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By Bruce W. Woolpert

During the SME Board of Directors’ midyear meeting in Monterey, CA Aug. 25, I discussed trends in the construction aggregates industry. Many construction-material suppliers may not have yet fully internalized the changes that are taking place. But the changes are significant. And they have shifted the focus in the aggregates industry from “assets” to “people and innovation.” Construction-material suppliers serve many customers. A typical quarrying operation at Graniterock would have more than 1,000 customers, mostly civil engineering contractors. Along with the push toward people and innovation, there is increased emphasis on vertical integration from aggregates to ready-mix concrete and hot mix asphalt, to final construction. If a company is not vertically integrated, it will at least have strong partnerships with other firms, to deliver a high-quality finished project on time.

Jan 1, 2002

By F. T. Cawood

Inauguration of the new political dispensation in South Africa in1994 initiated a dynamic shift in the ownership, management and development of the country?s affluent mineral heritage. The process of substituting the old South African regime with a new equitable system started soon after the 1994 election of the African National Congress (ANC) to parliament. The Congress?s Freedom Charter revealed the intent of the new dispensation when it called for radical transformation of mineral development. However, since then there have been important changes affecting the rules of mineral development. These are: ?A drastic change in politics ushered in by negotiation, a spirit of reconciliation and a desire to settle disputes peacefully ?The globalization of the South African mining industry in tandem with the opening of domestic mineral resources to foreign capitalists and ?The introduction of sustainable development as a holistic approach to mineral development in order to replace traditional narrow-minded environmental management. Each of these significantly shaped the new mineral investment environment of South Africa. This paper represents a summary of the historical developments leading to the current Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act No. 28 of 2002, its regulations, the much publicised Broad-Based Socio-Economic Empowerment Charter, its associated Scorecard, and the Draft Royalty Bill.

Jan 1, 2004

By Russell Barr, Robert E. Cook

As most mining companies are taking advantage of the high market prices for base metals such as steel, copper and zinc, numerous challenges still face them. While demand is strong from countries like China and the United States, demand is still mixed in Europe. This leads to the question of how long these high prices and overall high global demand will last. The tremendous market prices of most precious and base metals have enabled many companies to pay down a significant amount of debt accrued during acquisition and capital expenditure phases. Additionally, mining companies have been able to internally fund and engage in large projects to address future growth, (Less, 2006), thus maximizing the performance of the existing asset base, driving maintenance costs down, and improving and empowering the work-force (Mining Journal, 2006). Market prices and general efficiency gains have addressed these issues to some extent. However, critical issues still face operating managers in the mineral pro-cessing side of the industry. Energy prices, for example, continue to have a negative impact on cash costs for producing an ounce of gold or ton of a given base metal (Cummins, 2003).

Jan 1, 2007

By Klaus Pöllath

This paper describes mitigating measures and the design of compensation grouting which will be executed from deep shafts of the Amsterdam North/South Metro line project. Due to the specific conditions for TBM-tunnelling in Amsterdam (historical buildings on pile foundations near the tunnel and soft soils with high groundwater levels) tunnel construction necessitates mitigating measures, such as compensation grouting or soil freezing. Züblin developed a special shaft construction method for critical distances to buildings. For the compensation grouting Züblin developed a new software tool, called SOFIA, which controls and visualizes and thus optimizes the entire injection process. This tool significantly increases the efficiency of the injection works while reducing the geotechnical risks.

Jan 1, 2006

By J. Gholamnejad

The aim of short-term production scheduling is to decide which blocks of ore and waste to mine in which time period (shift, days, weeks or months) so that several operational and geometrical constraints can be satisfied simultaneously. Since 1960s several mathematical programming approaches were developed for solving production scheduling problems that are based on a combination of various operational research approaches such as linear programming (LP), integer programming (IP), dynamic programming (DP), etc. A number of models have been developed in the past three decades but some models have limited application especially to geometrical mining constraints. One of the geometrical constraints is block accessibility. All blocks must be accessible to mining equipments on the same bench. In this paper a binary integer programming model is developed in order to incorporate block accessibility constraints in an efficient manner. This mathematical model insures that each block has been open and can be loaded and transported easily by shovels and trucks.

