Ontario Mineral Exploration Review - Fall/Winter 2012

Ontario Mineral

ExplorationREVIEW

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Fall /Winter 2012

Too hot to handle? Northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire Kirkland Lake Gold’s high-grade reserve and resource base shows promise for decades Canada’s new Environmental Assessment regime: what miners need to know Chemistry 101: the many faces of cyanide

SCR Mines Technology Inc.

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Ontario Mineral Exploration Review.

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Ontario Mineral

ExplorationREVIEW 4

Minister’s Message – the Honourable Rick Bartolucci Kirkland Lake Gold’s high-grade reserve and resource base shows promise for decades Mining for green ARMIT, a break-through in TDEM sensor technology Don’t miss 81st annual PDAC International Convention, Trade Show & Investor Exchange

6 8 10

Undercover investigation, Part II: innovation

12 14

Canada’s new Environmental Assessment regime: what miners need to know

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The success story of a Canadian company known for its mining applications

18 20 22 28 31 33 34

Too hot to handle? Northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire A practical guide to dust suppression Building off-site can simplify construction Chemistry 101: the many faces of cyanide Accurassay Labs bringing new service and value in 2013 How does your ice measure up?

Hearst Air Service provides mining companies with the services they need for remote fly-in to Northern Ontario Lab quality control versus mine quality control ‘Brite’ building solutions by BRITESPAN Building Systems Fordia innovates again

Index to Advertisers

Abitibi Geophysics Inc................................................. 11 Accurassay Laboratories.............................................. 33 Activation Laboratories............................................... 15 ALS Minerals............................................................... 14 Assaynet Canada Inc................................................... 36 BMH Systems.............................................................. 18 Britespan Building Systems........................................ 37 CIM............................................................................. 27 Fladgate Exploration Consulting Corp.......................OBC Fordia.......................................................................... 12 Future Buildings.......................................................... 17 Hard Assets................................................................ IBC Hearst Air Service........................................................ 35 Hertz Equipment Rentals............................................ 15 Insight West................................................................ 21 Kirkland Lake Gold Inc................................................. 26 Landdrill International Inc.......................................... 19

35 36 37 38

Leisure Farms Construction Ltd..................................... 9 Mine Site Technologies (Canada) Inc............................. 5 Mullen Trucking LP...................................................... 24 Norex Drilling................................................................ 7 NorOnt Consulting Inc................................................. 23 Norske Drilling.............................................................. 4 Northstar Drilling........................................................ 25 NRB Inc....................................................................... 29 OBM Equipment Service.............................................. 18 Ross Industries Ltd...................................................... 34 SCR Mines Technology Inc...........................................IFC SGS Minerals Services................................................... 5 SW Safetywhips Canada............................................. 13 Terraquest Airborne Ltd................................................ 4 Testmark Laboratories Ltd........................................... 32 Tetra Tech Wei Inc........................................................ 30 Wilson Mining Products.............................................. 16 Fall/Winter 2012

3

Ontario a leader in mineral development

By Rick Bartolucci Minister of Northern Development and Mines

Mineral exploration and development has been a core industry in Ontario for more than a century. Our superior mineral endowment is complemented by a dynamic mining sector, rich with knowledge and expertise in all areas. Bolstered further by exciting new mineral discoveries, we look forward to an even brighter future for mineral exploration and development in the province.

Ontario ranks among the top 10 world producers of platinum, nickel and cobalt, and among the top 20 producers of gold, silver, copper and zinc. We are also part of a select group of jurisdictions that produce, process and market diamonds.

For more than a decade, Ontario has led our nation in mineral exploration spending, and remains among the top 10 mineral investment jurisdictions in the world. Last year, exploration spending in the province reached a record $1 billion. It is expected that about 26 per cent of all exploration and mineral deposit appraisal dollars invested in Canada will be spent here.

With 42 mines currently operating in the province, we are Canada’s largest producer of non-fuel minerals, and are a global mining

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Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

force. All told, Ontario accounted for 21 per cent of the country’s non-fuel mineral production in 2011 with a value of about $10.7 billion.

Investing in mineral exploration and development in Ontario pays off. Over the last decade, more new mines opened here than anywhere else in Canada. Our mining sector now employs about 27,000 people directly and another 50,000 indirectly, and the mining equipment and services sector employs more than 25,000 people in Northern Ontario alone. Many communities, particularly in Northern Ontario, thrive on mining activity. With this in mind, the Government of Ontario is focusing on helping the mining industry open at least eight new mines over the next 10 years.

More recently, exciting discoveries show that the Ring of Fire area in Northern Ontario holds the promise of being Canada’s first worldclass chromite deposit, with strong potential for nickel, copper, zinc, gold and other deposits. In consultation with First Nations, we look forward to unlocking the potential of the Ring of Fire and creating thousands of jobs in Northern Ontario.

Our government is committed to advancing mineral development for the benefit of all Ontarians. With that in mind, we are working in consultation with stakeholders to modernize elements of our Mining Act. We are developing regulations that promote sustainable mineral activity in a way that respects the environment, Aboriginal and treaty rights, communities and individuals. With modern, balanced and equitable guidelines, the modernized Mining Act will bring greater clarity and certainty for the mining industry.

Furthermore, we continue investing in services such as geological mapping and the digitization of geoscience information to help Ontario’s mineral exploration sector identify areas of economic opportunity.

We are building on today’s successes to create a sustainable future for mineral development in Ontario.

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Fall/Winter 2012

5

Kirkland Lake Gold’s high-grade reserve and resource base shows promise for future decades

Kirkland Lake Mayor Bill Enouy cutting the ribbon at Kirkland Lake Gold’s new dry in 2012.

Kirkland Lake Gold (TSX: KGI) is an operating and exploration gold company in Kirkland Lake, Ontario which is located in the Lower Abitibi Greenstone Belt in northeastern Ontario. Kirkland Lake Gold owns the five former high-grade mines that produced 22 million ounces of gold with an average grade of 15.1 grams per tonne. The future of the Kirkland Lake camp brightened significantly some six years ago when there was a new high-grade geologic discovery, called the South Mine Complex (SMC), found on its ground. In its recently completed fiscal year, Kirkland Lake Gold produced 100,275 ounces of gold—in part from the SMC—and with its expansion plans, the company has its sights on producing 180,000 ounces this year and ratcheting up 250,000 ounces next year. With close to 1,000 direct employees, Kirkland Lake Gold has become an important part of the Kirkland Lake area regional economy.

In 2005, the Kirkland Lake Gold exploration team positioned drills underground, targeting earlier exploration holes in a new zone to the south, and in a different geologic setting than the quartz vein hosted Main/’04 Break which produced the 22 million ounces of gold; gold in association with sulphides. Discovered with a hole that intersected 90 feet of 2.3 ounces of gold, this became the exploration focus for Kirkland Lake Gold for the next several years.

The SMC has now grown to (as at December 31, 2011) 273,000 tons containing 816,000 ounces in the P+P category grading 21.9 grams per tonne or 0.64 ounces per ton, 1,242,000 tons containing 780,000 ounces in the M+I category grading 21.6 grams per tonne or 0.63 ounces per ton, with another one million tons containing 6

Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

662,000 ounces in the inferred category grading 22.6 grams per tonne or 0.66 ounces per ton.

That is not to say that there is no gold left in the Main/’04 Break.

KGI has been mining that ore since 2005 and continues to do so today. Kirkland Lake Gold’s total reserves and resources (including the SMC) are 2,884,000 tons containing 1,473,000 ounces in the P+P category grading 17.5 grams per tonne or 0.51 ounces per ton, 3,433,000 tons containing 1,623,000 ounces grading 16.1 grams per tonne or 0.47 ounces per ton, with an additional 1,970,000 tons containing 1,003,000 ounces in the inferred category grading 17.5 grams per tonne or 0.51 ounces per ton.

On top of this reserve and resource base, in March 2012, the company entered into an agreement to acquire joint venture partner Queenston Mining’s 50 per cent interest in the seven JV properties the two companies own in the Kirkland Lake camp, for a cost of $60 million. The South Claims former JV property hosts the extension of the South Mine Complex, where gold grades have been very rich, in excess of 45 grams per tonne. Drilling on these new claims has commenced, with two underground drills and two surface drills. Results are expected in the fall, along with results from Kirkland Lake Gold’s surface drill program where three drills are turning.

In 2008, Kirkland Lake’s high-grade asset profile, compelling exploration potential, and opportunity for organic growth at low capital cost attracted the attention of former Goldcorp underground mine manager Mark Tessier. Tessier spent seven years overseeing the expansion of the newly discovered high-grade zone at Gold-

CEO Mark Tessier speaks during a site visit.

Gold pour.

corp’s historic Red Lake mine, resulting in 2.8 million ounces of production over six years. Tessier brought his production vision to Kirkland Lake Gold, designed a low-capital, four-year expansion plan, and in January 2009 initiated projects aimed at increasing gold production to 250,000 - 300,000 ounces per year starting in May 2013, the start of Kirkland Lake Gold’s 2014 fiscal year.

Kirkland Lake Gold was founded by mining industry veterans Harry Dobson and Brian Hinchcliffe, who began their search for a gold camp in 2001, during a time of depressed gold prices and uncertainty in gold mining in Canada. Hinchcliffe was familiar with the Macassa mine from his work in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a metals trader with J. Aron Goldman. Dobson and Hinchcliffe have a strategy whereby they study commodities cycles and determine when the market considers a metal out of favour but the supply/demand fundamentals indicate spot prices have bottomed and are positioned for a rally, therefore enabling them to purchase assets at a discounted price.

Having successfully done this before twice, building both nickel and zinc companies (the latter of which was sold to Breakwater Resources in 1990 and is still in production today), in 2001 they

Finished product.

began the search for a large gold asset with the criteria of having to be located in a politically safe country, have a large exploration potential, and be located close to existing infrastructure that could be rehabilitated rather than built from the bottom up in the event that production was re-established. Hinchcliffe and Dobson have founded mining companies with a focus of delivering high investment returns on capital deployed and internal rate of returns.

These criteria, coupled with the upside exploration potential in an established mining camp and strategy of purchasing assets when commodities are at or near the bottom of a cycle, propelled the two to purchase the entire camp from Kinross Gold for $5 million and $15 million in royalty payments. Kirkland Lake Gold completed royalty payments in 2011.

The company is now less than one year from increasing production 600 per cent from levels just four years ago. With Kirkland Lake’s high-grade reserve and resource base, low capital-cost expansion capabilities, strong returns on capital deployed, growing yearly production and declining cash costs, and location in a politically safe country, this company has significant upside and the mine potential to be in operation for decades.

