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By Tim Bekhuys

Equator Principles ? Applies to projects > $10 million ? Voluntary agreement between 58+ EPFIs ? Categorized projects based on environmental risk, consequences ? Requirements for EA, EMP, use of safeguard policies, consultation ? IFC Performance Standards on Social and Environmental Sustainability ? Apply if the project is in a low or lower-middle income country ? Low-middle income countries defined by the World Bank Development Indicators Database

May 1, 2008

By Bob Rappolt

Discussion Points Part 1: Global Mining Industry/Related Issues ? Historical Metal Price Trends. ? Historical LME Metal Stockpiles. ? China?s Demand for Metal. ? World Population Growth, Demands and Development. Discussion Points (cont?d) Part 2: Canadian Mining Industry ? Where are we? And where are we going? ? What progress have we made in the past 20 years regarding: ? Safety -Employee Levels ? Labour -Relative Compensation ? Productivity - Technological Advance ? Where do we stand regarding mineral production? ? What does the future hold for us?

Apr 1, 2005

By Terry Bachynski

_ Regulatory Process _ Approval Timelines _ Trends _ Stakeholder Consultation Expectation _ Challenges _ Initiatives for Regulatory Process Reform _ A Better Way? Alberta Regulatory Process _ Regulatory Approval of a major capital development requires multiple approvals from several regulatory authorities: ? EUB ? Decision Report approves development scheme and recommends conditions for other regulatory agencies ? AEnv ? approvals to construct, operate and reclaim required prior to any in field construction activity ? Federal - approvals for federally regulated activities ? Municipal ? Development Permit

May 1, 2004

By Tracy-Lynn Humby

A recent report commissioned by the South African Chamber of Mines, Mining Vision 2030, identifies the South African mining industry?s negative legacy, its exploitation of people and the environment, as the single biggest hurdle to maximizing the industry?s impact on national development. Industry leaders have identified the need to put the past ?to rest?. With reference to three recent cases involving members of the South African mining industry, this paper points to the continuities between the past and present. It argues that the metaphor of ?multiple crossings? is more generative than the notion of putting the past ?to rest? for purposes of engaging with mining?s negative legacy.

Aug 1, 2013

By Norm Clegg

The Plant Engineering and Maintenance Association of Canada PEMAC is a national, not-for-profit industry association for plant and facility maintenance, engineering and physical asset management in all industry sectors in Canada. Our mission is to provide professional development for our members and the profession in Canada

Feb 1, 2008

By Jorge Amaya

A critical aspect of long-term open-pit mine planning consists in computing a production schedule based upon a block sequencing strategy. Such a schedule should specify when and if blocks should be extracted in such a way as to maximize NPV, while satisfying wall-slope and production capacity constraints. It is well known that this problem can be modeled with integer programming (IP). However, integer programming is not used in practice because the size of typical block models makes such problems intractable to standard IP solvers. In this article we describe a scalable IP-based methodology for solving very large (millions of blocks) instances of this problem. We show that embedding standard IP technologies in a local-search based algorithm we are able to obtain near-optimal solutions to large problems in reasonable time. This methodology has been tested in several mine wide block models.

Oct 1, 2009

By M. C. Bétournay

? Prioritization of this research area identified through a CANMET-MMSL industry survey ? Possible technological breakthrough ? Prioritization of this research area identified through a CANMET-MMSL industry survey ? Possible technological breakthrough Disadvantages ? High cost and long time for equipment development ? Hard rock mining condition limitations ? Size of equipment ? Equipment set-up time, down time ? Performance does not meet financial return targets ? Ground control issues ? Drill and blast retains overall advantage

Feb 1, 2008

By Jorge Amaya

A critical aspect of long-term open-pit mine planning consists in computing a production schedule based upon a block sequencing strategy. Such a schedule should specify when and if blocks should be extracted in such a way as to maximize NPV, while satisfying wall-slope and production capacity constraints. It is well known that this problem can be modeled with integer programming (IP). However, integer programming is not used in practice because the size of typical block models makes such problems intractable to standard IP solvers. In this article we describe a scalable IP-based methodology for solving very large (millions of blocks) instances of this problem. We show that embedding standard IP technologies in a local-search based algorithm we are able to obtain near-optimal solutions to large problems in reasonable time. This methodology has been tested in several mine wide block models.

Oct 1, 2009

By Graham A. Davis

The definition of sustainable development is often taken from the so-called ?Brundtland? report, requiring that activities of the current generation not detract from the potential welfare of future generations. Mining is often held up as unsustainable in this regard since the extracted resource is nonrenewable. Yet Brundtland?s definition of sustainable development also requires that the current generation address the disparity in welfare across the globe, a facet of Brundtland?s report that most have ignored. This paper examines the impact of mining on the welfare of the poor. It finds that poverty levels in the poorest mining and oil intensive economies are lower than expected given these economies? geographical location and level of income, and that extractive activities are therefore completely consistent with sustainable development.

