Canadian Mining Journal | November 2023

UNDERGROUND TUNNELING, VENTILATION, AND COMMUNICATION > Ventilation on demand: It is the mine that guides us

WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION FOR MINING OPERATIONS DEEP SEA MINING FACES A SEA OF OPPOSITION WHO WAS SKOOKUM JIM? NOVEMBER 2023 | www.canadianminingjournal.com | PM # 40069240

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NOVEMBER 2023 VOL. 144, NO.9

FEATURES

19

UNDERGROUND TUNNELING, VENTILATION, AND COMMUNICATION

15 Downstream transformation unlocked by next generation networks.

19 Applying the 3Rs to mine ventilation.

21 How asset managers influence ESG integration in mine ventilation strategies.

25 Cavity filling with foam product.

34 Ventilation on demand: It is the mine that guides us.

TECHNOLOGY AND IoT

31

17 Satellite enabled IoT technology supports efficient and sustainable mining.

31 Revolutionizing fleet management in the mining industry: IoT’s impact on business operations.

FIRE SAFETY

23 Wildfire risk mitigation for mining operations.

DEEP SEA MINING

28 Deep sea mining faces a sea of opposition.

34

SUSTAINABILITY

37 Sustainability problems now driving mining and metals innovations.

HISTORY OF MINING

39 Who was Skookum Jim?

DEPARTMENTS

4 EDITORIAL | To permit, or not to permit, that is the question!

6 FAST NEWS | Updates from across the mining ecosystem.

10 LAW | What the alternative minimum tax could mean for investment in critical mineral exploration.

12 MIN(E)D YOUR BUSINESS | Engaging with the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE): A key decision for Canadian mining companies.

14 ESG | Digging deeper to achieve net-zero in the mining industry.

41 ON THE MOVE | Tracking executive, management, and board changes in Canada’s mining sector.

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Front cover image: Miners inspecting an underground ventilation system in a gold mine.

CREDIT: MICHAEL EVANS/ADOBE STOCK.

Coming in November 2023 Canadian Mining Journal’s first combined December 2023 – January 2024 issue will look at what is happening around the world as mining grows more interconnected in our shared quest for net-zero in addition to featuring articles on water management.

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 NOVEMBER 2023 Vol. 144 – No. 09

To permit, or not to permit, that is the question!

Tamer Elbokl, PhD

C

urrently, it takes up to 15 years to permit a new mine in Canada. To resolve the challenges with permitting and authorizations, provincial and federal governments must provide the resources to expedite environmental reviews and permitting. The federal government plans to accelerate permitting processes and expedite the production of critical minerals. However, other government policies continue to hurt Canada’s attractiveness for mining investment.

A recent decision by Canada’s Supreme Court has declared certain provisions of Canada’s Impact Assessment Act (IAA) unconstitutional. The ruling specifically found the IAA’s provisions related to the assessment of “designated projects” to be outside the jurisdiction of the federal Parliament and, therefore, unconstitutional.

This decision is expected to lead to significant revisions to the IAA, which was passed in 2019. A response by the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) noted the uncertainty caused by the ruling will impact the mining industry and Canada’s energy transition, with many projects across the country currently undergoing federal assessment and more entering the process.

Highlighting the complex regulatory framework that mining projects face in Canada, including comprehensive provincial regulations and various federal requirements, the association argued there is a need to focus on regulatory certainty and investment competitiveness to position Canada for critical minerals success. It is essential that the effective and efficient regulation of the mining industry must become a priority for all levels of government in Canada.

Moreover, the results of the Fraser Institute’s 2022 annual survey of mining and exploration companies showed that when focusing solely on policy, Canada dropped to the fourth most attractive region for mining investment, behind the United States, Europe, and Australia. According to the survey, senior mining executives continue to cite policy uncertainty around protected areas and disputed land claims as major barriers to investment in every Canadian jurisdiction.

This issue features several articles on topics related to underground mining, including tunneling, ventilation, and communication, on pages 15 to 27 and 34 to 36.

On the hot topic of deep sea mining, the Canadian government recently echoed European governments, scientists, and environmental organizations in citing a need for robust regulation of seabed mining. Currently, Canada has a moratorium on deep sea mining in both national and international waters and does not presently have a domestic legal framework that would permit seabed mining. Catherine Hercus sheds some light on the current global state of seabed mining on page 28.

This year, Canada has been affected by a series of wildfires, and consequently mining companies have become exposed to wildfire risk. On page 23, wildfire risk mitigation for mining operations is discussed by the experts of Forsite Fire.

Finally, do you know who Skookum Jim was? If you do not, please flip to page 39 of this issue to read John Sandlos’s article on the History of Mining.

The next issue of the Canadian Mining Journal will be our first combined December-January issue. It will discuss international mining and the role played by the mining sector in supporting the global economy. Relevant editorial contributions can be sent directly to the Editor in Chief no later than November 10, 2023. 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 News Editor Marilyn Scales mscales@canadianminingjournal.com Production Manager Jessica Jubb jjubb@northernminer.com Advisory Board David Brown (Golder Associates) Michael Fox (Indigenous Community Engagement) Scott Hayne (Redpath Canada) Gary Poxleitner (SRK) Manager of Product Distribution Allison Mein 416-510-6789 ext 3 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).

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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.

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FAST NEWS

Updates from across the mining ecosystem

• FEASIBILITY | Canada Nickel publishes positive Crawford feasibility including

carbon capture

Canada Nickel Company has released the results of its bankable feasibility study for the wholly owned Crawford nickel sulphide project. The study confirms significantly improved economics compared to the preliminary economic assessment (PEA), which did not include carbon capture and storage.

According to Canada Nickel’s numbers, the Crawford deposit has the world’s second-largest nickel reserves – 8.35 billion lb. of nickel. The proven and probable reserves total 1.72 billion tonnes grading 0.22% nickel, plus copper, palladium, and platinum.

Crawford also has the world’s second largest nickel resources.

Inclusive of reserves the measured and indicated resources are 2.46 billion tonnes at 0.24% nickel, containing 13.30 billion lb. of nickel. There is also an inferred resource of 1.69 billion tonnes grading 0.22% nickel, containing 8.21 billion lb. of nickel.

The project has an initial life of 41 years, during which time it will produce 3.54 billion lb. of nickel, 52.9 million lb. of cobalt, 490,000 oz. of palladium and platinum, 58 million tonnes of iron, and 6.2 million lb. of chromium. Annual EBITDA will be US$811 million, and the free cash flow will be US$546 million.

Uniquely, Crawford will be a net negative contributor to global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, thanks to the company’s in-process tailings (IPT) method of carbonization will be used. It

involves injecting a concentrated source of CO2 into tailings in the mill. The carbon is geologically sequestered in the tails while they are in the processing circuit, rather than after.

Canada Nickel puts capital costs for the first and second stages of the project at US$3.54 billion. After that there will be US$1.62 million for sustaining costs. The capital cost does not include escalation or interest. CMJ

• DECARBONIZATION | Phasing out coal power

• COLLECTABLE | Canadian mint introduces

The federal government’s ambitious plans to cut carbon emissions across Canada are well known. The latest undertaking is to phase out coal-fired electricity generation in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Toward that end, federal Cabinet ministers met in Ottawa with representatives of the two provinces to discuss what needs to be done. Targets include the phase out of coal-fired electricity generation by 2030, the drive to net-zero electricity by 2035, and a net-zero economy by 2050 in a manner that is affordable.

To reach the goals of the joint policy statement, three funding activities were announced. First, Nova Scotia power will receive $11.5 million of federal money to improve its grid system monitoring and automation as renewable energy projects come on stream. Second, The Canadian government is offering $7 million to support predevelopment of ARC Clean Technology, this country’s small modular reactor at Point Lepreau, N.B. And third, there will be $2 million available from the federal government to explore the feasibility of converting the Belledune coal-fired generating station in New Brunswick to sustainably sourced biomass. An additional $978,945 has been promised to the Belledune Port Authority to undertake site preparations to establish an industrial green hub.

Canada’s electricity comes 80% from renewables. CMJ

The Royal Canadian Mint newest single-mine Gold Maple Leaf coin is entirely sourced from Newmont’s Éléonore mine in northern Quebec. The coin weighs one Troy ounce and is 99.99% pure with a face value of $50.

The Mint’s first single-source Gold Maple Leaf coin was struck using gold from Agnico Eagle Mines’ Meliadine mine.

“As the world’s recognized sustainability leader in gold mining, Newmont is honoured to supply the gold for the Royal Canadian Mint’s Pure Gold Maple Leaf single-sourced coin from our Éléonore mine in Québec,” said Tom Palmer, Newmont president and CEO. “Our employees at Éléonore and across the globe take great pride in demonstrating our stated purpose to create value and improve lives through sustainable and responsible mining. And it all begins with our people working safely and with integrity, every single day.”

The Éléonore mine is located in Eeyou Istchee James Bay, 800 km north of Montreal. The first gold was poured on October 1, 2014, and it is among the largest gold mines in Quebec, having produced over 215,000 oz. of gold in 2022. Guidance for 2023 is 265,000 to 295,000 oz. at an all-in sustaining cost of between US$1,300 and US$1,400 per ounce. CMJ

plants in Atlantic Canada by 2030

6 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

Drill core at the Crawford nickel project north of Timmins, Ont. CREDIT: CANADA NICKEL COMPANY

single-source bullion coin using gold from Éléonore mine

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SUPPLIED CONTENT

WARNING PLATE SAFETY INNOVATION A t the end of 2021 in the City of Chihuahua in Mexico, Engineer Alejandro Gonzalez Borja, supported

by Grupo Peñoles and Aura Minerals, successfully manufactured and tested an innovative product aimed at the safety of personnel working in underground mines.

This novel product called WARNING PLATE is a device that measures, monitors, and alerts personnel in advance when displacements of the rock mass occur which cause dangerous rock falls within underground works such as tunnels and mines.

These events are the second leading cause of death in underground mining worldwide. It is for this reason that this device represents a great contribution to the safety of mining personnel around the world and can make a big difference in reducing accidents due to rock falls.

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This recently created device has been quickly accepted and implemented by mines in Mexico and interest has been

growing worldwide. It is estimated that by 2024 installations will begin in Canada, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, the United States and Australia. We hope to be able to receive much more news and evidence of timely activations that prevent fatalities and accidents worldwide.

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LAW

By Andrew N. Disipio, Philip B. Ward, and Andrew Young

What the alternative minimum tax could mean for investment in critical mineral exploration

Critical mineral exploration tax credit (CMETC)

Under current law, investors who subscribe to “flow-through shares” in a mining company may claim a tax deduction for certain mineral exploration expenditures incurred by the company in Canada and renounced to the investor. In certain cases, the investor may also claim an additional tax credit in respect of such expenditures, thereby enhancing the tax benefits associated with the flow-through share investment.

Announced in the 2022 federal budget, the CMETC is available to purchasers of flow-through shares where the issuer uses the proceeds to conduct qualifying grassroots exploration in Canada primarily targeting certain critical minerals. The CMETC is 30%, twice the amount of the regular 15% mineral exploration tax credit (METC) that applies to other (non-critical)

10 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

minerals. The new tax credit was introduced as part of Canada’s critical minerals strategy to aid in the transition to a green and digital economy.

Proposed changes to the AMT

The 2023 federal budget proposed changes to the AMT. Although the minimum tax itself is not new, it had not been modified substantially since Canada first adopted it in 1986.

The AMT is an alternative tax calculation meant to ensure that high-income individuals and trusts do not pay a disproportionately small amount of tax relative to their income compared with other taxpayers. The AMT regime operates by applying a fixed rate of tax against a parallel income calculation that allows fewer deductions, exemptions, and tax credits than under the “regular” income tax rules. Individuals then pay the greater of their tax owing under the “regular” rules and the AMT. The proposed changes aim to broaden the tax base used for the AMT such that it would be calculated by reference to a higher share of total income. For example, only 50% of non-refundable tax credits, such as the CMETC, will be allowed to reduce the AMT under the proposed rules. As well, the federal

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PHOTO: CAVAN/ADOBE IMAGES

P

roposed legislative changes to Canada’s alternative minimum tax (AMT) could reduce the tax advantages associated with flow-through shares, including the critical mineral exploration tax credit (CMETC) recently introduced to stimulate investment in critical mineral exploration. The changes to the AMT are set to be effective in Jan. 2024.

AMT tax rate would rise from 15% to 20.5% (which may also have consequential effects on the applicable rates of provincial AMT). However, there is also a relieving change proposed in that the amount of income that is excluded from the calculation for eligible taxpayers is proposed to be increased to $173,000 from the current $40,000.