Fall/Winter 2012

7

Mining for green

1.

2.

1: Many types of environmental monitoring sensors can be integrated into the NRG1-ECO TM control system to monitor various parameters including temperature, relative humidity, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen monoxide (NO); providing real-time data to support ventilation as required.

3.

Canada’s mining industry is among the largest and most productive in the world, an industry in which Canada is a true global leader. Mining contributes over $40 billion annually to Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), larger than any other major industrial sector including energy, forestry or automotive.

It is therefore not surprising that Canada’s mining industry also presents many opportunities to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Canadian Industrial Energy End-use Data and Analysis Centre at Simon Fraser University, in 2009 the mining and non-ferrous metal smelting industries accounted for seven per cent of total energy consumption, and six per cent of direct industrial GHG emissions in Canada1.

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Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

2 & 3: NRG1-ECO TM can be applied to automated equipment and processes such as louvres, compressors, pumps and ventilation to significantly reduce energy consumption.

Cleantech offers a unique solution. The adoption of cleaner technologies will improve the bottom-line by reducing the costs associated with operating mines, improving production efficiencies while lessening the environmental impact of mines and associated activities.

Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) is at the forefront of supporting clean technology development in Canada and mining-related technologies constitute an important part of our portfolio. With three mining projects and a total project value of $10.7 million, SDTC is building up the mining cleantech sector—a move that promises to revolutionize the way mining is done in Canada and around the world.

Our portfolio companies are a diverse

mix, offering a wide range of clean technology solutions.

BESTECH, for example, is helping to reduce energy use with its ventilation technology, “Dynamic Ventilation on Demand” (DVOD), which provides an automated deep mine ventilation control, monitoring and tracking system. This technology has led to energy savings at Vale’s Coleman mine/ test centre of approximately 20 per cent, as well as climate change and clean air benefits in five demonstration underground mining levels by modifying ventilation within the mining environment where it was needed, rather than maintaining it throughout the entire mine.

Mining Technologies International is working on demonstrating a diesel-electric hybrid technology in a medium-size un-

Integration is at the core of NRG1-ECO TM. NRG1-ECO TM’s open architecture technology allows it to integrate with new or existing mine infrastructure, giving established mines the same opportunity to realize significant savings.

derground loader, and incorporates an advanced propulsion system to maximize efficiency and energy recovery while minimizing exhaust emissions and reducing fuel consumption. The technology is expected to result in reduced operating costs, improved health and safety, decreased greenhouse gas emissions and improved environmental sustainability.

And Rail-Veyor Technologies Global Inc. has developed Rail-Veyor®, an environmentally friendly, electrically powered rail haulage system with a flexible lightweight design to reduce environmental scarring while using less energy with no direct air emissions.

The Rail-Veyor® cars travel at speeds of up to 32km/hr as they climb grades of 20 per cent and negotiate complex turns within a 30-metre radius. The expected Rail-Veyor® GHG emissions will be one per cent of current truck, 40 per cent of conveyor and 21 per cent of heavy rail alternatives.

These are just a sample of the exciting clean technologies being developed in Canada for the mining industry. The timing is right for these technologies, as the mining sector looks increasingly to improve the sustainability of its operations and embrace breakthrough innovations. SDTC is at the forefront of facilitating this paradigm shift through the commercialization of innovative mining technologies.

About SDTC (www.sdtc.ca) SDTC is an arm’s-length foundation funded by the Government of Canada as part its commitment to create a healthy environment and a high quality of life for all Canadians.

SDTC operates two funds aimed at the development and demonstration of innovative technological solutions.

The $590-million SD Tech Fund™ supports projects that address climate change, air quality, clean water, and clean soil. The $500-million NextGen Biofuels Fund™ supports the establishment of first-of-kind large demonstration-scale facilities for the

NRG1-ECO TM 3-D Viewer. Zones within the NRG1-ECO TM System are displayed in the 3-D Viewer using customizable colours. Devices are shown in their true geographical positions.

Marc Boudreau, BESTECH co-CEO; Sarah Paajanen, BESTECH project manager; and Cheryl Allen, Vale chief ventilation engineer/project manager. Photo provided by Vale.

production of next-generation renewable

zations (NGOs), the financial community

fuels.

and all levels of government to achieve this

SDTC operates as a not-for-profit cor-

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poration and has been working with the

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public and private sector including indus-

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try, academia, non-governmental organi-

_09_%20Final.pdf

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Fall/Winter 2012

9

ARMIT, a break-through in TDEM sensor technology Comparative X-component over Caber deposit.

The ARMIT B-field sensor—easy-to-use and better than HT SQUID.

By Roman Wasylechko Abitibi Geophysics Inc. “How did Abitibi Geophysics acquire exclusive rights to a break-through technology like the ARMIT sensor developed by Dr. James Macnae and his team at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia?” That is a frequent question. The answer is simple— Abitibi Geophysics is very passionate and dedicated to innovation that can help our clients improve their exploration effectiveness.

The initial demand for improved B-field technology came from the nickel exploration companies in Ontario. Measuring the B-field at low base frequencies allows the capture of long time-constant decays associated with highly conductive nickel sulphides. Deposits are harder to find, therefore our clients have been requesting tools to explore deeper and in more difficult environments, which requires higher sensitivity equipment. The SQUID sensors currently available to measure B-field require complex logistics and are heavy and cumbersome to use on a routine basis.

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Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

Serendipitously, Pierre Berube and I had the opportunity to discuss research of mutual interest with Dr. Macnae as we enjoyed cold, free-flowing beer in the Abitibi Geophysics booth at the 2010 PDAC. Dr. Macnae predicted that with modern electronics, some of the early low-noise B-field sensor designs could be updated to have comparable specifications to SQUIDS, as was being attempted in the medical and space industries. This discussion did not end at the PDAC; it continued for many months by email and phone until Abitibi Geophysics had an agreement with RMIT University whereby Dr. Macnae and his team would develop, for the exclusive use of Abitibi Geophysics, a “better than SQUID” B-field and dB/dt TDEM sensor based on a perfect conductor, nano-engineered technology.

Defining the specifications for the sensor before it was built was a philosophical challenge. We agreed that the specifications should be as stringent as possible because the objective was a sensor that would be better than a High Temperature (HT) SQUID, as there was little value in “almost as good” technology. The sensor specifications called for quantitative femtotesla B-field data with a noise envelope lower than HT SQUID. In addition to the high sensitivity and low

noise envelope we had a myriad of practical requirements, such as: field-worthiness at ambient temperatures from -40OC to +50OC; 24-hour battery life between charging; selforienting so that the operator does not have to level the sensor; minimize weight; maximize portability; SMARTem 24 compatibility; and of course, inexpensive to manufacture. Dr. Macnae was most empathetic on the practical requirements that would make the operator’s life easier and improve production without surrendering a femtotesla of data quality. His early years in the swamps of Northern Ontario were not wasted; they gave him a deep appreciation for developing practical solutions for field use.

Within one year, Dr. Macnae produced a prototype that was ready for field trials. He took the ARMIT Prototype 1 to a “sensor shootout” in Delta, Utah which was a rigorous comparison of sensors organized in 2011

by Terry Ritchie (GRS Pty Ltd.) with scientific input from Frank Morrison and John Kingman. The graph titled “Sensor Noise Envelope Comparison” by Dr. Macnae shows the noise envelope of the ARMIT Prototype 1 sensor field results (dashed blue line) compared to the response characteristics of other B-field sensors. Following this field test a new core was installed in the ARMIT sensor, which was tested in the RMIT laboratory (solid blue line). By comparison, the ARMIT

sensor has a lower noise envelope and higher sensitivity than a fluxgate sensor and the LANDTEMTM high-temperature SQUID. A newer DC-coupled HTS SQUID was not available for the test; however, it is reported to be a cumbersome and logistically more awkward device to use in the field.

Abitibi Geophysics conducted a field test over the Caber deposit in the Matagami region of Quebec to compare the ARMIT Bfield data with a Geonics 3D3 air-core coil sensor. (Note that the B-field data is reversed polarity to the dB/dt.) The data were obtained as a series of consecutive readings at coincident sensor stations using the same SMARTem receiver, a 300m by 300m transmitter loop, 30 Hz base frequency, and the same

power output. The ARMIT B-field clearly shows a late-channel anomaly centered over the axis of the Caber mineralization with an early-channel response over the conductive overburden. By contrast, the 3D3 response over the mineralization is masked by the effect of the conductive overburden. Caber is a small target of about 500,000 tonnes at a depth of 135 metres and is a weak conductor since the mineralization is primarily poorlyconducting sphalerite (11.7% Zn, 0.97% Cu, 14.4 g/t Ag). Dr. Macnae commented: “The ARMIT sensor has higher sensitivity; result is lower noise on the late channels.”

In the end, the ARMIT development by Dr. Macnae at RMIT University was a success. The ARMIT B-field prototype met the

design specifications and has a lower noise envelope than the LANDTEMTM SQUID sensor over the bandwidth of interest. The field trials have proven that it is reliable, robust and easy-to-use without the hassle of transporting helium or nitrogen to remote field camps. The advantages of measuring the B-field over dB/dt are discussed in greater detail by Michael W. Asten and Andrew C. Duncan.1 The capability to differentiate between mineralization and overburden with a B-field sensor is only one of the advantages presented by the authors. The results we observed over the Caber deposit are consistent with their findings.

The applications for the ARMIT B-field sensor are very broad as it operates between 0.1Hz and 10kHz. The low base frequency is ideal for detecting highly conductive nickel sulphides. The low noise envelope makes it suitable to explore deeper for all types of conductors (poorly-conducting zinc to highly conducting nickel sulphides).

The next development our clients are anxious to test is scheduled to come out of Dr. Macnae’s laboratory in a few months: the ARMIT B-field borehole sensor. Contact the author for updates: roman@ageophysics.com.

REFERENCE: 1.

Michael W. Asten and Andrew C. Duncan.

Geophysics: Volume 77, Number 4: JulyAugust 2012: The quantitative advantages of using B-field sensors in time-domain EM measurement for mineral exploration and unexploded ordnance search.

Fall/Winter 2012

11

Don’t miss 81 annual PDAC International Convention, Trade Show & Investor Exchange st

By Lisa Fattori Preparations for the 2013 PDAC International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange are well-underway, with exciting venues and activities planned for this year’s event. Held from March 3rd – 6th, 2013, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the PDAC is a must-see, providing the world’s mineral industry with the opportunity to meet over 1,000 exhibitors, as well as more than 30,000 attendees from 125 countries. Show visitors can also attend technical sessions and short courses, and have the opportunity to socialize and network at several events.

