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Mines.
A great deal of exploration, assessment and consideration of logistical details must occur before a mine can begin operation—and once it does, there are many things that can impact its success. In Canadian Mining & Energy, we look at t...
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Cameco’s Cigar Lake uranium project now in commercial operation
Cameco announced that its Cigar Lake uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan has achieved commercial production as of May 1, after overcoming significant technical challenges. The operation is expected to produce 6-8 million pounds of uranium oxide this year, ramping up to full production of 18 million pounds annually by 2018.
Teck announces temporary shutdowns of Elk Valley Mines—staggered over summer
Teck Resources announced temporary three-week shutdowns at its six Canadian steelmaking coal operations during Q3 2015 to align production with weak market conditions. The shutdowns will reduce quarterly production by 1.5 million tonnes (22%) to 5.7 Mt, while the company maintains its cost reduction focus and contractual commitments.
TSM Award winner for community engagement announced
Vale's Manitoba Operations won the 2015 TSM Community Engagement Award for leading the Thompson Economic Diversification Working Group. The company invested over $2 million and 20,000 hours in a collaborative process with multiple stakeholders to develop economic diversification plans for the region ahead of operational changes in 2015.
Greenhills wins Canadian mine safety award
Teck Coal's Greenhills Operations in Elkford, B.C. received the John T. Ryan Safety Trophy for coal mines at the CIM Awards Gala. The award recognizes exemplary safety accomplishments in the mining industry and was presented as part of the annual CIM Convention in Montreal.
CIM honours the leaders of the Canadian mining industry at Awards Gala of the CIM 2015 Convention
The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) held its annual Awards Gala on May 11, 2015 in Montreal, honouring over 50 individuals and organizations for their achievements in various mining fields. The event was sponsored by Caterpillar and recognized leaders across safety, sustainability, exploration, and technical excellence categories.
Dominion Diamond Corporation and Diavik Diamond Mine get top nods for 2015 TSM Excellence Awards
Dominion Diamond Corporation and Diavik Diamond Mine received the 2015 TSM Environmental Excellence Award for their Joint Regional Grizzly Bear DNA Program in the Northwest Territories. The program surveyed 16,000 km2 and identified 136 grizzly bears from 4,709 hair samples, indicating a stable or increasing population above 1990s estimates. The collaborative monitoring program has since expanded to over 30,000 km2 with additional mines participating.
EduMine’s Simon Houlding awarded Vale Medal at CIM 2015
Simon Houlding, founder and VP of EduMine, was awarded the prestigious Vale Medal for Meritorious Contributions to Mining at CIM 2015 in Montreal. The award recognizes his outstanding contributions to the Canadian mining industry through founding EduMine in 1999 and building it into the world's largest provider of online mining professional development and training.
Taseko announces improved economics at its Gibraltar Copper Mine
Taseko Mines has completed an updated mine plan for its Gibraltar Copper Mine that significantly improves economics through a 50% reduction in strip ratio from 4.3:1 to 1.9:1. The new plan features 749 million tons grading 0.272% copper equivalent with 24 years of operation producing 138 million pounds of copper annually. The company estimates the mine could generate approximately $100 million in annual operating profit at current metal prices.
APEGBC professional practice guidelines respond to Mount Polley recommendations
APEGBC is developing new professional practice guidelines for dam site characterization assessments in response to the Mount Polley tailings dam breach report. The guidelines will establish standards of care and professional obligations for engineers and geoscientists, scheduled for release in March 2016.
Fortune Minerals and POSCAN complete sale of Arctos coal licenses to BC Rail
Fortune Minerals Limited and POSCO Canada Limited have completed the sale of Arctos coal licenses to BC Rail. The transaction involved an agreement with the British Columbia Government, though specific financial terms were not disclosed.
Study documents impacts of tailings impoundment spill on Quesnel Lake
University of Northern BC researchers published a comprehensive study documenting the impacts of the August 2014 Mount Polley tailings dam breach on Quesnel Lake. The research found significant environmental changes including a 7.7cm lake level rise, elevated temperatures, widespread sediment plumes covering 1,000 square kilometers, and copper concentrations above freshwater ecosystem guidelines.