Jan 1, 2008

By F. Hassani, R. Mikaeil, B. Ferdowsi

Two analytical solutions for estimating the ovaling deformation and forces in circular tunnels are widely used in engineering practice, due to soil-structure interaction under seismic loading. This paper discusses the discrepancy between the two analytical and finite difference methods. A comparison of the two analytical methods shows that the calculated forces and displacements are identical for the condition of full-slip between the tunnel lining and ground. However, the calculated lining thrusts differ by an order of magnitude when considering no-slip between the tunnel lining and the ground. The analytical solutions are compared to numerical analyses of the no-slip condition using the finite difference method to validate which of the two methods provide the correct method. To achieve the goal, numerical modelling, field data of the Kuhin railway tunnel and Manjil earthquake characteristics are used. Numerical analysis results agree with one of the analytical solutions that provides a higher estimate of the thrust on the tunnel lining, thus highlighting the limitation of the other analytical solution.

Jan 1, 2008

By Charlie Brumbaugh

Antarctica with its diverse conditions such as severe cold, high winds, rock and ice structure and limited explosives available posed many obstacles. This paper will give an overall view of the methods used to overcome these obstacles on a daily basis on the highest, driest, coldest continent on earth.

Jan 1, 2000

By L. T. Isaacs, W. H. Traves

A numerical model for analysing the drainage of fill in mine stopes has been described. The model can be used to analyse the process of fill drainage in existing and proposed mine stopes. The validity and potential value of the model have been established by experience with a simpler, 2-dimensional numerical model and by testing the new model against the earlier model. The new model is more useful than the 2-dimensional model because it allows for heterogeneity of fill material within the stope - a factor that has been demonstrated to affect drainage characteristics significantly. The 3-dimensional model is also capable of predicting pore pressures and drainage rates at specific locations in the stope without the need to resort to 2-dimensional generalisations. Such information, integrated with relevant field data as they become available, will provide valuable mine planning information for the scheduling of filling operations and design of fill mixes

May 1, 1991

By Verya Nasri

The use of a single tunnel boring machine (TBM) tunnel of approximately 12 to 13 m (40 ft to 43 ft) diameter for transit systems to house both light rail or subway tracks in a stacked configuration is an advanced concept that allows significant savings in construction cost and time while reducing, to a large extent, the negative effects on the environment. This solution, similar to the recently completed Barcelona Metro Line 9, integrates station platforms, train storages, crossovers, bypass tracks, ancillary areas and utility corridors inside a single tunnel. Each of the underground stations consist of a cut-and-cover entrance structure and ventilation shafts, that also serve as emergency exits. The excavations for the station structures and shafts can be done on one side of the street with nominal impact on traffic and utilities.

Jan 1, 2010

The success of smooth blasting essentially depends on geological condition of rock. Also, in the perimeter hole, borehole pressures with light, well-distributed explosive loads are important to minimise overbreak. In order to simulate perimeter holes with scaled model test, the borehole pressure was considered as a factor of scale. Hydraulic oil pressure is applied as borehole pressure instead of using explosives and detonators in order to remove the undesirable effects of detonators in an experimental set-up of just two perimeter holes in a tunnel blast. The borehole pressure on a perimeter hole is nearly reproduced with hydraulic pressure which is generated by non-electric detonators in the hermetical cylinder.

Dec 6, 2010

By J. A. Bakken, T. Magnusson, G. Sævarsdottir

This paper describes measurements of current and voltage done on submerged arc furnaces. The aim is to focus on and attempt to separate from one another the electric arc current and the current bypassing the arc through the charge. Toward this goal two measurement campaigns on AC-arcs burning on coke beds are ac-counted for. The first was done on a 150 kVA pilot furnace at SINTEF in Trondheim Norway, and the second one was done on a 48 MVA industrial furnace run by Icelandic Alloys in Iceland. The measurements were compared to simulations employing an advanced MFD arc model. The main results are that a coke bed does not necessarily behave as a linear conductor. However the warmer chemically transformed part of an operating Si-metal or FeSi furnace probably exhibits linear behaviour and passes a considerable fraction of the phase current, perhaps on some operating conditions, as much as 50%.