For the 81st annual PDAC, attendees have access to 400 trade show and 600 investors-exchange exhibitors that include exploration and mining companies, drilling equipment and services companies, consultants, law firms, stock exchanges and more. Visitors can learn about the latest in satellite communications, software products and remote sensing and mapping technologies. The show and convention appeals to a wide range of people, including exploration and development professionals, geoscientists, mining service sector representatives, sales and marketing professionals, and students.

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Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

Safety Equipment SafetyWhips.ca ian C a n a dr s h i p Owne

Photography by Envision Digital Photography.

Organized by the Canadian Association of Mining Equipment and Services for Export (CAMESE), the PDAC Innovation Forum gives trade-show exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their innovations.

Presentations provide information about new products and services, exploration developments, discoveries, legislation changes, and recent technical or commercial successes. There is no charge for this opportunity and eligible presentations are promoted through advertising, signage and listing in guides and programs that are distributed to convention attendees.

The Core Shack is another popular PDAC venue, and gives participants the opportunity to share with fellow explorers and developers exciting drilling, trenching and outcrop samples. Attendees can see potentially economic grades and widths associated with an emerging or potential resource from active mines, as well as re-activated mines and extensions or satellites to existing operations. There are two sessions planned for the Core Shack company displays, on March 3rd – 4th, and March 5th – 6th.

Other highlights of PDAC 2013 include the Corporate Presentation Forum for Investors and the presentation of policy and technical papers at the convention’s Open Session. From Monday, March 4th to Wednesday, March 6th, there are special lunchtime events planned that include the Mineral Outlook Luncheon, International Panel Luncheon and the Student-Industry Networking Luncheon. At Wednesday’s Innovation Luncheon, Perrin Beatty, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, will be the guest speaker. Beatty’s presentation, “How Canada has transformed its resources endowment into a global competitive advantage,” will focus on Canada’s innovation and competitiveness in the global market.

Evening functions include a welcome reception on Sunday, March 3rd in the Canadian Room at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. The Awards Evening, Mining Night, and Gala events, all at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, give attendees the opportunity to mix and mingle at fun-filled events. PDAC 2013 will also include the Sixth Annual PDAC-Caracle Cup Hockey Tournament at Canlan Ice Sports on Saturday, March 2nd.

Throughout the day, spectators can cheer on 16 sponsored teams, each vying for the prestigious Caracle Cup. Those interested in learning more about PDAC 2013 can visit www. pdac.ca. Find out about the latest news, show highlights and registration information. The website provides a wealth of information for show exhibitors and attendees, including shuttle service and a listing of available accommodations at local hotels.

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Fall/Winter 2012

13

Undercover investigation

Part II: Innovation

By Dale Sutherland

This editorial follows up on the discussion of the success of the Soil Gas Hydrocarbon geochemistry (SGH) in the spring 2012 issue of the Ontario Mineral Exploration Review. This year we have witnessed exploration activities shrink and be postponed as budgets are tightened. SGH was discussed as providing reduced costs in sampling programs as more samples can be obtained per day, as well as providing an information-

rich data set to aid in selecting drill targets with the confidence that stems from forensic science. SGH has been proven to have unique capabilities that can help overcome landscape challenges in Ontario and the far north.

A new innovative technique has been introduced this year: Organo-Sulphur Geochemistry (OSG) has been developed and tested for a wide variety of targets. To

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Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

discover mineral targets under cover both SGH and OSG, use the same technology as used in certain Olympic drug testing.

Bacteria are ubiquitous and utilize the inorganic elements in mineralization to help synthesize the hydrocarbons they need to grow. At the end of their life cycle, bacteria decompose and their organic hydrocarbons retain a signature of the specific food type or ore. These hydrocarbons and the newly detected organo-sulphur compounds subsequently migrate vertically through the overburden and can be captured by near surface sampling. Both SGH and OSG use a forensic method of identification to vector to the source of the mineral signature. The number of SGH signatures that have been defined is extensive and already OSG signatures have also been defined for copper, gold, nickel, uranium, Cu-Ni-PGE, VMS, Cu-Au-Porphyry, and kimberlite as well as that for coal seams.

At this time of budget tightening, it is valuable to know that both SGH and OSG can be used on samples that have already been collected and stored. This adds value to the sampling program already complete and can provide additional exploration evidence at low cost and in a very timely manner.

These techniques are very sensitive to the detection of redox conditions that often vector to reduced features that may represent mineralization. Redox cells, or “reduced chimneys” over ore bodies and other reduced features, can have very strong redox gradients both horizontally and vertically. According to the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS), these chemical processes occur throughout the entire sequence of cover materials to the surface and result in the development of an electrochemical cell. The SGH geochemistry is an “excellent redox cell locator” (Dr. Stewart Hamilton, 2009); in addition, both the SGH and OSG geochemistries use signatures that have

Figure 1: Soil Gas Hydrocarbons detects part of the signature for Cu-Ni-PGE mineralization in this SGH Pathfinder Class map.

been developed to also help discriminate between mineralization and barren conductors or barren magnetic targets using the hydrocarbon signature detected.

Both of these deep penetrating geochemistries provide clear and often dramatic symmetrical anomalies. Their ability to vector to mineralization, like the “bullseye” on a dartboard, provides more confident drill targets thus reducing costs. Over 90 per cent of the mining companies that

Figure 2: The Organo Sulphur Geochemistry (OSG) helps define a drill target for consideration to investigate the presence of Cu-Ni-PGE mineralization in Ontario’s Timmins Camp.

investigate SGH with orientation studies over known targets have found SGH to be effective.

Figure 1 illustrates a clear SGH anomaly in the signature for Cu-Ni-PGE mineralization in Ontario’s Timmins Camp. Figure 2 illustrates the corresponding OSG results from the analysis of the same samples. The OSG anomaly is a highly symmetrical nested halo that together with SGH provides additional and precise targeting for drill

testing. OSG will provide another level of specificity and powerful vectoring to enable even more confident and economical drilling program planning.

About the Author: Dale Sutherland can be reached at Activation Laboratories Ltd. via email: dalesutherland@actlabsint.com. 1348 Sandhill Drive, Ancaster, Ontario, Canada L9G 4V5.

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Fall/Winter 2012

15

Canada’s new Environmental Assessment regime:

what miners need to know

By David Hunter, Nalin Sahni and George McKibbon As part of the 2012 budget, the federal government has completely overhauled environmental assessment in Canada. The repeal and re-enactment of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (“CEAA”) and amendments to other federal environmental legislation amounts to the most significant change in federal environmental assessment (“EA”) since the legislation was first created decades ago.

These amendments are clearly aimed increasing investment in extractive industries by encouraging certainty, reducing regulatory duplication and shortening delays. The implications of these changes are vast and their full impact on the mining industry, particularly in Ontario, will not be known for years to come.

Over the next few weeks, the FMC Mining Group will analyze and comment on the proposed amendments and their impact on environmental assessments related to mining in Ontario. These commentaries will of course take into consideration the recent changes to Ontario’s Mining Act, Far North Act and Aboriginal consultation requirements.

Though complex, the amendments will have three major impacts: 1. Federal EAs will be more limited in scope and will apply to fewer projects.

2. More discretion for the Minister of the Environment and Cabinet in the EA process.

3. Huge transfer of EA responsibilities to the provinces.

In this first article, we provide a general overview of the proposed amendments relevant to miners. Future articles will discuss particular subjects in detail including public participation, Aboriginal consultation, broad changes to the Fisheries Act, and harmonization with provincial environmental assessment processes.

Projects Requiring an Environmental Assessment The former list of federal actions that trigger a formal environmental assessment (usually a permit) has been eliminated. EAs are only required if the project is designated by regulation. This change should make it much clearer which projects require an environmental assessment. However, this may also be a basis of future risk since any subsequent government could amend the list of projects requiring an EA without seeking Parliamentary approval.

Activities that are “incidental” to designated projects (possibly road access, transmission lines, air strips, etc.) must also be covered by the EA. Since what is “incidental” to a project is not defined by CEAA, this may become the subject of much debate in the future.

Who Conducts the Environmental Assessment?

If mining projects are included in the list of projects designated as requiring a federal EA, conducting the EA will be the responsibility of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency or a review panel established by the Minister of the Environment (the “Minister”). The exception here would be uranium mining projects. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission will continue to have lead responsibility for environmental assessment of uranium mines.

Types of Environmental Assessments and Timelines The CEAA amendments will eliminate the concept of comprehensive study reports. There will now be only two levels of federal environmental assessment – “standard EAs” (similar to current screening level studies) and EAs performed by review panels. Standard EAs must be completed within 365 days, and review panels must complete their assessment within 24 months of receiving a complete environmental impact report from the proponent. Note that these timelines are not fixed but can be extended up to three months at the discretion of the Minister or indefinitely by Cabinet.

Public participation in a review panel hearing will be limited to those “directly affected” or who have relevant expertise. Non-govern-

16

Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

mental organizations seeking to intervene in EAs may find it difficult to obtain standing to participate in review panel proceedings. This could substantially shorten EA timelines.

Harmonization with ProvinciaL Environmental Assessments The new CEAA is trying to move towards a “one project, one review” system. The federal EA process for standard EAs can be replaced by a provincial EA if the Minister is of the opinion that the provincial environmental assessment act would be an “appropriate substitute” and the province requests the substitution. Panel reviews cannot be substituted by a provincial process but the new CEAA continues to allow for a joint federal-provincial panel review.

The provincial EA process does not have to match the rigor of the federal assessment though, at a minimum, the same factors must be considered. The Minister can also approve the substitution of a provincial EA after a provincial EA has been completed.

It would appear that all current federal-provincial harmonization agreements will have to be rewritten from scratch. Given that these agreements have typically taken years to negotiate, achieving a true a “one project, one review” system may take a considerable period of time. Eventually, however, these changes could remove unnecessary duplication in EAs. Scope of Environmental Assessments The purpose of CEAA has been significantly altered. Formerly, the purpose was to ensure that projects did not have significant adverse

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environmental effects that could not be justified. This purpose has been reduced such that projects should not have significant adverse environmental effects only upon the components of the environment within federal jurisdiction. This could generate debate and uncertainty in the process as to the types of effects covered by federal EAs. Further, only enumerated environmental effects need to be taken into account. Cabinet alone can add or remove a component of the natural environmental effect that must be assessed. Coupled with the changes to the Fisheries Act to focus on the protection of commercial, recreational and Aboriginal fisheries, this means that many mining projects may no longer require federal EAs and may be primarily governed by provincial EA processes. The definition of what constitutes a commercial, recreation or Aboriginal fishery should also be expected to be the subject of future debate.