Project Heavy Duty returns to the Elk Valley
Project Heavy Duty returned for its third year in the Elk Valley, providing 24 grade 11-12 students with hands-on heavy equipment training from May 12-13. The program is a partnership between Southeast School District #5, College of the Rockies, and local heavy industry including Teck Coal, aimed at developing skilled trades workers for the mining sector.
Mount Polley could restart “within months,” says Imperial Metals
Imperial Metals announced that Mount Polley gold-copper mine could restart within months if granted a permit, potentially bringing back about half of the mine's 370 employees. The mine has been closed following a devastating tailings pond breach that caused an environmental disaster in central BC.
First concentrate shipment from Red Chris Mine
Imperial Metals achieved a major milestone with the first shipment of copper concentrate from its Red Chris mine in northwest British Columbia on April 11, 2015. The concentrate was loaded onto the new vessel M/V Edward Oldendorff at Stewart Bulk Terminals, marking both the mine's inaugural shipment and the ship's maiden voyage.
Geothermal: the next energy frontier?
The Canadian government announced $168,000 in R&D funding to investigate geothermal energy potential in Yukon Territory, working with CanGEA and Yukon Geological Survey. The Canadian Geothermal Energy Association estimates over 5,000 megawatts of geothermal potential nationally, which could create 8,500 operations jobs and 20,000 construction jobs.
Carmax prepares for 2015 Eaglehead exploration program
Carmax Mining Corp. is preparing a two-phase 2015 exploration program at its Eaglehead copper-gold-molybdenum-silver project in northwestern B.C., starting with relogging historical drill holes in June followed by drilling in August. The company's 2014 program demonstrated continuity of copper mineralization between zones and supports the belief they are exploring a single large porphyry system with a current inferred resource of 102.5 million tonnes at 0.29% copper.
Wind farm planned for Peace region
Boralex Inc. and Aeolis Wind have partnered to develop a $480 million wind farm near Tumbler Ridge, BC, featuring 80 turbines that could become the province's largest wind farm. The Red Willow Wind Partnership project is currently undergoing environmental assessment with plans to start construction in 2017 and begin operations by 2018, providing 200 person years of employment.
Why Canada’s mining companies will survive the downturn
Amec Foster Wheeler's Dave Lawson provided commentary at PDAC on the mining downturn, noting Canadian companies are better positioned than global peers. He attributed the downturn to reduced Chinese demand and increased market volatility from greater information access, but expressed optimism for recovery.
Minerals North 2015 slated for end of May
Minerals North 2015 conference will take place May 27-29 in Mackenzie, B.C., with 400 attendees expected. The annual conference connects northern communities with the mining sector and includes technical courses, regional geological updates, and mine tours including Mount Milligan copper-gold operation.
Bill Bennett on learning from Mount Polley
B.C. Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett outlined the government's response to the Mount Polley tailings dam failure investigation, implementing new requirements for operating mines including independent review boards and confirmation letters by June 2015. The minister emphasized the need for improved safety margins and engineering practices while maintaining that B.C. can remain competitive for mining investment.
Diamond miners sign agreement with Northwest Territories Metis
De Beers Canada and Mountain Province Diamonds signed an Impact Benefit Agreement with the Northwest Territories Métis Nation for the Gahcho Kué diamond mine project. The mine, located 280 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife, is 54% complete and expected to begin production in Q3 2016 with projected annual cash flow of $630 million.
Elk Valley water plan approved
British Columbia's Environment Minister approved Teck Resources' Elk Valley Water Quality Plan to address selenium and other contaminants from decades of coal mining in the watershed. The plan requires approximately $600 million in capital spending over five years for water treatment facilities across multiple operations.
Vancouver woman elected president of American Exploration and Mining Association
Vancouver-based Mari-Ann Green was elected president of the American Exploration and Mining Association, making her the first Canadian to lead the 119-year-old organization. Green, co-founder of Formation Metals Inc., aims to focus on critical minerals legislation and permitting reforms during her one-year term.
Tony Beets: The King of the Klondike Who Built a Gold Mining Empire
Tony Beets, owner of Tamarack Inc., is targeting 6,500 ounces of gold worth over $33 million in Season 16 of Discovery Channel's Gold Rush. His company holds 337 placer claims in the Klondike region and operates large-scale dredging operations across multiple sites including Indian River and Paradise Hill.