Impact of the changes

In a September 2023 report, the parliamentary budget office (PBO) released its own analysis of the revenue expected from the AMT changes for both individuals and trusts. The PBO said the estimated net revenue from the proposed changes to the AMT is $2.6 billion over five years. Almost all of this will come from individuals, with the tax burden expected to shift to those earning higher incomes. Only $50 million of the expected $2.6 billion will come from trusts.

How AMT changes could affect flow-through shares’ investment

As most individuals who invest in flow-through shares are high-income earners, stakeholders are concerned that the new AMT rules will lead to a decrease in investment into flowthrough shares by significantly reducing many investors’ par-

NOVEMBER 2023

ticipation capacity. Under the new AMT regime, a high-income individual would only be able to invest a lower amount in flowthrough shares before becoming subject to AMT. Furthermore, under the new rules, 30% of capital gains realized on the donation of flow-through shares would be included in determining the AMT. As many flow-through shares’ investors subscribe in connection with a donation strategy, the proposed AMT rules further disincentivize a major component of the flow-through share regime.

The proposed amendments to the AMT rules could reduce the tax incentives to invest in critical mineral exploration.

Mineral exploration companies should be cognizant of these proposed legislative changes, and their potential dampening effect on the demand for flow-through shares once they come into effect. In the short-term, there may be increased demand for the remainder of 2023 while the current AMT rules remain in force. CMJ ANDREW N. DISIPIO is a partner at Bennett Jones in Toronto. He practices securities and corporate law. PHILIP B. WARD is a partner at Bennett Jones in Toronto. He has a general corporate tax practice that focuses on domestic and international tax planning. ANDREW YOUNG is an associate at Bennett Jones in Toronto. He has a general tax practice.

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 11

MIN(E)D YOUR BUSINESS

By Robert Wisner, William Pellerin, and Lisa Page

ENGAGING WITH THE CANADIAN OMBUDSPERSON FOR RESPONSIBLE ENTERPRISE (CORE):

A key decision for Canadian mining companies

T

he Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) is a business and human rights grievance mechanism established by the government of Canada in 2019.

The CORE has jurisdiction to investigate and report on certain complaints of alleged human rights abuses concerning Canadian companies’ mining operations abroad. CORE presents Reports to the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development. While the CORE cannot issue any fines or penalties, an unfavourable report from the CORE can lead to the denial of trade support from the government of Canada and cause reputational damage to the targets of the investigation.

The CORE published two reports on Canadian junior mining companies Dynasty Gold Corp. (Dynasty) and GobiMin Inc. (GobiMin) this summer. In July, the CORE concluded that a forced labour investigation into Dynasty’s operations was warranted following a lack of full and active participation with the CORE’s dispute resolution process. However, the CORE reached a different conclusion in August, finding that a full investigation into GobiMin’s operations was unwarranted since GobiMin had engaged in good faith participation in the CORE’s process.

The allegations facing Dynasty and GobiMin each arose from the companies’ former mining operations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China that were accused of using or benefitting from the use of Uyghur forced labour. The CORE became involved in these matters following receipt of complaints filed by a coalition of 28 organizations that alleged forced labour in these companies’ foreign operations.

The CORE receives increasing number of complaints Besides the CORE’s reports on Dynasty and GobiMin, the CORE has issued several other initial assessment reports this year concerning Canadian garment sector activities abroad. Nike Canada Corp., Ralph Lauren Canada LP, Walmart Canada Corp., Hugo Boss Canada Inc., and Diesel Canada Inc. have now each become the subject of a CORE complaint. These investigations are indicative of increased activity by various organizations filing complaints with the CORE. In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the CORE received five complaints, whereas that number increased fourfold to twenty in 2022-2023.

12 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

The CORE has a low threshold for evaluating the admissibility of a complaint. An admissible complaint concerns an alleged abuse of an international recognized human right. The alleged abuse arises from the operations abroad of a Canadian company in the mining, garment, or oil and gas sector. The abuse must have occurred after May 1, 2019, or, if it allegedly occurred before May 1, 2019, must be ongoing at the time of the complaint.

Upon receipt of an admissible complaint, the CORE will undertake an initial assessment and will review and publicly report on recommendations. Mediation processes are also possible if agreed-to by the parties. If the CORE opts to begin an investigation, it will engage in a joint fact-finding exercise with the parties or an independent fact-finding exercise where collaboration is not possible.

www.canadianminingjournal.com

PHOTO: HUNG/ADOBE IMAGES

The CORE investigates Dynasty Gold Corp., but declines to investigate GobiMin Inc.

Early engagement with the CORE process

The CORE’s conclusions with respect to GobiMin may provide a useful roadmap for other mining companies engaging with the CORE. The GobiMin complaint did not proceed to a full investigation, in part because the company was able to respond credibly to the allegations at the earliest possible stage. Although GobiMin strongly disputed the allegations and deemed them to be ill-founded, the CORE specifically noted that GobiMin’s good faith participation in the process was an important consideration in not launching an investigation. This suggests that full and active participation in the initial CORE process, alongside experienced legal counsel, may constitute the most advantageous path forward.

By contrast, Dynasty was unable to sufficiently rebut (i) the allegation that it did not have operational control over the Chinese gold mine at issue and (ii) the allegation that the alleged human rights abuse arose after it exited the region. In response, the CORE has launched an investigation using its independent fact-finding into the process and form of termination of Dynasty’s investment activities in the Chinese mine, including into its leverage with former local partner Western Region Gold Co. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned enterprise.

Risk of civil liability for Canadian mining operations abroad

In considering whether to voluntarily engage with the CORE, Canadian mining companies should be mindful of possible civil liability that may arise to purported victims of breaches of customary international law. The 2020 Supreme Court of Canada

decision, regarding Nevsun Resources Ltd. versus Araya, has paved the way for plaintiffs to bring legal actions in Canadian courts against Canadian miners operating abroad, concerning violations of customary international law. Such claims may include allegations of use of forced labour, slavery, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, and crimes against humanity.

This decision arose from allegations by Eritrean workers that they were allegedly conscripted into the military and forced to work at a mine owned by Canadian mining company Nevsun Resources Ltd. in Eritrea between 2008 and 2010.

Committee recommendation to expand the CORE’s mandate

In September 2023, the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade recommended that the government of Canada, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, explore all options for expanding the CORE’s mandate to ensure that the CORE can review complaints in an adequate and timely manner. This recommendation signals that the Committee anticipates Canadian firms will encounter increasing scrutiny from complainants and the CORE. The expansion of the CORE’s mandate could have a significant impact on many Canadian firms’ access to financing and corporate reputations. Furthermore, any modifications to the CORE’s mandate permitting the levying of fines or penalties on Canadian businesses could significantly increase the risk associated with the CORE’s investigations. CMJ Robert Wisner and William Pellerin are partners and Lisa Page is an associate at McMillan LLP.

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CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 13

ESG

By Uwe König, PhD

Digging deeper to achieve net-zero in the mining industry

I

n the past, accumulations of waste and contaminated water have been unmistakable indicators of precious metal extraction, often with little consideration for the Earth. However, a shift is underway.

Consumers are increasingly preferring products made with sustainable materials, and producers are adapting accordingly.

As the energy transition ramps up, there is an increasing demand for more, greener metal. In fact, to open a new mine today, environmental impact is already a non-negotiable consideration. The question is “What exactly is net-zero, and can we achieve it?”

Benefits across the mining process

To make an impact, there are three main areas of the mining process we can target: what we are mining for, how we mine, and what comes after operations finish.

Net-zero mining means no environmental impact – in the air, water, or on land. While it is a challenge, there are already many tools that can help. Technological innovations, such as automation, real-time environmental monitoring, ore sorting, and optimized furnace performance, can significantly reduce carbon footprint across the mining value chain. When applied systematically across all three areas, they create great value like savings in energy, resources, and costs.

Extracting sustainable mining methods

Combination mining is a radical shift that could make a massive difference in the industry. By extracting every element that could be useful from the mined rock instead of only one, less waste is generated, profits are scaled more easily, and the industry is supported with valuable extra resources, such as rare earth elements. This approach relies on great elemental analysis to characterize exactly what is in the rock – which is very achievable today with technology like pulsed fast thermal neutron activation (PFTNA) analyzers.

Processing, or how we mine, is the best target for producers looking to go green. If ores are sorted in the mine or at the stockpile, they can be put into the right place the first time to avoid the heavy and energy-intensive work of moving them around later. Energy spent on crushing and grinding waste rock can also be cut out because only ore-bearing material will make it to the mill.

The benefits of ore sorting and analysis keep compounding further along the chain. Metal yield can be maximized while minimizing wasted material and energy if it is known exactly

14 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

Laboratory automation. CREDIT: MALVERN PANALYTICAL

what is entering the furnace or smelter. Receiving this data in real-time also prevents potential tonnes of wasted material due to issues and downtime.

Wastewater: Taking the waste out

Online analysis could easily reduce huge piles of waste, but less visible wastewater is also critical for mining’s environmental impact. The water used for processing can be recycled, but it takes precise monitoring to pick up potentially toxic elements and remove them safely. Luckily, instruments like the Epsilon Xflow make this kind of technology more accessible than ever.

Aim high!

There is a lot of support available, so mining companies should aim high and not be discouraged by how big the task seems.

Technology is filling in the gaps, but there are also a lot of people working on helping the mining industry over the hurdles to net-zero. It is our responsibility to help the mining industry become as sustainable as possible. CMJ Dr. Uwe König, PhD, has over 17 years of experience working with rocks, ores, and minerals, and he is focusing also on new real-time, digital, and automated solutions. In 2005, Dr. König joined Malvern Panalytical from the Martin-Luther University where he received his Ph.D. in mineralogy and geology. He has particular interest and expertise in X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the Rietveld method.

www.canadianminingjournal.com

UNDERGROUND COMMUNICATION

By Steve Gravel

Downstream transformation unlocked by next generation

networks

PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK/RAMIL

W

henever I read an article about the mine of the future, irrespective of how correct or incorrect the subject matter is, I am intrigued by the accompanying photographs. Sometimes it is a miner using a tablet or smart phone, and sometimes it is a collage of futuristic images of miners using different high-tech looking instruments with bright highlights denoting interconnectivity. This is all done in an attempt to depict a future of mining that is different and more advanced than present day mines.

What has become clear is that the NOVEMBER 2023

recent strides in next generation networks have made some of these forward-looking prognostications a reality. I have written previously about the evolution of underground communications with a focus on leaky feeder, so I will focus on the state of the communication install base and the downstream benefits that have been unlocked for the industry in this article.

Developing robust communication systems is a tough task for underground mining because of the harsh conditions and the limitations imposed by operating in a workplace encased by rock deep

below the surface. Until recently, the adoption of communication systems has been variable and uneven as there has not been a system that can solve all of the problems and difficulties encountered with underground mine communications. A few technologies have gained prominence sector-wide, such as long term evolution cellular LTE, LoRa WAN, Wi-Fi and mesh networks made up of a combination of communications protocols. However, of late, LTE has risen above the rest as a clear winner on functionality and scalability.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 15

UNDERGROUND COMMUNICATION

By far, the technology that has become the fastest growing in the install base in underground is LTE, which is a wireless communication standard that operates in the licensed frequency bands between 700 MHz and 6 GHz. This is the same technology that smart phones run on when they are not connected to Wi-Fi. In the mining industry, LTE is now being used across the industry to unlock downstream benefits like widespread use of handheld smart devices, remote monitoring, machine health tracking, occupancy tracking, and many more. Underground LTE provides miners access to the connectivity surface operations take for granted and it makes available high-speed and ultra-low latency that is critical for automated processes in the underground environment.

A good example of LTE in practice was recently announced by telecom giant Nokia and mining equipment manufacturer Sandvik. Together, with the Finnish research organization VTT, the two companies have started working towards deploying private LTE (5G) networks and high-capacity computing in service of Sandvik’s autonomous mining roadmap. Fifth generation mobile networks (5G) are the newest communication standard that enables ultra-fast connectivity with very low latency.

The goal was to pilot and evaluate the feasibility and potential of 5G and the associated edge computing capacity enabling new technology adoption within underground mines. Chiefly, mission critical situational awareness functions, real-time video, and near real-time machine data gathering were successfully explored as part of the study. This successful pilot drives at the core benefits of LTE and 5G in industrial settings, scalability, dependability, and low latency.

