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Collaboration and Innovation:The Future of Canadian Mining

by Peter KondosChair, Technical Committee

Presentation to the CMIC Signature Event

Toronto, February 12, 2013

Technology Initiatives – A Highway to the Future

Technology InitiativesA Highway to the Future

Outline:

• CMIC R&D Strategy

• Discovery– Exploration

• Extraction– Mining– Processing

• Closure– Environmental stewardship and tailings– Oil sands tailings

• Energy• Green Mining Initiative• HQP• New Opportunities

CMIC - Delivering the Pan-Canadian Mining Research and Innovation Strategy

Discovery Extraction Closure

Highly Qualified Personnel

Energy

License to Operate/Sustainability

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Exploration Initiative

• Champion: François Robert (Barrick Gold)

• Research Director: Alan Galley

• Current membership: 35 partners: – 16 producers and 4 explorers– 15 service providers– PDAC and NRCan

• Special links: – NRCan-GSC (TGI-4); PDAC; CAMIRO

• Initiated: 2010

• Flagship project:

– The Footprint project

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Exploration Initiative

Two programs for improved targeting:

• At depth in mature mining camps – Defining detectable footprints– 3D mapping of geology at depth– Real-time data from drilling

• In remote and covered areas– Identifying new fertile districts– Improved mapping of sub-surface– Dispersion in surficial cover

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Mining Initiative

• Champion: Alex Henderson (Vale)• Current membership: 15 members• Surface Mining, Underground Softrock Mining and

Underground Hardrock Mining• Key areas for improvements:

– Development rate – Roy Slack (Cementation Canada)

– Productive capacity – Jim Gallagher (Hatch)

– Deep mining– Logistics– Physical environment

• Two sub-committees in final stages of preparing White Papers for the initial two key areas for improvement

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Processing Initiative

• Champion: Rob Henderson (Amerigo Resources)• Current membership: Agnico-Eagle; Barrick Gold;

CAMIRO; COREM; Goldcorp; Hatch; Hydro-Québec; Amerigo; K.P.M.; S.R.C.; Teck; Vale; Xstrata Technology Canada; Yukon College

• Initiated: May 2011• Current priority:

– Form a Canadian Centre of Excellence on Comminution, led by Bern Klein (UBC), and aiming to: (a) create an internationally recognized centre, (b) create new opportunities for Canadian firms and institutions to access world-class equipment, facilities and networks, (c) promote the commercialization and implementation of new comminution technologies (d) Develop Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP)

– Evaluate a proposal on the Implementation of sensor-based mine-mill integration techniques to reduce comminution energy - Minesense , Andrew Bamber.

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Environmental Stewardship and Tailings Initiative

• Champion: Mark Thorpe (Golden Star Resources)

• Current membership: 12 and counting• Some the tailings initiative members tasks

were taken over by people from the same company on the ESTI

• Start up: – 1st quarter 2012– Currently identifying committee

members

Progress to date (i)

• Environmental Stewardship Initiative Scoping Report completed by Hatch– Currently incorporating tailings section in to the

Scoping Report

• Selected 4 areas for further work:– Groundwater: focus on remote sensing and

definition in mining areas– Aquatic toxicology: ecosystem and species

toxicity of complex discharge water– ARD: want to extend the work completed by

MEND in partnership– Environmental Management Plans

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Progress to date (ii)

• Tailings section for Scoping Report reviewed and will be incorporated

• Scoping Report to be released to the public at Signature Event

• Pre-feasibility terms of reference defined for ground water, aquatic toxicity, and ARD

• Quick win anticipated for EMS, so to move directly to feasibility

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Oil Sands Tailings Consortium

• Over 150 leaders participated in CMIC Regional Workshops: Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Toronto, Val-d’Or, Montréal and Halifax

• Edmonton session identifies oil sands tailings as an opportunity for collaboration

• CMIC Board supports oil sands tailings collaboration as a national priority

• While not a CMIC initiative, CMIC assisted in creation of consortium (by CMIC VP Gordon Winkel)

• group of 7 oil sands companies who are sharing research among the consortium members

• Consortium a CMIC member; consortium provided a template for formation of a wider collaboration for environmental technology called the Canadian Oil Sands Innovation Alliance.

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Energy Initiative

• Champion: Fernando Carrascal (Goldcorp)• Current membership: Agnico-Eagle; Barrick Gold; B.C. Hydro;

Goldcorp; Hatch; Hydro-Québec; Kinross; Laurentian U.; McGill U.; NRCan-GSC; Teck; UBC; Vale; Xstrata Nickel; ArcelorMittal; Cameco;

• Initiated: May 2011• Current priorities:

– Energy intensity, efficiency and sustainability• Comminution (collaboration with Mining and Processing)

– Power generation, security, cost and renewables• During 2012 a consortium of academics presented a proposal to

work on 25 energy research projects. After evaluation it was decided to reduce the scope and focus on one or two that will add the most value to all members

• Next steps:– First half of 2013 to assess each member needs for research

in energy and select research projects– Second half of 2013 to initiative selected projects

