Tag Archives: Canada

Autonomous equipment commissioning ramps up at Côté gold project

Automation, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining project news, Mining safety, Mining services, Precious metals, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

IAMGOLD has released its latest quarterly results, highlighting the significant progress it has made on its majority-owned Côté gold project in northeastern Ontario, Canada.

The company is the majority owner and operator of Côté, with the next biggest stake owned by Sumitomo Metal Mining. Côté has a mine life of 18 years, and will produce an average of 365,000 oz/y over this term. Some 236 Mt of ore will be mined, along with 568 Mt of waste, with an average processed grade of 0.96 g/t Au.

In the latest results, IAMGOLD said the project was estimated to be 85.7% complete as of the end of June. Since commencement of construction, $2.23 billion ($1.56 billion at the 70% held by IAMGOLD) of the planned $2.965 billion ($2.08 billion at 70%) of project expenditure has been incurred.

Autonomous operations have been incorporated into the Côté mine design with a focus on early operations readiness. The Autonomous Control Room equipped for Caterpillar Command for hauling was completed in mid-September and the project achieved a major milestone in January with the initial deployment of the autonomous 231 t Cat 793F CMD haul trucks working with Toromont Cat. On January 22, the mine saw the safe operation of a full load, haul, and dump cycle using autonomous dump trucks.

During the June quarter 2023, up to seven Cat 793F haul trucks have begun operating in autonomous mode and a total of 14 haul trucks have been commissioned. Autonomous drilling with two Epiroc Pit Vipers began in this quarter, with a third nearing commissioning completion. In total, the company is expected to operate six autonomous Epiroc Pit Viper 231 blasthole drill rigs, complemented by two Epiroc D65 SmartROC crawler rigs, which will be remote operation ready.

In addition it will deploy electric Caterpillar hydraulic shovels – namely two 6060FS units, AC-powered via tethered cable.

The company said owner mining has progressed well with nearly 1.1 Mt mined in the June quarter. The stockpile has approximately 2 Mt of material on track to the target build-up of 5 Mt by the end of the year. The IAMGOLD mine operations team started operating 24/7 effectively in July.

The project timeline remains in place, with production expected to commence in early 2024.

Vale hits ICMM’s GISTM target for tailings storage facilities

Base metals, Environmental, Mining policy, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining, Water management, , , , , , , ,

Vale says it has implemented the Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management (GISTM) in 48 of its 50 tailings storage facilities (TSFs), with plans to bring the two remaining TSFs into conformance by August 2025.

The GISTM was developed after the tragic failure of a tailings facility at Brumadinho, Brazil, in 2019, through an independent process convened by ICMM, the United Nations Environment Programme and Principles for Responsible Investment.

The standard sets a high bar and contains 77 requirements integrating social, environmental, local economic and technical considerations which strive to achieve the goal of zero harm to people and the environment, according to ICMM.

Vale says of the 48 TSFs now in conformance with the GISTM, 35 are in the Iron Solutions business unit in Brazil and 13 in the Energy Transition Metals business unit (11 in Canada and 2 in Brazil).

“The two remaining Iron Solutions TSFs in Brazil have a lower consequence classification and will be in conformance with the standard by August 2025, following the criteria of the Conformance Protocols defined by ICMM,” Vale said.

The 48 TSFs in conformance meet the GISTM requirements, and some of them have action plans in place according to the Conformance Protocols, according to the company. In addition to meeting the 77 standard requirements, a TSF in conformance with the GISTM means that the oversight, monitoring and transparency of information have been and will continue to be improved, according to Vale. The focus is on the safety of people and the environment throughout the entire TSFs life cycle.

When the GISTM was published in August 2020, ICMM members committed to conform with the standard for tailings facilities classified as ‘extreme’ or ‘very high’ consequences by August 2023, and all other facilities by August 2025. Members are due to publish their progress towards conformance with the GISTM by August 5, 2023, for tailings facilities with the highest potential consequences in the event of a failure.