Jan 1, 2007

By C. Vipulanandan

Installation procedure and the quality of the material used in the construction have significant effects on the behavior of the Auger Cast in Place (ACIP) piles. In this study, Installation and curing of a 760 mm (30 in.) diameter and 12 m (39 ft) long ACIP pile with a design capacity of 1140 kN (128 tons) in hard clay was investigated. Construction quality was monitored using the automated monitoring system where the volume of grout pumped and the pressures were monitored with depth. The curing of the pile was monitored using axial vibrating wire strain gages at four levels and lateral vibrating wire strain gages at two levels. The residual strain and temperature profile in the curing pile was monitored over a period of week to determine the appropriate time for load testing the pile. Axial behavior of Auger Cast in Place (ACIP) Piles in hard clay was studied using full scale load test on an instrumented pile. The load-settlement and load transfer relationships of the pile was investigated based on the load test results. Development of skin friction in the load test pile and the reaction pile was also investigated.

By Dominic Fragomeni

"The mineral processing industry has had a long history of innovation that is recognized but not often celebrated. These include significant advances in mineral measurement, testing, comminution, mineral separation and process control technologies that have transformed mineral assemblages into ore.This presentation presents some of the major mineral processing innovations and the impact they have had on our industry. As we look to the future, it is critical that we innovate and change. We will explore some examples of the next developments and how they can be catalyzed in the face of risk management, lower metal price cycles, resource constraints, inertia and the challenge of short term value delivery."

Jan 1, 2017

By G. Swan, E. Nordlund, P. Zhang

"SynopsisThe most widely used support design damage criterion for rockburst-prone mines is based upon kinetic energy, which is proportional to the square of the ejection velocity and is commonly expressed in terms of peak particle velocity (PPV). Field monitoring and back-analyses have shown that ejection velocities of the order of 10 m/s and higher can result from seismic events of moderate magnitude. Such velocities are much higher than those predicted using PPV obtained from scaling laws. It has also been found that the peak ground motion (i.e. PPV) on the surface of an excavation is preferentially amplified (by four- to tenfold) compared to the motion in solid rock at a similar distance from the source. However, the wave propagation and interaction processes involved within the fractured rock in generating high ground motion are very complex and are not well understood at this time.In this paper, velocity amplification was investigated by modelling the dynamic interaction between fractured rock and a free surface using a 2D discontinuum-based numerical program, UDEC (Universal Distinct Element Code). A 1D model with a fractured zone was used to represent the fractured rock. Velocity amplification, quantified by PPV, predicted at the free end of the model was 2.0–3.6 times higher than the input velocity. It was found that the wave frequency, fracture stiffness, fracture spacing, and thickness of fractured zone are the main factors that affect the velocity amplification. The results have proved that the interaction of the seismic wave and multiple fractures near the free surface strongly influences the ground motion.IntroductionSince mining-induced seismicity is almost inevitable in deep mines, ground support is generally employed to mitigate the risk of seismically-induced damage. The most widely used support design criterion for seismicallyprone mines is one that seeks to maximize the absorption of the kinetic energy (plus potential energy if a gravity component is considered) of key rock blocks. Based on this criterion, design methods for rock support were first proposed by Wagner (1984) in South Africa and later improved, among others, by Roberts and Brummer (1988) and Kaiser et al. (1996)."

Jan 1, 2015

By Michelle Lostra, Red Blanchette, Jan Babendererde, Greg Colzani

The City of Portland’s Westside CSO Project is constructing a deep tunnel system to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSO) from entering the Willamette River. Several kilometers of microtunneled pipelines connect the existing system to the new tunnel. The alignments encountered a variety of ground conditions, including fill, manmade obstructions (wood, steel piles, debris), fine-grained to dense coarse-grained materials, cobbles and boulders, all below groundwater. A slurry MTBM convertible to varying diameters, equipped with mix shield capabilities, was selected to cope with the conditions. This paper will discuss access shaft construction,

Jan 1, 2005

By Gabriel Esterhuizen

Underground stone mines in the United States make use of the room-and-pillar method of mining. A prerequisite for a safe working environment is that the pillars should adequately support the overburden and the pillar ribs and rooms should remain stable during mining. At present pillar dimensions are either based on experience at neighboring mines or on strength equations that were developed for metal or non-metal mines. This paper presents a pillar design methodology that was developed from a study of pillar performance in operating stone mines. Data were collected that describe the rock mass quality, pillar conditions, mining dimensions and intact rock strength. The results showed that current mining practices have resulted in generally stable pillar layouts with no recent cases of extensive pillar collapses. However, a small number of single failed or failing pillars were observed in otherwise stable layouts. Numerical analyses were used to supplement the observations and develop a pillar strength equation that describes the stable and small number of failed pillars observed. The developed strength equation can be used to design stable pillar layouts provided the factor of safety is greater than 1.8 and the width-to-height ratio of the pillars is greater than 0.8. The paper concludes with guidelines for applying the developed equation and selecting appropriate input parameters.

