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British Columbia.
British Columbia is a province with a rich mining history and a wealth of mining potential yet undiscovered. Early mining operations brought gold and coal to the surface; today, these and many other valuable minerals are bringing prosperit...
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Association for Mineral Exploration polishes up its corporate identity
The Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC) has rebranded to simply AME as part of a comprehensive identity refresh aimed at strengthening its advocacy role for the mineral exploration industry. The rebrand includes a new logo design and brand standards to better position AME as a leader with 4,200 individual and 400 corporate members primarily in B.C.
Teck Resources reports profit for third quarter
Teck Resources Limited reported third quarter profit attributable to shareholders of $234 million, or $0.41 per share. CEO Don Lindsay leads the diversified mining company through what appears to be a profitable quarter.
Acid-causing bacteria identified at UBC
UBC Okanagan researcher Deborah Roberts has identified five types of microbes responsible for acid-rock drainage at mine sites, potentially leading to a novel treatment using targeted viruses. The two-year study examined tailings samples from Alberta mining operations and could result in a third method of tailings management beyond traditional ponds or dry covers.
Centerra Gold and Thompson Creek Metals company complete acquisition deal
Centerra Gold has completed its acquisition of Thompson Creek Metals through a plan of arrangement, issuing 22.3 million shares representing 8% of its outstanding stock. The deal gives Centerra control of the world-class Mount Milligan Mine in BC, creating a geographically diversified gold producer with over two decades of expected production from current reserves.
B.C. and Alaska strengthen commitment to protect shared environment
British Columbia and Alaska signed a Statement of Cooperation establishing a bilateral working group to enhance water quality monitoring, environmental assessments and permitting for transboundary mines. The agreement implements a 2015 MOU and creates technical working groups to share water quality data and coordinate mine oversight across the border.
Province and FVRD set foundation for commercial gravel operations
The Province of British Columbia and Fraser Valley Regional District signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a new commercial gravel operations bylaw after 13 years of consultation. The bylaw creates clear zones where aggregate operations are allowed or restricted, with over 90% of rural areas remaining available for operations.
UBC and Kal Tire Announce Research Partnership
Kal Tire's Mining Tire Group has signed a three-year research partnership with UBC Okanagan's School of Engineering to develop innovative mining tire technology solutions. The collaboration will focus on areas from robotics and metallurgical design to environmentally-responsible tire recycling applications.
IsoEnergy Completes Amalgamation and Receives Conditional Listing Approval from TSXV
IsoEnergy Ltd. completed its amalgamation with Airesurf Networks Holdings Ltd. and received conditional approval to list on the TSXV under symbol 'ISO' as of October 19, 2016. The uranium exploration company, spun out from NexGen Energy, will focus on exploring its Radio Project and Thorburn Lake Project in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin.
Five of the biggest mines in BC are in the Elk Valley, generate 64% of mining revenue
Five of British Columbia's top 10 mines by revenue are located in the Elk Valley, generating $3.048 billion or 64% of the total $4.75 billion revenue from the province's largest mining operations in 2015. Teck Resources dominates the list with seven of the ten mines, led by the Fording River coal operation which generated over $1 billion in revenue.
UBC identifies bacteria linked to acid produced at mining sites
UBC researchers have isolated five specific types of bacteria responsible for acid-rock drainage at mining sites, including three sulphur-oxidizing and two iron-oxidizing microbes active at low temperatures. This breakthrough research could lead to new treatment methods using antibiotics to manage mining waste without requiring traditional tailings ponds or caps.
“This could turn out to be one of the biggest finds in the whole Kootenay, by far.”
Darrel Davis has discovered an exceptionally high-grade gold deposit near Trout Lake, B.C., with assay results showing up to 19 ounces per tonne gold across a 24-metre-wide vein. Davis, who owns Davis Mining and Exploration Corporation, plans diamond drilling in spring to determine the full extent of what he calls one of the richest finds in the last hundred years.
Seabridge Gold obtains permits for Deep Kerr exploration adit
Seabridge Gold received permits from the BC Government to develop a 2,100 meter exploration adit into the Deep Kerr Deposit at its KSM Project in northwestern BC. The underground access will enable cost-effective drilling compared to surface drilling and help upgrade Deep Kerr's inferred resources to higher categories for potential block caving operations.
