CIM Magazine November 2014

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IN THIS ISSUE C IM MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER | NOVEMBRE2014

November/Novembre 2014 | 5

Karst topography can host impressivemineral deposits and it can also make water

management incredibly complex By Ian Ewing

37A cut above

Raise climbing brings production gains to Canadian companies

by Eavan Moore

55A lesson in patience

Alderon Iron Ore is battling through market volatilityand stiff competition to be the next producer in the

iron-rich Labrador TroughBy Pierrick Blin and Antoine Dion-Ortega

61Where hard meets tough

Wear part suppliers look to improve equipment lifewith protective coatings, attachable components,

stronger steel and additive manufacturingBy Alexandra Lopez-Pacheco

44cover story44

55

karstmining within a maze

72

Conference programReader Survey Results

47th ANNUAL canadian mineral processorsCONFERENCE

68

8 Editor’s letter 10 President’s notes

tools of the trade 12 The best in new technology

compiled by Kelsey Rolfe and Chris Balcom

news 14 Industry at a glance 20 To survive the influx of product

on the market, metallurgical coalproducers must cut costs andexplore new marketsBy Christopher Pollon

22 The iron ore sector gathers inSept-Îles, Quebec for MEMO andlooks ahead to a brighter futureBy Pierrick Blin and Antoine Dion-Ortega

24 As the ebola outbreak in WestAfrica worsens, miningcompanies are stepping uphealth and safety protocolsBy Correy Baldwin

26 Barrick responds to allegationsof sexual assault at Papua NewGuinea mine with remedyframeworkBy Chris Windeyer

columns 28 The helicopter protocol: northern

claim stakingBy Richard Butler

30 Nobody likes surprises: the roleof the certified cost professionalBy John Gravel

32 Fit for serviceBy Ian London

upfront 34 Goldcorp and Redpath blaze an

underground trail to connectmine and mill at Red Lakeby Eavan Moore

40 Red Lake miners operate assmall business cells with moreautonomy and accountabilityby Alexandra Lopez-Pacheco

42 Catch up on the latest researchwith Matthew Pierce, the newhead of CEMI’s Rio Tinto Centrefor Underground MineConstructionby Virginia Heffernan

travel 64 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

by Chris Balcom

cim community 67 CIM news from Canada and

beyond

mining lore 82 Canary in a coal mine: the

history behind mining’s famousmetaphor

77 Technical abstracts 81 Professional directory

contenufrancophone

6 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 9, No. 8

22 24

La version françaiseintégrale du CIM Magazine estdisponible en ligne :magazine.CIM.org/fr-CA

50

article de fond50 La topographie de Karst abrite

d'impressionants gisements.Elle peut également rendre lagestion de l'eau incroyablementcomplexePar Ian Ewing

58 Alderon Iron Ore doit composeravec un marché volatile et unecompétition féroce pour devenirle prochain producteur dans lariche fosse du LabradorPar Perrick Blin et Antoine Dion-Ortega

10 Mot du président

70 Résultats de l’enquête auprèsdes lecteurs

72 Programme de la 47e Conférence annuelle des minéralurgistes du Canada

77 Résumés techniques

C O N S U LT I N G • P R O J E C T D E L I V E R Y • T E C H N O L O G I E S • O P E R AT I O N A L P E R F O R M A N C E

A good water management plan can prevent disruptions to mining operations that arise from too much or too little water, higher operating and capital costs, environmental and regulatory issues, and conflicts with other water users.

At Hatch, we work closely with mining clients to understand how their water supply and management needs will evolve over the entire mining life cycle — from planning to closure. Our strength in process design and ability to implement a range of solutions to address complex chemistries, are complemented by proven water management strategies.

To learn more about how our integrated team of experts can help bring clarity to achieving cost-effective and sustainable mine water management solutions, visit us at www.hatch.ca.

Managing water at mine sites is a complex problem

t is practice at CIM Magazine to conduct areader survey every other year to help ouradvertising representatives and editorial

team learn more about who our readers are aswell as their professional needs and ambi-tions. While framing questions to get infor-mation on the profile of our readers is rela-tively straightforward, drafting those thatexplore the relationship between the readerand the publication are more problematic: Ifwe focus on the specifics of the magazine andask, for example, “What section of the maga-zine do you prefer?”, we forget that only ahandful of people know the publication wellenough to name their favourite section, and

likely most of them work in CIM’s publications department. The broaderthe survey questions become, the easier it is for respondents to engage withthem, but the connection with the actual publication is less direct. Withthis year’s questionnaire we opted for the latter approach to be sure we cap-tured what preoccupies and animates our readers. Your response: innova-tion, technology uptake and a focus on operations.

We appreciate that many of you took the time to complete the survey,and we will do our best to provide you with the information you require.A summary of the survey results are on page 68. While it may be true thatsome who participated were drawn in by the possibility of a prize, thecomments that many respondents volunteered tell me that far more of youhave a genuine appetite for insight and information about the mining andmetallurgical industries and a desire to help CIM Magazine provide the beststories for you. I tip my hat to those who took the time to leave commen-tary on how we might improve the editorial.

The suggestions ranged from the precise (“more topics on valves”) to theexistential (“the industry is ‘under siege’ and we have no tools, i.e. knowl-edge of history, by which to defend our livelihoods”). There was, however,a clear and repeated call for more coverage of mineral processing and met-allurgy, which we will respond to in our 2015 editorial line up. In themeantime, keep an eye out for our next issue which will feature a series ofstories devoted to metallurgy.

Thanks again for the feedback.

Ryan Bergen, Editor-in-chief [email protected] @Ryan_CIM_Mag


editor’s letter Editor-in-chief Ryan Bergen, [email protected] editor Angela Hamlyn, [email protected] editor Andrea Nichiporuk, [email protected]

Section editors Peter Braul, [email protected] DiNardo, [email protected]

Copy editor/Communications coordinator Zoë Koulouris, [email protected]

Web content editor Maria Olaguera, [email protected]

Editorial intern Chris Balcom, [email protected]

Contributors Correy Baldwin, Pierrick Blin, Richard Butler, AntoineDion-Ortega, Ian Ewing, John Gravel, Virginia Heffernan, Ian London,Alexandra Lopez-Pacheco, Christopher Pollon, Valerian Mazataud,Eavan Moore, Kelsey Rolfe, Chris Windeyer

Editorial advisory board Alicia Ferdinand, Garth Kirkham, VicPakalnis, Steve Rusk, Nathan Stubina

Translations Karen Rolland, Pierrick Blin, CNW

Published 9 times a year by:Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum 1250 – 3500 de Maisonneuve Blvd. WestWestmount, QC H3Z 3C1Tel.: 514.939.2710; Fax: 514.939.2714 www.cim.org; Email: [email protected]

Advertising salesDovetail Communications Inc.30 East Beaver Creek Rd., Ste. 202Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 1J2Tel.: 905.886.6640; Fax: 905.886.6615; www.dvtail.com Senior Account Executives 905.886.6641Janet Jeffery, [email protected], ext. 329Neal Young, [email protected], ext. 325Account ManagerFiona Persaud, [email protected], ext. 326

Subscriptions Included in CIM membership ($177.00); Non-members (Canada),$270.00/yr (PE, MB, SK, AB, NT, NU, YT add $11.00 GST, BC add$26.40 HST, ON, NB, NL add $28.60 HST, QC add $32.95 GST +PST, NS add $33.00 HST) Non-Members USA and International:US$290.00/year. Single copies, $25.00.

This issue’s coverStephens Gap cave. Photo by Chuck Sutherland.

Layout and design by Clò Communications Inc.www.clocommunications.com

Copyright©2014. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1718-4177. Publications Mail No. 09786. Postage paid at CPA Saint-Laurent, QC.

Dépôt légal: Bibliothèque nationale du Québec.The Institute, as a body, is not responsible for statements made or opinions advanced either in articles or in any discussion appearing in its publications.

Printed in Canada

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president’s notes | mot du président

Sean WallerCIM PresidentPrésident de l’ICM


L’exploitation minière : un secteur difficileLes gîtes minéraux sont des occurrences rares qui sont extrêmement difficiles à trouver. Une fois découverts, il

existe au mieux une chance sur mille qu’ils atteignent le stade de la mise en valeur commerciale.

La mise en valeur d’une mine est une entreprise intensive, et la route menant à la production est longue et diffi-

cile. Le plus souvent, les gisements sont situés dans des zones éloignées qui nécessitent le déploiement de nombreux

services tels que des accès routiers, la préparation du site, l’approvisionnement en eau et en électricité. La technologie

utilisée pour extraire et traiter les minéraux métallifères est complexe, et l’aménagement de l’environnement ainsi

que l’exploitation doivent respecter des exigences rigoureuses. Tout ceci est coûteux; les grands projets coûtent

généralement plusieurs milliards de dollars.

Ajoutez à cela la longue période qui s’étend entre la découverte et le remboursement du capital ainsi que la difficulté

d’obtenir du financement pour la construction. Une fois que la mine est en production, l’exploitant de la mine n’a aucun

contrôle sur les prix de ses produits et ses prévisions en ce qui a trait aux revenus à long terme ne peuvent être au mieux

que des estimations approximatives. Il faut aussi compter avec les importantes conséquences environnementales et

sociales, lesquelles suscitent fréquemment une opposition de la population au développement. À eux seuls, ces deux

aspects exigent souvent les efforts les plus intensifs pendant la mise en valeur du projet minier. Les sociétés minières

sont souvent sensibles au vent de la politique du moment. Dans de nombreux pays, les gouvernements et les citoyens

considèrent que les ressources naturelles sont la propriété de l’État, et par conséquent les taux d’imposition peuvent être

plus élevés que pour d’autres industries et sont susceptibles d’être augmentés sur préavis très court.

Voilà ce que l’expérience m’a enseigné depuis les 30 dernières années et je ne pense pas être le seul à dire que

c’est ce qui fait qu’une carrière dans l’exploitation minière est extrêmement difficile, mais aussi très intéressante et

valorisante. Je m’y suis totalement investi pendant toutes ces années. Notre industrie a besoin de gens hautement

qualifiés dans un large éventail de disciplines. Il est essentiel que nos universités offrent des programmes d’éducation

dans ce secteur et que notre industrie fournisse des occasions de faire du secteur minier un choix de carrière

attrayant. L’avenir de l’exploitation minière en dépend!

En septembre de cette année, nous avons appris avec tristesse le décès soudain de Rick Hutson. Rick était un

membre dévoué du conseil de l’ICM qui, parallèlement à ses autres tâches, prenait un intérêt particulier à travailler

avec les étudiants qui intègrent notre industrie. Au nom de chacun des membres de l’ICM, j’adresse mes sincères

condoléances à la famille de Rick.

Mining: it’s a tough businessMineral deposits are rare occurrences that are extremely difficult to find. Once discovered, a min-

eral deposit has at best a one in 1,000 chance of being developed commercially. Mine development is an intensive undertaking, and the road to production is long and challeng-

ing. More often than not, mineral deposits are located in remote areas that require development ofextensive services including road access, site preparation, and power and water supplies. The tech-nology to extract the ore and recover the valuable minerals is complex, and the environmental designand operation must meet stringent requirements. None of this comes cheaply; large projects routinelycost several billion dollars.

Add to this the extended period of time from discovery to return of capital and funding for con-struction can be difficult to obtain. Once in production, mine operators have no control over theprices of their products and long-term revenue forecasts can be rough estimates at best. There are sig-nificant environmental and social impacts, which commonly incur public opposition to develop-ment. These two aspects alone often command the most-intensive efforts during the development ofa mining project. Mining companies are often susceptible to the political winds of the day. In manycountries, governments and citizens consider natural resources as property of the state, and as a resulttax rates may be higher than other industries and prone to increases on short notice.

This has been my experience over the last 30 years and, I do not think I am alone when I saythis is what makes mining an extremely challenging yet very interesting and rewarding career. It hascertainly kept me fully engaged all this time. Our industry requires highly skilled people in a widerange of disciplines. It is essential that our universities provide the educational programs and ourindustry supplies the opportunities to make mining an attractive career choice. The future of miningdepends on it!

In September of this year we were saddened to learn that Rick Hutson had passed away unexpect-edly. Rick was a dedicated member of the CIM Council who, along with his other duties, took a veryspecial interest in working with students entering our industry. On behalf of all of us here at CIM Ipass on our sincere and heartfelt condolences to Rick’s family.

We Solve Them.

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Compiled by Kelsey Rolfe and Chris Balcom12 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 9, No. 8

◢ Nocturnal eyesightIn dark and dusty conditions at minesites, it can be difficult for driversoperating heavy machinery to seepeople or animals walking in thepath of the vehicle, which can resultin accidents or fatalities. To helpprevent this, FLIR Systems releasedits PathFindIR II, which uses thermalnight vision to detect humans oranimals ahead and alerts the driverto their presence on an in-cabdisplay system. “It really does add anextra sense, extra range andawareness,” said Paul Clayton, FLIR’sdirector of automotive products. “It’samazing how many people are outside [theillumination range] of the headlights in the dark,

and are potentially going to cross infront of you.” The camera, which istypically mounted to a vehicle’s frontgrill, has a 24-degree horizontal fieldof view and, because it detects heatrather than light, you can see up tofour times farther down the road thanyou can with regular headlightbeams. When a person or animalcomes into the camera’s field of view,the form is highlighted by a brightyellow warning box on the in-cabdisplay to catch the driver’s attention.Clayton said FLIR is planning torelease a buzzer indicator as a

separate unit in the next few months.

◢ Winter work wearWhen working in frigid conditions, it can be hard tokeep miners warm, dry, highly visible and protectedwhile providing the mobility they need to do their jobseffectively. Yet that is what Honeywell Safety Productsaccomplished with the launch of its new coldconditions fire-retardant apparel line: the TNV Series(reflective, inherent, vapour-barrier). The parka, pantsand optional snap-on hood combine inherent fire-retardant fabric, cold-resistant insulation, highly visiblereflective trim and a water-repellentcoating. The outerwear also featuresa flexible elastic waistband andergonomic “action back” design toensure that workers are mobile,comfortable and productive.Honeywell also made a pointof using the most efficientinsulation possible in order tocut down on bulk. Theapparel will keep workerswarm and comfortable in upto -35 C degree weather, butRoger Paquette, senior productmanager at Honeywell, saidthis figure assumes someone iswearing standard clothingunderneath such as a cottonshirt and jeans. “Clothingdoes not generate heat, thebody generates heat,” heexplained. Therefore, ifsomeone was moving around alot and wearing thermalunderwear, the apparel could keep them warm intemperatures as cold as -40 C.

TOOLS OFTHE TRADE

◢ A flexible fixScreening is a crucial method of separating particlesizes during mineral processing. Yet Cristian Annoni,marketing and sales director at Eurogomma, arguesthat the screening process is often far more inefficientthan it should be. For instance, while pegging andblinding of panel apertures is a widely recognizedproblem, Annoni points out that many companies stillface difficulty addressing the issue in a cost-effective,efficient manner. In the interest of creating an easy-to-adopt solution, Eurogomma launched GET flexy, apolyurethane elastic panel that can be fastened toexisting screen decks of any size. “It offers a very elastic,flexible surface, instead of the standard rigid screenpanels, for every kind of screen deck,” he said. As thescreen vibrates, the elastic effect allows the screenapertures to release material more easily. The mat isdesigned to work effectively with both hard and softmaterial, and is easily customizable to fit different kinds ofscreening units and dimensions, providing the efficiencyof a more elastic panel without requiring a massiveoverhaul of existing equipment.

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POTENTIAL. WHEREVER YOU LOOK.

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Reduce the risk and seize the opportunities – wherever your markets may be. EDC can help with finance, insurance and bonding services that help you achieve your trade goals. EDC has representatives across Canada and in 16 cities internationally.

Find out how we can help. Visit edc.ca/potential for details.


unprocessed copper concentrate fromits Batu Hijau operation.

Exports were halted in January aftera government law came into effect ban-ning exports of unprocessed minerals.The ban was part of an ongoing effort todevelop the country’s domestic process-ing industry.

In early September, the companysigned a memorandum of understanding(MoU) with the Indonesian governmentwhereby PTNNT will pay an export taxof 7.5 per cent on its copper concentrate,considerably less than the previousIndonesian demand for a 25 per cent tax.The company further promised to pro-vide a US$25 million assurance bond todemonstrate its support for smelterdevelopment, and pay royalties of fourper cent for copper, 3.75 per cent forgold and 3.25 per cent for silver, and anominal dead rent per hectare.

Exports of existing copper stock-piles resumed at the end of September,but production at Batu Hijau, the siteof the company’s only Indonesian mineand mill, is still ramping up after min-ing was stopped in June.

Newmont has said it supports thegovernment’s efforts to improve thecountry’s processing capacity. Thecom pany has signed agreements tosupply two Indonesian companiesplan ning to build copper smelters, andhas also signed an MoU with Freeport-McMoRan’s Indonesian subsidiary todevelop a smelter, said Newmontspokesman Omar Jabara. Freeport, theother major exporter of Indonesiancopper, reached a similar agreementwith the government.

“We supply [copper] concentrate toIndonesia’s current, and only, smelterright now,” Jabara added. “But theycan’t handle all of the copper concen-trate, which is why Newmont as wellas Freeport need to export until addi-tional capacity is built in the country.”

“We want to continue to have agood relationship with the Indonesiangovernment,” Jabara explained, “andwe believe that all parties recognizethat resuming operations in Batu Hijauis in everyone’s best interest.” – Chris Balcom

Lake Shore Goldrecognized for safetyprogram

Workplace Safety North (WSN)recently presented its annual President’sAward in the mining sector to Lake

news

Aerial view of Newmont’s Benete Bay port in Indonesia

Newmont resumesIndonesian exports

After a long standoff with theIndonesian government, NewmontMining Corporation’s Indonesian sub-sidiary, PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara(PTNNT), has resumed exports of

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Colorado School of Mines invites applications for multiple faculty positions in the Department of Mining Engineering.

Professor and T.J. Haddon/Alacer Gold ChairThe successful candidate will teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and develop a strong externally funded research program. The successful applicant will also be appointed to manage the Edgar Experimental Mine. Applicants will be expected to have strong network connections with both the national and international mining industry. An operational background with mining experience is preferred.

Assistant/Associate Professor – Underground Construction and TunnelingThe successful candidate will teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Teaching responsibilities will include both core courses for the department and UC&T degree program courses. Areas of particular interest include hard rock tunneling, advance numerical modeling, rock cutting, disk and bit cutting performances, cutter head design, tunnel construction management, deep tunnels, tunneling under squeezing and swelling conditions, dynamic loading and rock burst conditions, drilling and blasting, tunnel support design.

For the complete job announcements and directions on how to apply, visit: http://inside.mines.edu/HR-Academic-Faculty

Colorado School of MinesFaculty Openings

Department of Mining


Shore Gold of Timmins, Ontario. Theaward is bestowed on the highest per-formers among recipients of WSN’sWorkplace Excellence Awards, grantedto companies that receive higher than80 per cent on a self-assessment surveyof its safety practices across all opera-tions. One company from each of thesectors overseen by WSN – forestry,mining and paper, printing and con-verting – wins the President’s Award.

The survey addresses a wide rangeof issues relating to health and safety,including worker training, injuryinvestigation procedures and work-place inspections. Companies check

boxes to confirm compliance withguidelines such as, “system is in placeto encourage employees to report inci-dents (including non-injury or dam-age).” Points are awarded for each boxticked, out of a possible 150. The sur-vey must be completed with inputfrom both workers and management. Afirm’s statistical performance in areassuch as injury frequency is also takeninto account.

“Winning the President’s Awardcomes with a great deal of pride andsatisfaction on the part of everyone atLake Shore Gold,” said Jamie Mortson,health and safety manager.

The company registered for theworkplace excellence awards withoutany expectation of winning the Presi-dent’s Award. “We participated in orderto determine the progress with oursafety program and to identify oppor-tunities for improvement,” Mortsonexplained. “The President’s Award wasnot on our radar, but we were hopingfor some recognition by qualifying forone of the Workplace ExcellenceAwards.”

Mortson said it was exciting to berecognized, especially considering thestiff competition from more establishedoperations. The company, which began

industry at a glance

First production at Éléonore

Goldcorp recently moved one step closer to commer-cial production at its new Éléonore gold mine. On Oct.2, the company announced it had achieved first produc-tion at the mine, having poured the first 70-ounce dorébar the previous day.

“I am pleased to announce first gold production atÉléonore, on schedule and in line with our capital costguidance,” said Goldcorp president and CEO ChuckJeannes in a press release following the gold pour. “Theteam has done a tremendous job bringing this mine intoproduction safely, in partnership with the Cree Nationof Wemindji, the Grand Council of the Crees of EeyouIstchee, the Cree National Government, and our suppli-ers and contractors from Quebec.”

Located in the James Bay region of northern Quebec,Éléonore has been under development for the last fouryears. The company anticipates the site will produce40,000 to 60,000 ounces of gold in the remainingmonths of 2014, with commercial production beginningin 2015. By 2018, output is expected to reach 7,000tonnes per day. – C.B.

ErratumIn the September edition of the Tools of the trade (“Pro-ductivity in tight quarters” pg. 12) we misstated thename of Vallée Inc. president Frédéric Beaulieu. Weregret the error.

Aerial view of Goldcorp’s Éléonore gold mine inthe James Bay region of Northern Quebec

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mining in 2007, currently operates twomines close to Timmins: Timmins Westand Bell Creek. In the first half of2014, Timmins West produced 76,000ounces of gold. Bell Creek, in the firstquarter of this year, produced 10,700ounces of gold.

Mortson also acknowledged thathealth and safety standards requireconstant attention. “Yes, it’s a very pres-tigious milestone to reach,” he said,“but you know there’s always room forimprovement.” – C.B.

Quebec governmentinvests in phosphateproject

Arianne Phosphate’s Lac à Paul proj-ect in Quebec recently received a boostof confidence from the provincial gov-ernment. In September, InvestissementQuébec invested $2 million in theproject, located in the province’sSaguenay region. The investment rep-resents 25 per cent of the $8 millionraised thus far in the first round offinancing.

While the government’s investmentis just a fraction of the $1.2 billion cur-rently required to bring the project intoproduction, Arianne chairman PierreFitzgibbon emphasized the strategicsignificance of the investment. “I think[the government investment] will lendlegitimacy to the project in terms ofsocial acceptability,” he said. “Havingthe gov ern ment endorsement sends amessage that [the project] is open forbusiness.”

The company released the feasibil-ity study for the phosphate rock proj-ect last October, which outlined anopen-pit mine, processing operationand trans port system that would yieldthree million tonnes of phosphateconcentrate per year over nearly 26years.

Fitzgibbon said the company isaiming to have all the necessary per-mits from the government and beginconstruction before the end of nextyear. In the meantime, it has begunconsultations with the local Innu com-munities. – C.B.

news

FedNor supports supply and service startupsThe federal government recently stepped up to fund development of the

mining service and supply sector of northern Ontario. Natural Resources Min-ister Greg Rickford pledged $1.25 million to the Northern Ontario Centre forAdvanced Technology (NORCAT) and $681,644 to the City of Greater Sud-bury in August. The funding will be distributed through the Federal EconomicDevelopment Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor) agency, which is alsoheaded by Rickford.

NORCAT plans to put the money towards three projects. The first is thecreation of the Fortin Discovery Lab, a manufacturing facility where local min-ing service and supply companies can access the latest technology, such as 3Dprinters, to help develop their products. NORCAT Commons, another newproject, will serve as an incubator centre for tech start-ups, where entrepre-neurs can collaborate and seek mentorship. Finally, NORCAT will alsoimprove its underground mine training facility in Onaping with new technol-ogy and services.

As for the City of Greater Sudbury, the funds will help expand its MiningSupply and Service Export Assistance program, which aims to connect localcompanies with partners overseas and facilitate their expansion into interna-tional markets.

“This isn’t just an investment in studies and projects, it’s an investment inexpansions and upgrades to increase capacity in key areas for the tech andinnovation side of mining,” Rickford said, adding that he was ultimately inter-ested in job creation. He expects the funding will create about 50 jobs fornorthern Ontario.

“When there’s a dip or a decrease in extractive activity, it’s technology andinnovation, and supply and service that keep jobs and investment going inmining,” Rickford explained. “It’s a way of sustaining jobs in the sector whenactivity does slow.”

According to Rickford, the Sudbury project is expected to begin shortlywhile the NORCAT expansions and renovations are well underway. – C.B.

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NORCAT’s underground mine training facility in Onaping, Ontario


Manitoba boasts two newmines

After seven short years, HudbayMinerals commissioned two mines innorthern Manitoba. The Reed andLalor mines officially opened in September with a ceremony attendedby representatives from the Manitobangovernment. Mineral Resource Minis-ter Dave Chomiak cited the short pre-production phases as a testament toManitoba’s effective regulatory regimeand attractiveness as a site for mininginvestment.

Of the two new mines, Lalor has thelarger deposit, the potential of whichwas first reported by Hudbay in thesummer of 2007. The mine is located15 kilometres from the company’sSnow Lake concentrator and has Prob-able gold, silver, zinc and copperReserves of 11.3 million tonnes,Proven Reserves of 1.3 million tonnesand a projected mine life of over 15years. The Reed copper mine, 45 kilo-metres west of Snow Lake, holds Prob-able Reserves of 2.1 million tonnes anda mine life of five years. VMS Resourcesannounced the discovery of the depositin 2007 and now holds a 30 per centstake in the project.

