TRUST THE NUMBERS SANDVIK 365. EXPERTS YOU CAN COUNT ON. People tell you stories about quality, commitment and innovation. But for the real story, take a close look at the numbers. With Sandvik 365, you can rely on our highly trained expert engineers to get you the right parts and services to ensure safe operation, low operating costs and service intervals that can be extended by as much as 50%. Want to know what you can count on saving with Sandvik 365? Find out more at mining.sandvik.com/sandvik365.
Test results are to be considered as results reached under certain and controlled test conditions. or represent the outcome of test results in any or all circumstances.
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MARCH/APRIL | 2016 | MARS/AVRIL
30
cover story
Fueling the future The energy economy is shifting away from fossil fuels. So what does this mean for our traditional energy sources and the commodities that will fuel our future energy needs? By Graham Chandler
36 Values statement
41 Conversion story
Torex Gold opted for novel technology and comprehensive tailings management to trim the risks as it reaps the rewards at its El Limon/Guajes mine
Trucks that run with a mix of diesel and natural gas are hauling a heavier share for mine operations. That transition is about to shift gears.
By Ian Ewing
By Alexandra Lopez-Pacheco
45
Preliminary show guide
March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 5
8 10 11
CIM MAGAZINE MARCH/APRIL | 2016 | MARS/AVRIL
Editor’s letter President’s notes Chatter
tools of the trade 12 The best in new technology
13
Compiled by David Chen
developments 13 Despite reduced sanction, experts advise miners to be cognizant of risks in Iran
15 17 22
By Kate Sheridan
Briefs China Minerals sues British Columbia over incremental treaty agreement By Eavan Moore
Quebec miner experiments with renewable heating source By Kelsey Rolfe
21
columns 24 De-risk and reward: the long-term value of geotechnical work By Will Pitman
comminution 26 Canadian Malartic switches cyanidation injection point to see big gains
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By Eavan Moore
Malcolm Powell discusses his idea for a single comminution model to rule them all By Christopher Pollon
26 contenu francophone 72
mining lore 82 The Lemon mine holds the promise of untold riches for anyone who can locate it, but dark fate follows most who dare By Katelyn Spidle
45
68 69
Guide préliminaire de l’EXPO de l’ICM Table des matières Lettre de l’éditeur | Mot du président
l’actualité 70 Une société minière du Québec expérimente une source de chaleur renouvelable
71
Par Kelsey Rolfe
Ruée vers l’or Par Kate Sheridan et Kelsey Rolfe
72
article de fond La structure énergétique de l’économie s’éloigne des combustibles fossiles. Ainsi, quelles sont les implications pour nos sources traditionnelles d’énergie et pour les marchandises qui alimenteront nos futurs besoins en énergie ? Par Graham Chandler
La version française intégrale du CIM Magazine est disponible en ligne : magazine.CIM.org/fr-CA
profil de projet 76 Torex Gold a opté pour une technologie innovante et une gestion complète des résidus miniers pour réduire les risques alors qu’elle récolte les fruits de sa mine El Limón-Guajes. Par Ian Ewing
Performance That Pays.
Fuel Your Bottom Line. At Cummins, we’ve got what it takes to lower the total cost of ownership of your mining equipment. The K2000 engine continues to set the standard as the flagship of the industry, and the QSK60, with its Modular Common Rail Fuel System (MCRS), carries that legacy forward. MCRS delivers a constant flow of fuel at high injection pressures, regardless of engine speed. This results in smoother, quieter performance, improved reliability and significantly better fuel efficiency on every type of Cummins electronic engine at every emissions level. Add our advanced filtration elements and lubrication technology to the package, and you’ll get longer engine life for a lower total cost of operation. That’s performance that pays. Check out our mining testimonial at cumminsengines.com/mining, or call 1-800-DIESELS™ (1-800-343-7357). ©2016 Cummins Inc., Box 3005, Columbus, IN 47202-3005 U.S.A.
Published 8 times a year by: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum 1250 – 3500 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West Westmount, QC H3Z 3C1 Tel.: 514.939.2710; Fax: 514.939.2714 www.cim.org; magazine@cim.org Advertising sales Dovetail Communications Inc. Tel.: 905.886.6640; Fax: 905.886.6615; www.dvtail.com Senior Account Executives Janet Jeffery, jjeffery@dvtail.com, 905.707.3529 Neal Young, nyoung@dvtail.com, 905.707.3525 Subscriptions Included in CIM membership ($187); Non-members (Canada): $275/yr (AB, BC, MB, NT, NU, SK add $13.50 GST; NB, ON add $35.10 HST; QC add $40.40 GST + PST; PE add $37.80 HST; NS add $40.50 HST); Non-members (USA & International): US$325/yr; Single copy: $25.
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Finalist Be st
he best instrument to get a rough measure of a mine’s energy appetite has to be the ear. The roaring fans, thundering mills, rumbling engines and regular blasts declare, loudly and clearly, how energy intensive these operations are. It is why for the last four years, our March/April issue has been an ear to the ground of the energy landscape. We have examined Canadian energy resources such as uranium, coal and natural gas and their contribution to the global energy mix. We found operations in the far north and deep in the tropics that are beginning to generate more and more power from solar and wind alternatives. We talked to decision-makers who detailed the enormous impact energy prices particular jurisdictions have on the viability of a project. While the centrepiece of this year’s energy issue is Graham Chandler’s look at the implications of a “clean energy” economy in “Fueling the future” (p. 30), readers will find the buzz of energy runs throughout the editorial. Chandler’s piece focuses on the implications evolving environmental policy and technological advances will have on both established commodities essential to power generation and the minerals critical for the growth of alternative sources. Kelsey Rolfe connects with the operations team at Hecla Mining’s Casa Berardi mine to learn how waste from the local forestry industry is heating its buildings in Quebec’s Abitibi region (p.22). In our technology section, “Conversion story” by Alexandra LopezPacheco (p. 41) highlights the inroads natural gas fuel systems are making in haul trucks. And in Ian Ewing’s profile of Torex Gold’s newly commissioned El Limón Guajes mine (p. 36), the company explains how, through the adoption of conveying technology novel to the Americas, it has made the most of challenging topography to generate energy for the operation. These are interesting energy times as fossil fuel prices and the cost of alternatives fall, at least in monetary terms, and the pricing of risk – be it environmental or supply – evolves. Ideally this issue will give some sense of how the future may look and sound.
ia ed
Current affairs
Editor-in-chief Ryan Bergen, rbergen@cim.org Executive editor Angela Hamlyn, ahamlyn@cim.org Managing editor Andrea Nichiporuk, anichiporuk@cim.org Section editor Tom DiNardo, tdinardo@cim.org Junior section editor Kelsey Rolfe, krolfe@cim.org Copy editor Marilena Lucci, mlucci@cim.org Web content editor Maria Olaguera, molaguera@cim.org Contributing editors Peter Braul, Eavan Moore, emoore@cim.org Editorial intern David Chen, dchen@cim.org Digitization technician Marie-Ève Lapierre, melapierre@cim.org Contributors Graham Chandler, Ian Ewing, Leah Kellar, Alexandra Lopez-Pacheco, Eavan Moore, Will Pitman, Christopher Pollon, Kate Sheridan, Katelyn Spidle, Kylie Williams Editorial advisory board Alicia Ferdinand, Garth Kirkham, Vic Pakalnis, Steve Rusk, Nathan Stubina Translations CNW, Karen Rolland
adian Busines sM Can in
editor’s letter
Recurrent Energy’s Gillespie solar project in Maricopa County, Arizona Courtesy of Solar Energy Industries Association Layout and design by Clò Communications Inc. www.clocommunications.com
Ryan Bergen, Editor-in-chief editor@cim.org @Ryan_CIM_Mag
Copyright©2016. All rights reserved. ISSN 1718-4177. Publications Mail No. 09786. Postage paid at CPA Saint-Laurent, QC. Dépôt légal: Bibliothèque nationale du Québec. The Institute, as a body, is not responsible for statements made or opinions advanced either in articles or in any discussion appearing in its publications.
Printed in Canada
8 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
An Introduction to Cutoff Grade: Theory and Practice in Open Pit and Underground Mines (with a new section on blending optimization strategy) Cut-off grades are essential in determining the economic feasibility and mine life of a project. The fundamentals of cut-off grade calculation, first established by Ken Lane forty years ago, are revisited. In this course it is shown how direct and indirect costs, opportunity costs imposed by operational constraints, and other factors, such as political risk, legal, environmental and regulatory requirements, must be taken into account. Mathematical equations are developed and graphical analytical methods are displayed, which can be used to solve most cut-off grade estimation problems. It is shown how minimum cut-off grades are estimated and how they must be modified to take into account constraints imposed by mine or mill capacity, or by limits on sales volumes. Multiple practical examples are given, illustrating the role of cut-off grades in mine planning, in allocating material to different processes, in optimizing mill operating conditions, and in poly-metallic deposits.
INSTRUCTOR Jean-Michel Rendu, JMR Consultants, USA • DATE September 21-23, 2016 • LOCATION Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Geostatistical Mineral Resource Estimation and Meeting the New Regulatory Environment: Step by Step from Sampling to Grade Control This course is designed according to the latest regulations on public reporting of Mineral Resources. It aims at showing how state-of-the-art statistical and geostatistical techniques help answering the requirements of those regulations in an objective and reproducible manner. A particular emphasis is put on understanding sampling and estimation errors and how to assign levels estimation confidence through the application of resource classification fundamentals. In addition to a solid introduction to mining geostatistics this course provides a comprehensive overview of industry’s best practices in the broader field of Mineral Resource estimation.
INSTRUCTORS Marcelo Godoy, Newmont Mining Corp., Denver; Jean-Michel Rendu, JMR Consultants, USA; Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University, Canada; and Guy Desharnais, SGS Canada Inc., Canada • DATE September 26-30, 2016 • LOCATION Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Optimization and Risk Management in Strategic Mine Planning: Unearthing Material Value in Mining Complexes Growing volatility and uncertainty in global metal markets highlight the need to focus on new technologies that can unveil significant value and reliability to the performance of mining operations. This three-day course explores the foundations of strategic mine planning and stresses the new generation of applied technologies related to: (a) simultaneous optimization of integrated mining and processing operations, and (b) orebody risk management with new stochastic mine planning optimization developments.
INSTRUCTORS Roussos Dimitrakopoulos and Ryan Goodfellow, McGill University, Canada; and Brian Lambert, Minemax, USA • DATE September 7-9, 2016 • LOCATION Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Quantitative Mineral Resource Assessments: An Integrated Approach to Planning for Exploration Risk Reduction Learn about exploration risk analysis for strategic planning. Understand how to demonstrate how operational mineral deposit models can reduce uncertainties; make estimates of the number of undiscovered deposits; and integrate the information and examine the economic possibilities. INSTRUCTOR Don Singer, USA • DATE September 12-14, 2016 • LOCATION Montreal, Quebec, Canada
president’s notes
Our better selves “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble, it’s what you know for sure that ain’t so.” – Mark Twain In the last year or so, we as an industry have been tested and in some cases we have been found wanting. Tailings failures, divergent resource estimations and write-downs have come at a time of hardship in an industry that is already reeling from low commodity prices and higher costs. We are finding that many are looking to CIM for guidance and leadership, and rightly so. Our primary focus is not advocacy; there are other organizations to fill that role. Our position in the mining world is that of standards definition and best practices development, knowledge sharing, intellectual exchange and expert opinion. Many of us do not realise all the work CIM staff and volunteers do behind the scenes to ensure that we have, and adhere to, best practices. These efforts include our CIM committees such as the Committee on Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource headed by Paul Bankes; the Best Practice Committee that I chair; the work at the Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards headed by Deb McCombe; the Global Mining Standards and Guidelines Group with Heather Ednie; and our ISO work which Tim Skinner is ably leading. I should add that when we use the term “best practice,” we must keep Twain in mind. “Best” is not absolute, and we should have the expectation that practices will improve with time and work. And as CIM members, we are experts in our fields and have both the knowledge and the opportunity to improve on what we mean by “best practices.” I want to thank those who have already committed their time and talents to this ongoing project and encourage the many of you with contributions to make to join in.
Garth Kirkham CIM President @GarthCIMPrez
10 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
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WATCH: Douglas Morrison of the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation and Steven Slupsky of Scanimetrics focus on the financial advantages opened up by technological advances in their presentations at McEwen Mining’s Lunch & Learn series. See the complete series on our YouTube channel.
ERRATUM In last issue’s tools of the trade section, (Feb. 16, p. 12), we incorrectly stated that the rotor width of Metso’s NP13 crusher was 0.2 metres more compact than its predecessor, the NP1213. In fact, it is more compact than the NP15 primary crusher, which was released at the same time as the NP13. We regret the error.
LET’S TALK Want to sing our praises or read us the riot act? Email your comments to editor@cim.org and you could be featured on these pages. March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 11
tools of the trade
Improving bit-by-bit In order to get the most out of a drilling program, operators need drill bits that are durable enough to withstand the thrust of high-capacity air bearings. That is why Sandvik Mining designed its new RR221 series blasthole rotary drill bits and air bearing platform to complement each other, increasing the capacity of the air bearings by up to 20 per cent and making the bits more durable and efficient. “With the increased bearing capacity, it enables us to make better use of the life we’re going to get out of the bits,” said Simon Mitchell, Sandvik’s vice-president of rotary tools. Sandvik also added sturdier metals and protective inserts to the RR221 bits to increase the lifespan by up to 30 per cent, compared with its previous series. Additionally, Mitchell said, the cutting structure of the bits and the geometry of the tungsten carbide inserts has been optimized for different conditions, from soft rocks like soft formation coal, up to hard iron ore. He said the updated bits and air bearings will cut back on spalling and increase drilling hours by 10 to 25 per cent.
Courtesy of Atlas Copco
Even the most seasoned drill operator is still prone to error after a long day, potentially reducing the productivity of a surface drilling rig. Atlas Copco kept that in mind when designing its new SmartROC D60 surface drill, which it believes will make drilling more efficient and less dependent on human operation compared to its predecessor, the FlexiROC D60. One of the smart features on the drill is the hole navigation system, which employs GPS navigation to drill holes automatically. Rather than having the operator mark holes physically and then drill manually, the SmartROC D60 “adds and extracts the rod by itself,” said Mattias Hjerpe, Atlas Copco’s surface and exploration drilling global product manager. The rig also shows the drill plan on its screen and navigates to the hole autonomously via satellite connection. Hjerpe said automated drilling improves precision and reduces wear on consumables like rods and drill bits, compared to when a human manually operates a drill. The D60 also includes a new rig control system, which is able to track and optimize the rig’s engine and compressor and reduce fuel use by up to 15 per cent, compared to its FlexiROC predecessor.
Eye in the sky Equipment tracking at a mining operation can be a logistical challenge, especially in remote locations where cellular service is unavailable. While many large mining machines such as haul trucks and excavators now come with sophisticated built-in monitoring systems for tracking and maintenance, these vehicles make up a small portion of a mine’s entire fleet. According to Keytroller president and CEO Terry Wickman, the company’s new Cyberwatch SAT alarm and GPS location metre is a simple and inexpensive way to monitor smaller pieces of equipment that do not have monitoring systems, such as generators, work trucks or skid-steer loaders, in remote locations. Unlike previous versions of the Cyberwatch, the most recent does not rely on cellular or WiFi signals. The Cyberwatch SAT can be wired to any kind of engine or motor and transmit information such as location, oil pressure, engine temperature or how long a machine has been running or idling. It then periodically transmits that information via satellite onto customer-specific web portals, which can be accessed anywhere in the world. “It’s an inexpensive way of monitoring equipment, and you can use that monitoring for accountability,” Wickman said, such as keeping track of how a company’s machines are being used or how long its employees have been working. It is also useful for knowing when equipment is in need of maintenance. Courtesy of Keytroller
Courtesy of Sandvik
Smart drilling
Compiled by David Chen 12 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
B.C. allows miners to defer electricity payments
Junior miner sues B.C. government over incremental treaty agreement
Taseko Mines launches suit against federal government
Quebec miner experiments with renewable heating source
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Developments Approach with caution Despite reduced sanctions, experts advise miners to be cognizant of risks in Iran Flickr/Dragan Tatic
By Kate Sheridan
Iran’s then-foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (fifth from the left) and foreign ministers from China, France, Germany, the European Union, UK and the U.S. announced an anti-nuclear-proliferation deal in Vienna in July, leading to reduced sanctions on Iran.
Now that Iran has fulfilled the antinuclear proliferation commitments it made last July, the door has opened to opportunity in the country. While some Canadian sanctions are still in place, a renewed flow of imports, exports and investments could kickstart the Iranian commodities sector. “With these amendments to Canadian sanctions against Iran, Canadian companies will now be able to position themselves for new trade opportunities, but we will also maintain rigorous controls on any exports that raise serious proliferation concerns,” stated Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s international trade minister, in a Feb. 5 press
release announcing the amended sanctions. Canada is maintaining trade restrictions on some entities and people involved in ballistic-missile activities as well as export restrictions on some products, especially those that could have military or nuclear uses. Iran ranked 14th in the world in 2015 for steel production, and 16th for iron production, according to information on the website of a national mining holding company, the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO). The country’s commodities market has been relatively insulated from the
global downturn because most of the base metals produced in Iran are consumed domestically. Any additional post-sanctions production would likely stay in the country, feeding its continuing development and reducing its reliance on imports, said Farshad Rashidi-Nejad, a senior lecturer at the University of New South Wales’ School of Mining Engineering. In 2014, Iran produced 16.3 million tonnes of crude steel – mostly from IMIDRO – but the country still needed to import 3.7 million tonnes, according to the World Steel Association’s annual report. China, India, South Korea, and Russia all export forms of steel to Iran, accordMarch/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 13
ing to MIT Media Lab’s Observatory of Economic Complexity. “Iran has many mineral resources and ore reserves. Not all of them have been prospected and explored today as they have been in developed countries like the U.S., Canada, and Australia,” Rashidi-Nejad said. The country has over 68 types of minerals available to mine, according to a presentation from IMIDRO, including significant reserves of iron ore (2.7 billion tonnes), copper (2.6 billion tonnes), zinc (11 million tonnes) and barite (10 million tonnes).
Bringing down technical barriers After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the government began to increase investment in mining projects, Rashidi-Nejad said. But when Canada and other nations imposed sanctions in the mid-2000s due to Iran’s developing nuclear program, the flow of investments and equipment into the country
was restricted, crippling developing mining projects. “The supply of equipment was the main challenge during the period of sanctions,” Rashidi-Nejad said. Companies including ABB from Switzerland, Siemens from Germany and General Electric from the United States were not able to export vital pieces of equipment to Iran, he said. As a manager at Iran’s National Iranian Copper Industries Company (NICICO) in 2006, he experienced the challenge firsthand. One of the concentrator plants he worked on was ready, but it was missing a key part of the real-time assaying and process control system because it contained radioactivity. “I remember it was very, very difficult to optimize the operation, to control the process. We had to use manual sampling,” he said. Paul Robinson, director of CRU Group, a London-based business intelligence firm, concurred. “Will the lift-
ing of restrictions on Western mining equipment have an impact on Iran’s ore processing capabilities? Absolutely,” Robinson said, adding it could result in increased efficiency at existing facilities. Selling equipment is one thing – Iran is also hoping for new foreign investment. Mehdi Karbasian, chairperson of IMIDRO, a key player in the country’s important copper, steel and aluminum industries, announced the country’s mining sector would need about $20 billion of foreign investment to meet the government’s production targets during a presentation at the International Mining and Resources Conference in Melbourne in November. Rashidi-Nejad said the government’s annual production targets for 2025 are 55 million tonnes of steel, 800,000 tonnes of copper, 1.5 million tonnes of aluminum and 300,000 tonnes of zinc. (Iran’s copper smelters produced 270,000 tonnes in 2012, while aluminum production was
El L El Lim imón mó ón n Guaje Guaj aje es sM Miine i , th thank ha ank you for or m making ak kiing ng u us sp par arrt a art rt of tthe team. Glob G lobal al mining mini solutions o tion o s f om fr m con onc ncept through gh c clo losur su e
14 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
developments 820,000 tonnes of bauxite and 230,000 tonnes of metal ingots. The country produced 80,000 tonnes of zinc metal that year.) While there are opportunities for investment and development, RashidiNejad and Robinson agree that investing in Iranian projects still comes with risk. The country’s political environment remains a concern. “Potential investors need to be cognizant – they need to be wary – that Iran is still developing or re-developing its mining and mineral laws,” Robinson said. International politics could also change the investment landscape. As quickly as sanctions were lifted, they could be re-implemented; the nuclear deal has a sanctions “snap-back” mechanism should Iran not fulfill its obligations. Canada’s embassy in Tehran also remains closed, as it has been since
Going for gold Heads up, geoscientists: the computers are coming. Two proposals built with machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) came in first and second place at Integra Gold’s Gold Rush Challenge finale, a Dragon’s Den-style pitch competition held March 6 at PDAC’s annual conference in Toronto, with one taking home the $500,000first prize. The five finalists, SGS Geostat, The Data Miners, the Goldcrushers, GoldRX, and Paul Pearson, were given seven minutes to sell their vision to industry titans Rob McEwen of McEwen Mining; Sean Roosen of Osisko Gold Royalties; Chantal Gosselin, a director at Silver Wheaton with a background in mining and finance; Brent Cook of Exploration Insights; and Randy Smallwood of Silver Wheaton. The crowd-sourcing competition began in September when Integra released raw data from 75 years of previous explorations at the SigmaLamaque gold mine in Val-d’Or, Quebec for entrants to analyze in an attempt to focus the company’s future exploration efforts. Integra acquired
2012. The government has not established a timeline to reopen it.
The pioneer spirit Private-sector companies may find the environment particularly challenging, Rashidi-Nejad said. “Many of the companies in Iran are state-owned or state-backed companies. To date, the main agreements that have been signed are between the Iranian government and some European countries,” he added. Italian equipment supplier Danieli and IMIDRO committed to a €2-billion joint venture in January. Outotec has also announced contracts to supply iron ore pelletizing and process technology to two plants in Iran, both expected to be commissioned in the next three years. Kalle Härkki, Outotec’s leader for their minerals processing division, called the most recent
the mine in October 2014. Over 1,300 participants from 83 countries submitted 100 entries. SGS Geostat, a Quebec-based geological consulting team, won the competition with their pitch, integrating machine learning and AI technology with Oculus Rift, a virtual reality headset and tech start-up darling. (The Rift headset will be released to the public on March 28.) The judges appreciated how SGS mixed traditional and artificial intelligence. “It was not specific to one discipline, it was the most integrated idea of traditional understanding and artificial intelligence,” said Roosen. McEwen also noted that the team factored in cost parameters to its platform. “It’s one thing to identify targets, another thing to estimate what it’s going to cost to determine if those targets are valid,” he said. Second-place team the Data Miners also used machine learning and AI. The team was a trans-Canadian partnership between researchers from the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique in Quebec City and the University of British Columbia. “It’s time that mining, and mining exploration specifically, moved to that
investment, announced in September, “a significant milestone for Outotec in the quickly-developing Iranian iron and steel industry.” Kobe Steel and Japan’s national oil, gas and metals company (JOGMEC) also discussed investments with IMIDRO in August, and Indian firms KIOCL and NALCO are considering building a $59-million iron ore pellet plant and a $2-billion smelter in Iran, respectively. Potential investors in an Iranian project should still examine all the documents they would want to see if they were looking at any other project, including environmental and social impact assessments and feasibility studies, Rashidi-Nejad said. “I think foreign investors should consider the opportunities in Iran caseby-case.” CIM
aspect of multidisciplinary approaches that isn’t just about geology or geophysics or geochemistry or structural geology. It has to include that other arm, which is machine learning and AI,” said Integra chairman George Salamis. Data mining, machine learning and AI are all distinct, though related, concepts. The ultimate goal for AI is a computer that can do everything a human can; most researchers working on machine learning and data mining projects aim to create a program that can notice a useful pattern or glean some useful insights from data. Integra’s challenge was based on six terabytes of data, so Salamis said the company expected to get a few machine learning or AI-based submissions. “But certainly not of this quality,” he added. The combination of AI/machine learning and geoscientific reasoning made the two data-mining submissions stand out, Salamis said. “It’s one thing to run a bunch of algorithms on six terabytes of data, but it’s something quite different and good to back up those findings with actual geology and geoscience.” – Kate Sheridan and Kelsey Rolfe March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 15
B.C. allows miners to defer electricity bill payments The Government of British Columbia, via B.C. Hydro, has provided a temporary life preserver of deferred electricity bill payments for mining companies in the province struggling to stay afloat in rough economic waters. The aid is worth a total of $330-million owing to B.C. Hydro if all mines in the province take advantage of the program, which gives companies the opportunity to defer 75 per cent of their power costs for 24 months. Premier Christy Clark announced at the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia’s (AME BC) annual conference in late January that she is working on the plan with energy and mines minister Bill Bennett and finance minister Mike de Jong, which will be taken to cabinet this year. Low commodity prices, particularly copper and metallurgical coal – the two main commodities in B.C. – contributed to the decision.
“It was pretty clear that companies were not going to be able to remain operating if prices went down any lower,” said Bennett. Continuing low copper prices forced Imperial Metals to announce it was closing its open-pit Huckleberry mine as of August 2016, and cutting the number of employees to 100, down from 260. In light of the recent announcement, Imperial Metals is now investigating ways to keep Huckleberry open. Similarly, Teck Resources may benefit from the new measure after facing challenges to its cost-reduction program, owing in part to higher electricity costs. “We appreciate any steps by the provincial government to support the mining industry during these challenging market conditions,” said Teck spokesman Chris Stannell in a statement to CIM Magazine. “Similar programs have been initiated in past mining down cycles, as electricity costs are one of the largest single costs for mines.”
A dropping dollar somewhat shielded B.C. companies from the low commodity prices that yielded low mineral tax profits, but not enough to make a difference. “We landed on electricity costs because that’s about the only lever that the government of B.C. has to assist with operating costs,” said Bennett. He stressed that granting the deferral is not a gift and will have no impact on the provincial budget. The legal relationship of the deal is between mining companies and the public utility of B.C. Hydro. The province is acting only as facilitator. B.C Hydro will charge any amount not paid in deferrals at an interest rate of prime plus 5 per cent, which is the rate B.C. Hydro charges for their plus30 days overdue accounts. There is no payment schedule, but it is a five-year program. At the end of five years, direct commercial arrangements will have to be made with B.C. Hydro for payment terms of overdue accounts. – Leah Kellar
Anglo American exits coal, cuts iron ore assets Anglo American revealed in midFebruary the details of an “extensive, but essential” restructuring that will see the mining giant reduce global assets to 16 from 45 and downsize its workforce by 60 per cent. The company will focus on its most competitive sites in diamonds, platinum group metals and copper, announced CEO Mark Cutifani in a video released by the London-based company on Feb. 16. “We are taking decisive action to sustainably improve our cash flows and materially reduce net debt,” said Cutifani, detailing the plan to pull out of coal and iron ore in order to free up $3 to $4 billion in 2016. The company is attempting to cut its net debt to less than $10 billion this year. However, financial ratings companies Standard & Poor’s Financial Services and Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Anglo’s debt to junk status following the news, citing concerns 16 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
developments about selling assets in depressed commodities markets. Canada will play a key role in Anglo American’s new strategic direction, said Tom Ormsby, director of external and corporate affairs for De Beers in Canada. “Two of the 16 global core assets named by the company include De Beers’ Gahcho Kué Project in Northwest Territories and Victor Mine in Ontario,” said Ormsby.
