bottlenecks. Plant simulation programs consider the equipment used throughout the plant, from material washers and conveyers to crushers and vibrating screens.
The operation’s existing setup, or a proposed setup, is entered into the program to understand and predict overall performance and plant flow. The systems monitor input, output, and waste piles, as well as calculating mass and volumetric flow rates based on machine placement and machine-specific operating parameters. The tool is also useful for insights into product specification or production rate changes, such as dry and wet crushing, screening, and sorting, as the software can be used for pre-calculations. While solid functionality and user interface are clearly important, extensive experience and understanding of the equipment and processes the software is meant to optimize may be more so. Partnering with an OEM can allow for the most accurate simulations and enhanced features based on engineering expertise and application knowledge gained from actual site visits and understanding an operation’s challenges firsthand. An OEM can interpret the data to provide recommendations for improvements. In addition, OEMs may offer virtual or on-site training of their software, teaching both how to use the software correctly and how to implement it in a way that benefits plant flow and design.
Comprehensive service approach
Any service tool is most effective when paired with a comprehensive, hands-on service approach. Partnering with an OEM can include the benefits of site visits by certified technicians who not only know how to use the vibration analysis, condition monitoring, and plant simulation tools, but are able to conduct thorough vibrating screen and screen media inspections to complement the analysis. OEM warranty programs can be another benefit of partnering with a manufacturer. Some are offered for up to three years and include biannual site visits, inspections, vibration analysis, screen media evaluations, and overall recommendations.
A member of your team
Choosing to partner with a technical OEM for equipment monitoring through diagnostic tools, in addition to regular service, results in a comprehensive service program designed to optimize plant flow, boost production, and increase profits, keeping the heart of an operation in optimum health. CMJ Wilm Schulz is service manager at Haver & Boecker Niagara. CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 25
> By WhistleBlower Security Staff
ESG
ENDEAVOUR’S
whistleblower HOTLINE
A trustworthy way for anyone to report anything
W
hile highly committed to corporate responsibility and facing pressures that required diligent attention to governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) to be successful (see sidebar), Canadian mining company Endeavour Silver used to gather information, managed cases, and reported on results through a mix of ad hoc Excel spreadsheets and informal communications.
This rudimentary approach, still widely used by companies of a similar size and structure, meant it was hard for Endeavour to get meaningful reporting. Further, without a formal grievance process, employees also had no real idea of who to complain to about what. Endeavour decided this was no longer cutting it. Management decided it needed a more
Pressures faced by Endeavour > Sustainability: Endeavour must not only implement best practices for minimizing any and all potentially adverse environmental impacts, it must also document its practices in a way that conforms to global reporting initiative (GRI) guidance. > Safety: In addition to employees, workplace safety affects Endeavour’s business performance, brand, and critical relationships. To be truly proactive about safety, however, Endeavour cannot just try to do things right. It must also quickly discover and correct anything that is being done wrong. > Social Responsibility: Endeavour must look after the welfare of contractors, vendors, and neighbors as well as local employees. To fulfill this social responsibility, company managers need to be alert to issues such as sexual harassment, racism, and nepotism.
26 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL
structured solution to support its GRC and global reporting initiative (GRI) efforts and started evaluating vendor offerings put forward by Travesia, an international consultancy specializing in the planning and implementation of corporate sustainability and social responsibility programs. In 2021, Canadian ethics reporting company, WhistleBlower Security, was selected to implement Endeavour’s whistleblower hotline. “WhistleBlower Security had all the functionality Endeavour needed, did not try to make them pay for any functionality they didn’t need, and had great references in the mining vertical,” said Edna Aguiñaga, Travesia Partners Sustainability Advisor. “WhistleBlower was also super-helpful and responsive during the implementation process and consistently responded to us within hours if not sooner.” Endeavour says the results of the whistleblower hotline have been numerous:
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Benefits of a whistleblower hotline In addition to whistleblower hotlines fostering trust and transparency within an organization, research conducted in 2018 at George Washington University shows whistleblower hotlines are also associated with the following: > Greater profitability and workforce productivity > Fewer lawsuits > Lower settlements > Fewer external whistleblower reports to regulatory bodies and authorities
how incidents come into case management so HR issues can be handled by the HR department, and operational safety issues can be handled by operations. The WhistleBlower Security platform also eliminates the drawbacks of unstructured communications, which can lead to errors of hearsay, issues that go unreported due to personal favoritism, and poor documentation.