While the scope and purpose of federal assessments has generally been narrowed, the assessment of environmental effects on Aboriginal peoples has been given increased focus. These amendments may be especially significant when combined with the proposed amendments to Ontario’s Mining Act regulations and the new requirements under the Far North Act. FMC will prepare a commentary devoted entirely to this subject.

About the Authors: David Hunter and Nalin Sahni are lawyers with Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP: www.fmc-law.com. George McKibbon is an environmental planner with McKibbon Wakefield Inc.: www.mckibbonwakefield.com.

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Fall/Winter 2012

17

Your resource in concrete mixing technologies.

The success story of a Canadian company known for its mining applications

By Tracey Jarvis

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Pastefill plants • CEMENT SILOS • CONVEYORS • TWIN SHAFT MIXERS

For all his accomplishments, Michel Blais is a modest man.

In 1979, at the age of 29, he and two investment partners started BMH Systems in St-Leonard, a community in Montreal’s east end. He could have never predicted, at that age, that his Quebec-based company would go on to ship and build concrete batch plants more than halfway around the world.

The twin central-mix plants sent to the Freeport mine in Papua were some of the company’s biggest challenges to date.

“It had to be designed and shipped in about 35 containers, and had to be installed in an underground mine,” Blais says. “It was a real challenge, and I think we did quite a good job.”

But the Papua concrete batch plant certainly isn’t the biggest plant BMH Systems has shipped—the company just recently shipped two concrete batch plants in 80 trailers and containers for a project off the coast of Newfoundland.

Blais says BMH Systems has been successful in getting a loyal customer base in North America since its founding in 1979—he says the company enjoys a 75 per

cent repeat customer rate. But with construction opportunities around the world getting underway, he states the company is setting its sights overseas.

“Right now, our challenge is to develop new markets,” Blais says. “We’ve been very successful in North America, so we’re aiming for new opportunities, particularly in the Middle East.”

He thinks the ongoing construction boom some Middle Eastern countries like the United Arab Emirates are experiencing is a perfect fit for BMH Systems.

Blais grew up on a small farm east of Quebec City, studying first in the town of La Pocatière. After graduating in 1973 from the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec’s Eastern Townships with a degree in mechanical engineering, Blais was offered a job by the Heltzel agent in Montreal.

He says working there provided him with ample training opportunities in the United States and helped train him in designing and building equipment.

But after six years, he knew he wanted to set up his own shop.

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Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

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BMH Involvement in the Mining Industry Since 1979, BMH Systems has striven to reduce waste. Aside from being able to provide clients with a virtually dust-free concrete batch plant, the company has also developed in the past decade, a paste backfill technology for mines to dispose of mine-tailing surface contaminants in a less hazardous way.

Blais is also proud to note BMH Systems recycles leftover concrete and its components by separating water from aggregates from the concrete, ultimately reusing them in future batches. “We have very good equipment to recycle that,” he says.

BMH Systems has worked on mining projects for some time now. The company provided equipment such as paste backfill plants to Xstrata in Ontario and Coeur Alaska at the Kensington gold mine, and also provided paste backfill mixing systems to Barrick Gold Strike in Nevada and to Diavik Diamond in Yellowknife. The company has its own engineering team, providing pricing estimates, plans and technical drawings as well as transport, installation and commissioning services of its plants and equipment, among other things.

The company is, since 1990, headquartered in Boucherville, on the south shore of the greater Montreal region—just across the St. Lawrence River from where he first set up BMH Systems. With over 30 years of experience now, the corporation has proven itself in the concrete industry and the BMH team wishes to continue working on large-scale projects. Complex projects are very stimulating for BMH’s workforces and their will to meet challenges has helped become their key to success through time.

The Papua concrete batch plant certainly isn’t the biggest plant BMH Systems has shipped – the company just recently shipped two concrete batch plants in 80 trailers and containers for a project off the coast of Newfoundland.

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Fall/Winter 2012

19

Too hot to handle? Northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire

By Nathan Elliott

And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire The ring of fire

On January 11, 1964, Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash became the number one record on Billboard’s new Country Album Chart.

The collection featured some of Cash’s best material and its title track would become the biggest hit of the “Man in Black’s” career. The album, however, was more than a one-hit wonder. Several of its songs would also climb the charts and connect with listeners worldwide.

For example, Cash rewrote what became the iconic television score for Bonanza, but its central messages remained the same—the pursuit of fortune, and the thrills of striking it rich. In the anti-war classic The Big Battle, Cash’s social conscience is front-and-centre, as is the old adage that a fight is not over until it’s over. (There’ll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me) concludes the album. Its message is one of hope and possibility, rising from the ashes of conflict.

With the 50th anniversary of the Ring of Fire album release around the corner and the 10-year commemoration of Cash’s passing next year, it is timely that the Northern Ontario geological discovery that bears the album’s name is front-page news today. It is also fitting that the universal themes of hope, desire, war and peace that define the album can be used as framework for understanding the Ring of Fire mining developments, as well as the motivations of First Nations, industry, government and environmental groups with vested interests in the region today.

Ring of Fire “Bound by wild desire, I fell into a ring of fire.”

About 540 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ontario, in the riverladen terrain of the James Bay Lowlands, sits a mining exploration area nicknamed the “Ring of Fire”. Five industry men have been credited with the discovery, including Richard Nemis and John Harvey, veteran prospecting oracles and life-long Johnny Cash aficionados who named the region over dinner one evening. The Ring of Fire is remote—about 300 kilometres from the nearest railway line and the closest road seemingly light-years away. Area infrastructure is practically non-existent.

Speculation is that the mining region contains a rich mix of copper, zinc, nickel, iron, gold, magnesium, platinum and kimberlite. One element not listed has been the centre of hope and even controversy— chromite. If estimates are correct, the area is thought to have the richest deposits of chromite in the world. Currently South Africa, Kazakhstan and India account for more than 80 per cent of global production of chromite ore. Chromite is not an expensive commodity—it currently trades at about C$1.50 per pound. Nonetheless, China and India have an insatiable hunger for it. It is also the key ingredient in stainless steel, the status symbol and must-have kitchen covering amongst homeowners who covet its durability and aesthetic quality. Stainless steel is not just for the style-savvy, it is also a major component in construction and transportation materials for which there is currently no substitute.

Bonanza “We chased lady luck, ‘til we finally struck Bonanza…. With a houseful of friends where the rainbow ends, how rich can a fellow be?”

20

Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

Described by analysts as the most promising mining development in Ontario in over a century, the Ring of Fire has generated more buzz than any other Canadian mining boom in years. While figures vary, Ontario’s Ministry of Northern Development and Mines estimates that the value of the area’s known chromite reserves could be worth as much as C$50 billion during its lifespan. It is more difficult to gauge the combined value for all the commodities still in early stages of exploration in the region, but according to mining consultant, freelance journalist and blogger Stan Sudol, deposits could exceed C$1 trillion.

The potential for the chromite find is clear, but it is only that—potential—until construction begins. Ontario’s governing Liberals have made no secret that they want to see the reserves developed to usher in a new generation of prosperity for a province currently saddled with a job crisis and a C$19-billion deficit.

If industry activity in the region is any indication, then the financial prospects for the province are bright. The website for the Government of Ontario notes that, to date, roughly 30,000 claims have been established in the region, with close to 40 active mining and exploration companies undertaking work. Of these companies, (including the Toronto-based junior development company Noront Resources Ltd. which discovered a large chromite deposit in August, 2007), American diversified miner Cliffs Natural Resources stands out for its ambitious plans.

In May 2012, Cliffs announced a C$3.3-billion investment in a project that would include the construction of two open-pit mines, a tailings impoundment area, as well as ore and chromite processing facilities. The project also includes plans for cutting a 200-kilometrelong roadway through thick boreal forest to transport both materials and people in and out of the site. At the time of the announcement, Cliffs made it clear that a final decision on the project would depend on environmental assessment approvals, agreements with First Nations communities, addressing existing infrastructure concerns, and on the completion of commercial and technical feasibility studies.

Initial project optimism was recently dampened somewhat when Cliffs announced it had extended chromite production timelines from 2015 to 2017 or later.

The Big Battle “No son, the battle’s not over, the battle has only begun. The rest of the battle will cover this part that has blackened the sun.”

So far, intense exploration and staking activity in the Ring of Fire has proceeded in an old-school, open-season sort of fashion. The lack of regulation to date has led to industry confrontations with some First Nations who, among other issues, express concern over land claims, damage to land and river systems and the adverse effects on their traditional ways of life in an area covered by Treaty 9.

First Nations have been particularly vocal over what they consider inadequate consultation and accommodation, charging that Canadian resource companies and government agencies are disregarding their constitutionally entrenched right to be consulted in development projects that impact, or have the potential to impact, Aboriginal and treaty rights.

Several First Nations leaders have sought, in different ways, to slow down the pace to activity in the Ring of Fire. In July 2012, six northwestern Ontario First Nations issued a 30-day eviction notice to all companies with exploration and development camps in the region and threatened a peaceful blockade on the land to prevent operations from taking place. The same month, the Neskantaga First Nation filed a petition with the Ontario Mining and Land Commissioner demanding to be thoroughly consulted before a 340-kilometre road is built through their traditional territory to gain access to a proposed chromite mine in the Attawapiskat River watershed.

Other First Nations have turned to courts to confirm their jurisdictional claims. Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI), a remote northern Ontario First Nations community, recently won the first stage of a legal battle when the Ontario Superior Court ruled that no award of damages could compensate KI for losses of cultural values if development proposed by Platinex Inc. (exploring platinum deposits) were to occur. The Court granted KI an injunction, preventing the company from working KI’s traditional territory.

Not all First Nations affected by Ring of Fire development are determined to oppose development. During a recent annual meeting of chiefs, a delegate from the Marten Falls First Nation opposed a moratorium and told the assembly that his community, situated on territory where most of the mining activity will take place, has already spoken to, and was working closely with, both Cliffs Natural Resources and the Ontario government to establish a framework to discuss appropriate strategies to move forward.

(There’ll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me) “The bear will be gentle and the wolf will be tame. And the lion shall lay down with the lamb….”