Private LTE generally, and 5G in particular, is the first widely utilized wireless network technology designed for industrial applications. 5G provides the scalability and reliability to support the future of connected industrial spaces. These networks provide nearly unlimited capacity for massive and scalable connectivity that will allow thousands of simultaneous devices to be connected. It is estimated that it will be able to support one million devices, compared to the 2,000 supported by 4G. This is particularly interesting in terms of industrial internet of things (IIoT). Moreover, a dependable communications infrastructure is paramount in an industry like mining where safety is critical. 5G networks allow for ultra-reliable low-latency com-

16 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

Private LTE generally, and 5G in particular, is the first widely utilized wireless network technology designed for industrial applications. munications, allowing for real-time video streaming and data transmission. Tele-operated equipment and command and control in general is made possible through 5G networks.

LTE networks will eventually become the standard in underground mines because of some of the benefits discussed above.

For technology companies seeking to explore the benefits of these next generation networks, testing and troubleshooting solutions that leverage this technology are important. The Centre for Smart Mining at Cambrian College is currently testing a solution that monitors asset health using a 5G backbone. The technology is being put through its paces at NORCAT’s underground test centre in Onaping. The centre is uniquely equipped with a 5G test network provided by Rogers for companies to test new technology. Working with a research team and having access to resources like this test network demystifies new technology and makes it easier to deploy in the field.

Mining has long been thought to be a slow adopter of technologies. While not every level of every mine has been lit up by LTE, this domain seems to be an area where the mining sector has bucked the late adopter trend. There are key benefits and downstream technologies that are unlocked by LTE and 5G. Soon, the futuristic forward-looking misty blue images of interconnected mines will not be so far-fetched as the smart mine becomes a reality. CMJ Steve Gravel is the manager of the Centre for Smart Mining at Cambrian College.

www.canadianminingjournal.com

TECHNOLOGY/IoT

By Nicholas Prevost

How satellite enabled IoT technology supports efficient and sustainable mining

PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK/RAMIL

T

he expectations on mining firms to operate sustainably are increasing globally. The Canadian government’s recent call to halt deep sea mining, because of its environmental impact, is a key example of the increasing pressure on mining firms to conduct business in a sustainable way.

With environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) now a top area of concern for the mining industry, firms must look to adopt technologies that not only facilitate safer and more sustainable operations, but also enable transparency of reporting to meet regulations.

As mining sites are usually located in remote areas, the access to a reliable internet connection is often limited because installation of terrestrial connectivity can be both difficult and costly.

However, satellite enabled internet of things (IoT) solutions are already helping to facilitate this move. Whether by improving process visibility to ensure operational efficiency or supporting employee welfare, these solutions are proving instrumental in the future of mining and will only increase in importance moving forward.

NOVEMBER 2023

Increasing operational visibility and efficiencies

By tracking machinery and day-to-day operations via satellite enabled IoT solutions, mining firms can extract a significant amount of granular data to enable better decision making and improve efficiencies.

Water management is a core element of improving sustainability and with the help of connected sensors, key operations in this area – like tailings dam monitoring and water pump control – can be conducted more accurately and remotely.

This can help operators to monitor for leaks, polluted water, or water wastage more easily and enable them to act quickly in case of an emergency.

Solution providers such as Insight Terra help mining operators manage geotechnical, hydrological, and other environmental risks through their satellite enabled IoT solutions powered by Viasat’s ultra-reliable L-band satellite network. As the solution is managed through Insight Terra’s “Insight Platform,” mining firms can receive realtime data that is automatically analyzed and presented in an easily digestible way

via customisable dashboards, enabling them to make more informed, rapid decisions as needed.

Another example of the use of satellite enabled IoT solutions to improve operational efficiencies can be seen in the maintenance of closed mines where pumps can be controlled remotely using such technologies. One of the costliest operations for firms managing these sites is the pumping of water out of closed mines – both in terms of energy use and the requirement of staff to oversee the process. With mining firms legally obligated to closely monitor closed locations, despite them no longer active, automation of these operations can be a great investment.

Improving employee well-being and safety

Satellite enabled IoT solutions can also play a vital role in improving employee safety. For example, through remote IoT weather monitoring capabilities, mining firms can improve their understanding of climate patterns that may impact the well-being of their employees on site.

Through data capture of past weather CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 17

TECHNOLOGY/IoT events, companies can leverage predictive analytics to anticipate upcoming changes ahead of time, for example when sudden heavy rainfall or other extreme weather conditions take place and require evacuation of the site. In doing so, firms can mitigate against any health and safety risks by protecting their workforce well in advance.

Moreover, a recent report by McKinsey found 71% of mining leaders believe talent shortage is hindering them from reaching their objectives. With satellite enabled IoT solutions giving mining firms a reduced need for staff on site, firms can prioritize investment in other areas. This means more training or skillset development programmes to help elevate the capabilities and expertise of their workforce in line with their objectives.

Satellite enabled IoT solutions can also facilitate centralized vehicle and machinery monitoring to improve staff safety.

For example, supported by Viasat’s satellite connectivity, Ivanhoe Mines has gained greater understanding of their

everyday operations through the adoption of satellite enabled IoT technology for remote monitoring over recent years.

Their central office can monitor the speed of their vehicles more closely, enabling operators to contact drivers to request they slow down where needed and reduce the risk of accidents.

Leveraging satellite connectivity to meet current and future ESG demands

Given mining sites are typically located in remote, rural areas, access to reliable connectivity to power IoT solutions can be limited or even unavailable. Terrestrial connectivity infrastructure is both expensive and difficult to install, particularly when considering the typical life span of mines is often just a few years.

This is where satellite connectivity can have a major advantage, as it can be activated and used in remote locations without relying on physical infrastructure.

Viasat’s L-band network provides endto-end security and high network availability – making it a great option for min-

ing firms looking to adopt satellite enabled IoT solutions within their sites.

By adopting satellite enabled IoT solutions, mining firms can futureproof their operations in a myriad of ways at the same time as keeping their staff and environment safe.

With pressure only expected to increase for mining firms to improve their ESG credentials and reporting of their performance, those that have already begun to leverage satellite powered IoT solutions are set to benefit from a crucial competitive advantage. CMJ Nicholas Prevost is APAC market development manager and director of mining at Viasat, which is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. Viasat has offices in 24 countries around the world. On May 31, 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies, and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner.

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VENTILATION

By Kim Trapani

Ventilation is critical for the health and safety of workers in underground mines

Applying the 3Rs to mine

ventilation I

PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK/RAMIL

f you have ever been in an underground mine, you know how important ventilation is. Ventilation is essential to maintaining safe working conditions by providing adequate airflow to dilute contaminants and heat. In underground mines, ventilation can account for up to 50% of the total energy use. And, that percentage increases for deeper mines that also need cooling. With increased importance on sustainable mining and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, how can we reduce a mine’s energy use on critical ventilation needs? Let us apply the 3Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle to ventilation system design in underground mines.

1

REDUCE

Conventionally, in underground mines, the ventilation requirements have been driven by legislation. Regulations require ventilation to dilute diesel particulate matter, with additional ventilation NOVEMBER 2023

provided as required for hot or gassy mines. Operating with higher-tier engines or installing a diesel particulate filter (DPF) will produce fewer diesel particulate emissions, requiring less ventilation. For example, Canmet will require 10.1 m3 per second of ventilation to be provided for a Tier 2 Caterpillar C11 engine, while the same engine with a diesel particulate filter will require only 5.29 m3 per second of ventilation. That is a reduction of almost half.

Going a step further and transitioning to an electric fleet will need much less ventilation. Diesel engines (through combustion) produce significant air contaminants and heat. But electric vehicles operate by an electric motor and do not produce any air contaminants. For an electric fleet in a non-gassy mine, the ventilation system needs to be designed for heat dilution and maintaining minimum velocities. Since the heat produced by an electric motor is much less than a diesel engine, the switch to an electric mobile fleet can result in a 40% reduction in ventilation demands.

Another way to reduce ventilation needs underground CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 19

VENTILATION

When considering ventilation and cooling/heating options for relates to being more efficient. Ventilation on demand (VOD) can be implemented to meet ventilation needs without underground mines, it is over-ventilating during underground activities that do not require peak ventilation or in non-active mining areas. VOD important to innovate and systems adjust the primary ventilation provided underground based on the underground activities through variable fre- incorporate sustainable design quency drives (VFDs) at the main fans. Airflow can then be dispractices. Through creative tributed underground through automated louver regulators, with air quality stations monitoring the air flow and quality thinking, our mines can be underground. The regulators can provide sufficient air, based on the equipment present, to maintain gas and heat levels at a ventilated affordably and threshold or based on a schedule. The savings from a VOD system are variable, in the range of 30% to 50%, based on the size sustainably. and the ventilation strategy for the mine.

Reducing ventilation requirements underground will result in a direct reduction in the cooling/heating required, since less air will need to be conditioned. This will result in a significant reduction in the energy used to provide ventilation, as well as the associated ventilation infrastructure (raises, fans, electrical gear, etc.). Mine energy reduction is good for both owners and operators. It saves money, and it is good for the environment, as it creates fewer carbon emissions.

2 REUSE

Typically, in underground mines, we have limited options when it comes to reusing air. This is because we need clean air to minimize workers’ exposure to contaminants in the air and airborne dust.

However, it is possible to reuse heat. Let us explore how to reuse waste heat to either heat or cool the mine.

In cold climates, ventilation air needs to be heated to prevent ice buildup on the ventilation airways. Ice can cause major damage to the mine services. The exhaust air from the underground ventilation system can preheat the intake ventilation air. When the exhaust air raise is close to the intake raise, an air-to-air heat exchanger can recover the heat. On the other hand, when the exhaust air release on surface is far from the intake air, an indirect heat exchanger is more cost-effective.

This kind of heat exchanger typically uses glycol as a heat transfer medium.

In remote mines, gensets are routinely used for electricity generation. When the gensets are producing power, they also produce a significant amount of heat. This heat is much higher grade than the mine exhaust air, but similarly can be recovered through a glycol indirect heat exchanger to provide most of the heating required for the ventilation air.

In hot locations, where cooling rather than heating is required, and high-grade waste heat is available, an absorption chiller can be installed to provide chilled water for conditioning the ventilation air. Even though it sounds backwards, absorption chillers use heat instead of power to produce cooling. This means the system requires minimal power consumption for both pumping and the fans to operate the refrigeration system.

20 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

3

RECYCLE

For deep mines, a lot of the energy in operating the ventilation system is used to overcome the friction to deliver the air to the orebody and then exhaust it back to surface. In addition, when air is delivered to deep mines, the air heats because of the auto-compression at approximately 1°C per 100 m3. So, if we can clean and recycle the air underground, the system would need a lot less cooling (or heating in a cold environment) and power.

In non-gassy mines without diesel mobile equipment, recycling of the mine ventilation can be safely performed through controlled partial recirculation (CPR). This strategy uses a percentage of the exhaust air, cleaning and mixing it with the intake air. The air is typically cleaned through a spray chamber designed to remove airborne dust. The Taquari potash mine in Brazil has effectively used a CPR system for many years.

With the transition to mobile electric fleets and improvements in the ventilation monitoring and control systems, CPR systems could be implemented safely in more mines to recycle the ventilation air and significantly reduce ventilation requirements.

Striving to make ventilation more affordable and sustainable

Applying the 3Rs to ventilation system designs can help a mine reduce its energy use, and subsequently, its carbon footprint.

These enhancements can result in lower operational costs as a result of needing less energy. It also means lower capital cost due to smaller ventilation and associated infrastructure.

When considering ventilation and cooling/heating options for underground mines, it is important to innovate and incorporate sustainable design practices. Through creative thinking, our mines can be ventilated affordably and sustainably. CMJ Kim Trapani is a ventilation engineer with experience across the mining and energy sectors. Her area of focus is on underground mine ventilation. Her experience includes the design of primary and secondary ventilation systems, traditional chiller refrigeration and direct combustion heating systems, the design of innovative thermal storage systems for heating and cooling, and the design of underground ventilation infrastructure equipment, including ventilation on demand systems.

www.canadianminingjournal.com

VENTILATION

By Jacob Lachapelle

MINING’S VENTILATION VANGUARD:

How asset managers influence ESG integration in mine ventilation strategies

I

PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK

n mining, a traditionally capital-intensive industry, there is a transformation taking place. This change is not purely driven by regulatory guidelines and public sentiment but by financial juggernauts that control the purse strings of industry. BlackRock, led by CEO Larry Fink, is at the frontline of this movement, placing a strong emphasis on ESG (environmental, social, and governance) principles. This shift towards ESG is reshaping the landscape of investment strategies in the mining sector, pushing companies to evolve and adapt to meet these new criteria.