Taranis takes delivery of gold processing plant for Thor Project & provides update on exploration
Taranis Resources has taken delivery of a gold processing plant for its Thor Project in BC and completed exploration drilling that intersected high-grade mineralization. The company will process 1,000 tonnes of high-grade material while continuing systematic drilling to delineate gold zones at the polymetallic deposit.
Restart of Brule Mine: 170 new jobs for region
Conuma Coal Resources Ltd. is restarting the Brule Mine in British Columbia's Peace Region, creating approximately 170 jobs after a two-year care and maintenance period. The mine is expected to reach full production by December 2016, producing two million tons of metallurgical coal annually.
Teck Coal’s Baldy Ridge extension project approved
Teck Coal Limited received environmental assessment approval for the Baldy Ridge extension project, which will extend the Elkview mine's life by 23 years until 2045. The project will mine 153 million metric tonnes of clean coal with $600 million in construction costs and generate significant employment in southeast British Columbia.
Revenue-sharing agreement: Teck & Lower Nicola Indian Band
Teck Resources and the Lower Nicola Indian Band signed revenue-sharing and partnership agreements for the Highland Valley Copper Operations. The band will receive $557,000 initially plus ongoing annual mineral tax payments, while also gaining collaborative input on mine decisions and business opportunities.
WestJet signs multi-year contract with Suncor
WestJet has signed a multi-year contract with Suncor to provide charter flight services for employees and contractors. The agreement will involve more than 100 weekly flights across Western Canada, connecting workers to Suncor's operations in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Alberta.
Alaska Structures to showcase TSX-Series fabric structures at MINExpo 2016
Alaska Structures is showcasing their TSX-Series portable fabric buildings at MINExpo 2016 in Las Vegas. These durable, portable structures are designed specifically for mining workforce housing and camp systems, offering advantages over traditional tents and permanent buildings.
MAC’s tailings management requirements strengthened
The Mining Association of Canada has strengthened its mandatory Towards Sustainable Mining tailings management requirements following the 2014 Mount Polley incident. MAC's Board accepted amendments based on 29 recommendations from an independent Task Force, with additional changes expected in November 2016.
Teck announces 2016 second quarter profit
Teck Resources reported Q2 2016 profit of $15 million compared to $63 million in Q2 2015, while noting positive trends in zinc and steelmaking coal prices. The company strengthened its balance sheet by extending credit facilities and reducing near-term debt maturities, while achieving cost reductions across operations.
Teck announces retirement of Greg Waller, Vice President, Investor Relations and Strategic Analysis
Teck Resources announced that Greg Waller, VP of Investor Relations and Strategic Analysis, will retire in mid-2017 after more than 30 years with the company. Waller joined Teck in 1984 and took on investor relations responsibilities in 2006, recently receiving the 2016 Belle Mulligan Award for Leadership in Investor Relations. The company is conducting a search for his replacement.
Madeleine Suska, industry pioneer and geologist, honoured by Coal Association of Canada
The Coal Association of Canada honoured geologist Madeleine Suska with its 2016 Award of Distinction for her decades-long contributions to coal exploration and mapping. Suska discovered and mapped major coal fields in northeastern British Columbia and Alberta through extensive horseback expeditions, including discoveries that led to development of the Northeast British Columbia Coal Block containing the Tumbler Ridge area.
Imperial Metals launches lawsuit over Mt. Polley dam breach
Imperial Metals has filed a lawsuit against engineering firms Knight Piesold and AMEC (now Amec Foster Wheeler) over the 2014 Mount Polley tailings dam collapse that spilled 24 million cubic metres of waste into a nearby lake. The company alleges negligence and breach of contract, having spent $60-70 million on remediation and faced nearly two years of production losses.
Mount Polley Mine receives authorization for return to normal operations
Imperial Metals' Mount Polley Mine has received regulatory authorization to return to normal operations after completing repairs and buttressing of its Tailings Storage Facility following the 2014 breach. The mine will restore approximately 350 direct jobs and resume copper-gold production.