Copper ore from the Reed minewill be transported to Hudbay’s exist-ing concentrator in Flin Flon, wherezinc and copper from the company’s777 mine are already processed. Theore from Reed will bring the Flin Flonconcentrator up to its capacity of2.18 million tonnes per year. “As wehad a little bit of room in our FlinFlon operation with which to treatthe ore, the Reed deposit becomesquite attractive, and we’re able toquickly turn a small deposit intosome relatively quick economicgains,” said Hudbay vice- president,Manitoba Rob Winton. – C.B.

Construction begins atGreenland ruby mine

Greenland’s nascent mining industrygot a boost in September when Vancou-ver-based True North Gems announcedit was beginning construction on its

Aappaluttoq ruby mine near thesouthwestern coastal town of Qeqer-tarsuatsiaat.

Earlier in September, True NorthGems announced an $11-millioninvestment deal with LNS Greenland, aNorwegian mine construction firm.

That investment is on top of an earlieragreement which saw LNS acquire a 20per cent stake in Aappaluttuq inexchange for $23 million worth ofplanning, engineering and infrastruc-ture investment. All told, LNS owns 27per cent of the project.

industry at a glance

Ontario funds canopy projectRecent funding from the Ontario provincial government is going to help

improve safety and efficiency in underground development. Premier KathleenWynne committed $783,916 to the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innova-tion (CEMI) in September through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Cor-poration to fund the completion of the first phase of its mobile canopy project.

The canopy system, once completed, will allow simultaneous drilling, blast-ing and ground support during underground development. The systeminvolves two steel canopies – a larger one covering the jumbo drilling andloading the face, and a smaller one over the ground support team – thatexpand laterally and vertically to fill the dimensions of the drift under devel-opment. The canopy will push against the roof of the drift to protect workerswithin from falling rock.

Once drilling, loading and bolting are complete, the canopy closest to the facewill retract and be placed within the bolting canopy to prevent any damage fromthe blast. Then the face is mucked, and the jumbo and ground support teamreturn for another cycle. “We are trying to get more activities out of the criticalpath,” said Douglas Morrison, president and CEO of CEMI. Morrison predictsthe canopy system will double the advance rate of underground development.

CEMI completed the design and construction of the first canopy in Septem-ber and it plans to begin Phase 2 of the project in January in which it will cre-ate a second canopy, take it into a drift heading and trial the technology in anoperational setting. The third and final phase, expected to begin next Septem-ber, will be to build two canopies and to test the entire system. – Tom DiNardo

The Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation’s (CEMI) canopy system consists of two steel canopies (oneshown above) that expand laterally and vertically to fill the dimensions of a drift and allow rapid and safeunderground development.

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It is not enough to fully finance the$41-million construction cost, but asBent Olsvig Jensen, managing directorof True North Gems Greenland, toldthe Arctic Journal, “At least it’s enoughto get started.”

Aappaluttuq has the potential tobecome the first operating mine duringGreenland’s latest push to develop aresource economy. North AmericanNickel is drilling near Aappaluttuq andthe Greenland government last yearlifted a moratorium on uranium min-ing. The True North Gems project hasProbable Reserves of more than161,000 tonnes of ore with a grade of350 grams per tonne and a nine-yearprojected mine life. The companyplans to begin production in 2015. – Chris Windeyer

Student wins globalrecognition for oil sandstailings treatment method

Eighteen-year-old Hayley Todesco’sinnovative research on tailings treatment has been getting a lot ofattention in the past few months. Thefirst-year University of Alberta studentwon the 2014 Stockholm Junior WaterPrize in early September and theGoogle Science Fair prize for her agegroup just a few weeks later.

Todesco’s award-winning projectinvolved testing the effectiveness ofsand filters as bioreactors for tailingspond waste. The Calgary native hassaid that her research was motivated byenvironmental concerns in the oilsands of her home province.

Her findings demonstrate howslow sand filtration (SSF) technologycan be used to biodegrade naphthenicacids (NAs), a toxic component of oilsands tailings water. The SSF acts as afilter as contaminated water passesthrough it, leaving a biofilm on top ofthe sand bed. Invented in 1804, SSFshave long been used for municipalwater treatment.

Over the course of her two years ofresearch, Todesco compared the sandfilters with planktonic batch culture(PBC) bioreactors. In her experiment,

SSF bioreactors reduced NA by 92.33per cent in one week (from 100 mil-ligrams per litre (mg/L) to 7.67 mg/L).In contrast, PBC bioreactors onlyreduced NA by 37.55 per cent in thesame period.

While Todesco produced her find-ings on a fairly small scale, she main-tains that the potential application ofher discovery is highly significant:“Based on my results, 400 Olympicswimming pool-sized SSF bioreactorscould potentially bioremediate the NAsin all oil sands tailings free water (as of2025) in less than 20 years (14 timesfaster than PBC bioreactors),” she wrotein a summary of her research posted onthe Google Science Fair website. – C.B.

Ontario releases healthand safety progress report

Ontario’s year-long examination ofhealth and safety issues in undergroundmining is not yet complete, but theprovince’s Ministry of Labour hasalready begun recommending changesto improve worker safety. In September,George Gritziotis, Ontario’s chief pre-vention officer and chair of the MiningHealth, Safety and Prevention Review,presented a progress report on the workit has done since it began in January.

According to the report, the Ministryof Labour has undertaken three key ini-tiatives so far. The first has been todevelop a best practice guide on high-visibility apparel for underground mining operations, which was releasedthis summer. This includes issuing high-visibility clothing to workers operatingclose to vehicles without a physical sep-aration and those who perform tasksthat could divert attention away from anapproaching vehicle. The review boardplans to explore the potential of improv-ing standards for high-visibility clothingin the coming months.

In May the ministry released the2014 Joint Health and Safety Commit-tee Certification Training Program andProvider Standards. Under these stan-dards, training will be required on aminimum of six hazards specific to anindividual’s workplace from a trainedprofessional.

The ministry has also initiated a pairof research projects to increase healthand safety knowledge in the miningsector. First was the creation of theOntario Mining Exposure Databasethat is being developed by the Occupa-tional Cancer Research Centre to cen-tralize and track miners’ exposure tocarcinogens. This data will be used todevelop prevention strategies, predictthe future burden of disease amongmining employees and determine safelevels of exposure to certain hazards.The second project, being conductedat Laurentian University, is studyinghow protective equipment can reducefoot-transmitted vibration for opera-tors of underground equipment.

A complete reporting of the reviewboard’s findings is expected to be pub-lished early next year. – T.D.

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18 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 9, No. 8��

Letter to the editor I was disappointed that you

marred an otherwise interestingarticle on traditional knowledge(“Two roads converge”) with thecommon confusion between “prin-ciples” and “principals”. The prin-cipal of your story was Shuswapchief Ronald Ignace. His principlesare a deep belief in the traditionalknowledge and wisdom of FirstNations and in the necessity ofsustainability. Your reporter, Correy Baldwin, made that mis-take at least three times in this arti-cle. And I guess that the meaningof the root in the word “editor” hasbeen forgotten, since this mistakewas not picked up during editing.

No wonder engineers have areputation as poor writers!Sincerely,Maurice Solar, PhD, PEng

Mr. Solar,While I should note that none

of the editors at the magazine areengineers, we were as upset as youto discover that principles wereabandoned.Ryan BergenEditor-in-chief


Forget the doldrums of 2014. IfWood Mackenzie’s Joe Aldina is right,the currently brutal metallurgical (met)coal market will seem like ancient his-tory by 2025, when he predicts theAustralian benchmark hard cokingcoal price will exceed US$220 pertonne. By that time, Canadian produc-ers will be expanding production tofeed growing demand stoked in placeslike India, the emerging Asian power-house.

“Canada is actually the best posi-tioned player in the market,” said Aldina, a New York-based coal costanalyst who travelled to Vancouver inSeptember to present this forecast tothe Coal Association of Canada’s 2014Conference.

Held over three days, the mood atthe event was downbeat as met andthermal coal miners, producers and

buyers commiserated about the marketdownturn. Aldina’s forecast for metcoal was one of the meeting highlights,shining a positive light on the future.

Met coal was at about $120 in Sep-tember and will continue to struggleright through to 2018, when WoodMackenzie expects prices to begin topick up, rising above the $150 mark; italso predicts it will take well into the2020s before prices enter the $200range. Aldina said he believes a combi-nation of rising demand (underpinnedby hot metal growth in China) throughthe end of this decade, followed by apick-up in steel demand in India, plusadditional mine idlings, will spur thislonger-term increase.

Aldina and other market watcherslike session moderator (andMcCloskey Group namesake) GerardMcCloskey made clear that current metcoal prices are not the result of flaggingdemand. Global markets for met andthermal coal have been flooded bycountries like Australia and Indonesiarespectively, and it will take years forthis oversupply situation to change. “Inthe short term, to see higher prices, weneed to see even more idlings or shut-downs,” said Aldina. He estimates thatit will not be until 2018 when numer-ous active mines, particularly in Aus-tralia, will deplete their reserve basesand need to be replaced with higher-cost projects.

Alpha Natural Resources presidentPaul Vining was credited with the mostpoetic explanation for the oversupplypredicament: “We’ve seen the enemy,and it is us, the suppliers.”

At current prices it is not economi-cal for many to dig met coal out of theground. Australian and Canadian pro-ducers have the most assets currently“above water” on the margin curvethanks to their high-quality met coaldeposits, most of which can be minedfrom the surface, while the UnitedStates is faring especially poorly. RéalFoley, vice-president of marketing atTeck, estimated in his presentation thatabout one-third of the hard coking coalindustry is currently uneconomicaldue to “unsustainable prices.”

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Joe Aldina of Wood Mackenzie expects met coalprices to struggle until 2018, when they will rise

above $150 per tonne.

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THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIADepartment of Materials EngineeringExtractive Metallurgy Chair – Assistant Professor Position

The Department of Materials Engineering at the University of British Columbia seeks an outstanding individual for a grant tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level in the field of Extractive Metallurgy with an emphasis on high temperature processing. The starting date of the position will be May 1, 2015, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Extractive Metallurgy Chair has been funded by 4 Canadian and international companies and is strongly supported by the Faculty of Applied Science at UBC. The successful candidate for this competition will be expected to complement UBC’s existing strength in extractive metallurgy and will develop an internationally recognized, externally funded research program in the field of high temperature processing. The candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate and graduate level courses and to supervise graduate students at the Masters and Ph.D. level. In addition, as part of the Chair program, the candidate will be expected to teach short courses at sponsor sites, develop industrial research proposals and programs and generally support the activities of the Chair.

The candidate will hold a Ph.D. degree or equivalent in Metallurgical or Materials Engineering or a closely related field and will be expected to register as a Professional Engineer in British Columbia.

Further information on the department is available at www.MTRL.ubc.ca, and information on the employment environment in the Faculty of Applied Science is available at www.apsc.ubc.ca/careers.

Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, a statement (1-2 pages) of technical and teaching interests and accomplishments, and names and addresses (e-mail included) of four referees. Applications must be submitted online at http://www.hr.ubc.ca/careers-postings/faculty.php.

The initial closing date for applications is February 28, 2015 but applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found. All Canadian, permanent residents and international candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply. UBC is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority

Coal producers focus on cost cutting and new marketsRising demand from China and India likely to increase prices by 2020s

By Christopher Pollon


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How are met coal producers adapt-ing to such conditions? Over the lastfew years, they have embarked on ahighly successful cost-cutting spree –costs for global seaborne market metcoal were down 12 per cent in 2013and nearly 10 per cent this year,according to Aldina. The cost cuttinghas been so thorough and efficient thatoversupply has been further exacer-bated by cut-savvy producers whohave avoided suspending mining operations.

The complexities of cutting pro-duction to correct oversupply wasapparent when Kobe Steel’s HiroshiTanaka, general manager for purchas-ing, expressed the concern that sus-pending met coal mine expansionsand new greenfields threatens to dis-rupt the stability of supply, uponwhich large-buying met coal countrieslike Japan rely. Once the prices for metcoal come back, the risk is real thatthere will not be enough supply tofeed steelmakers.

Teck is an example of a companythat has not been timid about cuttingcosts or putting the brakes on met coalmine expansions. In his presentation,Foley outlined the company’s strategythat today sees its met coal productionwell under capacity. And with nearlyseven billion tonnes of coal in long-term reserves and resources (more than90 per cent of this is hard coking coal),the company anticipates it will be sell-ing met coal to the vast majority ofglobal steelmakers for the next 100years. (At the current prices, they are inno hurry to dig all of that coal out ofthe ground).

A shifting of the tides was apparentwhen Foley announced the start of astrategic pivot away from China, some-thing unthinkable even a few years agowhen China’s economy seemed like itwould forever surge.

Foley noted that China had alreadydropped to about 25 per cent of Teck’stotal met coal sales in 2013 from 30

per cent the year before. Even thisyear, Teck has seen market areas out-side of China – including Japan,Korea, Taiwan, and India – grow at a

higher rate than China, somethingFoley expects will continue. “The keygrowth area we see in the future outfrom 2018 is India.” CIM


Productivity the name of the game at MEMOCanadian iron ore producers see potential for a bright future amidst dark present

By Antoine Dion-Ortega and Pierrick Blin

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With the iron ore fines price flirtingwith the $80-a-tonne mark, the need toincrease productivity and reduce costs isa major issue in the sector. At the open-ing plenary session of this year’s Mainte-nance, Engineering and Reliability/MineOperators (MEMO) conference in earlySeptember, each of the five invitedspeakers discussed the urgency to inno-vate and adapt to the new global con-text. “We need to prepare for a newdownward cycle and potentially a newreality,” said Pierre Lapointe, generalmanager of operational excellence minesat ArcelorMittal. “We can either wait forprices to go up again or adapt now.”

MEMO 2014 was held in Sept-Îles,Quebec, a major port city for projectsfarther to the north in the iron-richLabrador Trough, by CIM’s QuebecNorth-East Branch in conjunction withthe Institute’s Surface Mining, Under-ground Mining, and Maintenance andEngineering Societies. The annual eventwelcomed 360 attendees from the serv-ice and supply sector as well as mainte-nance engineers and mine operators.

The city of Sept-Îles is currentlyreceiving conflicting signals from theindustry, as recent bad news is being off-set by positive prospects for the future.Last winter, Cliffs idled operations bothat its Wabush mine and its pellet plant inPointe-Noire, sending a shockwaveacross the whole region. At the same timethough, ArcelorMittal and Iron OreCompany of Canada (IOC) have stayedthe course with their respective expan-sion targets, while Alderon, Tata Steeland New Millennium Iron are movingforward to develop their own projects.Finally, the port of Sept-Îles is about tocomplete a brand new multi-user dockthat will more than double its currentshipping capacity of 45 million tonnesper year (Mt/a). The dock should be fullycommissioned by the end of 2014 andwill start shipping iron ore in early 2015.

Global competition has clearly intensi-fied this year, as many ambitious projects

set up during the 2010–11 iron ore rushare now entering production. “There havebeen massive expansions in Australia andBrazil, which are all coming into produc-tion now, not at the best of times,” saidTerry Bowles, president and CEO of theSt. Lawrence Seaway Management Cor-poration and past-president of CIM.“There are surpluses in iron ore, some-where between 72 Mt this year to maybe200 Mt in 2015.” In the Labrador Troughalone, about 25 Mt will be added to thecurrent 42 when Alderon Iron Ore’s Kamiproject enters production, at the end of2016 at the very earliest.

In a context where abundant sur-pluses are dragging prices down, pro-ductivity is key. Yet it is lagging behindin the Labrador Trough, according toBowles, who was president and CEO ofIOC until 2010. “Production costs arestill high,” he said. “In this region, [iron]grades go from 39 to 28 per cent at thelower end, versus 63 per cent in Brazil.We start with a tougher draw on ourhands.” Canadian iron ore is at the topend of the production cost curve, hesaid, while competitors in Australia andBrazil are at the bottom. “If we include

cash costs, sustaining costs and trans-portation costs, we are in a range of $90to $120 per tonne. So when prices arebelow $100, it is tough to make money.”

Louis Cyrenne, vice-president forSept-Îles operations at IOC, is confidenthis company will successfully overcomethese global challenges. In 2010, IOClaunched its concentrate expansion pro-gram (CEP), a three-phase investmentprogram aimed at bringing productionfrom 17 to 22 Mt/a. Four years later,nearly $1 billion has already beeninvested for CEP1 and CEP2 – the firstand second phases of the program; thethird phase is on the way as the com-pany’s Wabush 3 project is scheduled toenter production in January 2017. As forArcelorMittal, it hopes to meet its 2014objective of 24 Mt/a, after two years ofmassive investments totalling $1.6 bil-lion.

New paths should be explored in thequest to reduce costs further, according toBowles. He mentioned Rio Tinto’s Pilbaramines in Western Australia as an exampleof what automation can accomplish. LastJune Rio Tinto announced that its Mine ofthe Future programme reached a majormilestone when its fleet of autonomoushaul trucks moved its 200th milliontonne of material. A natural gas supply,either from a pipeline or from liquefiednatural gas imports, would help replaceexpensive fuel costs. Capital efficiencyalso needs to be tackled. “We have seenrecord impairments in the last coupleyears,” he said. “Meanwhile in Australia,they are delivering mining expansions for$120 to $130 per tonne of capacity. Youcan’t be purchasing facilities for $800 atonne; you won’t survive.”

Finally, Bowles prompted companiesto innovate by improving maintenanceand reliability practices. “Equipmentproductivity in Canada has gone downby 12 per cent since 2000,” he said. “Youhave to improve the efficiency of yourequipment, because productivity is thename of the game.” CIM

Jo-Anne Boucher (above), general manager, Sudbury,Bestech, acted as moderator at MEMO’s plenarysession in September.

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As the scale of the ebola outbreakcentred in Guinea, Sierra Leone, andLiberia continues to grow, mining com-panies working in West Africa are mov-ing to limit the health and safety risks totheir operations, as well as the effects ofthe outbreak on local populations andeconomies.

“These countries cannot face the sit-uation on their own. It has reached pro-portions that are way beyond theirmeans,” said Oumar Toguyeni, Iamgoldregional vice-president for West Africa.“We’re committed to this region. We aredoing as much as we can, but the inter-national community needs to come tothe help of these countries.” Iamgoldwas one of 11 companies operating inthe region whose CEOs signed an openletter in September calling on the globalcommunity to “step up the fight against ebola.”

ArcelorMittal, whose CEO alsosigned the letter, was forced to halt amine expansion project in August at itsYekepa iron ore mine in Liberia, thenation hardest hit by the outbreak,though existing operations at the sitehave not been effected, according to acompany spokesperson.

The company regularly tests allemployees and visitors to their Liberiasites for fever, and has stocked both itsown medical centres and others inLiberia with personal protective equip-ment. It has also provided training tohealth care workers and employees.“We have implemented an extensivecommunications campaign aimed atensuring employees know what actionsto take to minimize the risk of contam-ination,” said the spokesperson. “Ebolaawareness sessions were conducted by aleading infection prevention and controlexpert, and an infectious disease nursehas been brought in who serves asArcelorMittal Liberia’s in-house expert.”

Toguyeni, who is the chair of theCIM Dakar branch, explained that

Miners take measures against ebolaCompanies in West Africa are ramping up health and safety protocols to deal with ongoing outbreak

By Correy Baldwin

industry has been working together oninformation sharing and advocacyefforts, including financial donations toNGOs combating the disease, and help-ing supply and distribute medical andsanitation equipment and educationalresources. But they have also had to takeprecautionary measures. Companieslike Iamgold and First Quantum aremonitoring the situation closely, assess-ing the potential risks to their opera-tions daily and keeping staff wellinformed. They have stepped up screen-ings and built extra health monitoringand medical checks into the daily rou-tine at their work sites.

Iamgold’s Essakane project is in east-ern Burkina Faso, which in mid- October was outside the affected area.According to Toguyeni, his companyhas developed its own eight-levelgraded action plan, depending on theseverity of the outbreak and its impactsaround their operations.

Complicated plane travel in and outof West Africa for fly-in/fly-out work-ers from North America as well as

within the region is taking its toll;some flights are suspended and othersrerouted. “Flights are much moreexpensive and the travel time is muchlonger,” said Grace Barrasso, commu-nications manager at First Quantum,which has a mine in Mauritania. “It’svery tiring and demoralizing, and it’shaving quite an impact on our opera-tions from a personnel managementperspective.” Families of internationalworkers are expressing concern, andpotential employees are hesitant towork in the region.

Open borders are making the out-break unpredictable and difficult tocontain, said François Auclair, CEO ofAlgold Resources, who, though not asignatory to the open letter, agrees withthe principle behind it. “If ebola wasreported in Mauritania or BurkinaFaso, we would have to take steps toensure that our workers are safe.” This,he explained, would be extremelycomplicated, given the limited medicalfacilities in the region. Algold hireslocal labourers, but often there are no

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ArcelorMittal’s Yekepa mine in Liberia has managed to continue ongoing operations in the midst of the ebolaoutbreak in West Africa.

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local doctors available to help screen for signsof ebola.

Ebola was unknown in West Africa until thisoutbreak, meaning local health professionalsmust be trained, and the population must betaught basic information such as how the virusis transmitted. “I believe it’s our responsibility inthe industry to educate the people,” saidAuclair. “If a mining company can educate itsstaff, the information will get out. Until a vac-cine is created, it’s only by education that we’llbe able to fight that disease.”

But there is only so much industry can do,said Barrasso: “The international communityneeds to mobilize resources and get health careprofessionals and equipment on the ground assoon as possible.”

The United States has committed to deploy-ing 3,000 troops in Liberia, including armyengineers and medical personnel, to provideaide across the affected region. They will helpset up 18 medical centres and financial, med-ical and logistical supports that have been pro-vided by a number of other countriesincluding Canada. But even as resources flowinto the region, Barrasso suggests that much ofit has come too late. “The disease is spreading,and now they’re playing a catch-up game,” shesaid. “This is not just a West African issue. Thisdisease really has the potential to go global. It’san international issue and it needs to bestamped out.”

“I’m very concerned that we’ve had very lit-tle success in trying to contain this disease,”said Dr. Robert Quigley, regional medicaldirector of the Americas Region for Interna-tional SOS, a medical services and travel secu-rity firm. “But I also have concerns about all ofthese resources being dumped into this regionin West Africa.” With multiple NGOs on theground, he said, efforts are sporadic, andwithout a single body overseeing and coordi-nating the allocation of funds, resources willgo to waste.

“There needs to be transparent co-operationamong a variety of organizations, and it’s impor-tant that companies working in the region worktogether [to co-ordinate their response],” saidQuigley. “Governments will pay attention whenthey see this kind of co-operation.” CIM

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March 22 Ebola identified in Guinea, where it had alreadykilled 29 people.

March 28 The first ebola cases reported in Liberia.

May 26 The first ebola deaths reported in Sierra Leone.

Aug. 8 WHO declares ebola outbreak an internationalpublic health emergency.

Aug. 12 Death toll reaches 1,000.

Sept. 16 United States promises to send 3,000 militaryengineers and medical personnel to West Africa tobuild clinics and train health care workers.

Sept. 26 Death toll surpasses 3,000.

Sept. 30 CDC confirms first case of ebola reported in the U.S.from a traveller coming from Liberia. Two nurses arelater infected.

Oct. 14 WHO warns the ebola epidemic could hit 10,000new cases every week if drastic measures are nottaken within the next two months.

Latest figures (as of Oct. 17)

8,997 4,493 Total cases Total deaths

There are no licensedvaccines for ebola buttwo are currently beingtested.

The incubation period forebola is two to 21 days.Humans are not infec-tious until they developsymptoms.

Ebola outbreak timeline


News broke in 2011 of araft of sexual assaults againstwomen by staff of a local secu-rity company hired to protectBarrick Gold’s Porgera mine inPapua New Guinea. The inci-dents had been occurring asfar back as 2005. Securityguards patrolling the fringes ofthe mine site would detainlocal women they found min-ing illegally and systematicallyabuse them. The guardsoffered women a heinous bar-gain: the choice between sexor prosecution for theft andtrespassing. Human RightsWatch chronicled beatingsand gang rapes. The NGOcited some women as sayingtheir attackers warned themthey would be imprisoned orfined for illegal mining if theytried to complain about whathad happened.

Now, three years later, Bar-rick has completed the imple-mentation of its responseprogram. That was the focusof a September workshop in Ottawa,organized by CIM’s Centre for Excel-lence (CfE) in Corporate Social Respon-sibility and attended by Barrick alongwith several NGOs including HumanRights Watch, MiningWatch Canada,KAIROS and Publish What You PayCanada. While the workshop wentahead under the off-the-recordChatham House Rule, Patrick Bindon,Barrick’s manager of corporate affairs forAustralia-Pacific, said the workshop dis-cussed Barrick’s experience establishinga remedy program based on the UnitedNations’ “Guiding Principles on Busi-ness and Human Rights,” released in2011. The document enshrines a corpo-ration’s responsibility to respect humanrights and provide a remedy when thoserights are infringed upon.

Responding to human rights violationsBarrick implements remedy framework in the wake of allegations of sexual assault at Papua New Guinea mine

By Chris Windeyer

All told, at least 137 womenreported abuse at the hands of sixsecurity personnel at Porgera. Anothersix security staff members were awareof the abuses but failed to report them.All 12 were fired and charged withcriminal offences. However, none ofthe charges stuck, with the perpetra-tors either acquitted, charges dropped,or, in one case the victim reached anout-of-court settlement with herattacker. “I think we saw some of theinherent weaknesses in the Papua NewGuinea justice system,” said Bindon.“There was quite a legitimate belief bywomen that if they reported thesematters to police or took civil actionthrough the courts those formal mech-anisms would largely be ineffective indelivering justice.”