Navigating the ESG landscape

Larry Fink’s annual letters to CEOs are more than just correspondences; they are policy-shapers. By prioritizing ESG NOVEMBER 2023

principles in investment decisions, Fink and BlackRock are part of a larger shift in the financial industry that views sustainability as a financial necessity. This shift is clearly visible, in the actions of asset managers such as BlackRock and Vanguard who handle trillions of dollars in investment dollars. They are increasingly prioritizing ESG factors. Providing guidelines for industries and businesses to adhere to ESG standards. Failing to align with these benchmarks may result in missing out on investment opportunities.

Confronted with this reality, mining companies find themselves at a crossroads. Given the capital-intensive nature of their operations and their reliance on external funding, mining companies must demonstrate an unwavering commitment to ESG goals to secure the neces-

sary funding.

This narrative highlights a crucial fact: the inherently capital-intensive nature of the mining sector makes it particularly vulnerable to shifts in investment criteria. While other industries may have more flexibility to adapt to changing expectations, the significant upfront costs and long project timelines associated with mining mean that companies in this sector must be proactive in aligning their operations with ESG principles.

Contrasting the mining landscape with traditional industries

Examining the differences between the mining sector and traditional industries reveals the unique challenges mining companies face.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 21

VENTILATION Production

Evaluation

Construction

Investment

Exploration

$0

-

22 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

+

A cookie factory represents a traditional manufacturing setup. While not immune to the pressures and demands of sustainable practices, the operations and capital requirements of such a factory are distinct from those in the mining sector.

In a traditional factory, the timeline from investment to production is relatively quick. Once the required machinery and infrastructure are in place, the company can realize a return on its investment in a short span. On the other hand, the mining sector, particularly when discussing underground mines, deals with a lengthy process from exploration to production that can span decades. The extensive research, planning, and development required to establish a productive underground mine contribute to this extended lead time.

The capital investment in both industries differs as well. For a cookie factory, the primary costs, such as machinery, ingredients, and labour, though substantial, are significantly lower compared to the capital demands of mining operations. Investment in mining, particularly in the case of underground mines, includes substantial expenses covering heavy machinery, labour, and the rigorous compliance costs associated with strict environmental regulations. These costs are incurred before a single bucket of ore can be extracted, emphasizing the significant upfront investment in terms of both time and money required for mining operations.

Revenue potential and financial risks vary between the two industries as well.

A cookie factory can expect a consistent revenue stream once production begins, provided there is demand for their products. On the other hand, the mining industry grapples with fluctuating mineral market values and potential uncertainties in the quantity of minerals available for extraction. This variability, coupled with the extended time required to reach the break-even point and significant upfront capital requirements, leaves the financial health of mining companies vulnerable to the influences of asset managers and their investment criteria.

These factors emphasize the unique challenges faced by the mining industry as it navigates evolving dynamics significantly influenced by asset managers’ commitment to ESG principles. Adhering to ESG standards is not only a matter of eth-

Mine Closure Sunk Costs + Ramp-up

10 - 15 years

10 - 20 years

Investment during the life of mine. CREDIT: MAESTRO

ics; it is a financial necessity that directly affects a mining company’s ability to secure investments. An essential component of showcasing this dedication involves integrating ESG principles throughout various operational aspects, with mine ventilation emerging as a focal point.

The role of mine ventilation in ESG compliance

ing-edge ventilation monitoring systems offer mining operations the capacity to relay real-time data on emissions and ventilation efficiency, fostering accountability and instilling investor confidence.

As asset managers, empowered by expansive ESG-rich portfolios, redefine mining investments, mining companies must do the following:

Ventilation, the second largest energy consumer, plays a crucial role in the mining industry, acting as a bridge between ESG concerns. It serves as a cornerstone in the industry’s efforts to achieve ESG compliance. This can be dissected into the following three key facets:

Champion technological advancements: Committing to innovations, like instantaneous environmental tracking and AI-propelled ventilation optimization, serves a dual purpose: enhancing operational efficacy and positioning operations for capital infusion.

1 Environmental integrity: The primary “E” in ESG is intimately linked to mine ventilation. Efficient ventilation systems drastically reduce energy consumption, diminishing carbon emissions.

Additionally, modern emissions monitoring ensures that harmful elements are effectively controlled, minimizing their release into the surrounding environment.

Seamless ESG fusion: ESG is not an isolated function. The new-age mining company seamlessly integrates ESG ethos across its operation spectrum.

2 Social commitment: Ventilation systems go beyond environmental considerations. Its role is essential in safeguarding miners from toxic gases and pollutants. A robust ventilation system demonstrates a mining company’s unwavering dedication to its workforce’s well-being, thus encapsulating the “S” in ESG. 3 Governance through transparency: The aspiration of asset managers is unequivocal; investments should be ESG-compliant and transparent. Lead-

Engage and enlighten: Regular dialogues with investors, underpinned by data sharing and ESG commitment demonstrations, are no longer optional but mandatory.

Larry Fink, coupled with other financial powerbrokers, have catalyzed a new chapter where capital deployment is deeply connected with ESG considerations. For miners, this is both a daunting challenge and an exciting frontier. By focusing towards ESG-aligned ventilation strategies, mining entities stand to not only attract essential capital but also pilot the industry towards a sustainable future. CMJ Jacob Lachapelle is CEO in training at Maestro Digital Mine.

www.canadianminingjournal.com

FIRE SAFETY

By Joanna Wand, John Davies, and Randy Spyksma

WILDFIRE RISK mitigation for mining operations

PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK/RAMIL

C

anada’s forests have become increasingly flammable because of forest insects and diseases, a changing climate, history of effective wildfire suppression, and past forest management practices. This increase in flammability, coupled with increasing development into forested ecosystems, has contributed to elevated wildfire risk to life, property, and critical infrastructure.

This year, mining companies operating in Canada and the United States faced unprecedented challenges, witnessing large asset losses and increased liabilities because of wildfires. Mining operations, being in the wildlands and often in remote locations, are typically surrounded by forested or grassland ecosystems within which wildfire is a natural process. These wildfires can destroy mining infrastructure, disrupt supply of power and operations, and put employee safety at risk.

It is critical for the mining industry to understand wildfire risk, how this reality could impact their business, and how they can potentially cause or contribute NOVEMBER 2023

to impactful wildfires. Wildfire risk mitigation can then be designed in response to this understanding. For the mining sector, it is key to understand both (i) the risks of wildfire impacting infrastructure, staff, and operations and (ii) the potential impacts of fire from your operations spreading and impacting “values at risk” on the landscape.

Mitigation of this risk requires a holistic management approach to both wildfire “from” infrastructure and operations, as well as risk “to” infrastructure and staff. Solutions are multifaceted and approached through four phases: operational; planning; partnerships and communication; and analytics, research, and development.

Appropriate risk mitigation processes, such as the examples in the figure, can establish a rigorous foundation that enables infrastructure managers to assess, prioritize, and reduce wildfire risk systematically. Further, mitigation efforts are most effective when following a risk management framework (such as ISO 31000) and using the latest wildfire

science and analysis methods to inform the decision-making process.

Mining companies exposed to wildfire risk should ask themselves, “where is infrastructure most exposed to the threat of wildfire?” Operationally, tools and systems can be developed to identify these threats. The process will identify operational decisions needing wildfire intelligence as well as identify existing tools or tools to be developed to provide information.

The key is identifying infrastructure at highest risk (considering consequence of loss), including infrastructure critical to business operations, infrastructure vulnerable to wildfire, and where infrastructure is exposed to wildfire hazard.

In support of this, Forsite works with our clients to generate spatial data and risk maps through a vulnerability and exposure analysis. Our process identifies and ranks the risk of wildfires spreading to and impacting infrastructure and operations. Risk identification focuses on the potential exposure of the infrastructure CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 23

FIRE SAFETY

Four phases of risk mitigation solutions. CREDIT: FORSITE

to wildfire, the vulnerability of the asset and the consequences of impacts, including factors such as cost to replace.

The second key consideration is the potential liability of fires igniting from industrial operations and spreading to vegetated areas and impacting “values at risk” on the landscape. Operationally, mining companies may adopt fire weather and fuels monitoring for current and forecasted fire conditions by assessing current and forecasted weather models, developing accurate fuel maps, aligning mapping products with infrastructure, combining data to generate wildfire hazard, and working to integrate hazard levels with appropriate operational responses.

A more strategic planning solution may be to model the wildfire behaviour potential, under many different weather scenarios, from infrastructure to adjacent values to prioritize areas of higher and lower risk. This process might include identifying fuels, topography mapping, conducting a fire weather analysis and identifying values at risk (such as human life, infrastructure, economic, cultural, and environmental values) to prioritize higher risk areas of operation and to allocate ignition prevention resources to key areas. Wildfire spread modeling can be used to estimate how a wildfire would spread under relatively extreme fire weather conditions from an ignition source (e.g., powerlines) and interact with, and potentially impact, values at risk on the land base.

The risk assessment processes produce risk maps, mapping the highest risk igni-

24 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

Ignition risk map ranking potential wildfire ignition locations from industry assets according to their possible impacts to surrounding communities and other values. CREDIT: FORSITE

tion point locations, and high-risk fire areas – which are defined areas most likely to incur fire risk conditions in which a high intensity and fast spreading wildfire could immediately overwhelm initial attack fire suppression resources. Combining this information with other mining and utility services information will be critical in identifying high priority risk mitigation areas. Other data to consider include factors such as asset health and likelihood of an asset starting an ignition.

Finally, from an analytic, research, development perspective, custom tools can be developed to fit specific operational and planning needs, such as alert systems based on weather forecasts, current fire activity, and operational response requirements. Examples of Forsite initiatives include building a webbased mapping platform that displays relevant wildfire information with infrastructure and links wildfire hazard with operational responses as well as designing risk modelling tools that will forecast daily wildfire potential based on current and projected weather conditions.

These solutions support mining companies in making near-real time operational decisions in response to observed and forecasted extreme fire weather conditions and fuel availability, such that appropriate countermeasures can be taken to reduce risk. Secondarily, solutions like this aim to elevate fire weather situational awareness across mining companies’ operations and provide an additional support tool to inform decision making as it relates to preparedness and mitigation activities.

Managing wildfire risk is challenging; it involves people from many different disciplines coordinating an approach.

Wildfire specialists often are not geologists, and vice versa. Yet the risk is shared. The ability to learn from and collaborate with each other is key to respond to wildfire risk effectively.

A holistic approach to resiliency combines stakeholders with people from various fire and forest specialties – operational suppression experience (boots on the ground), fire behaviour and ecology, fuel management, fire modeling technology and predictive services specialists, as well as relationships with industry, government agencies, local communities, First Nations, and associations.

Our team has been collaborating closely with mining companies to mitigate both wildfire risk to and from infrastructure and developing innovative wildfire situational awareness products and services that are designed to alert operations during periods of elevated wildfire weather conditions.

The wildfire problem is not going away, and all indications are that it will continue to worsen through time. New, innovative, and multidisciplinary solutions are required to meet the challenge of mitigating risk posed by wildfire. CMJ Joanna Wand is a Forsite wildfire risk specialist. John Davies is a registered professional forester (RPF), a senior wildland fire specialist, and Forsite fire manager.

Randy Spyksma is a registered professional forester (RPF), a senior planning forester, and Forsite B.C. planning manager.

www.canadianminingjournal.com

UNDERGROUND MINING

By Anthony Ferrenbach

CAVITY filling with foam product

T

he geological conditions and mine-related impacts can cause rock bursts or large-scale cave-ins, challenging each mine operator. These cavities can lead to production stoppages and hindered extraction. To prevent more severe problems, continue production with the minimum delay, and restore workplace safety, those cavities must be filled as soon as possible.

Phenolic and silicate foam products with different technical characteristics are available for individual solutions in mining and tunneling.

Phenolic foams: Rocsil foam

Phenolic foams are high-expanding, two-component foams designed to rapidly fill large voids and cavities. The benefits of this technology are timesaving and safety increases compared to classic filling. Designed in the 1980s, especially for cavity filling when the roof collapses in the longwall, the technology has been improved by various expansion ratios, safer chemistry, and longer shelf life of the components. There are ten different variants available for each specific requirement.