Anglo American Copper will hold onto two of the top 10 producing mines in the world – the Los Bronces and Collahuasi mines in Chile – and Anglo American Platinum will keep projects in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The company’s non-core coal holdings will likely be sold or overhauled to improve their performance and value. “Peace River Coal in British Columbia, presently in care and maintenance, will
continue to be managed by Anglo American as options to deliver value are assessed,” said Federico Velásquez, Anglo American Coal Canada’s director of corporate and external affairs. The workforce will be dramatically leaner too. More than 68,000 jobs will go as sites are sold, and Anglo plans to cut managerial and administrative roles to 5,000, down from 11,500. – Kylie Williams
Treaty entanglements China Minerals sues British Columbia over incremental treaty agreement By Eavan Moore Courtesy of China Minerals
China Minerals Mining that a holder of mineral tenure Corporation has challenged has a right to procedural fairthe validity of an incremental ness and that right was viotreaty agreement (ITA) lated by the absence of prior between the province of consultation. British Columbia and the “The company does not Kaska Nation, arguing its right have a beef with the Kaska to consultation was violated. Dena,” said Young. “Their disThe petition filed in the agreement is with the Crown Supreme Court of British and how the Crown has hanColumbia in January could set dled all of this.” a precedent for mining comThe Kaska Dena Council panies in the province. declined to comment. In April 2013, the province John Rustad, B.C.’s minisstruck an ITA with the Kaska China Minerals claims the footprint of its planned Taurus gold mine overlaps with ter of aboriginal relations and Dena Council, a joint gover- a Kaska community’s proposed hydropower project, and the two are incompatible. reconciliation, wrote in an nance structure for the Kaska emailed statement that the of northern B.C. and southern Yukon. notified in July 2013 that it would have province would respond through the ITAs are negotiated at the same table as a new landlord. court. “China Minerals retains an ability treaties, but are separate agreements. But central to the agreement was a to access the surface area of their minThey are intended to build goodwill proposed hydropower project to be run eral tenures, in accordance with the with First Nations and provide treatyby one of the Kaska communities. provisions of the Mineral Tenure Act,” related benefits in advance of final According to China Minerals, the hydro he wrote. “China Minerals has access to agreements, which can take many years project would be completely incompata dispute resolution process under the to negotiate. The early agreements also ible with the gold project it had enviB.C. Mineral Tenure Act. As this matter provide increased certainty about land sioned. is before the court it would be inapproand resources. The province has 22 “The footprint of the mine overlaps priate to comment further.” ITAs with 23 First Nations, all but one with the footprint of the hydro project,” While China Minerals has been signed within the last four years. said Joan Young, a partner at McMillan keeping up the yearly investment In one section of the ITA, the LLP and China Minerals’ lawyer. “You needed to keep its mineral tenures in province agreed to transfer land to the can’t have both of them.” good standing, Young questioned the Kaska Dena, about 5.6 hectares of The company is now suing to quash value of the company meeting its obliwhich overlapped with a mineral the land transfer section of the agreegations. “How can government … ever tenure in the Cassiar mountains of ment and the land transfer itself, which authorize or grant permits when the use northern B.C. held by China Minerals went into effect in 2015. It asks that the of the land now appears to be inconsisthrough its Canadian subsidiary, Castransfer be reconsidered after thirdtent with the Kaska Dena’s stated intensiar Gold Corp. China Minerals was party consultation. The petition argues tions for this land?” she asked. March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 17
Third-party rights in question Tom Isaac, partner at the business law firm Osler, said the case raises important issues in the developing area of rights for non-aboriginal, non-government third parties. “The courts to date have encouraged governments to go down the road of agreement-making in negotiations with aboriginal groups,” said Isaac. “And that’s a good thing, at a high level. But the courts have also been very clear with governments that it can’t be at the unreasonable expense of non-Aboriginal Peoples’ rights as well.” The China Minerals suit could add to a very limited body of case law defining those rights. Ravina Bains, associate director of the Fraser Institute’s Centre for Aboriginal Policy Studies, considers this an unfortunate trend in aboriginal law attributable in part to a lack of government clarity. “Over the last couple of years, the courts seem to be the
ones that are navigating through this space and providing clarity or addressing some of these questions,” she said, “when essentially it should actually be governments that are addressing them.” Bains drew connections between this case and two Supreme Court of Canada decisions: the 2014 Tsilhqot’in ruling affirming aboriginal title, and a 2015 ruling affirming the right of aboriginal groups to seek damages from companies in the absence of proven title (see “A new playing field,” February 2016). “We’re seeing cases come forward with resource projects and First Nations that are asserting their traditional territory rights in ways outside of the treaty negotiations,” she said. “This is the first case to do with incremental treaty agreements [and resource projects]; we’ll likely see more.” Historical treaties are uniquely absent in British Columbia. Of the more than 200 First Nations in B.C.,
only eight participated in one of the historical eleven Numbered Treaties signed between Aboriginal Peoples and the government of Canada at the turn of the 20th century, which paved the way for westward settlement. Nine have signed modern treaties. In the Fraser Institute’s 2015 survey of mining companies, the biggest deterrent to investing in B.C. was uncertainty around land claims. The total surface area claimed by aboriginal groups adds up to more than 100 per cent of the province, considering that some claims overlap. Unless there is a better policy framework put into place to account for the many and varied interests involved, the litigation will continue, said Bains. “It’s definitely an interesting time for the mining sector, and I think with a lot of these cases, people will be watching very closely. Based on the judgment that comes out, I think it’ll have a lot of implications for other resource projects.” CIM
Tahoe Resources buys Lake Shore Gold Tahoe Resources reached a merger agreement with Toronto junior miner Lake Shore Gold, the company announced in early February. This marks the Reno, Nevada-based miner’s first foray into Canada. The friendly all-stock transaction, valued at $945 million, will see Tahoe adding Lake Shore’s Timmins West and Bell Creek gold mines in Timmins, Ontario to its portfolio. Tahoe currently has one mine in Guatemala and two in Peru. At the joint press conference on Feb. 8, Tahoe’s executive chair Kevin McArthur said the merger will make the company stronger. “We believe this transaction brings strong mutual benefits to our respective shareholders and establishes the premier low-cost precious metals producer in the Americas.” Lake Shore president and CEO Tony Makuch, who will head Tahoe’s Canadian division, added that the union will provide Lake Shore the tools to grow. 18 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
Courtesy of Lake Shore Gold
Tahoe Resources’ friendly acquisition of Lake Shore Gold saw the miner adding the Bell Creek (pictured) and Timmins West gold mines to its portfolio.
“The combined company will have the financial strength and balance sheet to optimize and advance our current assets,” Makuch said. “There is a greater ability to continue growing and developing the resources we have in Timmins.”
Lake Shore’s current board chair, Alan Moon, will join Tahoe’s board of directors when the companies merge. Tahoe and Lake Shore shareholders will each own 74 and 26 per cent of the new combined company, respectively.
developments
Courtesy of Velour Productions
Since being spun out of Goldcorp in 2010, Tahoe has been expanding aggressively. It merged with Rio Alto in 2015 for $1.2 billion in order to enter – David Chen Peru.
B.C. government extends mining exploration tax credit This year’s Mineral Exploration Roundup, hosted by the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC) at Vancouver’s Canada Place from Jan. 25 to 28, began with some positive news for the province’s struggling miners. On the first day of the conference, Premier Christy Clark announced that the province’s mining exploration tax credit, which was set to expire on December 31, 2016, will be extended through to Jan. 1, 2020 at the regular rate of 20 per cent, and an enhanced 30 per cent rate for areas affected by
Christy Clark announced the extension of B.C.’s mineral exploration tax credit to Jan. 1, 2020. The credit was set to expire on Dec. 31, 2016.
the mountain pine beetle, which covers the vast majority of the southern two-thirds of the province. AME BC president and CEO Gavin Dirom said the mood among the 5,400
attendees from 33 countries was fairly positive, describing it as “optimistic but realistic.” “Given the conditions and the fact that it’s been such a tough market, the success was incredible,” Dirom said. He noted that while delegation numbers were down from last year, the exhibits were sold out and the sponsorship level was higher than expected. The theme of this year’s conference, “Innovation in Exploration,” was a timely reminder that the industry ought to look towards the future for success. “We must innovate,” said Dirom, singling out the Canadian industry. “We need to reinvest back into R&D to maintain our position as a [leading] global explorer and developer.” Dirom also pointed out that attendees paid a lot of attention this year to the Core Shack display, an annual showcase of new discoveries, leading prospects and advanced projects around the world. He said it is an indi-
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Teck Resources announced a number of changes to its executive teams in late February. The current senior vice-president of copper, Dale Andres, will become senior vice-president of base metals. Vice-president of coal operations Robin Sheremeta, will become the senior vice-president of coal. Alex Christopher, vice-president of exploration, will become senior vice-president of exploration, projects and technical services. These appointments are part of broader management changes as four executives are set to retire over the next few months. Kirkland Lake Gold added two people to its executive team after completing the acquisition of St Andrew Goldfields in January. Doug Cater joined Kirkland Lake as vice-president of exploration, and Keyvan Salehi is the company’s new vice-president of corporate development and technical services. Both served under the same titles with St Andrew Goldfields prior to the acquisition. Jeff More, former senior vice-president of Maxxam Analytics, joined MineSense Technologies in early February as its president and CEO. Former CEO Andrew Bamber will transition to the CTO role to focus on next-generation products. The North Vancouver-based company produces a technology that sorts and recovers metals in low-grade ores. SRK Consulting announced a number of appointments in February to fill roles left open by former chairman Roger Dixon’s retirement last year. Graham Howell will replace Dixon as the chair. Marcin Wertz and William Joughin will replace Dixon as the head of SRK’s mining unit and on the board, respectively. Howell’s old position as the head of the environmental geotechnical unit will be filled by Adriaan Meintjes. Eldorado Gold’s Greek subsidiary, Hellas Gold, received the building permit for its Skouries processing plant in the Halkidiki region of northern Greece in late February. The announcement comes a month after the country’s highest
20 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
cation that the industry is looking to exploration for opportunities. Next year’s event is set to return to Canada Place in Vancouver from Jan. – D. Chen 23 to 26.
Al Kuiper
FROM THE WIRE
CMP 2016 chair Paul Blatter said he was impressed with the conference’s turnout, despite two “difficult” years.
Cold markets, warm receptions Despite frigid conditions, both in the metals market and outside the Westin Hotel in Ottawa, close to 500 delegates attended the 48th annual Canadian Mineral Processors (CMP) conference Jan. 19-21. “We know that this was a difficult year – a difficult two years – and to have a turnout like this is impressive,” said CMP 2016 chair Paul Blatter. The keynote speaker, Earl Sweet, managing director and senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, started the conference on a sobering but realistic note. “Our forecast is another tough year for the global economy in 2016,” he said. “It’s not a disastrous global economy, but it’s not one that’s going to underpin a huge jump in the consumption of commodities this year.” Given the market, miners have had to find ways to improve their efficiencies. Jean-Francois Dupont of Detour Gold presented on Detour Lake’s discovery that an estimated 279,000 ounces of gold can be recovered from fine particles originally dumped in the waste ore stockpile for revenues of around $418 million. “If we look at the
economics, it makes this project very strong,” he said. Other technical papers covered topics such as process control, flotation and mineralogy and hydrometallurgy. But it was not all work and no play. As usual, the event was much more than its technical content, and included the Ray McDonald Hockey Challenge (won by the East team, 8-7) and the Chairman’s Reception. In addition, Johnna Muinonen, 2nd vice-chair of CMP, and Blatter led a group of five brave attendees out on the second annual morning jog through Ottawa at 6:45 am before the conference’s second day of sessions. On the final evening of the conference, the mineral processors in attendance celebrated the best and the brightest among them at the annual banquet. The evening also included a tribute to the late Paul Semple, COO of Noront Resources, who passed away in the spring of last year. “Paul was an innovator, he was a leader, he was an accomplished mineral processor, he was a mine developer, and he was a mine operator,” said Pierre Julien of Outotec. “He was a good friend to many of us. Moving on, it’s going to be different coming to CMP and CIM without him.” The 49th CMP conference will be held at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa from Jan. 17-19, 2017. – Tom DiNardo
AWARDS MINERAL PROCESSOR OF THE YEAR Jennifer Abols ART MACPHERSON COMMINUTION Doug Farnell and Steve Thompson RAY MACDONALD VOLUNTEER AWARD Stuart McTavish LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Brian Flintoff PAST CHAIR Tad Crowie BEST PRESENTATION Ben Murphy STUDENT TECHNICAL REPORT COMPETITION AWARD David Georges-Filteau ANDRÉ LAPLANTE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Graham Bonn BYRON KNELSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Anthony Clapperton CIM Fellowship Erin Legault-Seguin and John Folinsbee
developments
Courtesy of Taseko Mines
administrative court annulled the government’s 2015 decision to revoke building permits for the Skouries project, and is the latest in a long series of confrontations between Eldorado and the Greek government.
Taseko Mines is suing the federal government over a 2014 decision to block development of the company’s New Prosperity gold and copper deposit.
Taseko Mines launches suit against federal government Vancouver-based Taseko Mines filed a civil lawsuit against the federal government in the B.C. Supreme Court in mid-February, seeking unspecified compensation for a 2014 decision to block its New Prosperity project. Taseko alleges the government failed to meet legal duties to the company when it followed the advice of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) and halted the development of the $1.5 billion gold and copper deposit in B.C.’s Cariboo region. Taseko claims that officials involved in the environmental assessment process for New Prosperity unlawfully held private and undocumented meetings with opponents of the project, including representatives of the Tsilhqot’in National Government in Williams Lake, B.C., and its six First Nations constituent bands. “Given the conduct of the Government of Canada and its agents we have no other choice but to defend the interests of our shareholders and to protect their assets,” Taseko’s president and CEO Russell Hallbauer stated in a recent press release. The company is suing for punitive damages plus interest. Its claim also includes more than $130 million in expenses it paid in its bid for New Prosperity’s approval.
The CEAA’s panel determined in February 2014 that the proposed development, located 125 kilometres southwest of Williams Lake, would result in the loss of Little Fish Lake for use as a tailings pond and was likely to contaminate the Fish Lake and upper Fish Creek system, comprising a total 27 square kilometres in the Fish Creek watershed. First Nations and environmentalists voiced opposition to the project and the provincial government’s approval of it. The federal government blocked the project twice due to environmental concerns. The first time, in 2010, the CEAA rejected the project – then called Prosperity – based on the use of Fish Lake for tailings storage. The second review saw a revised project, called New Prosperity, which planned to avoid the use of Fish Lake. After its second rejection, Taseko claimed that the CEAA’s decision was based on flawed assumptions about a tailings pond design that it was in fact not planning to use. – L. Kellar
MER Society boosts number of annual scholarships The Maintenance, Engineering and Reliability (MER) Society increased both the number of scholarships and awards and the amount given out for 2016. New to this year are: the Edward (Ed) Melville Patton Memorial Scholarship, created
Iamgold announced its first resource estimate from its Diakha deposit on the Siribaya joint venture project in western Mali in early February. The Indicated Resources total 2.1 million tonnes, averaging 1.9 grams of gold per tonne for 129,000 ounces. The Inferred Resources comprised of 19.8 million tonnes, averaging 1.71 grams of gold per tonne for 1.1 million ounces. The Siribaya exploration project is 50 per cent owned by Nova Scotia-based Merrex Gold. Cameco has discovered a significant uranium deposit on its Fox Lake deposit at the Read Lake project in Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin. Revealed in its quarterly MDA filing in early February, the find adds 53 million pounds of U3O8 to the company’s Inferred Resources. Cameco owns 78 per cent of the project, meaning the overall deposit is roughly 68 million pounds of U3O8. Dominion Diamond’s Ekati mine expansion in Yellowknife, N.W.T. was given the green light by the local environment watchdog. The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board ruled in early February that, though the project will cause environmental impacts, it could go ahead if the company follows 22 required measures. There have been concerns from aboriginal groups that the region’s caribou herds might be affected. The ruling still requires the approval by the territory’s lands minister. Nautilus Minerals took possession of three seafloor production tools for its Solwara 1 project in early February. The machines, from Soil Machine Dynamics, will undergo wet testing at Oman’s Duqm Port on the Arabian Sea before beginning gold and copper extraction on the floor of the Bismarck Sea near Papua New Guinea in early 2018. Compiled by David Chen
March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 21
Courtesy of Norforce Énergie Courtesy of MER Society
Stephen Young accepts the Edward Melville Patton Memorial Scholarship from Patton’s widow, Jocelyn Patton.
after Patton, a CIM Fellow, passed away in 2014 and given to a student at a Canadian university researching maintenance and reliability related issues; The MER Society Memorial Scholarship, open to a first-year post-secondary student in an engineering or maintenance discipline intending to pursue a mining career; and the MER Graduate Student Research Excellence Award, which covers the costs for a graduate student or recent graduate to attend a CIM or MEMO conference to deliver their peer-reviewed paper. The latter two will be given out later this year when submissions are closed. The society has also increased the monetary value of awards and scholarships to $2,500 each, bringing the total sum of post-secondary funding up to $15,000 annually. – D. Chen
MER’S 2016 AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS CENTENNIAL SCHOLARSHIP Justin Plante, materials and metallurgical engineering, Université Laval; Antoine Sarrazin, chemical engineering, Université de Sherbrooke EDWARD (ED) MELVILLE PATTON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Stephen M. Young, M.Sc. student at the School of Engineering, Laurentian University J.D. PATTERSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Kaelyn Pitre, aerospace engineering, Ryerson University KEN HILDEBRAND MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Claude Vallée, mining engineering, Université Laval 22 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
Logs from surrounding forestry operations are stored during the summer and fall months in an on-site facility that can house 5,000 tonnes of biomass.
Feel the burn Quebec miner experiments with renewable heating source A biomass heating project at Hecla Quebec’s Casa Berardi mine, 95 kilometres north of La Sarre in western Quebec, entered phase two this winter, ramping up from using two heat exchange units to seven. The mine is the first underground mine in the province to be heated by forest biomass. The project – spearheaded by La Sarre-based biomass energy company Norforce Énergie – provides the mine site’s surface buildings with heat generated from residual forest biomass that comes from the discarded logs of forestry operations in the surrounding Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. The operations send their undesirable logs to the Hecla site to be stored for the summer and fall in a facility on site built specifically for the project. The storage facility can house 5,000 tonnes of biomass. In the winter, the dry logs are turned into wood chips and fed into the conversion units. During the project’s first phase, which lasted from winter 2014 to win-
ter 2015, Norforce and Hecla saw the site reduce its propane usage by 45,000 litres. “The pilot test in 2014 gave us all the data to see the impact of the two machines in the propane heating system of the mine ... and we had a very significant impact,” said Christian Léveillé, Norforce’s executive director. “We expect the machine will have a great impact on the propane consumption [in the second phase].” The seven heat exchange units will use between 4,500 and 6,000 tonnes of biomass per year, and each generates 500 kilowatts of power. Léveillé said the second phase of the project would last at least nine years. Prior to beginning the project, Casa Berardi was heated exclusively by propane in the winter months of midNovember to mid-April, and annually it would use between 2.5 and 3 million litres. The goal, however, is not to phase out propane entirely, but to cut greenhouse gas emissions at the site while having a functional hybrid heat-
developments ing system. During warmer winter days of around 0 degrees Celsius, Léveillé explained, biomass would heat the site, as propane does not work as well at those temperatures. Propane would continue to heat the site on colder days. “The ultimate goal is to be able to ... not be dependent on one of these energies, and to compensate for any eventuality,” said Josée Plouffe, Hecla Quebec’s regional communication coordinator. The $3-million project has received $1.1 million from Quebec’s ministry of energy and natural resources through its greenhouse gas program, and is expected to avoid 2,732 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year by using biomass instead of propane. Norforce is selling the heat to Hecla, and will make money based on how much propane is saved each year. Norforce, the joint creation of Metal Marquis and Coopérative forestière St-
Dominique, approached Aurizon Mines in 2011 about heating Casa Berardi with biomass. While the two companies were negotiating, the underground gold mine was sold to Hecla, and talks began again. The pilot project began in 2013, but the machines were not installed until January 2014. First, Norforce had to find the right technology for the job. Initially, Léveillé said, the company looked to technology used in sawmills to burn bark, but the machines were too large and each time they made an energy transfer, there was a loss of energy. “We wanted to use a technology that makes less energy transfers,” he said. The company eventually settled on a technology that is currently used in agriculture to dry crops, and adapted it to the site’s needs. “We have a machine that produces energy with no water … so it’s like a heat gun. It produces hot,
clean air and that’s what the mine needs,” Léveillé said. Boosting the local economy is an added bonus as Abitibi-Témiscamingue does not produce propane, but it has a strong forestry economy. “Hecla has to buy propane from Montreal and Sarnia, Ontario, so that money it spends on propane leaves the region,” Léveillé said. “[Instead, they can] buy biomass that’s locally produced. It gives the region money that would actually go out of AbitibiTémiscamingue.” Léveillé said he sees plenty of opportunities for other mining companies to begin using biomass on their sites. “Eighty per cent of operating mines have a [propane] heating system like Casa Berardi,” he said. “So the potential of that kind of project is huge. We are in a good position right now to develop that kind of project.” CIM
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column
De-risk and reward: the long-term value of geotechnical work By Will Pitman
t is clear some mining companies, wary of added costs and lengthened schedules, are willing to forego comprehensive geotechnical work during the mine design process. This risks the loss of ore reserves through poor ground conditions and ore sterilization; schedule disruptions, equipment damage and personnel injury due to rock falls; dilution of grades due to overbreak; and increased mining costs through unanticipated rock conditions. In many cases, the geotechnical input needed to produce a successful mine design is relegated to the “nice to have but not needed now” funding category and the importance of sound geotechnical input to both the geology and mining disciplines is overlooked. This tendency to neglect geotechnical risk has become even more prevalent in the current economic climate where the frugal allocation of funds is done on a “needs-must” basis. Not addressing mine design geotechnical issues early enough or, worse still, not at all, can lead to those same issues hitting company wallets hard later in the project’s life. We need to look closely at some of the cause and effect logic that creates this elevated risk for a project further downstream.
I
The problem A lack of consistent, quality data early on can lead to major reassessments of the mine design down the road. For example, on a recent project I worked on, the implications of time dependent strength behaviour was detected and noted in core but not correlated with mining parameters such as stope sizing, stand up times and ground support requirements. This became problematic when the mining engineers drafted a mine design that was overly optimistic
about the size of stopes that could be achieved over a prolonged extraction period. I’ve also seen a project where ground was characterized as being fair to poor from core logging, and the structural information from the same core was measured but reported separately. These data sets were not combined to assess what the main implications of the major structure really were. The result was a failure that caused operational disruption but luckily no injury or loss of life. Operations sometimes assume that geotechnical conditions remain the same for newly explored regions of the same deposit. Conversely they assume that recently collected data can be applied to older areas where data may be scant. Both are false assumptions that lead to the identification of negative changes in ground conditions only after development has commenced. In each of these cases the projects required a great deal of additional work at a later point and at a significant extra cost.
The solution Sound geotechnical engineering is based on good data gathering, interpretation, analysis and geotechnical recommendations. The latter three rely on the quality of the first. And this process has to continue throughout the life cycle of a project. Mine workings sometimes collapse decades after the mine has closed and this aspect is now commonly a focus for post closure and regulated closure plans. Timely and specific input is needed to provide cost effective geotechnical recommendations. This input is reliant on the progressive development of the knowledge base with regards to the geology (including structure) and
hydrogeological and geotechnical parameters. The combination of these inputs provides the geotechnical model, which in turn assists the analysis process to provide the foundation for geotechnical design recommendations for mine development. With diamond drilling costs ranging between $100 and $300 per metre and drilling programs seeing thousands of metres of core drilled each year, it makes sense to optimize the data obtained from each and every borehole. Well-trained technicians can easily obtain good geotechnical data, which can be addressed early in the project life cycle at minimal cost to the overall program. Such information provides much-needed data for the focused collection of more targeted and sophisticated geotechnical programs later in the project’s life. As later programs will normally require more costly drilling, it makes sense to utilise cheaper options early on to help reduce this expense. Good geotechnical data can and should start to be collected at the outset of exploration drilling in order to support the development of a good resource model and optimised mine plans. The development and refinement of the geotechnical model should then be continued throughout the life of the project. The collection of good initial data will help guide, streamline and refine future geotechnical needs, which, along with the management of geotechnical risk over the life of the project will ultimately result in a reduced geotechnical cost overall. CIM
Will Pitman, M.Sc., is the principal geotechnical engineer and general manager of the AMC Consultants office in Toronto.
Got an opinion on this column? Send your comments to editor@cim.org. 24 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
Plan to attend IMPC 2016, September 11-15, Québec, Canada The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) is honoured to be hosting the XXVIII International Mineral Processing Congress (IMPC) in Québec City, Québec, Canada. In September 2016, over 1,000 mineral processing experts, academics and industry professionals from more than 60 countries will gather to explore and discuss the important issues and trends currently shaping our industry and its future. Canada last hosted the IMPC in 1982 and is proud to do so again.
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Courtesy of Canadian Malartic
Canadian Malartic reduced its cyanide use by 20 per cent by moving cyanide injection points from the grinding circuit to the pre-leach thickener and leach circuit.
Grinding down costs Canadian Malartic reduces its cyanide use by switching to different injection points By Eavan Moore
he Canadian Malartic gold mine in Quebec has reduced its cyanide use by 20 per cent without compromising recovery by removing cyanide injection points from its grinding circuit, following a study done together with the research consortium COREM. “We didn’t have any problems with the circuit or recovery,” said Renée Dupéré, metallurgical coordinator at Canadian Malartic, which is jointly owned by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited and Yamana Gold Corporation. “We just wanted to lower our costs.” The operation, which mines a low-grade porphyry deposit, has a throughput capacity of 55,000 tonnes per day. In the original flowsheet for Canadian Malartic’s processing plant, the cyanide used to extract gold was injected into the SAG mill at the start of the grinding circuit – standard practice in gold processing plants. The reasoning behind this was that early cyanidation could limit the residence time required in leach tanks further down the line, keeping the circuit size small. But COREM’s work found that much of the cyanide injected at the grinding stage was being consumed in reactions with steel grinding media and other minerals in the ore. Switching cyanide injection to the pre-leach thickener and the leach circuit resulted in less wasted cyanide.
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A joint research project The project emerged from discussions among COREM members, which include Canadian Malartic and other domestic gold producers. Finding ways to reduce cyanide consumption is a longstanding shared interest; about 99 per cent of cyanide introduced is consumed by some mineral other than gold. “What we did here was find one cause of that cyanide being consumed by some unwanted substance,” said Driss Mrabet, a researcher of extractive metallurgy at COREM. In this case, the main culprit was iron, which bonds with cyanide to form ferrocyanide. In 2014, COREM ran both lab tests at its facility and on-site plant surveys seeking to pinpoint the source of cyanide consumption and concluded that it was the milling stage. Dupéré said this technical assistance was critical. “One of the reasons we didn’t do this step when we started the mill was that we were not able to analyze where the ferrocyanides were coming from,” she said, since it does not take a long time for ferrocyanide to precipitate. And although many labs are able to analyse ferrocyanide, they do not take into account the maturation of the sample. “COREM did a great job.”
comminution Mrabet agreed: “It’s not easy to find somebody that can do the analysis onsite. I don’t think any mine has the ability to do that. They have to use outside services. If you collect samples and send it to a lab, the time it will take will create a discrepancy between the situation in the plant and the result from the lab. What COREM did is we developed a methodology that we can bring to the site and do a proper characterization so that we really know what happened in the solution.” Armed with the ability to analyze the chemical composition of plant samples, COREM set about creating experimental conditions. For one set of tests, a mill reactor was built to simulate Canadian Malartic’s SAG mill. The researchers added sodium cyanide to the mill reactor and then let the milled ore sample leach in a glass tank for 48 hours. For the sake of comparison, they added cyanide directly to ore in a glass tank for the same period of time. At the start of the 48-hour leach period, the level of free cyanide was already lower in the milling test, at a concentration of 121 milligrams per litre (mg/L) compared to 175 mg/L. Over the course of the leach period, the rate of gold recovery was slower in the milling test. A separate analysis showed that much more ferrocyanide was being produced. Taken together, these tests suggested iron in the mill was eating up cyanide. That left another question: Where was the iron coming from? The top two suspects were iron sulfide minerals in the ore and the steel grinding media. To isolate the source, COREM compared ferrocyanide levels after running cyanide through the mill in four different scenarios: with steel balls plus ore, with steel balls alone, with ceramic balls plus ore and with steel balls plus silica. Comparison between steel and ceramic balls suggested that steel grinding media were probably the major culprit, with the sulphide ore playing a small part as well. The steel plus silica test generated far more ferrocyanide than steel alone, leading researchers to conclude that mechanical attrition of the steel balls was promoting iron-cyanide reactions.
Moving the cyanide addition point The results of the COREM labwork prompted Canadian Malartic to change how it added cyanide. The plant flowsheet includes a SAG mill, two pebble crushers and three additional ball mills, followed by a pre-leach thickener and then cyanidation tanks. Instead of adding cyanide at one single location in the SAG mill, Canadian Malartic now divides a smaller quantity of cyanide between the pre-leach thickener and the cyanidation tanks. “And we had enough time in the leaching circuit to leach all the gold that is in the ore,” said Mrabet. “We still have cyanide in the grinding circuit,” added Dupéré. “But it’s due to recycling process water.” That does not pose such a problem, because COREM’s lab tests had also shown that concentration mattered. The high concentration of cyanide in the SAG mill – more than 250 mg/L – created conditions for cyanide consumption, but the new circulating concentration varied between 60 and 95 mg/L. The result: the rate of gold dissolution in the grinding circuit stayed the same despite lower concentrations of cyanide. Overall
gold recovery, and efficiency of recovery, stayed the same. The project at Canadian Malartic wrapped up in 2015. The company declined to reveal how much the operation has saved following the flowsheet change.