Tips for outsourcing a whistleblower hotline > Look for a partner that is flexible and can provide the technology, platform, languages, and pricing you need. > Breaches in ethics and compliance can happen anywhere, at any time. Make sure your service provider is available 24/7/365. > Look for the most human whistleblower experience possible; this will identify issues faster and encourage others to report what they see.
IMAGE: ANDRESR/ISTOCK
> Make sure reporting is customizable, centralized, and searchable. You also need easy access to current and historical reports so that any hotspots or cultural changes within the organization can be quickly identified.
> A clear, trustworthy way for anyone to report anything. Endeavour employees can call a human operator or submit their issue via a webform; it is up to them. Employees also have the choice of making their report wholly anonymous – or providing their identity to WhistleBlower Security only in case there is a need to follow up. JUNE/JULY 2022
> Call center staff are trained to get it right and complete. Hotline operators make sure they get complete and accurate information, while also putting callers at ease regarding their anonymity and Endeavour’s process. This highly positive experience ensures cases can be properly researched and resolved and makes it more likely an employee will call again if and when they have something important to report. > Accurate, actionable reporting. Rather than trying to piece together a picture of what is going on at Endeavour from disparate spreadsheets, the company’s managers now have a “single source of the truth” that is accurate, complete, and up-to-date. Plus, managers can more easily see trends and anomalies as they occur, which allows them to be more proactive. > A structured, customized governance process. Endeavour can control and track
> A framework for continuous improvement. Because Endeavour’s governance process is now well-defined, it can be incrementally improved. For example, the company has extended the whistleblower hotline to serve members of the community as well as Endeavour employees. The company has also modified its incident reporting taxonomy to better reflect and support its sustainability, safety, and social goals. “We know the mining industry has a lot of pressure to provide shareholders with a documented record of compliance and protection of the environment, community, and stakeholders, which is why WhistleBlower Security makes a smart ethics and compliance partner,” said Shannon Walker, President, WhistleBlower Security Inc. WhistleBlower Security Inc. is a global, B Corp Certified provider of ethics reporting services. “It’s fantastic to see all the benefits Endeavour has experienced after rolling out the hotline to employees only last year. To then have them extend the hotline to the entire community demonstrates an extremely high level of transparency and accountability.” Walker added mining clients are often early adopters of compliance tools so management can be proactive and work to support employees, the community, and stakeholders around their sites. CMJ CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 27
COSTMINE
> By Krista Noyes
COSTMINE: PASSIVE ROAD RUNOFF TREATMENT
T
here are a lot of factors in the costs of building a mine road. Some that many people do not think about. One such factor is whether the locally sourced rock might be acid generating. If the mine rock is an acid generating rock, the mine might choose to study the economics of hauling in a non-acid generating, or an acid neutralizing material instead of treating the road runoff. Costmine has put together a model of the costs of passive water treatment for mine road runoff. In this model, we looked at the cost of building a mine road that is lined with a geosynthetic liner with a ditch to one side. The ditch is filled with acid neutralizing limestone to act as a semi-anoxic limestone drain with a 25-year lifetime. The ditch is designed to collect and treat precipitation that falls on the road and ditch surface and is sized to handle a worst-case event. The passive treatment system is designed to raise the alkalinity of the water from the road as it flows through the limestone into an onsite pond.