Rocsil is one of the phenolic products that reduce transportation times to working areas due to reduced quantities of Rocsil required to fill large volumes compared to conventional cementitious options. Other advantages include the following:

First cavity filling from the ground above fallen rocks. CREDIT: WEBER MINING NOVEMBER 2023

> Because of the high expansion rates, complete cavity filling is assured. This allows for the containment of the surrounding strata in exposed cavities, thus containing further self-mining or falls of ground. > Containment of the excavation is ensured due to the active filling support of the foam. > Increased work safety. > No shrinkage. > Fire resistant.

The foam is pumped into the cavity by a pneumatic pump with a preset mix ratio of the two components: resin and catalyst. A mixing gun merges the components shortly before the product emerges from the pipe and is placed.

The foaming starts immediately, which enables a quick cavity filling with minimum product input. The expansion ratio varies depending on the desired compressive strength of the final product. Cavity-filling foams enable a cost-effective, time-saving, and safe cavity-filling solution.

Case Study

A mine needed to connect two galleries (access A and access B) to improve traffic. This new roadway is critical, as on access A, CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Excavation and installation of frames under the foam ceiling. CREDIT: WEBER MINING

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 25

UNDERGROUND MINING

Phenolic and silicate foam products with different technical characteristics are available for individual solutions in mining and tunneling.

Second resin injection. CREDIT: WEBER MINING

the mine has underground offices and mechanical shops. Direct access to this area would accommodate the newly developed area in access B.

The first collapse

The mine started its gallery development from access A toward access B; however, 30 metres before connecting, they had a rock burst, generating a 600 m3 cavity. Since the rockfall was ongoing, removing the fallen rock from the ground was impossible to facilitate the installation of sets. Therefore, an alternative method had to be considered to stabilize the cavity while minimizing personal exposure, thereby improving operator safety.

Phenolic foam was chosen and injected from afar of the cavity. This technique has been used to profound effect worldwide in hard rock mines and was brought to Mexico in 2017. To ensure nothing was left to chance and guarantee the project’s success, Weber Mining’s standard procedure was employed, with its own hardware and technical team.

Immediately after the beginning of the collapse, the area was evacuated safely and promptly without incident or injury. The team initiated the injection from a safe location, 10 metres from the rock burst, installing a set of four injection tubes with different lengths inside the cavity to guarantee a complete filling. The injection started from the roadway floor, with a first injection lance of four metres. Because of the pump pressure, the injection lance has a four-to-five-metre flush, enabling the technicians to steer the foam where needed. As the filling continues and the foam goes up inside the cavity, the previously installed injection lances are used, with a better reach higher up inside the hole.

The pumps are equipped with manometers that indicate any increase in pressure, indicative of voids getting filled. The expansion of the Rocsil foam between the surrounding strata and the containment backing attached to the confined area allows for the pressurization of the cavity filling. This pressurization exerts a

26 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

resultant force on the surrounding strata and provides an active support function. Load distribution of a foamed product like Rocsil typically allows for a better load transfer under the weight of collapsing rock.

Finally, the 600 m3 cavity was filled in only 8 hours, from a single place of injection, without exposing any of the mining personnel to an unsafe area. From there, the mine had to follow a strict excavation process consisting of excavating one metre of gallery with fallen rocks and foams, installing sets and shotcrete before excavating again. This process allows the mine to recover the gallery quickly without ever being exposed to further rock bursts, as the roof is now composed of foam.

The second collapse

As the roadway recovery on access A was pursued, the mine continued development from access B. Unfortunately, the roof of access B collapsed as well. This time, the collapse was so big that the rock burst reached the cavity previously filled on access A, leading to a completely collapsed area between the two accesses to be connected. Again, the gallery had to be evacuated by the mining personnel, and the team was commissioned for the roadway recovery. At this point, there was no way for the mine operators to provide an indication of the size of the void, except that it was more than twice the first one, the recorded height was 25 metres, and it had propagated to the right. Therefore, because of the voids’ sheer size and difficult access, an iterative process of cavity fills and excavation had to be implemented instead of a one-event cavity filling.

Usually, a cavity can quickly be filled with foam, even with a sole injection tube. This is because the foam sets and expands in two minutes, giving it time to migrate inside the cavity and fill any existing voids as the cavity is getting filled. However, because of the shape and size of this cavity, two sets of injection tubes were placed at various locations. Each injection tube was intentionally placed to ensure the optimum foam distribution inside the cavity.

The first set of tubes was placed at the center of the cavity, close to the top, while the second set was placed on the right side. Once placed, the first tube was connected to the hoses and

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Connection between access A and B under foam ceiling. CREDIT: WEBER MINING

the mixing gun. The mixing gun was then connected to the pump, and pumping started. This system allowed for a safe and simple transfer from one injection tube to the next.

Foam calculations

Because of the cavity’s size and the ongoing rock fall, it was impossible to calculate the exact volume of foam required to ensure stabilization. Given the availability of local stock, the team first came to the mine with an initial conservative quantity of resins. As it was clear that the cavity was bigger than assumed, more resin was supplied to the mine in less than 12 hours. With a 40 times expansion rate, the required resin quantity is reduced, as is the logistic requirement, easing the completion of the work.

filling products. Success was achieved in the face of technical adversity. Even though the rock fall was ongoing, and the size of the cavity could have blocked the access for months and delayed the mining operation, adherence to the procedure and the hardware successfully used not only worked but also did so better than expected. CMJ Anthony Ferrenbach is the general manager at Weber Mining Mexico.

Roadway recovery: First eight sets

Once the first part of the cavity was filled, the excavation process began, following the same method used in access A. The mine excavated through the fallen rocks and foam, placing sets every metre with shotcrete before pursuing. After 8 metres of excavation, the teams continued filling the remaining void using the same strategy. Given the resin consumption, a void volume of 1,500 m3 was estimated at the finish. The first injection lasted 5 hours, while the second had to take place over two shifts for 11 hours.

Initial evidence of the effectiveness of the stabilization came from direct observation and measurements underground by the mine operation teams when the mine started excavating the fallen rock above which the foam was injected and could place sets without difficulty under a stable “foam” roof. Another aspect is the cavity filling secures the new sets in place by absorbing the energy of falling rock in case of further collapse from the top of the cavity. That means even if the cavity is not filled completely, the support of the gallery built by the sets is secured by the above foam canopy.

In conclusion, the two galleries could be connected in approximately two months without incident, accident, or injury of any kind. A foam roof now protects the 30-metre length collapsed area between the two galleries. It provides a safe and long-term roadway for heavy traffic between the mine’s underground offices and its newly developed mining area.

Ultimately, it serves as the most fitting testament and legacy of the efficacy of the foam as an alternative to traditional cavityNOVEMBER 2023

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 27

DEEP SEA MINING

By Catherine Hercus

deep sea mining

faces a sea of opposition

T

he Metals Company (TMC), a local British Columbia company, plans to mine polymetallic nodules from the seabed floor. Unfortunately, their plans for deep sea mining are facing a sea of opposition. Not only is the company facing local and worldwide opposition from governments, Indigenous, and ecological groups, but they are also battling financial issues.

Their three exploration contracts are located off the island of Nauru, the Kingdom of Tonga, and the Republic of Kiribati in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) between Hawaii and Mexico.

The Metals Company was founded in 2021 through the merger of Deep Green and the Sustainable Opportunities Acquisition Corporation. The company employs scientists, environmentalists, engineers, architects, and business leaders.

Approximately 30 companies have been issued exploration contracts to mine in this area. This zone in the Pacific Ocean contains the largest known deposit of battery-grade metals.

What makes the area so attractive according to Dr. John

How minerals could be mined from the seabed. Mining vehicles move through the soft sediments picking up the nodules. CREDIT: NAEBLYS/ADOBE STOCK

28 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

www.canadianminingjournal.com

Greenpeace and OPP exaggerate the potential Wiltshire, the director emeritus of the Hawaii for ecological disaster. The sediment plume Undersea Research Laboratory, is that is a significant risk, it may travel thou“nodules need a flat zone, low sediment, sands of miles and rise two metres good plankton growth, and the area to above the sea floor. A study is coming remain stable for the best concentraout on this soon,” says Barron. tion. Nodules are found on 15% of Jeffrey Donald, head of onshore the bottom zone worldwide.” development at TMC says, “Opponents Polymetallic nodules look like are formidable. Non-governmental potatoes and contain minerals organizations (NGOs) are prone to including cobalt, copper, mangahyperbole. We take environmental nese, and nickel which are used in science very seriously. We have envielectric vehicle (EV) batteries and ronmental scientists working on this, other clean energy technologies. who have gathered reams of data.”

Unlike cobalt crusts or seafloor massive According to Sarah King, head of sulphides, which require cutting hard oceans and plastics campaign at Greenpeace, rock, nodules are harvested with a vacuum“Deep sea mining is unnecessary. The industry like collector which lifts them up from the has done a good job of greenwashing the positive abyssal seafloor. From there, they travel up a riser aspects and benefits. Deep sea mining is not required system to the production vessel on the surface. On the Polymetallic for the transition to a green future. A small number vessel, the nodules are dewatered, and they are then seafloor nodule.

CREDIT: TMC of companies are set to profit from devastating transferred to an onshore processing facility. impacts on ecosystems and Indigenous Peoples.”

It takes approximately 12 minutes to lift the nodLast March, a petition with over 1,000 signatures from 34 ules off the seabed floor and transport them to the surface with the riser. While a nodule can be in production in less than 30 countries and 56 Indigenous groups was delivered to the days, it can take up to six months to be processed and a product International Seabed Authority (ISA). The petition called for a produced. The operation includes an adaptive management sys- ban on the industry.

“We are calling for an immediate ban on deep sea mining tem containing marine hardware and cloud-based artificial inbecause we need drastic changes in the way we manage our telligence.

“In the face of increasing demand for metals, we feel it is oceans. The threat of deep sea mining is huge. So, our measures important to supplement metal supplies in a way that inflicts to protect the ocean and the life within it must also be huge. My the least impact on the planet and people. EVs and renewable CONTINUED ON PAGE 30 energy are a key part of the solution, but scaling these technologies will require hundreds of millions of tonnes of new metals.

Polymetallic nodules represent the cleanest source of batterygrade metals on the planet and the best path forward. Our process reduces CO2 water use by 90%, and there are no tailings,” says TMC’s CEO and chairman Gerard Barron.

According to TMC’s website, “One nodule contains high grades of four key metals, meaning that four times less ore needs to be processed to obtain the same amount of metal.

Nodules also contain no toxic levels of heavy elements, and the entirety of a nodule can be used, making near-zero solid waste production possible. Over 90% of the entrained sediment is expected to be separated from the nodules inside the collector and discharged behind it, with most sediment settling back to the seafloor within a few hundred meters.”

Some of the obstacles according to Wiltshire are that “they are mining 6.1 km down. The machine needs to work all the time and not jam. Hurricanes can happen. Companies can do it if they can do it in a profitable and ecologically sound way.

Land-based mining does not have the same problems.”

A Belgian company named “GSR” is also planning to harvest polymetallic nodules in the CCZ. However, during a test in 2021, their nodule collection device became detached from the hose connecting it to the surface vessel. The device sank to the ocean floor and was later recovered and reattached four days later.

“There are lots of hurdles to make it profitable. To mine it successfully, the mine needs a steady reliable supply that they can count on. No major car company is looking to do deep sea mining, for example Tesla,” says Wiltshire.

Much of the opposition to deep sea mining is because of the possible ecological effects. “Regarding ecology, there is no such thing as zero-impact. We are using science-based evidence.

Autonomous Robots for Underground Cavity Monitoring

exyn.com

NOVEMBER 2023

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 29

DEEP SEA MINING The 28th session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA).. CREDIT: ISA

people have lived in and around the ocean for generations. It is who we are. We are the ocean, and we must act now,” said signatory Solomon Kaho’ohalahala, Hawaiian Indigenous speaker and activist.

Germany, New Zealand, and Switzerland have called for a moratorium, while France supports an outright ban. However, Norway recently indicated that it would offer permits for mining the seabed in their national waters.

Canada has announced a moratorium on deep sea mining in both national and international waters.

A joint press release on Feb. 9th from Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, and Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard, states Canada’s position: “Canada does not presently have a domestic legal framework that would permit seabed mining, and, in the absence of a rigorous regulatory structure, will not authorize seabed mining in areas under its jurisdiction. The government of Canada has not taken part in the exploration of mineral resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction.”

“Seabed mining should only take place if effective protection of the marine environment is provided through a rigorous regulatory structure, applying precautionary and ecosystem-based approaches, using science-based and transparent management, and ensuring effective compliance with a robust inspection mechanism.”