Jan 1, 2008

By Martin J. Pedley

The use of soil nailing has grown steadily in the UK over the last 15 years and it has recently become more popular in the Republic of Ireland. This paper presents three soil nailing temporary works case histories where the technique has been used to support steep excavations in difficult ground conditions. It demonstrates the effectiveness of soil nailing when applied in appropriate conditions. Details of design methods and construction techniques are described and those aspects of soil nailing that will benefit from further study and development are identified.

Jan 1, 2000

Trans. No. Place Date Vol. Page 1. Wilkes-Barre Pa......May.71 1 3 2. Bethlehem, Pa.........Aug., '71 I 10 3. Troy, N.Y............Nov..: 71 1 13 4. Philadelphia, Pa........Feb., 72.. 1 17 5. New York. N. Y.*......May, '72.. 1 20 6. Pittsburgh. Pa.........Oct..' 72.. 1 25 7. Boston, Mesa..........Feb., '73.. 1 28 8. Philadelhia, Pa.*......May, '73.. 2 3 9. Easton, is............Oct..' 73.. 2 7 10. New York, N. Y.......Feb..' 74 . . 2 11 11. St. Louie. Mo.*........May,' 74 . . 3 3 12. Hazleton, Pa...........Oct., '74.. 3 8 13. New Haven Conn......Feb., '75.. 3 15 14. Dover,N.J.*..........May, 75.. 4 3 15. Cleveland,O...........Oct. 75. 4 0 16. Washington D. C......Feb.'' 76.: 4 18 17. philadelphia, Pa.......June,: 76.. 5 3 18. Philadelphia Pa........Oct 76.. 5 19 19. New York, N. Y.......Feb: '77.. 5 27 20. Wilkes-Barre. Pa.*.....Mag :77.. 0 3 21. Amenia N. Y..........Oct. 77.. 6 10 22. Philadeiphia Pa........Feb.;' 78. . 6 18 23. Chattanooga' Term.*. . . May' 78. . 7 3 24. Lake George: N. Y....: Oct. 78. . 7 103 25. Baltimore, Md.*.......Feb:' 79.. 7 217 26. ~ittsburgi, Pa.........~a;' 79.. 6 3 27. Montreal, Canada......~ept.;' 79.. 8 121 28. New York, N. Y.*......Feb., '80.. 8 275 29. Lake Superior, Mich....Aug., '80. . 9 1 30. Philadelphia, Pa.*......Feb., '81. 9 275 31. Staunton, Va..........May, '81. .10 1 32. Harrisburg, Pa.........Oct.. '81..10 119 33. Washington, I). C.*....Feb., '82. . 10 226 34. Denver. Colo..........Aug.. '82. . ll 1 35. Boston. Mass.*.........Feb.. '83..11 217 38. Roanoke, Va...........June, '83.. 12 3 37. Troy, N. Y...........Oct.. '83. .12 175 38. Cincinnati. O.*.... Feb, '84..12 4 39. Chicago Ill............May, '84. . 13 1 40. philadelphia, Pa........Sept., '84. . 13 285 41. New York, N. Y.*......Feb., '85. . 13 586 42. Chattanooga, Tenn.....May, '85..14 1 43. Halifax, N. S..........Sept., '85.. 14 307 44. Pittsburgh, Pa.*........Feb.. '86 . . 14 587 45. Bethlehem. Pa.........May, '86 .. 15 Ixiii. 46. St. Louis, Mo..........Oct, 86.. 15 Ixx. 47. Scranton, Pa.*.........Feb.', '87. . 15 lxxvi 48. Utah and Montana.....July '87.. 16 xvii. 49. Duluth, Minn...........July' '87. -16 xxiv. 50. Boston. Mass.*.........Feb.: '88. . 16 xxviii. 51. Birmingham, Ala.......May, '88. .17 xix. 52. Buffalo N. Y..........Oct. '88.. 17 xxiv. 53. New york, N.Y........feb.' ;89 . . 17 xxxi. 54. Colorado..............June' 89 . . 18 xvii. 55. Ottawa, Canada........Oct., 89. . 18 xxiv. 56. Washington, I). C.*. . . Feb. 90. .18 xxx. 57. New York, N. Y........sept:, '93. .19 vii. 58. New York, N. Y.*......Feb. '91. . 19 xxv. 59. Cleveland, O.......... June, :91 . .a xvi. 60. Glen Summit, Pa.......Oct, 111. . 20 lxi. 61. Baltimore, Md.*.......Feb.: '92. .21 xix. 62. Plattsburg, N. Y.......June, '02. . 21 xxxiii. 03. Reading. Pa...........Oct., :92. .21 xliv. 64. Montreal. Canada*.....Feb. 93..21 65. Chicago, Ill............aug.: '93..22 XI. 66. Virginia Reach. Va.