Wider applicability As a consortium project, the research COREM and Canadian Malartic have done together should benefit other mines. “This work aimed to attract attention to study this aspect of cyanide addition in the grinding circuit,” said Mrabet, “because the reflex is to directly add cyanide to the head of the circuit, to minimize retention residence time.” In assessing the helpfulness of this approach, COREM concluded that it was better to “just keep a low level of cyanide that allows a continuous leaching in the grinding circuit, and assure a certain recovery without enhancing side reactions that come from cyanide.” Dupéré said their results probably apply to any gold project that does, or can, circulate cyanide in its grinding circuit. She added the caveat that Canadian Malartic’s specific ore had played a part in the outcome as well. “Yes, we have a consumption of cyanide due to the grinding media, but we also have a part that was from the ore,” she said, “and we were able to reduce both of the ferrocyanides that were generated with the ore and with the grinding media.” CIM
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March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 27
Courtesy of Malcolm Powell
Common grind Establishing a single comminution model By Christopher Pollon
riginally trained in pure physics, Malcom Powell, professor of sustainable comminution at the University of Queensland, has applied his knowledge to what happens to rocks inside a mill, with the goal of developing a Unified Comminution Model (UCM) to bring all comminution models together onto a common base. The model is based on the idea that the same physical processes occur in all comminution devices, the only difference being the proportion and intensity. Therefore the UCM calculates the mechanical environment of the device in question, combined with rock breakage tests, thereby modelling the process rather than the outcome of a particular device. Among the many advantages of a UCM, it could incorporate liberation and model novel comminution devices.
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CIM: What path led you to your current occupation? Malcolm Powell: I grew up in Durban, South Africa, where I studied physics before taking up employment at Mintek [South African Government research institute]. I took up engineering mill liners, but with a physics spin leading into a Masters then PhD in mechanical engineering part-time through the University of Cape Town. When I finished my PhD I went travelling for four years. I drove an old Range Rover across Africa for a year, I lived in London for a spell and travelled another year throughout Asia. It was an amazing life experience. Then I got back and started a new career in Cape Town from scratch, which eventually took me to Australia. [In the four-year break I established] a company called Liner Design Services, and I have software called MillTraj for predicting the motion of the balls in a mill to support liner design. It’s used in the industry world-wide. 28 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
CIM: How did your idea of creating a UCM come together? Powell: I realized that our existing comminution models had unbridgeable gaps. You can’t evolve an empirical model into one that is based on physics. You have to start again. The [modelling] must go back to the physics of the process. I had a sufficient understanding of the equipment and processes by then to conceptualize a model that was built from the fundamentals of interactions in the mechanical environment. The time was right because by this point we had a tool called Discreet Element Modelling (DEM), which is a mathematical insight into the mechanical action inside the crushing and grinding equipment, that we couldn’t have possibly done 30 years ago. Now with DEM we’re [modelling] a million particles interacting with each other, what’s colliding with what, and with what force. We can see the mechanics that are driving the breakage process. With the UCM, we know there’s rocks and balls crashing into each other, liners hitting things, and we can work out the forces and the rate of interaction. The UCM is the platform, the DEM is a newish input we can include. CIM: How might the UCM work in practice? Powell: You have your rock, which is going to be exposed to that mechanical environment [of a crusher or mill], so I will separately characterize my material according to the mechanical environment I have predicted for my equipment. We’ve never been able to do that before. I’ll do the simulation of the equipment first, and that will tell me what my rock test should be. Rock tests look at the strength of a rock, what it breaks into, and we calibrate that information into models using empirical scaling relationships. I make sure to test the rock in
comminution a way that is appropriate for the equipment, and that way I’m not having to do empirical scaling. So it feeds in directly, the rock is under this range of stresses, or impact forces, which I measured in my lab to characterize the rock. I plug those numbers straight into the model because that’s the mechanical environment that the rocks will see in the model. This is a step change, and no one else had taken that approach. Now you must consider transport. This material must move through the crushing/grinding device. You can use computational techniques to predict this, as well as physical measurements. It’s important to mechanistically model transport of material through a device, whether it’s a crusher or a mill. And such a transport model needs to [consider] particle size, density, the way you feed the equipment, et cetera.
you go? You can improve performance by changing design or feed distribution and other things, but it’s just incremental improvements, and you’re still doing business as usual. You don’t get a paradigm shift when you’re using equipment that was developed between the 1940s and 1960s. The mills have gotten bigger – the gigantism that has driven the industry where bigger is more economically viable was a huge step change to get into low-grade ore bodies. But we have hit the ceiling with that. You don’t get an ongoing return on that, you actually have to do something different. And this is where ideas like the UCM come in, where you can understand a process and think about revolutionizing either the way you use current equipment or move it into new process and equipment design. CIM
CIM: Based on the modelling, can you tailor your comminution circuit design? Powell: When you take this approach, you can rethink what your process is, yes. With the UCM I can measure how the rock breaks and I can predict mechanical environments. So you want to design the local environment as much as you can to apply just enough work to the rock, and move it out immediately without doing more [than is necessary]. So if you think of a mill, it’s anywhere from five to 20 metres long, and if a particle right at the front gets broken to the required size to expose the mineral, it spends another 20 minutes getting beaten to death as it travels down the mill. There’s no choice, it can’t escape. So you’re doing much more work than you need to do. And to me that’s the opportunity. Less breakage actually becomes the objective, and you can then dramatically slash the amount of work you’re doing. So you want to break it and transport it as fast as possible. And you can use that as a basis for designing your equipment. CIM: What will a UCM allow us to do that we aren’t doing now? Powell: It allows us to turn the usual story around: instead of asking, “how can I improve the mill and crusher?” ask “what do I need to do to the rock?” In comminution, I seek to do as little work as possible to the rock to expose the mineral just enough that I can recover it. In the 1960s, it was like, “let’s grind it all into dust and we’ll get recovery.” You can’t afford to do that anymore, so you shift the paradigm and look at it from the other side. And the next step then becomes, “can I grind or crush it in a way so I can get a higher grade coming out the other end?” CIM: Has industry been receptive to your work around creating a UCM? Powell: It’s been a really slow ramp up. The industry has seen it as something that is interesting on the side, but perhaps too futuristic, even during the most recent boom times. They were okay for me to spend money playing around on this, but they’ve never been convinced; it seemed a bit too complex and a bit too distant to them. In some ways I agree. But if you just keep tweaking the current process how far can March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 29
FUELING THE FUTURE THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF ENERGY
Courtesy of the City of Kimberley
By Graham Chandler
The $5.3-million Kimberley SunMine, shown here, is set on the former site of Teck Resources’ Sullivan concentrator site in B.C. According to a Bloomberg report, investment in clean energy technology increased four per cent in 2015 to US$329 billion.
Fossil fuels currently make up a large majority of the world’s energy needs. But that is starting to change. And if the signatories to the 2015 Paris Agreement get serious, there will be winners and losers in commodities.
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n the evening of Dec. 12, 2015, France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius banged a green gavel and announced, “The Paris Agreement is adopted.” The 40,000 delegates at the 21st annual Conference of Parties (COP21) cheered the unprecedented accord: 196 nations agreed to a goal of keeping global average temperature increase less than 2° C above pre-industrial levels while striving for a 1.5° C-limit by 2100. Countries had already proposed their respective contributions toward the marker, including Canada’s 30 per cent reduction in emissions from 2005 levels by 2030. Although targets are non-binding, signatories are required to assess progress towards meeting their climate commitments every five years, and submit new plans to bolster them. The Paris Agreement speaks to a larger trend in modern society: an effort to mitigate climate change and its effects, from infrastructure-building to converting coal-fired generation plants and developing renewable energy sources. So which commodities will benefit from the shift in the new energy economy, and which will suffer?
According to Schork, natural gas will be the major beneficiary. “This has been the story for the past ten years,” he explained. Schork said he reckons natural gas will be more of a common fuel going forward rather than an interim fix to bridge the gap between a fossil fuel phase-out and a pure renewable-powered future, as was envisaged by many five years ago. “We’ve gotten so good about getting it out of the ground economically that the environmentalists don’t like it anymore,” he said, noting that renewables are not more commercially viable than gas in the near future. Natural gas’s contribution to the global energy mix is expected to climb two per cent per year until 2020, according to the IEA. The IEA projects demand for oil will pick up until 2020, adding an average of 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) per year, but the subsequent rise to 103.5 million bpd in 2040 will be moderated by higher prices, efforts to phase out subsidies, efficiency policies and switching to alternative fuels. The share of non-fossil fuels is expected to expand from 19 per cent of the global mix today to 25 per cent in 2040. Nuclear and renewables are expected to grow the fastest.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
URANIUM
To satisfy its energy needs, the world is currently heavily reliant on fossil fuels. According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2015, oil, gas and coal currently represent over 80 per cent of primary energy demand with oil at 31 per cent, coal at 29 per cent, and gas at 22 per cent of the mix. The report projects that fossil fuels will still dominate until 2040, where it will drop only slightly to 75 per cent. In its February 2016 report, New Energy Futures, consulting firm PwC wrote that it also sees fossil fuels dwindling in the future, due to the Paris Agreement. “In the aftermath of COP21 and against a backdrop of heightened public concern about climate change, the long-term outlook for fossil fuels as a whole is to play a proportionally diminishing role in the world’s fuel mix,” it stated. Stephen Schork, founder of the Schork Report, a commodities research firm, noted that North America has been witnessing the “ongoing death” of coal in recent years, as it is slowly phased out. In spite of major investments in supply, actual coal use has fallen, resulting in over-capacity and skidding prices. The IEA forecasts coal’s share of global electricity generation will fall from its current 41 per cent to 30 per cent by 2040, despite a tripling of coal demand in India and Southeast Asia.
Nuclear power, currently generating 11 per cent of global electricity, relies on the mining and processing of uranium as a fuel. Cameco Corporation, which produces about 18 per cent of the world’s uranium, expects to see around 113 new reactors built worldwide, more than 60 of which are already under construction, by 2025. Subtracting the 55 which are forecast to shut down, the end result will still be an 80-gigawatt (GW) growth in nuclear power over the next decade, with even more expected later, the company stated in its 2015 market overview. Most growth is seen in countries with rapidly growing populations and economies. China leads the way with 24 reactors under construction. India, Russia, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States are also building new reactors. And the UK has committed to nuclear energy as a source of emissions-free energy. Others with nuclear energy plants in the works are Turkey – with eight planned – Bangladesh, Vietnam, Jordan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Today, the world’s reactors consume around 160 million pounds of uranium annually, states the Cameco report. “With the growth in reactor construction, we expect [consumption] to grow to around 220 million pounds per year by 2025, an average annual growth of three per cent.”
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Courtesy of Cameco Corporation
Cameco’s Cigar Lake, located in northern Saskatchewan, is the world’s largest undeveloped uranium deposit.
Because uranium production has outpaced consumption for several years, significant secondary supplies sit in stockpiles, meeting about 20 per cent of global needs. However, as stockpiles deplete, more primary production will be needed from mines – some, new mines. Cameco estimates about 10 per cent of supply over the next decade will need to come from mines not yet developed. This could cause supply difficulties as new mines require seven to ten years’ lead time to produce. Cameco’s forecast was prepared just prior to the 2015 Paris Agreement. “Some of the language that we heard coming out of the Paris Climate Conference was encouraging,” said Cameco president and CEO Tim Gitzel. “While we certainly agree that nuclear power is an important tool for combatting climate change, we have not changed our forecast based on the agreement.” Despite all the meticulous forecasting, there is an unpredictable side to uranium demand: politics. “We have seen what happened in Germany [which replaced previously committed nuclear power with renewables following the Fukushima incident] but I think what we’ve seen in Japan is even more telling,” said Schork. “In the wake of Fukushima, the assumption was that Japan was going to completely wean
SUPPLY SUPPORT Last April, Cameco announced a supply agreement with the Department of Atomic Energy of India to provide about 7 million pounds of uranium concentrate through 2020. India currently operates 21 nuclear reactors, which provide 6,000 megawatts (MW) of nuclear capacity, making up three per cent of the country’s domestic electricity needs. India expects to have 45,000 MW of nuclear capacity by 2032.
itself off nukes.” But Japan did not; instead it has decided to maintain its nuclear growth. “From a [power] generation standpoint [nuclear is] beautiful,” said Schork. “It produces copious amounts of relatively cheap fuel and it is environmentally friendly, except what to do with the spent fuel.” But with the current abundance of cheap natural gas, “to build a new reactor you’re not going to get your costs back. I think it’s a matter of market economics.”
RENEWABLES Renewable energy sources, including solar panels and wind turbines, are also set to start playing a bigger role in the global energy mix. Despite cheap oil prices, investment in clean energy technology continued to grow in 2015. A Bloomberg report noted a four per cent increase from 2014 to US$329 billion. According to the 2016 edition of BP’s Energy Outlook, renewables are expected to grow at around 6.6 per cent per year, their share of the global energy mix tripling from three per cent today to nine per cent by 2035. “Renewables account for over a third of the growth in power generation, causing their share of global power [generation] to increase to 16 per cent by 2035,” said BP chief economist Spencer Dale. “The world is starting to make the transition to a lower-carbon energy system, and the COP21 meeting in Paris last December represented a significant step on this journey.” The Solar Energy Industries Association is encouraged by the recent accord. “I think the Paris Agreement will provide the impetus for greater adoption of renewables around the world,” said Dan Whitten, vice-president of communications. “It isn’t going to all happen overnight, but the Paris Agreement definitely will help advance renewables both in the United States and abroad. It was a promising sign that just days after March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 33
Courtesy of Borrego Solar
196 nations agreed on the Paris Accord, the U.S. approved significant extensions of renewable energy tax credits.” Supply of the main commodities used to manufacture today’s solar panels – polycrystalline silicon, silver and copper – is expected to meet demand. According to Bloomberg, the supply of polycrystalline silicon will exceed needs of the 66 GW world total expected by 2017. The use of silver in photovoltaic technology – used to convert sunlight into energy – is currently six per cent of world demand, and Non-fossil fuels are expected to increase their contribution to the world energy mix to 25 per cent in 2040 from 19 per cent the Silver Institute predicts a today. slight decline in world silver production over the next few years partly due to its associated up with demand, although the market balance will remain production with price-challenged commodities like copper reasonably tight. and zinc. In February, a team of American researchers announced it had made an efficiency breakthrough for cadmium telluride “I think all these agreements are good for the world – they (CdTe) solar cells. The upside is that the cells are a lower cost alternative to the silicon cells that dominate the solar market. basically affirm what [society] has been thinking, that we need As significant as the technical achievement may be, however, to change our ways,” said Edward Anderson, president and access to the necessary raw materials will likely determine the CEO of TRU Group Inc. and a global lithium analyst. About 50 per cent of lithium consumption goes into tradifuture of the technology. An MIT study from 2014, looked back in history at the ability of various commodity producers to tional uses like glass and ceramics. The room for growth, respond to increased demand. The results revealed that poten- Anderson reckons, is driven by the other 50 per cent – what tially “game-changing” technologies such as high-efficiency he calls lithium chemicals like lithium carbonate – mainly for CdTe cells would quickly run into supply problems if their batteries and metal alloys used in aerospace and military appliadoption began scaling up. Silicon cells and the materials they cations. The need for lithium-ion batteries will forge ahead with the expected growth in popularity of electric vehicles require, on the other hand, would not hit the same ceiling. The Global Wind Energy Council projects wind turbine (EVs). “I think lithium chemicals are ready for substantial capacity to grow from 432 GW at the end of 2015 to 666 GW growth – 10 to 15 per cent,” he said. “EV growth could be 20 by 2019. Critical commodities in wind turbine manufacturing per cent.” But for grid storage, the other potentially major use of are the rare earth elements (REEs) used in magnets; most notably neodymium for which supply is estimated at 21,000 lithium-ion batteries, demand will be more tempered, said tonnes per year, 91 per cent of which originates in China. For Anderson. “For EVs, there’s really no alternative,” he a time, China restricted the explained. “They’re light, efficient and adaptable to EV supply of rare earth mate- requirements. For storage you don’t have the same requirerials through export quo- ment; cheaper lead-acid batteries can be used.” Lithium supply will be able to keep up, he said. “You have tas. But in 2014, the World Trade Organization ruled the big lithium guys, like SQM (Sociedad Quimica y Minera against the quotas and de Chile) and Albemarle. They control the market and always China scrapped them in will.” Mining start-ups, he said, will face higher costs, prob(in tonnes) December of that year. ably double the cost of expanding an existing plant. “We’ve According to the US Geo- had examples of that – RB Energy built a new plant in Quebec China: 105,000 logical Survey (USGS), but it closed in 2013 because it was not competitive.” The Australia: 10,000 neodymium supply and big mines, he said, will be able to meet demand expected in United States: 4,100 demand is expected to the next five to ten years, if they decide to expand current increase rapidly over the operations. If not, “new ones like Orocobre Limited (an AusRussia: 2,500 coming decade, at around tralia-based exploration company) could provide swing Thailand: 2,000 seven per cent per year. capacity,” said Anderson. “So absolutely there is no issue with Source: USGS Supply is expected to keep supply of lithium.”
LITHIUM
WORLDWIDE 2015 REE PRODUCTION
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GRAPHITE Graphite is another important constituent of lithium-ion batteries. “In a lithium-ion battery, it is about five per cent lithium and 50 per cent graphite, so in reality it should have been called graphite-ion,” quipped Paul Gorman, CEO of Torontobased Great Lakes Graphite. Lithium-ion batteries currently consume just a sliver – around seven per cent – of the world’s graphite market. Gorman, who has spent the last seven years working in the graphite space, expects this number to climb. “I would say high-purity graphite over the next five to seven years is going to be predominantly used for EVs and for grid storage,” he said. However forecasts have been tempered. “EVs have not been selling as well in North America as expected over the last couple of years with the price of gasoline at less than two dollars a gallon,” said Gorman. But he said he figures demand for these products will dramatically improve over time. “If you go by the projections that Tesla has out there right now, the total requirement for graphite for EVs is about 80,000-100,000 tonnes per year. Once their Nevada-based Gigafactory is on line, you’re looking at exponential growth in graphite use and production.” In the near term, current producing mines around the globe should be able to provide the supply requirements, Gorman said. But there are other restrictions in the supply chain that could impact production. “It’s more than mining the graphite as a commodity,” he said. “The bottlenecks come in micronizing it, purifying it, shaping it and coating the graphite particles.” Since most of the graphite production today comes from China, he said it could be difficult for any North American supplier that has not already got a producing mine to stay ahead of the curve. So overall will there be an explosion in demand for battery graphite in the near term? For grid storage, “I think there is enough global supply to meet that demand,” said Gorman. “The real issue is going to be when the EV market really catches fire globally. From all indications and slumping oil prices, I think that is going to be a while.” Paul Ferguson, chief marketing officer at Great Lakes Graphite, said nobody really knows the market yet, “because some of
ON THE RISE Five of the top 10 performers on the TSX Venture last year were companies with either lithium, graphite or uranium properties.*
+167%** 1. Pure Energy Minerals Limited [ l ithiu m ]
+167% 2. Nemaska Lithium Inc. [ l ithiu m ]
+89% 3. NexGen Energy Ltd. [ uraniu m ]
+79% 4. In tegra Gold C orp [ g old ]
+180% 5. Are na Miner als Inc. [ cop pe r/ gold ]
+146% 6. Elcora Advanced Materials Corp. [ graph it e ]
+90% 7 . G old S ta nd ard Vent ure s Corp. [ gold ]
+90% 8. Canada Carbon Inc. [ graph it e ]
+138% 9 . V iscoun t Minin g Corp. [ gol d/silv er ]
+27% 10 . Roxg old Inc. [ gold ] * Ranking based on market capitalization growth, share price appreciation and trading volume. ** Percentages indicate share price growth in 2015.
these products like Tesla’s Powerwall have only just started shipping, so we don’t know how it is going to do. A lot of the grid storage players are still in development mode so we haven’t seen the full impact of that either. Whether high demand actually materializes remains to be seen.”
OPPORTUNITY VS. REALITY Of course, there is always the possibility that much of the foregoing enthusiasm and optimism generated by Paris 2015 could fade depending on the economy. If jobs are on the line in recessionary times, said Schork, “[Governments] won’t sacrifice the economy to save half a degree on temperature.” Already, in early February, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a major blow to President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan by putting on hold federal regulations to curb CO2 emissions mainly from coal-fired power plants. The court voted 5-4 to grant a request by 27 states – mostly those relying on fossil fuel production for healthy economies – and various companies and business groups to block the plan, which mandates a shift to renewable energy away from fossil fuels. Consumer-calculated economics enters the picture too. Low prices at the pump are cutting into the EV and hybrid advantage. Sales of plug-ins are down by around six per cent in the U.S. and in Canada sales of hybrids have reportedly plummeted by about 32 per cent since their 2012 peak. With gasoline well under a dollar per litre in most of North America, consumers are less willing to pay an $8,000 or $10,000 premium. Tesla Motors’ stock fell nine per cent in early February on reduced EV sales expectations. Moreover, the existence of low gas prices provides less incentive for companies and governments to implement reduced mileage targets. On the other hand, such responses only work up to a point. China’s breakneck industrialization came at the expense of the environment, and now it has become a critical social, political and economic issue for the country. But is climate change as visible as China’s smoke-darkened skies? As most organizations acknowledge, the Paris Agreement is a highly encouraging step – and the good news is that world commodities are there to build the solutions. CIM March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 35
VALUES STATEMENT By Ian Ewing
M
ining has already begun at one of the pits at the El Limón-Guajes Mine, and soon ore will be rolling out of a second. More than just pouring gold, Torex’s flagship operation, with its novel approach to ore transport and comprehensive tailings treatment, is setting its own course. When Torex Gold Resources announced it had poured the first bar of gold at its Morelos project in December 2015, wistful geologists at Teck Resources likely took note. Torex purchased the property for US$150 million in a 2009 auction during a major sell-off by Teck in the wake of the 2008 crisis. “That included a 100 per cent divestment of their gold assets,” explained Torex COO Jason Simpson, “much to the disappointment of some of the geologists who were involved in this project.” The property’s seminal resource, the skarn-hosted El Limón and nearby Guajes deposits, was already known in 2009. With a Measured and Indicated Resource of 3.0 million ounces of gold plus another 890,000 ounces Inferred, the project was sure to be a winner for somebody. Seven years and more than $800 million later, the first pour signifies a major milestone on the road to commercial produc-
tion, which is expected in the second quarter of 2016. In the meantime, more systems are being brought online each week at the 14,000 tonne-per-day plant. Among those systems is “one of the larger tailings filter plants in the world,” according to Torex president and CEO Fred Stanford.
Steep challenges Situated on 29,000 mountainous hectares of the Guerrero Gold Belt in Mexico, building tailings ponds at El Limón-Guajes was a non-starter for Stanford. “We’re right at the intersection between two rivers, so tailings winding up in those rivers would not be good.” And located just 100 kilometers from the Pacific coast, the area is “by definition” seismic, he added. “Third, the topography is extremely steep, so you don’t get to contain many tailings behind your dam. You’d have to keep building it higher and higher.” Instead, the company opted for dry stack filtered tailings. Seven high-pressure Diemme filters are linked in parallel to pull processed tailings out of suspension. A conveyor delivers the now-dry tailings to their placement location, where operators in machines compact it. Improper placement or compaction could lead to localized erosion, so AMEC, who designed the tailings facility, has been retained by Torex to monitor the tailings disposal site and perform quality control.
All images courtesy of Torex Gold
The mine features a 1.3-kilometre-long suspended conveyor system that provides both ore and energy to the processing facility.
“Eliminating risk at the design stage is really a values-based decision.” – J. Simpson
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project profile
Project specs
Location Municipality of Cocula, Guerrero State, Mexico First pour December 2015 Commercial production Q2 of 2016 Full production 2017 Capex US$800 million Mineral Resource El Limón-Guajes
All in sustaining cash costs US$637/oz* Mine life: 10 years Plant capacity 14,000 tonnes per day Estimated annual production: 369,000 oz Mining method Open pit, drill and blast
Tonnes (Mt)
Au Grade (g/t)
Ag Grade (g/t)
Contained Au (Moz)
Contained Ag (Moz)
Measured
10.09
3.27
4.01
1.06
1.30
Indicated
40.24
2.87
5.15
3.71
6.67
Total Measured and Indicated
50.33
2.95
4.92
4.77
7.96 *Over life of mine
At a cost of nearly $40 million for the filter building and its contents, the system represents a large capital investment for the mine. But the cost is worth it to eliminate the risk of a tailings dam breach, said Stanford and Simpson. “It starts with the concept of values,” said Simpson. “There’s an investment in the filtering capacity, but it’s based on an understanding of the environment that we’re in, and the type of organization that we’re trying to create.”
Eliminating risk A similar thought process led to the implementation of the RopeCon – a suspended conveyor system – to transport ore from the El Limón pit down a 400 metre vertical face to the mill. The conveyor is expected to begin moving ore down the mountain from the crusher to the plant later this spring, well ahead of its original start-up date at the end of 2016. “That’s another example of how values influence pretty significant decision making,” noted Simpson. “It’s an $18 million piece of equipment – $22 million installed – but it will provide an enormous safety advantage over the life of the mine.” The conventional alternative would have been a fleet of roughly 15 haul trucks constantly traversing the 400-metre elevation change by road, in rainy seasons and at night, fully-loaded on the way down. “You’re just increasing the probability of [an accident of some kind] by doing that,” said Simpson. “Eliminating it at the design stage is really a values-based decision.” Though not in common use in the Americas yet, the RopeCon system, which is installed at half a dozen mines internationally, has the confidence of the Torex executives. The core of the system is a set of high-strength cables and steel framing strung between two towers, similar to the ski lifts that manufacturer Doppelmayr is better known for. Running along Opposite page: Torex opted for a tailings management system that dries the tailings in seven high-pressure filters (top left) before conveying them (top right) to the disposal site. Bottom: The mine currently has a life of 10 years, but drilling results from the company’s adjacent Media Luna site suggest the property has more gold to spare.
a pair of parallel cables are railway-style wheels. The axle of each wheelset is bolted to a 66 centimetre-wide belt. The cables are attached every five metres to a steel support. The conveyor at El Limón-Guajes (ELG) is 1,300 metres long, spanning just over one kilometre between the towers. Run-of-mine ore is crushed by identical Metso 42-by-65foot gyratory crushers in the Guajes and El Limón pits. The Guajes pit currently being mined is easily accessed by haul road. Ore from the El Limón deposit will be crushed in-pit, and then fed to the RopeCon, which delivers the ore to the processing plant. First the ore enters Metso SAG mill (9.15 metres in diameter by 4.15 metres effective grinding length), then a Metso ball mill (7.32 metres in diameter by 12.8 metres long). They grind the ore to 80 per cent passing 60 microns, leading to 86 per cent recovery using a cyanide leach/carbonin-pulp process. Loaded with crushed ore heading downhill, the RopeCon actually generates a megawatt of electricity for the mine, while avoiding the most common problems operators experience with conveyors. The railway wheels prevent any tracking problems, and the axles – bolted to the top of the belt – can clear any material that might jam at one end and pierce the belt. There are no rollers in contact with the belt either, eliminating another source of wear. “This technology has eliminated all the different ways you can rip a belt,” said Stanford. So robust is the RopeCon, added Simpson, the expected life of the system exceeds the planned mine life. Maintenance is mainly to parts attached to the belt, and will be performed at a specially-designed maintenance station at one end of the conveyor. “You rotate the belt forward so that the particular wheelset is in the maintenance bay, pull the power, change it, put the power back on, and turn it again. You can do your preventative maintenance extraordinarily quickly,” Stanford said.
Training for the future At ELG, the initial influx of miners and managers came from elsewhere in Mexico, particularly the north, where there March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 39
The project included the relocation of two villages at a cost of $30 million.
are many established mines. But an increasing number of staff – now over 45 per cent of the 200 or so currently working on site – come from the Guerrero region, according to Simpson, and roughly 95 per cent of the mine’s staff are Mexican. The company has no specific target for local employment, but recognizes that maximizing the local workforce is in their best interest. “Over time, we should hold ourselves accountable to get locals trained and experienced enough that they can take the helm,” said Simpson.
“We think we’ll be mining here for a very, very long time.” – F. Stanford Starting in 2013, the company implemented a training program to begin doing just that. Designed by Performance Associates International, it is a program that worked for Simpson at Vale’s Voisey’s Bay nickel mine in Labrador, as well as at other sites worldwide, including Tahoe’s Escobal silver project in Guatemala. As ELG expands its tonnage rates, the locals are beginning to fill seats at the mine, with the mentorship of the experienced miners that Torex started with. “The majority of the plant operators have also come from the local population and have been through this training program,” added Simpson.