The Ring of Fire is poised to become one of the largest mining hubs Canada has ever seen. The lands hold tremendous meaning and potential for industry, for government, for First Nations, and for all Canadians. This potential can only be realized through building lasting relationships—relationships rooted in consultation (engaging early and often), recognition of First Nation and Treaty rights, protection of the environment, and participation of all stakeholders committed to principles of open dialogue and wealth sharing.

It is no secret that the current regulatory systems in place in the region are in need of modernization. Positive steps, however, are being taken. Federally, the government has allocated new money to increase consultations with First Nations in the area of resource development. Provincially, the government has set up an administrative body, the Provincial Ring of Fire Secretariat, to handle matters related to mineral and infrastructure development, and to heighten engagement of First Nations leadership in the James Bay Lowlands.

If the prospects for development and the

resulting tensions in the Ring of Fire have taught any lesson, it is that most First Nations in the area are not opposed outright to resource development, but they do not want development to come at the expense of their people and of their homeland. In the past, the mining camps that helped define Northern Ontario were the result of haphazard planning and inadequate government involvement. No longer are these approaches tolerable.

The Ring of Fire has presented a transformative opportunity— to industry and to government obviously, but also to First Nations committed to improving their socio-economic conditions. Ontario’s north is far more than a direction on a compass. It is a magnetic pole attracting international business to traditional First Nations lands.

Long-standing barriers to development (distance, isolation, improper consultation) remain; nevertheless there are signs that industry, government, environmental groups and First Nations are willing to look beyond past transgressions, and walk the line together towards a more prosperous future.

And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire The ring of fire About the Author Nathan Elliott is president of Insightwest Research, a research, corporate strategy and legislative compliance firm focused on the energy and resource sector, based in Regina, Saskatchewan. He is founder and vicepresident of the newly formed Insight Inkd, a firm dedicated to changing the way reports, press releases and advertising are conceptualized, understood and shared in the new information age. Elliott has recently been named director of business development for Haztech, a company providing medical, safety, fire, rescue, security and training services to industrial worksites across Western Canada.

Elliott specializes in oil, gas, renewable energy, mining and health policy, and is a regular commentator in the media on energy and resource development in Canada, particularly as it affects First Nations.

Fall/Winter 2012

21

A practical guide to

dust suppression Preface Any time a bulk solid material is altered or moved, it must be assumed that dust will be generated. Many times a dust cloud is visible; if a dust cloud is visible, there will also be non-visible respirable dust present. However, it cannot be assumed that there is no material being emitted if there is no visible cloud.

When silica, limestone, cement, coal, aggregate and other respirable dust particles ranging in diameter from 0.1 to roughly 70 microns are airborne, they become an occupational nuisance. As a source of physical discomfort, lost materials and wear on conveying pulleys, idlers, belting and motors, such dust is a significant factor in lowered productivity and added operating costs.

Conveyor transfer points are a prime source for fugitive material, both as spillage and as airborne dust. Depending on a number of factors, including the nature of the material carried on the conveyor, the height of drop onto the belt, the speeds and angles of unloading and loading belts, systems to capture or control airborne dust may be required at conveyor transfer points.

The first consideration is whether the volume of dust generated can be reduced. Although it is unlikely that dust can be completely eliminated, a change in system design or production technique will minimize the amount of dust produced. The less energy released by the falling stream of materials at the impact area, the less energy is imparted into the material and the fewer dust particles/fines will be driven off. Consequently, it is best to design conveyor layouts with low material drops. Since this may not always be possible, dust suppression control systems must be employed.

An important consideration is the use of well-designed, enclosed chutes since material which is allowed to fall freely from one belt to another may allow a high concentration of dust to become airborne.

In its simplest form, dust control may involve nothing more than attention to the enclosure of the transfer point chute or the use of water sprays to suppress the creation of dust.

Introduction Dust suppression is the application of water and/or chemicals, either to the body of material to prevent fines from being carried off into the air, or to the air above the material to return fugitive airborne fines to the material bed.

A significant advantage of dust suppression is that the material does not have to be handled again. The suppressed dust returns to the main body of conveyed material and the process without requiring additional material handling equipment.

There are a number of systems used for this purpose, ranging from “garden hose” technology, water and surfactant sprays, to foam and 22

Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

fog generation systems. These various suppression technologies call for adding different volumes of moisture to the material. Figure 1 presents typical amounts of added moisture.

Water Suppression Perhaps the oldest method for controlling fugitive dust is the application of water over the body of material. By wetting the fines, either as they lay in the material body or as they are being picked up into the air, the weight of each dust particle is increased so they are less likely to become airborne. The moisture also increases the cohesive force of the material body itself, creating larger, heavier groups of particles and making it more difficult for air movement to carry away the dust particles. This can be done by applying the water through a series of properly sized spray nozzles at a point where the material expands and takes in air, such as during discharge from the head drum in a transfer chute.

Water can also be applied to create a “curtain” around a transfer point, so any dust fines that become airborne come into contact with the water sprays surrounding the open area around the chute. The water droplets are expected to make contact with the dust fines, increasing their mass to remove them from the air stream.

The most effective sprays come from low-velocity systems. Highvelocity sprays can add energy to the air and the dust particles. This energy is counterproductive to the task of keeping (or returning) the dust with the material body. High-velocity air movement can keep dust particles in suspension.

Water-based suppression systems can become more sophisticated as the engineering moves beyond “garden hose” technology in efforts to improve results. The effectiveness of water spray systems is dependent on the velocity of applied water, the size of the nozzle’s orifice and the location of the spray nozzles. The techniques to improve plain water-spray dust suppression include a reduction of droplet

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size, an increase in droplet frequency, an increase of the droplet’s velocity, or a decrease in the droplet’s surface tension, making it easier to merge with dust particles.

The application of dust suppression water and/or chemicals at transfer points must be controlled automatically so that water is applied only when the conveyors are running and there is a material present. This can be accomplished with conveyor system interlocks and other sensors.

Plain water-spray application systems are relatively simple to design and operate, and water has only a minimal residual effect. Water is generally inexpensive, and is usually easy to obtain; it is safe for the environment and for workers who come into contact with it.

Dust suppression systems utilizing water are relatively simple systems that do not require the use of a costly elaborate enclosure or hoods. They are typically cheaper to install and use far less space than the dry collection systems. Changes can be made after startup with minimum expense and downtime. Unfortunately the application of water has several liabilities to be considered.

With Water, Less is More A plain water spray may appear to be the most inexpensive form of dust control available. The water is available almost free in many operations (such as mines), and it can be applied through lowtechnology systems.

But this cost justification can be a false equation. Many bulk solids are hydrophobic; they have a high surface tension and are ad-

verse to combine with water. To achieve effective suppression, the amount of water is increased. Because the material does not mix well with water, there will be some particles that remain dry and others that become very wet, which can lead to material build-ups on chute walls, screens and conveyor belts.

When applying water to conveyor systems, a good axiom is “less is more”. For mineral handling in general, the addition of excess moisture prior to screening can cause material to adhere to a screen cloth, blinding the equipment. Excess water may promote belt slippage and increase the possibility of wet (and hence sticky) fines accumulating within chutes and around the transfer points. The addition of moisture can cause material to stick together, complicating the flow characteristics of the material being conveyed.

Problems occurring in plain water dust suppression systems include the possibility of excess moisture in the material, which can downgrade future performance in power generation or other thermal processing. Specifically, excess water addition to coal and coke used for boiler fuel results in a BTU penalty, which can have a detrimental effect on utility heat rates. The more water added, the greater this penalty.

“Dry fog” being added to coal over a conveyor head drum.

Please Recycle.

24

Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

Ultrasonic Dry Fog Suppression Systems “Ultra-fine fog” fugitive dust suppression works like a combination of a wet scrubber and a fabric filter. The generated ultra-fine fogging blanket acts like a fabric filter in that a dust particle cannot pass through it without colliding with a droplet. Since the droplet consists of water, the dust particle does become somewhat wet as in a true flooded scrubber. This phenomenon can be called “agglomeration”; solving fugitive dust emission problems with ultra-fine water droplet atomization begins with the theory of agglomeration. Agglomeration can be defined as the gathering of mass into a larger mass, or cluster.

Agglomeration probability is greatly increased between bodies of similar size. The agglomeration of these bodies produces a large enough mass to cause settling. For example, a dust particle of five microns will continue to follow the air stream around a water droplet of 200 microns, therefore avoiding collision. With the dust particle and a water droplet of similar size, the air stream is not as great and collision occurs, causing agglomeration.

Ultrasonic atomizing nozzles operate at very low liquid pressures and have large orifices. The large orifices and low pressures virtually eliminate orifice wear and prevent deterioration of the quality of atomization while greatly extending useful nozzle life. The plume leaving the fog system nozzles is so fine it will not freeze, but the water supply system itself can freeze if drain or heating elements are not provided.

Figure 5 shows the aerodynamics of what can happen when the water droplets are larger than the dust particle.

Fog suppression is one method to optimize the application of water to dusty materials. These systems use special ultrasonic nozzles to produce extremely small water droplets (10 microns or less) in a dispersed mist. These droplets mix and agglomerate with dust particles of similar size, with the resulting larger combined particles falling back to the material body. Compressed air passes through the nozzle’s inner bore through a convergent/divergent section at high velocities and expands into a resonator cavity where it is reflected back to complement and amplify the primary shock wave. The result is an intensified field of sonic energy focused between the nozzle body and the resonator cap.

Any liquid capable of being pumped into the shock wave is vigorously sheared into fine droplets by the acoustic field. Air bypassing the resonator carries the atomized droplets downstream in a soft plume shaped spray.

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www.northstardrilling.com Fall/Winter 2012

25

Placement and Position

agglomeration occurs and the dust is sup-

of Nozzles

pressed in situ.

The placement of the fogging nozzles is the

A simple system schematic is shown in

most important aspect to producing effec-

Figure 10. In this image, two spray bars are

tive results with no wetting of material. The

mounted on the covers. They are heat traced

fog should be generated and contained in a

and insulated assemblies. The enclosure has

properly designed shrouding. This eliminates

a quick release cover, which makes it easy to

dissipation due to wind and also produces

service the nozzles as required. This picture

the treatment time necessary to suppress

also shows the regulator control cabinets

the dust. The fog is generated above the dust

which are used to regulate the air and water

problem area, not on the material. As the air-

pressures, and would also include solenoid

borne dust enters the confine, ultra-fine fog

valves linked into the conveyor drives along

with the flex hoses used to connect the two fluids.

A general rule is that the height of the conveyor cover be approximately one metre above the product level on the belt and the cover length three times the belt speed (m/s).