The ICMM said earlier this week that it anticipated some companies will not achieve full conformance with the standard’s requirements.

Implementing GISTM for Vale’s TSFs represents only one part of the company’s efforts to become safer and more sustainable, the miner says. Vale has been improving the management of its mining dams by conducting an in-depth technical analysis of the historical, current condition and performance of each structure. The preventive, corrective and monitoring actions have also been intensified, being increasingly integrated with social movements and updated according to legislation.

Vale also continues to progress de-characterisating its upstream tailings dam structures in Brazil. As of 2019, out of the 30 dams of this kind included in the program, 12 have already been de-characterised, representing 40% of the total. The program is expected to be completed in 2035. The de-characterisation of upstream facilities in Brazil is Vale’s commitment, in addition to being part of the current Brazilian federal and state legislation on dam safety.

Avalon Advanced Materials and Metso sign MoU on lithium hydroxide production plan

Energy minerals, Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , , , ,

Avalon Advanced Materials Inc has signed a memorandum of understanding to create a strategic partnership with Metso aimed at establishing terms to develop a lithium hydroxide production facility to process lithium mineral concentrates that are essential for the North American electric vehicle (EV) battery value chain.

Avalon intends to deploy Metso’s technology to construct and operationalise a full-service lithium processing facility at the company’s recently acquired Thunder Bay, Ontario industrial site.

Upon completion of the project, Avalon says it will be the first vertically integrated lithium producer in Ontario, while ensuring Canada’s EV battery manufacturing base has a stable, proximate and long-term supply of this resource.

“Metso’s platform and technological solutions perfectly complement Avalon’s vision to complete an integrated lithium value chain in Ontario, predicated on innovative process solutions,” Zeeshan Syed, President of Avalon, said. “We view Metso as an integral part of this rapidly growing sector, and a foundational partner in developing internationally best-in-class processing capabilities that are environmentally sustainable, allowing Avalon to meet the soaring demand for battery-grade lithium.”

The non-binding MoU stipulates:
• The pursuit of a definitive agreement to establish a lithium hydroxide processing facility in Thunder Bay;
• Avalon to license Metso technology and solutions to produce lithium hydroxide cathode materials to serve the EV market;
• Allow Metso to conduct testing and engineering work across Avalon’s portfolio of critical-mineral projects, including the company’s flagship deposit at Separation Rapids near Kenora, Ontario; and
• The parties anticipate reaching a definitive agreement on or before September 1, 2023.

Metso’s sustainable next-generation production and processing technologies are being deployed internationally by governments and clean-energy producers in order to address and deliver the necessary supply required by the emerging EV battery industry, Avalon says.

Avalon’s strategic partnership with Metso is a first in Canada, and is a significant step towards helping the company execute on its vertically-integrated business strategy – and, in turn, entrench Ontario’s position as an advanced manufacturing hub serving not only North America, but the world.

Mikko Rantaharju, Head of Hydrometallurgy at Metso, said: “Metso is looking forward to partnering with Avalon and be part of its long-term vision to be a mid-stream supplier in the lithium hydroxide space. We are aligned with Avalon’s vision of the future and proud to play a key role in technology supply and advancement into clean energy solutions.

”We are also extremely excited to be partnering with the first Ontario conversion facility with Metso’s technology. The innovation advantages of the alkaline process allow for elimination of the use of potentially harmful chemicals such as sulfuric acid and comparatively reduces overall solid waste and emissions, making it environmentally friendlier and overall, safer for workers and local surrounding communities.”

Avalon is a Canadian mineral development company focused on vertically integrating the Ontario lithium value chain. The company is currently developing its Separation Rapids lithium deposit near Kenora, while continuing to advance other projects in its portfolio, including its 100%-owned Lilypad spodumene-cesium-tantalum project near Fort Hope, Ontario.

In additional to extraction activities, Avalon is executing on its key strategic objective of developing Ontario’s first midstream lithium hydroxide processing facility, a vital link bridging the gap between upstream lithium production and downstream EV battery manufacturing.