Community building Training and employing some locals is just the start of what Torex has done for a couple of local communities, however. During early negotiations with the local ejidos (communal farms with agricultural rights to the surrounding land), two nearby villages expressed interest in being relocated due to concerns about water availability. For generations, La Fundición and Real De Limón had been precariously perched on the side of the mountain to take advantage of natural springs. However, they lacked the amenities of modern life – no running water, no sewers, and limited electricity. Moving the villages also turned out to be in the best interest of the miners, as the ideal place for a waste dump would have 40 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
Torex poured its first gold last December.
covered La Fundición, and eventually approached the edge of Real De Limón. Negotiations commenced. Three suitable sites were proposed. Architects designed three models of houses for each of the 172 families (roughly 600 villagers) to select from. Construction of La Fundición began in 2013, about eight kilometres from the mine. Resettlement was completed in 2015. The nearby construction of Real De Limón should be completed early this year, with resettlement following shortly thereafter. The total cost of resettling the two villages will come in around $30 million, including the cost to install a water treatment facility and an electrical substation to power the communities. “The process as a whole was very straightforward and transparent,” said Gabriela Sanchez, vice-president of investor relations at Torex. “What took extra effort from our community relations team was to familiarize the owners of the new houses with the new facilities that their upgraded dwellings provide,” such as gas – rather than wood – stoves, potable water and sewers and garbage collection. “The relocation provided better schools, clean water, proper sewer facilities, a playground, things like that,” added Stanford. “We put a lot of work into making sure it works for them. The goal is for them to be happy with the move and be happier afterwards.”
Small but steady The mine life of ELG, according to the feasibility study, is forecast at ten years. But mining could continue at Morelos for decades. In 2012, while completing the feasibility study, a second resource was discovered. The Media Luna project – found “on the first or second borehole”, according to company legend – could add another 7.4 million gold equivalent ounces inferred, including nearly 4 million ounces of gold. “When we have those two [both] up, we’ll have a beautiful asset,” marvelled Stanford. The company is pushing forward with permitting to begin driving an exploration tunnel. But with ELG just entering production, Stanford said he is in no rush to spend the $450 million needed to develop Media Luna. “We think we’ll be mining here for a very, very long time.” CIM
ENGINES
| technology
Conversion story Fleet vehicles powered by a combination of diesel and natural gas are commonplace on the road today. Off the road and in the mining realm, however, dual-fuel technology is in frontier territory
Courtesy of GFS
By Alexandra Lopez-Pacheco
Currently, the quickest route to the fuel savings of a natural gas/diesel mix is through aftermarket conversion, but engine manufacturers are busy developing dual fuel and 100 per cent LNG options.
In North America, the technology to turn liquefied natural gas (LNG) into fuel for vehicle engines has shifted from a stall in the 1960s, to first gear in the early 1980s and then second gear in the last decade as oil prices and climate change concerns soared. LNG is now being used as a clean- burning fuel for thousands of transport and garbage trucks, public transit, school buses and ships. In fact, there are more than 15 truck and bus manufacturers in Canada alone that sell vehicles with integrated LNG dual-fuel engines. No one sells LNG-fuelled mining haul trucks, however. They don’t exist yet – or at least not straight from the factory. Within the next few years, that is likely going to change. “If you’re looking at the next 25 year cycle,” said Sudhanshu Singh, product manager, large mining trucks for Caterpillar. “This is going to be one of the key areas of focus on haul trucks to reduce fuel cost for our customers at sites with LNG infrastructure.” LNG fuel is simply natural gas cooled down to minus 162 degrees C. The technology was originally developed to transport gas on ships and trucks safely as it does not ignite in its liquid form. For fuel purposes, the liquefied natural gas has to go through vaporizing technology that returns it to its gaseous form. “By the time it gets to the engine, the LNG has been vaporized to its gaseous state at normal temperatures and pressures. So we’re not using the fuel as a liquid directly into the engine the way that you use liquid diesel or gasoline,” said Jason Green, president and chief technology officer for GFS Corp., which has specialized in natural gas conversion technologies for diesel engines since 1988. LNG produces between 20 to 35 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional transportation fuels and prior to the price of diesel plunging, it came with a 30 per cent fuel cost reduction. Even before the drop in energy prices, dual fuel technology for mining haul trucks lagged behind despite diesel being one of the top two costs of a mining operation. The reason for this is that mining haul trucks are gigantic and operate in extreme and demanding
I
March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 41
Courtesy of Teck Resources
Teck Resources took its first foray into dual fuel technology with the conversion of a total of six Komatsu and Caterpillar haul trucks at Fording River.
environments. The technology had to be scaled up and ruggedized without compromising the haul truck’s required high torque and horsepower. And it had to work with existing diesel engines.
if the system saved them a significant amount of money,” said Green. “If it impacted production or the ability of the trucks to operate, it would be a nonstarter.”
Putting it to the test Retrofitting “With existing haul trucks, you have to figure out how you introduce this gaseous fuel while keeping all that hardware designed for diesel in place because the truck has to be able to operate on 100 per cent diesel fuel as well,” said Green. Haul trucks also use a lot of fuel, so enough storage capacity to get the haul truck through at least one full shift is critical. In the past, finding the right place and sufficient space for that in haul trucks has been a challenge. GFS is confident it has overcome this and all the other challenges. “Our systems allow existing engines to operate safely on natural gas,” said Green. “And then alongside that, for mining products, we’ve designed all the engine hardware and controls and a lot of proprietary LNG storage and vaporization technology to safely store liquid natural gas onboard a mining haul truck.” In 2013, GFS was one of the first to introduce a retrofit kit for mining haul trucks to the market. Its EVO-MT System is specifically designed to convert the Caterpillar 777 B, C and D; the Caterpillar 793B, C and D; Komatsu 830 DC/AC and Komatsu 930E haul trucks to a natural gas/diesel dual-fuel engine. The system substitutes up to 60 to 70 per cent of the diesel the engine would otherwise use with LNG and has enough storage to keep the engine running 12 hours before it needs to be refuelled with LNG. It comes at a cost of between $150,000 and $300,000 for each conversion depending on truck model. “The performance of the truck is not impacted. In mining there’s no tolerance on the part of the customer even 42 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
This January, Teck Resources launched the first pilot program in Canada testing six Komatsu 830 and 930 haul trucks retrofitted with GFS’s system at its Fording River coal mine in BC. A critical partner in the project is FortisBC, which owns and operates the only two LNG facilities in British Columbia, one in Delta that goes back to 1971 and the other on Vancouver Island, which was built in 2011. The energy company helped Teck cover the costs of the truck engine conversion as well as providing them with an affordable solution in terms of capital cost: it built an LNG refueling storage facility at Fording River, which it owns and operates. Once the project is complete, Teck will have the option of buying the facility or continuing with the service by FortisBC. Refueling technology has come a long way and today it is proven and reliable, said Will Smith, LNG and CNG sales manager at FortisBC, although it requires some additional safety measures and training. “You need to wear cryogenic gloves and long sleeves and pants and a face mask in case of splash back,” said Smith. “Fortis does safety awareness and training so they can fuel their trucks.” He thinks dual-engine technology for haul trucks has arrived. “I don’t believe there’s a technology issue now,” he said. In fact, he believes the switch to LNG for mining trucks where LNG is available is coming. What is holding it back is the fact that there are only retrofits for a few models and that no haul trucks are being manufactured with original dual-fuel engines yet. “The biggest change will be an original equipment manufacturing offering from a company like Caterpillar,” he said.
Caterpillar has been testing trucks with LNG. The company has been successful in the petroleum industry with factory fitted LNG solution on engines and is now working on developing dual-fuel technology for haul trucks, including field retrofits for its trucks. Over the last three years, the company has developed a system it calls dynamic gas blending (DGB) technology for haul trucks in the petroleum industry, which starts the engine with diesel, then switches to LNG and has a substitution rate of 60 to 70 per cent. Now Caterpillar is in the final stages of testing the engine for smaller mining haul trucks aimed at growth markets. “We’re very pleased with the progress so far,” said Singh. “Our customers want the same experience in the power and torque [as the conventional fuel engine]. They want ease of maintenance. All these factors, and they want it at a lower total cost of ownership on the truck. So we believe our DGB solution on a lower end of the truck, on the 785 model, the 150 tonne size truck, achieves all that.” He added the caveat on conversion that “third party solutions may not deliver the similar level of performance and do not have OEM support with warranty nor a guarantee on the performance of engines.” More recently, Caterpillar has been working on a LNG/diesel dual-fuel engine for its larger haul trucks, aimed at markets such as North America. It is currently testing this at its labs and working to take the substitution rate to a much higher level than 70 per cent. As well, “The technology will also have significant reductions in greenhouse gases,” said Singh. According to Singh, the company’s tests so far have shown the new technology will provide the same standard of engine and torque performance as its conventional haul trucks. “We’re taking the time to develop the technology so we can deliver the best performance to our customers and help them
make more money with our trucks than with the competition,” said Singh. Other manufacturers, however, are not convinced dual-fuel technology is as viable as it once was just two years ago when oil prices were in the $100 barrel range and the potential fuel savings of the dual-fuel engines was around 30 per cent. One of these engine manufacturers is MTU, a subsidiary of Rolls Royce Power Systems. This off-highway engine manufacturer does not believe current dual fuel engine technologies can provide enough natural gas substitution, given today’s low oil prices, to justify the cost of a retrofit and offset the added refueling complexity, according to Ran Archer, MTU’s senior manager of global mining. As well, he said, not all mining companies have ready access to LNG, although obviously some mines do - in particular those in western USA and Canada. Despite restricted supply of natural gas and more challenging economics relating to low diesel prices, MTU is not abandoning LNG as a fuel source for mining engines. “At this point, MTU’s plan for mining is to offer a 100 per cent LNG engine solution,” said Archer. Both GFS and Caterpillar believe their dual-fuel engines can still provide fuel savings. And the technology’s reduction in greenhouse gas emissions remains unaffected by oil prices. Teck Resource’s pilot project, for example, could potentially reduce its Fording River mine’s CO2 emissions by 35,000 tonnes annually. “Natural gas is just a cleanerburning fuel. It has less particulates and less greenhouse gas emissions than oil. People who have longer term vision realize the advantages of making the move now, since haul trucks are around for so many years,” said Smith. “We’re hopeful Teck will move forward with additional trucks.” And if that happens, he said, other mining operations might follow suit. CIM March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 43
Courtesy of GFS
LNG produces between 20 to 35 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional transportation fuels.
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PRELIMINARY EXPO GUIDE GUIDE PRÉLIMINAIRE DE L’EXPO
L,excellence au premier plan
MAY 1–4, 2016 | 1 AU 4 MAI 2016 VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE VANCOUVER, BC
CONVENTION.CIM.ORG
Welcome to ⁄ Bienvenue à
EXPO 2016
Another great event awaits us this spring in Vancouver! With so many new companies joining with old favorites, we expect over 450 exhibitors who will be showcasing their wears and offering their services.
Un autre grand événement vous attend ce printemps à Vancouver ! Plusieurs nouvelles sociétés viennent se joindre à nos exposants fidèles, qui seront plus de 450 cette année à présenter leurs produits et proposer leurs services.
Suppliers, contractors, engineers and consultants alike are focused on serving the needs of the mining industry and costeffective solutions will surely be the order of the week.
Fournisseurs, entrepreneurs, ingénieurs et experts-conseils souhaitent répondre aux besoins de l’industrie minière et l’objectif de la semaine sera indéniablement de trouver des solutions rentables.
This year’s EXPO boasts a truly Canadian feel with pavilions from New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Quebec. Almost every province is represented on the EXPO floor and to date, 17 countries from around the world will exhibiting. Our Opening Ceremony and the Meet & Greet on Sunday May 1 continues to be a favorite of all our exhibitors and VIP visitors alike. Stop by the newly designed CIM Magazine & Member Lounge in the EXPO and chat with the CIM Magazine team. Some of our staff will also be on hand to answer all of your questions about membership – whether you just joined or are thinking of it. Come meet all our seasoned exhibitors and network at the EXPO, Canada’s mining marketplace!
Cette année, l’EXPO fera vraiment honneur au Canada avec des kiosques du Nouveau-Brunswick, de la Saskatchewan et du Québec. Pratiquement toutes les provinces canadiennes sont représentées à l’étage de l’EXPO et à ce jour, 17 pays du monde entier ont confirmé leur participation à l’événement. Notre cérémonie d’ouverture et la séance d’accueil, qui se tiendront le dimanche 1er mai, restent le moment préféré de tous nos exposants et de nos visiteurs officiels. Venez découvrir le tout nouveau salon dédié au CIM Magazine et aux membres de l’ICM à l’étage de l’EXPO, et rencontrez l’équipe du CIM Magazine. Vous venez de devenir membre ou envisagez de le devenir ? Certains membres de notre équipe seront à votre disposition pour répondre à toutes vos questions concernant l’adhésion à l’ICM. Venez rencontrer à votre rythme tous nos exposants expérimentés et créer des liens à l’EXPO, le marché canadien de l’exploitation minière!
NADIA BAKKA
Trade Show & Marketing Coordinator Coordinatrice de l’EXPO et marketing 46 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
MARTIN BELL
Exhibitions Sales and Trade Show Manager Directeur des ventes et expositions commerciales
THE EXPO | 2016 | L’EXPO
EXHIBITORS LISTING | LISTE DES EXPOSANTS BOOTH EXPO Foyer
BOOTH 1248
BOOTH 1647
2016 EXPO Sales Office
Altra Industrial Motion
Atlas Copco Mining and Rock Excavation Canada
Westmount, QC, CA T 514-939-2710 cim.org
Braintree, MA, USA T 781-971-0600 www.altramotion.com
BOOTHS 1142;1144;1147;1148; 1149;1151
BOOTH 1644
48e Nord International
Rouyn-Noranda, QC, CA T 819-762-4923 www.48inter.com
Vancouver, BC, CA T 604-669-0044 www.amcconsultants.com
BOOTH 1122
BOOTH 816
Delta, BC, CA T 604-946-1308 www.atselectrolube.com
ABC Canada Technology Group Ltd.
Amec Foster Wheeler
BOOTH 1422
Saskatoon, SK, CA T 306-653-4303 www.abccanada.ca BOOTH 1045
ABEL Pumps
Sewickley, PA, USA T 412-741-3222 www.abelpumps.com BOOTH 407
ACR Group Inc.
Nisku, AB, CA T 780-955-2802 www.acrgroup.ca BOOTH 531
Acuren
Sherwood Park, AB, CA T 800-252-1774 www.acuren.com BOOTH 1117
Aecon Mining
Fort McMurray, AB, CA T 780-791-5477 www.aecon.com BOOTH 1502
AFM Industries
Oshawa, ON, CA T 905-443-0150 www.afmindustries.com GOLD LEVEL EXHIBITOR BOOTH 712
AFX Mixing and Pumping Technologies Inc. Maple Ridge, BC, CA T 604-380-4458 www.afxmixing.com BOOTH 626
Agudio Ropeways
Leini, TO, IT T 0039 011 9973355 www.agudio.com BOOTH 401
Airplaco
Cincinnati, OH, USA T 513-321-4511 www.airplaco.com
AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd
Vancouver, BC, CA T 604-664-4315 amec.com/mining
Mississauga, ON, CA T 705-669-2940 www.atlascopco.com
ATS Electro-Lube International Inc.
Attakroc Inc
BOOTH 1524
ANDRITZ
BOOTH 1737
Aumund Foerdertechnik GmbH
BOOTH 1811
Rheinberg, NRW, DE T 49 2843 720 www.aumund.com
Aquatech
BOOTH 1835
Maple, ON, CA T 905-907-1700 www.AquatechDewatering.com BOOTH 950
Armour Valve
Toronto, ON, CA T 416-299-0780 www.armourvalve.com BOOTH 1507
Armtec
Concord, ON, CA T 647-795-9272 www.armtec.com BOOTH 720
ASDR Environnement
Malartic, QC, CA T 819-757-3039 www.asdr.ca BOOTH 1617
ASGCO
Allentown, PA, USA T 610-821-0216 www.asgco.com BOOTH 947
ASSA ABLOY
Peachtree City, GA, USA T 678-782-4777 www.assaabloyentrance.com BOOTH 1317
Atlantic Industries Limited
Stoney Creek, ON, CA T 289-775-8958 ailmining.com
BBE Consulting Canada
Copper Cliff, Ontario, Canada T 705-682-9600 www.bbe.co.za
BOOTH 425
Quebec, QC, CA T 418-848-4844 www.attakroc.com
Richmond, BC, CA T 604-214-9248 www.andritz.com
GOLD LEVEL EXHIBITOR BOOTH 1347
Australian Equipment Engineering P/L
Armadale, WA, AU T 08 9399 8844 www.safeboarder.com.au BOOTH 528
Autonomous Solutions, Inc. Mendon, UT, USA T 435-755-2980 www.asirobots.com BOOTH 1500
Axter Coletanche
Montreal, QC, CA T 514-903-1912 www.coletanche.com BOOTH 1830
Baldor Electric Company Stratford, ON, Canada T 519-271-3630 www.baldor.com BOOTH 1116
BASF Corporation
Beachwood, OH, USA T 705-474-1625 www.master-builderssolutions.basf.us BOOTH 1719
BAUER Foundations Canada Inc.
Calgary, AB, CA T 403-723-0159 www.bauerfoundations.ca
BOOTH 1619
BDI Wear Parts
Markham, ON, CA T 1-800-861-1986 www.bdiwearparts.com GOLD LEVEL EXHIBITOR BOOTH 946
Becker Varis
Sudbury, ON, CA T 705-674-8111 x202 www.beckerwms.com BOOTH 416
Belterra
Delta, BC, CA T 604-540-1950 www.belterra.ca BOOTH 641
BEUMER Kansas City LLC Kansas City, MO, USA T 816-245-7262 www.beumergroup.com BOOTH 1419
BI Pure Water Inc.
Surrey, BC, CA T 604-882-6650 www.bipurewater.com BOOTH 747
Bimba Manufacturing Company Monee, IL, USA T 708-534-8544 www.bimba.com BOOTH 1331
BKT Tires Canada Toronto, ON, CA T 780-888-5667 www.bkt-tires.com
GOLD LEVEL EXHIBITOR BOOTH 1025
Black Cat Blades Ltd.
Edmonton, AB, CA T 780-465-6666 www.blackcatblades.com BOOTH 447
Blair Rubber Company
BOOTH 1816
Seville, OH, USA T 330-256-4442 www.blairrubber.com
BBA
BOOTH 1648
Montreal, QC, CA T 450-866-2111 www.bba.ca
convention.cim.org
BME
Bryanston, GT, ZA T 27117098765 www.bme.co.za
March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 47
BOOTH 422
Leading excellence
Bruker Ltd.
PleNAry | PléNière MONDAY MAY 2 | 9:00-11:30 | BAllroom Bc LUNDI 2 MAI | 9:00-11:30 | sAlle de BAl Bc
L,excellence au premier plan
milton, oN, cA T 905-876-4641 www.bruker.com BOOTH 1442
Buhler Group
the Plenary session is intended to bring focus to and initiate a dialogue around the conference theme of “leading excellence.” leaders from all aspects of mining and some from unexpected tangential sectors are brought together in these thought-provoking discussions. this year’s edition will feature moderated conversations between leaders of different views on a number of industry subjects. la séance plénière du congrès de l’icm 2016 vise à polariser l’attention et à axer le dialogue sur le thème de la conférence, l’excellence au premier plan. des chefs de file de diverses disciplines du secteur minier et d’autres secteurs sans rapport avec l’industrie minière sont réunis dans le cadre de ces discussions stimulantes.
markham, oN, cA T 905-754-8380 www.buhlergroup.com BOOTH 620
Butler Manufacturing Kansas city, mo, usA T 905-464-0161 www.butlermfg.com BOOTH 1408
CAB Products
ebensburg, PA, usA T 814-472-5077 www.cabproducts.com BOOTH 1803
Cameco Corporation saskatoon, sK, cA T 306-956-6215 www.cameco.com
MODERATOR | modérAteur COLIN JOUDRIE VP Business development and Gm Hydromet with teck resources / V.P. à la prospection commerciale et dG du cesl chez teck resources.
BOOTH 1643
Canada Culvert
langley, Bc, cA T 604-530-1151 www.canadaculvert.com
CONFIRMED PANELISTS | PANélistes coNfirmés
BOOTH 1450
Canada North Environmental Limited Partnership saskatoon, sK, cA T 306-652-4432 www.cannorth.com BOOTH 1213
Canadian Association of Mining Equipment & Service PHILLIPS S. BAKER, Jr. President & ceo / Président et chef de la direction, Hecla mining company
RANDY SMALLWOOD President & ceo / Président et chef de la direction, silver Wheaton
DON LINDSAY President & ceo / Président et chef de la direction, teck resources limited
BOOTH 450
BOOTH 716
BOOTH 1742
BMT WBM Canada
Breaker Technology Ltd.
Brigade Electronics (Canada) Ltd
mississauga, oN, cA T 905-513-0046 x305 www.camese.org BOOTH 1439
Canadian Institute of Mining Westmount, Qc, cA T 514-939-2710 www.cim.org BOOTH 1320
Vancouver, Bc, cA T 604-683-5777 www.bmtwbm.com
thornbury, oN, cA T 519-599-2015 www.rockbreaker.com
BOOTH 1810
BOOTH 1611
south darenth, KeN, GB T 44 7747 015794 www.brigade-electronics.ca
Bourevestnik Inc.
Brevini Canada Ltd.
BOOTH 1716
toronto, oN, cA T 416-510-6981 www.canadianminingjournal.com
Britespan Building Systems
BOOTH 1120
st. Petersburg, sPe, ru T 7-812-676-10-01 www.bourevestnik.com
toronto, oN, cA T 416-674-2591 www.brevini.com
BOOTH 1131
BOOTH 630
Brandt
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations
regina, sK, cA T 306-791-7900 www.brandt.ca
48 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
lucknow, oN, cA T 519-528-2922 www.britespanbuildings.com
Nashville, tN, usA T 615-937-3626 www.bridgestone.com
Canadian Mining Journal (CMJ)
Canam
BOOTH 431
Boucherville, Qc, cA T 450-641-4000 www.canam-construction.com
Brook Crompton Ltd.
BOOTH 520
toronto, oN, cA T 416-675-3844 x224 www.brookcromptonna.com
convention.cim.org
Carlo Gavazzi Canada Inc. mississauga, oN, cA T 905-542-0979 www.Gavazzionline.com
THE EXPO THE EXPO ||2016 2016 || l’EXPO L’EXPO
BOOTH 800
Carlson Software
Maysville, KY, USA T 606-564-5028 x235 www.carlsonsw.com BOOTH 942
Cavotec Canada Inc.
Markham, ON, CA T 905-415-2233 x222 www.cavotec.com BOOTH 1126
Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI)
Sudbury, ON, CA T 705-673-6568 www.cemi.ca BOOTH 708
Ceramic Technology, Inc.
Cedar Bluff, VA, USA T 276-964-6724 www.ceramictech.net BOOTH 1111
Chemline Plastics Limited
Thornhill, ON, CA T 1-800-930-CHEM (2436) www.chemline.com BOOTH 1409
CIM Magazine & Member Lounge
Westmount, QC, CA T 514-939-2710 x1331 www.cim.org BOOTH 250
CIM Foundation
Westmount, QC, CA T 514 939- 2710 x 13 www.cim.org BOOTH 1001
CK Logistics
St-laurent, QC, CA T 514-856-7580 cklogistics.ca BOOTH 1640
Clark Services & Insulations Ltd
Chilliwack, BC, CA T 604-540-2099 www.heat-shield.com BOOTH 1251
ClearTech Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, CA T 1-800-387-7503 www.cleartech.ca
GOLD LEVEL EXHIBITOR BOOTH 1451
Clifton Associates Ltd. Regina, SK, CA T 306-721-7611 www.clifton.ca BOOTH 746
CMS Inc.
Sarnia, ON, CA T 519-336-4672 www.cms-inc.ca
BOOTH 822
CST Covers
Conroe, TX, USA T 936-539-1747 www.cstcovers.com
Deswik Canada Inc.
BOOTH 1007
BOOTH 1800
Cummins Western Canada LP Surrey, BC, CA T 604-882-5000 www.westerncanada.cummins. com
Detour Gold
BOOTH 1210
DMC Mining Services
CWA Engineers Inc.
BOOTH 938
COGEP inc.
Quebec, QC, CA T 418-626-2503 www.cogep.com GOLD LEVEL EXHIBITOR BOOTH 1743
Cognibox
Shawinigan, QC, CA T 819-536-5653 www.cognibox.com GOLD LEVEL EXHIBITOR BOOTH 1106
Columbia Steel Casting Co. Inc. Portland, OR, USA T 800-547-9471 www.columbiasteel.com
Vancouver, BC, CA T 604-637-2275 www.cwaengineers.com BOOTH 1723
CWW Conveyor Systems Hillsville, VA, USA T 800-457-7655 cwwconveyors.com BOOTH 1513
Cypher Environmental Ltd.
Winnipeg, MB, CA T 204-489-1214 www.cypherenvironmental.com BOOTH 621
Dalco Services Inc. (DSI)
BOOTH 1200
Red Deer, AB, CA T 403-348-5554 www.dalco.ca
Conspec Controls Ltd.
BOOTH 813
Toronto, ON, CA T 416-661-0500 www.conspec.ca
De Beers Group Services
BOOTH 1448
Johannesburg, GT, ZA T 27 11 374 7333 www.debtech.com
Contango Strategies Ltd.
BOOTH 651
Saskatoon, SK, Canada T 306-978-3111 www.contangostrategies.com
Deloitte Wearables
BOOTH 1401
Toronto, ON, CA T 416-997-1713 www2.deloitte.com
Continental Conveyor Ltd.
BOOTH 541
Thetford Mines, QC, CA T 418-338-4682 continentalconveyor.ca
Calgary, AB, CA T 403-269-2992 www.deswik.com
Toronto, ON, CA T 416-304-0800 www.detourgold.com BOOTH 1113 Vaughan, ON, CA T 905-780-1980 www.dmcmining.com BOOTH 408
DMK Inc.
Stevens Point, WI, USA T 715-344-8600 www.tyrilights.com BOOTH 1240
Doppelmayr
Saint-Jerome, QC, CA T 450-432-1128 www.doppelmayr-mts.com BOOTH 818
Dos Santos International Marietta, GA, USA T 770-423-9895 www.dossantosintl.com BOOTH 537
DRA Taggart
Toronto, ON, CA T 416-800-8797 www.DRAglobal.com BOOTH 1425
DSI Mining Canada
Saskatoon, SK, CA T 705-692-6100 www.dywidag-systems.com BOOTH 1607
Delom Services
BOOTH 1211
Montreal, QC, CA T 514-642-8220 x 211 www.delomservices.ca
Duratray International Pty Ltd
Corner Cast Inc.
BOOTH 1222
BOOTH 1722
DELSAN-A.I.M. Environmental Services Inc.
DwellTech Construction Ltd.
BOOTH 1706
BOOTH 901
Denison Environmental Services
Dyno Nobel Canada
Pointe-Claire, QC, CA T 800-430-1424 x102 www.corner-cast.com BOOTH 1340
CR Mining Equipment
BOOTH 1225
Frisco, TX, USA T 469-400-2314 www.cqmsrazer.com
CLG
BOOTH 1039
Toronto, ON, CA T 416-721-9320 www.clg.com
BOOTH 806
CRC Canada Co.
Mississauga, ON, CA T 905-670-2291 www.crc-canada.ca
Montreal, QC, CA T 514-494-9898 www.delsan-aim.com
Elliot lake, ON, CA T 705-848-9191 x221 www.denisonenvironmental.com
convention.cim.org
Antofagasta, , Chile T 56 9 2893020 www.duratray.com
Port Coquitlam, BC, CA T 778-246-0094 www.dwelltech.ca Salt lake City, UT, USA T 801-328-6477 www.dynonobel.com BOOTH 1141
EBC-Northec-DBF
Brossard, Québec, CA T 450-444-9333 www.ebcinc.com
March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 49
BOOTH 1606
BOOTH 743
BOOTH 1501
BOOTH 601
Ebco Industries Ltd.
Richmond, BC, CA T 604-278-5578 www.ebco.com
FAM Canada Inc.
Calgary, AB, CA T 403-764-0777 www.fam.de/english
Fournier Industries
Thetford Mines, QC, CA T 418-423-4241 www.fournierindustries.com
Gladiator Equipment Inc.
