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Technology.
Advancements in technology used in mining and exploration are allowing companies to improve the bottom line and even revisit mine sites and properties that had previously been deemed unprofitable. And in order to move towards operating wit...
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A BC company whose inventions improve mining equipment
Caliper Machine and Hydraulics, a Cranbrook-based equipment manufacturer, has developed several innovative solutions for mining equipment including steel dashboards for Komatsu haul trucks and industrial windshield wipers. Their latest invention, the Roller Saddle Block for P&H electric shovels, is being tested at Teck Coal properties and reportedly saves thousands of dollars monthly in lubricant costs while extending component life.
Revolutionizing prospecting and exploration in Yukon
Yukon prospector Shawn Ryan, who discovered the White Gold District, has developed revolutionary exploration methods that reduce costs from $500,000 over two field seasons to $100,000 in 2.5 weeks. The new approach combines eBee drones, DC resistivity surveys, Geoprobe drilling, and XRF analysis for environmentally-friendly gold exploration.
Prospector and President - Q & A with Jason Jacob, president of the East Kootenay Chamber of Mines
Jason Jacob, president of the East Kootenay Chamber of Mines, discusses the organization's progress on establishing B.C.'s first core library near Fort Steele, housing important drill cores from historic mines including Sullivan. The chamber is hosting the Minerals South Conference in Cranbrook from November 5-7.
Canadian Dewatering L.P. provides full-service fluid-management services
Canadian Dewatering L.P. provides comprehensive fluid-management and dewatering services to mining, oil and gas, and construction industries across Western Canada. The company operates eight branches including locations in British Columbia, handling complex projects like moving 17 million gallons of water over 1,200 feet of elevation at a coal mine near Sparwood.
Technological advances are the key to discovery
TerraLogic Exploration Inc., a Cranbrook-based consulting company, is using advanced digital data collection and database technology to modernize mineral exploration. Senior geologist Chris Gallagher explains how the company has been collecting data digitally for over 10 years, using standardized methods that allow for new analytical approaches to properties that have been explored multiple times using traditional methods.
MSABC members keep mining at the forefront of innovation
The Mining Suppliers Association of BC showcases innovative mining technologies from its 200+ member companies, including ShearForce Equipment's Xcentric Ripper that can clear rock in 12 hours versus 3 days for traditional methods. The article highlights how BC mining suppliers are revolutionizing the industry with advanced equipment and services that boost productivity and efficiency.
MSABC sends the message that mining builds communities
The Mining Suppliers Association of B.C. launched a "Mining Builds Communities" campaign during BC Mining Week to highlight how mining operations create broader economic benefits across the province. The association emphasized that for every person employed in mining, two additional jobs are created in services and support positions, with over 900 supply companies supporting more than 1,200 mineral exploration and mining companies in B.C.
Work on the Kitimat Modernization Project is going strong
Rio Tinto Alcan's $3.3-billion Kitimat Modernization Project is progressing well with 17% construction complete as of 2012. The new aluminum smelter will increase production capacity from 280,000 to 420,000 tonnes annually while reducing environmental footprint by 50%.
Xstrata Technology provides solutions on a global level
Xstrata Technology showcases its global mining technology solutions, highlighting two key innovations: the IsaMill grinding technology and Jameson Cell flotation system. The company operates internationally with offices in five countries and emphasizes providing comprehensive solutions rather than just equipment to the mining industry.
Energy management is at the focus of new research
MIRARCO researcher Michelle Levesque is developing energy management solutions for the mining industry, focusing on waste heat recovery and establishing ISO 50001 as an industry benchmark. Her research shows substantial amounts of energy are released as waste heat through off-gas and slag processes. She advocates for energy audits to identify conservation opportunities and improve mining operations' profitability and environmental performance.
Real-time underground data in a box
Symboticware has been manufacturing the SymBot since 2008, a ruggedized industrial computer system designed for real-time data collection and transmission in underground mines. The modular system addresses mining industry challenges with energy, emissions, and communications while enabling better decision-making through real-time data analytics.
Liquefied natural gas engine technology is in the works for mining trucks
Westport Innovations is developing liquefied natural gas engine technology for Caterpillar's 793, 795 and 797 mining haul trucks. The HPDI technology delivers comparable performance to diesel with 25% fewer greenhouse gas emissions and potential fuel savings of $600,000 per truck annually.