Bindon acknowledged thatprior to Human RightsWatch’s reporting on Porgera,Barrick’s response was inade-quate. “The company’sresponse clearly had weak-nesses,” he said. “We’velearned to look a lot moreclosely at the cultural andinstitutional issues that mightbe barriers to these kinds ofthings being reported.” Underintense scrutiny from HumanRights Watch, MiningWatchCanada and other NGOs, Bar-rick implemented what itcalled a remedy framework: apackage for local victims ofsexual assault containinghealth care and counsellingservices, legal advice andfinancial compensation. Italso improved electronic sitesurveillance, began trackingthe movements of securityvehicles and hired severalfemales to security staff. Fur-thermore, it established thePorgera Women’s Welfare

Office, which receives complaints andhelps women access remedy programs.The office also paid for awareness train-ing on violence against women for mem-bers of the Royal Papua New GuineaConstabulary, the national police forcethat handles rape complaints.

Ben Chalmers, vice-president ofsustainable development at the MiningAssociation of Canada and co-chair ofCfE, attended the workshop andbelieves Barrick’s response is a step inthe right direction. “Barrick was ableto develop an effective and independ-ently operated mechanism suited tothe local circumstances; they haveshown that it can be done,” he said.“The Porgera Framework representsone of the first, if not the first, attemptto institute a standalone remedy

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Barrick Gold’s Porgera open pit mine in Papua New Guinea

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framework for historical human rightsviolations since the adoption of theUN guiding principles.”

There is still progress to be madethough. Barrick has acknowledgedmore sexual assault allegations and thedestruction of homes on mine propertyby security personnel, and urged vic-tims to go to the police.

MiningWatch Canada in particularhas been critical of Barrick’s responseto the spate of sexual violence at Porg-era. Chief among the complaints aboutBarrick’s program for victims was theinclusion of a provision that womenagreeing to remedy packages renouncetheir right to sue Barrick or any relatedcompanies. Catherine Coumans, a re -searcher with MiningWatch Canada,

said the legal expertise made availableto the women was not independentfrom the company. And, she said, iffemale victims were truly satisfied withthe outcome of the remedy program,Barrick would not need to requirethem to sign a waiver. “The UN guid-ing principles say nothing about theright of companies to seek legalwaivers,” Coumans said. “The com-pany has a responsibility to provideremedy. Full stop.”

But Bindon defends that clause,saying it does not close off the victims’ability to sue their attackers, nor doesit run counter to the UN guiding prin-ciples. “In our view it is an entirelyreasonable request that if a claimant atthe end of the process was satisfied

with the redress being provided, it’sfair for them to say they wouldn’tbring further civil action for the sameharm they were already receivingredress for,” he said.

Bindon said the experience hastaught Barrick how to better respond tohuman rights issues at its internationaloperations. The company now screenssecurity personnel for criminal historiesand trains all workers in human rightsissues, including violence againstwomen. ”We’ve learned a lot about howto respond to these kinds of allega-tions,” he said. “I think we’ve learned tolook a lot more closely at some of thecultural and institutional issues thatmight be barriers to these things beingreported.” CIM

news

KWG was one of the earliest participants in Ring of Fireexploration, currently delineating the Black Horse and BigDaddy chromite deposits.

Noront is one of the larger mining companies active in theRing of Fire, pursuing the Eagle’s Nest and Black Bird chromiteprojects.

The Koper Lake claims at issue lie between the Eagle’s Nestand Blackbird chromite deposits to the west, and the BigDaddy deposit to the northeast. The Koper Lake claims sit nearthe terminus of the proposed road and rail lines into the Ringof Fire, and provide immediate float plane access.

The hearing: Noront alleges defects in stakingWhen Noront brought forth its dispute, the company

argued that KWG’s staking was illegal because Pye was notpresent “on the ground” during staking, and because KWGblazed the claim boundary in many places at the same time.

Messenger dismissed both arguments in his decision,Noront Resources Ltd. vs. KWG Resources Inc., released onJune 24, 2014. He held that having feet “on the ground”was a literal requirement of the previous version of theMining Act’s staking regulation. The current version,updated in August 2006, requires that the recordinglicensee be “in the area” at the time of staking. The miningrecorder ruled that the requirement of being “in the area”is met even when hovering above the muskeg in a helicop-ter. The posts were properly erected when they landedupright in the muskeg.

Messenger also found that it was not fatal to KWG’s claimstaking to have a team simultaneously blaze the claim bound-ary. All team members proceeded in a clockwise direction,starting only after Pye erected the first post.

Conclusion: the challenges of claim staking in the NorthIt is clear that those engaged in competitive staking are now

using every available means by which to save precious sec-onds. In remote and inaccessible environments, helicopterstaking has become more and more common. The decisionwill help advance mineral development in remote regions,including the Ring of Fire and the Far North. CIM

C rown lands located near Koper Lake in Ontario’s Ring ofFire opened for staking on June 17, 2011. NorontResources hired two men to stake the Crown land

on foot.In contrast, KWG Resources employed one recording

licensee, two helicopters and more than a dozen mining claimblazers.

The “24-Hour Rule” applied, meaning staking (on landopen less than 24 hours) had to start at the northeast claimpost, the recording licensee had to take down the start andstop times, and he or she had to inscribe and erect all posts. At9 a.m., KWG’s recording licensee, Ken Pye, inscribed the starttime on the first claim post, erected the post in the ground,and proceeded to a waiting helicopter. Pye strapped himself tothe side of the helicopter, which lifted off and headed clock-wise along the mining claim boundary. The helicopter hoveredat predetermined locations while Pye dropped claim postsfrom a height of 10 to 30 metres, depending on surroundingtree tops, with the sharpened posts impaling the muskeg andsticking upright.

On the ground, KWG’s team began “blazing” the claimboundaries (marking trees and attaching flagging tape) afterthe 9 a.m. start time. Each blazer started from a different pointon the claim boundary and blazed a section of the claim. Theentire KWG team travelled in a clockwise direction on foot.Pye completed the claim where he started, the first post,inscribing the finish time.

Two helicopters picked up the KWG team and repositionedit around the next mining claim. KWG completed three 16-unit mining claims using the “Helicopter Protocol” before thegrounded Noront team was able to complete its first two-unitclaim.

Noront launched a dispute of KWG’s mining claims, heardbefore Dale Messenger, the Ontario mining recorder, in Sud-bury on April 24 and 25, 2014. Noront argued that the miningclaims should be disqualified on the basis that the “HelicopterProtocol” did not comply with the Mining Act.

The setting: Koper Lake, Ring of Fire, northern OntarioThe Ring of Fire is a region of significant chromite, copper

and nickel deposits worth an estimated $60 billion or more incentral and northern Ontario, around 400 kilometres north-east of Thunder Bay.

Koper Lake rests within the most active region of the Ringof Fire, meaning that the mining claims at issue are importantboth for their mineral content and strategic placement of infra-structure (future road or rail links).

The helicopter protocol: northern claim staking

BY RICHARD BUTLER


Richard Butler and Nicole Petersen of Willms & Shier Environmental LawyersLLP acted for the respondent and successful party KWG. The matter iscurrently under appeal to the Office of the Mining and Lands Commissioner.Richard Butler is an associate at Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLPwhere he practises mining and environmental litigation and dispute resolution.He advises clients from the natural resources, mining and exploration, wastemanagement and electricity sectors. [email protected]

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to shortcomings in concept development and strategic man-agement of standard project fundamentals such as schedul-ing, progress monitoring and forecasting.

Mining projects can take between seven and 10 years togo from the first identifiable resource (i.e. something a pre-liminary study can be built on) to commissioning. Over thattime period, one would hope that the scope and subse-quently the cost accuracy improve at the same rate, but thatis not the case. One of the difficulties is that – on the wayfrom that early concept to feasibility funding – there are mul-tiple NI 43-101-compliant conceptual and preliminary stud-ies that omit the engineering and research needed to moreclearly define the scope and cost because QPs have no guide-lines in this regard.

There is already a wealth of data available on publicrecord through the System forElectronic Document Analysis andRetrieval (SEDAR), SEC Edgardatabase and company pressreleases to use as a reference to vetplans at the conceptual to prelim-inary stages. This data offersinsight into what led to past proj-

ect cost overruns or surprises, and the Canadian miningindustry must turn those lessons into practical guidelines tobe incorporated in NI 43-101.

The lack of clarification in NI 43-101 on QPs’ cost expert-ise raises questions for industry professionals: Why are certi-fied cost engineers not required to sign off on NI 43-101s? IfNI 43-101 is revised to require certified cost engineer sign-offs, who would be crazy enough to be liable for signing offon costs? Why are the large EPCM firms not signing off onNI 43-101s if they have the most QPs and professionalindemnity insurance? What recourse do investors have withthe QPs who are signing NI 43-101s? Is their professionalindemnity insurance adequate? Why does the SecuritiesCommission not keep a list of QPs, at least those who are fil-ing NI 43-101s?

Looking at the current NI 43-101 guidelines and the lackof rigour on cost and requirements for fundamental projectmanagement, we should not be surprised that investors arelooking for better returns elsewhere. As a global miningleader, Canada needs to do a better job in accurately estimat-ing costs. Nobody likes surprises. CIM

T he legislation that led to National Instrument 43-101(NI 43-101) was intended to protect investors fromunsubstantiated mineral project disclosures like those

experienced in the Bre-X scandal. (Bre-X Minerals collapsedin 1997 after its claim of an Indonesian gold find was discov-ered to be fraudulent.) What was not contemplated in theformation of NI 43-101 – and its rules and guidelines forreporting and displaying scientific and technical informationby Canadian-exchange-listed companies – was a standard forreporting and displaying the relative project cost and sched-ule information used in delivering a successful project. Whileit is unfair to hold companies accountable to deliver theircapital projects exactly to the estimated costs, there has beena gap between the estimated and actual costs of mining proj-ects in recent years.

We have to consider NI 43-101 to be the first step in theevolution of more comprehensive project management in themining industry and not solely a guarantee that the resourceidentified in the ground may actually be there.

One source of this problem lies in Part 1, Section 1 of NI43-101 entitled “Definitions.” Here it states that a QualifiedPerson (QP) must prepare the capital and operating cost por-tion of an NI 43-101 filing. According to the document, theQP must have “experience relevant to the subject matter ofthe mineral project and the technical report” and that it is theissuer’s responsibility to ensure that QPs meet this require-ment. However, there is nothing specifically about the quali-fications of a QP to prepare the capital and operating costportion of an NI 43-101 filing, or at the very least standard-ized guidelines for the QP to follow to support proper projectmanagement.

This is problematic, as it can lead to poor project scopedefinition. An oversimplified example of this is where anearly NI 43-101-compliant study underestimates the amountof labour required for a project because the skills and avail-ability of the workers are not well understood, while inap-propriate productivity factors and unrealistic escalationfactors (inflation over time) are used. How could the QP whosigned off on the report have accurately assessed the cost oflabour? Poor scope definition, at this stage, in turn is linked

Nobody likes surprises: the role of the certified cost professional

BY JOHN GRAVEL


John Gravel is director of natural resources for Turner & Townsend. From abackground in finance, John has 17 years of experience leading project teamsin mining and infrastructure. [email protected].

F I N A N C E

“Looking at the current NI 43-101 guidelines and thelack of rigour on cost and requirements for fundamentalproject management, we should not be surprised thatinvestors are looking for better returns elsewhere.”

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throughout the country as well as processing potential,could provide a viable supply of rare metals in the comingyears.

Electronic displays are now widely incorporated in alltechnologies. In the modern cockpit of an airplane, colourfuldigital displays are linked to weather radar, fuel flow meters,artificial horizons and auto-pilots which are activated or pro-grammed by pressure-sensitive touch pads enabled by therare metal indium. Germanium arsenide, gallium arsenide orhafnium can be found in computer chips that take over thenavigation functions and, in turn, communicate with globalpositioning satellites. Beryllium-copper connectors are foundin fly-by-wire controls that operate rare earth efficient motorsfor the ailerons, elevons, elevators, flaps, slots and ruddersthat surround the pilot.

Many of the propulsive technologies in the aerospace sec-tor also rely on rare metals as do the lightweight aircraftstarter motors, fuel pumps, hydraulic pumps, and actuator

Rare metals, which include rare earth elements (REEs),are widely used in the aerospace and defence sectors.As such, access to these metals is of great importance

to defence-minded organizations like the North AtlanticTreaty Organization (NATO). The Science and TechnologyOrganization of NATO recently hosted a two-and-a-half-daymeeting of international specialists under the bannerScarcity of Rare Earth Materials and Electric Power Systems.Securing access to a stable supply of rare metals is a matterof global security.

These metals, typically used in alloy form, lend theirunique chemical and physical properties to enable fast,energy-efficient flight with low-maintenance costs, mini-mal environmental impact and high functionality. Thesematerials are used in avionic and computer electronicscurrently employed in aerospace technology and continueto allow for lighter yet stronger airframes and propulsionsystems. Canada, with numerous advanced REE projects

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material supply chains. Luckily, Canada is poised to providea steady supply of rare metals. CIM

and linear motors peripheral to these engines. Turbojets andfanjets employ the rare metals tantalum (melting temperature3017 C), niobium (melting temperature 2477 C), and rhe-nium (melting temperature 3186 C) in their “hot sections.”These rare metals withstand the worst of the high tempera-tures used to compress, ignite, heat and expand the gasstream that provides the thrust.

REEs are already a key additive in the liquid fuel produc-tion process, with catalysts being thesingle largest demand for rare earthoxides. As an ingredient in fuel crackingcatalysts (FCCs), lanthanum, ceriumand neodymium improve the yield ofthe final product generated from crudeoil, prevent the early deactivation of thecatalyst and remove heavy metals.Adding lanthanum to an FCC canincrease the yield of gasoline by up to10 per cent, a significant advantage forend users. Perhaps lesser known is thatin 2012, the U.S. Department ofDefence alone purchased 104 millionbarrels of liquid fuels at a cost of $16.4billion. The air force consumed 54 percent of the 104 million barrels, the navy30 per cent and 15 per cent went to fuelthe army.

Individual soldiers also benefit fromREEs on longer missions. The chargedensity of lithium-ion batteries and theefficiency of neodymium supermagnetslend themselves well to their tasks. Theaverage marine on patrol carries 90pounds of equipment, a third of whichare batteries. Flexible lithium-ion bat-teries paired with flexible indium, gal-lium, germanium, selenium ortellurium solar panels and printed cir-cuits of gallium, indium alloys wouldessentially allow the uniforms of servicepeople to be wearable power plants.Better weight distribution woulddecrease strain on the carrier, whilesolar power would allow the variousmonitors, sensors and displays carriedby modern soldiers to be powereddirectly while the sun shines with a bat-tery ready to take over when the sunsets or in low-light conditions. Magne-sium, a critical metal for the EuropeanCommunity, can also be used to gener-ate power from urine.

NATO and its allies are currently tak-ing a greater interest in these importantraw, semi-processed and fully processed

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Ian London is the chairman of the Canadian Rare Earth Elements Network(CREEN) and was instrumental in its formation in mid-2013. He is also marketdevelopment and energy advisor with Avalon Rare Metals Inc. Over his 40-yearcareer, he has served as president and CEO of Ontario Hydro International, CEOof Process Products Ltd., and on the boards of several technology andalternative energy companies. Ian recently presented at the NATO-hostedspecialist meeting.


When Goldcorp bought the Bruce Channel prop-erty, which included the brownfield Cochenourmine site near Red Lake, Ontario, in 2008, thecompany acquired underground workings but

not the processing facilities it needed. With the Campbellmill at its nearby Red Lake complex running under capacityand Campbell mine production winding down in the comingyears, Goldcorp management opted to keep the Campbellmill running with ore from Cochenour, affording consider-able capex savings.

That raised the question of how to get ore to Campbell.Goldcorp entertained many scenarios that boiled down tothree basic options: sink a new Cochenour shaft on McKenzieIsland and connect it via a bridge across the Bruce Channel ofRed Lake; retain the existing shaft on the mainland but haulthe ore overground; or drive a long drift that would connectthe existing Cochenour shaft to the mining complex near theCampbell mill.

Goldcorp chose the latter, using the existing shaft and haul-ing the ore underground by rail. “Some of it had to do withpermitting constraints,” says Elizabeth Howell, who took overas Cochenour project manager after these decisions weremade. “The permits were already in place that addressed thehistorical mine and infrastructure. By applying for amend-ments and modification to existing infrastructure rather thanpermitting an entirely new project, Cochenour could begindevelopment sooner.”

For mining contractor Redpath, hired by Goldcorp to con-nect Cochenour and Campbell infrastructures, the nearlycompleted five-kilometre haulage drift represents the largest

drift it has undertaken in North America. “We’ve done othersimilar projects, but not of this magnitude,” says DonDuhamel, safety and training coordinator at Redpath. Its clos-est comparisons are to be found in Redpath’s Indonesian workfor Freeport-McMoRan and its work on Rio Tinto’s Oyu Tolgoiproject in Mongolia.

A solid linkTiming and access played roles in the decision to transport

underground. By connecting the mine workings at Cochenourto those at the Red Lake side, explains Howell, “We takeadvantage of existing infrastructure. Development of the driftallowed first access to the deposit while the surface infrastruc-ture and shaft sinking was completed at Cochenour. Havingtwo access points to the deposit allowed for flow through ven-tilation earlier as well.”

The drift, which is 5,320 feet down, provides a platform forexploratory drilling at depth. As construction progressed, Red-path developed drill bays every 400 feet. With Goldcorp’sRahill-Bonanza joint venture property sitting betweenCochenour and Red Lake, future access could come in handy.

Ventilation presented Redpath’s top challenge on the proj-ect. There was limited airflow available from the Campbellmine, as ongoing mining operations required the majority ofit. “Originally, ventilation was around 48,000 cubic feet perminute, which is pretty tough for developing the drift,” saysHowell. At the current 63,000 cubic feet per minute, ventila-tion is still a constraint as such volume only allows a limitedamount of diesel exhausting equipment to be used. Workersuse a tag board to check equipment in and out and ensure

Taking ashortcutGoldcorp and Redpathblaze an underground trailto connect mine to mill atRed LakeBy Eavan Moore

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Goldcorp’s Cochenour headframe

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only so many pieces of equipment are running at one time.The list of equipment needed is long. It includes, amongother things, Caterpillar 1,600 scoops, two-boom jumbo drillrigs, a MacLean bolter, two MacLean scissor lifts, two forklifts,utility vehicles, MTI 30-tonne locomotives, and three person-nel carriers.

The construction of the drift has taken place in stages. Thedrift is 14 feet wide and 16 feet high, and the ground controlincludes shotcrete. The workers also install power, leakyfeeder communications, process water, dewatering and com-pressed air lines, and ventilation. The safety infrastructureincludes not only seven refuge stations along the way but alsoan eight-tonne locomotive set aside to pull a mine rescue carif needed.

The track for locomotives is currently two-thirds complete.“As we finish a third of the haulage drift, Redpath installs thetrack,” says Howell. “That lessens the amount of diesel haulageand decreases the cycle time for the next third of the development.”

Goldcorp and Redpath are still evaluating how to lay trackin the last third of the drift. Unlike the basalt that much of thetunnel runs through, the final section is in less-stable talc. “Itslowed down the development when the drift went through thetalc, and that’s mainly due to reducing the size of our rounds,”says Howell. Normally one drilling and blasting round would

advance the tunnel 12 feet further, but at times caution pushedthat number down to eight feet. “We did stop and put in addi-tional cable bolting,” he explains. “In addition, the drift requiresrehab while we determine the right combination for the perma-nent ground control. We’ve installed ground support test

Ore from Goldcorp’s Cochenour mine will be transported to the Campbell mill via anew haulage drift, shown in the bottom right.

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The new haulage drift will connect theCochenour shaft with the mining complexnear the Campbell mill.

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sections and are in the process of evaluating those test sec-tions right now. Five test sections were installed, and we’vebeen monitoring them since June. The monitors wereinstalled to track the ground movement. We will use thedata gathered as a factor in making our determination forpermanent ground support in the talc section.”

As of late September, the haulage drift was 99 per centfinished – the original development timeline having beenextended along the way. Design optimization conducted in2013 resulted in a revised development plan to accelerateinitial gold production. Priorities shifted from completingthe haulage drift to ventilation and to increased explorationdrilling. A T-drift was added perpendicular to the haulagedrift, with six drill bays, to explore the Bruce Channeldeposit. The drilling done on the Bruce Channel deposit isthe first at depth, so it plays an important part in designingthe rest of Cochenour’s infrastructure.

The egress drift was developed to connect the haulagedrift to the Cochenour shaft. This connection acceleratedthe timing of increased ventilation. “We hijacked thehaulage drift project on these two sidelines to benefit theoverall project,” says Howell.

Working toward productionGoldcorp did not have many case studies to consult in

planning the drift. Back in the 1960s, Newmont built a 17-km haulage tunnel in the Granduc copper mine in Stewart,B.C. “They actually put most of their offices down under-ground and rode a train in for half an hour, the same aswe’re going to be doing,” says Lorne Gunby, project generalforeman with Goldcorp. But the Granduc project usedmore air-and-electric-operated equipment, so the buildersof the Cochenour drift needed more robust ventilation tomanage diesel fumes.

In full production, Cochenour is forecast to produce225,000 to 250,000 ounces of gold per year. The tram sys-tem will carry 1,500 tonnes of ore to the Campbell milleach day. As long as development stays above the haulagedrift level, gravity will do much of the work: the rock minedwill tumble down ore and waste passes into bins and theninto eight to 12 cars to be trammed across to Campbell,where skips will carry it upward. Once Cochenour goespast the 5,320 level, ore will have to be transported up andinto the bins.

In the meantime, Redpath has plenty of other develop-ment work to do at Cochenour: the legacy shaft has beenexpanded and revamped, but there are ramps, bins andentire levels to put in. The total development cost of thenew mine is projected at $496 million. Goldcorp estimatesit can recover about $44 million in costs with the integra-tion of the Cochenour operation with the Red Lake sites,including the unified milling process. Production has beenpushed back from its original start date, but Howell says themine is on target to produce first ore from productionstopes in the third quarter of 2015 with commercial pro-duction expected in the second half of 2016. CIM


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Three-quarters of the way into 2014, it became clearthat this was a very good year for Claude Resources.The Saskatoon-based gold miner had increased itsyear-to-date gold production by 63 per cent over

2013, thanks in part to a successful implementation of the Ali-mak mining method at its Seabee gold mine in Saskatchewan.

“It’s one of the drivers for our turnaround,” says Brian Skan-derbeg, senior vice-president and chief operating officer atClaude Resources. “It’s not the only one, but it’s been one of thekey ones.”

Raise climbing, widely known as the Alimak miningmethod after the company that introduced it, is a variation onlonghole stoping developed for narrow-veined, tabular orebodies. Successful users of the technique have found that itaccelerates their path to production by centring developmentwork within the ore body.

In regular open stoping, overcuts and undercuts provideaccess to the ore along strike. Since drills can only reach so far,the traditional approach demands sublevels about every 25metres. Alimak mining uses a specialized piece of equipmentcalled a raise climber (or, casually, an “Alimak”) to drive a raiseupwards from the bottom level of the stope to the top level,following the dip of the ore body. Eliminating the interveninglevels cuts out a good chunk of lateral development time andspending.

That was the main attraction for Claude Resources, whichintroduced the Alimak method in its L62 zone at Seabee inlate-2013. The lens of interest stood 200 metres away fromhistorical infrastructure; with lateral development included, a100-metre-high stope at Seabee would have taken 16 to 18months to mine out using longhole stoping. With Alimak min-ing, it took nine months.

The methodAfter an external consultant suggested cost-cutting via Ali-

mak, Claude Resources looked to Barrick Gold’s Williamsmine in Ontario as an example. Williams had expanded its Ali-mak production several years earlier with the help of narrowvein specialists Manroc Developments Inc.

Manroc contractors at Williams build a “climber nest”into the hangingwall just outside the bottom of each stope.They blast the first few metres of the raise and then install aclimber running on a curved rail from the nest into the raise.The climber holds two to three people and the drilling andblasting equipment they need. Once the top of the stope hasbeen reached, the miners descend again, screening the raisewalls as they go. Switching to a new drill, they drive cablebolts up the centre of the raise, grout them in place and drillproduction holes. After each round of blasting, the brokenore falls down the raise and is collected by a scooptram.

Ken McKirdy, chief engineer at Manroc, says the Alimakmethod provides benefits beyond ore access. One is stability:Cable bolting provides better ground support from its positionin the central hangingwall of the stope, and the broken oreadds support by putting outward pressure on raise walls. Theset-up also provides ventilation if miners leave open one of theraises after breaking through to the next level. Avoiding repeatlevels has slight time-saving effects during operation because iteliminates the further work, like fencing backfill, needed oneach level.

Allison Henstridge, engineering superintendent at theWilliams mine, says the Alimak stopes produce higher ton-nages: “Once you’ve done all the work to get it, and you blastit, you have a very good ore source there for a longer period oftime. Our longhole stopes are approximately 5,000 to 10,000


A cut aboveRaise climbing bringsproduction gains toCanadian companiesBy Eavan Moore

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An alimak leaves its nestto climb into a raise.

tonnes, whereas the Alimak stopes are anywhere from 20,000to 30,000 tonnes. So you put in a lot of work, but you get alot of ore out at the end.”