BOOTH 649
BOOTH 1842
BOOTH 1504
BOOTH 1247
Eco Technologies
Caraquet, NB, CA T 506-726-6073 www.ecotec.ca
Filtrartech
Chicoutimi, QC, CA T 418-549-2727 www.filtrartech.com
Friesen Drillers
Global InspectionsNDT Inc.
BOOTH 441
BOOTH 1727
BOOTH 500
Kelowna, BC, CA T 250-762-5525 www.global-ndt.ca
Eirich Machines Inc.
Gurnee, IL, USA T 847-336-2444 www.eirichusa.com
Fireball Equipment Ltd.
Fuller Industrial Corp.
BOOTH 1343
BOOTH 451
BOOTH 1148
Electro-Sensors Inc.
Minnetonka, MN, USA T 952-930-0100 www.electro-sensors.com
Flairbase Inc.
BOOTH 1003
BOOTH 949
Elphinstone
Wynyard, TAS, AU T 61 3 6442 7777 www.elphinstone.com
FLANDERS
BOOTH 1517
BOOTH 741
Emerson
Markham, ON, CA T 905-948-3341 www.EmersonCanada.ca
FLEXARMOR
BOOTH 1221
BOOTH 1403
Enduride Canada USA
Quebec, QC, CA T 418-266-7777 www.enduridecanadausa.com
Flexco
BOOTH 1121
BOOTH 1838
Engart Global Dust Extraction Technology
Flottweg Separation Technology, Inc.
Beckley, WV, USA T 304-253-0777 www.engartinc.com
Edmonton, AB, CA T 780-944-4818 www.fireball.ca
Independence, KY, USA T 859-448-2300 www.flottweg.com
FLSmidth
Epic Polymer
Langley, BC, CA T 604-513-1661 www.epicpolymer.com BOOTH 1145
Euclid Chemical
St-Hubert, QC, CA T 514-208-4346 www.euclidchemical.com BOOTH 400
F.F.P. Systems Inc.
Mississauga, ON, CA T 905-270-9872 www.ffpsystems.com
50 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
Midvale, UT, USA T 801-871-7000 www.flsmidth.com
BOOTH 750
BOOTH 1449
Mississauga, ON, CA T 877-463-9728 www.galaxybroadband.ca BOOTH 1042
GEA Group
Northvale, NJ, USA T 201-767-3900 www.wsus.com BOOTH 1224
General Cable
Brampton, ON, CA T 905-494-5327 www.generalcable.com BOOTH 643
Genome British Columbia Vancouver, BC, CA T 604-675-1026 www.genomebc.ca BOOTH 1845
GeoShack
SILVER LEVEL EXHIBITOR BOOTH 424
Fonderie BSL Casting inc.
Westmount, QC, CA T 514-984-8775 www.globalminingstandards.org BOOTH 916
Galaxy Broadband Communications Inc.
Downers Grove, IL, USA T 630-971-0150 www.flexco.com
Global Mining Standards and Guidelines Group
Winnipeg, MB, CA T 204-487-2500 www.fwsgroup.com
FWS Group of Companies
La Guadeloupe, QC, CA T 418-459-3553 www.flexarmor.ca
BOOTH 631
BOOTH 1802
BOOTH 1238
Evansville, IN, USA T 307-258-4172 www.flandersinc.com
Engineered Pipe Group
Lively, ON, CA T 705-682-2777 x111 www.fullerindustrial.com SILVER LEVEL EXHIBITOR
Montreal, QC, CA T 514-695-0352 www.flairbase.com
BOOTH 1849 Winnipeg, MB, CA T 204-633-7213 www.emcoltd.com
Steinbach, MB, CA T 204-326-2485 www.friesendrillers.com
Leduc, AB, CA T 780-980-7555 www.gladiatorequipment.com
Dallas, TX, USA T 972-241-6001 www.geoshack.com BOOTH 744
Golder Associates Ltd. Vancouver, BC, CA T 604-296-4213 www.golder.com
Government of Saskatchewan
Regina, SK, CA T 306-787-5578 www.saskatchewan.ca/invest BOOTH 1040
Grace
Cambridge, MA, USA T 617-876-1400 www.graceconstruction.com BOOTH 1217
Graham Industrial Services Edmonton, AB, Canada T 780-430-9600 www.graham.ca BOOTH 1309
Grindex Pumps
Tinley Park, IL, USA T 708-781-2135 www.grindex.com BOOTH 1605
Grote Industries, Co. Markham, ON, CA T 905-209-9744 www.grote.com BOOTH 1153
Rimouski, QC, CA T 418-725-5543 x 22 www.bslcasting.com
GeoSight Inc.
BOOTH 1817
BOOTH 1604
Plessisville, QC, CA T 819-362-6315 www.groupecastechplessitech .com
Forage G4 Drilling
Val-d Or, QC, CA T 819-825-4079 x234 www.g4drilling.com
GeoSonics/Vibra-Tech
BOOTH 440
BOOTH 1505
BOOTH 811
Fortress Clothing
GKM Consultants, Inc.
Mt. Pleasant, UT, USA T 435-462-9999 www.fortressclothing.com
Oshawa, ON, CA T 905-436-6528 www.geosight.ca Hazleton, PA, USA T 570-455-5861 www.geosonicsvibratech.com St-Bruno, QC, CA T 450-441-5444 x203 www.gkmconsultants.com
convention.cim.org
Groupe Castech-Plessitech
Groupe Robert
Boucherville, QC, CA T 1-800-361-8281 www.robert.ca
THE EXPO | 2016 | L’EXPO
BOOTH 701
BOOTH 1701
BOOTH 809
BOOTH 737
Gundlach Crushers
Herrenknecht Tunnelling Systems Canada Inc.
IMAFS Inc.
St-Lambert, QC, CA T 450-671-1831 www.imafs.com
InfoMine Inc.
BOOTH 831
BOOTH 1037
Imperial Oil Ltd.
Calgary, AB, Canada T 403-727-9158 www.mobil.ca
InnovExplo Inc.
BOOTH 1323
BOOTH 1324
INCO Engineering s.r.o. Mequon, WI, USA T 414-690-6540 www.incoengineering.cz
Intersystems
BOOTH 1313
BOOTH 1404
Iracore International MN
Centurion , Gauteng, GT, ZA T +27 012-666-8218 www.hazletonpumps.co.za
HUESKER inc.
Charlotte, NC, USA T 800-942-9418 www.huesker.com/usa
Independent Mining Consultants Inc.
BOOTH 801
BOOTH 1047
BOOTH 1051
Hella Mining Canada
Hydra-Tech International Corporation
Industrial Fabrication Inc.
St. Louis, MO, USA T 855-483-7721 www.terrasource.com BOOTH 1148
Toronto, ON, CA T 416-231-2555 www.herrenknecht.com
H2O Innovation
BOOTH 421
Quebec, QC, CA T 418-688-0170 www.h2oinnovation.com
Hexagon Mining
BOOTH 1031
Tucson, AZ, USA T 520-795-3891 www.hexagonmining.com
HARD-LINE
BOOTH 429
Dowling, Ontario, CA T 705-855-1310 www.hard-line.com BOOTH 540
Hazleton Pumps International (Pty) Ltd.
Peachtree City, GA, USA T 404-386-8756 www.hellamining.com
Hose Solutions Inc.
Scottsdale, AZ, USA T 480-607-1507 www.hosesolutions.com BOOTH 1350
BOOTH 1005
Calgary, AB, CA T 403-720-7742 www.hydra-tech.net
Hepburn Engineering Inc.
BOOTH 1511
Toronto, ON, CA T 416-638-4425 x103 www.hepeng.com
Icom Canada
Tucson, AZ, USA T 520-294-9861 www.imctucson.com
Lively, ON, CA T 705-523-1621 x222 www.minecat.com BOOTH 606
Industrial Info Resources
Delta, BC, CA T 604-952-4266 www.icomcanada.com
Sugar Land, TX, USA T 713-783-5147 www.industrialinfo.com
convention.cim.org
Vancouver, BC, CA T 604-683-2037 www.infomine.com Val-d’Or, QC, Canada T 819-874-0447 www.innovexplo.com Omaha, NE, USA T 402-917-4314 www.intersystems.net Hibbing, MN, USA T 218-263-8831 www.iracore.com BOOTH 1100
ISAAC Instruments Chambly, QC, CA T 450-658-7520 www.isaac.ca
GOLD LEVEL EXHIBITOR BOOTH 1641
iSAFE Technology,Inc.
NanKang, Taipei, TPQ, TW T +886-2-2788-8786 x214 www.isafetek.com
March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 51
FLOOR PLAN | PLAN
52 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
convention.cim.org
THE EXPO | 2016 | L’EXPO
convention.cim.org
March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 53
BOOTH 1127
CIM EXPO RECRUITERS | Recruteurs à l’EXPO! de l’ICM
Lafarge Canada, Inc.
As our industry adapts to changing conditions, our recruiters continue to understand the need for skilled workers. The mining industry is still looking to hire and the top of aisle 1800 is where you’ll find dozens of opportunities.
BOOTH 1518
Prospective employees can meet and network with high-calibre recruiters and mining companies who are looking to fill the needs of the industry. Whether a new career is what you seek, or a way to enhance your existing skill set, meeting our recruiters will be a step in the right direction.
BOOTH 1646
Calgary, AB, CA T 403-225-5271 www.lafarge-na.com
Laidig Systems Inc.
Mishawaka, IN, USA T 574-256-0204 x227 www.laidig.com Jon Benjamin Photography
Laurentian University Goodman School of Mines
Sudbury, ON, CA T 705-675-1151 x7222 www.laurentian.ca/goodmansch oolofmines BOOTH 825
Notre industrie fait son possible pour s’adapter aux changements qui affectent le secteur, et nos recruteurs sont bien conscients du besoin de travailleurs qualifiés. L’industrie minière cherche encore à embaucher, et vous trouverez au début de l’allée 1 800 des dizaines de possibilités d’emploi. Les employés potentiels peuvent rencontrer et établir le contact avec des recruteurs renommés ainsi que des sociétés minières qui cherchent à répondre aux besoins de l’industrie. Que vous soyez en quête d’une nouvelle carrière ou d’un moyen de renforcer vos compétences, prenez la bonne voie et venez rencontrer nos recruteurs. BOOTH 1800
Detour Gold
Toronto, ON, Canada T 647-847-2089 detourgold.com
BOOTH 1801
Teck Resources Ltd.
Sparwood, BC, Canada T 250-425-6305 teck.com/careers
BOOTH 1803
Cameco Corporation
Saskatoon, SK, Canada T 306-956-6383 cameco.com
Layfield Environmental Systems
Edmonton, AB, CA T 780-732-5825 www.layfieldenvironmental .com BOOTH 1237
Ledcor Group of Companies Edmonton, AB, CA T 780-395-5400 www.ledcor.com BOOTH 1250
Legacy Building Solutions
South Haven, MN, USA T 320-258-0500 www.LegacyBuildingSolutions .com
BOOTH 511
BOOTH 623
BOOTH 506
BOOTH 1148
ISCO
John Brooks Company Limited
Kamag Transporttechnik GmbH & Co. KG
Les Forages L.B.M. Inc.
BOOTH 1021
BOOTH 819
Danvers, MA, USA T 855-489-7262 www.itwadhesives.com
Johnson Industries Ltd.
Delta, BC, CA T 604-940-4555 www.jbrakes.com
Kemetco Research Inc.
Levert Personnel Resources Inc.
BOOTH 1316
BOOTH 911
BOOTH 1636
BOOTH 1730
Jebco Industries
Joy Global
Key Maintenance Technologies
Levitt-Safety
Louisville, KY, USA T 604-314-2723 www.isco-pipe.com BOOTH 1311
ITW Polymers Adhesives, North America
Edmonton, AB, CA T 1-877-624-5757 www.johnbrooks.ca
Ulm, DE T 49 (0) 731/ 4098 - 0 www.kamag.com Richmond, BC, CA T 604-273-3600 www.kemetco.com
Barrie, ON, CA T 705-797-8888 www.jebcoindustries.com
Calgary, AB, CA T 403-291-2230 www.joyglobal.com
BOOTH 405
BOOTH 931
Edmonton, AB, CA T 780-437-7659 www.kmt1.ca
Jetco Heavy Duty Lighting
Kal Tire
BOOTH 1346
Edmonton, AB, CA T 780-732-4277 www.jetcolighting.com
Vernon, BC, CA T 250-542-2366 www.kaltiremining.com
BOOTH 1341
BOOTH 428
Joest Inc.
Kalenborn Abresist Corporation
Glen Ellyn, IL, USA T 630-469-0900 x217 www.joest-us.com
54 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
Urbana, IN, USA T 514-426-0460 www.kalenborn.de
Kick Start Technologies Burnaby, BC, CA T 604-313-6772 www.kickstart-tech.com BOOTH 1351
Kobelt Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Surrey, BC, CA T 604-572-3935 x225 www.kobelt.com
convention.cim.org
Victoriaville, QC, Canada T 819-758-7883 www.lesforageslbm.com BOOTH 1112 Sudbury, ON, CA T 705-525-8367 www.levert.ca
Oakville, ON, CA T 905-829-3299 www.levitt-safety.com BOOTH 617
Liebherr-Canada Ltd. Burlington, ON, CA T 289-259-9046 www.liebherr.ca BOOTH 1321
Line Power Mfg. Corp. Bristol, VA, USA T 276-645-8825 www.linepower.com
THe eXPO | 2016 | L’eXPO
BOOTH 616
BOOTH 430
Luff Industries Ltd.
Rocky view (Calgary), AB, CA T 888-349-5833 www.luffindustries.com
Matrix Design Group
BOOTH 1543
BOOTH 943
Lumisave Industrial LED Technologies Ltd.
Matterhorn Footwear
Prince George, BC, CA T 250-563-7283 www.lumisave.com
Martinsburg, PA, uSA T 203-536-5689 www.matterhornboot .com
BOOTH 1406
BOOTH 1704
LYNN Co Ltd.
McCue Engineering Contractors
Thetford Mines, QC, CA T 418-338-4501 www.lynnco.ca BOOTH 442
M.G.M. Electric Motors North America Inc.
Lexington, KY, uSA T 859-967-1717 www.matrixteam.com
Delta, BC, CA T 604-940-2828 www.mccuecontracting .com
vaudreuil, QC, CA T 514-355-4343 www.mgmelectricmotors .com
BOOTH 904
BOOTH 1424
BOOTH 824
Maccaferri Canada Ltd.
Cambridge, ON, CA T 519-623-9990 www.maccaferri.ca
McLellan Industries Inc.
BOOTH 1137
BOOTH 530
Machines Roger International Inc.
ME Elecmetal
val-d’Or, QC, CA T 514-213-5868 www.machines-roger.com BOOTH 827
MacLean Engineering & Marketing Co. Limited
Sudbury, ON, CA T 705-670-8014 www.macleanengineering .com BOOTH 1338
Maestro Mine Ventilation
Sudbury, ON, CA T 705-805-6918 www.maestroventilation .com BOOTH 516
Mammoet Canada West
Guelph, ON, CA T 519-740-0550 www.mammoet.com
McLanahan Corporation Hollidaysburg, PA, uSA T 814-695-9807 www.mclanahan.com
Hanford, CA, uSA T 530-304-6138 mclellanindustries.com
Minneapolis, MN, uSA T 647-824-2788 www.me-elecmetal.com GOLD LEVEL EXHIBITOR BOOTH 1136
Meglab
val-d’Or, QC, CA T 819-824-7710 www.meglab.ca BOOTH 1348
Meltric Corporation
Franklin, WI, uSA T 414-433-2721 www.meltric.com
Metso
BeFORe MARCH 25 AvANT Le 25 MARS
AS OF MARCH 25 À PARTIR Du 25 MARS
Business class Delegate (access to vIP lounge) Délégué(e) Classe affaires (accès au salon vIP)
$850
$950
Delegate | Délégué(e)
$700
$850
Presenter and session chair Conférencier/-ière et président(e) de séance
$650
$750
Student, unemployed, retired and Life member Étudiant(e), personne sans emploi, retraitée et membre de vie
$80
$100
BeFORe MARCH 25 AvANT Le 25 MARS
AS OF MARCH 25 À PARTIR Du 25 MARS
Business class Delegate (access to vIP lounge) Délégué(e) en classe affaires (accès au salon vIP)
$1050
$1150
Delegate | Délégué(e)
$900
$1050
Presenter and session chair Conférencier/-ière et président(e) de séance
$800
$900
Student | Étudiant(e)
$150
$200
unemployed, retired Personne sans emploi et retraitée
$150
$200
$400
$400
$40
$40
Free Gratuit
Free Gratuit
exhibitor staff, first six registrants by 100 sq. ft. Free Gratuit Personnel exposant, six premiers inscrits par 100 pieds carrés
Free Gratuit
NON-CIM MEMBERS
(fee includes one-year membership to CIM)
NON-MEMBRES DE L’ICM
(Les frais incluent une année d’adhésion à l’ICM)
OTHER CATEGORIES AUTRES CATÉGORIES
SILVER LEVEL EXHIBITOR
vIP visitor to the CIM expo only visiteur vIP à l’expo de l’ICM seulement
BOOTH 1044
BOOTH 1244
Massa, MS, IT T 39 0585 831034 www.matecitalia.com
CIM NATIONAL MEMBERS MEMBRES NATIONAUX DE L’ICM
visitor to the CIM expo only visiteur à l’expo de l’ICM seulement
BOOTH 836
MATEC SRL
L’inscription au congrès de l’ICM comprend l’accès à la Journée gestion et finances.
Canonsburg, PA, uSA T 412-269-5147 www.metso.com
MI Petro Construction & Supply Inc.
Lakewood, CO, uSA T 303-763-4919 www.maptek.com
Registration to the CIM Convention includes access to the Management & Finance Day.
Management & Finance Day only Journée gestion et finances seulement
BOOTH 1601
Maptek
BOOTH 1301
REGISTRATION | INSCRIPTION
Calgary, AB, CA T 403-266-5558 www.mipetro.com
MiHR COUNCIL CONSEIL RHiM
Kanata, ON, CA T 613-270-9696 x41 www.mihr.ca
One-day pass, guest registration and more information available online. Les informations concernant les laissez-passer d’une journée, l’inscription des invités et d’autres renseignements sont disponibles en ligne.
convention.cim.org
March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 55
BOOTH 1537
BOOTH 411
BOOTH 804
BOOTH 826
Mincon Mining Equipment
Roanoke, VA, USA T 540-344-9939 www.mincon.com
Motion Metrics Int’l Corp. Vancouver, BC, CA T 604-822-5842 www.motionmetrics.com
Normet Canada Ltd. Lively, ON, CA T 705-692-2800 www.normet.com
OSIsoft Canada ULC
BOOTH 1226
BOOTH 1231
BOOTH 1446
BOOTH 1017
Mine Cable Services Corp.
Edmonton, AB, CA T 780-439-1113 www.minecableservices.ca
MPI Mobile Parts Inc. Val Caron, ON, CA T 705-897-4955 www.mobileparts.com
Norseman Structures
Saskatoon, SK, CA T 306-385-2888 www.norsemanstructures.com
Outotec (Canada) Ltd.
BOOTH 1206
BOOTH 817
BOOTH 910
BOOTH 1416
Mine Design Technologies
Kingston, ON, CA T 613-549-5223 x2 www.mdt.ca
Mullen Trucking LP
North Fringe Industrial Technologies Inc.
Pacific Bit of Canada Inc.
BOOTH 1503
BOOTH 711
Nipawin, SK, CA T 306-862-5900 www.northfringe.com
Mine Hoists International Ltd.
Multotec Canada Ltd.
BOOTH 1741
North Bay, ON, CA T 705-495-8587 www.minehoist.com BOOTH 1720
MineARC Systems
Dallas, TX, USA T 214-337-5100 www.minearc.com
GOLD LEVEL EXHIBITOR BOOTH 1325
MineSense Technologies Ltd.
Vancouver, BC, CA T 604-449-3780 www.minesense.com BOOTH 403
Mineware Pty Ltd
Milton, QLD, AU T 61 7 3505 1102 www.mineware.com BOOTH 1705
Minova Americas
Georgetown, KEN, GB T 502-868-6237 www.minovausa.com BOOTH 1242
MISOM
Tucson, AZ, USA T 520-495-0185 www.misom.com BOOTH 1509
Mitsubishi Materials U.S.A. Corporation
Mississauga, ON, CA T 800-423-1358 www.mmus.com BOOTH 1108
MMD Mineral Sizing (Canada) Inc.
Edmonton, AB, CA T 780-451-5100 www.mmdsizers.com
56 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
Aldersyde, AB, CA T 403-652-8888 www.mullentrucking.com Edmonton, AB, CA T 780-433-8825 www.multotec.com
North Shore Wheel
BOOTH 1438
Edmonton, AB, CA T 780-455-5177 www.northshorewheel.com
MWG Apparel Corp.
BOOTH 707
Winnipeg, MB, CA T 306-955-5030 www.mwgapparel.com BOOTH 1621
Northern Light Technologies Toronto, ON, CA T 905-287-3552 www.nltinc.com
NATIONAL ENERGY EQUIPMENT INC.
BOOTH 1227
Mississauga, ON, CA T 866-574-5100 www.nee.ca
The Northern Miner
BOOTH 1048
BOOTH 1608
National Research Council Canada
Northland Rubber Mills
Toronto, ON, CA T 416-510-6789 www.northernminer.com New Delhi, DL, IN T +91 9810611358 www.northlandrubbermills.com
Vancouver, BC, CA T 604-221-3157 www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
BOOTH 1548
Novamine
BOOTH 426
Neptec Technologies Corp.
Kanata, ON, CA T 613-599-7602 www.neptectechnologies.com
Antofagasta, AN, CL T 56 55 2566 236 www.nova-mine.com BOOTH 1249
OCP Construction Supplies
BOOTH 850
New Concept Mining
Johannesburg, GT, ZA T 27 11 494 6000 www.ncm.co.za
Sudbury, Ontario, CA T 705-674-7073 www.ocp.ca BOOTH 1541
OMEGA Communications
BOOTH 506
Nicolas Industrie S.A.S Champs-sur-Yonne, Bourgogne, FR T 33 (0) 386 53 52-00 www.nicolas.fr BOOTH 624
NITRALIFE S.A. (PTY) LTD
Bryanston, Gauteng, ZA T 27 11 706 7884 www.nitralife.co.za
Kelowna, BC, CA T 250-860-8016 x208 www.omegacom.ca BOOTH 640
Opportunities New Brunswick
Fredericton, NB, CA T 1-855-746-4662 www.opportunitiesnb.ca BOOTH 917
Orica Canada Inc. Watkins, CO, USA T 303-268-5000 www.orica.com
convention.cim.org
Montreal, QC, CA T 514-493-8393 www.OSIsoft.com
Burlington, ON, CA T 905-599-6327 www.outotec.com
Surrey (Port Kells), BC, CA T 604-513-4292 www.pacific-bit.com BOOTH 851
Parts Headquarters Burlington, ON, CA T 905-332-3271 www.partshq.com BOOTH 446
PBE
Val Caron, ON, CA T 705-222-0020 www.pbegrp.com GOLD LEVEL EXHIBITOR BOOTH 1740
PCI Gases
Riverside, CA, USA T 951-640-8748 www.pcigases.com SILVER LEVEL EXHIBITOR BOOTH 1326
Penticton Foundry Ltd.
Penticton, BC, CA T 250-492-7043 x205 www.pentictonfoundry.com BOOTH 1709
Peter Kiewit Infrastructure Co. Burnaby, BC, CA T 604-629-5427 www.kiewit.com BOOTH 807
Pex Industrial Piping Solutions Edmonton, AB, CA T 780-450-1155 www.pex-pipe.com BOOTH 1523
Phoenix Conveyor Belt Systems
Langley, BC, CA T 604-513-2368 www.phoenix-conveyorbelts.us BOOTH 604
PHOENIX Process Equipment Co. Louisville, KY, USA T 502-499-6198 www.dewater.com
THE EXPO | 2016 | L’EXPO
BOOTH 1610
BOOTH 410
BOOTH 1327
BOOTH 1101
PhotoSat
Polycorp Ltd.
Prairie Machine & Parts Mfg. Partnership
Provix
Vancouver, BC, CA T 604-681-9770 www.photosat.ca
Elora, ON, CA T 519-846-2075 www.poly-corp.com
BOOTH 1447
BOOTH 907
Saskatoon, SK, CA T 306-933-4812 www.pmparts.com
Pioneer Performance Inc IMSM Canada Ltd.
Pompaction Inc.
BOOTH 521
Saskatoon, SK, CA T 306-526-4165 www.imsm.com BOOTH 1642
PITEAU ASSOCIATES
North Vancouver, BC, CA T 604-986-8551 www.piteau.com BOOTH 1013
Placer Gold Design
Vancouver, BC, CA T 604-681-3937 www.placergolddesign.com BOOTH 1207
Polar Mobility Research Ltd.
Calgary, AB, CA T 403-279-3633 polarmobility.com
Pointe-Claire, QC, CA T 514-697-8600 www.pompaction.com BOOTH 420
Porcupine Canvas
Schumacher, ON, CA T 705-268-7878 www.porcupinecanvas.com BOOTH 1516
PR Engineering Limited
Oshawa, ON, CA T 905-579-9721 www.prengineering.com BOOTH 1023
Praetorian Construction Management
Edmonton, AB, CA T 780-989-0289 www.praetoriancm.com
Precision Pulley & Idler
Pella, IA, USA T 641-628-3115 www.ppipella.com BOOTH 1609
ProcessBarron
Pelham, AL, USA T 888-663-2028 www.processbarron.com BOOTH 945
Procon Mining & Tunnelling
Burnaby, BC, CA T 604-291-8292 www.procongroup.net BOOTH 1417
ProMinent Fluid Controls Guelph, ON, CA T 888-709-9933 www.prominent.ca
convention.cim.org
Alliston, ON, CA T 705-434-0253 www.PROVIX.net BOOTH 808
Queen’s University
Kingston, ON, CA T 613-533-2230 www.mine.queensu.ca BOOTH 810
R.D.H. Mining Equipment
Alban, ON, CA T 705-857-2154 www.rdhminingequipment.com BOOTH 1551
Rail-Veyor Technologies Global Inc. Lively, ON, CA T 1-844-288-0450 www.railveyor.com BOOTH 1241
Redaelli Tecna Spa
Cologno Monzese, MI, IT T 39 02 253071 www.redaelli.com/en
March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 57
SOCIAL PROGRAM | PROGRAMME SOCIAL Maximize your networking opportunities and make your convention memorable. Optimiser vos chances d’établir des contacts et de rendre ce congrès inoubliable.
SUNDAY DIMANCHE
MAY MAI
1
OPENING CEREMONY AND WELCOME RECEPTION
2
18:00 Reception | 19:00 Gala | Ballroom BC | $175
GALA DE REMISE DES PRIX DE L’ICM 18:00 Réception | 19:00 Gala | salle de bal BC | $175
CÉRÉMONIE D’OUVERTURE ET RÉCEPTION DE BIENVENUE 16:30-20:00 | Cérémonie dans la salle de bal A avant la réception à l’EXPO | Inclus dans les frais d’inscription
MAY MAI
MAY MAI
CIM AWARDS GALA
16:30-20:00 | Ceremony in Ballroom A prior to reception at the CIM EXPO | Included in the registration fee
MONDAY & TUESDAY LUNDI & MARDI
MONDAY LUNDI
(Gala)
(Reception / réception)
2&3
NETWORKING AT THE CIM EXPO | 12:00-14:00 | Lunch at the CIM EXPO 15:30-17:00 | Cocktail receptions at the CIM EXPO Lunch and one drink ticket per day are included with each delegate registration.
ÉTENDEZ VOTRE RÉSEAU DE CONNAISSANCES À L’EXPO DE L’ICM 12:00-14:00 | Les déjeuners auront lieu à l’étage de l’EXPO de l’ICM 15:30-17:00 | Cocktails auront lieu à l’étage de l’EXPO de l’ICM Votre inscription au congrès vous donne droit au déjeuner et à une consommation par jour.
TUESDAY MARDI
MAY MAI
3
WEDNESDAY MERCREDI
MAY MAI
4
JOY GLOBAL GALA
CLOSING LUNCH
20:00-24:00 | Ballroom BC | Included in the delegate and exhibitor registrations
12:00-13:45 | Room 211 | Day program and Lunch $400 | Lunch only for registered convention delegates $75
GALA DE JOY GLOBAL 20:00-24:00 | Cérémonie dans la salle de bal A avant la réception à l’Expo | Inclus dans les frais d’inscription
DÉJEUNER DE CLÔTURE 12:00-13:45 | Salle 211 | Programme de la journée et déjeuner 400 $ | Déjeuner seulement pour les délégués inscrits au congrès 75 $
tHe eXpO | 2016 | L’eXpO
BOOTH 1123
BOOTH 1426
BOOTH 1337
BOOTH 1717
Renishaw (Canada) Limited
Rexnord Canada Limited
Scarborough, ON, CA T 416-297-6868 www.rexnord.com
Rimex Supply Ltd. Surrey, BC, CA T 604-888-0025 www.rimex.com
RME Geomatics Inc.