A scientific paper published in the Current Biology journal estimates that approximately 5,500 new species of life live in the CCZ, and up to 92% have never been seen before.

Wiltshire says, “The problem in the deep sea is that we do not know exactly what we are going to affect. Hopefully, we are not going to wipe out the only thing that can cure a rare type of cancer. The problem is what life forms are there, how many are there, and are they located anywhere else in the world? How big is the area that will be mined? What is the impact? Are the species only in that area?”

One of the main things holding up deep sea mining is the lack of regulations for the industry. The ISA held talks in Jamaica from July 10 to 28 on creating a mining code. In July 2021, Nauru, TMC’s sponsoring state, triggered a loophole which required the ISA to establish regulations by July 9, 2023. This two-year rule required the ISA to “consider and provisionally approve” applications two years after they are submitted.

While theoretically TMC could start mining after the July 9 deadline without a mining code in place, Barron says, “We have the legal right to submit an application after July 9, but will not commence until the mining code is adopted.”

Investors appear to be losing their appetite for investing in the controversy plagued industry. TMC’s stock has lost more than 90% of its value on the Nasdaq exchange since going public in 2021, according to The Wall Street Journal. Stocks have plunged from $12.10 when it was first listed to approximately 80 cents. It has been delisted from Nasdaq twice in the last few months, in both Dec. 2022 and April 2023. Stocks are delisted on Nasdaq if they trade below $1 for over 30 days.

30 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

The Metals Company (TMC), a local British Columbia company, plans to mine polymetallic nodules from the seabed floor. CREDIT: TMC

In May this year, shipping giant, AP Moller-Maersk, sold most of its shares in the company. It now holds less than 2.3% of the company’s stocks, down from 9% in 2021, and plans to sell its remaining shares. Maersk signed an agreement with TMC five years ago to provide shipping services, receiving payment in shares. In 2022, a TMC representative said that Maersk did not have a vessel suitable for TMC’s mining operations.

In March, Lockheed Martin sold its shares in U.K. Seabed Resources to Norway’s Loke Marine Minerals.

Norwegian financial services company, Storebrand, has excluded four mining companies, including TMC, because of their new nature policy which furthers their commitment to “halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity.”

In their 2022 fourth quarter Sustainable Investment Review, they stated, “With immediate effect, Storebrand has excluded four companies in the mining industry. Storebrand will no longer invest in companies with mining operations that conduct marine or riverine tailings disposal, companies involved in deep sea mining, and companies that derive 5% of their revenues from drilling in Arctic areas that are considered especially vulnerable and valuable.”

Nautilus Minerals, a Canadian deep sea exploration and mining company founded in 1997, planned to mine a seafloor massive sulphide deposit off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Their Solwara-1 was the first deep sea mining project, but they went bankrupt in Oct. 2019. Prime Minister James Marape said that the country had “burnt almost PGK 300 million (approximately $120 million CDN) on a total failure.” Marape supported the establishment of a 10-year moratorium on deep sea mining projects worldwide. Papua New Guinea Minister of StateOwned Enterprises, Sasindaran Muthuvel, considered the country’s debt from the project “money sunk into the ocean.”

There has been interest in seabed mining since the 1970s.

Time will tell whether it will become a viable option for battery minerals or if the industry will be hampered by the opposition arrayed against it. CMJ Catherine Hercus is a freelance mining writer.

www.canadianminingjournal.com

TECHNOLOGY/FLEET MANAGEMENT

By Koyel Ghosh

REVOLUTIONIZING FLEET MANAGEMENT IN THE MINING INDUSTRY:

IoT’s impact on business operations A

PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK/RAMIL

s businesses are heavily relying on efficient transportation and logistics to keep their operations running smoothly, the importance of Internet of Things (IoT) is being felt even more. The advent of the IoT has brought about a significant change in the way companies manage their fleets. IoT fleet management solutions have come out as an imperative part of businesses, offering real-time insights, cost savings, and enhanced safety. This article will discuss the recent developments that are shaping the industry.

The market is set to reach new heights

The IoT fleet management market has witnessed significant growth over the past decade, and the trend is expected to continue. As per a report published by NOVEMBER 2023

Allied Market Research, the global IoT fleet management market is estimated to bring forth a noteworthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2021 to 2031. This surge in demand can be attributed to several factors.

One of the main reasons behind the growing fleet management market is the strong demand from businesses. Rising fuel prices and environmental worries are pushing companies to cut down on fuel use and emissions. In this context, IoT fleet management solutions play a crucial role. They allow companies to keep an eye on how their vehicles are performing in real-time. Additionally, they help identify areas where improvements can be made and enable quick corrective actions.

Moreover, with the regulatory require-

ments becoming increasingly stringent, use of advanced technologies like IoT has also become a preferred choice in terms of tracking vehicle data accurately. This includes compliance with electronic logging devices in the United States and similar regulations in other regions. Apart from helping companies adhere to these regulations, IoT fleet management systems also simplify reporting and reduce the risk of fines.

IoT fleet management in the mining industry

IoT technology has almost revolutionized the mining industry. An IoT fleet management in the mining industry refers to the use of connected sensors and devices to monitor equipment and vehicles used in mining operations. Here is a closer CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 31

TECHNOLOGY/FLEET MANAGEMENT look at how IoT fleet monitoring is transforming mining businesses.

Enhanced efficiency: By tracking the status of mining vehicles and equipment in real-time, IoT-enabled sensors have improved mining operations to a significant extent. Operators can use remote monitoring to keep an eye on how much fuel is being used, check the condition of equipment, and see how well it is working. This helps with planning maintenance, cutting down time, and ensuring machines are running at their best.

Safety: Safety is a top priority in the mining industry. IoT technology can offer real-time information about where vehicles are and how they are being driven. If some mishap happens, it can instantly notify the drivers so they can act quickly to help the situation.

Cost savings: Mining companies can save money by using IoT technology to improve route planning and reduce fuel

usage. Additionally, they can also prevent costly breakdowns and extend the lifespan of equipment.

Data-driven decision making: IoT fleets produce a lot of data that can be examined to make smart decisions. This information can reveal how well a particular equipment is working and how operators are behaving. It helps businesses make better choices for higher profits.

Environmental compliance: Mining companies are under growing pressure to reduce their harm to the environment.

They can make the most of IoT technology to track things like emissions and energy usage, which helps them keep a closer eye on their environmental impact and comply with regulations.

Productivity: Finally, IoT can improve the productivity of mining operations by optimizing work processes. For example, automated vehicles and equipment can work longer hours and in harsh conditions, increasing overall productivity.

Some recent developments in the industry

With the increased number of companies constantly innovating to meet the evolving needs of businesses, the IoT fleet management market has become highly dynamic.

For example, Verizon Connect recently launched its ADAS solution to improve driver safety. This system facilitates IoT sensors to provide real-time feedback to drivers, helping them avoid accidents and perk up fuel efficiency altogether. The solution includes features like lane departure warnings and forward collision alerts, which are increasingly sought after by businesses looking to prioritize safety.

At the same time, sustainability has become a growing concern for businesses across the world, and Samsara’s latest product launch is a perfect example of this. Their sustainability dashboard provides companies with insights into their carbon emissions, enabling them to track progress toward sustainability goals. This product goes in tandem with the increasing emphasis on corpo-

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Benefits of IoT fleet management for businesses rate social responsibility and sustainable practices.

Another major player in the market, Geotab has brought forth its advanced data analytics platform. This tool helps businesses make informed decisions by analyzing a pool of data collected from their fleets. From predictive maintenance to route optimization, Geotab’s platform empowers companies to improve efficiency and curtail operating costs.

Acquisitions that have boosted the market growth

In addition to product launches, acquisitions have also played a significant role in shaping the market. Companies are acquiring others to expand their offerings and reach a broader customer base.

Verizon has acquired Movildata, a Spain-based telematics company, in a move to strengthen its presence in the European market. This acquisition allows Verizon to tap into Movildata’s expertise in fleet management solutions, providing a broader range of services to businesses operating in Europe.

Trimble, known for its advanced GPS technology, acquired Kuebix, a transportation management system (TMS) provider. This strategic move allows Trimble to integrate Kuebix’s TMS with its IoT fleet management solutions, offering customers a comprehensive logistics platform that covers everything from planning to execution.

As the IoT fleet management market continues to evolve, businesses are reaping numerous benefits from adopting these solutions: > IoT fleet management solutions help companies reduce operational costs significantly.

Through real-time monitoring, businesses can identify fuel-wasting behaviors, optimize routes, and schedule maintenance proactively, resulting in substantial savings. > Safety is a top priority for any business with a fleet. IoT solutions provide real-time alerts for unsafe driving behaviors, enabling businesses to take corrective actions promptly. This not only enhances the safety of drivers and the public but also reduces the risk of accidents and associated costs. > With IoT fleet management, businesses can streamline their operations. They can track vehicle locations, monitor driver performance, and optimize routes in real-time, leading to improved productivity and on-time deliveries. > Adherence to regulatory requirements is crucial for businesses, especially those in the transportation industry. IoT fleet management systems simplify compliance by automatically recording data required for reporting and auditing purposes. > Businesses are increasingly conscious of their environmental footprint. IoT solutions enable them to reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions, and demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, which can be a valuable selling point for environmentally conscious consumers.

Challenges and considerations

While the benefits of IoT fleet management are undeniable, businesses should also be aware of the challenges and considerations that come with implementing these solutions.

The upfront cost of implementing IoT fleet management can be substantial.

However, the long-term savings in operational costs often outweigh the initial investment. Simultaneously, IoT solutions also involve the collection and transmission of sensitive data. Ensuring data security and compliance with privacy regulations is paramount to protect both the business and its customers.

Moreover, Integrating IoT fleet management systems with existing software and processes can be complex. Companies should carefully plan and execute the integration to maximize the benefits.

Drivers may initially resist the implementation of IoT solutions because of NOVEMBER 2023

concerns about privacy and surveillance.

Clear communication and training are essential to gain driver acceptance.

To conclude, it can be asserted that the IoT fleet management market is evolving rapidly, providing businesses with huge opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance safety. When the new product launches highlight the market’s evolving dynamism, the significant acquisitions by the top players pave the way for lucrative opportunities in the industry. As there is increasing pressure for businesses to operate sustainably and adhere to the regulations, IoT fleet management solutions are gaining much prominence.

While the initial investment and inte-

gration hurdles may appear a bit challenging, the long-term benefits of IoT fleet management are worth considering. With the high-end advancement of technologies on board, businesses must make the most of these innovations to ensure the smooth operation of their fleets in today’s competitive scenario. It is expected that in the coming years, even more exciting developments will set foot in, further reshaping the future of fleet management to new heights. CMJ

Koyel Ghosh is a content team lead at Allied Market Research. She is a blogger with a strong passion and enjoys writing in miscellaneous domains.

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 33

VENTILATION

VENTILATION ON DEMAND

C

lean, safe air is essential to life and too often overlooked or taken for granted. However, not in the mining industry. Two years ago, the global mine ventilation market was projected to reach a value $565.4 million by 2030.

“Among the other noteworthy geographic markets,” said France’s ReportLinker Consulting, was Canada, forecast to grow “at 3.3% over that period.”

The reason for the global acceleration in mining ventilation and refrigeration, said BBE Canada’s director of operations, Morné Beukes, “is older mines going deeper and further away from current infrastructure. The more you do that, the more ventilation activities become necessary. Today, an entre science is facilitating development of robust, well-man-

34 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

aged ventilation systems for underground mining in Canada.”

Just imagine

No company is more aware of that than Epiroc, which acquired Meglab in Vald’Or, Que., in 2021. Meglab clients, like Newmont Gold at its Borden mine in Chapleau, no longer rely exclusively on ventilation doors, large 400 HP intake fans at surface and smaller fans to re-direct gas-filled air to the ends of a spiderweb of tunnels and out the mine.

To that mix, Meglab has added a ventilation on demand (VOD) control system called “Imagine,” which, among other things, pays close attention to the actual ventilation needs in particular zones of the mine to prevent over-ventilation.

The Imagine system features automated fan start-up and shutdown, networking each fan starter to an anchor or “tag reader” to detect the presence of Imagine tags on workers and vehicles in a specific ventilation zone.

“The first step is to monitor all the information from underground as to where the people are and what the quality of gas emissions are,” Meglab general manager, Kim Valade, explained. “We then interact with the driver controlling the fans.”

Today, when a worker or vehicle enters a vent zone and the Imagine ventilation system is activated, air flow accommodates the specific needs of the equipment within that particular work environment.