The basic principles involved for location of the nozzles are as follows: • Nozzle spray pattern must not directly impinge upon any surface.

•N ozzles should be mounted in order to maximize the ability to fill the shrouding.

• Th e fog should avoid direct contact with the material being suppressed.

•N ozzles must be protected or shielded to avoid damage from falling material.

•N ozzles should be mounted to minimize exposure to a heavy-laden dust air stream.

This will void erosion of the nozzle components.

• S pray pattern of nozzles should be generated so that all the fugitive dust emissions are forced to pass through the blanket of fog.

Pros and Cons of Fog and Mist Systems Fog systems provide highly effective dust capture combined with economical capital and operating costs.

A well-designed fogging system can provide excellent control of dust at the point of application without the need for chemical additives. This is especially important for processes such as wood-chip transport destined for fine paper-making. Many mills are very concerned over the application of any chemical that might negatively affect the pulp or degrade the quality of the finished paper.

Since fog systems only add water, they protect the integrity of the customer process.

Total moisture addition to the bulk material can be realistically less than 0.1 per cent. This makes fog suppression systems attractive in industries that cannot tolerate excess moisture, such as cement and lime production.

Mains water is typically required for fog suppression systems, so filtration to remove suspended solids from the water supply is required. As high-pressure misting nozzles have very small orifices to produce droplets, the water used for this operation must be treated to be free of particulate and sus-

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Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

pended solids. Nozzles can clog if the water treatment system is not serviced at required intervals.

Another consideration prior to choosing a fogging device is the air volume and velocity at the open area surrounding the transfer point or chute. For truly effective performance, fog dust suppression systems require tight enclosure of the transfer point that minimizes turbulent, high-velocity air movement through the system. Since the fog droplets are very small, both the fog droplets and the dust can be carried out of the treatment area onto surrounding equipment by high-velocity air exiting the chute.

This type of system works well where the area to be treated is not large. A potential

drawback of a fogging application is that treatment is site-specific. That is, dust control is achieved only at the point of application.

Several fogging devices may be required for a conveyor system with multiple transfer points.

Location, Location, Location In fog applications, the sites chosen for nozzle placement and suppressant delivery patterns are as important as the selection of material to be applied. Even the best designed program will fail if the suppressant material is not delivered to the correct location to allow intimate mixing with the dust fines.

The success of the suppression effort relies on the proper mixing together of the material and the suppressant at the transfer point.

When applying dust control, whether the suppressant is simply water or a surfactant/ water mix as a spray or foam, it is best to locate the suppression system as close to the beginning of the transfer point as possible.

That way, the forces of the moving material fold the suppressant into the material body as it moves through the transfer point.

For more information, please contact: PO Box 4, Val Caron, Ontario, P3N 1N6 Phone: (705) 805-1244 Mobile: (705) 929-6992 Email: noront@hotmail.com Note: This article has been specially adapted for the Ontario Mineral Exploration Review from a lengthier report on dust suppression.

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Completed building (dotted lines show location of modular units).

Phase 1.

Building off-site can simplify construction Mining companies are striving to find faster, safer and more cost-efficient ways to build their permanent surface structures and in response, modular building companies have been designing and building very notable construction solutions using steel and concrete building technology.

Single- or multi-storey mine dry buildings, administration facilities, operations centres, and sophisticated equipment enclosures can all be built off site under controlled conditions at the plant, and then transported to the mine site as much as 95 per cent complete, installed on foundations and commissioned.

Building off site is a much faster process that improves on-site safety by significantly reducing site-related activities and disruption as compared to traditional methods.

A CASE STUDY: LEED Gold certified project for Xstrata Nickel Rim South mine site built by NRB using permanent modular construction technology.

In 2008, Xstrata Nickel, a leading developer of mineral resources around the world, contracted with NRB Inc., a leader in off-site permanent modular construction technology in Canada and the U.S., to design, build and commission a 60,000-square-foot administration/dry facility; the first LEED Gold certified project for both companies in Canada, and one of the first-ever for the commercial modular construction industry.

Driven by the need for a much shorter con28

Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

struction schedule and reduced impact from the hazards of on-site construction, Xstrata Nickel and their consultants explored the current trends and technology available with permanent modular construction. The decision to switch project delivery methods from traditional “on-site” to modular “off-site” was reached when it became apparent that it was the only possible way to hit the critical completion schedule just 10 months away. The off-site construction process could complete the project for the owner in less than half the time of conventional, all with considerably less on-site disruption and disturbance.

A “Whole Building” Integrated Approach The first and most critical step in this design-build LEED project was to bring together a team of highly qualified designers with the appropriate experiences. Led by NRB, the owner, building architect, and mechanical, electrical and structural engineers—along with an independent consultant specializing in LEED design review and certification—worked together to define the integral strategies and designs needed to achieve the superior level of sustainability that would result in LEED Gold certification. From the initial kick-off workshop facilitated by the LEED consultant, through to the regularly scheduled design-review meetings and on to the building construction, installation and final commissioning, the project was very carefully choreographed. Each individual

design element was considered for its potential impact on another, to ensure the highest possible level of whole building performance was achieved.

Project Phasing To help minimize the amount of construction activity and related safety concerns on the mine site, the project was built, shipped and installed in three phases.

Phase 1 was the critical operations centre—20,000 square feet of space that houses the electrical and mechanical repair shops, team, safety and meeting rooms, mine operational control, lamp racks and tool room. It’s where the miners stop each day before and after their shifts to pick up or drop off equipment and to meet for their safety talks before descending into the mine.

Phase 2 was the “clean” locker/showerroom facility for 450 personnel. It is also the “dry” facility—a 20-foot-high room with hanging locker baskets that suspend miners’ work clothes in the air so powerful heaters can dry them. These drying requirements, along with the considerable hot water demands, presented challenges to the building designers who were targeting substantial energy conservation.

Phase 3 was the two-storey administration area for all Xstrata Nickel staff and executive personnel. It is connected to the dry facility by a central atrium corridor open from the ground-floor up to a clerestory roof almost 30 feet above. Glass railings, retro-plated

FROM CONCEPT... TO COMPLETION

Xstrata Nickel Rim South Project – 60,000 sq. ft. Administration/Dry modular facility built off-site by NRB, LEED Gold certified.

Our off-site construction delivers in half the time of conventional methods.

Sophistication, strength, speed and sustainability are the cornerstones of buildings by NRB. Designed to meet your exact needs from architectural expression to operational requirements, our advanced off-site building technology and project delivery method gives you the permanence and performance of conventional construction, but in half the time.

Building your project off-site in our controlled plant environment results in better waste management, less downtime and improved quality during construction. When an NRB building arrives at your site it is already up to 95% complete, significantly reducing on-site activity as well as vehicular traffic from material deliveries and workforce travel.

This results in a cleaner, safer construction site with minimal disruption to your business and the surrounding community.

At NRB, we continue to research and apply more sustainable building principles to our methods and materials. Whether you choose NRB modular construction simply as a faster, more eco-friendly way to build, or you are following the LEED roadmap to sustainable design, we can help you.

NRB works closely with you from design through to occupancy, for almost any type of commercial, institutional or industrial building application.

To find out all your possibilities today, call 1-888-249-9194.

Web: www.nrb-inc.com Email: inquiries@nrb-inc.com NRB Inc. 115 South Service Road W., P.O. Box 129, Grimsby, Ontario L3M 4G3 NRB (USA) Inc. 440 Wenger Drive, Ephrata, PA 17522 Specializing in the Mining Industry with permanent Mine Dry Facilities, Operations Centres and Administrative Offices.

BU ILD O FF- SITE ... SIMPLIF Y YO U R CON S T RU C T ION

Above: Phase 2.

Right: Phase 3 installation.

concrete flooring and exposed ductwork throughout give a sense of expanse and architectural expression.

LEED Gold Points Through demanding design and quality construction practices, Xstrata Nickel was able to capture 40 of the 41 points applied for, giving them LEED Gold certification. Some of the highlights include: • Sustainable sites – 5 points. This was achieved through white reflective roof, protection of the native forest surrounding the site and treatment of the storm and waste water on the site.

• Water-efficiency – 5 points. A cistern collects and stores rain-water runoff from the building roof and reuses it to flush toilets.

This, combined with water reduction fixtures used throughout the facility, produced an overall savings in potable water of 37 per cent.

• Energy and atmosphere – 12 points. A number of design features combined to produce an outstanding 62 per cent in energy savings, giving Xstrata a full 10 points for energy savings. Some of these characteristics included a spray-foam and well-insulated building envelope; high-performance windows; a hydronic heating system; reuse of heat recovered from clothes-drying exhaust air; reuse of heat recovered from hot water

Atrium.

drains; lighting controlled by occupancy sensors; and a high-efficiency condensing water heater.

• Materials and Resources – 6 points. Choosing construction and finish materials with a high recycled content gave the project 26 per cent recycled content, elevating it to an innovation point level. Sixteen per cent of the building materials were regionally extracted and manufactured, and 85 per cent of all waste generated at the site was diverted from landfill. In addition, the NRB Building envelope qualified for the MR-cr.8 Durable Building Credit!

• Indoor Environmental Quality – 8 points.

Constructing the building off-site in a controlled environment aided in achieving superior levels of construction quality.

All materials received at the NRB facility are stored and protected in the warehouse eliminating potential damage due to the elements. Careful measures were taken throughout the process to protect the building ductwork, individual rooms and the workforce, from construction pollutants.

Materials, adhesives, solvents, paints etc. were selected based on low to no VOC content. The building design allowed for occupants to control lighting, thermostats and windows with building mechanical systems monitored to provide proper temperature and humidity conditions year round.

• Innovation and Design – 4 points. One particular highlight includes an interactive kiosk placed in the front entrance that provides green building education so visitors and staff can learn more about sustainable construction, modular construction and the Nickel Rim South project.

The Xstrata Nickel Rim project was completed in just 10 months from design development through to commissioning. Of that, only four months were actually spent working on the busy mine site – a considerable reduction in activity and time as compared to site built construction. In August 2010, the Xstrata Nickel Rim South project received its LEED Gold certification.

With permanent modular construction technology by NRB, there is no compromise to an owner’s or architect’s design preferences or sustainability choices in building science, finishes or building operating systems.

Structural steel post-and-beam construction, along with pre-poured concrete floors, offer strength, performance and complete design flexibility.