BOOTH 1400
BOOTH 937
BOOTH 1245
Richwood Industries Inc.
Ritchie Bros.
Robar Industries Ltd.
Manotick, ON, CA T 613-692-0132 www.renishaw.com/smd BOOTH 840
Republic Diesel
Louisville, KY, USA T 502-561-2201 www.republicdiesel.com
Huntington, WV, USA T 304-525-5436 www.richwood.com
Burnaby, BC, CA T 778-331-5500 www.rbauction.com
Carp, ON, CA T 888-965-4477 x101 www.ngfgeomatics.com Surrey, BC, CA T 604-591-8811 www.robarindustries.com
PAVILIONS THAT SHINE! | deS pAViLLONS qUi eN MetteNt pLeiN LA VUe ! the 2016 eXpO will play host to three provincial pavilions (New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and quebec). Come and meet our Canadian movers and shakers, who will be showcasing their latest equipment, technology, processes and services. don’t miss this great opportunity to mingle with our industry’s leading suppliers, contractors and consultants.
Opportunities New Brunswick Sunny Corner enterprises inc. AGB products tRC Hydraulics inc. Advanced Manufacturing Management Group (AMMG) discovery drill Manufacturer (ddM) Ltd.
L’eXpO 2016 sera l’hôte de trois pavillons provinciaux (Nouveau Brunswick, Saskatchewan et québec).
GOW Group inc.
Venez rencontrer des personnalités dynamiques de chez nous qui vous présenteront de l’équipement, des technologies, des procédés et des services de pointe. Ne ratez pas cette occasion formidable d’échanger avec des fournisseurs, des entrepreneurs et des consultants jouant un rôle de premier plan dans notre industrie.
Bourque industrial Ltd.
power precision inc. R.d.M. Group of Companies MqM quality Manufacturing Ltd. ASpiN KeMp & ASSOCiAteS Johnson enterprises inc.
Saskatchewan trade & export partnership (Step) Saskatchewan Research Council Norseman Structures pioneer performance inc. - iMSM Canada Ltd. Contango Strategies Ltd. Government of Saskatchewan Canada North environmental Limited partnership (CanNorth) Clifton Associates Ltd.
48e Nord international (quebec) innovexplo inc. Meglab Machines Roger international inc. eBC-Northec-dBF StC Footwear euclid Chemical Flairbase inc. H2O innovation
convention.cim.org
March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 59
BOOTH 1843
BOOTH 748
BOOTH 820
BOOTH 1627
Rock Construction & Mining Inc.
RR Canada Inc.
Vaughan, ON, CA T 905-761-0762 www.rrcanadainc.com
S.Huot
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
BOOTH 546
BOOTH 509
Pullman, WA, USA T 509-336-7882 www.selinc.com
RST Instruments Ltd.
Maple Ridge, BC, CA T 604-540-1100 www.rstinstruments.com
SAFEmap International
BOOTH 1629
BOOTH 436
BOOTH 1344
Somerset, WI, USA T 715-247-3433 www.schwingbioset.com
RubberSource Inc.
Cambridge, ON, CA T 519-620-4440 www.rubbersource.ca
Safety Whips
BOOTH 1724
BOOTH 1631
BOOTH 703
Rulmeca Canada
Wallaceburg, ON, CA T 519-627-2277 www.rulmeca.ca
Sandale Utility Products
BOOTH 900
BOOTH 625
RungePincockMinarco Calgary, AB, CA T 403-217 4981 www.rpmglobal.com
Sandvik Mining
BOOTH 1703
BOOTH 637
Russell Industries
Santasalo
Kamloops, BC, CA T 250-828-1946 www.rcmi.ca BOOTH 1700
Rock-Tech
Lively, ON, CA T 705-692-7625 www.rock-tech.net BOOTH 417
Rossi North America
Suwanee, GA, USA T 800-931-2044 www.rossi-group.com BOOTH 1436
ROSTA inc
Goodwood, ON, CA T 905-642-6996 www.rosta.ca BOOTH 437
Rousseau Metal
St-Jean-Port-Joli, QC, CA T 866-463-4270 www.rousseaumetal.com BOOTH 503
Royer
Lac-Drolet, QC, CA T 819-549-2100 www.royer.com
Quebec, QC, CA T 418-681-0291 www.shuot.com Vancouver, BC, CA T 604-642-6110 www.safemap.com
Phoenix, AZ, USA T 604-560-5080 www.safetywhips.com Brantford, ON, CA T 519-754-1366 www.sandale.ca
Brantford, ON, CA T 519-752-5471 x221 www.cbb.ca
Lively, ON, CA T 905-816-4908 www.mining.sandvik.com Cambridge, ON, CA T 418-651-1414 www.santasalo.com BOOTH 1445
FREE FOR THE EXPO EXHIBITORS A number of exhibitor badges proportional to the size of the booth Access to the convention Opening Plenary Access to the conference technical program sessions
Saint-Urbain-Premier, QC, Canada T 450-427-1440 www.best-corp.com BOOTH 600
SEW-Eurodrive Co. of Canada Ltd.
Bramelea, ON, CA T 905-791-1553 x214 www.sewcan.ca GOLD LEVEL EXHIBITOR
BOOTH 1444
BOOTH 908
Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership
Shaft Drillers International
Saskatoon, SK, CA T 306-933-6531 www.sasktrade.sk.ca BOOTH 1612
Scantech International Pty Ltd.
VIP invitation for distribution to your clients (value of $40 each)
Scheuerle Fahrzeugfabrik GmbH
60 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
Services Industriels BEST H2O Inc.
SGS Canada Inc.
BOOTH 506 Pfedelbach, BW, DE T 49 (0) 7941 /691 - 0 www.scheuerle.com BOOTH 611
Schneider-Electric
Priority booth reservation for the following year’s EXPO
BOOTH 1550
Saskatoon, SK, CA T 306-933-5400 www.src.sk.ca
Mobile devices charging station in main foyer
Listing and company profile in the official EXPO guide
Rawdon, QC, CA T 514-212-3771 www.sempertrans.com
Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC)
Underwood, QLD, AU T 61 7 3710 8406 www.scantech.com.au
Access to the Joy Global Gala
Sempertrans France Belting Technology
BOOTH 1806
Internet access stations on the exhibition floor
Finger foods on the exhibition floor during the opening night reception
Schwing Bioset Inc.
Pointe-Claire, QC, CA T 514-693-6839 www.schneider-electric.com
convention.cim.org
Burnaby, BC, CA T 604-638-2349 www.sgs.com/en/Mining.aspx Mt. Morris, PA, USA T 304-599-5900 www.shaftdrillers.com BOOTH 1431
Shell Canada
Houston, TX, USA T 713-241-3698 www.lube-education.com/ lp/mining-infocenter.html BOOTH 837
Sherwin-Williams
Cleveland, OH, USA T 216-515-4361 www.sherwinwilliams.com/protective BOOTH 427
SIEMAG TECBERG Inc. Milwaukee, WI, USA T 414-727-5725 siemag-tecberg.com BOOTH 505
Simsmart Technologies Brossard, QC, CA T 450-923-0400 www.simsmart.com
THE EXPO THE EXPO ||2016 2016 || L’EXPO L’EXPO
BOOTH 1600
BOOTH 1602
BOOTH 723
Simson Maxwell
Stantec
Calgary, AB, CA T 800-374-6766 www.simson-maxwell.com
Sudbury, ON, CA T 705-566-6891 www.stantec.com/mining
Takraf Canada Inc.
BOOTH 1702
BOOTH 1143
BOOTH 1246
Sipi Metals Corporation
STC Footwear
Calgary, AB, CA T 403-252-8003 www.tenovagroup.com
Chicago, IL, USA T 705-521-4172 www.sipimetals.com
Anjou, QC, CA T 514-355-0026 www.stcfootwear.com
Tank Connection
BOOTH 1531
BOOTH 645
BOOTH 1625
SIX Safety Systems Inc.
STM Sviluppo Tecnologie Meccaniche s.r.l.
TE Connectivity
Cochrane, AB, CA T 403-932-7955 www.sixsafetysystems.com BOOTH 638
Tito Scalo, PZ, IT T +39 0971 485073 www.stmpotenza.com
Slide Sledge
BOOTH 406
Missoula, MT, USA T 866-862-2508 www.slidesledge.com BOOTH 536
SM Cyclo of Canada, Ltd.
BOOTH 1815
Stuart Olson
BOOTH 609
SmartCap
BOOTH 1736
BOOTH 1308
SmartRiver Industrial Ltd.
BOOTH 1708
BOOTH 727
SME - Society for Mining Metallurgy & Exploration
Suncast Polytech Inc.
Edmonton, AB, CA T 780-448-1098 www.suncast.ca
BOOTH 1620
BOOTH 1043
SmithCo SideDump Trailers
Superior Propane
SMS Equipment Inc.
Acheson, AB, CA T 1 866-458-0101 www.smsequip.com BOOTH 1410
SNC-Lavalin
Saskatoon, SK, CA T 306-668-6800 x 54343 www.snclavalin.com BOOTH 1421
SSAB
Delson, QC, CA T 514-364-1752 www.ssab.com
Sparwood, BC, CA T 250-425-8800 www.teck.com/careers
BOOTH 924
Tega Industries Limited Sudbury, ON, CA T 705-523-4158 www.tegaindustries.com BOOTH 1322
Teledyne VariSystems
Calgary, AB, CA T 403-272-0318 www.teledyneoilandgas.com/ab out/productlines/cablesolutions /varisystems.htm BOOTH 517
TEMA Isenmann, Inc.
Lexington, KY, USA T 859-252-0613 www.temaisenmann.com
LES EXPOSANTS DE L’EXPO BÉNÉFICIENT DES AVANTAGES GRATUITS SUIVANTS :
Superior Industries
Morris, MN, USA T 320-589-2406 www.superior-ind.com
BOOTH 1201
BOOTH 1801
Edmonton, AB, CA T 800-661-4023 www.tecowestinghouse.ca
BOOTH 1624
Englewood, CO, USA T 303-948-4204 www.smenet.org
Le Mars, IA, USA T 800-779-8099 www.sidedump.com
Rouyn-Noranda, QC, CA T 819-797-3300 www.technosub.net
TECO-Westinghouse Motors (Canada) Inc.
Sulzer Pumps Solutions Inc.
Mississauga, ON, CA T 905-670-4677 www.sulzer.com
Mississauga, ON, CA T 905-696-0111 www.smartriver.ca
BOOTH 1150
Teck Resources Ltd.
Calgary, AB, CA T 403-685-7778 www.stuartolson.com
Seattle, WA, USA T 206-556-9278 www.smartcaptech.com
Fuquay Varina, NC, USA T 800-327-6996 www.te.com
Technosub
StonCor Group - Canada
Whitby, ON, CA T 1-800-263-3112 x 3015 www.stoncor.ca
Oakville, ON, CA T 905-469-1050 smcyclo.com
Parsons, KS, USA T 620-423-3010 www.tankconnection.com
SILVER LEVEL EXHIBITOR BOOTH 1220
Calgary, AB, CA T 877-873-7467 www.superiorpropane.com BOOTH 944
Symboticware
Sudbury, ON, CA T 800-519-5496 x101 www.symboticware.com SILVER LEVEL EXHIBITOR BOOTH 742
Synergy Engineering Ltd. Coquitlam, BC, CA T 604-464-3663 www.synergy-eng.com BOOTH 1710
Syntron Material Handling LLC
Tupelo, MS, USA T 800-356-4898 www.syntronmh.com
convention.cim.org
Nombre de badges d’exposants proportionnel à la superficie du kiosque ; Accès aux séances du programme technique du congrès ; Accès aux stations Internet dans la salle d’exposition ; Accès à la station de charge pour mobiles au foyer ; Invitations VIP à distribuer aux clients (d’une valeur de 40 $ chacune) ; Hors-d’oeuvre dans la salle d’exposition lors de la réception d’ouverture ; Accès au Gala de Joy Global ; Rubrique et profil d’entreprise dans le Guide officiel de l’EXPO ; et Réservation de stand en priorité au prochain salon de l’ICM.
March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 61
EXCELLENCE IN OPERATIONS EXCELLENCE OPÉRATIONNELLE
STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE NORMES D’EXCELLENCE
ROCK MECHANICS MÉCANIQUE DES ROCHES
PLENARY SESSION
PM
Moving Toward a Culture of Operational Excellence Évoluer vers une culture de l’excellence opérationnelle
Standards of Excellence in Forming Innovation Eco-System Normes d’excellence dans la formation innovatrice de l’écosystème
Rock Mechanics 1 Mécanique des roches 1
Excellence in Operations Excellence opérationnelle
Fostering Operational Excellence: Canadian Leadership in International Mining Standards Favoriser l'excellence opérationnelle : leadership canadien dans les normes internationales d'exploitation minière
Rock Mechanics 2 Mécanique des roches 2
Integrated Operations Activités intégrées
Underground Methods and Equipment Méthodes et équipements pour l’exploitation souterraine
Rock Mechanics 3 Mécanique des roches 3
Excellence in Equipment Management Excellence en matière de gestion de l’équipement
Technology and Efficiency in Mining Technologie et efficacité dans l’exploitation minière
Rock Mechanics 4 Mécanique des roches 4
AM
PM
Excellence in Safe Operations Excellence en matière d’exploitation en toute sécurité
AM Maintaining a Competitive Edge Through Operational Excellence Préserver un avantage concurrentiel grâce à l’excellence opérationnelle
Riccardo Cellere
PM
Mining in Crisis L’industrie minière en crise
Rock Mechanics 5 Mécanique des roches 5
Is Your Project Feasible? Votre projet est-il réalisable ?
Can We Afford CSR? How Can We Not? Avons-nous les moyens d’assumer la RSE ? Pouvons-nous réellement nous en passer ? Panel Discussion Discussion entre experts
VISIT CONVENTION.CIM.ORG REGULARLY FOR TECHNICAL PROGRAM UPDATES. 62 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
Riccardo Cellere
AM
MANAGEMENT & FINANCE DAY | JOURNÉE GESTION ET FINANCES
MONDAY, MAY 2 | LE LUNDI 2 MAI TUESDAY, MAY 3 | LE MARDI 3 MAI WEDNESDAY, MAY 4 | LE MERCREDI 4 MAI
TECHNICAL PROGRAM
PROGRAMME TECHNIQUE GEOLOGY & EXPLORATION GÉOLOGIE ET EXPLORATION
THE MINING FOOTPRINT EMPREINTE ÉCOLOGIQUE DE L’EXPLOITATION MINIÈRE
SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATIONS ORGANISATIONS DURABLES
INNOVATION & NEW IDEAS INNOVATION ET NOUVELLES IDÉES
SÉANCE PLÉNIÈRE From the Core Barrel to Database: Data Collection Du tube carottier à la base de données : la collecte de données
Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue (by invitation only) Session de dialogue multilatérale (sur invitation)
Human Resources Ressources humaines
4th Industrial Revolution La 4e révolution industrielle
Advances in Lithogeochemistry & QAQC Progrès dans le domaine de la lithogéochimie et des AQ/CQ
Permitting Attribution de permis
Ethics I Éthique 1
New Ideas in Mineral Processing Nouvelles idées dans le domaine de la minéralurgie
3D Targeting in GIS Ciblage 3D dans les SIG
Mine Closure Standards Normes relatives à la fermeture des mines
Ethics II Éthique 2
Mining Innovation Concepts Concepts d’innovation minière
3D Geology & Structure Modelling for Mineral Resources & Reserves Modélisation géologique et des structures 3D pour les ressources et réserves minérales
Tailings & Water Management Gestion des résidus et de l’eau
Shared Value and Sustainability Valeur partagée et durabilité
Innovations in Energy Innovations dans le domaine de l’énergie
Energy Management Gestion de l’énergie
Communities: Diversity and Inclusion I Communautés : diversité et inclusion I
Mining Methods & Technology Méthodes et technologies minières
Societal Impact Incidence sociale
Communities: Diversity and Inclusion II Communautés : diversité et inclusion II
Genomics in Mining Le rôle de la génomique dans l’exploitation minière
The Real World of Innovation: Implementing New Technologies and Techniques in Geoscience La réalité de l’innovation : mise en œuvre de nouvelles techniques et technologies dans le domaine des sciences de la Terre
Riccardo Cellere
Riccardo Cellere
CONVENTION.CIM.ORG VISITEZ CONVENTION.CIM.ORG POUR DES MISES À JOUR RÉGULIÈRES DU PROGRAMME TECHNIQUE March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 63
BOOTH 404
BOOTH 1637
BOOTH 925
BOOTH 610
Terrapure Environmental
Trimble Mining
Westminster, CO, USA T 720-887-6100 www.trimble.com/mining
Wajax Equipment
Acheson, AB, CA T 780-948-5487 www.wajaxequipment.com
Winkler Structures
BOOTH 1522
BOOTH 731
BOOTH 1521
TS Manufacturing
Weir Minerals - North America
WipWare Inc.
Burlington, ON, CA T 905-315-2247 www.terrapureenv.com
SILVER LEVEL EXHIBITOR BOOTH 701
TerraSource Global
St. Louis, MO, USA T 855-483-7721 www.terrasource.com BOOTH 1336
Thermo Scientific (Thermo Fisher Scientific Group)
Minneapolis, MN, USA T 763-783-2500 www.thermoscientific.com/bulk weighing BOOTH 1306
Thunderbird Mining Systems
Redmond, WA, USA T 425-869-2727 www.tbirdmining.com BOOTH 717
Thyssen Mining
Regina, SK, CA T 306-949-5929 www.thyssenmining.com BOOTH 1103
ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions Canada Inc
Lindsay, ON, CA T 705-324-3762 www.tsman.com BOOTH 1342
Mississauga, ON, CA T 905-813-8190 www.weirminerals.com
UBC Mining Engineering
BOOTH 920
Vancouver, BC, CA T 604-822-2540 www.mining.ubc.ca
Wenco International Mining Systems Ltd.
Richmond, BC, CA T 604-270-8277 x211 wencomine.com
BOOTH 1307
Urecon Ltd.
Calmar, AB, CA T 780-985-3636 www.urecon.com
BOOTH 803
Westech
BOOTH 751
Usha Martin (UMAI)
Houston, TX, USA T 713-306-5306 www.ushamartin.com BOOTH 622
V.J. Pamensky Canada Inc. North York, ON, CA T 416-781-4617 www.pamensky.com BOOTH 501
Veolia Water Technologies
Tramac Equipment Ltd.
Laval, QC, CA T 450-663-8122 www.tramac.com BOOTH 1525
Transmin Pty Ltd.
Malaga, WA, AU T 61 8 9270 8555 www.transmin.com.au BOOTH 526
TRE Canada Inc.
Vancouver, BC, CA T 604-331-2512 www.trecanada.com
64 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
Salt Lake City, UT, USA T 801-265-1000 x285 www.westech-inc.com
Toronto, ON, CA T 866-588-2637 www.western-global.com
BOOTH 1711
BOOTH 504
WesTech Engineering Inc.
Western Global
VallĂŠe
Coquitlam, BC, CA T 604-298-1213 www.toyopumps.com
BOOTH 736
BOOTH 1847
Calgary, AB, CA T 403 245-2866 http://www.thyssenkruppindustrial-solutions.com/en.html
Toyo Pumps North America
Mills, WY, USA T 307-235-6475 www.wstch.com
St-Alban, QC, CA T 418-268-8955 www.vallee.ca
BOOTH 941
Mississauga, ON, CA T 905-286-4846 www.veoliawaterstna.com BOOTH 1011
Victaulic
Richmond Hill, ON, CA T 905-884-7444 www.victaulic.com Mississauga, ON, CA T 905-670-3122 www.canada.voithturbo.com BOOTH 1520
Wabi Iron & Steel Corp.
New Liskeard, ON, CA T 705-647-4383 x215 www.wabicorp.com
Wire Rope Industries Ltd. Pointe Claire, QC, CA T 514-426-6483 www.wirerope.com BOOTH 821
WireCo WorldGroup
Prairie Village, KS, USA T 816-270-4700 www.wirecoworldgroup.com BOOTH 648
Wiseworth Canada Industries (1996) Ltd. Surrey, BC, CA T 604-536-0343 www.wiseworth.com BOOTH 525
WJ Engineering
Potchefstroom, NW, ZA T 27 (0)18 294 3395 www.wjengineering.co.za BOOTH 1041
WSP Group
BOOTH 705
BOOTH 524
Westlund
Xpera Risk Mitigation & Investigation
Mississauga, ON, CA T 905-624-4575 www.westlundpvf.com
Westpro Machinery Inc.
Voith Turbo Inc.
BOOTH 1310
Sudbury, ON, CA T 705-674-0119 www.wspgroup.com/en/WSPCanada
BOOTH 1303
BOOTH 1102
North Bay, ON, CA T 705-472-2664 www.wipware.com
Fort Mill, SC, USA T 803-578-3000 www.westernstartrucks.com
Western Star Trucks
BOOTH 1107
Winkler, MB, CA T 800-852-2638 www.winklerstructures.com
Vernon, BC, CA T 250-549-6710 www.westpromachinery. com BOOTH 1345
WIDE RANGE ENGINEERING CC Meadowdale, Germiston, Gauteng, ZA T +27 11 974 0852 www.wre-eng.com
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Coquitlam, BC, CA T 1-800-661-9077 www.xpera.ca BOOTH 1216
Xylem
Charlotte, NC, USA T 704-409-9700 www.xylemwatersolutions.com/ ca BOOTH 1036
Yaskawa Canada Inc. Pointe-Claire, QC, CA T 514-693-6770 www.yaskawa.com
THE EXPO | 2016 | L’EXPO
DAILY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Saturday, April 30 8:00-10:00 10:00-16:00 13:00-17:00
Tuesday, May 3
CIM Executive Meeting CIM Council Meeting Registration
7:30-8:30
Sunday, May 1 8:00-16:30 8:00-20:00 9:00-11:00 11:00-12:00 15:00-20:00 15:00-20:00 16:30-20:00 17:00-20:00
Workshops Registration CIM Officers Meeting, Orientation Session CIM Annual General Meeting Business Class Lounge Presenters’ Preparation Room Opening Ceremony and Welcome Reception The CIM EXPO/Student Posters
Monday, May 2 7:00-9:00 8:00-9:00
CEO and Plenary Speakers’ Breakfast Meeting for Monday’s Presenters and Session Chairs 7:30-17:00 Registration 7:30-17:00 Presenters’ Preparation Room 7:30-17:00 Business Class Lounge 9:00-11:30 Plenary Session: Leading Excellence 10:00-17:00 The CIM EXPO/Student Posters 12:00-14:00 Lunch at the CIM EXPO 14:00-16:05 Technical Program • Excellence in Operations • Standards of Excellence • Rock Mechanics • Geology & Exploration • The Mining Footprint • Sustainable Organizations • Innovation & New Ideas 15:30-17:00 Networking Cocktail Reception at the CIM EXPO 18:00-19:00 CIM Awards Gala Reception 19:00-23:00 CIM Awards Gala
7:30-17:00 7:30-17:00 7:30-17:00 8:30-16:05
10:00-17:00 12:00-14:00 12:00-14:00 15:30-17:00 20:00-00:00
Meeting for Tuesday’s Presenters and Session Chairs Registration Presenters’ Preparation Room Business Class Lounge Technical Program • Excellence in Operations • Standards of Excellence • Rock Mechanics • Geology & Exploration • The Mining Footprint • Sustainable Organizations • Innovation & New Ideas The CIM EXPO/Student Posters Lunch at the CIM EXPO Student-Industry Luncheon Networking Cocktail Reception at the CIM EXPO Joy Global Gala
Wednesday, May 4 7:30-8:30
Meeting for Wednesday’s Presenters and Session Chairs 7:30-14:00 Registration 7:30-14:00 Presenters’ Preparation Room 7:30-14:00 Business Class Lounge 8:30-12:10 Technical Program • Excellence in Operations • Rock Mechanics • Geology & Exploration • The Mining Footprint • Sustainable Organizations • Innovation & New Ideas • Management & Finance Day 12:00-13:30 Closing Lunch 13:45-16:45 Technical Program: Management & Finance Day 16:45-18:00 Management & Finance Day Meet & Greet Reception
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March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 65
HORAIRE QUOTIDIEN DES ACTIVITÉS Samedi 30 avril 8h-10h 10h-16h 13h-17h
Mardi 3 mai
Réunion du comité exécutif de l’ICM Réunion du conseil d’administration de l’ICM Inscription
Dimanche 1er mai 8h-16h30 8h-20h 9h-11h 11h-12h 15h-20h 15h-20h 16h30-20h 17h-20h
Ateliers Inscription Réunion des membres de la direction, séance d’orientation Assemblée générale annuelle de l’ICM Salon VIP pour les délégués en classe affaires Salle de préparation des présentateurs Cérémonie d’ouverture et réception de bienvenue Ouverture de l’EXPO de l’ICM/ Concours d’affiches des étudiants
Lundi 2 mai 7h-9h 8h-9h 7h30-17h 7h30-17h 7h30-17h 9h-11h30 10h-17h 12h-14h 14h-16h05
15h30-17h 18h-19h 19h-23h
Petit-déjeuner des chefs de direction et des conférenciers de la séance plénière Rencontre avec les présentateurs et les présidents de la séance du lundi Inscription Salle de préparation des présentateurs Salon VIP pour les délégués en classe affaires Séance plénière sur le thème L’excellence au premier plan L’EXPO de l’ICM/Concours d’affiches des étudiants Déjeuner à l’EXPO de l’ICM Programme technique • Excellence opérationnelle • Normes d’excellence • Mécanique des roches • Géologie et exploration • Empreinte écologique de l’exploitation minière • Organisations durables • Innovation et nouvelles idées Cocktail-réseautage à l’EXPO de l’ICM Réception précédant le gala de remise des prix de l’ICM Gala de remise des prix de l’ICM
66 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
7h30-8h30
Rencontre avec les présentateurs et les présidents de la séance du mardi 7h30-17h Inscription 7h30-17h Salle de préparation des présentateurs 7h30-17h Salon VIP pour les délégués en classe affaires 8h30-16h05 Programme technique • Excellence opérationnelle • Normes d’excellence • Mécanique des roches • Géologie et exploration • Empreinte écologique de l’exploitation minière • Organisations durables • Innovation et nouvelles idées 10h-17h L’EXPO de l’ICM/Concours d’affiches des étudiants 12h-14h Déjeuner à l’EXPO de l’ICM 12h-14h Déjeuner étudiants-industrie 15h30-17h Cocktail-réseautage à l’EXPO de l’ICM 20h-minuit Gala de Joy Global
Mercredi 4 mai 7h30-8h30
Rencontre avec les présentateurs et les présidents de la séance du mercredi 7h30-14h Inscription 7h30-14h Salle de préparation des présentateurs 7h30-14h Salon VIP pour les délégués en classe affaires 8h30-12h10 Programme technique • Excellence opérationnelle • Mécanique des roches • Géologie et exploration • Empreinte écologique de l’exploitation minière • Organisations durables • Innovation et nouvelles idées • Journée gestion et finances 12h-13h30 Déjeuner de clôture 13h45-16h45 Programme technique : Journée gestion et finances 16h45–18 Réception à l’intention des participants à la journée gestion et finances
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THE EXPO THE EXPO ||2016 2016 || l’EXPO L’EXPO
SPONSORS | COMMANDITAIRES PlATINUM | PLATINE
DIAMOND | DIAMANT
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March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 67
SECTION francophone 72 Les carburants de l’avenir
La structure énergétique de l’économie s’éloigne des combustibles fossiles. Ainsi, quelles sont les implications pour nos sources traditionnelles d’énergie et pour les marchandises qui alimenteront nos futurs besoins en énergie ? Par Graham Chandler
69 Lettre de l’éditeur 69 Mot du président
70 71
Une société minière du Québec expérimente une source de chaleur renouvelable Par Kelsey Rolfe
Ruée vers l’or
76 Profil de projet : Énoncé de valeurs Par Kate Sheridan et Kelsey Rolfe
Torex Gold a opté pour une technologie innovante et une gestion complète des résidus miniers pour réduire les risques alors qu’elle récolte les fruits de sa mine El Limón-Guajes. Par Ian Ewing
La version française intégrale du CIM Magazine est disponible en ligne : magazine.CIM.org/fr-CA
lettre de l’éditeur
Affaires en cours L’ouïe est sans aucun doute le meilleur atout pour obtenir une mesure approximative de la consommation énergétique d’une mine. Le rugissement des ventilateurs, le retentissement des concentrateurs, le grondement des moteurs et les explosions régulières viennent nous rappeler, haut et fort, la forte consommation d’énergie qu’engendrent ces activités. C’est la raison pour laquelle, depuis quatre ans maintenant, notre édition du mois de mars/avril est à l’écoute du paysage énergétique. Nous avons étudié les ressources énergétiques canadiennes telles que l’uranium, le charbon et le gaz naturel, ainsi que leur contribution au bouquet énergétique mondial. Nous avons découvert des exploitations dans le grand Nord et au fin fond des Tropiques qui génèrent de plus en plus d’électricité à partir du solaire et de l’éolien, des sources d’énergie de substitution. Nous nous sommes entretenus avec des décideurs qui nous ont expliqué en détail l’impact considérable du prix de l’énergie sur la viabilité d’un projet dans certaines provinces. La pièce maîtresse de notre édition consacrée à l’énergie cette année est indéniablement l’article de Graham Chandler, intitulé « Les carburants de l’avenir » (p. 72), qui étudie les implications d’une économie reposant sur l’« énergie propre » ; cependant, les lecteurs constateront que l’intégralité de notre édition est axée sur l’énergie. L’article de M. Chandler se concentre sur les répercussions qu’auront l’évolution de la politique environnementale et les progrès technologiques sur les marchandises établies au cœur de la production d’électricité et les minéraux essentiels à la croissance des sources d’énergie de substitution. Kelsey Rolfe va à la rencontre de l’équipe des opérations de la mine Casa Berardi d’Hecla Mining afin de comprendre comment les déchets de l’exploitation forestière locale permettent de chauffer les bâtiments de la mine dans la région de l’Abitibi au Québec (p.70). Dans notre section Technologie, l’article « Conversion story » d’Alexandra Lopez-Pacheco (p. 41) met en lumière la percée des systèmes de ravitaillement en gaz naturel des camions de transport. Enfin, dans le profil du projet El Limón-Guajes de Torex Gold (p. 76) rédigé par Ian Ewing sur l’entrée en service récente de la mine, la société explique comment, en adoptant une technologie de transporteur nouvelle aux Amériques, elle a su tirer profit de la topographie complexe pour produire de l’énergie pour son exploitation. Nous traversons une époque intéressante en termes d’énergie, où les prix des combustibles fossiles et le coût des solutions de substitution diminuent, du moins en termes financiers, alors que l’évaluation des risques, qu’ils concernent l’environnement ou l’approvisionnement, évolue. Nous espérons que ce numéro vous donnera une idée de ce à quoi ressemblera l’avenir.