Table 1: Volume of limestone needed in cubic meters. Road width
Limestone (50 mg CaCO3/L)
12 meter
933 m3
15 meter
1,164 m3
18 meter
1,400 m3
24 meter
1,868 m3
28 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL
Building the road
Four different road widths with three different thicknesses are compared. The road in each scenario is 8 km in length. The underlying surface is already prepared for road construction, including the addition of the geosynthetic liner. Roads 1.0 meter thick are constructed with a 0.5-meter base course and a 0.5-meter wearing course. Roads 1.5 meter thick are constructed with two layers of base course and one layer of wearing course. Finally, roads 2.0 meters thick are constructed with three layers of base course and one layer of wearing course. In each case, the same construction equipment is used for comparison purposes. However, if a mine is building a 24-meter-wide road rather than a 12-meter-wide road, one could assume that the equipment on hand would be larger and more appropriate for the situation. The ditch represented in this model has limestone with the alkalinity concentration of 50 mg calcium carbonate (CaCO3) per liter. The volume of limestone needed for an 8 km road with this concentration is shown in Table 1. Table 2 shows the breakdown of costs included in this estimate for the 15-meter-wide road in all three thicknesses. Table 3 compares the estimated costs of building an 8 km haul road at various widths (12, 15, 18, and 24 meters) and 3 different thicknesses (1, 1.5, and 2 meters) with a semianoxic limestone drainage system of 50 mg CaCO3/L. The biggest cost to this passive water treatment system is, of course, the liner and installation. The cost of neutralizing limestone is small in comparison. If the option to use non-acid
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Table 3: Summary table: cost of building an 8 km haul road at various thickness, 50 mg caco3/l alkalinity concentration at differing road widths.
Road Width
Road Thickness 1 meter
1.5 meter
2 meter
12 meter
$2,760,300
$2,886,720
$3,013,230
15 meter
$3,292,230
$3,464,150
$3,635,970
18 meter
$3,835,460
$4,055,980
$4,281,000
24 meter
$4,955,200
$5,296,300
$5,637,400
Krista Noyes
This estimate was compiled using Costmine’s Mine and Mill Equipment – A Cost Estimator’s Guide and Reclamation Cost Guide. Costmine publishes these tools along with other mine cost estimating tools and software, and the Reclamation Cost Estimator. (www.costmine.com) Krista Noyes has worked at Costmine for 15 years as a Reclamation Specialist and Compensation Analyst.
generating material is available, that cost can be compared to this one to determine the best economic decision. CMJ Table 2: Fifteen meter wide, 8 km long road, limestone drainage alkalinity concentration of 50 mg CaCO3/L (US $).
Haul road building
Thickness
1 meter
Haul truck
$112,300
$168,500 $224,600
4,800
7,200
Grader
2,800
4,200
5,600
76,700
114,500
152,300
Compactor
Labour
2 meter
Dozer Water truck
Ditch building
1.5 meter
Shovel Geomembrane – installed
9,600
1,040
1,560
2,080
12,900
12,900
12,900
2,893,300
2,893,300 2,893,300
Limestone
31,000
31,000
31,000
Haul truck
1,090
1,090
1,090 149,100
Haul truck operator
74,900
112,000
Dozer operator
4,700
7,100
9,500
Grader operator
3,500
5,200
7,000
63,500
94,800
126,100
2,100
3,200
4,200
7,600
7,600
7,600
Water truck operator Compactor operator Shovel Operator Total cost (US $)
JUNE/JULY 2022
CÔTÉ GOLD PROCESS BULDING GOGAMA, ONTARIO
$3,292,230 $3,464,150 $3,635,970
YOUR MINE CONTRACTOR OF CHOICE SPECIALIZING IN PRE ENGINEERED STRUCTURES, CONCRETE, & SMPEI. CONTACT US:
MURRAY E. MOORE 416-678-8175 MMOORE@SCOTTSTEEL.CA
DAN SCOTT 905-631-8708 DANSCOTT@SCOTTSTEEL.CA CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 29
MAINTENANACE
> By Madeline Miller
QUICK AND ESSENTIAL MINERS’ GUIDE TO
Maintenance Planning I
n Canada, there is still a need for people in the mining industry. Essentially, it is a fundamental way of life for Canadians both economically and socially. With that said, maintenance is key when running a mining business, and it is important to have a plan for maintaining such a business. When it comes to maintenance planning for mining businesses, this guide will show the following: > What it is, > Why it matters, AND > How to create one.
> Goals being set > Performance standards > Budgeting, etc.
What is a mining maintenance plan?