The Seabee mine had to adapt to this new cycle. “You’ll endup being very high productivity and then very low productiv-

ity,” comments Skanderbeg. “So your backfill cycles are longerand your mucking cycles are longer. You end up creatingstockpiles and drawing off your stockpiles, so it’s important, interms of blending your ore and ensuring your mill is fed, thatyou properly manage your stockpile.”

Improvements over timeSince Barrick-Hemlo and Manroc began full-scale Alimak

mining in Williams’ C zone ore body in 2004, they have made

several improvements to the method. One of the disadvan-tages to mining long, straight raises is that it becomes diffi-cult to follow high-grade ore. Williams mine initiallydesigned 180-metre raises but learned that was far too high.“Because the Alimak has limitations on how much you can

change the dip asyou’re driving the raiseup the hangingwall,you’re potentially min-ing out dilution thatyou wouldn’t take ifyou were able to mine alonghole stope,” saysHenstridge. Now a typ-ical Alimak stope is 80or 90 metres high and

mucked more often – an improvement for grade and sched-uling. Strike length was also reduced from 15 to 14 metresafter problems with hangingwall caving and dilution.

Other improvements have focused on the climber end.Manroc, Williams and Orica Ltd. worked together to set upa bulk emulsion loader on the climber and to incorporateelectronic caps, which allow a stope to be blasted in oneshot. Tinkering with the drill rig set-up allowed an entirering of production holes to be drilled without repositioningthe drill more than once. A new canopy design has providedmore room on the climber platform. “Our miners now tendto view it as a safety device instead of an irritant,” remarksMcKirdy.

Managing risksThough Manroc alone has collected a double handful of

Alimak success stories, uptake of the technique has beenlimited since it was popularized in the 1990s. Asked why,McKirdy says, “It’s a relatively new mining method, andwe’ve been more or less refining it ever since. Other peoplehave tried it and haven’t had the same success as us.” Hethinks unsuccessful adopters probably made one of twobasic mistakes: either they skimped on the number of cablebolts or they oversized the stope.

Overall costs are lower, but the method also costs moreto run, which could deter some but does not faze its propo-nents. “It’s marginally higher in terms of cost per tonne, butthe difference we’ve seen in terms of productivity per man-hour and development costs per tonne has been signifi-cant,” says Skanderbeg. “We have seen significantreductions in all-in sustaining costs.”

Henstridge attributes the higher cost of Alimak miningto reliance on contractors; at Williams mine, that makes it10 per cent more expensive than longhole stoping. ClaudeResources used Dumas Ltd. to smooth its transition to Ali-mak mining but will go completely in-house as it moves for-ward. The company has committed to expanding themethod beyond its current, relatively small lens.

“It’s been a good process for us,” says Skanderbeg, “andwe’ll keep at it and keep using it where it’s applicable.” CIM


“It’s marginally higher in terms of cost per tonne, but the difference we’ve seen in terms of productivity per man-hourand development costs per tonne has been significant.”

- B. Skanderbeg

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Chihuahua | Guatemala | Lima


Last fall Goldcorp’s Red Lake mine was organized con-ventionally, with teams reporting to supervisors whoin turn reported to a general foreman. With a wicketsystem in place, employees arriving for their shift

lined up to receive their assignment from their supervisor forthe day, taking them to different parts of the mine. It was ahierarchical approach that managers had determined was lessthan ideal.

To build the foundation for a more employee-driven organ-ization, Red Lake management chose to reorganize operationsinto 14 different cells – or business units – each comprisingbetween 10 and 15 members. Each cell is assigned dedicatedresources that include equipment, labour and support of orga-nizational structures. And each one handles its own account-ing and metrics. “Essentially, we set up each cell to act as anindependent small business,” says Bob MacDonald, operationsmanager at Red Lake. “Collectively, we get to learn from thebest practices of each unit, and independently, each unit is bestequipped to deal with its own unique operating conditions. It’sa win-win.”

PlanningThe planning process for the new organizational structure

took three months, carried out by a team made up of a generalforeman and a technical services representative as well asTrevor Krawchyk, Goldcorp’s operations excellence manager.They also worked closely with daily supervisor and technicalteams to revise and fine-tune every aspect of the plan.

It was a daunting process. Krawchyk, who worked on plan-ning and implementing cell mining at Barrick Gold’s Hemlo in2004, says the complexity of Red Lake’s operation added to thechallenges.

“Hemlo was easier because it was a standard miningmethod,” he says. “Here, there are two complexes, the RedLake complex and the Campbell complex, two separate under-grounds and within those, there are captive mining areas and

different mining methods, overhand and underhand cut andfill, pillar recovery and longhole, so it’s a mixed bag.”

Geography had to be taken into account, as the Red Lakeand Campbell complexes collectively occupy a large area.“Keeping the cells small enough geographically so supervisorscan have more face time with their employees versus spendinga lot of their day travelling from one operation to another wasimportant,” Krawchyk points out.

Infrastructure limitations such as adequate ventilation foreach team and their equipment was another piece of the puz-zle, he adds: “We were not going to have one team logically gofrom one area that was ramped and had access to lower levelsof the mine and then have to go into another area that was cap-tive mining. So we had infrastructure that limited how wedesigned the cells.”

Another key aspect was scheduling since team membersworking in the same cells needed to be on the same rotations.Due to different historical hiring practices, Red Lake had avariety of rotations. The new set-up standardized these, as wellas creating fly in/fly out and local teams.

With a three-year mine plan in mind to avoid creating cellsthat would become obsolete within a couple of months, everycell was created to have a production rate of 100,000 to 150,000tonnes per year. For equipment selection, the cells were priori-tized based on ore production and grade. Ideally, each cellwould have had its own maintenance team, but Red Lake doesnot currently have the resources for this, so instead maintenanceteams were allocated zones that cover three to four cells.

The wicket system was replaced with cell meeting rooms,where the teams gather at the beginning of their shift to dis-cuss safety and production goals for the day and resolve issuesencountered during previous shifts. “It’s more of a team collab-oration and discussion than a directive,” says Krawchyk.

Technology was also built into the plan: each cell meetingroom is equipped with a 60-inch TV screen and video camerasto allow the cells to interface with all-employee meetings.

UndergroundentrepreneursRed Lake miners nowmembers of small businesscells operating with moreautonomy By Alexandra Lopez-Pacheco

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Mining cells are organized so that eachteam takes ownership of its work

environment and equipment.

Then came planning for the human element: adapting tochange, which involved a lot of communication with employ-ees. There was significant training as well, in some cases foruse of equipment where operators did not have prior experi-ence. In others, as in the case of the supervisors, it involvedcoaching to improve their skills in leading meetings and teamdiscussions.

Other adjustments included increasing the number ofsupervisors. “So we’ve had a fairly steep recruitment and train-ing curve,” says MacDonald.

ImplementationIn January Red Lake’s cell mining structure went live. Peter Gula, Goldcorp’s mining manager, says it was an easy

sell to employees. “When you tell your workers, ‘You’re goingto have your own planning room with only the people whosupport your area underground, and we’re going to provideyou your own equipment,’ there’s just smiles from ear to earand they think that it’s great that they have a permanent work-place they can be accountable for.”

For the first three months, “there was fairly intensive follow-up. We’re still working on it and will make adjustmentsas needed,” says MacDonald. “The employees themselves weregreat to work with. People were patient and understood wewere trying to make changes for positive reasons.”

BenefitsEngagement and ownership as well as communication have

dramatically improved, says Gula. In the large meetings of thepast, Red Lake management found the same few peopletended to speak up. Now, with the new smaller team meetings,it is easier to get the message across that “We want to hear whatyou think, not only the good but also the bad,” he says. “Nowyou go into a cell meeting, and they’re the first to tell you: Weneed to do the material handling storage differently. We wantto put some lighting here, we want to make sure the forkliftcan turn on a right angle to maximize the areas used – detailsthat we didn’t even consider before, and we’re getting thatinput from the workers themselves.”

One of the theories behind implementing cell mining was thatworkers would take more ownership of their designated equip-ment. That has already paid off with lower maintenance costs.“People take more pride and make sure they do all the necessarymaintenance on it because they don’t want to jeopardize up-timeof the equipment designated for their cell,” says Gula.

Improvement in efficiency has already been noted at RedLake as a result of cell mining, particularly in the areas of sup-plies and maintenance. Face-to-face communication betweensupervisors and their teams has also grown from about 10 per-cent of their time to between 25 and 35 percent.

“I believe this is a journey,” says MacDonald. “I always liketo see better engagement with the workforce and we’realways going to be making adjustments to improve this, sowe still have some work to do on it. But to be honest, I’mglad we did it and I think over time we will see substantialbenefits as well.” CIM



Matthew Pierce, a specialist in geomechanical charac-terization of rock masses and underground minedesign, was recently named director of the RioTinto Centre for Underground Mine Construction

(RTC-UMC) at the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation(CEMI). Pierce is a principal engineer with Itasca ConsultingGroup in Minneapolis and a recipient of the InternationalSociety of Rock Mechanics Rocha Medal.

RTC-UMC was created in 2010 to conduct research in sup-port of Rio Tinto’s Mine of the Future programme and itsunderground mining operations, and Pierce is now leading theCentre into new territory.

CIM: What makes Rio Tinto’s underground mine constructioncentre unique?Pierce: From an organizational perspective, Rio Tinto has givenCEMI the mandate to find the right researchers by recruitingseveral different players including other mining companies,consultants and academics. CEMI does not conduct its ownresearch but can organize the appropriate parties to carry outthe research because it’s not associated with any one university.

From a technical perspective, we recognize that characteriza-tion, excavation and support design need to consider brittlespalling as the main rock mass failure mechanism, not shear fail-ure, and that traditional rock mass failure criteria are likely tounderestimate the rock mass strength under high confinement.

CIM: Why are you stepping in to lead the Centre?Pierce: Peter Kaiser was the director of the Centre for the firstfour years and set the technical vision to help Rio Tintoimprove how they excavate and support their cavingoperations. In a step towards retirement, he wanted to remaininvolved but find someone to start developing a vision for thenext five years that would add even more value. The solutionwas to have the directorship shared between me and associatedirector Erik Eberhardt from UBC, with Peter’s continuinginvolvement.

CIM: The Centre has made rock mass characterization a priority.What further work is needed in rock mass characterizationresearch to improve on what has been done so far?Pierce: In rock mechanics, there is an increasing recognitionthat we don’t completely understand how rock massesrespond to mining under one particular combination ofconditions: when the rock is massive (sparsely jointed) butdensely veined and under high stress – for example copperporphyries at depth. Traditional rock mechanics has focusedon how more heavily jointed rocks behave at shallow depth.But if we want good designs for deep underground mines inmassive rocks, we need to change the way we think aboutspalling as a failure mechanism. The Centre will bring cutting-edge rock mechanic theory into practice rather than discuss itpurely in academic terms.

Big on rockmechanicsMatthew Pierce leadsresearch that can help largecave mines achieve bettersafety and productionBy Virginia Heffernan

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CIM: Footprint reliability is a big focus for the Centre; what is itand why it is important?Pierce: In this case, the word “footprint” means the bottom ofa caving mine. In order for a huge volume of fragmented oreto get out of the mine to the mill, it must flow through thefootprint or extraction level. Recent experience at a number ofoperations shows that if you keep the extraction level stableand the ore flowing freely through the drawpoints, you willhave a more productive mine. If, on the other hand, thetunnels begin to deteriorate or the support turns out to beinadequate, you can quickly lose drawpoint availability. If onlyhalf of your drawpoints are available, you start to pull in waste,stress the extraction level causing further damage, and createthe knock-on effects of lost recovery, low productivity andhigher rehabilitation costs. The key driver for footprintreliability is keeping drawpoint availability high and a largepart of that is proper ground support for spalling groundconditions.

CIM: What are some of the solutions you are working on tominimize delays and maximize speed in underground mineconstruction?Pierce: To speed things up, you need to pull as much ore outas fast as you can. That comes down to drawpoint availability,but perhaps an even more important consideration is the lead-up to developing a cave. The faster we can excavate the tunnelswhile still being safe, the quicker we can start getting the oreout. One way is to put in fewer drawpoints. Another way is todesign the ground support so that it takes less time to installand acts more effectively, minimizing rehabilitation.

CIM: Can you elaborate on how the Centre incorporates lab, insitu and numerical studies?Pierce: Any engineering study should have a basis in thesethree areas. If we can take the field data and use it to validatea numerical model, we have a tool to predict a wider range ofscenarios. For example, the Centre will be monitoring thepillars at three different mines in the coming year. We’ll takethat data and use it to calibrate numerical models of thosepillars and hopefully validate their utility. The third leg isphysical modelling that allows us to scale down the problemin the lab. There is a lot of value to that for cave miningbecause instead of having to model the flow of giant boulderswe can model the flow of gravel or sand. It’s another way toeither study the problem directly or collect data for calibrationof numerical models.

CIM: One of the Centre’s aims is to develop efficient andeffective ground control measures. Are there any new measureseither in the works or ready to be deployed?Pierce: A number of these caving operations are not in aposition to take on a new type of support element andincorporate it into their support design philosophy. We’reaiming to combine the existing types of support includingbolts, cables and shotcrete in new ways and change the


timing of installation. So our focus is not necessarily to comeup with a new type of support, but rather to understand howexisting support tools should be installed, in whatcombination and when.

CIM: The Centre is planning to deliver a support selection guidefounded on deformation-based support design principles. Canyou explain those principles? What is novel about them?Pierce: You can think about ground support in terms of surfacepressure (applying pressure to the wall of the pillar or tunnel)or in terms of reinforcement (tying the rock together internallywith bolts and cables). Those are two ways to achieve the sameresult: allowing the rock to stay together and support itself. Weare questioning which combination of these two methods isappropriate for the spalling mode of failure. This forms thebasis for a lot of our support design studies.

CIM: What is the “Mine of the Future” and can you explain theimportance of the concept?Pierce: From the Centre’s perspective, it’s a mine that can bemore reliably developed and operated. That has been astruggle for caving mines for a long time. We have to changethe way we construct, support and monitor theseoperations. CIM

karstmining within a maze

Formations such as the Haskell Sims cave (pictured) can be spectacular, but also present a major challenge for hydrogeologists attempting to understand them.

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Karst is a topography formed in geographies con-taining carbonate rock, particularly limestone anddolomite, which can be selectively dissolved bywater that has become acidic during precipitationand infiltration of the ground. This dissolution ofrock creates underground drainage systems charac-terized by solution-enlarged fractures, sinkholes, dis-appearing streams, shafts and caves that together canquickly capture an enormous amount of water, dis-charging it at karst springs. Although these networksinclude some of the most spectacular caving desti-nations in the world, they can be daunting for min-ing hydrogeologists.

Karst exists worldwide – anywhere that carbonaterock is exposed to surface or subsurface water. Theproperties of karstic features – especially large-scalejointing – make it an excellent host for metallic min-eralization. The limestone belt in the PeruvianAndes, for example, stretches for more than 2,000kilometres, accounts for only 13 per cent of theAndes’ surface area, but contains over 50 per cent ofPeru’s metal mines, including Antamina, accordingto David Evans, managing director at FloSolutions.His company is a Peru-based hydrogeology consul-tancy specializing in karst. Projects from Nevada toZambia and from Poland to Indonesia deal with karst

ater is one of the primary concerns in mining. Unless they are correctly managed,water inflows can destabilize pit slopes, flood underground mines and have adramatic effect on production schedules. In fact, in some cases, water

management can be the largest external cost of a mining operation – anywhere from five to25 per cent of a mine’s operating budget and occasionally higher, says Geoff Beale, a mininghydrologist at Schlumberger. Some of the most unpredictable hydrogeologies – but also someof the most lucrative ore deposits – exist in areas of karst.

By Ian Ewing

and feature some of the biggest dewatering opera-tions on the planet.

In karstic regions, cavities and channels in the car-bonate rock are the primary mode of subterraneanwater transport. The complex fault and fracture systemsof karst create discrete, high-volume groundwater flowpaths that do not conform to standard hydrogeologicalpermeability models. And worse for the would-beminer is that hydrogeological features in these regionscan be so interconnected that the region may have ahydraulic drawdown area in excess of 400 square kilo-metres. In fact, Barrick Goldstrike monitors water levelsover an area of 15,000 sq. km around its mine, in partto ensure mining and dewatering activities do notadversely affect nearby aquifers. Such extensive moni-toring is necessary because karstic sources and drainsare so difficult to find and correlate, and precise mod-elling of the subterranean network is nigh impossible.

Nonetheless, for miners, characterizing karsticgeology is vital. Everything from drilling and dewa-tering to slope design and siting of tailings damsdepend on the ability of hydrogeologists to map andmanage the groundwater systems around a mine. Thevery economic viability of the mine may depend onthe hydrogeologist’s ability to confidently characterizea karstic region.


drilling and dewateringDespite the challenges, however, modern characterization

techniques and dewatering capabilities have made miningpossible in the most inhospitable of hydrogeological condi-tions.

Dewatering has significant benefits for many mines, evenfor those that could operate without it. In open pit mines,dewatering the ground around the pit can help stabilize pitwalls, meaning steeper slopes may be possible. “For a largeopen pit, one degree on the slope angle can mean half a billiondollars in stripping,” says Schlumberger’s Beale. “You can’tchange the structure, you can’t change the rock. All you canchange is the water pressure.” He figures that, on average, forevery dollar spent on dewatering or depressurizing the slope,a mine can reap a $5 payback in slope performance.

Underground mines, meanwhile, may choose to workunder the water table, and so exclude water from the mine,or they may encourage inflow for the purposes of dewateringin order to lower the water table to below the level of mining.But either way, the water management plan has to accountfor labyrinthine karstic hydrogeology. In both undergroundand open pit mines, the existence of karst complicates dewa-tering plans.

In Nevada, for example, mine operators at Newmont Min-ing Corporation must contend with limestone-hosted karstfeatures that store huge volumes of water. The companypumps 16,000 gallons per minute (roughly 1,000 litres persecond) from its Gold Quarry open pit, and a further 15,000gallons per minute at its Leeville underground facility. Nextdoor to Newmont, neighbour Barrick Goldstrike pumpsanother 16,000 gallons per minute (down from a peak ofaround 70,000 gallons per minute in the 1990s) from its well-developed karst. The companies have achieved a drawdownof more than 500 metres near the mines since pumping began.Dewatering that volume requires the use of 1,500-horsepowersubmersible motors driving nine-stage pumps at Gold Quarry,each of which can move between 2,000 and 2,400 gallons perminute against a hydraulic head of roughly 2,000 feet (600metres). The deeper wells at Leeville mean a pair of 1,500-hpeight-stage pumps must be used to remove 2,500 gallons perminute each against a head of 2,300-2,400 feet.

The geometry, hydraulic properties and interconnectivityof a given karstic network are often poorly understood and somust be inferred. Drilling is extremely unlikely to find majorkarstic drains because they are so discrete, and many channelscannot be accessed by cave specialists (known as speleolo-gists) because they are too small to enter or they extend belowthe water table. Complicating things further is the fact thathydraulic properties can vary by orders of magnitude oververy short distances. “We rarely model the individual karsticchannels because we rarely know the exact geometric detailsof the karst plumbing, in terms of size, depth and orientation,”says FloSolutions’ Evans. “Rather, an equivalent hydraulicconductivity is assigned to the principal mapped faults, whichare commonly karstified. We can, however, stochastically esti-mate what the karst system might look like based on knownfactors and include the karstic drains in the model.”

Solving the puzzleEvans says a preliminary conceptual hydrogeological

model must be developed upon which a field program can bebuilt. In parts of Peru, the field program will consist ofdetailed remote sensing, geological and hydrogeological map-ping, speleology, baseline water quality testing, geophysicalsurveys, dye tracer testing (the gold standard for understand-ing where flows start and end), drilling, and installation ofwater pressure-monitoring piezometers. In other areas, thesystem can be characterized by carefully analyzing large-scalepumping trials. Finally, 3D site-wide numerical modelling canbe carried out to predict flows, estimate seepage losses fromtailings facilities and run impact analyses.

Despite the many techniques available, there is as yet littleagreement on the best way to tackle the challenge of model-ling karstic terrain. “There are different philosophies in theindustry as to whether you can use standard groundwatermodels to reflect the fact that a site has karst or not,” saysPatrick Corser, the country manager for Canada at MWHGlobal. “Whether you can characterize the range of variabili-ties that you’d get in karst, by doing sensitivity [analyses] onfractures, permeabilities and locations, is an issue that isdebated a lot in industry right now.”

Dye tracing allows researchers to follow flows through karst formations.

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Research onthat question and others isongoing. The Karst Commission ofthe International Association of Hydrogeologistsaims to “promote a defensible scientific basis and professionalpractice for the sustainable management of karst waterresources.” The commission publishes research in the fieldand organizes conferences and training courses to help prom-ulgate knowledge and best practices.

For now, characterization of karstic geology does not meanknowing exactly what will happen with water flows. But itshould mean narrowing down what can or cannot happen,according to Evans. The narrower the range of possibilities,the more precise a dewatering plan can be in terms of requiredcapacity and adequate monitoring.

Dewatering itself is relatively straightforward, once suitablewell locations have been determined. Peripheral wells aroundthe mine are out of the way of operations but by necessitydeeper, while in-pit (or underground) wells can be shallowerbut can potentially interfere with operations. The water col-lected from dewatering wells may be used in the mine plantor simply discharged downstream, sometimes after filtrationor treatment.

Nothing is easyIn Nevada, Newmont’s Gold Quarry and Leeville opera-

tions and Barrick’s Goldstrike are located in a relatively dryarea of the world with low levels of recharge. Most of theirdewatering is storage removal – a semi-permanent drawdown.The Konkola copper mine in Zambia, by contrast, pumpsmore than three times as much water as Gold Quarry – over

3,000 L/s – from almost 1,000metres underground, and the Gras-berg open pit in Indonesia has todeal with three to five metres of rain-fall each year. “They say that water atGrasberg can get from the sky to thedewatering tunnel in as little as aweek,” marvels Beale. That comparesto a scale of tens of years in non-karstic rock.

Even the most basic ofexploratory tasks, drilling for coresamples or monitoring wells forinstance, take on added challengesin karst. Cavities, either empty orfilled, and fractures are impedi-ments to drilling. Newmont typi-cally uses a flooded reversecirculation drilling method, wheredrilling mud is gravity-fed betweenthe borehole wall and the drillstring, before compressed air carriesthe mud and cuttings back to thesurface inside the drill rods. “When

you’re drilling the wells, sometimesyou’ll just lose circulation” as the mud

flows out of the borehole and into a fractureor void, explains Bob St. Louis, the regional

hydrology manager at Newmont. Without the hydro-static pressure of the mud to move the cuttings away from

the bit, the drilling assembly can get stuck. Solutions vary bysituation, but all add cost, time and difficulty.

Decommissioning wells is similarly challenging, says St.Louis: “It can take a substantial amount of material to prop-erly close them so that they’re no longer a conduit for waterto move. Those open fractures or void spaces just consumematerial like nobody’s business.” One well drilled at GoldQuarry early in the mine life intersected a large fracture, andwhen the company tried to add stabilization gravel, severaltractor-trailer loads of gravel simply disappeared into thewell. “It was just pouring out into this very large fracture,”St. Louis explains ruefully. The problems did not end there,either. “When the well was commissioned, that fracture pro-duced so much water that the entry velocities of the watercoming into the well were so high that it caused the casingto erode.” The company has to continually rehabilitate thewell to keep it in service.

Diligence and perseverance – and no small amount ofmoney – have made seemingly impossible projects viable byremoving vast quantities of water from the ground in karsticregions. But surprises can still happen. “Water managementstrategies have been effective,” cautions Beale, “but because ofthe discrete nature of the features, you can still get – I wouldn’tsay catastrophic – but unanticipated large inflows.” Determin-ing the risk of those potential incidents remains a criticalaspect of the mining hydrogeologist’s job when working inkarst. Preventing and mitigating them is up to the engineers,like Corser, who work closely with them.

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engineering and tailingsDealing with waste material can hold surprises at any site,

as the August Mount Polley tailings pond breach in BritishColumbia demonstrated. However, such incidents can be evenmore problematic in karstic geologies. The challenges arethreefold. For one, unsealed surface or subsurface fractures inthe foundation of a tailings pond may allow relatively largevolumes of contaminated water to enter the karstic network.Once inside these flowpaths, waste may travelunimpeded kilometresdownstream in unpre-dictable directions. Secondly,any karstic flow paths nearthe base of a tailings dam canundercut the dam, washingaway dam material anddestabilizing the structure.And thirdly, as the tailingspond fills, the increasedhydraulic head pressure may enhance development of newand existing conduits and create sinkholes, and can actuallyincrease the downstream catchment area of the karstic net-work by increasing the height of the local water table. “Realizethat with karst, you can’t use standard approaches or standardthinking as to where water or tailings could report to,” saysMWH’s Corser. “You need to go into it with your eyes open.”

To meet the challenges of engineering tailings facilities incarbonate-rich regions, both prevention and mitigation strate-gies are necessary. Looking at what may be affected by a damfailure is the first step. The designer must determine what levelof seepage is acceptable based on localgeography, ecology and pop-ulations. Most

importantly, it is critical to get the best understanding possibleof the hydrogeological properties of a potential tailings site.

“When developing mine waste facilities in karstic areas,you don’t need a huge cavern to cause environmental andgeotechnical problems,” David Evans says. “A karstic pipe justa few centimetres in diameter could cause piping of tailingsor high seepage losses from a tailings facility.”