Green Mining Initiative

• Champion: Magdi Habib (NRCan)• Current membership: Over 50 partners

currently involved in GMI projects• Close relationship with CMIC: co-chair of

GMI Advisory Committee; support to CMIC secretariat and technical committees

• Initiated: May 2009

• Current priorities:– Northern Minerals Development– Strategic and Critical Metals Processing– Mining Extraction Innovation– Energy Efficiency in Mining and Milling– Best Practices in Mining Environmental

Management– Clean Water

GMI Alignment with Natural Resources Canada Priorities*

Unlock Resources PotentialThrough Responsible Development

Innovate forCompetitiveness &

Environmental Performance

Expand Markets andGlobal Partnership

S&T Knowledge for SafetyAnd Security Risk

Management

NRCan Priorities

CanmetMINING Priorities

Clean WaterBest Practices in MiningEnvironmental Management

Mining ExtractionInnovation

Energy Efficiency inMining and Milling

Northern MineralsDevelopment

Strategic and CriticalMetals Processing

Radioactive WasteManagement

*Priorities also aligned with industry priorities: CMIC, Mining Association of Canada, Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation , etc.

Green Mining Initiative – Moving forward

• Expand scope of GMI internationally – Develop collaborative and market opportunities– Canada-China Green Mining workshop on March 4th

– Explore other opportunities with India, Brazil, Finland, etc.

• Address implementation challenges related to green mining technologies, working closely with provinces and territories– Improve Industry/Regulators Engagement and

Communication– Assess the feasibility of a green mining verification

program– Assess the use of outcome-based regulations to

foster mining innovation

HQP

• Champion: Teresa Barrett (McGill U)• Current membership: 14

organizations

• Main priorities for 2013:– Improving the impact of Canadian

Mining Engineering programs; – Recognition of college/CEGEP-level

credits by University programs; – Addressing mining cycle’s effects

on student enrolment and activity; – Aboriginal education in mining

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New Research & Innovation Opportunities

• Iron Ore Consortium:– strong interest and leadership– from exploration to mine closure– breaking down the barriers

between the various parts of the mining cycle

– broad consultation through a meeting in April (led by Dean Journeaux) and a technical workshop in late spring

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New Research & Innovation Opportunities

Northern Lights Innovation Initiative– new mining districts targeted

o Plan Nord in Quebeco Ring of Fire in Ontarioo BC North and Northern Territories

– unique challenges & opportunities: infrastructure/ logistics, energy/power, HQP, first nation communities, environment/footprint

– a powerful core industry group under development to drive technology & innovation

– departure from the conventional mining operation into a compact, integrated mine fit to perform in remote, northern climate, in harmony with the environment and the communities

Northern Lights InnovationA Unique Opportunity in Canada’s

Future

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Energy footprint and Power Supply

First Nations

Environmental footprint

Canada North: New Mining

Districts

HQP

Canadian public

(federal government & provinces)

Transportation logistics

Technology Innovation

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Join Us … The Fun Has Began

Technology InitiativesA Highway to the Future

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Exploration Initiative

Projects in development:

• Integrated multi-parameter deposit footprints

– Improve detectable signature of deposits– Focus on Gold, Copper and Uranium – University team preparing proposal

• Down-hole muon geotomography– Technique developed by AAPS– 3D mapping of dense orebodies with sub-

atomic particles

• Lightweight, heli-portable core rig – For mapping bedrock in remote / covered

areas– Reduce cost, improve efficiency

Targets 2013

• Pre-feasibility studies completed in Q2 2013

• EMS feasibility study completed Q2 2013

• Selection of academics and partners for EMS by Q3 2013

• Start work on EMS Q4 2013• Meeting with academic on pre-

feasibility studies Q4 2013

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Northern Mining Districts

• Nunavut: – BIF-hosted Au, Mary River Fe Ore, and Thelon-

associated Uranium

• NWT:– Natchalako REE, BIF-hosted Au, Ag-rich VMS, IOCG

• Yukon:– Intrusion-associated and Carlin-type Au (Minto, White

Au, Raka(?))– Porphyry-epithermal Cu-Au– Ag-Zn-Pb districts (Selwyn, Mayo)– W district (Cantung, Logtung)

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Northern Mining Districts

• Newfoundland-Labrador– Labrador Trough Fe ore– REE Strange Lake– Basement-hosted uranium

• Quebec North:– Labrador Trough Fe ore– Cape Smith Ni-Cu-PGE– Li, REE (Strange Lake)– Sediment-hosted Au (Roberto)– Unconformity U (Matouche)– Diamonds (Renard)

• Ontario: – Cr, Ni-Cu-PGE, V (Ring of Fire-McFauld’s)– BIF-hosted Au (Musselwhite)– Diamonds (Victor)– Bulk tonnage Au (Detour Lake)

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Northern Mining Districts

• Saskatchewan– Athabasca U (?)

• British Columbia– Cu-Au porphyry (Galore, Shaft)– Epithermal Au (Iskut region)– VMS (Tulesquah)

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