Creating a maintenance plan
“A mining maintenance plan tells you and your company what needs to be done, who needs to do something, and why,” says Jessie Wallace, a writer at Paperfellows and Boomessays. “The plan reflects – and should reflect – your company as a whole, so that everyone is on the same page, when it comes to mining operations.” With that said, this plan considers the following: > Planning projects > Scheduling the projects > Assignments for each employee (miner) > How to control the resulting work > How to measure the work
30 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL
Why maintenance planning in mining matters
The truth is anything can go wrong in a mining business. From unforeseen delays to accidents on the job, a mining business, like any other business, must plan ahead to ensure the health and wellbeing of its members. Plus, with the changing times, technology and productivity must also be taken into consideration when planning for maintenance.
So, now that you know what a mining maintenance plan is, and why it is important for your mining business, it is time to learn how to create a plan. Here are some steps to follow to ensure that you are creating an effective plan: 1 Identify the right equipment First, determine what types of equipment are needed to make sure that your mining business can be maintained on a safe and legitimate level. Think about what safety measures should be taken, to which you will need to investigate safety and protective equipment (e.g., first aid, protective wear, etc.). Next, think about the tools that the workers will need (e.g.,
shovels, drills, etc.). By identifying the right equipment, you’ll save your business from the embarrassment and danger of using inadequate tools and other things. 2 Maintain a support network Like any other business, miners must have a group and place for support. Even with mental health being at the forefront of many conversations and discussions in the most recent years, it is important for miners to have a support network. 3 Establish a good program “Your maintenance plan should also come with certain parameters that help you and your company go according to plan,” says Lionel Briggs, an editor at
www.canadianminingjournal.com
Bucket of mining loader on ground on break time. CREDIT: WEIR ESCO; WWW.PEXELS.COM
Stateofwriting and Uktopwriters. “Parameters can help you define goals, the tactics needed to meet said goals, and what can be used to measure successes. Also, they will help you keep track of requests, assignments, what is being monitored, and what is being measured and evaluated in the company.” 4 Use information wisely Information will be a vital part of your mining business. With technology becoming more sophisticated, especially when it comes to data, information will need to be properly collected, stored, and processed in your mining company. With that said, your mining maintenance plan should have an effective strategy on handling the information of employees, management, and so on. JUNE/JULY 2022
5 Have levels of organization There must also be levels of organization in your maintenance plan. You can do this by involving different stages of the process. When doing so, you will need to establish different hierarchies when it comes to things like decision making and action reports. For example, when it comes to decision making, you will need to think about who in management can have decision power on what. In this way, a hierarchy is established. 6. Measure performance Finally, it is important to measure the performance of workers. This is to ensure that all workers are doing their part in the mining business. If performance is lagging, then workers can be
prompted to improve on their work. If performance is successful, then workers can be encouraged to keep up the great work.
Conclusion
Overall, having a maintenance plan for your mining business is essential. With this kind of plan, challenges can be met and overcome, and production in the Canadian mines can be smooth. By looking at this essential guide, your mining business will know how to create an effective maintenance plan. CMJ Madeline Miller is a writer at Academized. com and Ukwritings.com. She is also a contributing writer for OXEssays.com. As a content writer, she writes articles about maintenance, robotics, and automation. CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 31
MAINTENANCE
Preventing problems Komatsu program means big savings for African mine
A
ny downtime from planned or unanticipated equipment maintenance is costly. Improvements in maintenance and repair processes, communication and data analysis can make big differences in productivity, safety and expense. With these goals in mind, a mine site in Africa partnered with Komatsu to pilot a reliability solutions program dedicated to proactively monitoring asset health and automating maintenance management. The collaboration leveraged the expertise of people, the power of technology and the intelligence of data to spot opportunities to improve equipment performance. The Komatsu team put into place technology, processes and protocols to connect and collect health data from 98 haul trucks and six electric rope shovels, then aggregate and integrate that data on Komatsu’s analytics platform. 1 Technology: In addition to enabling real-time communication with operators, data logging with telemetry makes it possible to share data with and collect data from machines. The site was using Modular Mining’s MineCare, a fleet maintenance management system that is part of the Komatsu suite of solutions.