The fans can also be linked to each other to create a start-up sequence.

www.canadianminingjournal.com

PHOTO: ADOBE IMAGES

It is the mine that guides us

By David Godkin

10% of airflow. And if I know what each vehicle requires for CFM (e.g., an electric versus an emission spewing diesel engine), we can maintain a safe, breathable air, but no more or less than is required.”

“In other words, it is really a system of components that talk to each other. Part of the automated situational awareness system’s success is because of the software. But also, central to knowing where workers and vehicles are located at any given time is hardware component of the tracking system,” said Valade.

“You have fans, you have variable speed drives. Our system permits all of this to work together. Because of this, we know where the workers are, so we can send the right amount of quality air to them. Not to be overlooked, is a 40-50% reduction in energy consumption and related costs,” She noted.

All VOD, all the time?

A good example of this, said sales manager, Duane Berry, is installation of the Imagine system at Borden. Each workday, forty-tonne underground haulage trucks routinely dump particulate matter into the bowels of the mine, requiring a major ramp up in in CFM (cubic feet per minute) of clean, safe air.

“At Borden, airflow requirements range between 23% (the minimum) and 100%. A ventilation team first does a sweep of a tunnel using handheld gas and airflow monitoring devices to determine the operational capability of the fans at different air flow percentages,” explained Berry.

“That produces a nice curve which is then put into our VOD engine which then knows what I can expect in CFM, say at NOVEMBER 2023

Like Epiroc, BBE Canada develops solutions to optimize mine ventilation, including VOD, but also controlled recirculation applications, thermal ice and water storage, and solar application for absorption refrigeration. Director of operations, Morné Beukes, understands the challenges of reducing deadly, airborne contaminants in an underground mine in both hot and cold climates.

A case in point, he noted, is paralyzing, sub-zero northern Canada where air-toair heat exchangers “distribute waste heat from upcast air down through mine shafts to prevent them from freezing.

Where heat exchange does not apply is where mine shafts, because of the nature of the mine, are too close together.”

Reusing air, entailing whole or partial recirculation of air, has its own limitations, once again depending upon the nature of the mine. For example, freeing up 50 CFM from 200 CFM per second underground, said Beukes, provides an immediately more efficient and cost-effective use of air.

“But that can only be in mines that have filtered out the pollutants. Most will filter out, but not radon, for example,” said Beukes. “A global ventilation consultant, BBE places a high premium on protecting workers from unbreathable air, while meeting its client’s bottom line technical requirements,” Buekes added.

BBE is particularly pumped up about a product called “Vuma,” acquired and

developed in South Africa, that simulates heat duct calculations, pollutants monitoring, fire preparedness, and ventilation. “Vuma can be linked to instruments underground that provide real-time monitoring and feedback at strategic points on pollutants, temperature, velocity, etc. And that also works well in conjunction with VOD,” said Beukes.

But Beukes offered a caution. “What we do not do is push specific brands for these underground instruments. These can be procured from various manufacturers or OEMS for use in spoked instrumentation, for example, for location and how these can be adequately maintained.”

Again, everything depends upon the specific areas of the mine you are endeavouring to safeguard. That applies to VOD. We may be at risk of asking too much of this approach to underground mine ventilation,” Beukes said.

“I think VOD is underutilized where there are more opportunities for it. But it depends on the mine, infrastructure, and capital cost for implementing VOD.” That is why so for older mines that lack the necessary communications and other equipment may need to retrofit that into their infrastructure,” added Beukes.

Beukes advised, “first, optimize the ventilation resources you already have in place to full effect and efficiency. Once you are using it 100%, get VOD under your belt and implement it properly so it is also working at 100%. Then look at other things like energy recovery systems and re-use of air and waste heat so that all of these complement one another.”

Fans are the heart, ducting the veins in mine ventilation

You will get no argument about that from Epiroc, which boasts its own system design and installation of fan stations and ducting, or from BBE Canada’s Buekes that ductwork is very important especially when opening new ground. It is the material ducts are made of that determines what the friction factor is during airflow and how much effort is required to advance the air.

“Reducing the friction inside the duct allows the air to travel further, with better flow and better pressure,” explained Jocelyn Lacroix, marketing director of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec’s Mecanicad.

“Because we have the lowest friction factor in the industry, we can move air even CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 35

VENTILATION

Specific underground sites are closely monitored for emission levels and CFM requirements.

CREDIT: EPIROC CANADA

longer distances and with improvements in both airflow and pressure,” added Lacroix.

Lacroix attributes this to Mecanicad’s use of plastic instead of fabric or steel ducting, providing five times longer distance for air to flow than fabric ducting.

Pressure resistance inside the ductwork naturally depends on the type and size of the fan in use.

This frees his clients to use bigger fans where needed. Or they can reduce both the fan and duct size to provide more

David Godkin is a freelance writer.

RICHWOOD BELT CLEANING SYSTEMS

Rely on

space for higher volumes of rock in haulage trucks. Creating higher payloads reduces mine costs, as do reductions in fan speed.

“If the mine is 500 meters long, for example, you do not need to use the fan at 80% efficiency; you can probably use it at 50% because the friction of plastic ducting is so low. Our plastics have good memory shape and resistance to hits from rock. Their properties give us tremendous advantages,” Lacroix added.

But why plastic rather than fabric or

steel? Lacroix acknowledges fabric and steel ductwork have their place in underground mine ventilation. Steel is durable enough to withstand the effects of blasting and easily connects using flanges and v-locks or can be built with a plain end connected by a 12-inch draw band.

Its higher weight, however, makes underground installation more cumbersome compared to lighter plastic, and steel typically has a high friction according to Lacroix.

Round or partially round fabric ducting (made from polyester and known as air socks or textile ventilation) are advantageous and can do the job in smaller tunnels where air volume requirements, too, are comparatively small,” said Lacroix.

Its usefulness diminishes in larger mines and the higher the air requirements are. That is perhaps one reason why Lacroix’s assessment of plastic’s importance is so bold. “I have no hesitation in saying that 90% of mines in Canada employ plastic underground ducting,” said Lacroix. CMJ

©Richwood 2023

MiningMINING Journal 7JOURNAL 4 78 4 23.indd 1 36 |Canadian CANADIAN

4/13/23 2:07 PM www.canadianminingjournal.com

SUSTAINABILITY

By Gordon Feller

Sustainability problems now driving mining and metals innovations

M

ining and metals enterprises are experiencing the effects of the broad-based global trend of rising demands to become more environmentally sustainable.

The sources of these demands vary, with a list that includes governments and their regulators, customers, and shareholders. Such demands are already having substantial impacts, particularly in countries like Canada and Sweden. The last few years have seen real growth in investments that focus on sustainable industrial systems and business processes (such as the use of electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, integrated recycling, etc.). Alongside this has been a build-up of green business ecosystems.

Recently, HYBRIT, a Swedish-based green steel venture announced the delivery of the world’s first fossil-free steel or “green steel” to carmaker, Volvo. A few weeks later, Mercedes-Benz announced their own plans to use green steel. A remarkable achievement on all accounts and an optimistic nod for the future. This has been made possible because of a strong history of innovation in Sweden.

In the northern Swedish provinces of

Norr Botten and Västerbotten, investments have been announced which exceed €107.5 billion over the next 20 years, mainly in the steel, mining, energy, and technology industries. They focus on sourcing natural materials using green energy-efficient processes or what is called “sustainable mining.”

As a part of these plans, more than 25,000 new jobs will be created, which, in turn, means up to 100,000 new residents. The environmental impact of this transition to carbon-free mining and CO2-free steel (also known as “green steel”) is enormous. In Sweden, the mining and steel industries account for 10% of CO2 emissions; worldwide, they account for about 7%.

Sustainable transformation is more than producing CO2-free steel in new factories or building massive battery factories. It is about building long-term

PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK

CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

NOVEMBER 2023

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 37

SUSTAINABILITY sustainable mines with highly digitized and automated operations alongside green hydrogen factories that power production. It is also about building a circular economy with strategic products created from mining waste that can be processed again to produce rare earth minerals and fossil- and cadmium-free fertilizers.

It can be hard to visualize the massive investment being made in Sweden to become sustainable. Here is an analogy to help illustrate the magnitude of difference between a million and a billion. If you spend a dollar every second for an entire day, it will take a little over 11 days to spend a million. It will, however, take you 32 years to spend a billion.

These bold investments are based on a solid foundation laid over a 100 years ago when the mines in northern Sweden were created. To transport the ore from the mines, 650 km of railroads through the arctic mountains to Narvik port were laid. Early on, it was also decided to electrify this long stretch of railroads (an innovative technology at the time). This led to the building of huge hydropower plants along the Luleå River. In fact, the first plant built in a village called Porjus was the first in a series of plants that now produce 46% of Sweden’s total energy.

Since electricity could not be transported far at the time, a smeltering plant in Porjus was planned as it was near the energy source and the raw material to be processed. However, these plans were cancelled when modern technologies enabled more efficient transmission of electricity over long distances. This idea has come full circle today with investments in new CO2-free plants that are built close to the mines and the green hydropower energy source, achieving greater sustainability impact.

In one of those early investment years, 7% to 8% of Sweden’s GDP was allocated to these massive projects. The pioneering efforts that began over a century ago continue to contribute significantly to Sweden’s prosperity. Like any solidly constructed foundation, the forward-looking efforts of the past are supporting the trailblazing advances underway. Continuous innovation, research, and transformation are also why the Swedish mining industry has survived and thrived through product and production evolutions.

Change often starts with one or several of these reasons:

38 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

In addition to reducing carbon emissions through innovations in raw material extraction and production processes, companies are looking to digital transformation and combining technology with new ways of working to achieve sustainability goals. An example is automating the integration of information from different systems and providing access to all the parties involved to facilitate the digital mining permits processes. This will help speed up the processing of mining permits and similar processes such as infrastructure planning and environmental permits.

• • • •

Advances in technology New laws and trading requirements Evolving customer needs Competition

All these factors are contributing to the changes which are now underway. The investments are linked to reducing CO2 emissions. They will also accelerate the transformation required.

The need to quickly minimize environmental impact and emissions is heightened by increased demand for environmentally friendly production and products. At the same time, change creates opportunities to lower costs by using modern technologies such as automation and rethinking how we work. Reducing costs also includes reducing future emission charges and taxes.

Sustainable transformation programs are taking place across all segments of the economy and of society. These programs sometimes also result in increased use of resources, especially minerals, which form the basis of everything from smartphones to car batteries. An effective production and supply chain from mine to recycling is needed to ensure these programs are true to their sustainability goals.

Along the entire value chain from raw materials to the finished product, demands are increasing to provide evidence of the so-called “purity.” To achieve this, an increasing amount of produced and stored data is required, which, in

turn, requires connection to digital traceability solutions. And, of course, all this additional data must be handled without creating non-green emissions. The application of space technology, for instance, is becoming more common to support traceability and analysis, partly to track and measure emissions and also to understand and optimize the supply chain. For example, the European Space Agency (ESA) has begun working on a digital twin of Earth to understand better how global food management works.

This is the first step in creating an ecosystem around food management.

Digital transformation strategies that incorporate data-driven operations are a natural and necessary part of the transformation, so is working with an ecosystem of partners. Therefore, the technology industry will play a key role in supporting the change and will be core to helping mining organizations reinvent for the future. Optimizing processes, transparent reporting of relevant emission KPIs (key performance indicators), efficient water consumption and re-use, and energy efficiencies are all areas where metals and mining companies can benefit from deep technology experience.

Moving from reacting to predicting in future mining operations requires collaboration, and to produce carbon-free products, all parties in the ecosystem must be “clean.” CMJ Gordon Feller is a freelance writer.

www.canadianminingjournal.com

HISTORY OF MINING

By John Sandlos

Who was Skookum Jim?

Keish in 1898.

CREDIT: WIKIPEDIA

Carcross downtown: the former Skookum Jim house (today Parks Canada home) and Totem poles of Carcross. Yukon, Canada. CREDIT: ADOBE STOCK

PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK/KENZOS

A

mong the thousands of people who searched for gold amid the rivers and creeks of the Klondike in the late 1890s, Skookum Jim stands out as one of the most famous, but also perhaps the most enigmatic. The basics of Jim’s life story, and his role in the gold rush, are well-known. He was born among the Tagish people near Bennett Lake in 1854 (perhaps 1855), and his real name was Keish. By 1885, the first small groups of prospectors had arrived in Dyea, Alaska, and Keish and his nephew Kaa Goox (also knowns as Dawson or Tagish Charlie) found work as packers and guides, ferrying supplies up over the notorious steep and rocky slope of the Chilkoot Pass. It was there that Keish first met a 24-yearold prospector from California, George Carmack, who eventually married Jim’s sister, Shaaw Tlaa (or Kate Carmack).