For battery minerals, Metso provides sustainable technology and equipment for the entire production chain, from the mine to battery materials and black mass recycling with project scopes ranging from equipment packages to plant deliveries.

New Gold achieves 15% fuel saving at Rainy River thanks to Cascadia Scientific solution

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New Gold has been leveraging Cascadia Scientific’s Terrain solution at its Rainy River operation in gold-silver mine in Ontario, Canada, as part of its plan to optimise operations at the open-pit operations.

In the company’s just released ESG report, New Gold highlighted that the Heat Mapping module of Terrain, designed to avoid excessive fuel burn, improve operator safety, and reduce equipment maintenance costs and greenhouse gas emissions, has proven itself when used on 13 of its haul trucks.

“In August 2022, Rainy River installed the Cascadia heat mapping system in 13 of its haul trucks,” the company said. “This technology, which identifies ‘hot spots’ along the haul route, allows Rainy River to identify the areas of inefficiency and rectify them.”

Between August and December, the program supported an average fuel savings of 15%, equivalent to just over 2.7 million tonnes of CO2e, New Gold said.

Terrain is made up of tools to visualise haul roads to target interventions that reduce fuel use, GHG emissions and accelerated equipment wear. Cascadia Scientific combines high-accuracy fuel consumption data with measurements of road grade, vehicle speed, position, motion and altitude to construct visual representations of haul road networks. This helps the company continuously supports clients in identifying and correcting hot spots to maximise efficient and productive operation, it said.

Eldorado’s Lamaque mine receives first Sandvik TH550B battery-electric truck

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Eldorado Gold Quebec, which operates the Lamaque underground mine in Val-d’Or, says it has become the first mining company in Quebec to integrate a Sandvik TH550B battery-electric truck into its fleet.

This truck, with a maximum capacity of 50 t, will play a key role in improving production efficiency, protecting the health and safety of workers, but above all in mitigating our gas emissions, the mining company said.

Back in March, IM reported that Eldorado was expecting to receive its first battery-electric truck in June for use at Lamaque, with the operator confirming a second truck was scheduled to arrive by the end of the year.

The introduction of these electric trucks is part of the strategy of progressive electrification of the equipment fleet at Lamaque, and also supports efforts to electrify transportation in the Sigma-Lamaque underground ramp, the company said. As the first mining company in Canada to adopt this technology, Eldorado Gold Québec has worked closely with Sandvik to develop these trucks.

Sylvain Lehoux, Vice-President, Canada, said: “We are pleased to be able to begin the electrification of our underground operations thanks to the arrival of this electric truck, which will bring us several benefits, particularly in terms of mitigating our GHG emissions, but also for improving certain aspects of the health and safety of our employees. Over the next few weeks, our employees will be trained and this equipment will be in the testing phase in our operations. We are all looking forward to seeing this technology in action and actively pursuing our efforts to decarbonise our operations.”

Although the Lamaque mine is already recognised as one of the lowest GHG-emitting gold mines in the world, thanks in large part to access to hydroelectricity and the implementation of energy efficiency projects, it is expected that the use of these electric trucks will, once fully functional, reduce GHG emissions estimated at 1,700 tCO2 per year, the company says. This reduction is explained by the absence of diesel consumption and the 100% use of renewable electricity supplied by Hydro-Québec.

Foran Mining and Sandvik reveal first battery-electric DD422iE jumbo at CIM 2023

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Foran Mining and Sandvik have unveiled the first Sandvik battery-electric jumbo drill, a DD422iE, to be used at its McIlvenna Bay project in Saskatchewan, Canada, at the CIM 2023 conference in Montreal.

The DD422iE is part of a 20-strong battery-electric vehicle fleet for the project and comes with drilling and bolting capabilities.