32 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL
2 Process: the data was collected, managed and monitored by the mine site staff, Komatsu’s embedded consultant at the site, and the Komatsu remote monitoring team in Australia. Together, they analyzed equipment data, performed diagnostic tasks and identified anomalies 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 3 Partnership: When an anomaly was identified, the Komatsu monitoring team would issue a notification to the entire site team. It detailed the priority level of the item along with their recommendation, and any materials needed to address the issue. Each notification would then be tracked until closure. Once these processes and protocols were put into place, the results were immediate. Two instances are described below. > Komatsu’s remote monitoring team noticed high traction alternator bearing and winding temperatures on one of the haul trucks, even though its alternator had just been replaced. When the Komatsu team asked the on-site team to check it out, they found that blower fans had been re-installed backwards, thereby failing to cool the machine properly. It
was a simple fix, but early detection saved the mine $255,109 in cost avoidance and helped longer component life. > The site was seeing issues with the steering system for the 860E haul truck, which was experiencing failures to steer motor pumps. Komatsu analyzed the data trends coming from these machines and the data pointed to a setup issue. With guidance from Komatsu, the mine site team realized they had configured the trucks according to specs for a different truck in the mine’s fleet, the 960E, which had a higher-pressure setting. The team was able to reconfigure with the correct specs and the issues ceased. Komatsu traced the problem to unclear service documentation, which was then updated to prevent a recurrence. Over the six-month pilot at the mine, the collaboration identified 391 potential critical events resulting in over $1.7 million saved in hours, tonnes and maintenance. The success of the pilot extended Komatsu’s role at the mine site and the reliability solution continues helping the site team prevent maintenance through a remote monitoring partnership. CMJ
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MAINTENANCE
H
> By Troy Geisler and Lloyd Hair
Trailer maintenance tips
eavy haul trailers trek thousands of miles during their service lives and encounter many challenges from rocks and ruts to bumps and jolts; no trailer gets out unscathed. To get the most from trailers, here are some tips to prevent costly damage and keep your trailers in top shape.
3 Pre-trip inspection
Before taking off with each load, inspect your heavy haul trailer and check that brakes and tires are in good condition. Also ensure tires are properly inflated to the right psi and confirm hydraulic hoses are free from cracks or damage. If you are operating a detachable or rear load model, be sure to properly maintain hydraulic pressure even on self-contained and wet lines.
4 Hydraulic cylinders
Hydraulic cylinders should be fully retracted when not in use to minimize the stainless-steel rams’ exposure to the elements and maximize their longevity.
5 Lubricate
Keep wheel-ends lubricated to minimize wear and prevent gear oil leakage. Well-lubricated wheel ends also ensure proper and safe operation. Brakes, cams
1 Start with the purchase
Minimizing heavy haul trailer maintenance starts long before the load hits the road. To ensure long term durability, choose units with high strength steel, such as 30-cm deep I-beams with a minimum yield strength of 100,000 psi. High-quality finishes are also important. A trailer with premium primer and topcoat finishes will look great for years to come and will, as a result, have a higher resale value.
2 Load capacity
To minimize wear on components such as brakes and tires, and to ensure safety, follow the right loading capacity of the trailer. This means getting a true idea of load constraints as well as weight, speed, and safety ratings. Manufacturers are great resources for providing a clear picture of each trailer’s true capacity. JUNE/JULY 2022
A quick walk around the trailer to inspect the frame, chains, and straps for damage is a good idea as well. Trailers see a lot of use and abuse, particularly in harsher weather conditions, so repairs or replacements could be needed sooner rather than later.
and slack adjusters need to be lubricated, as well. In addition, use dielectric grease on lighting connections, electrical components, lights and lighting harnesses to reduce corrosion. Always refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations and grease guidelines. CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 33
MAINTENANCE
Trailers see a lot of use and abuse, particularly in harsher weather conditions, so repairs or replacements could be needed sooner rather than later.