Keish and George did not immediately start prospecting together. The gold strike at Fortymile in 1887 brought more prospectors and more packing work to the reNOVEMBER 2023

gion, so Keish continued in that occupation and soon earned the name Skookum, meaning strong, because of his reputation for carrying heavy loads.

In July 1896, Jim and Charlie met George and Kate at the mouth of Klondike River, and then travelled up a Klondike River tributary named Rabbit Creek (later re-named Bonanza Creek), where one of them (nobody knows who) found the large nugget of gold that sparked the Klondike Rush. The three men worked their claim through the next winter and cashed in just before the arrival of 30,000 additional prospectors in 1898. The newly wealthy miners bounced around between San Francisco and Seattle until George’s marriage to Kate and his partnership with Jim broke down. Before heading back to the Yukon, Jim bought all the claims on Bonanza Creek from George, which he later sold to a mining company for $60,000. He spent the rest of his life in Carcross, though in the winter of 1915-1916, he took one last trip by dog

sled into the territory of his mother’s people, the Tahltan of northwestern British Columbia. Extremely ill at the time, Jim died in Whitehorse in 1916 shortly after the end of his sled journey.

The English names of Keish, Shaaw Tlaa, and Kaa Goox feature prominently in many gold rush histories, but the broader experiences of Indigenous People in the Klondike have largely been ignored. Much of our historical knowledge of the Klondike has been shaped within mainstream settler culture: stories of plucky prospectors facing riches or ruin, wild dance hall shows, Mounties preserving law and order, hordes of men packing the required one tonne of supplies over the Chilkoot Pass, frozen prospectors coming to life in a crematorium, or Charlie Chaplin’s lone prospector boiling a shoe to stave off starvation. Popular writing on Skookum Jim, especially Pierre Berton’s landmark history of the gold rush, tends to depict Jim as a crossCONTINUED ON PAGE 40

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 39

HISTORY OF MINING over figure, somebody who had essentially abandoned his Indigeneity because of his ambitious pursuit of gold and the fact that he could be found drinking in many of Dawson’s watering holes. The only way an Indigenous person could take part in the gold rush, it seemed, was if he became a white man.

Oral history records suggest Berton’s caricatured portrait of Keish ignored the many ways he retained his Tagish cultural identity. There is no doubt Keish was interested in finding gold, but he mixed prospecting with more traditional land-based activities. As one of his younger relatives, Johnny Johns, has said, “Jim was an ambitious guy alright, but he wasn’t the kind of man who’d spent all his time trying to make a fortune. He knew there was a time for everything: time for prospecting and trapping and living the hard life, and time too for relaxing and loving, and drinking as much as he felt inclined.” On that latter issue, Johns claimed that Keish’s drinking was only occasional and part coming into town to “rest up and

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have fun,” but “the rest of time, when he was out prospecting and trapping, he had to have all his wits about him.”

Another relative, Angela Sidney, raised questions about Jim’s motivations when he took the trip up to Bonanza Creek. “In the first place, he wasn’t looking for gold,” she said. “Skookum Jim went downriver to look for his two sisters,” Sidney recalled, “because they missed him. They were gone two years already.”

Once Keish’s party found Kate and George, prospecting was only one concern among many as they set about drying fish and hunting for meat. According to Sidney’s telling, Keish was less the audacious gold hunter trying to enter a white man’s world and more a family man, trying to connect with kin spread throughout the remote corners Klondike River watershed.

Keish also maintained a rich Tagish spiritual understanding of the gold rush as it unfolded around him. Early in his life, he claimed to have saved a frog near Dyea by picking it up and taking it to water. In return, Jim gained a frog spir-

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it-helper, who later helped heal a wound he suffered (by licking it) after he was kicked in the stomach during a barroom brawl. Keish also spoke often of a dream where he met the Tagish spiritual figure named Wealth Woman, who was often the same being as a frog helper. Wealth Woman, just a girl in the dream, took Keish to see her father, who promised great riches in return for saving his daughter when she was in the form of a frog. Keish’s stories and dreams suggest he was hardly adopting western culture, but instead filtered his experience of the gold rush through a distinctly Tagish cultural lens.

Keish remained fully immersed in his own culture well after the gold rush. He was one of the main hosts of the last large potlatch (before they were outlawed) held near Carcross in 1912, a two-week cultural festival where Keish used perhaps $2000 of his gold wealth to provide food and gifts for the large group of participants. In general, Keish tended to be generous with his wealth, often supporting other prospectors with food and equipment, paying school tuition for his niece Graphie, and famously throwing money out the window in Seattle. To the very end, Keish made sure he cared for his kin, drafting a will that left his money in a trust fund for his daughter Daisy.

In 1962, well after Daisy’s death, the trustees of Keish’s remaining money used it to build the Skookum Jim Friendship Centre, an important Indigenous social and cultural organization in Whitehorse.

Affectionately known as “Skookie’s,” the centre is a fitting legacy of man who took advantage of the economic opportunities associated with the gold rush while maintaining close ties to the kin, culture, and the land that meant so much to him.

For more on Keish, including full transcripts of the stories and oral history recollections mentioned in this article, see the article written in March 1992 by Rab Wilkie and the Skookum Jim Friendship Centre and entitled: Skookum Jim: Natives and Non-Native Stories and Views about his Life and Times and the Klondike Gold Rush. CMJ John Sandlos is a professor in the History Department at Memorial University of Newfoundland and the co-author (with Arn Keeling) of “Mining Country: A History of Canada’s Mines and Miners,” published by James Lorimer and Co. in 2021.

www.canadianminingjournal.com

OCTOBER 2023 | VOLUME 5 | ISSUE 8

ON THE MOVE

SPONSORED BY

ERIK BUCKLAND Partner Global Mining Recruitment M: +1 416.854.8468 E: erik.buckland@lincolnstrategic.com W: www.lincolnstrategic.com

Executive, Management and Board Changes in Canada’s Mining Sector

MANAGEMENT MOVES

TOP MOVES IN THIS ISSUE

» Amex Exploration has a new technical team that will advance the Perron project: Pierre Luc Richard, Jonathan Gagne, Stephen Costs, and Jacqueline Leroux. » Argonaut Gold appointed Owen Nicholls to VP exploration. » Kai Woloshyn is now VP project development at Banyan Gold.

Christian Brousseau

Stella Holloway

Konstantin Burger

Christian Brousseau joined Canada Nickel in 2020. After completing the preliminary economic assessment for the Crawford project, he launched the feasibility study and has been leading the development of the in-process tailings (ITP) carbonation process since 2022.

In his new role as VP of innovation and technical services he will continue to lead the company’s work on the IPT process.

Under his leadership, IPT carbonation has advanced from concept to feasibility study level design in just 13 months.

Stella Holloway began her career with MacLean Engineering in 2008 and was recently appointed president.

She is responsible for the strategic direction of sales growth, business development and aftermarket support. as an account manager for northern Ontario. Under Holloway’s leadership, the focus is heavily centered on team collaboration that drives exceptional performance and delivers outstanding customer service, quality products and solutions.

Additionally, Tony Caron is now VP global sales.

The new head of investor relations at Rock Tech Lithium is Konstantin Burger. He has held numerous positions within the company, including managing director of its German subsidiary, and has worked closely with the board and management strategy department.

Burger holds an MBA from Milan’s SDA Bocconi School of Management and has previously worked in several financial management and analytic roles, including with EV manufacturer Tesla.

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

NOVEMBER 2023

» Canterra Minerals says Chris Pennimpede. » Colibri Resource named Ian McGavney as president and CEO. » Foran Mining promoted Gilbert Lamarche to COO and Sam Renelli to VP technical services, and Jonathan French to PV capital markets and external affairs. Eric Carswell has been hired as VP exploration. » Gladiator Metals named Marcus Harden president and Leneath Yanson, community liaison. » Iamgold named Bruno Lemelinn as COO. » Rick Gittleman is the new CEO of Interra Copper. » Sophia Shane joined Luca Mining as director of corporate development. » Gill Lawson is joining Marathon Gold as COO. » Nevada Organic Phosphate named Keith Li as CFO. » New Pacific Metals says Dr. Rui Feng has given up his role as CEO and is replaced by Andrew Williams. » Branden Fraser is the new VP projects at Newcore Gold. » Brent Bonney has joined NGEx Minerals as VP corporate development and investor relations.

» Prospector Metals appointed Dr. Rob Carpenter as CEO. » Bassam Moubarak is the new CFO of Radio Fuels Energy. » Rise Gold appointed Joseph Mullin as president and CEO. » Several members of the executive team at Robex Resources are stepping down, including president Benjamin Cohen, senior VP strategic development Georges Cohen, and senior VP sales and financial affairs Julien Cohen. Daniel Marini was promoted to COO, and Augustin Rousselet becomes chief information officer. » Selina Tribe has resigned as CFO of Sego Resources. » Signature Resources named Rebecca Hudson as CFO, replacing Donna McLean. » Silvercorp Metals promoted Lon Shaver to president from VP and Luke Sun to controller from accounting manager. » Frank Wheatley joined Snow Lake Resources as its new CEO. » Troilus Gold transitioned its leadership to include Jacquelin Leroux to oversee Quebec, Daniel Bergeron as VP special projects, Kyle Frank as VP exploration, and Nicolas Guest as manager of exploration. Blake Hylands has stepped down from the role of executive VP. » Vedanta Resources named a new CEO, Chris Griffith, former Anglo American Platinum CEO. » The new CEO of Venture Metals + is John T. Shaddox. » Harpreet Dhaliwal will become CFO of West Red Lake Gold Mines on Nov. 15.

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 41

BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS » Jane Sadowsky, an independent director of Allied Gold, has been named among the 100 most influential corporate governance experts by the National Association of Corporate Directors. » Avalon Advanced Materials added Alec Kodatsky and Benny Loix to its board. » Erfan Kazemi retired from the board of Bear Creek Mining, and vice-chair Tony Hawkshaw is taking a medical leave of absence. » Black Mammoth Metals added Harvey Lalach to its board. » Bluestone Resources strengthened it board with the addition of Martino De Ciccio. » CBLT Inc. named James R. Atkinson to the board. » Paul Blatter joined the board of Comet Lithium.

» Sean Westbrook joined the board of CopperCorp Resources.

» Monumental Minerals named Wasim Rehman a board member.

» F3 Uranium welcomed Laurie Thomas to the board.

» Pacific Bay Minerals announced the resignation of director Antonio Vespa.

» First Quantum Minerals announced the passing of cofounder and chair Philip Pascall. » Robert Cameron joined the board of Fjordland Exploration. » Founding director Randal Oliphant of Franco-Nevada passed on Sept. 1, 2023. » David Smith is now chair of the Iamgold board, following the retirement of Maryse Belanger. » Kainantu Resources named Dain Currie an independent director. » Jay Sujir replaced Joe Ovnesek on the board of Karus Gold.

» Pacific Empire named Chris Tucker to its board. » The new chair of Quebec Innovative Materials is John Karagiannidis. » Dr. Deepak Malhotra and Jake Tiley have joined the board of Rare Earth Ridge Resources. » Richmond Minerals elected an alternate slate of directors, including David Ellis, Peter Lukesch, Thomas Unterweissacher, and Philip Chong. » Clynton Nauman has joined the board of Rise Gold. » Robex Resources made the following changes: Aurelien

Bonneviot and Matthew Sharples joined the board replacing Michel Doyon and Christian Marti. » Wendy Chan and Martin Stratte joined the board of Stratabound Minerals. » Suncor Energy named Jane Peverett to the board, replacing Eira Thomas. » Teako Minerals has a new board member, CEO Sven Gollan, as Jennifer Shaigec resigned her seat. » Tersa Earth Innovations named former B.C. Premier Glen Clark to its board. » Treasury Metals named James (Jim) Gowans its new chair. » Troubadour Resources added Blake Morgan to its slate of directors. » The new chair of Volt Lithium is Lt. General (ret’d) Hon. Andrew Leslie.

Canadian Mining Journal’s 2024 Media Kit and Editorial Calendar is now available.

Contact Robert Seagraves at rseagraves@canadianminingjournal.com or George Agelopoulos at gagelopoulos@northernminer.com or call 1-416-510-6891 to request your copy.

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