Alexco transforms the Keno Hill Silver District with environmental technologies
Alexco Resource Corporation's executives received the prestigious E.A. Scholz Award for successfully reopening the Bellekeno Mine and reviving Yukon's Keno Hill Silver District through innovative environmental management strategies. The Bellekeno Mine produced 2.02 million ounces of silver in 2011 and is currently Canada's only primary silver mine. Alexco is targeting 100 million ounces of silver resources and seven million ounces of annual production within the next decade while managing $50-60 million in environmental liabilities.
The SAMSSA brings strength and prosperity
The Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Service Association (SAMSSA) has grown from 4 members in 2003 to 120 members in 2012, representing the world's largest concentration of underground mining expertise. Under executive director Dick DeStefano's leadership, member companies achieved $6.3 billion in sales by 2010, with exports growing from 3-4% to 30% of total business.
Vale breaks ground on a leading-edge project at Copper Cliff
Vale broke ground on its $2 billion Clean AER Project at the Copper Cliff smelter in Sudbury, the largest single environmental investment in the city's history. The project will reduce sulphur dioxide emissions by 70% and dust/metals emissions by 35-40% while creating 1,300 construction jobs at peak. The retrofitted smelter complex will be completed by 2015 and operate well below regulatory limits.
SRK Consulting sees huge potential in Saskatchewan
SRK Consulting has expanded operations in Saskatchewan with a Saskatoon office serving the growing potash and uranium industries. The company offers comprehensive mining consulting services from exploration to closure and sees tremendous long-term opportunities in Saskatchewan's resource sectors.
New clean mining association is formed
A new nonprofit industry association called the Clean Mining Alliance has been formed to support and advocate for technological advancements that make mining cleaner and more environmentally responsible. The five founding members include American Manganese, CERM³ at UBC, Kemetco Research, and Nevada Clean Magnesium, focusing on technologies like membrane-based water filtration, hydrometallurgical processes, and closed-loop systems.
Technology for measuring just about anything
Digital Precision Metrology, a precision measurement services company, is expanding its focus on the mining sector using advanced laser tracking technology. The company currently derives 32% of its revenue from mining clients and aims to increase this to 50%.
Alberta’s Industrial Heartland
Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association promotes Canada's largest petrochemical and hydrocarbon processing centre, covering 582 square kilometres with $35 billion in total investments. The region houses 14 world-scale facilities responsible for 43% of national basic chemical manufacturing and three major petroleum refineries producing 75% of Western Canada's motor fuel.
Near-infrared technology essential for rapid and accurate mineral sampling
ASD Inc. released its TerraSpec 4 line of mineral analyzers that use near-infrared spectroscopy to provide rapid and accurate mineral sampling, enabling analysis of over 1,000 blast hole chip samples per day. The technology dramatically improves on traditional laboratory tests by delivering results in seconds rather than hours, helping optimize mining operations from exploration through production.
Drilling down for data
Century Wireline Services, a geophysical logging company based in Red Deer, Alberta, has achieved over 40% sales growth in recent years by providing cost-effective alternatives to traditional core drilling. The company operates across multiple sectors including coal, oilsands, and emerging hard rock mining applications, with current projects split 50% coal and 50% oilsands.
Rugged mining robots can go where no man has gone before
Inuktun Services Ltd., a Nanaimo-based robotics company, is developing remotely operated vehicles for mining applications including borehole inspection, flooded mine assessment, and hazardous environment operations. The company is addressing mining industry adoption challenges through flexible rental and lease options, with systems ranging from $9,000/week rentals to $200,000 purchases.
From moonscape to greenscape
Vale donated $4.5 million to establish the Vale Living with Lakes Centre at Laurentian University, which officially opened August 25, 2011, to study northern aquatic systems and environmental remediation. The centre represents a major milestone in Sudbury's transformation from environmental devastation to restoration success, with the region reducing air pollution by 90% since the 1960s and restoring half of its damaged lake trout populations.
Cameco’s creative innovation
Cameco successfully completed an innovative remediation project at the Cigar Lake uranium mine in Saskatchewan after water inflows in 2006 and 2008 forced mine flooding. The company used custom Remote Operating Vehicles (ROVs) and inflatable tunnel seals to repair the mine underwater, earning a 2011 engineering award.
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