*. ...Feb., '04. .24 xwl. 67. Bridgeport Coon.......Oct., '94..24 xxx?. 08. Florida ...'............Mar., '95. .25 xix 69 Atlanta. Ga......... Oct 95. 25 xi 70. Pittsburgh. Pa.*........Feb., '96.. 26 xvii. Trans. No. Place Date Vol. Page 71. Colorado..............Sept. '96. .26 xxix. 72. Chicago, Ill............Feb.. "97.. 27 xvii. 73. Lake Superior..........July '97. .27 xxx. 74. Atlantic City, N. J.*. ..Feb.: :98. .28 xvii. 75. Buffalo N. Y..........Oct. 08. .28 XXXVI. 76. New York,N. Y.*......Feb.: '99. .29 xvii. 77. California.............Sept., ;99. . 29 xlix. 78. Washington, D. C.*.....Feb., 00. .30 xix. 79. Canada...............Aug.. '00. .30 xlv. 80. Richmond. Va.*........Feb.. '01. . 31 xix. 81. Mexico................Nov..'01.. 32 cxviii. 82. Philadelphia Pa. $......May, :02. . 33 xxxv. 83. New Haven, Conn......Oct.. 02.. 33 xlvii. 84. Albany N. Y.*........Feb '03. .34 xxiii. 85. New York, N. Y........Oct.': '03. .34 xi. 86. Atlantic City. N. J.*....Feb., '04. .35 XXIII. 87. Lake Superior..........Sept.'04. .35 dii. 88. Washington. D. C......May' '05. .36 xlii. 89. British Columbia.......July, '05. . 36 90. Bethlehem. Pa.........Feb. '06. .37 xli. 91. London, England.......July: '06. .37 xlviii. 92. New York, N. Y........April, '07. . 38 lii. 93. Toronto, Canada.......July. '07. .38 lix. 94. New York, N. Y........Feb., :08. .39 xli. 95. Chattanooga, Tenn.....Oct.. 08..39 xlviii. 06. New Haven Conn......Feb. '09. .40 xli. 97. Spokane,Wash.........Sept:.'09. .40 xlviii. 98. Pittsburgh, Pa.........Mar.,'10. .41 xxxviii. 99. Canal Zone............Nov.,'10. .41 dv. 100. Wilkes-Barre, Pa.......June. ' 11. . 42 xxxiv. 101. San Francisco, Cal......Oct.. '11..42 xliv. 102. New York. N. Y.*......Feb 12. .43 Ixxvii. 103. Cleveland, Ohio........0ct;' '12.. 44 wii. 104. New York, N. Y.*......Feb.. '13. .45 xv. 105. Butte, Mont...........Aug., '13. .46 ?' 108. New York, N. Y........Oct., 13..47 vii 107. New York. N. Y.*......Feb.. '14..48 xv. 108 Salt Lake City. Otah Aug. :l. 49 5: 109. Pittsburgh, Pa.........Oct., 14. .50 vii. 110. New York, N. Y.*......Feb., '15. .51 xvi. 111. San Francisco, Cal......Sept., '15. .52 xii. 112. New York,N. Y.*......Feb., '16..54 xvi. 1 Arizona...............Sept.,'l6. .55 VII 114. New York, N. Y.*......Feb., '17: .56 vii. 115. St. Louis, Mo..........Oct.. '17..57 vii. 116. NewYork,N. Y.*......Feb.. '18..59 xvii 117. Colorado.....:........Sept.,'18. .60 vii. 118. Milwaukee, Wis........Oct.. '18. .60 x:!: 119. NewYork,N. Y.*......Feb., '19..61 xi. 120. Chicago...............Sept.,' l9.. 62 VII. 121. New York, N. T.*......Feb., '20..63 ix. 122. Lake Superior District. .Aug., '20.. 66 ix. 123. New York, N. Y.*......Feb., '21. .66 xiii. 124. Wilkes-Barre, Pa...... Sept.. : 21.. 66 xix. 125. New York, N. Y.*......Feb., 22. .67 ix. 126. San Francisco. Cal......Sept.,:22. .68 xxix. 127. New York, N.Y.*.....Feb., 23. .69 xxix 128. Canada...............Aug., '23. .69 xxxv! 128.129. New York, N. Y.*......Feb., ;24. .70 xxxi. 130. Birmingham, Ala.......Oct. 24. .71 xxxiii 131. NewYork.N Y.*......Feb.: '25.. 71 xxxviii. 132. 131.Salt Lake City, Utah .. .Sept., '25. .73 xvi 133. New York, N. Y.*......Feb., '26. .73 xxii. 134. Pittsburgh Pa ....... Oct.. '26. .74 xv. 135. New York,' N. Y.*............Feb., '27. .75 x::: 135.136. NewYork,N. Y.*......Feb., '28..76 104 137 NewYork.N. Y.*......Feb., '29. .291 116 138.San FranciscoYork,N.Y. Cal..........Oct. 29..308 406 139. New York, N. Y.*...Feb., '30..30H 1321