May 1, 2004

By Chelto. D. Smith

With the pressure on mine and metallurgical managers to take accountability for responsible corporate governance in their operational area, it is no longer acceptable to rely on central departments in the organization to manage safety, health and environmental impacts of the company?s processes. Environmental impacts exist because of the production or mining process. Some of the inputs to the process are natural resources and some of the outputs of the process are the inputs to the environmental control equipment, plant and the environment itself. Environmental management therefore needs to be incorporated in production management to effectively control and reduce the impacts. Many aspects of environmental management are identical to production management and the systems to manage them will likewise be very similar. By examining key components of these two management systems a decision can be made whether environmental management and production management are structurally similar and can be integrated into a combined IT solution.

May 1, 2009

By Willie Manfrey, Richard Klimpel

This paper describes the effects of slurry viscosity on the selection-for-breakage and breakage distribution parameters in the wet grinding of cres. A series of experimental tests were run on laboratory scale ball mills. Slurry viscosities were modified by varying the solids/water ratio with and without the presence of selected chemicals. Very consistent and predictable correlations are shown to exist. The grinding parameters were calculated using a computerized back -calculation technique developed by Klimpel and Austin. Industrial scale circuit calculations and preliminary plant trial data suggest that considerable increases in throughput and/or fineness of grind can he achieved through the judicious use of chemical additives.

Jan 1, 1977

By Mary Jean Buchanan

The last twenty years have seen the advent of environmental concerns and sustainable development, and the industry has witnessed the rise of Environmental Management Systems and their registration through several international standardization systems such as EMAS and ISO 14001. Beyond EMS and ISO 14001, which new goal the mining industry should aim at. Life-cycle assessment (LCA), another tool from the Environmental Management System series, is also on the rise and currently the object of an international standard (ISO 14040:1997). Through LCA, it is possible to assess the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with products and services, taking into account all the activities required for its fabrication, its use, its transportation and its disposal. How could LCA be applied to the mining industry ? Is the international market pressurizing on mining companies to supply an ?environmental ore?? What about the automobile industry and its use of LCA ? Will it influence the ferrous and non-ferrous metal industry, suppliers of raw materials ? This paper presents a review of possible applications of LCA for the mining industry as well as world trends.

May 1, 2001

TSUG Presentation Overview What/Who we are? Objectives & Mandate How to become a member (who qualifies)? Meeting Agenda?s & Frequency Q & A SMART is an association of mining companies that meet regularly to coordinate the technology development needed by the mining industry. Since 1995, the member companies and institutions have directed research and influenced the manufacturers and suppliers to improve surface mining technology and services. SMART actively supports learning seminars, collaborative research projects, and user groups. Members of SMART include some of the major surface mining companies in North America and Australia. These companies have recognized the value that collaboration can bring to the needs of individual organizations as well as the global mining industry.

May 1, 2008

By Michel Carreau

Renewable assets have large upfront capital costs but minimal operating expenses over their lifetimes. In some instances, deals can be structured so that direct capital investment is feasible, with paybacks typically within 5-7 years. In others, the burden of renewable CAPEX must be removed in order to create an attractive alternative to fossil-fuel-fired generation. Hatch has designed and oversees the construction of a renewable installation, which is financed, owned and operated by a special-purpose entity. Renewable energy is then delivered to the mining company via a customized power purchase agreement at a price that is lower than the levelized cost of fossil fuels. In this way, the mining company removes the burden of the renewable energy CAPEX from its balance sheet, thus freeing up capital, decreasing risk, and making the predictable, lower cost of renewable power more attractive than the variable cost of fossil fuels. This paper presents the above business model and success stories of hybrid power at remote sites (wind and solar coupled with diesel engine).

Aug 1, 2013

By Davis Myers

OVERVIEW ?A summary of population demographics data ?Potential impact of Baby-Boomer, Generation X, Millennial demographics in the mining workforce ?Planning with constrained resources Age Cohorts ?Baby Boomers: born 1946 -1965 ?Booming economy, TV, cold war, JFK, Vietnam ?Generation X: born 1965-1980 ?There was always space travel ?PC?s, Black Monday, Challenger, Desert Storm, fall of Berlin Wall ?Millennials: born 1980-2000 ?There was always the internet ?IM, Facebook, Sept 11, Columbine

Nov 1, 2011

"Background:The recorded coal production in Nova Scotia from 1863 to 1980 was 390, 000, 000 short tons. This extraction was associated with an estimated 60,000,000 short tons of discarded material. This mining discard and coal washing plant reject are located in numerous, varying sized dumps throughout the mining areas. Approximately 70% of these dumps are in the Sydney coal field region of Nova Scotia.The coal content of these dumps varies from 10 to 30% coal with an average of 18%.Energy Costs:The explosion of energy costs in the mid-1970 's greatly increased the sale price of thermal coal which made recovery of coal from some of the dumps economical. The environmental spin-off of these operations will be the rehabilitation of the dumps upon cessation of the coal reclamation operation.Cape Breton Development Corporation, the owner of most of the dumps in the Sydney coal field was receptive to an approach by Selco of reclaiming coal from their dumps. The technology to be used, had been developed by an associate firm in the United Kingdom on similar mine dump situations."