“The characterizationof the hydraulic contain-ment for the basin whereyou’re going to put a tail-ings facility is very impor-tant,” agrees Corser.“That’s your best mitiga-tion against the twobiggest risks with karst,”which, he says, are pipingof tailings and uncon-trolled pond water dis-

charges. “Any tailing facility will leak some amount ofwater into the groundwater, but it’s a matter of scale. At akarst site, if you encounter a karst feature, you could loseyour whole tailings pond.”

That would be disastrous for more than one reason.“Uncontrolled discharge to an unknown location is a problemfrom an environmental standpoint,” notes Corser, “but it’s alsoa problem because it could shut your operation down,because you’d have no water to operate with.”

Ideally, a suitable tailings site can be found that is notdirectly over karst. At a well-characterized site in other geo-

logical conditions, it is often possible toshow that the surrounding

water table is higher

“You have to deal with the risk, and evenafter spending a lot of money characterizingthe site and designing, you have to acceptthat there will be some risk associated

with karst features.”– N. Kresic

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Global distribution of major outcrops of carbonate rocks (mainly limestone, except evaporites).


than the tailings pond, meaning that the pond is hydraulicallycontained, and that piping of tailings is unlikely. But that maynot be possible for some mines. “The risk with karst is: haveyou drilled everywhere that there could be a karst feature?”asks Corser. Any undiscovered karstic feature may mean a lowlocal water level and could result in a loss of hydraulic con-tainment.

In many cases, engineered physical barriers may be nec-essary. Open karstic pipes and conduits that are located inthe waste site foundation can be plugged and grouted. Linersmade of geosynthetic or, more commonly, geologic materials– low permeability soils – can be used to control the headpressure from the tailings facility. Monitoring and hydrauliccontrol systems installed behind the liners or blankets canmeasure, collect and pump seepage and outflows before theyreach karstic features. Corser also recommends that ownerspurchase as much land around their mines as possible, sothey have access to any areas that karstic tailings flows mightreport to.

Good exploration and preparation, while expensive andtime consuming, is the best approach. Remedial measures –that is, dealing with leaks after the pond is filled – are farmore difficult and costly and less effective. “In my mind, it’sbetter to invest a lot before than trying to deal with it after,”says Neven Kresic, the hydrogeology practice leader atAMEC.

Managing riskSafety factors must be used for various aspects of design,

but like everything else in karst, the factors’ values depend onthe local geology. “Safety factors are very site-specific anddepend greatly on the degree of karstification, hydraulic

gradients to surrounding rivers and springs, and hydraulic containment levels,” says Evans. “There is no rule of thumbyet. One needs to recognize that it is simply impossible tocharacterize these areas sufficiently to definitively say ‘the risksare low’ – particularly during the feasibility stage when budg-ets can be tight.”

A colleague of Evans, Petar Milanovic, adopted the mantra“expect the unexpected” after working on the Keban Damhydroelectric project in Turkey. During that project, Evanssays, 36,000 metres of exploratory drilling and 11 km ofexploratory adits failed to detect an underground cavern thesize of an indoor football stadium.

New sensing techniques may help. Borehole-to-borehole3D imaging will allow more accurate mapping of features thanever before, with resolutions of potentially a decimetre or bet-ter, according to Kresic. “You can also do much better dye trac-ing tests now than you used to,” he adds, “because you havebetter probes and they’re cheaper now. So you can insert theseprobes at different levels or depths in different borings, andthen trace between and see where the water is flowing.” Addi-tionally, drilling is getting more advanced, allowing geologiststo isolate smaller intervals and image them, looking for cavi-ties. Meanwhile, cheaper processing power lets computeranalyses synthesize much more data, creating more accuratemodels of hydrogeological conditions.

But in spite of everything done to characterize the localhydrogeology and so much careful design to manage and mit-igate it, risk is something that miners must make peace with.“You have a lot of unknowns,” emphasizes Kresic. “You haveto deal with the risk, and even after spending a lot of moneycharacterizing the site and designing, you have to accept thatthere will be some risk associated with karst features. You willnot be able to find all of them.” CIM


L’eau est l’une des préoccupations premières del’exploitation minière. Si elles ne sont pas correctementgérées, les venues d’eau peuvent déstabiliser les talus demines, inonder les mines souterraines et avoir un effetdésastreux sur les calendriers de production. Commel’indique Geoff Beale, hydrologue minier chez Schlumberger,la gestion de l’eau peut effectivement constituer, danscertains cas, le coût externe le plus élevé d’une exploitationminière (de 5 à 25 % du budget d’exploitation d’une mine,parfois plus). On rencontre les hydrogéologies les plusimprévisibles (qui sont également les gisements de minerailes plus lucratifs) dans les zones karstiques.

Le karst est une topographie particulière, où le paysage estfaçonné par le phénomène de dissolution sélective des rochescarbonatées (en particulier des calcaires et des dolomies) parl’eau devenue acide pendant les précipitations et l’infiltrationdans le sol. Cette dissolution des roches crée des réseaux d’évacuation souterrains caractérisés par des fractures

agrandies par dissolution, des dolines, des pertes de coursd’eau, des puits et des grottes qui, ensemble, recueillent unegrande quantité d’eau et la déversent dans des sourceskarstiques. Ces réseaux ont beau renfermer certaines desdestinations les plus spectaculaires au monde pour lespassionné(e)s de spéléologie, ils peuvent s’avérer décourageantspour les hydrogéologues miniers.

On rencontre des structures karstiques dans le mondeentier, dès lors que les roches carbonatées sont exposées auxeaux de surface ou souterraines. Les propriétés du modelékarstique, et notamment les grandes fissures, en font un hôteparfait pour la minéralisation métallique. David Evans,directeur général de FloSolutions, une société d’experts-conseils en hydrogéologie spécialisée dans le karst, cite à titred’exemple la ceinture de roches calcaires des Andespéruviennes, qui s’étend sur plus de 2 000 kilomètres etreprésente seulement 13 % de la surface des Andes, maisrenferme environ 50 % des mines métallifères du Pérou, dont

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Par Ian Ewing

karstun dédale minier

La grotte Blue Spring, Tennessee


la mine d’Antamina. Du Nevada à la Zambie et de la Pologneà l’Indonésie, de nombreux projets portent sur le karst et sontdotés des plus grandes opérations d’assèchement de la planète.

Dans les régions karstiques, les cavités et les conduits dansla roche carbonatée constituent les principaux modes detransport des eaux souterraines. Les systèmes complexes defractures et de failles du karst créent des voies discrètes etvolumineuses d’acheminement des eaux souterraines qui nesont pas conformes aux modèles hydrogéologiques deperméabilité. Pire encore pour la future société minière, lescaractéristiques hydrogéologiques de ces régions peuvent êtresi interconnectées que la région pourrait présenter une surfacede rabattement (diminution de charge hydraulique) de plus de400 kilomètres carrés. De ce fait, la mine Goldstrike de Barricksurveille les niveaux de l’eau sur une superficie de plus de 15 000 kilomètres carrés (km2) autour de sa mine, en partie pours’assurer que les activités d’exploitation minière et d’assèchementn’aient pas d’impact négatif sur les aquifères environnant. Cegenre de surveillance minutieuse est indispensable car lessources et les drains karstiques sont très difficiles à trouver et àmettre en corrélation, et également car la modélisation précisedu réseau souterrain est pratiquement impossible.

Pour les sociétés minières, la caractérisation de la géologiekarstique est néanmoins vitale. Toutes les activités, du forage àl’exhaure en passant par la conception des talus de mine et lasélection d’un site pour la digue à stériles, dépendent de lacapacité des hydrogéologues à organiser et à gérer les systèmesdes eaux souterraines autour d’une mine. La viabilité économiquemême d’une mine pourrait dépendre de l’aptitude d’unhydrogéologue à caractériser en toute confiance une zonekarstique.

forage et exhaureCependant, malgré les difficultés rencontrées, les

techniques modernes de caractérisation et les capacitésd’exhaure ont rendu possible l’exploitation minière dans lesconditions hydrogéologiques les plus austères.

L’exhaure présente d’importants avantages pour beaucoupde mines, même pour celles qui pourraient fonctionner sans.Dans les mines à ciel ouvert, l’exhaure du terrain entourant lafosse contribuera à stabiliser ses parois, ce qui permettrad’envisager des talus plus pentus. « Pour un grand puits à cielouvert, une différence d’un degré dans l’angle du talus peutse traduire par un demi-milliard de dollars en décapage »,explique M. Beale de Schlumberger. « On ne peut ni changerla structure, ni changer la roche. La seule chose que l’on puissechanger, c’est la pression de l’eau. » D’après lui, pour chaquedollar dépensé dans l’exhaure ou la décompression d’un talus,une mine peut récupérer en moyenne 5 $ en termes deperformance du talus.

Les exploitants de mines souterraines peuvent cependantchoisir de travailler sous la nappe aquifère et ainsi éliminer l’eaude la mine, ou ils peuvent encourager les venues à des fins dedénoyage afin de rabaisser la nappe aquifère en dessous duniveau de l’extraction minière. Quoi qu’il en soit, le plan degestion de l’eau doit tenir compte de l’hydrogéologie karstique

labyrinthique. Dans les mines souterraines et celles à ciel ouvert,la présence du karst complique les plans de dénoyage.

Dans le Nevada, par exemple, les exploitants miniers deNewmont Mining Corporation doivent composer avec desmodelés karstiques dans le calcaire qui stockent de grandsvolumes d’eau. La société pompe 16 000 gallons par minute(soit environ 1 000 litres par seconde) de sa mine à ciel ouvertGold Quarry, et 15 000 gallons par minute supplémentairesdans son installation souterraine de Leeville. À proximité deNewmont, la mine voisine Goldstrike de Barrick pompe16 000 gallons par minute (bien moins que dans les années1990, où elle pompait parfois jusqu’à 70 000 gallons parminute) de sa structure karstique bien développée. Les sociétéssont par venues à un rabattement de plus de 500 mètres prèsdes mines depuis qu’elles ont commencé à pomper. L’exhaured’un tel volume implique d’utiliser des moteurs submersiblesde 1 500 chevaux commandant des pompes à neuf étages à lamine Gold Quarry, chacune d’elles pouvant déplacer entre2 000 et 2 400 gallons par minute pour une chargehydraulique d’environ 2 000 pieds (environ 600 mètres). Lespuits les plus profonds à Leeville impliquent d’utiliser deuxmoteurs de pompes à huit étages de 1 500 chevaux pouréliminer 2 500 gallons par minute chacune pour une chargede 2 300 à 2 400 pieds (entre 700 et 730 mètres).

La géométrie, les propriétés hydrauliques et l’interrelationd’un réseau karstique donné sont souvent mal comprises etdoivent ainsi être inférées. Il est très improbable que le foragepermette de trouver des drains karstiques car ils sont trèsdiscrets et les spécialistes en exploration des grottes (lesspéléologues) ne peuvent accéder aux conduits car leursentrées sont trop étroites ou ils se trouvent en dessous de lanappe aquifère. Les propriétés hydrauliques peuvent varier deplusieurs ordres de grandeur sur de très courtes distances, cequi vient encore compliquer les choses. « Nous modélisonsrarement les conduits karstiques car nous ne connaissonsgénéralement pas les détails géométriques exacts des réseauxkarstiques, à savoir leur taille, leur profondeur et leurorientation », explique M. Evans de FloSolutions. « Nousassignons plutôt une conductivité hydraulique équivalenteaux principales failles cartographiées, qui sont souventkarstifiées. Nous pouvons cependant estimer de manièrealéatoire ce à quoi le système karstique pourrait ressembler surla base de facteurs connus, et inclure les drains karstiquesdans le modèle. »

Résoudre l’énigmeM. Evans explique qu’il faudra commencer par développer

un modèle hydrogéologique conceptuel sur lequel s’appuierale programme de prospection. Dans certaines régions du Pérou,le programme de prospection comprendra des procéduresdétaillées de détection à distance, la cartographie géologiqueet hydrogéologique, la spéléologie, des tests de base sur laqualité de l’eau, des études géophysiques, des tests de colorant(la norme de référence pour comprendre où commencel’écoulement et où il se termine), le forage ainsi quel’installation de piézomètres pour mesurer la pression. Dans


d’autres régions, on peut caractériser le système en analysantsoigneusement des essais de pompage à grande échelle. Enfin,on pourra effectuer une modélisation numérique en 3D del’ensemble du site pour prévoir les écoulements, estimer lesexfiltrations d’eaux usées des parcs à résidus miniers et menerdes analyses de l’impact.

Malgré les diverses techniques disponibles, on ne parvientpas à déterminer la meilleure façon de faire face à lacomplexité de la modélisation d’un terrain karstique. « Onrencontre différentes philosophies dans l’industrie concernantl’utilisation de modèles standards d’eaux souterraines pourdéterminer si un site contient du karst ou pas », déclarePatrick Corser, directeur national pour le Canada chez MWHGlobal. « L’industrie se demande beaucoup en ce moment s’ilest possible de caractériser la gamme de variabilités que l’onpourrait trouver dans le karst en effectuant des [analyses] desensibilité sur les fractures, les perméabilités et lesemplacements. »

Des travaux de recherche sur cette question et bien d’autressont en cours. Le comité sur le karst de l’associationinternationale des hydrogéologues (AIH) vise à « promouvoirune base scientifique et une pratique professionnelledéfendables pour la gestion durable des ressources en eau dukarst ». Le comité publie des recherches dans ce domaine etorganise des conférences ainsi que des stages de formation pouraider à promulguer les connaissances et les bonnes pratiques.

Pour le moment, la caractérisation de la géologie karstiquene signifie pas que l’on sait exactement ce qu’il se produiralors des écoulements d’eau. Cependant, explique M. Evans,elle nous permettra de limiter les recherches à ce qui peut ounon se produire. En limitant l’éventail de possibilités, onpourra obtenir un plan d’exhaure plus précis en termes decapacité requise et de surveillance adéquate.

Une fois que les emplacements des puits ont étédéterminés, le processus d’exhaure est relativement simple.Les puits périphériques autour de la mine sont à l’écart des

activités mais, par la force des choses,plus profonds, alors que les puits dela fosse (souterrains) peuvent certesêtre moins profonds, mais peuventaffecter les activités. L’eau recueilliedans les puits d’exhaure peut êtreutilisée dans l’usine de traitement dela mine ou simplement être évacuéeen aval, parfois après la filtration oule traitement.

Rien n’est simpleDans le Nevada, les exploitations

Gold Quarry et Leeville de Newmontet la mine Goldstrike de Barrick sontsituées dans une région du monderelativement aride présentant defaibles niveaux de recharge. Lamajeure partie de l’exhaure concernel’élimination des eaux de retenue (unrabattement semi-permanent). La

mine de cuivre Konkola en Zambie, en revanche, pompe au-delà de trois fois plus d’eau que Gold Quarry, soit plus de3 000 litres/seconde (L/s), à pratiquement 1 000 mètres deprofondeur ; la mine à ciel ouvert Grasberg en Indonésie,quant à elle, doit composer avec des précipitations atteignantentre trois et cinq mètres chaque année. « À Grasberg, lesprécipitations peuvent remplir le tunnel d’assèchement enl’espace d’une semaine », s’exclame M. Beale. À titre decomparaison, ceci peut prendre des dizaines d’années dansune roche non karstique.

Même les étapes exploratoires les plus fondamentales, parexemple le forage de carottes ou la surveillance des puits, sontplus complexes avec des structures karstiques. Les cavités,pleines ou vides, et les fractures sont des obstacles au forage.Newmont emploie généralement une méthode de forage parcirculation inverse avec injection d’un fluide, où la boue deforage est injectée par écoulement gravitaire entre le train detiges et les parois du trou de forage, avant que l’air compriméne fasse remonter en surface la boue et les déblais de foragepar l’intermédiaire des tiges de forage. « Lorsque l’on fore despuits, il est parfois difficile de maintenir la circulation » car laboue se répand en dehors du trou de forage et s’infiltre dansune fracture ou dans un vide, explique Bob St. Louis, directeurrégional de l’hydrologie à Newmont. Sans la pressionhydrostatique de la boue pour enlever les déblais de forage dutrépan, le dispositif de forage peut se coincer. Les solutionsvarient en fonction des situations, mais toutes viennentrajouter des coûts, du temps et des difficultés.

Le déclassement des puits est tout aussi complexe, ajouteM. St. Louis. « Leur fermeture hermétique peut requérir unegrande quantité de matériaux, de manière à ce qu’ils neservent plus de conduit permettant l’écoulement de l’eau. Cesfractures ouvertes ou espaces vides consomment des quantitésfaramineuses de matériaux. » En forant un puits à GoldQuarry au début de l’exploitation de la mine, l’équipe s’estheurtée à une grande fracture et, lorsque la société a tenté

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La mine d'Antamina est située dans une régionkarstique des Andes péruviennes.


d’ajouter du gravier de stabilisation, plusieurs chargements degraviers déversés par les semi-remorques les transportant onttout simplement disparu dans le puits. « Tout s’est répandudans cette très grande fracture », reconnaît M. St. Louis avecregret. Et les problèmes ne se sont pas arrêtés là. « Lorsque lepuits a été mis en service, la fracture a généré un volume d’eauimportant, et les vitesses d’entrée de l’eau dans le puits étaientsi importantes qu’elles ont provoqué l’érosion du cuvelage. »La société doit constamment réhabiliter le puits pour lemaintenir opérationnel.

La diligence et la persévérance, associées à des fonds nonnégligeables, ont permis de rendre viables des projetsapparemment irréalisables en éliminant de grandes quantitésd’eau du sol dans les régions karstiques. Mais nous ne sommesjamais à l’abri d’une surprise. « Les stratégies de gestion del’eau se sont révélées efficaces », explique M. Beale, « mais enraison de la nature discontinue des modelés, on peut encoreêtre confronté à de grandes venues d’eau, je ne dirai pascatastrophiques, mais certainement imprévues. » Déterminerle risque lié à ces incidents potentiels reste un aspect critiquedu travail de l’hydrogéologue minier lorsqu’il (elle) travaillesur le karst. La prévention et l’atténuation de ces risques sontdu ressort des ingénieurs qui, comme M. Corser, collaborentétroitement avec eux.

ingénierie et résidusLa gestion des déchets peut réserver quelques surprises sur

tous les sites, comme l’on a pu l’observer avec la brèche dubassin de décantation des résidus qui s’est produite en août àla mine Mont Polley, en Colombie-Britannique. Cependant,dans les géologies karstiques, ce genre d’incidents peut s’avérerencore plus problématique. On compte trois difficultés. Toutd’abord, une surface non scellée ou des fractures souterrainesdans la base d’un parc à résidus peuvent laisser s’infiltrer degrands volumes d’eau contaminée dans le réseau karstique.Une fois qu’ils ont pénétré ces voies d’acheminement, lesrésidus peuvent se déplacer sans obstacles sur des kilomètresen aval dans des directions imprévisibles. Ensuite, toute voied’acheminement dans les calcaires karstiques près de la basede la digue à stériles peut sous-caver la digue, emportant avecelle des matériaux de la digue et déstabilisant la structure.Enfin, à mesure que le parc à résidus se remplit, la pression dela charge hydraulique peut accroître le développement deconduits nouveaux et existants et créer des dolines, et peut parailleurs agrandir la zone de captage en aval du réseau karstiqueen élevant le niveau de la nappe aquifère. « Il faut biencomprendre qu’avec le karst, on ne peut pas se fonder sur desapproches ou des perspectives habituelles quant à l’endroit verslequel l’eau et les résidus pourraient se déplacer », expliqueM. Corser de MWH. « Il faut rester vigilant. »

Pour faire face aux difficultés inhérentes à la constructionde parcs à résidus miniers dans les régions riches en minérauxcarbonatés, il faudra développer des stratégies de préventionet d’atténuation. La première étape consistera à identifier lespersonnes qui seront affectées par une rupture du parc àrésidus. Le constructeur doit établir le niveau de suintementacceptable en fonction de la géographie, de l’écologie et des

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populations locales. Le plus important est de bien comprendreles propriétés hydrogéologiques d’un site de résidus potentiel.

« Lors du développement de sites de traitement des résidusminiers dans les régions karstiques, il n’est pas nécessaire que lagrotte soit immense pour que des problèmes environnementauxet géotechniques surviennent », explique David Evans. « Unconduit karstique de quelques centimètres de diamètre suffira àentraîner des renards dans les bassins de résidus ou de fortesexfiltrations d’eaux usées d’un parc à résidus miniers. »

« La caractérisation du confinement hydraulique pour lebassin où vous envisagez de placer un parc à résidus miniers esttrès importante », reconnaît M. Corser. « Il s’agira de votremeilleure mesure d’atténuation de deux des principaux risquesque l’on rencontre avec le karst » qui, selon lui, sont les renardsdans les bassins de résidus et les déversements incontrôlés deseaux de bassin de décantation. Les renards peuvent entraîner ledéversement des résidus dans les modelés karstiques où ils sedéplaceront sur de longues distances ou pourraient mêmeprovoquer une doline dans le parc à résidus miniers. L’évacuationincontrôlée de l’eau pourrait avoir des conséquences encore plusdésastreuses. « Tout parc à résidus miniers laissera s’infiltrer unecertaine quantité d’eau dans les nappes phréatiques, mais c’estune question d’échelle. Dans un site karstique, si l’on rencontreun modelé karstique, on pourrait perdre l’intégralité du bassinde décantation des résidus. »

Ceci serait une véritable catastrophe, et ce pour plusieursraisons. « Un déversement incontrôlé dans un endroit inconnusera certes problématique du point de vue environnemental »,fait remarquer M. Corser, « mais également du point de vuede votre exploitation car vous n’auriez plus d’eau pour la fairefonctionner, ce qui entraînerait sa fermeture. »

Dans l’idéal, il faudra trouver un site approprié pour lesrésidus miniers qui n’est pas directement situé sur une zonekarstique. Dans un site bien caractérisé dans d’autresconditions géologiques, il est souvent possible de montrer quela nappe aquifère environnante est plus élevée que le bassinde résidus, ce qui signifie que le bassin est confiné du pointde vue hydraulique et qu’il est peu probable qu’unphénomène de renard se produise dans le bassin de résidus.Cependant, ce ne sera pas possible pour certaines mines. « Lerisque avec le karst est de déterminer si l’on a foré partout afinde s’assurer que le terrain ne présente pas de modelékarstique », explique M. Corser. Tout modelé karstique nondécouvert pourrait se traduire par une nappe aquifère localerelativement basse et pourrait entraîner une perte duconfinement hydraulique.

Dans bien des cas, il pourrait être nécessaire d’aménagerdes barrières physiques. Les conduits karstiques ouverts situésdans les fondements du site des résidus peuvent être obturéset jointoyés. Des revêtements constitués de matériauxgéosynthétiques ou, plus communément, géologiques (dessols à faible perméabilité) permettent de contrôler la pressionde refoulement des parcs à résidus miniers. Les systèmes desurveillance et de contrôle hydraulique installés derrière lesrevêtements ou les nappes géosynthétiques permettent demesurer, recueillir et pomper les eaux d’infiltration et lesdébits sortants avant qu’ils n’atteignent les modelés karstiques.M. Corser recommande également aux propriétaires d’acheter

suffisamment de terres autour de leur mine de manière à avoiraccès à toute zone vers laquelle pourraient se répandre lesécoulements des résidus dans la structure karstique.

Bien que ce processus soit long et coûteux, la meilleureapproche consiste à mener de bons travaux d’exploration et depréparation. Les mesures correctives (à savoir la gestion desfuites après que le bassin soit rempli) sont bien plus complexeset coûteuses, et moins efficaces. « Selon moi, mieux vautinvestir beaucoup dès le début plutôt que d’essayer de serattraper ultérieurement », indique Neven Kresic, responsabledes services professionnels d’hydrogéologie chez AMEC.

Gestion des risquesLes facteurs de sécurité doivent servir à plusieurs aspects

de la conception, mais comme pour tout le reste avec le karst,les valeurs de ces facteurs dépendent de la géologie locale. « Lesfacteurs de sécurité varient en fonction du site et dépendentgrandement du degré de karstification, des gradientshydrauliques entre les rivières et les sources environnantes, etdes niveaux de confinement hydraulique », explique M. Evans.« Il n’existe pas encore de règle générale. Il faut reconnaîtrequ’il est tout simplement impossible de suffisamment biencaractériser ces zones pour affirmer en toute confiance que “ leniveau de risque est faible ”, et particulièrement pendant l’étapede faisabilité lorsque les budgets sont restreints. »

Un collègue de M. Evans, Petar Milanovic, a adopté ladevise « Prévoyez l’imprévisible » après avoir travaillé sur leprojet de travaux hydroélectriques pour le barrage de Keban,en Turquie. Pendant ce projet, explique M. Evans, les 36 000mètres de forage d’exploration et 11 kilomètres de galeries dereconnaissance n’ont pas permis de détecter la présence d’unegrotte souterraine de la taille d’un stade de football intérieur.