Ryan Bergen, Rédacteur en chef editor@cim.org, @Ryan_CIM_Mag
mot du président
Offrons le meilleur de nous-mêmes Ce n'est pas ce que vous ne savez pas qui vous pose des problèmes, mais ce que vous savez avec certitude et qui n'est pas vrai. – Mark Twain Au cours de l'année qui s'est écoulée, notre industrie a été mise à rude épreuve et, dans certains cas, ne s'est pas montrée à la hauteur. Ruptures de digues à résidus miniers, estimations divergentes des ressources et dépréciation des actifs font partie des problèmes rencontrés durant cette période difficile par une industrie qui chancelle déjà en raison des faibles prix des marchandises et des coûts toujours plus élevés. Nous constatons que beaucoup cherchent dans l'ICM, et à juste titre, des conseils et un leadership. Notre objectif premier n'est pas de faire un plaidoyer en faveur de l'industrie ; d'autres organisations s'en chargent. Notre rôle dans le monde minier consiste à définir des normes et à développer des pratiques exemplaires, à partager des connaissances, à assurer l'échange intellectuel et à soutenir les opinions d'experts. Nombre d'entre nous ne se rendent pas compte des efforts que déploient le personnel et les bénévoles de l'ICM dans les coulisses pour s'assurer que nous disposons des meilleures pratiques (et que nous nous y conformons). Les comités de l'ICM sont le fruit de ces efforts, notamment le comité permanent de l'ICM sur les définitions des ressources et des réserves minérales présidé par Paul Bankes ; le comité des meilleures pratiques que je préside ; les travaux du Committee for Mineral Reserve International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO, le comité des normes internationales de divulgation des informations sur les réserves minérales), le Global Mining Standards and Guidelines Group (GMSG, le groupe sur les normes et les directives mondiales en matière d'exploitation minière), dirigé par Heather Ednie ; et nos travaux avec l'ISO que Tim Skinner dirige avec tant de brio. J'ajouterais que lorsque nous parlons des « meilleures pratiques », nous devons garder Mark Twain à l'esprit. L'adjectif « meilleures » ne signifie pas irréfutables, et nous devons œuvrer à ce que ces pratiques s'améliorent au fil des ans et à force d'efforts. En tant que membres de l'ICM, nous sommes des experts dans nos domaines respectifs et avons à la fois les connaissances et la possibilité d'améliorer ce que nous qualifions de « meilleures pratiques ». Je tiens à remercier toutes celles et tous ceux qui ont déjà mis leur temps et leurs talents à profit de ce projet en cours, et je vous encourage toutes et tous à partager avec nous vos contributions.
Garth Kirkham CIM President @GarthCIMPrez March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 69
Les actualités en bref Une sensation de chaleur Une société minière du Québec teste une source de chaleur renouvelable Le projet de chauffage à la biomasse à la mine Casa Berardi d’Hecla Québec, située à 95 kilomètres (km) au nord de La Sarre dans l’ouest du Québec, vient d’entrer dans sa deuxième phase cet hiver, faisant passer de deux à sept le nombre d’échangeurs de chaleur dont l’exploitation dispose. Il s’agit de la première mine souterraine dans la province à utiliser un système de chauffage basé sur la biomasse d’origine forestière. Ce projet, dirigé par Norforce Énergie, une société dédiée à la production et la vente d’énergie issue de la biomasse forestière établie à La Sarre, fournit aux bâtiments en surface de la mine le chauffage généré par la biomasse forestière résiduelle provenant de billes mises au rebut par des sociétés d’exploitation forestière de la région d’Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Ces sociétés envoient leurs billes indésirables sur un site d’Hecla où elles sont stockées pendant l’été et l’automne dans une installation construite expressément pour ce projet. Quelque 5 000 tonnes de biomasse peuvent y être entreposées. En hiver, les billes séchées sont transformées en copeaux de bois pour alimenter les unités de conversion. Durant la première phase du projet, qui a duré de l’hiver 2014 à l’hiver 2015, Norforce et Hecla ont constaté une réduction de la consommation de propane de 45 000 litres. « L’essai pilote réalisé en 2014 nous a donné toutes les données nécessaires pour mesurer l’impact de l’utilisation des deux échangeurs dans le système de chauffage au propane de la mine ; cet impact s’est révélé considérable », déclarait Christian Léveillé, directeur général de Norforce. « Nous nous attendons à ce que ce système ait une grande incidence sur la consommation de propane [au cours de la deuxième phase]. » 70 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
Des billes provenant de sociétés forestières des environs sont entreposées pendant l’été et l’automne dans une installation de la mine qui peut contenir jusqu’à 5 000 tonnes de biomasse.
Les sept échangeurs de chaleur consommeront entre 4 500 et 6 000 tonnes de biomasse par an, générant chacun 500 kilowatts d’électricité. D’après M. Léveillé, la deuxième phase du projet durera au moins neuf ans. Avant le commencement du projet, Casa Berardi était chauffée exclusivement au propane pendant l’hiver, de la mi-novembre à la mi-avril, et consommait entre 2,5 et 3 millions de litres par an. Toutefois, l’objectif n’est pas d’éliminer entièrement le propane, mais plutôt de réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES) sur le site tout en équipant la mine d’un système hybride de chauffage fonctionnel. Pendant les journées plus douces de l’hiver, lorsque la température avoisine les 0° Celsius, M. Léveillé expliquait que le site serait chauffé à la biomasse ; le propane, moins performant à ces températures, serait utilisé pendant les journées plus froides. « L’objectif final est d’être en mesure […] de ne dépendre d’aucune de ces deux formes d’énergie et de parer toute éventualité », indiquait Josée Plouffe, coordonnatrice régionale des communications chez Hecla Québec. Ce projet de 3 millions $ a bénéficié d’un financement de 1,1 million $ du ministère québécois de l’énergie et des ressources naturelles dans le cadre de son
programme de réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre. La société minière pense pouvoir éviter le rejet dans l’atmosphère de 2 732 tonnes de GES par an en utilisant la biomasse plutôt que le propane. Norforce vend la chaleur générée à Hecla, et réalisera des gains en fonction des économies réalisées chaque année en termes de consommation de propane. Norforce, née de l’alliance de Métal Marquis et de Coopérative forestière St-Dominique, avait contacté Mines Aurizon en 2011 pour envisager l’installation d’un système de chauffage alimenté à la biomasse pour la mine Casa Berardi. Durant les négociations entre les deux entreprises, la mine d’or souterraine a été vendue à Hecla, et les discussions ont alors repris. Le projet pilote a commencé en 2013, mais les échangeurs de chaleur n’ont été installés qu’en janvier 2014. Norforce devait d’abord trouver la technologie adaptée à ce projet. M. Léveillé expliquait qu’à l’origine, la société avait envisagé la technologie utilisée dans les scieries pour brûler l’écorce, mais les appareils étaient trop imposants et une perte d’énergie se produisait à chaque transfert d’énergie. « Nous souhaitions utiliser une technologie exigeant moins de transfert d’énergie », précisait-il.
Avec l’aimable autorisation de Norforce Énergie
Par Kelsey Rolfe
les actualités en bref La société a finalement opté pour une technologie actuellement utilisée dans le domaine de l’agriculture pour sécher les récoltes, et l’a adaptée aux besoins de la mine. « Nous disposons d’un système qui produit de l’énergie sans eau, l’équivalent d’un pistolet à air chaud. Il produit de l’air chaud et propre, ce dont la mine a besoin », déclarait M. Léveillé. La promotion de l’économie locale constitue une valeur ajoutée en Abitibi-
Témiscamingue étant donné que la région ne produit pas de propane, mais qu’elle possède une solide économie forestière. « Hecla doit acheter son propane à Montréal et à Sarnia, en Ontario, aussi les investissements dans l’achat du propane sont des fonds qui sortent de la région », déclarait M. Léveillé. « [Elle pourrait plutôt] acheter de la biomasse produite à l’échelle locale. La région préserve alors des fonds qui, autrement, quitterait l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue. »
D’après M. Léveillé, cette solution s’accompagne d’une multitude de possibilités pour d’autres sociétés qui pourraient commencer à utiliser la biomasse sur leurs sites. « 80 % des mines en exploitation sont équipées d’un système de chauffage au [propane] semblable à celui de la mine Casa Berardi », indiquait-il. « Par conséquent, le potentiel est considérable. Nous sommes maintenant bien placés pour développer ce type de projet. » ICM
Ruée vers l’or
société. Integra a acheté cette mine en octobre 2014. Plus de 1 300 participants de 83 pays ont envoyé 100 contributions. C’est l’équipe de conseillers en géologie de SGS Geostat, basée à Québec, qui a remporté le concours avec son projet ; ce dernier intégrait l’apprentissage automatique et l’IA à Oculus Rift, un casque à écouteurs de réalité virtuelle, et un favori parmi les nouveautés technologiques (le casque Oculus Rift sera présenté au public le 28 mars). Les juges ont apprécié la façon dont l’équipe de SGS a associé les connaissances traditionnelles à l’intelligence artificielle. « Cette idée n’était pas propre à une seule discipline ; elle représentait l’idée la plus intégrée de l’association des connaissances traditionnelles à l’intelligence artificielle », indiquait M. Roosen. M. McEwen ajoutait que l’équipe avait pris en compte les paramètres de coûts dans sa plateforme. « Il est certes important d’identifier des objectifs, mais estimer leur coût pour déterminer s’ils sont viables n’en est pas moins indispensable », indiquait-il. L’équipe qui a décroché la deuxième place, The Data Miners, a également basé sa proposition sur l’apprentissage automatique et l’IA. Cette équipe est un partenariat transcanadien entre des chercheurs de l’institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) de la ville de Québec et l’université de la Colombie-Britannique (UBC). « Il est grand temps que l’exploitation, et plus particulièrement l’exploration minière, accorde davantage
d’importance à cet aspect des approches pluridisciplinaires qui ne repose pas intégralement sur la géologie, la géophysique, la géochimie ou la géologie structurale. Elle doit inclure cette autre branche qui repose sur l’apprentissage automatique et l’IA », indiquait George Salamis, président d’Integra. L’exploration de données, l’apprentissage automatique et l’IA sont des concepts distincts, mais liés. L’objectif final de l’IA est qu’un ordinateur effectue tout ce dont est capable un être humain ; la plupart des chercheurs travaillant sur des projets d’apprentissage automatique et d’exploration de données cherchent à créer un programme qui permet de découvrir un modèle utile ou de glaner des informations intéressantes à partir des données. Le concours d’Integra reposait sur six téraoctets de données, aussi M. Salamis n’était pas surpris de recevoir des contributions fondées sur l’apprentissage automatique et l’IA. « Mais je ne m’attendais certainement pas à recevoir des propositions de cette qualité », ajoutait-il. C’est l’association de l’apprentissage automatique/IA et du raisonnement géoscientifique qui a rendu ces deux propositions sur l’exploration des données si étonnantes, déclarait M. Salamis. « Tester une série d’algorithmes sur six téraoctets de données est une chose, mais corroborer ces algorithmes à l’aide de la géologie et des sciences de la Terre en est une autre, bien différente et très ingénieuse. »
Géoscientifiques, gardez la tête haute ! Les ordinateurs arrivent. Deux propositions reposant sur l’apprentissage automatique et l’intelligence artificielle (IA) sont arrivées en première et deuxième places à la finale du concours Ruée vers l’or d’Integra Gold, un événement digne de l’émission télévisée Dragon’s Den qui s’est tenu à Toronto le 6 mars lors du congrès annuel de la Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC, l’association canadienne des prospecteurs et entrepreneurs). L’équipe gagnante est repartie avec un prix d’une valeur de 500 000 $. Les cinq finalistes (SGS Geostat, The Data Miners, Goldcrushers, GoldRX et Paul Pearson) avaient sept minutes en tout et pour tout pour exposer leur vision aux géants de l’industrie présents à l’événement, à savoir Rob McEwen de McEwen Mining ; Sean Roosen de Redevances Aurifères Osisko Ltée ; Chantal Gosselin, l’une des directrices de Silver Wheaton spécialisée en exploitation minière et finance ; Brent Cook d’Exploration Insights ; et Randy Smallwood, également de Silver Wheaton. Ce concours d’externalisation ouverte a commencé en septembre dernier lorsque la société Integra a donné aux participants l’accès à 75 années de données brutes d’explorations antérieures à sa mine d’or Sigma-Lamaque de Val-d’Or, au Québec, afin qu’ils les analysent dans l’optique d’orienter les futurs efforts d’exploration de la
– Kate Sheridan et Kelsey Rolfe March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 71
LES CARBURANTS DE L’AVENIR L’ÉVOLUTION DU PAYSAGE ÉNERGÉTIQUE
Gracieuseté de City of Kimberley
PAR GRAhAm ChAndleR
Selon un rapport de Bloomberg, les investissements dans les technologies des énergies propres ont continué de croître en 2015 et atteint 329 milliards de dollars américains, soit une augmentation de 4 % par rapport à 2014.
Les combustibles fossiles comblent actuellement la vaste majorité des besoins énergétiques mondiaux. Cette situation commence cependant à changer, et si les pays signataires de l’Accord de Paris de 2015 prennent leurs engagements au sérieux, il y aura des gagnants et des perdants du côté des marchandises.
L
e soir du 12 décembre 2015, le ministre des Affaires étrangères de la France, Laurent Fabius, a tapé avec un marteau vert et a annoncé : « L’Accord de Paris est adopté. » Les 40 000 délégués à la 21e session annuelle de la Conférence des parties (COP21) ont applaudi cette entente historique : 196 nations se sont mises d’accord sur un objectif qui consiste à limiter la hausse des températures moyennes à moins de 2°C au-dessus des niveaux préindustriels, tout en visant une limite de 1,5°C d’ici 2100. Les pays ont déjà formulé des propositions quant à leur contribution respective à cet objectif, notamment le Canada, qui cherchera à réduire ses émissions de 30 % par rapport aux niveaux de 2005 d’ici 2030. Bien que les cibles soient non contraignantes, les pays signataires sont tenus d’évaluer les progrès réalisés vers l’atteinte de leurs objectifs climatiques 72 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
tous les cinq ans et de présenter de nouveaux plans en appui à ces objectifs. L’Accord de Paris exprime une tendance de plus en plus marquée dans la société moderne : un effort d’atténuation du changement climatique et de ses effets, de la construction des infrastructures à la conversion des centrales électriques alimentées au charbon et au développement de sources d’énergie renouvelable. Alors, quelles matières premières seront favorisées par ce changement dans la nouvelle économie énergétique, et lesquelles en souffriront ?
RELÈVE DE LA GARDE Pour satisfaire ses besoins en énergie, le monde est aujourd’hui lourdement dépendant des combustibles fossiles.
Selon les Perspectives énergétiques mondiales 2015 de l’Agence internationale de l’énergie (AIE), le pétrole, le gaz et le charbon représentent actuellement plus de 80 % de la demande d’énergie primaire répartie comme suit : 31 % pour le pétrole, 29 % pour le charbon et 22 % pour le gaz. Le rapport prévoit que cette prédominance des combustibles fossiles se poursuivra jusqu’en 2040, et ne chutera alors que légèrement à seulement 75 %. Dans son rapport de février 2016, New Energy Futures, la société d’experts-conseils PwC écrivait qu’elle s’attend aussi dans le futur à un recul des combustibles fossiles en raison de l’Accord de Paris. « À la suite de la COP21 et sur un fond de préoccupation publique accrue au sujet du changement climatique, les perspectives à long terme pour les combustibles fossiles en général consisteront à ce qu’ils occupent une place proportionnellement décroissante dans le bouquet énergétique mondial », indique le rapport. Stephen Schork, fondateur de Schork Report, une société de recherche sur les matières premières, a relevé que ces dernières années l’Amérique du Nord a assisté à la « mort progressive » du charbon, alors que son exploitation est graduellement abandonnée. Malgré des investissements importants dans l’approvisionnement pendant ces récentes années, l’utilisation effective du charbon a baissé, ce qui a entraîné une surcapacité et un dérapage des prix. L’AIE prévoit que la place du charbon dans la production mondiale d’électricité passera de sa proportion actuelle de 41 % à 30 % d’ici 2040, malgré que la demande en charbon en Inde et en Asie du Sud-Est triplera. Selon M. Schork, le gaz naturel sera le principal bénéficiaire. « C’est ce qui se passe depuis les dix dernières années », a-t-il expliqué. Il estime que le gaz naturel deviendra plus un combustible courant qu’une solution intermédiaire pour assurer la soudure entre un abandon progressif des combustibles fossiles et un avenir uniquement alimenté par les énergies renouvelables, comme bon nombre de personnes l’ont envisagé il y a cinq ans. « Nous avons si bien réussi à l’extraire de façon économique du sol que les environnementalistes ne l’aiment plus », a-t-il mentionné, soulignant que les énergies renouvelables ne sont pas plus viables commercialement que le gaz dans le futur proche. La contribution du gaz naturel au bouquet énergétique mondial devrait grimper de 2 % par année jusqu’en 2020, selon l’AIE. L’AIE prévoit que la demande de pétrole grimpera jusqu’en 2020, avec un ajout moyen de 900 000 barils par jour (b/j) par an, mais la hausse subséquente à 103,5 millions b/j en 2040 sera modérée par des prix plus élevés, des efforts de réduction progressive des subventions, des politiques d’efficience et le passage à des combustibles de remplacement. La part des combustibles non fossiles dans le bouquet énergétique devrait passer de 19 % actuellement à 25 % en 2040. On s’attend à ce que l’énergie nucléaire et les énergies renouvelables connaissent la progression la plus rapide.
URANIUM L’énergie nucléaire, qui génère actuellement 11 % de l’électricité mondiale, repose sur l’extraction de l’uranium et sur son traitement pour qu’il puisse être utilisé comme combustible.
Cameco Corporation, qui produit environ 18 % de l’uranium mondial, s’attend à la construction d’environ 113 nouveaux réacteurs à l’échelle mondiale d’ici 2025, dont plus de 60 sont déjà en cours de construction. En soustrayant les 55 réacteurs dont l’arrêt est prévu, le résultat final sera encore une croissance de l’énergie nucléaire de 80 gigawatts (GW) pendant la prochaine décennie, et plus encore par la suite, a déclaré la société dans son aperçu du marché en 2015. La majeure partie de la croissance est constatée dans des pays où la population et l’économie connaissent une croissance rapide. La Chine est en tête avec 24 réacteurs en construction. L’Inde, la Russie, la Corée du Sud, les Émirats arabes unis et les États-Unis construisent également de nouveaux réacteurs. Le Royaume-Uni s’est engagé en faveur de l’énergie nucléaire comme source d’énergie sans émission. Les autres pays qui ont des centrales nucléaires en chantier sont la Turquie – avec huit prévues – le Bangladesh, le Vietnam, la Jordanie, la Pologne, l’Arabie saoudite et l’Égypte. Aujourd’hui, les réacteurs en service dans le monde consomment environ 160 millions de livres d’uranium annuellement, indique le rapport de Cameco. « Avec la croissance de la construction de réacteurs, nous nous attendons à ce que [la consommation] progresse de quelque 220 millions de livres par an d’ici 2025, soit une croissance annuelle moyenne de 3 %. » Du fait que la production d’uranium a été supérieure à la consommation pendant plusieurs années, d’importants approvisionnements secondaires sont en stock, répondant à environ 20 % des besoins mondiaux. Cependant, à mesure que les stocks s’amenuisent, une production primaire plus importante devra provenir des mines – dont une partie, de nouvelles mines. Cameco estime que 10 % de l’approvisionnement au cours de la prochaine décennie devra provenir de mines qui ne sont pas encore mises en valeur. Cela pourrait causer des difficultés d’approvisionnement, les nouvelles mines ayant besoin d’un délai de sept à dix ans avant d’entrer en production. Les prévisions de Cameco ont été préparées juste avant l’Accord de Paris de 2015. « Certains propos entendus à l’issue de la Conférence de Paris sur le climat étaient encourageants », a déclaré le président et chef de la direction de Cameco, Tim Gitzel. « Bien que nous soyons d’accord sur le fait que l’énergie nucléaire constitue un outil important pour lutter contre le changement climatique, nous n’avons pas modifié nos prévisions en fonction de l’accord. » Malgré toutes ces prévisions rigoureuses, il existe un aspect imprévisible de la demande d’uranium : la politique. « Nous avons vu ce qui est arrivé en Allemagne [qui a remplacé le programme d’énergie nucléaire dans lequel elle était engagée par le développement des énergies renouvelables à la suite de l’accident de Fukushima], mais je pense que ce que nous avons vu au Japon est encore plus éloquent », a ajouté M. Schork. « À la suite de Fukushima, l’hypothèse était que le Japon allait abandonner complètement le nucléaire. » Pourtant, le Japon ne l’a pas fait ; il a au contraire décidé de maintenir sa croissance nucléaire. « Sur le plan de la production [d’électricité] [le nucléaire est] merveilleux », a déclaré M. Schork. « Il produit d’abondantes quantités d’énergie à un prix relativement peu élevé en respectant l’environnement, March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 73
sauf quand il s’agit de disposer du combustible usé. » Cependant, devant l’abondance actuelle de gaz naturel bon marché, « construire un nouveau réacteur ne vous permet pas de rentrer dans vos frais. Je pense que c’est une question d’économie de marché. »
ÉNERGIES RENOUVELABLES Les sources d’énergie renouvelable, notamment les panneaux solaires et les éoliennes, devraient aussi commencer à occuper une place plus importante dans le bouquet énergétique mondial. Malgré le faible prix du pétrole, les investissements dans les technologies des énergies propres ont continué de croître en 2015 et atteint 329 milliards de dollars américains, soit une augmentation de 4 % par rapport à 2014 selon un rapport de Bloomberg. Dans l’édition 2016 d’Energy Outlook publié par BP, il est estimé que les énergies renouvelables croîtront d’environ 6,6 % par année, leur part du bouquet énergétique mondial triplant de 3 % actuellement pour atteindre 9 % d’ici 2035. « Les énergies renouvelables comptent pour plus du tiers de la croissance du secteur de la production d’énergie, et leur apport [à la production] d’énergie mondiale devrait progresser à 16 % d’ici 2035 », a précisé l’économiste en chef de BP, Spencer Dale. « La planète amorce la transition vers un système énergétique produisant moins de carbone, et la Conférence de Paris COP21 en décembre dernier a permis de franchir un pas important dans cette direction. » La Solar Energy Industries Association voit d’un bon œil le récent accord. « Je crois que l’Accord de Paris donnera une impulsion favorisant l’adoption d’énergies renouvelables dans le monde entier », a affirmé Dan Whitten, vice-président des communications. « Cela ne se produira pas du jour au lendemain, mais l’Accord de Paris aidera sans contredit à faire la promotion des énergies renouvelables aux États-Unis comme à l’étranger. Il était de bon augure que quelques jours suivant la signature de l’Accord de Paris par 196 pays, les États-Unis entérinent d’importants octrois de crédits à l’impôt relatifs aux énergies renouvelables. » L’offre des principales matières premières entrant dans la fabrication des panneaux solaires d’aujourd’hui – silicium polycristallin, argent et cuivre – devrait satisfaire à la demande. Selon Bloomberg, l’offre de silicium polycristallin surpassera la demande totale mondiale, soit 66 GW, d’ici 2017. L’utilisation d’argent par les technologies photovoltaïques – utilisées pour convertir les rayons solaires en énergie – représente actuellement 6 % de la demande mondiale, et l’Institut de l’argent prédit un léger déclin de la production d’argent à l’échelle mondiale d’ici quelques années, en partie en raison de sa production associée à des matières premières aux cours instables comme le cuivre et le zinc. En février, une équipe de chercheurs américaine a annoncé qu’elle avait réalisé une percée sur le plan de l’efficacité des photopiles au tellurure de cadmium (CdTe). L’avantage, c’est que ces photopiles sont moins coûteuses que les cellules au silicium, qui dominent le marché solaire. Bien que cette avancée technique puisse sembler significative, c’est l’accès aux matières premières nécessaires qui définira probablement 74 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
l’avenir de la technologie. Une étude réalisée par le MIT en 2014 présente une analyse historique de la capacité de différents producteurs de matières premières de répondre à une hausse de la demande. Les résultats ont démontré que les technologies potentiellement « révolutionnaires », comme les photopiles CdTe d’efficacité élevée, connaîtraient rapidement des problèmes d’approvisionnement si leur adoption commençait à prendre de l’ampleur. En revanche, les cellules au silicium et les matériaux qu’elles nécessitent ne rencontreraient pas les mêmes limitations. Selon le Global Wind Energy Council, la capacité éolienne devrait croître de 432 GW à la fin de 2015 à 666 GW d’ici 2019. Les matières premières essentielles pour la fabrication d’éoliennes sont les éléments des terres rares (ÉTR) utilisés dans les aimants ; plus particulièrement le néodyme dont l’offre est estimée à 21 000 tonnes par année, dont 91 % provenant de Chine. Il fut un temps où la Chine limitait l’approvisionnement d’éléments des terres rares au moyen de quotas d’exportation. Toutefois en 2014, l’Organisation mondiale du commerce se prononçait contre les quotas, et la Chine les a éliminés en décembre de la même année. Selon l’US Geological Survey, l’offre et la demande de néodyme devraient augmenter rapidement au cours des dix prochaines années, d’environ 7 % par année. L’offre devrait suivre la demande, bien que l’équilibre du marché doive demeurer raisonnablement serré.