Jan 1, 1983

By Muhammad Zaka Emad

Cemented rockfill (CRF) plays a vital role in pillar-less mining. Many factors are associated with optimum design of a CRF material. Factors like strength, placement method, mixing, curing time, water content, binder contents, binder composition and additives require to be studied for appropriate rockfill design. The most important factor is strength of a CRF. The design engineer considers fill strength requirements (FSR) for the estimation of CRF strength requirements. Inappropriate CRF strength can cause excessive ore dilution. The recent studies on CRF practices at some of the Canadian mines revealed the most common flaws. Comparison of different types of fill determined that most of the failures occur in cemented rockfill, and the compressive strength can be improved by small addition of sand and mine tailings. This work discusses the studies on determination of unconfined compressive strength, Young?s modulus, density and water contents of CRF being placed in the excavated stopes. It was found that the CRF properties were largely influenced by the variation in gradation and curing time. The 7% binder content improved compressive strength of rockfill significantly but it has an influence on the economics, whereas 4% and 5% binder contents are better choices. The maximum Young?s modulus values were obtained at 28 days curing time for most of the samples.

May 1, 2011

By Sheila E. Daniel

"Since 1989, the Mine Environmental Neutral Drainage Program (MEND) has sponsored research into ways of reducing the environmental impact and financial liabilities associated with Acid Mine Drainage from tailings and waste rock. Toward this overall objective, Kilborn was contracted to review the use and applicability of passive treatment systems for acid mine drainage.Experimentation using passive systems to treat acid mine drainage has been ongoing since the early 1980's in North America. Passive treatments are generally considered an attractive alternative to active lime treatment, since they require minimal human involvement, no power, and only seasonal or periodic care and maintenance after establishment. Most attractive is that initial capital cost to implement a passive treatement system is generally low to moderate. Ongoing operating costs are similarly low when compared to active treatment systems.Passive treatment systems currently used, or under investigation to treat acid mine drainage include: anoxic limestone drains, aerobic wetlands, reed bed wetlands, compost wetlands, microbial systems and bioabsorption systems. These wastewater treatment systems utilize the chemical, biological and physical removal processes that occur naturally in the environment to improve wastewater quality, including: oxidation, reduction, coagulation, adsorption, absorption and precipitation; microbial activity; and, gravity aeration and dilution. The rates at which these processes occur determines the loading which can be treated and the effectiveness of the system.The results of our literature review will be summarized, and insight provided into the applicability of passive systems to treat acid mine drainage from Canadian Mines."

Jan 1, 1995

By Peter A. Witt

Highland Valley Copper is a conventional truck-shovel mining and flotation concentrator operation located some 75 kilometres southwest of Kamloops, B.C. (Figure 1). The ore is located within a porphyry copper deposit and is mined at a rate of 135,000 metric tonnes per day from two separate open pits. The nearby mill produces concentrates containing 375 million pounds of copper and 5 million pounds of molybdenum metal yearly. In the Valley pit, head grades are roughly 0.40% Cu at a 0.23% Cu equivalent cut-off. The Valley pit strip ratio currently sits at 0.55:1 with waste quantities made up of separate rock and unconsolidated overburden units. From the mill, concentrates are trucked to nearby Ashcroft and then hauled by rail to ocean port facilities in Vancouver. The mine employs 950 persons and is planned to operate until 2009. The operation is a partnership between TeckCominco with a 63.9% interest, BHP Billiton holding 33.6%, and others 2.5%. Management is shared by the two principal owners and directed by a management committee.

May 1, 2003

By S. F. Dudka, T. Dang, M. L. Wong

Abstract - The Nui Phao W-F-Cu-Au-Bi deposit is located in one of the poorest regions of northern Vietnam. The deposit is currently undergoing a pre-feasibility study by Tiberon Minerals Ltd., with a view to developing what would be the largest WO3 mine and one of the five largest fluorite mines in the world. The project is being planned in close compliance with World Bank and national guidelines for environmental and social protection. Development of the mine is anticipated to bring the following benefits: remediation of serious pre-existing environmental conditions (natural and anthropogenic heavy metal contamination and acid rock drainage); provision of employment and training, and thereby wealth, to local communities; significant tax and royalty payments to government, which will be reinvested as social spending; and development of municipal and industrial infrastructure to build sustainable post-mining communities. The role of governments at all levels is critical in guiding and facilitating this process. This paper was written prior to development of the mine, and relays the intentions of the developers. Future studies will be needed to evaluate the degree of attainment of sustainable development objectives, both during mine operation and after closure.

Jan 1, 2003