6 Tires
Travelling with underinflated tires is one of the biggest culprits of premature wear, so keeping them properly inflated will allow them to last longer and boost fuel efficiency. Regularly check tire pressure and keep them properly inflated, either manually or with an automatic tire inflation system. In addition to keeping tires inflated, it is just as important to replace them when they become worn to avoid a blowout and downtime. Always select the right size and rating to ensure optimal performance and keep tire pressure equalized for the greatest longevity.
9 Training for mechanics
Trailer owners should ensure anyone involved with any aspect of the trailer’s use has proper training, not only to prevent damage to the trailer, but also for their safety and the safety of others. In addition, ensure mechanics are welltrained on maintaining heavy haul trailers and that they follow manufacturers’ guidelines.
7 Preventative maintenance program
Developing a preventative maintenance program that aligns with an owner’s business needs will minimize breakdowns and optimize longevity of trailers as well as their components. It also will enhance safety. Trailer fleet owners should match their equipment needs to a maintenance schedule. For example, will the trailer need to be on the road all the time or will it sit idle for longer periods of time? One of the best ways to see a direct reflection of the success of your maintenance program is through the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s inspection program. The non-profit organization scores commercial motor vehicles based on inspection procedures and CVSA criteria – and the lower the number, the better.
10
8 Keep a record
Proper record keeping is also important, so you know when preventative maintenance is needed and what has already been done. This helps your operation optimize efficiency and prevent any small issues from becoming larger headaches down the road. Putting proper procedures in place will keep appropriate personnel accountable for performing the maintenance when needed.
Communication
Drivers and maintenance technicians should have open lines of communication in regard to trailer issues or required maintenance. This will ensure the right kind of maintenance is performed and that it’s done in a timely manner. From fleets of five trailers to 50, proper selection, maintenance and preventative programs are equally important in ensuring the greatest longevity, safety and performance of each unit. CMJ Troy Geisler is the vice-president of sales and marketing for Talbert Manufacturing and Lloyd Hair is the director of maintenance for Keen Transport.
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ESG
> By Katherine Dawal
ESG What it means for your insurance
IMAGE: KMINGWW/ISTOCK
ESG:
three letters that have been driving the evolution of global decision making. In recent years, we have seen insurance companies making executive level decisions to stop supporting certain industries they feel are not “ESG friendly.” But what does it really mean to have good ESG credentials, and how can mining companies adapt? Mining operations are part of the problem and solution for E (Environmental). The world’s use of non-renewable energy, JUNE/JULY 2022
including coal, natural gas, and petroleum, produce greenhouse gas emissions, which have a negative effect on climate change. The shift from coal power generation has already begun; however, the energy transition will take time especially in developing countries where the capital resources required for cleaner energy are more difficult to obtain. Thermal coal will still be needed during the energy transition if we want to keep our lights on, but some insurers have announced they are phasing out support for this industry. Mining
companies producing thermal coal are forced to find alternative risk transfer solutions, such as captives, increasing retention levels, and using non-conventional insurance markets. Some insurance companies have realized they were too quick to make executive level decisions to stop supporting non-renewable industries after realizing the world cannot quickly move from non-renewable energy sources to 100% renewable energy. The technology for constant reliable renewable energy has yet to be creCONTINUED ON PAGE 36
CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 35
ESG
ated: we are not as advanced as we had hoped. The world is still working on the solution, but it is clear there will need to be a wide variety of energy options to be sustainable. Copper, nickel, aluminum, chromium, zinc, lithium, rare earth elements, uranium, cobalt, and their by-products are key minerals and metals needed to supply cleaner energy technologies, such as solar, wind, hydro, bioenergy, geothermal, nuclear, electric vehicles, and battery storage and hydrogen. Although there is a growing demand for these minerals and metals as part of the cleaner energy transition, mining companies responsible for producing these need to do so sustainably. The mining industry relies on large quantities of water during the mineral extraction process, which is an issue as there are growing concerns with the depletion of water supply in certain jurisdictions. The energy sources mining companies use to power their processing facilities and to fuel their mobile equipment do not come from 100 percent renewable energy. Mining companies need to focus on improved water management, reducing their energy intake as well as their Scope 1 and 2 emissions. In the mining industry, the S (Social) is of utmost importance due to the typical geographic areas where mines operate. Mining activities tend to occur in small remote communities where relationships with the local community is essential for the mine’s social license to operate. Canadian mining companies operating in countries like Peru and Chile have political unrest top of mind at the board table and should review their political risk insurance coverage. Social activism has forced some mining companies to suspend operations due to issues with supplies or access to the site. This is a potential business interruption concern for insurers and mining companies will want to get ahead of it by providing insurers with information on their risk mitigation and contingency plans that