Les nouvelles techniques de détection pourraient se révélerutiles. L’imagerie en 3D pour le sondage transversal sismiquepermettra de réaliser une cartographie des modelés plusprécise que jamais, avec des résolutions potentielles d’undécimètre, voire mieux, explique M. Kresic. « On peut aussieffectuer de bien meilleurs tests de colorant qu’avant », ajoute-t-il, « car les sondes sont maintenant plus performantes et bienmoins coûteuses. On peut insérer ces sondes à différentsniveaux ou profondeurs dans divers forages, suivre leurs traceset identifier l’endroit où l’eau s’écoule. » Par ailleurs, le foragedevient bien plus sophistiqué et permet aux géologues d’isolerde plus petits intervalles et de les représenter sur images à larecherche de cavités. En outre, la puissance de traitement estplus abordable, aussi les analyses informatiques synthétisentbien plus de données, ce qui crée des modèles plus précis desconditions hydrogéologiques.

Cependant, malgré tous les efforts déployés pourcaractériser l’hydrogéologie locale et la conception si pointuepour gérer et atténuer les risques, les sociétés minières doivents’y habituer. « Il y a beaucoup d’inconnues », insiste M. Kresic.« Il faut savoir faire face aux risques, et même après avoirinvesti de grosses sommes d’argent pour la caractérisation d’unsite et sa conception, il faut accepter que les modeléskarstiques s’accompagnent de certains risques. On ne pourrapas tous les identifier. » ICM


Among these, Alderon Iron Ore’s Kami project is the furthestalong. “Within the next few years or so, Alderon will be the onemost likely to go ahead,” says Jackie Przybylowski, vice-president and analyst of metals and mining at Desjardins Securities. Alderon filed its feasibility study in January 2013 andis currently striving to conclude financing before it can start con-struction. “We are working on the debt portion right now,” saysTayfun Eldem, president and CEO at Alderon. “Once we raisethe debt, we will go to the equity market. From the time we arefully financed and board-sanctioned, it will take us about 26months to construct.” Management is targeting a 70 per centdebt and 30 per cent equity mix in its financing efforts.

Putting the puzzle togetherBeyond its ore deposit, the Kami project has a number of

important assets, the first one being its location. “One of ourgreatest advantages is that we are close to the existing infra-structure for rail and power,” says Eldem. “We don’t have tobuild a large rail line to connect to the transportation network;it is only 14.5 kilometres away. As for power, we are about 15km away from the main high-voltage power grid [in LabradorWest].”

While Alderon took part in the CN’s feasibility study for anew rail line from Labrador City to Sept-Îles, Quebec, inAugust 2012, it has always based its projections on using theexisting Iron Ore Company of Canada-owned QNS&L railwaywhich runs north-south between Labrador City and the port ofSept-Îles. So it was not disappointed when CN decided to

A few years ago, when China’s steel mills were running at fullcapacity and the whole world was experiencing an unprece-dented iron rush, a number of projects were set up in theLabrador Trough in the hopes of grabbing a piece of the action.The price for a tonne of iron ore, which until 2004 had for yearsnot popped above US$17, suddenly skyrocketed in 2011 tonearly US$190.

Nearly four years later, things have changed. Many of theprojects constructed during the iron rush have entered produc-tion and big players such as Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Valehave flooded the global market with supply, pulling pricesdown to the US$80 per tonne range and pushing minor playersto the sidelines. In the Labrador Trough, development projectsare working hard to raise financing.

On the smooth hills that spreadalong the border between Quebec and Labrador, a patch-

work of red, green and yellow shrubsgrow from the burnt taiga. This is whereAlderon Iron Ore hopes to soon start con-structing its Kami mine, the mostadvanced development project in theiron-rich Labrador Trough.

A LESSON IN PATIENCEBY PIERRICK BLIN AND ANTOINE DION-ORTEGA

Andy Robertson, Alderon’s general manager of human resources and community engagement,says the company will rely on its proximity to the labour pool in Labrador West and a packaged

purchasing strategy to help keep capital and operating costs down.

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K A M I | project profile


project profile | K A M I

cancel the study in February 2013. “The QNS&L will beaccommodating our tonnage because it has an obligation as acommon carrier,” says Eldem. “Once we advance the project toa point where we are about a year before production, we willconclude an agreement.”

Not all companies might have this chance. “QNS&L stillhas some capacity left on its rail line,” says Nochane Rousseau,mining industry group leader for Quebec at Pricewaterhouse-Coopers Canada. “But will it be able to accommodate all of theprojects that are coming in the Trough? No.” Kami’s timingenables it to secure its share of the carrier’s remaining capacity.QNS&L has the ability to add 45 Mt to the current 35 Mt fromIOC, Cliffs, and Labrador Iron Mines.

As for power, Eldem calls the construction of a third trans-mission line – from Churchill Falls to Labrador West by NalcorEnergy – “critical” to the feasibility of the project. “For us, itsecures 62 megawatts to power up our initial operations,” hesays. Kami will provide up to $65 million in security deposits,which will be released back to it once the line starts supplyingthe project. The first security deposit of $21 million was paidlast February, and Nalcor has already cleared 20 km of land.But work on the 240-km line will progress only as long asKami can provide the remaining $44 million in securitydeposits. Nalcor suspended work on Oct. 2 due to delays inthe Kami project’s financing.

The last piece of the puzzle is the new multi-user dock atthe port of Sept-Îles, in which Kami has claimed its place. This$220-million project, launched in 2012 in the wake of the PlanNord, will add 50 Mt to 60 Mt to the port’s capacity; Alderonhas claimed an 8 Mt piece of that new capacity. Mining com-panies were asked to contribute to the financing to secure theirshare. “Our port access is guaranteed, along with three othermining companies,” says Eldem. “We have contributed $20.5million towards construction, as a buy-in payment. We willrecover our initial capital injection when we start shipping,because we will be getting a discount like the other users whohave contributed towards construction.”

Making friendsAll of this, though, would mean little if Kami was not sure

of where to sell its 8 Mt of iron ore fines. In 2012 Hebei Iron

and Steel Group, China’s largest steel producer, strategicallyinvested more than US$180 million for a near 20 per centshare in Alderon and a 25 per cent share in Kami itself. Inreturn, the steelmaker committed to buy 60 per cent ofKami’s total output, with a five per cent discount. Accordingto a statement from the Chinese steelmaker when it made thedeal, the investment was sound because Alderon offered oneof the few, “high-quality, late development-stage iron oreprojects” in a buyers’ market. Last July Alderon signed

PROJECT SPECS

According to the January 2013 feasibility study completed by BBA Inc., Stantec Consulting, Watts, Griffis McOuat Limited. The study assumes US$1 = CA$1

The mine will be an open-pit truck and shovel operation. The primary crusher located near the pitwill deliver ore via conveyor to the ore stockpile and processing plant, which will include primarygrinding, and gravity and magnetic concentration.

MEASURED AND INDICATED RESOURCE OF THE KAMI PROPERTY’S ROSE DEPOSIT1.09 billion tonnes (Cut-off grade 15%, 29.5% total iron)

PROVEN AND PROBABLE RESERVES OF THE ROSE DEPOSIT668.5 million tonnes (Cut-off grade 15%, 29.5% total iron)

PRODUCTION 8.0 million tonnes per year

CONCENTRATE GRADE 65.2 per cent iron

MINE LIFE 30 years

CAPEX US$1.27 billion

IRON FREIGHT ON BOARD PRICE ASSUMPTIONUS$107/tonne for initial five years and US$102 thereafter

AVERAGE OPERATING COSTS US$42.17/tonne

Much of the required infrastructure for Kami is already in place due to its locationnear existing operations, though it will require the construction of a 240-kmpowerline from Churchill Falls, NL.

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K A M I | project profile

while the market is down limits your ability to catch theupside.”

There are obvious benefits to staying the course when theothers are falling by the wayside. Equipment suppliers, serv-

ice providers and the whole con-struction industry have cooleddown since the overheated daysof 2011, when both ArcelorMit-tal and IOC were launchingtheir expansion projects. Inaddition, with the idling of oper-ations at both Labrador Ironmines and Wabush mines,labour is not as much of an issueas it was three years ago, when

hundreds of workers had to be flown in and accommodatedin new camps. “The benefit for projects going ahead is thatthere will be less competition for port and rail infrastruc-tures, and for labour, so the projects which do proceedshould be more attractive in terms of the economics,” saysPrzybylowski.

In this context, the closeness to Labrador West and its10,300 residents is priceless for Alderon. “Labrador West wasbuilt to support the mining operations in the region, so thereis a wealth of mining knowledge and there is a strong sup-port network in place,” says Eldem. “You have a number ofequipment manufacturers, technical personnel, repair shopsand warehouses in the region.”

As for labour itself, Alderon clearly favours local labourover non-residents flying in and out. “If you have a shovelbreaking down at 2 a.m., you need your specialist around,not in Montreal,” says Robertson. “You don’t want to waitfor eight hours to fix it.” Depending on whether Wabushmines resumes operations, housing may even be availablealready.

“We believe in a residential employment model. It’s lessexpensive and it promotes ownership for employees,” saysEldem. “They commit to the community, and they supportthe business.” With access to port, rail, power, clients andlabour already well in hand, many are watching to see whenand how the company will play its cards. CIM

another off-take agreement to sell the remaining 40 per centof its production to Glencore, with a two per cent discount.“With Glencore now on board, we are fully sold out,” saidEldem. “When we go into operation, we will automaticallyhave a revenue stream fromthese two long-term contracts.”

Now, with iron ore finesprices flirting with US$80 pertonne, it was critical to limitcapital expenses and overallproduction costs. In such acompetitive environment, pro-ductivity is clearly the name ofthe game. “We are aiming at aUS$43 per tonne freight onboard production cost,” says Andy Robertson, general man-ager of human resources and community engagement atAlderon, as he walked through the burned taiga coveringAlderon’s property. “In order to accomplish that, we havelearned lessons from past experiences in the Trough.” LastJune Alderon signed a package deal agreement with Metsofor the supplying of most of its equipment. “The way to limitcapital expenses is by bundling as much of a package as pos-sible,” says Eldem. “The agreement with Metso is a greatexample of it. Our AG mill, our ball mill, our gyratorycrusher, and our railcar dumper will all come from Metso.”

Speed up or slow down?With industry estimates for iron ore fines staying below

US$100 per tonne in the coming years, many projects in theTrough could decide to wait for better days. “They won’t beexecuting their plans in the way they hoped to,” admits Przy-bylowski. “Raising financing in this environment will bechallenging.” Even Alderon is already taking longer than shehad expected.

So why not simply put the project on hold? “We take along-term view of iron ore prices,” says Eldem. “We are at adownpoint of this saw-toothed profile that we have seenlately in iron ore prices. Keep in mind that it will take us twoto 2.5 years to complete construction and begin operation. Ifyou are going to do a project, taking your foot off the gas

“ If you are going to do a project,taking your foot off the gas whilethe market is down limits yourability to catch the upside.”

– T. Eldem

After decades of relative stability, the price of iron ore in recent years has jolted up and down, making project financing and construction particularly difficult.

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entièrement financés et sanctionnés par le conseil, il nousfaudra environ 26 mois pour construire. » Le montage financierconsistera à 70 % de dette et 30 % d’actions ordinaires.

Assembler les pièces du casse-têteAu-delà de son gisement, le projet Kami jouit d’un certain

nombre d’atouts, le premier étant son emplacement. « L’un denos plus grands avantages est que nous sommes prochesd’infrastructures existantes, autant ferroviaires qu’électriques »,dit M. Eldem. « Nous n’avons pas à construire une longue lignede chemin de fer pour nous connecter au réseau de transport ;il se trouve à seulement 14,5 km. Quant à l’électricité, noussommes à environ 15 km du réseau principal d’alimentation àhaute tension [à Labrador West]. »

Malgré qu’Alderon ait pris part, en août 2012, à l’étude defaisabilité du CN pour une nouvelle ligne de chemin de fer entreLabrador City et Sept-Îles au Québec, elle a toujours fondé sesprojections sur l’utilisation du chemin de fer du QNS&L. Ellene s’est donc pas retrouvée en mauvaise posture lorsque le CNa décidé d’annuler l’étude en février 2013. « Le chemin de ferde QNS&L prendra notre tonnage, car il a une obligation entant que ligne de transport publique », dit M. Eldem. « Une foisque nous serons à environ un an du début de la production,nous conclurons un accord avec lui. »

Cette chance n’est pas donnée à toutes les sociétés. « QNS&La encore une certaine capacité disponible sur sa ligne de cheminde fer », explique Nochane Rousseau, chef de groupe de

Il y a quelques années, lorsque les aciéries chinoisesfonctionnaient à plein régime et que le monde entiertraversait une ruée vers le fer sans précédent, bon nombrede projets ont démarré dans la fosse du Labrador, dans

l’espoir de toucher une part du gâteau. Le prix de la tonne deconcentré (qui, jusqu’en 2004, ne s’était guère éloigné des 15 $depuis des décennies) est soudainement monté en flèche pouratteindre près de 190 $ en 2011.

Près de quatre ans plus tard, les choses ont bien changé.Nombre des projets lancés au cours de la fièvre du fer ontcommencé la production et les grands acteurs comme Rio Tinto,BHP Billiton et Vale ont inondé le marché mondial, tirant lesprix vers le bas jusqu’à atteindre 80 $ la tonne et poussant lesles petits acteurs sur le bas-côté. Dans la fosse du Labrador, lesprojets en développement doivent maintenant travailler fortpour obtenir un financement.

Parmi ceux-ci, le projet Kami d’Alderon Iron Ore estclairement dans le peloton de tête. « Dans les années à venir,Alderon sera le plus susceptible d’aller de l’avant », déclareJackie Przybylowski, vice-présidente et analyste des métauxet mines à Valeurs mobilières Desjardins. Alderon a déposéson étude de faisabilité en janvier 2013 et s’efforceactuellement de conclure son financement avant de pouvoircommencer la construction. « Nous travaillons sur la partiedette en ce moment », dit Tayfun Eldem, président et chef dedirection à Alderon. « Une fois que nous aurons terminé,nous irons sur le marché des actions. Quand nous serons

Andy Robertson, directeur des ressources humaines et de l’engagementcommunautaire, affirme que sa société misera sur la proximité du bassin de main-d’oeuvre de Labrador West ainsi qu’une stratégie de regroupement d’achats pourmaintenir ses coûts d’exploitation et de capital au plus bas.

Valerian Mazataud

Sur les douces collines qui s’étendent à lafrontière du Québec et du Labrador, unemosaïque d’arbustes rouges, verts etjaunes pousse à travers la taïga brûlée.C’est ici qu’Alderon Iron Ore espère commencer bientôt la construction de samine de fer Kami, le projet en développe-ment le plus avancé de la riche fosse duLabrador.

UNE LEÇON DE PATIENCEPAR PIERRICK BLIN ET ANTOINE DION-ORTEGA


K A M I | profil de projet

Kami lui-même. En retour, le sidérurgiste s’engage à acheter60 % de la production totale de Kami, avec une réduction de5 %. Selon l’aciériste chinois, l’investissement était raisonnablecar Alderon est l’un des rares « projets de minerai de fer dehaute qualité en phase finale de développement » sur lemarché des acheteurs. En juillet dernier, Alderon a signé unautre accord d’écoulement pour les 40 % restants avecGlencore, moyennant une réduction de 2 %. « Glencore étantmaintenant impliqué, notre production est entièrementvendue », dit M. Eldem. « Quand nous allons commencer laproduction, nous aurons automatiquement une source derevenus de ces deux contrats à long terme. »

Enfin, avec les prix du concentré avoisinant les 80 $ latonne, il était essentiel de limiter les dépenses en capital etl’ensemble des coûts de production. Dans un environnementaussi concurrentiel, la productivité est clairement la base detour. « Nous visons un coût de production de 43 $ par tonnefret à bord», affirme Andy Robertson, directeur général desressources humaines et de l’engagement communautaire àAlderon, alors qu’il traverse la taïga brûlée qui recouvre laconcession d’Alderon. « Pour y parvenir, nous avons tiré desleçons des expériences passées dans la fosse du Labrador. »En juin dernier, Alderon a signé un accord forfaitaire avecMetso pour la fourniture de la plupart de ses équipements.« Pour limiter les dépenses en capital, il faut regrouper lesachats autant que possible », explique M. Eldem. « L’accordavec Metso est un excellent exemple. Notre broyeur AG,notre broyeur à boulets, notre concasseur giratoire et notretombereau de wagons proviendront tous de Metso. »

Accélérer ou ralentir ?Les estimations de l’industrie prévoyant un prix du

concentré en dessous de 100 $ la tonne dans les années à venirpourraient convaincre nombre de projets d’attendre les joursmeilleurs. « Les sociétés n’exécuteront pas leurs plans commeelles l’espéraient », admet Mme Przybylowski. « Trouver lefinancement dans ce contexte sera difficile. » Même Alderonprend déjà plus de temps que prévu.

Alors, pourquoi ne pas tout simplement susprendre leprojet ? « Nous avons une vision à long terme de l’évolution

l’industrie minière pour le Québec chez PricewaterhouseCoopersCanada. « Mais sera-t-il en mesure de répondre à la demandede tous les projets à venir dans la fosse du Labrador ? Non. » Le calendrier avancé de Kami lui permet d’assurer sa part sur lacapacité restante du transporteur. QNS&L a la possibilitéd’ajouter 45 millions de tonnes (Mt) aux 35 présentementréservés à IOC, Cliffs et Labrador Iron Mines.

Quant à l’énergie électrique, M. Eldem qualifie de« déterminante » à la faisabilité de son projet la constructiond’une troisième ligne de transmission de la centrale de ChurchillFalls à Labrador West par Nalcor Energy. « Elle nous assure 62 mégawatts pour alimenter nos premières activités », dit-il.Kami fournira jusqu’à 65 millions $ en dépôts de garantie, quilui seront remis une fois que la ligne commencera à alimenter leprojet. Un premier dépôt de 21 millions $ a été versé en févrierdernier et Nalcor a déjà déboisé 20 km de terrain pour la futureligne. Mais les travaux sur la ligne de 240 km n’avanceront pastant que Kami ne fournira pas les 44 millions $ restant en dépôtsde garantie. Nalcor a suspendu les travaux le 2 octobre en raisonde retards dans le financement du projet Kami.

La dernière pièce du casse-tête est le nouveau quai multi-usager du port de Sept-Îles, pour lequel Kami a revendiqué saplace. Ce projet de 220 millions $, lancé en 2012 dans la fouléedu Plan Nord, viendra ajouter de 50 Mt à 60 Mt à la capacitéactuelle du port ; Alderon s’en est réservé 8 Mt. Les sociétésminières ont été sollicitées pour contribuer au financement etainsi assurer leur accès. « Notre accès au port est garanti,comme pour trois autres sociétés minières », dit M. Eldem.« Nous avons déboursé 20,5 millions $ pour la constructioncomme paiement initial. Nous allons récupérer notre apport encapital lorsque nous commencerons nos expéditions, car nousbénéficierons d’une réduction, tout comme les autresutilisateurs qui ont contribué à la construction. »

Se faire des amisTout cela, cependant, ne signifierait rien si Kami n’était pas

sûr de vendre ses 8 Mt de concentré. En 2012, Hebei Iron andSteel Group, le plus grand producteur d’acier de Chine, astratégiquement investi plus de 180 millions $ pour mettre lamain sur 20 % des parts d’Alderon et 25 % des parts du projet

CARACTÉRISTIQUES DU PROJET

Selon l’étude de faisabilité réalisée en janvier 2013 par BBA Inc., Stantec Consulting, Watts, Griffis McOuat Limited. L’étude américaine considère que 1 $ US = 1 $ CA

Le projet sera une mine à ciel ouvert, avec une exploitation conventionnelle de camions et depelles mécaniques. Le concasseur primaire situé près de la fosse acheminera le minerai parconvoyeur vers les aires de stockage et à l’usine de transformation, qui comprendra un broyageprimaire et des concentrations par gravité et magnétique.

RESSOURCES MESURÉES ET INDIQUÉES DU GISEMENT ROSE, PROPRIÉTÉ KAMI1,09 milliard de tonnes (teneur de coupure de 15 %, 29,5 % de fer total)

RÉSERVES PROUVÉES ET PROBABLES DU GISEMENT ROSE668,5 millions de tonnes (teneur de coupure de 15 %, 29,5 % de fer total)

PRODUCTION 8,0 millions de tonnes par an

TAUX DU CONCENTRÉ 65,2 % de fer

DURÉE DE VIE DE LA MINE 30 ans

CAPEX 1,27 milliard $ US

PRÉSOMPTION DU PRIX DU FER FRET À BORD107 $ US/tonne pour les cinq premières années, et de 102 $ US par la suite

COÛTS D’EXPLOITATION MOYENS42,17 $ US/tonne

Valerian Mazataud

des prix du concentré de fer », dit Eldem. « Nous nous trouvonsau point le plus bas de ce graphique en dents de scie observéces derniers temps. Gardez à l’esprit qu’il nous faudra entredeux et deux ans et demi pour terminer la construction etcommencer les activités. Si vous développez un projet, relâcherl’accélérateur alors que le marché est en baisse limite votrecapacité à être prêt lors de sa remontée. »

Il y a des avantages évidents à maintenir le cap lorsque lesautres sont au ralenti. Les fournisseurs d’équipement et deservices ainsi que l’ensemble de l’industrie de la constructionont refroidi depuis la surchauffe de 2011, lorsqu’ArcelorMittalet IOC lançaient leurs projets d’expansion. De plus, avec leralentissement des activités chez Labrador Iron Mines etWabush Mines, trouver des travailleurs n’est plus aussiproblématique qu’il y a trois ans, lorsque ceux-ci devaient êtreamenés et logés par centaines dans de nouveaux camps.« L’avantage pour les projets allant de l’avant est qu’il y auramoins de concurrence pour les infrastructures portuaires etferroviaires ainsi que pour la main-d’œuvre, de sorte qu’ilsdevraient être plus attractifs en termes économiques », dit MmePrzybylowski.

Dans ce contexte, la proximité de Labrador West et ses10 300 habitants est inestimable pour Alderon. « Labrador


profil de projet | K A M I

L’ICM ASSUREUNE VALEUR AJOUTÉE À SES 15 000 MEMBRES

Impliquez-vous. C’est valorisant.

GET INVOLVED. IT’S REWARDING.

IT’S ALL MINE | CIM.ORG

L’ICM C’EST :OUMAR TOGUYENIVice-président régional, Afrique de l’Ouest, IAMGOLD

“Je suis fi er de contribuer à apporterà l’Afrique de l’Ouest, le savoir, l’expertiseet les opportunités de développementprofessionnel qu’off rent l’ICM.”

Nos membres font la force de l’ICM.

West a été construit pour soutenir les activités d’exploitationminière dans la région, aussi il existe déjà une grandeexpérience et un solide réseau de soutien », dit M. Eldem.« Vous avez une multitude de fabricants de matériaux, depersonnel technique, d’ateliers de réparation et d’entrepôtsdans la région. »

En ce qui concerne la main-d’œuvre elle-même, Alderonfavorise clairement l’emploi local plutôt que le modèle desnon-résidents, communément appelé fly-in fly-out. « Si uneexcavatrice tombe en panne à deux heures du matin, votrespécialiste doit se trouver à proximité, pas à Montréal », ditM. Robertson. « On ne peut pas attendre huit heures pour laréparer. » Si la mine de Wabush Mines ne reprend pas sesactivités, des logements pourraient même être déjàdisponibles.

« Nous sommes partisans du modèle de l’employérésident », dit M. Eldem. « Il est d’une part moins cher etfavorise le sentiment d’appartenance des employés. Cesderniers s’impliquent dans la communauté et soutiennent lasociéte. » Avec l’accès au port, au chemin de fer, à l’électricité,à des clients et à une main-d’œuvre bien intégrée, beaucoupattendent avec impatience de voir quand, et comment, lasociété jouera ses cartes. ICM


M anufacturing durable wear parts can bechallenging, but the ideal approach isto strike a balance between hardness

and toughness. “Wear is in direct relation tohardness,” says Maurice Picard, area technicalmanager for Swedish steelmaker SSAB. “As yougo up in hardness, the toughness, which is resist-ance to cracking, goes down. So the best wearproduct has a high hardness and a very goodtoughness, especially in a cold environment likeCanada because the cold makes material morebrittle.”

Beyond their composition they must also bedesigned for easy replacement to reduce down-time and adhesiveness in the case of componentsadded to protect vulnerable parts, as well as toavoid cumbersome and weighty solutions thatcompromise energy efficiency, functionality and,ultimately, operating costs.

Protective coatingsOver the last few decades, there has been a

significant focus on developing applications andcomponents to protect not just wear parts butentire structures, including mining vehicles,equipment and facilities in general, from theeffects of corrosion, abrasion and impact so as toextend their longevity and durability.

One of the leaders in this sector is Rhino Linings Australasia Pty Ltd., owned by U.S.-basedparent company Rhino Linings Corporation. Back in the 1990s, the Australian company begandeveloping and manufacturing spray-on polyurethane and polyurea coatings that protect mate-rials in the mining sector from extreme temperatures, dust, risk of fire, corrosion, abrasion andimpact. The coatings adhere to prepared steel, concrete, fibreglass reinforced polymer andwood substrates to create a monolithic protective barrier. In addition to hardness and tough-ness, the coatings are also very flexible, another key to impact protection, as it accommodatesthe shrinking and expansion of materials throughout the day due to changing temperatures.