LITHIUM « Je crois que toutes ces ententes sont bénéfiques pour la planète – elles viennent essentiellement confirmer ce que pense [la société], à savoir que nous devons changer nos façons de faire », a affirmé Edward Anderson, président et chef de la direction, TRU Group Inc et analyste spécialisé dans le lithium à l’échelle mondiale. Environ 50 % du lithium consommé sert à des utilisations traditionnelles comme la vitre et la céramique. Selon M. Anderson, les possibilités de croissance résident dans l’autre 50 % – ce qu’il appelle les produits chimiques à base de lithium comme le carbonate de lithium – principalement pour les piles et les alliages métalliques utilisés pour des applications aérospatiales et militaires. La demande de batteries au lithium-ion ne manquera pas de grimper à mesure que les véhicules électriques gagneront en popularité, comme prévu. « Je crois que les produits chimiques à base de lithium sont sur le point d’enregistrer une croissance appréciable – de 10 à 15 % », a-t-il dit. « La croissance des véhicules électriques pourrait atteindre 20 %. » Toutefois, aux fins de stockage sur réseau, l’autre utilisation majeure potentielle des batteries au lithium-ion, la demande sera plus tempérée, a affirmé M. Anderson. « Pour les véhicules électriques, il n’existe pas vraiment d’autre solution », a-t-il expliqué. « Les batteries sont légères, efficientes et peuvent être adaptées aux exigences du véhicule. Le stockage ne comporte pas les mêmes exigences : les batteries d’accumulateurs au plomb moins chères peuvent être utilisées. » L’offre de lithium pourra suivre le rythme, a-t-il affirmé. « Il y a les gros producteurs de lithium, comme SQM (Sociedad
Quimica y Minera de Chile) et Albemarle. Ils dominent le marché et le domineront toujours. » À son avis, les jeunes minières feront face à des coûts accrus, probablement deux fois plus élevés que ceux engagés pour l’expansion d’une usine existante. « Nous avons vu des exemples de cela – RB Energy a construit une nouvelle usine au Québec, mais celle-ci a fermé en 2013 parce qu’elle n’était pas concurrentielle. » Les mines imposantes, a-t-il dit, seront capables de répondre à la demande prévue d’ici cinq à dix ans à condition d’accroître leurs activités actuelles. Sinon, « d’autres, comme Orocobre Limited (une société d’exploration australienne), pourraient fournir une capacité d’appoint », a déclaré M. Anderson. « Bref, l’approvisionnement en lithium ne pose absolument pas de problème. »
GRAPHITE Le graphite est un autre important composant des batteries lithium-ion. « En fait, une batterie lithium-ion contient environ 5 % de lithium et 50 % de graphite ; donc, elle aurait dû s’appeler graphite-ion », a précisé Paul Gorman, chef de la direction de Great Lakes Graphite, entreprise établie à Toronto. Les batteries au lithium-ion ne consomment actuellement qu’une fraction – environ 7 % – du marché du graphite mondial. M. Gorman, qui a passé les sept dernières années à œuvrer dans le secteur du graphite, s’attend à ce que ce chiffre grimpe. « À mon avis, au cours des cinq à sept prochaines années, le graphite de haute pureté sera principalement utilisé pour les véhicules électriques et le stockage sur réseau », a-t-il affirmé. Cependant, il nuance ses prévisions. « Les véhicules électriques ne se vendent pas aussi bien que prévu en Amérique du Nord depuis les deux dernières années, le prix de l’essence étant inférieur à deux dollars le gallon », a souligné M. Gorman. Il s’attend toutefois à ce que la demande pour ces produits augmente considérablement avec le temps. « Selon les projections actuelles de Tesla, la demande totale de graphite destiné aux véhicules électriques se situe entre 80 000 et 100 000 tonnes environ par année. Une fois leur méga-usine du Nevada mise en service, l’utilisation et la production de graphite devraient croître de façon exponentielle. » À court terme, les mines actuellement en production dans le monde devraient être en mesure de répondre aux besoins en approvisionnement, a indiqué M. Gorman. Cependant, d’autres restrictions au niveau de la chaîne d’approvisionnement pourraient avoir une incidence sur la production. « Il ne s’agit pas seulement d’extraire le graphite comme matière première », a-t-il expliqué. « Des goulots d’étranglement se créent pendant les processus de micronisation, de purification, de mise en forme et de revêtement des particules de graphite. » Comme la production actuelle de graphite provient principalement de Chine, il estime qu’il serait difficile pour un fournisseur nord-américain n’ayant pas déjà de mine en production de garder une longueur d’avance. Alors, assisterons-nous à court terme à une explosion globale de la demande de graphite pour batteries ? Quant au stockage sur réseau, « Je crois que l’offre mondiale suffira à la demande », a affirmé M. Gorman. « Il y aura un vrai problème
quand le marché des véhicules électriques s’emballera réellement à l’échelle mondiale. Or, selon l’ensemble des indicateurs et compte tenu de l’effondrement des prix du pétrole, cela ne devrait pas se produire avant un certain temps. » Paul Ferguson, directeur du marketing de Great Lakes Graphite, estime que personne ne connaît encore véritablement le marché, « parce que certains de ces produits, comme le Powerwall de Tesla, viennent tout juste d’être lancés, alors nous ne savons pas quel accueil lui sera réservé. Un grand nombre d’acteurs dans le domaine du stockage sur réseau en sont toujours à la phase de développement, alors nous n’avons pas encore pu mesurer leur plein impact non plus. Reste à voir si cette demande élevée se concrétisera vraiment. »
POSSIBILITÉS ET RÉALITÉ Bien entendu, il y a toujours la possibilité qu’une bonne partie de l’enthousiasme et de l’optimisme générés précédemment par Paris 2015 s’estompe pour des raisons économiques. Si des emplois sont en jeu en période de récession, a affirmé M. Schork, « [les gouvernements] ne sacrifieront pas l’économie pour gagner un demi-degré au thermomètre. » Déjà, au début de février dernier, la Cour suprême des États-Unis infligeait un revers retentissant au plan pour une énergie propre du président Barack Obama (« Clean Power Plan ») en suspendant les mesures fédérales visant à freiner les émissions de dioxyde de carbone provenant principalement des centrales à charbon. La cour a voté dans une proportion de 5-4 en vue d’accueillir la demande de 27 États – principalement ceux dont la prospérité économique repose sur la production de combustible fossile – et de diverses entreprises et groupes d’affaires souhaitant bloquer le plan, qui est axé sur une transition des combustibles fossiles vers les énergies renouvelables. Le poids économique des consommateurs joue également un rôle. Les faibles prix à la pompe sont en train de réduire l’avantage de conduire un véhicule électrique ou hybride. Les ventes de véhicules enfichables ont reculé d’environ 6 % aux États-Unis et au Canada, et les ventes de véhicules hybrides ont apparemment chuté d’environ 32 % depuis leur sommet de 2012. Le prix de l’essence se situant largement sous un dollar le litre dans la plupart des régions d’Amérique du Nord, les consommateurs sont moins prêts à payer un supplément de 8 000 $ ou 10 000 $. Les actions de Tesla Motors ont baissé de 9 % au début de février à la lumière d’une réduction prévue des ventes de voitures électriques. Qui plus est, en raison des faibles prix de l’essence, les entreprises et les gouvernements sont moins portés à fixer des cibles de réduction du kilométrage. En revanche, ce type de mesures a un succès mitigé. L’industrialisation à la vitesse grand V de la Chine s’est faite aux dépens de l’environnement. Et maintenant, cette réalité est devenue un enjeu socio-politico-économique critique à l’échelle nationale. Or, le changement climatique est-il aussi visible que le ciel noirci par la fumée de la Chine ? Comme le reconnaissent la plupart des organisations, l’Accord de Paris est une étape extrêmement encourageante – et la bonne nouvelle, c’est que les matières premières mondiales peuvent servir à mettre au point des solutions. ICM March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 75
ÉNONCÉ DE VALEURS Avec l’aimable autorisation de Torex Gold
Par Ian Ewing
La mine est équipée d’un système de transport en suspension qui amène le minerai jusqu’à l’installation de traitement et alimente la mine en électricité.
L
’extraction a déjà commencé à l’une des fosses de la mine El LimónGuajes et bientôt, on pourra exploiter le minerai d’un deuxième gisement. L’exploitation phare de Torex ne se contente pas de couler des lingots d’or ; en effet, la nouvelle approche que la société a adoptée en matière de transport du minerai et de traitement complet des résidus miniers suit son propre cours. Lorsque Torex Gold Resources a annoncé la coulée de son premier lingot d’or à son projet Morelos en décembre 2015, des géologues nostalgiques de Teck Resources en ont pris note. Torex avait acheté cette propriété pour la somme de 150 millions $ US lors d’une vente aux enchères de 2009 durant une liquidation importante de Teck suite à la crise de 2008. « Cette liquidation comprenait un total dessaisissement de ses actifs aurifères », expliquait Jason Simpson, directeur de l’exploitation chez Torex, « au grand désarroi de certains des géologues qui étaient impliqués dans ce projet. » 76 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
Les principales ressources de la propriété (les gisements de type skarn d’El Limón et de la mine voisine Guajes) étaient déjà connues en 2009. Ce projet, qui affichait des ressources mesurées et indiquées de 3 millions d’onces d’or et des ressources présumées de 890 000 onces supplémentaires, constituait indéniablement un excellent investissement. Sept années et plus de 800 millions $ plus tard, le premier lingot coulé marque un tournant important vers la production commerciale, qui devrait commencer d’ici le deuxième trimestre 2016. Entre-temps, des systèmes supplémentaires sont intégrés chaque semaine à l’usine de concentration, dont la capacité est de 14 000 tonnes par jour (t/j). Parmi ces systèmes figurent « l’une des plus grandes usines de filtration des résidus miniers au monde », indiquait Fred Stanford, président et chef de la direction de Torex.
Des défis de taille La mine El Limón-Guajes se trouve sur 29 000 hectares montagneux dans la ceinture aurifère du Guerrero au Mexique ; la construction des bassins de décantation des résidus miniers n’a donc pas été une mince affaire pour M. Stanford. « Nous nous trouvons à l’intersection de deux rivières, aussi on ne peut se permettre de rejeter les résidus dans ces cours d’eau. » À seulement 100 kilomètres de la côte Pacifique,
profil de projet cette zone est « par définition » sismique, ajoutait-il. « En outre, la topographie de la zone est extrêmement escarpée, aussi il est difficile de contenir les résidus derrière une digue. Il faudrait pour ce faire constamment élever le barrage. » Au lieu de procéder ainsi, la société a opté pour des résidus secs filtrés. Sept filtres haute pression Diemme sont reliés en parallèle pour extraire les résidus traités de la suspension. Un transporteur amène les résidus séchés jusqu’à leur lieu d’entreposage, où les opérateurs des engins procèdent à leur compactage. Un entreposage ou un compactage inappropriés pourraient se traduire par une érosion localisée, aussi Torex a fait appel aux services d’AMEC, le bureau d’études et de conseil en ingénierie qui a conçu le parc à résidus miniers, pour surveiller le site d’élimination des déchets et pour assurer le contrôle de la qualité. La fabrication du filtre et ses contenants ont coûté près de 40 millions $, aussi ce système représente un important investissement de capitaux pour la mine. Cependant, expliquaient MM. Stanford et Simpson, cette dépense en vaut la peine, car elle élimine le risque d’une rupture de la digue à résidus miniers. « Tout commence par le concept des valeurs », indiquait M. Simpson. « La capacité de filtrage représente certes un investissement, mais elle repose sur une connaissance de l’environnement dans lequel nous nous trouvons, et du type d’organisation que nous essayons de créer. »
Éliminons les risques C’est dans cette même optique que le système de transport en suspension RopeCon a été mis en œuvre pour le transport du minerai de la fosse d’El Limón jusqu’au concentrateur, le long d’une face verticale de 400 mètres. Ce système devrait commencer à transporter le minerai du concasseur situé en haut de la montagne jusqu’à l’usine au printemps, bien avant sa date initiale de démarrage prévue pour la fin 2016. « C’est un autre exemple de la façon dont les valeurs influencent la prise de décisions très importantes », faisait remarquer M. Simpson. « Cet équipement a une valeur de 18 millions $, et même de 22 millions $ une fois installé, mais ses avantages en termes de sécurité sur toute la durée de vie de la mine sont inestimables. » L’autre option traditionnelle aurait consisté à acquérir une flotte d’environ 15 camions de transport effectuant sans cesse le transport sur ces 400 mètres de dénivelé par la route, durant la saison des pluies et la nuit, à pleine charge jusqu’au pied de la montagne. « Cette solution n’aurait fait qu’augmenter la probabilité d’[un accident] », indiquait M. Simpson. « En éliminant le risque dès la conception, nous prenons une décision réellement fondée sur les valeurs. » Le système RopeCon, qui est installé dans une dizaine de mines dans le monde entier, n’est pas encore très utilisé aux Amériques ; cependant, il a gagné la confiance des dirigeants de Torex. Le système repose sur une série de câbles haute résistance et une charpente métallique montée entre deux tours, un peu comme les télésièges débrayables pour lesquels le fabricant Doppelmayr est plus réputé. Des roues ferroviaires sont
montées sur deux câbles parallèles. L’axe de chaque essieu est relié par des boulons à une courroie de 66 centimètres (cm) de large. Les câbles sont attachés tous les cinq mètres à un support métallique. Le transporteur de la mine El Limón-Guajes (ELG) mesure 1 300 mètres de long, et couvre un peu plus d’un kilomètre entre les tours. Le minerai brut est broyé par des concasseurs giratoires identiques de 42 pieds par 65 (environ 13 mètres sur 20) de Metso dans les fosses de Guajes et d’El Limón. La fosse de Guajes actuellement exploitée est facile d’accès par la route servant au transport du minerai. Le minerai du gisement El Limón sera broyé dans la fosse, puis transporté à l’aide du système RopeCon jusqu’à l’usine de traitement. Le minerai est tout d’abord envoyé dans un broyeur semi-autogène (SAG) de Metso (de 9,15 mètres de diamètre sur 4,15 mètres de longueur effective de broyage), puis dans un broyeur à boulets de Metso (de 7,32 mètres de diamètre par 12,8 mètres de long). Ces deux machines broient le minerai à 80 % en-deçà de 60 microns, menant à une récupération de 86 % à l’aide du procédé de lixiviation par cyanuration/du charbon en pulpe. Chargé de minerai broyé avant la descente, le système RopeCon génère un mégawatt d’électricité pour la mine et permet de contourner les problèmes les plus courants que rencontrent les exploitants avec les transporteurs. Les roues ferroviaires évitent les problèmes de trajectoire, et les axes, reliés par des boulons au niveau supérieur de la courroie, permettent de dégager tous matériaux qui pourraient bloquer l’une des extrémités et percer la courroie. Les galets de roulement ne sont pas en contact avec la courroie, ce qui élimine ainsi une autre source d’usure. « Cette technologie a éliminé toutes les autres éventualités de déchirer la courroie », indiquait M. Stanford. En outre, ajoutait M. Simpson, RopeCon est si solide que la durée de vie de ce système devrait même dépasser celle de la mine. L’entretien porte principalement sur les pièces reliées à la courroie, et sera effectué à un poste de maintenance spécifiquement installé à l’une des extrémités du transporteur. « Il suffit de faire avancer la courroie de manière à ce que l’essieu spécifique se retrouve du côté du poste de maintenance, de débrancher, de changer les pièces défectueuses, de remettre en marche et de retourner la courroie. La maintenance préventive peut se faire extrêmement rapidement », déclarait M. Stanford.
Formation pour l’avenir À la mine ELG, la première vague de mineurs et de dirigeants venait du reste du Mexique, notamment du nord du pays où se trouvent de nombreuses mines bien établies. Cependant, indiquait M. Simpson, une grande partie du personnel (à l’heure actuelle, plus de 45 % des quelque 200 employés travaillant sur le site) est originaire de la région de Guerrero, et environ 95 % du personnel de la mine est d’origine mexicaine. La société ne dispose pas d’objectif spécifique en matière d’embauche au niveau local, mais elle est bien consciente que l’optimisation de la main-d’œuvre locale est dans son intérêt. « Au fil du temps, nous devons nous sentir responsables des collectivités locales et nous assurer qu’elles March/April • Mars/Avril 2016 | 77
Avec l’aimable autorisation de Torex Gold
que chacune des 172 familles (environ 600 villageois) puissent choisir celui qui lui convenait. La construction du nouveau village de La Fundición a commencé en 2013, à environ huit kilomètres de la mine. La réimplantation de la localité entière s’est achevée en 2015. La construction voisine de Real De Limón devrait s’achever au cours des premiers mois de 2016, et l’installation des habitants suivra. Le coût total de la réimplantation des deux villages s’élèvera à environ 30 millions $, La fosse de Guajes actuellement exploitée est facile d’accès par la route servant au transport du minerai. ce qui inclut le prix de l’installation d’une usine de traitement de sont correctement formées et ont suffisamment d’expérience l’eau et d’un poste électrique pour alimenter les communaupour pouvoir prendre le relais », indiquait M. Simpson. tés en électricité. Depuis 2013, la société a instauré un programme de for« Dans l’ensemble, la procédure a été relativement simple et mation pour commencer à assurer la qualification de ses transparente », indiquait Gabriela Sanchez, vice-présidente employés. Mis en œuvre par Performance Associates Inter- des relations avec les investisseurs chez Torex. « Notre équipe national, ce programme a porté ses fruits pour M. Simpson de relations avec les communautés a dû déployer des efforts lorsqu’il travaillait à la mine de nickel Voisey’s Bay de Vale, supplémentaires en vue de familiariser les propriétaires des dans la province du Labrador, ainsi que sur d’autres sites nouveaux logements avec les nouvelles installations qu’ofdans le monde entier tels que le projet de mine d’argent fraient leurs logements modernisés », par exemple des cuisiEscobal de Tahoe Resources, au Guatemala. À mesure nières à gaz et non plus des fours à bois, l’eau potable ainsi que qu’ELG augmente sa capacité, les habitants de la région des infrastructures pour les égouts et la collecte des déchets. commencent à combler les divers postes à la mine, bénéfi« Le déplacement de ces deux villages a donné lieu à de ciant de l’encadrement de mineurs expérimentés avec les- meilleures écoles et a offert aux habitants l’accès à l’eau quels Torex avait commencé l’exploitation. « La majorité des potable, aux égouts, à un terrain de jeux et ainsi de suite », exploitants de l’usine sont également originaires des collec- ajoutait M. Stanford. « Nous avons fait notre possible pour tivités locales et ont suivi ce programme de formation », que ces solutions conviennent aux habitants. Notre objectif ajoutait M. Simpson. est qu’ils soient satisfaits de cette réinstallation et qu’ils vivent heureux dans leur nouveau village. »
Édification de la communauté
Former et embaucher les habitants de la région fait partie des efforts de Torex visant à favoriser les collectivités locales, et ce n’est que le début. Au cours des premières négociations avec les ejidos de la région (des fermes communautaires au Mexique disposant de droits agricoles sur l’exploitation des terres environnantes), deux villages à proximité ont exprimé leur intérêt pour être déplacés car ils s’inquiétaient de la disponibilité en eau. Des générations durant, les localités de La Fundición et de Real De Limón ont évolué en situation précaire sur le flanc de la montagne pour tirer profit des ressources naturelles. Elles manquaient cependant des commodités d’usage de la vie moderne telles que l’eau potable, les égouts et un approvisionnement fiable en électricité. Le déplacement des villages s’est également révélé être dans l’intérêt des mineurs étant donné que le lieu de construction le plus approprié pour le terril aurait recouvert La Fundición, et aurait fini par s’approcher des confins de Real De Limón. Les négociations ont donc commencé. Trois sites adéquats ont été proposés aux habitants. Des architectes ont construit trois modèles de logements pour 78 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
Lentement mais sûrement D’après l’étude de faisabilité, la durée de vie de la mine ELG devrait être de 10 ans. L’exploitation minière pourrait cependant se poursuivre sur des décennies à Morelos. En 2012, alors que la société terminait son étude de faisabilité, une seconde ressource a été découverte. Le projet Media Luna qui, d’après la légende de la société, a été découvert « dans le premier ou le deuxième trou de forage », pourrait venir ajouter 7,4 millions d’onces présumées d’équivalent d’or, dont près de 4 millions d’onces d’or. « Lorsque ces [deux] projets seront opérationnels, nous disposerons d’un actif très intéressant », se réjouissait M. Stanford. La société tente d’obtenir le permis nécessaire pour commencer à creuser un tunnel d’exploration. Cependant, indiquait M. Stanford, la phase de production commence à peine à la mine ELG, aussi il n’est pas pressé d’investir dans l’immédiat les 450 millions $ requis pour développer le projet Media Luna. « Nous allons sans doute exploiter ces mines pendant de très longues années. » ICM
technical abstracts
CIM Journal Abstracts from CIM Journal, Vol. 7, No. 1.
Processing Nigerian pyrolusite ore, Part I: Characterization and dissolution kinetics analysis A. A. Baba and L. Ibrahim, Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; R. B. Bale, Department of Geology and Mineral Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; A. G. F. Alabi, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria (currently Department of Material Science and Engineering, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria); F. A. Adekola, Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; and M. K. Ghosh, K. Sanjay, and A. R. Sheik, Hydro and Electrometallurgy Department, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
This paper studies the characterization and dissolution of a Nigerian pyrolusite ore, reporting the results of ore physicochemical analyses and detailed ore characterization before and after leaching at optimal conditions. Ore dissolution rate increased proportional to acid concentration and temperature, but decreased with ore particle size. In a 4 M H2SO4 solution at 80°C with a particle size of –90+75 m and moderate agitation, ore dissolution rate reached 78.7%. Unleached residue produced under optimal leaching conditions consisted of silica with admixtures of cristobalite and stishovite. The calculated activation energy supported the proposed diffusion control mechanism for the process.
Mine conveyance safety: The evolution and regulation of safety catches B. Galy and L. Giraud, Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
This paper compares Canadian provincial mining safety regulations regarding the use and testing of cage safety catches, including a brief history and evolution. Regulations are similar across provinces, with only slight variations. Currently, the “Ontario-type” safety dog is the most commonly used safety catch in Canada. Performance estimation of the compensation mechanism for different safety-dog shapes and tooth angles show this shape works well and has consistent braking results, but the best efficiency is obtained for initial tooth angles greater than 10°. Miner safety is questionable for lightly loaded cages, an issue that should be addressed technically and legislatively.
Measuring roof-bolt response to axial and shear stresses: Laboratory and first in-situ analyses K. V. Jessu, T. R. Kostecki, and A. J. S. Spearing, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, USA
Roof bolts are subjected to axial stresses, shear stresses, or both. Axial and shear stresses were compared between roof bolts machined with two and three slots. Shear stresses perpendicular to and at an angle to the shear planes were evaluated by analyzing a three-slot instrumented roof bolt, performing laboratory tests on two- and three-slot roof bolts, and conducting in-situ test analyses. Three-slot bolts appear to provide a complete bending strain profile, requiring no prior knowledge of the estimated shear-plane orientation. Minimum displacements occur in roof bolts installed perpendicular to rather than at an angle to the shear planes.
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technical abstracts
Canadian Metallurgical Quarterly Papers in CMQ, Vol. 54, No. 1.
Investigation of dissolution kinetics of zinc from smithsonite in 5-sulphosalicylic acid solution D.D. Wu, S.M. Wen, State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization, Faculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China; J. Yang, Kunming Vocational and Technical College of Industry, Anning, China; and J.S. Deng, State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization, Faculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
Uptake of nickel ions from aqueous solutions using protonated dry alginate beads A. Aracena, N. Guajardo, Escuela de Ingeniería Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile; J.P. Ibáñez, Departamento de Ingeniería Metalúrgica y de Materiales, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, Chile; O. Jerez, Instituto de Geología Económica Aplicada (GEA), Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile; and C. Carlesi, Escuela de Ingeniería Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
Effect of chilling and cerium addition on microstructure and cooling curve parameters of Al–14%Si alloy V. Vijayan, K. Narayan Prabhu, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Srinivasnagar, Mangalore, India
Effects of strain aging at 373 K in wires of NiTi shape memory alloy V. Torra, G. Carreras, UPC, Applied Physics Dept. (retired), Villarroel 162, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; and F.C. Lovey, Centro Atomico Bariloche (CAB-IB) Bariloche, Argentina
Effect of TiO2 addition on viscosity and structure of CaO–Al2O3 based mould fluxes for high Al steel casting J.L. Li, Q.F. Shu, K.C. Chou, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China, and School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
Improvement for sulphidation roasting and its application to treat lead smelter slag and zinc recovery Y.-X. Zheng, W. Liu, W.-Q. Qin, J.-W. Han, K. Yang, H.-L. Luo, D.-W. Wang, School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
Influence of charge segregation on specific aluminium consumption in production of ferro-titanium S. B. Misra, A. Kamble, S. Yadav, MINEX Metallurgical Co. Ltd, Mumbai, India; and S. Ranganathan, National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, India
Residence time distribution of solid particles in liquid fluidised bed separator P. Sathe, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, IIT, Kharagpur, WB, India; B. Sarkar, South Campus Instrument Centre, School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA; and A. Das, MNP Division, CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, India
Stoichiometric constraint and calculability of chemical potential D.V. Malakhov, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Mining Lore The search for the Lost Lemon Mine By Katelyn Spidle
n the late winter of 1870, a group of American prospectors named Lafayette French – the man who had funded the initial ventured northeast from the Tobacco Plains in northern expedition that led to Lemon and Blackjack’s discovery – comMontana in search of gold along the North Saskatchewan missioned him to lead a group of prospectors out to exploit River. Finding nothing, two men – Frank Lemon and his co- Lemon’s golden ridge. Unfortunately, McDougall took the explorer, known as Blackjack – mine’s location to his grave as decided to head off-course to he died of alcohol poisoning One of the few men who knew the location of the Lost Lemon Mine perished of alcohol poisoning the night before he was to meet a test their luck on new terrain. the night before he was to prospecting party at Crowsnest Lake (pictured) to guide them to it. They headed south and folmeet with the prospecting lowed an old Indian trail along party in Crowsnest Lake. Highwood River and up into the Some versions of the story mountains. It is said that someclaim that the Stoney Indian where near Crowsnest Pass in chief who had sworn his men southwest Alberta, the pair to secrecy had also laid a began panning in a river that curse upon the site to guaranconnected with three mountain tee it would never be found streams. Finding likely showings, they followed one stream’s again. And oddly, similarly sinister twists of fate seemed to flow as it trickled down from the headwaters. The area proved befall anyone who tried to unearth Lemon’s elusive gold strike. to be rich with gold diggings. Encouraged by the priest and fellow prospectors who had After spending some time panning in the stream, the heard the tale, Lemon attempted to lead a handful of expediprospectors went to fetch their horses, which were tethered tions to the site. Unfortunately, his mental health had deterionearby. Looking up, they noticed a large, towering ledge with rated after the murder, so that he was never able to find the site thick streaks of solid gold. Yet rather than celebrate, Lemon again. Worse, he appeared to become increasingly deranged and Blackjack got into a heated argument. Would they set up and aggressive the closer he would get to the mine. Thus camp and mine it immediately, or come back later with more Lemon’s golden discovery became known as the Lost Lemon supplies when the weather was fair? Mine. When Blackjack retired for the evening, Lemon let his rage The priest, determined to claim the mine, organized another get the better of him. He crawled from his tent and chopped his expedition more than a decade later, in 1883. But a forest fire that sleeping partner’s skull with an axe. had blazed through the region rendered the route impassable. Lemon became unhinged when he realized what he had Later, French joined an ongoing expedition led by an done. Building a raging bonfire, he grabbed his pistol and acquaintance of Lemon, which had so far proven futile, but fell paced back and forth next to Blackjack’s lifeless body until gravely ill shortly thereafter, forcing him to return home. Undedawn. terred, he spent the next 30 years of his life searching for it. Meanwhile, a hunting party of Stoney Indians were heading A friend received a letter from French years later, claiming south into the Livingstone Range. Many accounts claim that that he found the spot. Shortly after mailing the letter, however, two had seen Lemon and Blackjack from afar right before the French died in a mysterious fire that burned his cabin to the prospectors found the golden ridge and decided to track them. ground. After witnessing Lemon murder Blackjack, the Indians reported In the 145 years since the legend was first told, there have the murder – as well as the gold – to their chief. Upon hearing been numerous tales of many lives spent searching for the Lost of the riches contained within the ledge, the chief swore the Lemon Mine. men to secrecy. The legend even spurred two false gold rushes, in 1931 and When Lemon returned to Montana, he blamed renegade 1988, where prospectors found gold so poorly concentrated it Blackfoot Indians, known at the time for killing prospectors, for was not worth extracting. Blackjack’s death. Yet when he visited the local priest, Lemon Some say it is along the Saskatchewan-Montana border, othconfessed to Blackjack’s murder, revealing also the rough loca- ers swear it is hidden along the Livingstone Range, and even tion of his prized gold discovery. The priest kept Lemon’s secret more believe it is trapped inside the Crowsnest Volcanics in safe and quickly sent a man named John McDougall to the site southwest Alberta. Geologists have proposed theories based on of the crime to give Blackjack a proper burial. science, journalists have written first-hand accounts and witIt is said that McDougall found the ledge, located the body nesses have drawn crude maps. But to this day, the Lost Lemon and laid it to rest. Upon his return home, a wealthy prospector Mine has never been rediscovered. CIM Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Michael Rogers
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82 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 11, No. 2
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