36 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL
In recent years, we have seen insurance companies stop supporting certain industries they feel are not “ESG friendly.” are in place to manage this exposure. Getting the insurer comfortable with your risk treatment plan will help you secure more favourable insurance terms. We have seen movements such as Me Too and Black Lives Matter impact the way insurers look at the makeup of boards, senior leadership, and overall workforce. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) have been brought to the forefront with expectations that companies better balance representation and compensation. In an industry that has historically been male-dominated, the mining industry has a well-known challenge of recruiting and maintaining women. Executive risk and financial line insurers want to understand how mining companies are managing their DEIB considering the increased shareholder activism targeted at companies with little diversity on their boards and the reputational damage that it can cause. The silent G (Governance) provides insurer confidence that the insured’s business practices are sound and ethical. Strong board and management structure, corporate policies, and procedures promote strong governance, which also drives the environmental and social factors. Most Canadian mining operations are required to provide the ministry of environment with financial assurance for the decommissioning and reclamation of the mine. This financial assurance can be met by placing a surety bond that offers competitive rates to companies with strong corporate governance and financials. Telling your ESG story (e.g., net-zero targets, good relationships and partner-
ships with local communities, and strong corporate governance) to your insurers is important messaging as it shows you are on the path to transition and doing your part to secure a sustainable future. The insurance industry was built on long-term relationships and insurers want to partner with insureds who have a strong future. Mining companies that are not able to demonstrate they are moving towards improving their ESG performance may find themselves in more difficult insurance renewal situations than mining companies that can evidence their ESG progress and achievable targets. ESG is a board level topic not only for mining companies but also at insurance companies looking to partner with clients that are setting ESG targets and have a plan to reduce emissions. Unlike the financial industry, insurers have not yet taken the extra step in their underwriting and do not require an evaluation of the insured’s ESG performance through credentials and scoring. However, it is very likely during the insurance renewal process your insurers will ask more questions, possibly even a questionnaire, regarding your company’s ESG strategy and commitments as they complete their own due diligence. There is no question certain insurance markets will move towards evaluating ESG credentials, but it has not yet been determined how that will look. In October 2021, a Lloyd’s of London insurance syndicate was created with the sole purpose of underwriting risks that perform well against ESG metrics. There is a clear shift in the insurance industry to continue to support only the “ESG friendly” companies. My advice is to be proactive and continuously share your ESG journey with your insurers. Communication is the building block of long-term relationships and the founding block of the insurance industry. CMJ Katherine Dawal is vice-president, risk management at NFP Canada.
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ON THE MOVE
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Executive, Management and Board Changes in Canada’s Mining Sector
MANAGEMENT MOVES
TOP MOVES IN THIS ISSUE
» 1911 Gold appointed Carmen Amezquita as CFO. » Former Austral Gold CFO Jose Bordogna rejoined the company in the same role. » Bluestone Resources named Robert Gill as VP and managing director of Guatemala. Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan
As part of New Found Gold’s transition plan dating back to 2020, founder and chairman Collin Kettell took over the role of CEO from Craig Roberts. Aside from his role with New Found Gold, he also serves as the founder and executive chairman of Palisades Goldcorp; is co-founder and CEO of Nevada King Gold; and is co-founder of GoldSpot Discoveries.
Larry Radford
Jaimie Donovan
Gerard Bond has begun his role as president and CEO of OceanaGold following news of his appointment in February. Bond has extensive experience in global finance and the resources industry and has held numerous senior executive roles across Europe and Australia. Most recently, he was the finance director and CFO at Newcrest Mining from 2012 to 2022. Prior to joining Newcrest, he was with BHP for over 14 years, eventually becoming head of human resources.