This technology is meant to replace traditional protective glued-on materials, such as rubbernetting or ceramic tiles. “Those materials are very expensive to put on and time consuming toapply for wear applications, whether it be impact, abrasion or chemical attacks,” says Denis

Prepared for impactBy Alexandra Lopez-Pacheco

Wear parts, found in practically every piece of mining equipment, are among thehardest working, taking the brunt of abrasion, fatigue, impact or corrosion that isinevitable with the scooping, scraping, transporting, breaking and crushing of rockthat the industry demands.

technologySWEAR PAR T S

Pure polyurea beingapplied to a thickener tankat BHP Billiton’s Kalgoorlienickel concentrator andsmelter for its Nickel Westoperations

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Baker, the company’s Australia-based special projects engineer.“Our liners are sprayed, so you can build it to any thickness,and it’s completely seamless so you can completely encapsu-late a structure to stop impact, corrosion or chemical attacks.You can apply these products quickly because they snap cure.Pure Polyurea cures between three to six seconds.”

The company’s polyurethane linings have a slightly longercuring time of around 15 to 20 seconds but stronger impactprotection, which is why they are often used to protect orechutes. In fact, the company has a wide range of coatings toaddress the specific stresses for different parts and structures,namely vibration screen decks and bowls, mine-loading pads,conveyor belts and insulated tanks.

The coatings can also be used to replace paints and epoxiesprotection in high-wear or abrasion areas. “For that you needa hard, durable, flexible membrane that will remain attached,”says Baker. “We even put these coatings on large haul trucks toprotect their fuel and hydraulic tanks and undersides becausethey pick up the mud under their wheels and fuel tanks atmine sites and corrode very quickly. So we put a three-to-four-millimetre thick coating on the dump trucks and then there’sno longer any issue with corrosion.”

Attachable componentsU.S.-based ESCO Corporation is tackling another front in

wear part protection. The 100-year-old company has devel-oped an extensive suite of innovative wear parts and attach-ments for crushers, chain and rigging, draglines, and hydraulicequipment. For ESCO, the key to wear part solutions lies incontinuously refining the balance between durability, effi-ciency and weight. It uses rapid prototyping to produce low-cost models that allow its engineers to identify design issuesearly in the process.

ESCO’s award-winning Nemisys system, for example,features lips for dragline buckets that weigh around six per

cent less than its previous prod-ucts and boast a 20 per centimprovement in digging effi-ciency. Ease of installation is alsoone of the highlights of the sys-tem. When Nemisys N1 BridgeAdapters for draglines wereinstalled in one coal mine, themaintenance crew reportedly cut the installation andremoval time by half compared to what they expended withprevious wear part attachments.

Stronger steelUltimately, developing more durable high-strength steel to

produce longer-lasting wear parts is the Holy Grail for steelmanufacturers such as SSAB, which has developed a highlyefficient vacuum degassing technique to remove impuritiesfrom the steel. This is important because impurities – be theygases like hydrogen or nitrogen, metal or non-metal traces –


ESCO’s award-winningNemysis lip system can be

attached to a variety ofmining equipment, weighs

six per cent less thanprevious ESCO products,and boasts a 20 per centimprovement in digging

efficiency.

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are the weakest link when it comes to cracks. “It allows us toachieve high strength and toughness,” says Picard.

With steel, there are four common causes of wear: sliding,impact, abrasion and squeezing. Because different applicationswill face different degrees and types of wear, SSAB has createda wide range of steels, along with different grades and costs, toaccommodate any operation.

Not every application isgoing to require the same degreeof hardness or toughness. “Wehave WearCalc software that’s anexcellent tool for end-users inmines to help them choose theright steel for their needs and

costs,” says Picard. “The software simulates the wear. Theyjust have to give us the details on how it will be used. Forexample, in mining, dump truck bodies, crusher chutes andliner applications can give us mineral composition of the ore,rock size, angle of impact and speed of impact, and we caninput that in the software. It will predict the wear life andcompare different wear solutions.”

This too reflects another major stride in wear part technol-ogy: customized analysis of any given part in any given envi-ronment to identify and predict the actual wear it will likelyexperience. From SSAB to ESCO to Rhino, the move has beentowards providing not just parts but also sophisticated serv-ices and wear part management.

Cutting-edge innovationMuch of the future for wear parts in the mining industry

could be headed toward 3D printing, otherwise known asadditive manufacturing. This technology creates objects byadding layer after layer of powdered material and has beenadvancing with lightning speed. One of the leaders in the laseradditive manufacturing space is U.S. group NanoSteel.

The company announced in September it had successfullybuilt a 99.92 per cent crack-free sample part with very high

SSAB’s WearCalc technologycalculates the relative wearrate and service life of acustomer’s product byanalyzing the type of wearand abrasive material onvarious grades of steel fortheir specific application.

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SAB

900-808 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia T 604.682.5477 E [email protected] W www.MineralsEd.ca

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Educating Teachers and

Students since 1991

hardness values of over 1,000 HV (as measured by the Vickershardness test) and wear resistance comparable to convention-ally manufactured M2 tool steels, typically used to manufac-ture drills. This represents a major breakthrough for the 3Dmanufacturing method known as direct metal laser sinteringsince, up until now, high-hardness metallic materials have hada tendency to crack. Even more promising, says HaraldLemke, NanoSteel’s general manager of engineered powders, isthat the company chose one of its most challenging alloys,prone to cracking with increased hardness, to use for its initialtesting. “This is the first step to explore how far we can takeour hardness and toughness capabilities,” he explains. Thecompany expects successful results as it tests other alloys anddifferent applications and shapes.

Given that NanoSteel has some 300 to 400 alloys, Lemkeanticipates that the once unimaginable could become reality inthe not-too-distant future. “You’ll be able to dial in themicrostructure of the alloy depending on the performancerequirements of the part or component. In essence, what wehave is very tiny but very hard particles embedded in softermaterial. So you’ll be able to change the ratio between hard andsoft and the shape of the micrograins, and specify whether youwant something with more hardness, toughness, tensile strengthor elongation,” he says. “All that [adds to] the benefits additivemanufacturing brings to the table, which is that if you need apart very quickly and you are in a remote place, as is often thecase in the mining industry, you can make the part on site.” CIM

also serves pizza,omelettes and otherNorth American farefor cheap prices.

from the traffic andnoise of the city, guestsare in fact only min-utes from downtown.Chez Tess offers wire-less Internet, roomservice and a compli-

location, cab rides area must for any excur-sions you would liketo take. Rooms startat $280 (130,000CFA). Other popularand slightly cheaperbusiness hotels offer-ing similar amenitiesinclude the HotelRicardo and the Aza-lai Hotel Indepen-dance.

For cosier accommo-dation, try Chez Tess.

A favourite amongbusiness travellers,the Laico Ouaga2000 is located in theembassy sector ofOuagadougou andoffers a complimen-tary shuttle service toand from the airport.The hotel boastsroom service, a fit-ness centre, an out-door swimming pool,and high-speed Inter-net in all rooms but,due to its non-central

This B&B, run by aSwedish expat, offersan oasis from the hus-tle and bustle of Oua-gadougou for verymodest rates. While itseems quite removed


Try some Poulet Bicycletteat a roadside grill,so named because

the chickens are typically

bicycled around the city.

Long an urban centre, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso became the capital of the MossiEmpire in the 15th century and later the administrative hub for the French colonialgovernment. Today the region is home to 1.5 million Burkinabè and is becoming an

increasingly attractive destination for foreign investment in gold mining. CIM hosted itsfirst mining symposium in the city last June, and Ouagadougou is home to CIM’s secondWest African branch. The city promises to be an important centre for the industry in yearsto come.

TRAVEL

OuagadougouBy Chris Balcom

WHERE TO STAY

TIP

Burkinabè food hasmuch in commonwith other WestAfrican cuisines.Meals typically in -volve a base ofsorghum, millet orrice accompanied byvegetable or ground-nut sauces. Grilleddishes of fish, mutton,goat and chicken arealso popular.

Many of the city’shigh-end restaurants

specialize in Frenchcuisine, and French-style café terracesabound throughoutOuagadougou. Guestsmight be surprised bythe wide variety ofother options in thecity including Japan-ese, Middle Eastern,and Vietnameserestaurants.

Café Zaka is an excel-lent place to samplesome local dishes in a

lovely outdoor gardensetting. There is a craftboutique where youcan pick up souvenirsduring the day, and ithosts live music mostevenings.

A favourite is theGondwana, wheresensational separatedining rooms are set astuareg or mauritaniantents, and artisanalcreations are displayedand for sale. Both West

WHERE TO DINE Make sure you get vaccinated for yellow feverbefore leaving. You’ll need to present a vaccination card on arrival.

TIP

African and westerncuisines are served.

If you’re in the moodfor a more upscaledining experience,look no further thanLe Bistrot Lyonnais,one of the city’s finestFrench restaurants.Certainly on thepricey side as far asOuagadougou goes ataround $20 (8,000 to10,000 CFA) a plate,but it offers an impec-cable gourmet menu.

If you find yourselfcraving a simple bur -ger and fries, you can’tgo wrong with HappyDonald of Ham-burger House, which

Burkina Tourism

Jeff Attaway

Laico Ouaga 2000

mentary breakfast.The guesthouse alsohas a car with a chauf-feur on hand who cantake you around.Rooms start at $42(19,000 CFA).

other animals in theirnatural habitats. Thereare several tour opera-tors in the city, and itis easy to set up excur-sions of any duration.

Make some time forBurkina Faso’s incred-ible national parks,where it is possible tosee lions, hippos, ele-phants and various

Musée de Musique isa wonderful introduc-tion to Burkinabèmusic culture.

Explore the CentralMarket or theGounghin Market toget a real Ouaga -dougou experience. Itis, however, advisableto go with a Burkinabècompanion, as a lostforeigner is an easytarget for touts andpickpockets.


WHERE TO EXPLORE

You’ll need a visa to enter Burkina Faso, but itcan be obtained on arrival at the airport for

around $214.

TIP

No Canadian airport has direct flights to theOuagadougou International Airport, but AirFrance and Brussels Airlines fly in regularlyfrom Europe. The airport is just outside thecity centre, and it is not a long cab ride toany hotel.

HOW TO PAYBurkina Faso usesthe West African CFAfranc, a currencyshared with sevenother West Africancountries. One Cana-dian dollar equalsaround 465 CFAfrancs. The CFAfranc is pegged to theeuro, and as such theeuro is the mostwidely accepted for-eign currency. It isdifficult to find CFAfrancs in Canada, souse the ATMs onceyou arrive to with-draw local bills. Mostestablishments arecash only, so neverassume you’ll be ableto pay by credit card.

There are two types oftaxis operating inOuagadougou – greenand yellow cabs. Ofthe two, the yellowtaxis are far more reli-able and comfortable.They have fare meters,better maintained ve -hicles and use central-ized dispatchers.

The green taxis aren’tas safe a bet. Theygenerally circle a routearound the centre oftown, and divergingfrom this circuit candramatically raise theprice, so be sure tonegotiate a fare before

taking off. Driverstyp ically stop to pickup other passengersalong the way, so bequite clear if you wantto travel alone.

Ouagadougou is oneof the safer WesternAfrican capitals, buttheft is commonenough that oneshould exercise cau-tion in crowded areasand avoid walkingalone at night.

HOW TO GET THERE

The city hosts a number of impressivemudbrick buildings. Highlights include the

Ouagadougou Cathedral and the Grand Mosque.

TIP

Every Friday at 7 a.m.you can witness a tra-ditional Mossi cere-mony at theMoro-Naba Palace,the historic home ofthe Mossi king. Hischiefs pledge theirallegiance following around of cannon firein this colourful re-enactment of a his-toric declaration ofwar. Visitors are wel-come to attend butphotos are prohibited.

Ouagadougou enjoysa strong reputation asan artistic and culturalhub. If you’re luckyenough to be in town

during one of the city’sfestivals, they are cer-tainly worth attend-ing. The city is host tothe world-renownedPan-African FilmFestival of Oua-gadougou (FES-PACO), held everytwo years in March. Itincludes perhaps themost prestigiousawards ceremony inAfrican cinema.

If you happen to be inthe city around theend of April andbeginning of May, thewell-established JazzOuaga festival is amust. If you miss it,

HOW TO FIT INWhile most Burkin-abè speak one of thecountry’s several in -digenous languages asa first language,French is the officiallanguage of the coun-try. A basic familiaritywith French willmake Ouagadougoumuch easier to navi-gate, as it can be diffi-cult to find an Englishspeaker even in hotelsand restaurants.

It is essential to estab-lish a personal rela-tionship before talkingbusiness. Bring upfamily – it’s the mosttalked-about subjectin the country. Don’ttry and rush intodeals, commitmentsand work-related mat-ters, as these thingsare usually left untilthe end of the meetingand take up a minimalamount of time.

GETTING AROUND

Henryk Kotowski

Deborah Mullen

C. Hugues

Don Worth steps down fromCIM Foundation boardBy Tom DiNardo

After a long and illustrious tenure,CIM past-president Donald J. Worthstepped down from the CIM Founda-tion Board of Trustees in August.

Worth, 82, has agreed to continueadvising the board and help the founda-tion secure funds for important pro-grams. Mining For Society (M4S), CIM’shighly successful educational mine exhi-bition, will be the first priority for fund-ing, according to CIM Foundationmanager Deborah Sauvé. The CIM Foun-dation, formerly the Canadian Miningand Metallurgy Foundation, is a not-for-profit charitable organization dedicatedto supporting the development of thenext generation of mining professionals.

“We are delighted he has agreed tostay on in a consultation capacity,” saidSauvé. “He is a respected member ofCIM and an excellent fundraiser,responsible for helping secure funds forimportant scholarships.”

Worth has long been involved inCIM. He joined the Institute in 1964and served as CIM president from 1996to 1997, during which time he oversawthe planning of the CIM centennial yearcelebrations. Then in 1997 he became amember the CIM Foundation and waspresident from 1997 to 2000. CIM

CIM community

Cour

tesy

of W

omen

in M

inin

g

Don Worth (left) became a member of the CIM Fifty-Year Club at this year’s CIM Convention in Vancouver.This honour, presented by CIM past-president RobertSchafer (right), recognizes long-time members.

Rick Hutson was deeply committed to cultivating the industry’s next generation and often spoke at studentfunctions, like the annual introduction to networking event at the CIM Convention.

OBITUARY

CIM remembers Rick Hutson (1957–2014) By Chris Balcom

Jon

Benj

amin

Pho

togr

aphy


Rick Hutson, a highly valuedmember of the CIM community,passed away suddenly on Sept. 15,2014. Rick’s involvement with CIM,both at his local Toronto branch andon a national level, was extensive. Atthe time of his passing, he was CentralDistrict vice- president on the CIMCouncil.

Hutson will be remembered as apillar of support for the many univer-sity students to whom he offeredguidance. He regularly coached grad-uates looking for work and was astrong advocate for CIM Toronto’sfunding of student-related activities.He was also a frequent guest speakerat student events run by the Prospec-tors and Developers Association ofCanada. “Rick had boundless energywhere students were concerned andhe worked with many universities andstudent groups speaking, listeningand sharing his enthusiasm for min-ing,” said Larry Smith, a long-time

friend and colleague. For many years,the pair put on the “The Rick andLarry Show” at student events, inwhich they offered practical insightsinto pursuing a career in mining,always with a comedic bent.

“He was a throwback to the past inthat he generously gave of his owntime and took much satisfaction in

observing and assist-ing in the success ofothers,” said CurtisClarke, who served asan executive officer of

the Toronto branch with Hutson forseveral years. “Rick was a trusted col-league and respected advisor to mem-bers of the executive, myselfincluded.”

Hutson began his professionalcareer as a geologist with Amoco andspent the latter part of his working lifeas a senior consultant with C.J.Stafford & Associates. His involvementwith CIM has shaped the lives of manyin the community, and his legacy willundoubtedly be carried on through allthose whose lives he touched. CIMextends its deepest sympathy to hisfamily and friends. CIM

“Rick had boundless energy where studentswere concerned.” – Larry Smith

93 %

NOS LECTEURS

we are pleased to invite you and your colleagues to attend the47th Annual Conference of the Canadian Mineral Processorsto be held in Ottawa, Ontario, from January 20 to 22, 2015. Formore than 45 years, the cMP conference has provided a forumfor discussing best practices and the latest improvements inmineral processing technology. almost 600 delegates attendedlast year’s conference and profited from the outstandingopportunities in networking, knowledge-sharing and personaldevelopment the cMP conference consistently offers.The technical program will be the heart and soul of theconference with close to 40 technical papers presented by fellowmill operators and mineral processing professionals. In additionto discussions on canadian milling practices, internationalspeakers will weigh in on the mineral processing challenges theyencounter abroad. we look forward to you joining us in the capital this January.

– The cMP Executive

nous sommes heureux de vous inviter, ainsi que voscollègues, à participer à la 47ème Conférence annuelle desminéralurgistes du Canada qui aura lieu à Ottawa du 20 au22 janvier 2015. depuis plus de 45 ans, la cMP se fait undevoir de créer un lieu de discussion où les bonnes pratiqueset les dernières techniques de minéralurgie sont à l’honneur.Plus de 600 délégués ont participé à la conférence l’an dernierpour profiter de cette occasion exceptionnelle de réseautage,de partage d’expériences industrielles et de développementprofessionnel. cette année encore, le programme technique sera au coeur del’évènement avec près de 40 articles présentés par des opérateursd’usines et autres professionnels de la minéralurgie. Pendantque plusieurs se concentreront sur des problématiquestypiquement canadiennes, d’autres présentateurs discuterontdes défis techniques auxquels ils font face à l’étranger.En espérant vous voir en grand nombre dans la capitalecanadienne en janvier prochain.

– conseil d’administration de la société canadienne

du traitement des minerais

J a n u a r y 2 0 T Oa u 2 2 J a n V I E r 2 0 1 5 | w E s T I n h O T E l | O T T a w a , c a n a d a

47th ANNUALcanadian mineral processors CONFERENCE47e CONFÉRENCE ANNUELLE DESminéralurgistes du canada


www.cmpsoc.ca

SHORT COURSES | COURS ABRÉGÉSCOURSECOURS

PRESENTERPRÉSENTATEUR DATE COST

COÛT

Water Treatment for Mineral Processors Brian danyliw, chemtreat sunday, January 18 (full day) | dimanche 18

janvier (journée complète) $400

Process Improvement – AStructured Lean 6 SigmaProblem-Solving Approach inMineral Processing Operations– White Belt Certification

carmine ciriello,analyze and Improve

sunday & Monday, January 18 & 19 (one and a half days) |

dimanche 18 janvier et lundi 19 janvier (une journée et demi)

$600

Mineral Processing for Non-Mineral Processors Majid davoodi, cameco sunday, January 18 (full day) |

dimanche 18 janvier (journée complète) $400

Metallurgical Testwork Types,Interpretation & Process Design Majid davoodi, cameco Monday, January 19 (full day) |

lundi 19 janvier (journée complète) $400

Gold CourseGuy deschênes, BBa,

and other industryrepresentatives from BBa,

Barrick, Gekko and Flsmidth

Monday, January 19 (full day) | lundi 19 janvier (journée complète) $400

Included: lunch, coffee breaks and course materials. Note: Courses are given in English only. Comprend: le dîner, les pauses-café et le matériel de cours. N.B. : Les cours seront présentés en anglais seulement.

REGISTRATION | INSCRIPTIONThe early registration fee including tax is $600 for cIM/aIME/TMsmembers, $811.31 for non-members (includes one-yearmembership to cIM). registration includes the three-daymeeting, coffee breaks, the Tuesday and wednesday luncheonsand evening social receptions, the wednesday reception andawards banquet, as well as a copy of the proceedings. Pleaseregister online at www.cmpsoc.ca.registration kits for pre-registered delegates can be picked up atthe conference registration desk, Fourth Floor, westin hotel,Monday evening between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., and Tuesday toThursday between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. new registrations will betaken during these times. note: Pre-registration forms must be received by december 17, 2014, and any requests for refundsmust be made in writing prior to this date. an administration fee of $100 will be charged for newand/or cancelled registrations after this date.

les frais de préinscription sont de 600 $ pour les membres del’IcM, TMs et aIME et de 811.31 $ pour les autres participants(taxes incluses). le tarif pour les non-membres comprend unabonnement d’un an à l’IcM. ces frais donnent droit aux troisjours de conférence, à une copie des comptes rendus, auxpauses-café, aux dîners de mardi et mercredi ainsi qu’à laréception sociale du mardi soir de même qu’à la réception et aubanquet des récompenses du mercredi soir. Veuillez vous inscrireen ligne à la conférence à l’adresse www.cmpsoc.ca. Tous les délégués préinscrits pourront recevoir leur troussed’inscription en se présentant au bureau d’inscription, 4e étagede l’hôtel westin, le lundi soir entre 19 h et 22 h et du mardi aujeudi de 7 h à 15 h. les autres délégués qui désirent participer àla conférence pourront également s’inscrire à cet endroit, auxmêmes heures.remarques : Veuillez envoyer vos formulaires de préinscription avant le 17 décembre 2014. lesdemandes de remboursement doivent être faites, par écrit, avant cette date. des frais de 100 $s’appliqueront à toute nouvelle inscription ainsi qu’à toute annulation après cette date.


Register early to avoid disappointment!

Inscrivez-vous tôt !

TECHNICAL PROGRAM |PROGRAMME TECHNIQUE

COMMINUTIONOverflow Versus Grate discharge Ball Mills: an Experimentalcomparison RAO LATCHIREDDI

OMc Power-Based comminution calculations for design,Modelling and circuit Optimization PAUL SCINTO

retention of small Grinding Media within conventional Ball MillsCLAUDE BAZIN

a simple Estimation Method of Materials handling Energy inhPGr circuits ALEX DOLL

Predicting the Energy requirements of high-Pressure Grindingrolls with Piston Press Test ZORIG DAVAANYAM

FLOTATIONa review of Gas dispersion studies in Flotation Plants JAN NESSET

On-line Flotation simulator at Pyhäsalmi Mine JANNE PIETILÄ

challenges in niobium Flotation CHARLOTTE GIBSON

nanoparticle Flotation aids for Pentlandite Fines SONGTAO YANG

aErOPhInE® 3418a Promoter – the canadian collector – 50 yearsof Improved Metallurgy in Various applications TOM BRUCE

Two new structures of hydroxamate collectors and theirapplication to Ilmenite and wolframite Flotation LIUYIN XIA

GRAVITYcoarse Gold recovery using Flotation in a Fluidized Bed ERIC WASMUND

The Effects of nuggety Gold on Gold deportment – lessons fromBeaton creek Paleoplacer Gold Project, australia GEOFF LANE


SOCIAL PROGRAM |PROGRAMME SOCIAL

Monday | Lundi

21:00 – 23:00 student MixerFourth Floor, Westin Hotel

soirée « student Mixer »4e étage, Hôtel Westin

Tuesday | Mardi

12:00 Beer and sandwich luncheonFourth Floor, Westin Hotel

dîner bières et sandwichs4e étage, Hôtel Westin

19:00 hockey cup challengeCarleton University

défi de hockeyUniversité Carleton

21:00 chairman’s receptionGovernor General’s Ballroom

réception du présidentSalle du Gouverneur Général

Wednesday | Mercredi

12:00 Business Meeting luncheonFourth Floor, Westin Hotel

dîner de réunion d’affaires4e étage, Hôtel Westin

18:00 Executive reception (by invitation only)Rideau Suite

réception des dirigeants (sur invitation)Suite Rideau

18:30 receptionFourth Floor, Westin Hotel

réception4e étage, Hôtel Westin

19:30 annual BanquetConfederation Ballroom

Banquet annuelSalle Confédération

ACCOMMODATIONS | HÉBERGEMENTa special rate of $201 (single/double) and $251 (deluxe), whichincludes complimentary Internet, has been negotiated at thewestin hotel (reference the canadian Mineral Processorsconference). The westin hotel will only guarantee these roomsuntil december 13, 2014, so reserve today at 613.560.7000 oronline through the cMP website. un nombre limité de chambres a été négocié au tarif spécial de201 $ (en occupation simple/double) et 251 $ (de luxe) incluantl’internet, avec l’hôtel westin (mentionnez la conférence desMinéralurgistes du canada). Veuillez noter que les chambres sontretenues à votre intention jusqu’au 13 décembre 2014. réservezvotre chambre en communiquant directement avec l’hôtel westinau 613.560.7000 ou en ligne à partir du lien situé sur le siteinternet de cMP.

www.cmpsoc.caRegister early to avoid disappointment!

Inscrivez-vous tôt !