When Sandvik announced the fleet order with Foran Mining last year – its largest BEV order at the time. It was to include seven Sandvik 18-t-payload LH518B loaders, six Sandvik 50-t-payload TH550B trucks, four Sandvik DD422iE jumbo drill rigs, two Sandvik DL422iE longhole drills and one Sandvik DS412iE mechanical bolter. Delivery of the equipment was scheduled to begin this year and continue into 2025, Sandvik said.

In the post announcing the milestone BEV drill, Foran said: “The innovative electric DD422IE, with drilling & bolting capabilities, reinforces our commitment to delivering carbon-neutral critical mineral production. As a company, we remain dedicated to developing and implementing eco-friendly solutions that will have a lasting positive impact on the environment and the communities we serve.”

The 2022 feasibility study on McIlvenna Bay outlined a 4,200 t/d operation over an 18.4-year mine life, able to produce an average annual production of 33,000 t of copper-equivalent output over the first 15 years of mine life. By individual metal this equates to 17,600 t of copper, 28,900 t of zinc, 20,000 oz of gold and 486,000 oz of silver.

Weir Motion Metrics to expand into new state-of-the-art facility in Vancouver

Comminution of minerals, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining software, , , , ,

Weir Motion Metrics recently cut the ribbon on a new state-of-the-art facility in Vancouver, British Columbia, that, the company says, will allow the business to better serve customers and provide employees with an innovative workspace for collaboration and development.

On March 13, Weir Motion Metrics opened the site, which is a combined manufacturing, R&D and demonstration space. At 19,725 sq.ft (1,833 sq.m), the new facility is an exciting next step for Motion Metrics, which was born in a business incubator at the University of British Columbia and has grown to a leader in innovative artificial intelligence (AI) and 3D rugged machine vision technology for miners worldwide. Weir acquired Motion Metrics in late 2021.

Mike Funke, Vice President of Weir ESCO, which oversees Weir Motion Metrics, said: “In recent years, there has beena very strong pull from mining leaders for AI-enabled digital solutions. This space will be the new home for Weir’s global centre of excellence for AI and digital solutions. The grand opening reflects our continued commitment to the Vancouver technology and business communities.”

Miners are increasingly focused on improving the safety, efficiency, productivity and sustainability of their operations. Weir Motion Metrics specialises in developing advanced monitoring solutions designed to attain these critical objectives. The facility will continue to support demand and customer needs for years to come, it said.

The company has recently embarked on an ore characterisation trial at a copper mine, leveraging its AI and 3D rugged machine vision technology alongside spectral sensors.

CIM and Rio Tinto strengthen Canadian technical capability ties with new partnership

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The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) has announced a new three-year partnership with Rio Tinto, aiming to strengthen technical capabilities and foster a robust, connected and engaged community of professionals in the Canadian minerals, metals and materials industries.

CIM says it has a long history of supporting the professional development of its members and partners, with a focus on creating, curating and delivering relevant, leading-edge knowledge. Through this partnership, CIM and Rio Tinto will work together to expand awareness of the essential contribution mining makes to society and achieve organisational and operational excellence.

Rio Tinto recognises CIM’s important role in facilitating thought leadership and serving as an incubator for innovation and advancement in ESG practices and clean technologies that are instrumental in increasing energy efficiency, CIM says. In fact, the 2023 CIM Convention and Expo – for which Rio Tinto is an Official Convention Sponsor – will act as a platform for discussions on how to build trust and efficient processes to decarbonise the industry, it added.

“We are thrilled to partner with CIM for the next three years,” Nigel Steward, Rio Tinto Chief Scientist, said. “Rio Tinto benefits from one of the largest technology and R&D ecosystems in the industry, with more than 500 employees dedicated to R&D and a strong network of partners. We know that professional associations can play a critical role in supporting our objective of finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs. CIM’s reputation for fostering a connected and engaged community aligns well with our own values of care, courage and curiosity, and we look forward to working together to achieve our common goals.”