Tony Makuch was named nonexecutive chairman of Wallbridge Mining Company, having served on the company’s board since 2019, and also joined the board of Discovery Silver. Recently, he briefly served as CEO of Agnico Eagle Mines following its merger with Kirkland Lake Gold, the company he led since 2016. Makuch is a professional engineer (Ontario) with over 35 years of management, operations and technical experience.
» Electra Battery Materials announced the departure of CFO Ryan Snyder. It also named Renata Cardoso as VP of sustainability and low carbon. » Exploits Discovery appointed Ken Tylee as VP exploration. » Fredonia Mining made Omar Salas its new CFO, succeeding Carlos Espinosa. » Frontier Lithium appointed Tony Zheng as CFO. » Generation Mining named Christopher Stackhouse as VP finance, replacing Patricia Mannard. VP exploration Rod Thomas also stepped down. » GFG Resources’ VP of exploration Rob Mackie resigned. » GoldHaven Resources appointed Sead Hamzagic as CFO, replacing the retiring Darryl Jones. » Tim Smith became VP exploration and CEO of GoldMining’s new Alaskafocused subsidiary.
JUNE/JULY 2022
» Hylands International appointed Robert Suttie as president, CEO and company secretary. » Kingsview Minerals welcomed Julio DiGirolamo as CFO. » Michael Durose became president and CEO of Lavras Gold, replacing Mike Mutchler. » Craig Hairfield was appointed CEO and director of Mantaro Precious Metals. » David Steinepreis resigned as Meryllion Resources CFO and will be succeeded by Chuck Forrest. » Igor Danyliuk replaced Max Vichniakov as the president and CEO of Nevada Zinc. » NorthWest Copper appointed Peter Lekich as director of investor relations. » Omai Gold Mines named Sandra Evans as interim CFO and Igor Zonenschein as corporate secretary. » PureGold director Mark O’Dea took on the role of interim president and CEO, with Troy Fierro stepping down. » Rock Tech Lithium named Cristina Rocco as COO. Sanatana Resources retained Jeff Kyba as its B.C. exploration manager. » Christos Doulis became president, CEO and a director of Smooth Rock Ventures. CONTINUED ON PAGE 38
CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 37
MANAGEMENT MOVES » Trevali Mining named Derek du Preez as COO. » Troilus Gold promoted Blake Hylands, SVP of exploration, to president. » TRU Precious Metals CFO Olga Nikitovic became the company’s president.
BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS » Copper Mountain Mining welcomed Jeane Hull to its board.
» Michael Durose was added to the board of Lavras Gold, replacing Antenor Silva.
» Euro Manganese appointed Hanna Schweitz to its board.
» Jonathan Goodman joined Magna Mining as a non-executive director.
» John Gravelle became board chairman at Foremost Lithium Resource.
» Vijay Mehta joined the board of New Found Gold.
» FPX Nickel appointed Anne Currie as a director.
» Novo Resources director and CEO Rob Humphryson departed.
» Golden Independence Mining appointed Jordan Carroll and Ben Hinkle to its board, with the latter replacing Robert Mintak.
To send your management, board and award announcements directly to us for inclusion in the next newsletter, please email your submission to editor@ canadianminingjournal.com
» Hylands International chairman and CEO Hang Peng resigned from the board. Also leaving the board were Tianxiang Sun, Guoquing Li and Zhengfu Zhu. New director appointments were Rana Vig and MarieJosée Audet.
» The board of Pasofino Gold welcomed Savas Sahin. » Patriot Battery Metals added Jon Christian Evensen to its board of directors. » Silver One Resources appointed Ken Engquist as an independent director. » Solitario Zinc added Debbie Mino-Austin to its board of directors.
» K2 Gold welcomed Jim Paterson to its board of directors.
» Dave McMillan retired as chairman of South Star Battery Metals. His replacement is Marc Leduc.
» K92 Mining appointed Nan Lee to its board of directors.
» Thunder Mountain Gold director Joseph Baird retired.
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