About NRB: Since 1979, NRB has demonstrated industry leadership and created client trust through innovative modular building design and construction. With full-service facilities in Canada and the United States, NRB delivers industrial, commercial, institutional and retail buildings of impressive design, finish, durability and performance that rival sitebuilt construction for architectural detail and exceptional performance over time. For more information visit www.nrb-inc.com About Xstrata: Xstrata is a global diversified mining group listed on the London and Swiss stock exchanges, with its headquarters in Zug, Switzerland. Xstrata’s businesses maintain a meaningful position in seven major international commodity markets: copper, coking coal, thermal coal, ferrochrome, nickel, vanadium and zinc, with a growing platinum group metals business, additional exposures to gold, cobalt, lead and silver, recycling facilities and a suite of global technology products, many of which are industry leaders. Xstrata’s operations and projects span 19 countries. For more information, visit www.xstrata.com.

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Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

Chemistry 101: the many faces of cyanide

Cyanide comes in many “flavours”, so to speak—not all of them palatable. This infamous compound has been linked to the deaths of Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun; was the toxin served up in the very tragic Jonestown massacre; and has even been the speculated culprit in the death of Rasputin, the Russian “wizard” (and you thought chemistry was boring!).

In the mining industry, cyanide frequently plays a key role in extracting gold from low-grade ore (i.e., in concentrations typical of most viable gold deposits).

Gold is a noble metal (recall high school chemistry?) and doesn’t dissolve in water; however, a neat trick discovered by Carl Scheele in 1783 pointed to the fact that gold will readily dissolve in aqueous solutions of cyanide. Cyanide reacts with gold to form coordination complexes which are water-soluble. The Scottish further refined this process in 1887 and the MacArthurForrest Process was developed, which is the basis for modern-day gold extraction.

The method uses solutions of cyanide, in

the presence of oxygen, to extract/leach gold from ore. From there, gold can be recovered from solution in a variety of ways (carbon-trapping, resin-trapping, electrowinning, etc.).

From a chemical perspective, cyanide compounds are pretty straightforward: cyanide refers to any chemical compound that contains the CN group, also known as the cyano group, which consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. There are numerous cyanide compounds. Inorganic cyanides are normally salts where the cyanide is typically the CN- anion. In many cases, similar to the gold-soluble compounds, coordination compounds are formed where the cyanide binds with the metal atom allowing it to be soluble. Organic cyanide compounds often have the cyano group bonded to an alkyl residue.

From an environmental and toxicological perspective, however, certain forms of cyanide can have extreme toxic effects and are therefore compounds of interest in

most environmental programs. Cyanide is generally classified in the following forms: Free Cyanide (FCN), Weak Acid Dissociable Cyanide (WAD), and Total Cyanide (TCN).

General Cyanide Classification 1. Free Cyanide (FCN): This refers to the cyanide anion (CN-) which, when bound to hydrogen, is a clear and extremely poisonous volatile liquid.

The proportions of HCN and CN- in solution are determined by their equilibrium equation and are affected by pH. Free cyanide appears in the Provincial Water Quality Objectives at a limit of five µg/L. It is also the cyanide compound of interest in the Ontario Drinking Water Standard at a Maximum Allowable Concentration of 0.2 mg/L. 2. WAD (Weak Acid Dissociable) Cyanide: In terms of environmental applications, this is the most significant form of cyanide as it is toxicologically significant to ecoFall/Winter 2012

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logical systems. Why? WAD cyanide refers to those cyanide species liberated at a moderate pH (around 4.5)—conditions that are very likely to occur in natural or biological systems. WAD cyanide includes free cyanides, simple cyanides, and weak acid dissociable metallocyanides such as zinc- and cadmium-cyanide complexes.

3. Total Cyanide (TCN): TCN cyanide refers to the sum of all forms of cyanides, including the free, non-

OUR DEDICATION IS YOUR ADVANTAGE

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Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

toxic and stable-iron cyanides. These cyanides become liberated from their complexes when hit with a strong acid.

To a much lesser degree, environmental investigations may also consider cyanate (CNO) and thiocyanate (CNS). However, these compounds are much less toxic than some of the cyanide compounds and consequently are not as commonly monitored in site or process assessments. Cyanate and thiocyanate are often measured when levels of WAD and TCN cyanide appear elevated.

Laboratory Analysis of Cyanide: Best Practices Analytical challenges associated with the measurement of cyanide include the fact that cyanide frequently complexes with metals and this can cause significant data interferences, particularly with sulfur-bearing compounds. Traditionally, analytical methods sought to remove all interferences by increasing the pH and distilling the sample prior to analyzing for WAD and TCN cyanide as a means to reduce this interference. However, distillation itself can create new analytical challenges and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently acknowledged that if sulphite or thiosulphite are present, the heat applied during distillation can actually enhance the interferences. Furthermore, distillation produces false positives in samples containing thiocyanate and nitrate, whereby thiocyanate causes a positive bias when nitrate is present and a negative bias when nitrate is absent.

In light of this, Testmark Laboratories has conducted several bench-level studies in this regard and is adopting a U.S. EPAapproved analytical method which uses ligand exchange instead of distillation.

Results are found to be less fraught with interferences and are more compatible with the chemistry apparent in water from mining operations.

Given the different states of cyanide, the general rule for data is to expect Free CN < WAD CN < TCN Keep in mind, nevertheless, that all data has standard allowable error associated with it and therefore slight deviations from the above are expected at times. Errors associated with sampling can also greatly affect data quality.

Best practices for sampling cyanide compounds indicate that samples should be kept refrigerated and in the dark, as photolysis of iron-cyanide complexes can produce free cyanide in samples after they are taken. Preservation is also critical, with best practice being to immediately preserve with sodium hydroxide. The hold time for cyanide without preservation is extremely shortâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;24 hours. The preserved hold time under MISA is seven days.

Accurassay Labs

bringing new service and value in 2013 The Ontario mineral exploration market has another weapon in the drive toward total quality advancement: the commitment of Accurassay Laboratories to eliminate sample process uncertainties through automation.

Accurassay has already been a process leader through the use of mechanized pulverizer systems, which now number 12 HP M1500 mill and magazine combinations. Furthering this advancement of laboratory process automation, Accurassay is pleased to announce the commissioning of its new automated crushing unit at the Accurassay main lab in Thunder Bay, Ontario. This state-of-the-art system utilizes four Boyd crushers in a Herzog-IMP automated infrastructure to deliver the highest quality in sample preparation specifications. Clients can expect industry-leading homogeneity of the end product and the elimination of manual processing variances.

This system is the first of its kind in the Americas, and Accurassay is pleased to bring such technology leadership to the community of Thunder Bay. The lab is welcoming tours during any regular operating hours, and will arrange for large group orientations as well as individual drop-ins. Susan Schmitz, the lab’s customer service manager, can always be contacted at the main lab number: 807-626-1630.

Accurassay Laboratories, a Canadian-owned and operated ana-

lytical services company, has been providing mineral assay services since 1987. The company meets the requirements for NP 43101 reporting by virtue of its accreditation with the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) to ISO 17025 requirements. Through a focus on quality and operational excellence, Accurassay provides industry-leading turn-around time and service reliability at a fair price to the mining and mineral exploration industry. The key markets served by Accurassay include exploration and mining for gold and PGEs, base metals (ranging from common commodities as copper and zinc to the rare earths), and the whole rock oxides including iron and chromite.

Through standard industry methods such as fire assay to the latest in fused bead and XRF technology, Accurassay has all of the tools for a complete geochemical analysis.

As 2013 approaches, customers can expect to see MORE from Accurassay to support their needs.

More Value Accurassay currently offers its customers a range of service elements that deliver value, such as: •C ompetitive “all-in” pricing (supplies, shipping, prep, analyses and reporting); •A dvanced internal and external QC programs to ensure data reliability;

Accurassay Laboratories Ltd. Fast, ISO-certified Analysis for:

Gold and PGEs Copper, Zinc and other Base Metals Iron, Chrome and other Oxides www.accurassay.com Fall/Winter 2012

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• Three-dimensional bar-coding programs to improve sample tracking and administration; • Production of customized reference materials for specific projects.

More Capacity Accurassay has once again completed an advanced expansion of its high-capacity laboratory, based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. This facility uses reliable and ISO/EIC 17025 accredited methods including fire assay, ICP and AA. As of January 2013, the effective capacity of Accurassay will have grown by over 150 per cent since 2009. All customers stand to benefit in real terms: meeting your expectations for high-quality results in a fast turn-around time.

More Coverage Accurassay’s Rouyn-Noranda facility has moved to a new location

as of December 1st to enable further expansion of instrumentation and service capabilities to the Quebec market. The company also has an ideally-located sample prep facility in the northern Labrador region; Accurassay’s on-site lab at TATA Steel Minerals Canada is open to third-party samples. With facilities in Thunder Bay, Timmins, Sudbury, Rouyn, Gambo and now near to Schefferville, Accurassay has a Canadian location to manage your logistics and provide support.

From project to project, Accurassay’s wide range of service elements can include expedited turn-around time, ore-grade analytical support, simplified all-in-one program pricing, the development of local sample prep facilities or mine labs, and access to on-line sample status information and results through the Internet via Acculink. For fast, accredited test results at competitive pricing, look to Accurassay as your service partner.

How does your ice measure up?

C-130 on ice runway in NWT.

Canadian winters may not be what they used to be, with global climatic changes bringing in warmer and shorter winter seasons.

Explorers working on or over ice on lakes and rivers have new challenges ahead of them to keep projects moving effectively and safely in the Canadian Shield.

When your ice does not measure up, you can rely on Big Ice Flood Pumps to thicken the ice to meet your design capacity requirements.

This purpose-build axial-flow pump has proven itself in many locations in the world’s northern hemispheres. In Arctic temperatures, water will freeze in a conventional pump’s impeller case in minutes, resulting in permanent damage –whereas Big Ice pumps are designed to self-prime and drain, thus maximizing flooding operational uptime.

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Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

An international scientific consortium has a large logistical problem. When their 80-ton core drill arrived on location, north of the Arctic Circle in eastern Siberia, scientists realised that they would not have enough natural lake ice to safely commence drilling operations.

Big Ice Flood pumps were chosen and deployed to build the pad ice up to the design specifications, keeping the project on track to assure completion of this costly project in one winter season.

NWT mining company requires a large air lift of mining supplies in a very remote region. The mining company’s only economic option was to choose a nearby lake to facilitate a 5,000-foot ice runway in order to receive the exploration supplies. Big Ice Flood Pumps were requisitioned and flooding operations commenced to build up the ice to the necessary capacity needs to support a Hercules C-130 transport aircraft with a landing weight of 130,000 pounds touching down at over 115 mph.