PROCESS CONTROLadvanced Process control (aPc) for Grinding circuits DOMINIK GROENVELD

Mitigating Brownfield Projects risks by stochastic and dynamicapplication to an Ore Processing Plant simulations DANIEL ROY

content and structure of a Plant Grinding Management system OMAR ARAFAT

simulation Platform as a service for Operator Effectiveness RODRIGO TORO

Implementation of Flotation control at the raglan Mine GENEVIEVE COUTURE

unlocking Value through Flotation Equipment Maintenance BILL BREUR

PROJECTSassessing Vertimill ultrafine Grinding Performance: The GibraltarMine case KEITH MERRIAM

start-up and Early Optimization of the new afton concentratorJENNIFER KATCHEN

Throughput and recovery Improvements following commissioningof the Mount Milligan Mine RANDALL PETERS

Overview of lake shore Gold’s 2012–13 Bell creek Mill ExpansionDAVE FELSHER

development of the “sII Mission” Mineral sands Project PETE DUNN

adjunct chemical dust control strategies for high Tonnage MiningOperations BRIAN DANYLIW

PLENARYdoing More with what we already Know – Improving the Efficiencyof Minerals Processing COALITION FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT COMMINUTION

IRON OREwash water Optimization on an Iron Ore spiral NIEL LOURENS

aG Feed Particle size distribution Measurement of Iron Ore FAUCHER ARNAUD

MINERALOGYPredicting nickel recoveries at the Thompson Mill from FeedMineralogy FRED FORD

a Geometallurgical approach of the cu-ni-(PGE) Maturi deposit,Minnesota, usa, using Quantitative Mineralogy NICOLE HOFFMANN

heterogeneity of low-Grade Material and amenability to sensor-Based sorting ARVIN MAZHARY

OPTIMISATIONsummary of Tests with classification cyclones vs. Vibrating screensand their Effects on the recovery at niobec YANICK SASSEVILLE

cyanide recovery and detoxification study on seabridge Gold’sKsM Project MARIAM MELASHVILI

how to use Energy Management to Improve Mining OperationsProductivity and reduce downtime – canadian utility companiesIncentive Programs SVETLANA LOIF

sustainable Optimization of the Bell creek saG Mill TUHIN BANERJEE

developing sustainable solutions to complex MetallurgicalProblems BARUN GORAIN

comparison studies of Grates and Modified Grates on saG MillPerformance in the Processing of Gold Ore at the hutti Gold Minescompany ltd. GURU SWAMY


AUTHORS | AUTEURSauthors, session chairs and regional representatives must registeras conference delegates. a speaker’s breakfast will be provided theday of their presentation at 7 a.m., tentatively held in the Quebecroom. Please contact John chaulk for presentation information at613.947.0394 or [email protected].

Tous les auteurs, les présidents de sessions et les représentantsrégionaux doivent s’inscrire comme délégués à la conférence. undéjeuner sera servi le jour de leur présentation à 7 h, et cepossiblement dans le salon Québec. Veuillez contacter Johnchaulk au 613.947.0394 ou [email protected] pourobtenir des informations quant aux présentations.

An Introduction to Cutoff Grade: Theory and Practice in Open Pit and Underground Mines (with a new section on blending optimization strategy)Cutoff grades are essential in determining the economic feasibility and mine life of a project. Learn how to solve most cutoff grade estimationproblems by developing techniques and graphical analytical methods, about the relationship between cutoff grades and the design of pushbacks inopen pit mines, and the optimization of block sizes in caving methods.INSTRUCTOR Jean-Michel Rendu, USA • DATE September 9-11, 2015 • LOCATION Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Geostatistical Mineral Resource Estimation and Meeting the New Regulatory Environment: Step by Step from Sampling to Grade ControlLearn about the latest regulations on public reporting of resources/reserves through state-of-the-art statistical and geostatistical techniques; howto apply geostatistics to predict dilution and adapt reserve estimates to that predicted dilution; how geostatistics can help you categorize yourresources in an objective manner; and how to understand principles of NI 43-101 and the SME Guide.INSTRUCTORS Marcelo Godoy, Newmont Mining Corp., Denver; Jean-Michel Rendu, JMR Consultants, USA; Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGillUniversity, Canada; and Guy Desharnais, SGS Canada Inc., Canada • DATE September 14-18, 2015 • LOCATION Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Strategic Risk Management in Mine Design and Production Scheduling: Generating Optimal Mine Plans Given Uncertainty• Find out how to manage and minimise risks and produce optimal pit designs with strategic mine planning processes and the next generation

optimisation methods. • Discover how new developments will help you capture the “upside potential” in mine designs and minimise “downside risks” as well as increase

cash flows through the effect of the mining sequence and “risk blending”.• Explore real-world examples and participate in hands-on computer sessions that show how to increase project value by employing new risk-

based (stochastic) optimisation models.• Understand and learn about the new stochastic mine planning optimisation framework and its contribution to sustainable utilisation of mineral

resources.• Discover new developments in optimizing mining complexes and mineral value chains.INSTRUCTORS Tarrant Elkington, Snowden, Australia; and Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University, Canada • DATE October 14-16, 2015 • LOCATION Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Quantitative Mineral Resource Assessments: An Integrated Approach to Planning for Exploration Risk ReductionLearn about exploration risk analysis for strategic planning. Understand how to demonstrate how operational mineral deposit models can reduceuncertainties; make estimates of the number of undiscovered deposits; and integrate the information and examine the economic possibilities.INSTRUCTORS Don Singer, USA; and David Menzie, U.S. Geological Survey, USA • DATE Fall 2015 • LOCATION Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Flotation and leaching studies on processing phosphate ore from El-Sebaiya East, EgyptA. M. Ramadan, Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Engineering, Mining and Petroleum Department, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

ABSTRACT The composition of phosphate rocks, mainlyused in manufacturing fertilizers, varies among deposits;therefore, phosphate rocks from different sources areexpected to behave differently in acidulation processes.This paper examines the effect on uranium leaching result-ing from using flotation on preconcentrate phosphate orefrom El-Sebaiya East, Egypt. A high-grade ore sample(27.3% P2O5, 168 mg/kg U), supplied by the Al-Nasr Min-ing Company, was subjected to reverse single-stageflotation to separate carbonate from the phosphate sample.Subsequently, P2O5 and U concentrations were 32.2%(92.1% recovery) and 225 mg/kg, respectively. After theleach process, U concentration in the liquor was 319 mg/L.

RÉSUMÉ La composition des roches phosphatiques, utiliséessurtout dans la manufacture de fertilisants, varie selon les gise-ments; les roches phosphatiques provenant de différentes sourcesauraient donc des comportements différents dans le procédéd’acidulation. Le présent article examine l’effet sur la lixiviation del’uranium de l’utilisation de la flottation sur un minerai préconcentréde phosphate provenant de l’est d’El-Sebaiya, en Égypte. Un échan-tillon de minerai à teneur élevée (27,3 % P2O5, 168 mg/kg U), fournipar la compagnie minière Al-Nasr, a été soumis à une flottationinverse à étape unique pour séparer le carbonate du phosphate. Parla suite, les concentrations de P2O5 et de U étaient respectivementde 32,2 % (récupération de 92,1 %) et de 225 mg/kg. Après leprocédé de lixiviation, la concentration en U dans la liqueur était de319 mg/l.


Excerpts taken from abstracts in CIM Journal, Vol. 5, No. 4.To subscribe, to submit a paper or to be a peer reviewer—www.cim.org

T E C H N I C A L A B S T R AC T S

CIM journal

Optimization of clean coal specificationsL. X. Li, Lenerge Resources Ltd., Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

ABSTRACT Coking coal producers often encounter variationsin clean coal quality when mining multiseam deposits con-taining coals with different washability and cokingproperties. This paper describes how, for a single coal prop-erty, an initial clean coal specification with an ash content of8.5% on an air-dried basis (ADB) and a free swelling index(FSI) of 5.5 can be improved to a specification with 7.5%ash ADB content and an FSI of 6. This is accomplished bysorting coal seams into two groups for processing andblending. A preliminary economic model demonstrates howthis improvement enhances economic returns through abeneficial factor.

RÉSUMÉ Les producteurs de charbon cokéfiable sont souvent mis enprésence de situations où la qualité du charbon épuré s’avère variablelorsqu’ils exploitent des gisements multicouches renfermant des char-bons aux propriétés de lavabilité et de cokéfaction différentes. Leprésent article porte sur la façon de faire passer, dans le cas d’une pro-priété renfermant un seul type de charbon, les spécifications initialesd’un charbon épuré à teneur en cendres de 8,5 % obtenue sur unebase de charbon séché à l’air (ADB) et un indice de gonflement libre(FSI) de 5,5 à une teneur en cendres (ADB) de 7,5 % et un FSI de 6. Ilsuffit de répartir les couches de charbon en deux groupes aux fins depréparation et de mélange dosé du charbon. Un modèle économiquepréliminaire illustre comment cette démarche permet d’augmenter lerendement économique grâce au recours à un facteur favorable.

Process history and aerosol exposures for electrolytic copper refining at Vale Canada (Inco)B. R. Conard, BRConard Consulting, Inc., Oakville, Ontario, Canada

ABSTRACT Copper refining at Vale Canada (previouslyknown as Inco) has been associated with Ni production.Because Cu and Ni carry risks for adverse health endpointsthrough inhalation exposure, it is critical that their aerosollevels, and the metallurgical processes through which theyenter the air, are understood. Because certain Ni substanceshave been linked to respiratory cancers, it is also importantto characterize the amounts and types of Ni compounds inoccupational settings. This paper describes electrorefiningand electrowinning operations near Sudbury, Ontario (1930–present), and gives aerosol measurements (1978–present).

RÉSUMÉ L’affinage du cuivre chez Vale Canada (antérieurementInco) a été associé à la production de Ni. Puisque le Cu et le Ni com-portent des risques d’effets adverses sur la santé suite à uneexposition par inhalation, il est critique de comprendre leursniveaux en aérosols et le processus métallurgique par lequel ilsentrent dans l’air. Puisque certaines substances contenant du Ni ontété reliées à des cancers respiratoires, il est aussi important de car-actériser les quantités et les types de composés de Ni présents dansles environnements de travail. Le présent article décrit les opéra-tions d’électroaffinage et d’extraction électrolytique à proximité deSudbury, Ontario (de 1930 à ce jour) et donne des mesures desteneurs en aérosols (de 1978 à ce jour).

Excerpts taken from abstracts in CIM Journal, Vol. 5, No. 4.To subscribe, to submit a paper or to be a peer reviewer—www.cim.org

Industry-scale knowledge management—Introducing the RISKGATE underground strata and explosions body ofknowledgeP. A. Kirsch, J. Harris, D. Cliff, and M. Shi, Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre, Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland,Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; B. Hebblewhite, School of Mining Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales,Australia; D. Sprott, Design Solutions Australia Pty Ltd., Buddina, Queensland, Australia; A. Ranjan, S. Sharma, and T. Biswas, Mining Engineeringstudents, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, India; and S. Sharma, Mining Engineering student, National Institute of Technology Karnataka,Surathkal, Mangalore, India

ABSTRACT RISKGATE is an interactive online risk manage-ment system that compiles and presents current practicesfrom a diverse range of Australian coal mining experts. Thesystem is designed to assist the industry in implementingcontinual improvement in management of major unwantedevents, thus maximizing health and safety performance.This paper presents an overview of the comprehensivebody of knowledge developed for management ofunwanted strata incidents and explosions in the under-ground environment. From a broader industry perspective,RISKGATE provides an environment for knowledge captureand exchange to drive innovation and advance currentpractices in the identification, assessment, and manage-ment of risk.

RÉSUMÉ RISKGATE est un système interactif en ligne de gestion durisque; il compile et présente les pratiques actuelles de diversexperts australiens en extraction du charbon. Le système est conçude manière à assister l’industrie à mettre en œuvre des améliorationscontinues dans la gestion d’événements majeurs non désirés, max-imisant ainsi le rendement en santé et sécurité. Cet article présenteun survol des connaissances développées pour la gestion des inci-dents non désirés impliquant des strates et des explosions dansl’environnement souterrain. D’un point de vue industriel plusgénéral, RISKGATE fournit un environnement pour la saisie etl’échange des connaissances afin de pousser l’innovation et faireavancer les pratiques actuelles dans l’identification, l’évaluation et lagestion du risque.


CIM journal


Interactive tools for learning basic geostatistical conceptsA. Vervoort, Department of Civil Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; and A. Govaerts, formerly Department of Civil Engineering, KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium

ABSTRACT Geostatistical concepts are often difficult for stu-dents to understand, even those with a strong mathematicalbackground. One of the main problems is the link betweenthe variation of the parameter value in space or time and thecalculated experimental semivariogram. Another challengeis differentiating between directional and omnidirectionalsemivariograms and their interpretation. For these reasons,interactive tools were developed based on the free publicdomain software R. The use of these interactive tools is lim-ited to educational situations only (i.e., to visualize basicconcepts). The interactive modules can be accessed atwww.bwk.kuleuven.be/geostatistics.

RÉSUMÉ Les étudiants, même ceux qui ont de fortes connais-sances mathématiques, ont souvent de la difficulté à comprendreles concepts de la géostatistique. L’un des principaux problèmesest la relation entre la variation des valeurs des paramètres dans l’e-space ou le temps et le semi-variogramme expérimental calculé.Un autre défi est de différencier entre les semi-variogrammesdirectionnels et omnidirectionnels et leur interprétation. Des outilsinteractifs ont donc été développés; ils sont basés sur le logiciellibre R dans le domaine public. L’utilisation de ces outils interactifsest limitée à des situations éducatives (c.-à-d. pour visualiser lesconcepts de base). Les modules interactifs sont disponibles au :www.bwk.kuleuven.be/geostatistics.


Excerpts taken from abstracts in CMQ, Vol. 52, No. 4.To subscribe – www.cmq-online.ca


canadian metallurgical quarterly

Effect of particle size distribution on recovery of coarse chalcopyrite and galena in Denver flotation cellB. Awatey, W. Skinner, and M. Zanin, Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, South Australia, Australia

ABSTRACT The flotation recovery by particle size of singlemineral chalcopyrite and galena was studied in a Denverflotation cell, using sodium dicresylthiophosphate (DTP)and sodium isopropyl xanthate (SIPX) as collectors andpolypropylene glycol (PPG) as a frother. The study wasextended to very coarse particle size (up to 1.6 mm). Frothstability was also measured in parallel to the batch flotationtests, in a specifically designed froth stability column, fol-lowing the Bikerman approach. It is shown that particles upto 850 μm can be floated successfully, provided they are lib-erated and hydrophobic. However, the recovery of bothchalcopyrite and galena was strongly influenced by theoverall particle size distribution, decreasing sharply as thefraction of fines (−106 μm) in the feed also decreased. Rhe-ology measurements showed negligible differences in pulpviscosity, and therefore in the collection zone hydrodynam-ics, between the different conditions tested. Froth stability,on the contrary, decreased as the feed particle size distribu-tion became coarser. Correlation was found between theamount of fines in the pulp, froth stability and flotationrecovery. The recovery of mineral particles is criticallydependent on froth stability, which in turn is highly influ-enced by the overall particle size distribution of the feedmaterial. For these reasons, the study also suggests that it isnot possible in batch flotation to determine the rate andrecovery of the coarse particle size fractions floating themindependently from the fine size fractions.

RÉSUMÉ Dans une cellule de flottation de Denver, on a étudié larécupération par flottation en fonction de la taille de particule d’unminéral unique de chalcopyrite ou de galène, en utilisant du dicré-syle thiophosphate de sodium (DTP) et de l’isopropyle xanthate desodium (SIPX) comme agents collecteurs et du polypropylène glycol(PPG) comme agent moussant. On a étendu l’étude à la taille de par-ticule très grossière (jusqu’à 1,6 mm). On a également mesuré lastabilité de la mousse en parallèle aux essais de flottation discon-tinue, dans une colonne de stabilité de la mousse spécialementconçue, d’après l’approche de Bikerman. On montre que l’on peutfaire flotter avec succès des particules ayant jusqu’à 850 μm, à la con-dition qu’elles soient libres et hydrophobes. Cependant, larécupération, tant de la chalcopyrite que de la galène, était forte-ment influencée par la distribution globale de la taille de particule,diminuant sévèrement à mesure que la fraction de particules fines (-106 μm) dans l’alimentation diminuait. Les mesures de rhéologiemontraient des différences négligeables dans la viscosité de la pulpeet ainsi dans l’hydrodynamique de la zone de collection, parmi lesdifférentes conditions évaluées. Au contraire, la stabilité de la moussediminuait à mesure que la distribution de la taille de particule de l’al-imentation devenait plus grossière. On a trouvé une corrélationentre la quantité de particules fines dans la pulpe, la stabilité de lamousse et la récupération par flottation. La récupération des partic-ules minérales dépend, de façon critique, de la stabilité de la moussequi, à son tour est hautement influencée par la distribution globalede la taille de particule du matériel d’alimentation. Pour ces raisons,l’étude suggère également qu’il n’est pas possible, en flottation dis-continue, de déterminer la vitesse et la récupération des fractions detaille de particules grossières, en les faisant flotter indépendammentdes fractions de taille fine.

Conductive polymer coating for anodes used in zinc electrowinningM. Taghizadeh, NFCR, NSTRI, Tehran, Iran; H. Hooshangi, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Saveh Branch, Saveh, Iran; and M. Asgari,NFCR, NSTRI, Tehran, Iran

ABSTRACT In this study polypyrrole was coated on the leadsilver alloy (0.5 wt-%) using electrochemical synthesis. Theperformance of the coating on the lead alloy corrosionbehaviour in a severe corrosive electrolyte has been evalu-ated. Also, the morphology of polypyrrole coating wasstudied utilising scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Theresults show that the protective layer of polypyrroledecreases the corrosion rate of the anodes by about 30% forthe optimum coating condition.

RÉSUMÉ Dans cette étude, on a recouvert l’alliage de plomb etargent (0,5% en poids) avec du polypyrrole en utilisant la synthèseélectrochimique. On a évalué le rendement du revêtement sur lecomportement à la corrosion de l’alliage de plomb dans l’électrolytesévèrement corrosif. On a également étudié la morphologie durevêtement de polypyrrole en utilisant le microscopie électroniqueà balayage (SEM). Les résultats montrent que la couche protectricede polypyrrole diminue la vitesse de corrosion des anodes par envi-ron 30% en condition optimale du revêtement.

Excerpts taken from abstracts in CMQ, Vol. 52, No. 4.To subscribe – www.cmq-online.ca

Rhodium cementation from spent plating solution using Taguchi’s methodM. H. Morcali, B. Zeytuncu, and O. Yucel, Faculty of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey

ABSTRACT The Taguchi method was used as the experimen-tal design to determine the optimum conditions ofcementation behaviour of the spent rhodium sulphate plat-ing solution. Cementation was carried out using metalliczinc powder. The experimental conditions were studied inthe range of 25-45°C for reaction temperature (A), 0.5-1.5for pH of solution (B), 30-50 mg for zinc powder (C) and30-60 min for reaction time (D). Experimental parametersand their levels were determined in the light of preliminarytests. An orthogonal array (OA) L93

4 consisting of fourparameters each with three levels, was chosen. The optimalconditions found for cementation of rhodium, such as:reaction temperature, pH of the solution, mass of zinc andreaction time are respectively: 45°C, 1.5, 50 mg and 60min. A verification experiment was conducted under opti-mum conditions and it was found that theoreticallycalculated and experimentally obtained results were ingood agreement at 99.98 and 99.95% respectively.

RÉSUMÉ On a utilisé la méthode de Taguchi comme plan expéri-mental dans la détermination des conditions optimales ducomportement de cémentation de la solution usée de sulfate derhodium pour galvanoplastie. On a effectué la cémentation en util-isant de la poudre métallique de zinc. On a étudié les conditionsexpérimentales dans la gamme de 25 à 45°C pour la température dela réaction (A), 0,5 à 1,5 pour le pH de la solution (B), 30 à 50 mg pourla poudre de zinc (C) et 30 à 60 min pour la durée de réaction (D). Ona déterminé les paramètres expérimentaux et leurs niveaux aumoyen d’essais préliminaires. On a choisi un arrangement orthogo-nal (OA) L9(34) comprenant quatre paramètres, chacun à troisniveaux. Les conditions optimales de la cémentation du rhodium,incluant la température de réaction, le pH de la solution, la masse duzinc et la durée de réaction étaient respectivement de 45°C, 1,5, 50 mg et 60 min. On a effectué une expérience de vérification sousles conditions optimales et l’on a trouvé que les résultats calculésthéoriquement et les résultats obtenus expérimentalement étaienten bon accord, 99,98 et 99,95 % respectivement.


canadian metallurgical quarterly


Cold deformation and heat treatment influence on the microstructures and corrosion behavior of AISI 304 stainless steelH. R. Bakhsheshi-Rad, Department of Materials, Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, UniversitiTeknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia; B. Haerian, and A. Najafizadeh, Department of Materials Engineering, Islamic Azad University,Najafabad Branch, Isfahan, Iran; M. H. Idris, M. R. A. Kadir, E. Hamzah, and M. Daroonparvar, Department of Materials, Manufacturing andIndustrial Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

ABSTRACT In the present study AISI 304 stainless steelwith different degrees of cold deformation and annealingparameters were investigated. Microstructural evolutionsby optical micrography and scanning electron microscopyshowed relatively fully austenitic ultrafine-grained struc-ture obtained after annealing at 700°C for 80 min. Thevolume fraction of α′-martensite increased with increasingcompressive deformation rate and maximum volume frac-tion of α′-martensite was attained in the samples subjected0.65% strain. The potentiodynamic polarization results in3% NaCl indicated that the corrosion current densityincreased with cold deformation, while after annealing, itreduced from 2.86 to 2.29 μA cm−2, showing an enhance-ment of corrosion resistance. The immersion test showedthat the austenitic ultrafine-grained structure exhibitsmoderate and more uniform pitting corrosion attack com-pared to the coarser grain in NaCl solution.

RÉSUMÉ Dans cette étude, on a examiné un acier inoxydable AISI304 ayant différents taux de déformation à froid et différentsparamètres de recuit. L’analyse de l’évolution de la microstructurepar micrographie optique et par microscopie électronique à bal-ayage a montré une structure à grains ultrafins et presquecomplètement austénitique obtenue après un recuit à 700°C pen-dant 80 minutes. La fraction volumique de martensite α′augmentait avec l’augmentation du taux de déformation en com-pression et la fraction volumique maximale de martensite α′ étaitatteinte par les échantillons soumis à une déformation de 0,65%. Lesrésultats de polarisation potentiocinétique dans 3% de NaCl indi-quaient que la densité du courant de corrosion augmentait avec ladéformation à froid, alors qu’après le recuit, elle était réduite de 2,86 µA/cm2 à 2,29 µA/cm2, montrant ainsi une augmentation de larésistance à la corrosion. L’épreuve d’immersion dans la solution deNaCl a montré que la structure austénitique à grains ultrafinsexhibait une attaque par corrosion localisée modérée et plus uni-forme comparée au grain plus grossier.


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Bulli

on V

ault

The poisonous or flammable pockets of gases in a mine,known as “damps,” earned evocative names. Firedampis flammable and usually consists of methane.

Stinkdamp is the explosive and particularly pungent hydrogensulphide. Blackdamp (or chokedamp) consists of suffocatingcarbon dioxide (CO2), and afterdamp is mainly carbonmonoxide (CO) producedafter an explosion.Afterdamp, an especiallylethal enemy, beingodourless, colourless andtasteless, was extremelydifficult for 19th centuryminers to detect – unless, ofcourse, they were carrying ayellow canary with them.

Small animals like cana -ries proved useful fordetecting poisonous gasesbecause of their rapidbreath ing rate and highmetabolism, making themmore sensitive to the effectsof poisonous gas. Whenexposed to low levels ofCO, a canary has difficulty breathing and becomes quite vis-ibly agitated and unsteady. Miners knew there was poisonousgas around when the bird began to sway on its perch or collapse.

Regular miners rarely brought canaries with them into themines on their shifts. The birds were, instead, primarily usedby rescue crews following explosions resulting from regulardetonations during mining, sparks from mining equipment,or the open flames of the miners’ carbide lamps. Combustionin the mines produced CO, which could kill miners throughasphyxiation.

Canaries were brought underground in cages about thesize of a lunchbox, made out of a durable, transparentmaterial known as Perspex. The handles doubled as asmall oxygen canister, and if a canary collapsed from expo-sure to CO, the miner could cover the ventilation holesand open the oxygen canister to revive the bird. It was notin anyone’s interest to let the birds die, and miners wereknown to grow fond of them and treat them like pets,whistling to them as they worked. Some even carried extraoxygen bottles with them especially for the canaries just incase they needed a refill.

A few mines raised their own canaries, but more com-monly they purchased them from private breeders – often


families who raised mine canaries to help make ends meet.Other mines purchased canaries from pet shops, which haddifficulty selling canaries with poor colouration and femalecanaries (which generally do not sing as well as the males),both of which could be purchased inexpensively.

The idea of using small animals to detect poisonous gasesin the mines was first sug-gested by the Scottishphysiologist John ScottHaldane. He investigated anumber of mine disastersin the late 1890s, examin-ing the bodies of minerskilled after explosions anddetermining they had beenkilled by CO exposure.From this discovery, hedesigned the first respira-tors for mine rescue crewsand suggested using safetylamps that burned with abright bluish tint whenCO was present – as wellas canaries or white mice –to detect the poisonous

gas. However, even these lamps were not as sensitive as theyellow birds, so most rescue crews preferred to respond witha canary, or opted to use both.

Before the introduction of canaries, miners had longknown to watch the behaviour of mice, which were plentifulin the mines, especially those with underground stables,where straw and feed was kept for the mine’s pit ponies. Ifminers saw mice scampering away from an area or founddead mice, it was a sure sign of gas. Using canaries quicklycaught on and by the early 1900s they were being used inmines around the world, along with such other birds as lin-nets, redpolls and pigeons. In 1914, the United StatesBureau of Mines tested a number of small animals to findout which reacted more quickly and most visibly whenexposed to CO. Unfortunately for the yellow canary, it wonout, followed closely by white mice, then chickens, dogs,pigeons, sparrows, guinea pigs and rabbits.

Canaries were finally phased out in 1987 as new detectiontechnology was developed. England, the last country to usethem, officially replaced the birds with electronic (and feath-erless) methane and CO monitors, by then more effectiveand precise than any living creature. After nearly a century oflife-saving work, the “canary in the coal mine” lives on as apowerful metaphor for an early warning sign for danger. CIM

Who brought the canary into the coal mine?By Correy Baldwin

At the turn of the 20th century, mine rescue crew brought canaries underground withthem in the wake of an explosion to detect noxious gases.

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CIM Magazine November 2014

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