Jan 1, 1930

By L. Mpolokeng, J. P. Labuschagne, H. Yilmaz

"An investigation into pillar cutting was carried out at a platinum mine on the western limb of the Bushveld Complex. The focus was on crush pillar design and implementation in order to ultimately improve the compliance percentage for pillar cutting. The major findings from the investigation suggest that the pillar cutting problem lies with the implementation of the design rather than the design itself. Observations of the practical issues underground that prevent good pillar cutting were made. After these issues had been identified, recommendations to rectify these problems and a few other issues identified during the investigation were provided. The recommendations are aimed at improving the pillar cutting compliance and reducing the likelihood of pillar bursts or pillar runs, which will ultimately create a safer mining environment. Paper written on project work carried out in partial fulfilment of BSc. Eng. (Mining Engineering)"

Jan 1, 2015

By C. Hutton

"SynopsisThe last commodities supercycle (2003 to 2011) was characterized by a belief in volume at any cost, where absolute output was deliberately prioritized over productivity considerations. This practice fuelled overoptimistic forecasting and planning, which in turn contributed to the economic crisis that followed. The sudden collapse of commodity prices has resulted in mining companies scrambling to find the right balance between optimizing current operations and preserving sufficient flexibility to grasp future opportunities. The runaway costs of building and operating mines have almost squeezed out profit margins, while lower ore grades are inflating production costs. Mining companies therefore need to look at the business with fresh eyes, and develop strategies to attract equity capital as traditional approaches are simply not working anymore. This is especially so in the context of a dwindling investor base that continues to demand greater returns, despite a significantly lower appetite for risk. This paper revisits the micro-economic concepts and demonstrates how pressure from shareholders to prioritize output contributed to spiralling costs and value destruction. Practical techniques are described to model cost curves to optimize a Mineral Resource endowment and address the need to rightbalance a business and preserve agility.IntroductionHenry Lazenby (2014) for the Mining Weekly writes, ‘Bruised and battered, the global mining industry today is undergoing a sea change. Practices and policies that might have worked wonders in the past are not as relevant today, and new approaches to running profitable mining operations need to be found.’ One significant practice the mining industry had during the last commodities supercycle (2003 to 2011) was chasing volume at any cost; absolute output was deliberately prioritized over productivity considerations (Goldsmith, 2013). Lazenby contends that in the face of falling and volatile commodity prices, many mining majors ‘across all commodity groups are currently grappling with sagging profits and low company valuations. This is often regarded as the result of the were in pursuit of growing their output at all costs in a high commodity price environment.’ Lee Hodgkinson, KPMG’s Canadian mining industry leader and quoted by Lazenby, says that ‘mining companies are now trying to find the right balance between optimizing current operations and preserving their agility to grasp future opportunities. The runaway costs of building and operating mines have almost squeezed out profit margins [whilst] lower grades of ore are inflating production costs. Mining companies need to look at the business with fresh eyes, and develop strategies to attract equity capital as it seems clear that some of the traditional approaches to the mining business are simply not working anymore."

Jan 1, 2015