Big Ice Flood Pumps will measure up to your task of building ice to maximize the safety of men and equipment, while completing your next winter’s exploration project.

Hearst Air Service Ltd.

Providing mining companies with the services they need for remote fly-in to Northern Ontario Mineral exploration in the north of Ontario has given many small- to medium-sized businesses the opportunity to offer services in their own backyard. Hearst Air Service Ltd. is one of those companies that has grown with industry demand and is eager for more. Hearst, as a region, is a full-service community with expertise in trades, service and industry needs. The area has hosted projects for mining, forestry, tourism and research.

Entrepreneurs have worked hard together to meet all expectations, and change is welcomed by all.

Hearst Air Service Ltd. offers air transportation to the most remote parts of Northern Ontario. With a fleet of DeHavilland aircraft such as a Turbo Otter, Turbo Beaver, Beaver and a newly acquired Cessna Caravan, this air support team is an asset to all successful ventures. Aircraft maintenance is done on site and this factory has helped establish a quality standard like no other; to be able to tend to aircraft issues, maintenance or preventative maintenance on-site is priceless.

The key to a successful remote job is a strong support system. Hearst Air’s team works diligently to provide supplies and equipment needed. Local businesses are available aroundthe-clock for equipment repairs and servicing for quick turnarounds and return to camps. Drilling equipment needs to run efficiently 24-hours per day and having quick access to parts and service is imperative. Hearst Air’s support ensures drillers are supplied as needed, and other subcontractors (such as helicopter companies) are also well-supported by Hearst Air. Inventory is managed at base for rods, casing, parts and lubricants. Hearst Air manages crew changes, parts and maintenance crews to help eliminate ferry costs and other costly delays. Hearst Air has also had the pleasure of working with a new expediter of food service, which operates a quality supply of groceries packed as per camp standards to facilitate transportation and handling once it has arrived at camp.

Whether your company has a need for special work boots, hardware, personal items for staff or custom fabrication from the welding shop, Hearst Air Service Ltd. is the best company to provide you with the service needed for remote fly-in locations in the north of Ontario.

For more information, call toll-free 1-866-844-5700 or visit Hearst Air online: www.hearstair.com.

The key to a successful remote job is a strong support system. Hearst Air’s team works diligently to provide supplies and equipment needed. Local businesses are available around-the-clock for equipment repairs and servicing for quick turnarounds and return to camps.

Air Charter and Logistics with Hearst Air Service Ltd. • 4 season air charter • inventory management • logistical support • bulk drum hauls • expediting services

call now toll free 1-866-844-5700 charter@hearstair.com www.hearstair.com

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Hearst Ontario HWY 11N ~ ideally located for Far North Programs Fall/Winter 2012

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Lab quality control versus mine quality control

Why they are so often in conflict, suggestions to improve both

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Analytical Quality Control As members of a service department, managers of a mine-site lab should not only monitor their own quality, they should also expect their customers to do the same. In a perfect world, these internal and external systems would complement each other. In practice, however, they seldom do. Disputes and conflicts often arise and instead of illuminating, the different systems produce more heat than light.

Sources of Error in Analytical Chemistry All analytical measurements are subject to error. We can group these errors into gross errors, systematic errors and random errors.

Gross Errors Examples of gross errors include mislabeling of samples, spilling solutions and use of incorrect reagents. While gross errors are sometimes difficult to detect, it is of the utmost importance to identify and document when they do occur, and to exclude them from further statistical treatment. Failure to do so may invalidate all subsequent conclusions. It is also important to realize that gross errors may occur anywhere in the analysis train, from sampling to final result.

As such, it is conceivable that the source of error lies outside the laboratory (e.g., mixup of samples). It is important for both the submitting department and the lab to put in place systems to identify these types of

Figure 3.

errors. An example of such a system is a double-split, where the mine and the lab each take a routine split and send to an outside lab for check. Analysis of such data can help guarantee the integrity of the sample chain.

Systematic and Random Errors Systematic errors give rise to bias. Once identified and measured, a correction can be applied to the final result. Random errors (which should be normally distributed) can also be treated by statistics to enable quantification of the measurement uncertainty.

Fit-for-Purpose A quality control (QC) program should provide confidence that: 1. Gross errors are documented and eliminated.

2. Systematic errors (bias) are measured and corrected.

3.

Random errors (precision) are measured and incorporated into a measure of the dispersion (e.g. standard deviation); or in the more general case where this is impractical, into an estimate of the uncertainty associated with the result.

The client should determine (in conjunction with the lab) whether or not the data is fit for purpose and, if not, whether the extra cost involved in making it so can be justified. It may be better to change the process, or the assumptions underlying the data model, rather than increase the cost of the analysis. Without adequate

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Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

In a mine lab, one size does not fit all.

Requirements for precision and bias vary from client to client and sample type to sample type

‘Brite’ building solutions

by BRITESPAN Building Systems BRITESPAN Building Systems has you covered! Based in Ontario, Canada, BRITESPAN Building Systems is a premier Canadian manufacturer and distributor of fabric-covered buildings with an extensive dealer network across Canada and the U.S. With over 17 years experience in the fabric building industry, we have supplied and constructed

over 5,000 fabric-covered structures for several different applications including mining, municipal, aggregate, warehousing and agricultural. We have constructed buildings as small as 19-feet-wide by 30-feet-long, and as large as 160-feet wide by 937-feet long. From big to small, we can cover it all.

Our product offers ranges in widths from

information about the uncertainty associated with measurements however, no determination can be made.

Samples in a Mine-site Lab In a mine lab, one size does not fit all.

Requirements for precision and bias vary from client to client and sample type to sample type. In particular, many clients put an inordinate emphasis on precision, often demanding unrealistic and unwarranted levels. Figure 3 shows typical samples processed in a mine-site lab.

Take, for example, a waste-dump sampling program. If the mean grade is at or near the ore cutoff, the presence of even a small bias in the analysis can have disastrous consequences. By contrast, a lower precision on individual assays may be quite acceptable. It therefore makes little sense for the client to demand, for example, multiple replicates on each aliquot.

Steps Toward Reconciling Mine and Lab QC Systems: 1. Don’t pre-judge QC data. No “voodoo statistics”.

2. Recognize (and remind clients) that the aim of quality control is to ensure data is fit for purpose, not to find the “true” value of a sample.

3.

Remember that the analysis chain (and associated errors) begins at the time the sample is taken and ends when the final result is produced.

4. Use tools such as twin-stream analysis to isolate and analyze variance.

5.

Estimate and report measurement uncertainty.

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19 feet to 160 feet, to any length required.

Custom widths and designs are available for special applications. Our free-span design allows for optimal storage space. Some of our building models can achieve an interior 50-foot height in the centre of the building.

This allows for trucks to enter the building and dump directly inside, eliminating time and labour moving materials in and out of the building. Also, the fabric cover provides great lighting and eliminates the need for costly electrical installations and operation.

This creates a safe working environment for your employees. The building seems bright, even on the cloudiest of days!

BRITESPAN has three different building models to choose from. The Atlas Series is an arch building available in widths from 19-feet to 82-feet wide. Our Genesis Series is a rounded-peak building that is available in widths from 60-feet wide to 160-feet wide; the Epic Building, which has an A-line pitch roof, is available in widths from 60 feet to 160 feet as well. You can check out our profiles online to see what building model best suits your building needs.

Our buildings can be customized to meet specific requirements including special door requirements, conveyor systems, internal liners, insulating heating and more. The unique design of our structures allows for cost-effective and reduced installation times.

Many different foundations can be used including poured walls, sea containers, cement blocks, floating slabs and grade beams. Most buildings can be easily relocated or we can extend the building if required.

CSA/A660 certified, BRITESPAN Buildings are engineered to meet and exceed the site-specific wind, snow and rain loads.

BRITESPAN Building Systems can help you with your fabric-covered building project from start to finish. Our qualified dealers and building consultants have years of experience and can recommend the right

building solution for your building needs.

BRITESPAN can consult with you regarding: • Foundations • Cover replacements for ANY type of fabric building • Capacity calculations • Bid specifications • Dismantling buildings • Service or repairs • Yearly maintenance inspections BRITESPAN Building Systems recently opened their new 25,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. The new plant is a fabriccovered, steel-framed building—just as BRITESPAN sells to its own customers. The facility includes a combination of new equipment and existing equipment and new special proprietary equipment. The most important aspect is to double our manufacturing space and make BRITESPAN more efficient in all aspects of manufacturing.

To get started on your next building project, contact BRITESPAN Building System today. We’re not here to sell you a building; we are here to help you build one.

For more information, visit us online at www.britespanbuildings.com.

Fordia innovates again As a global designer, manufacturer and distributor of drilling tools and equipment, Fordia has established itself as a strong player in the global industry. The 35-year-old company has approximately 300 employees in Canada and around the world. It already has offices on every continent and distributors in as many as 30 countries.

One of the recent product developments, the new OWL Self-Lock Head Assembly for underground coring, was just released. This new head travels faster within the drill string due to reduced drag and can be more safely engaged in the outer tube, thereby saving precious uptime at every run and providing drillers with a safer working environment.

For companies drilling in both surface and underground conditions, this head also features another critical time-saving opportu38

Ontario Mineral Exploration Review

nity. A very simple conversion allows the drilling company to switch a conventional OWL Self-Lock head into an underground one; just two minutes are enough to change the pumping assembly.

In 2012, Fordia also added to its popular HEROTM series with a brand-new HEROTM 9 designed for very hard ground rated between 6 and 7.5 on the Moh’s scale. It stands out from the competition thanks to its longer lifespan and impressive penetration rate, which allow it to drill faster and longer.

The HEROTM 9 is ideal for drilling through plutonic and volcanic rocks, such as granite or syenite, or similar rock formations.

The HEROTM 9 is available in diamond impregnation heights of 13 mm and 16 mm to further increase the metres drilled. Dozens of tests with numerous drilling companies

across multiple sites have demonstrated that the HEROTM 9 has a lifespan at least 50 per cent longer than the average competition and can save up to 120 hours of pulling time in deep hole.

To add to its global solution offering, Fordia also launched a core orientation system, CorientR. This robust mechanic tool does not require batteries or calibration.

For customers, that means fewer worries on drill sites or in the field. Furthermore, the CorientR now also permits the orientation of a 20-foot core barrel. It is a simple and efficient process that allows the savings of both time and money.

For more information about Fordia, visit the new website www.fordia.com and register to access privileged information such as technical videos and content.

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