This partnership between CIM and Rio Tinto is a mutually beneficial opportunity that will enhance the technical capabilities of Rio Tinto’s professionals while providing opportunities for professional development and networking, according to CIM. CIM members will have access to the expertise and resources of a leading global mining company, and Rio Tinto will benefit from CIM’s leadership in professional and industry development. Together, CIM and Rio Tinto will work towards the common goal of supporting the growth and success of the mining industry in Canada.

CIM CEO, Angela Hamlyn, added: “We are excited to partner with Rio Tinto, a global leader in the mining industry. This partnership will allow us to expand our reach and impact, and provide valuable opportunities for our members to learn from and collaborate with our corporate partners. Together, we will work to support the professional development and success of our members and the continued growth
of the mining industry in Canada.”

The partnership began in January 2023 and will run for three years.

Rio Tinto has several mining and metal operations in Canada, including stakes in the Diavik diamond mine in the Northwest Territories (pictured), the Iron Ore Company of Canada and industrial minerals operations in Quebec.

Gowest engages Dumas for Bradshaw gold deposit restart

Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, , , , , , , ,

Gowest Gold has engaged Dumas Contracting Ltd, part of STRACON SA, in a four-year contract to assist with the restart of operations at the Bradshaw gold deposit, in Timmins, Ontario.

Dumas has already begun moving equipment to the site and is rapidly ramping up the mobilisation process, with both Gowest and Dumas targeting the resumption of underground work in April.

Dumas is a leading, full-service mining contractor specialising in mine construction and development, production mining and engineering. It is the primary contractor working at numerous mines throughout the Americas, including several in northern Ontario, Gowest said.

Currently, Bradshaw contains a NI 43‐101 indicated resource estimated at 2.1 Mt grading 6.19 g/t Au for 422,000 oz of gold, and an inferred resource of 3.6 Mt grading 6.47 g/t Au for 755,000 oz of gold. Further, based on the prefeasibility study produced by Stantec on June 9, 2015, Bradshaw contains probable reserves (using a 3 g/t Au cutoff and a gold price of $1,200/oz) of 1.8 Mt grading 4.82 g/t Au for 277,000 oz of gold.

Dan Gagnon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gowest, said: “We are extremely pleased to have Dumas, with their extensive experience and focus on safety, as our long-term partner in restarting mining activities at Bradshaw. At the same time, now that we have the significant financial support of several of our major shareholders, we are also quickly advancing on several related fronts. This includes hiring personnel, mobilising equipment, ordering consumables and other preparations to ensure Bradshaw’s success as the next new gold mine in the Timmins camp.”

The first underground work will focus on the development and production of the initial bulk sample area (East Zone), the development of ventilation infrastructure, as well as the development of a ramp to expand and access new ore zones, Gowest says.

The company is also working towards finalising an agreement for milling Bradshaw’s ore, working with several parties to determine the optimal approach for handling the gold concentrate.

Newcrest’s Brucejack mine nears battery-electric truck milestone, establishes BEV loading trial

Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Power supply for mines, Precious metals, Sustainable mining, , , , , , ,

Having made significant progress on converting its full underground truck fleet to battery-electric operation, Newcrest Mining’s Brucejack gold mine in British Columbia, Canada, is starting the process for its loading equipment.

Brucejack is a high-grade underground gold-silver mine using long-hole stoping and a combination of longitudinal and transverse mining, depending on zone width and orientation. The ore is crushed underground and conveyed to surface where the fully-enclosed mill produces gold-silver dore bars and flotation concentrate.

Despite a stoppage for an extensive safety review in the December quarter – which followed a tragic fatality in October – the mine is expected to produce 320,000-370,000 oz of gold in the year to the end of June 2023.

In the company’s half-year 2023 financial year results, released this week, it confirmed its final Sandvik Z50 50-t payload battery-electric truck was due on site in March. The arrival of this vehicle – the eighth at Brucejack – will complete the full truck fleet at the mine.

Alongside this, the company says it is set to commence a trial with a battery-electric LHD that arrived on site this month.

Newcrest later confirmed to IM that the vehicle in question was a Sandvik LH518B, an 18-t payload machine that features a 600 kW drivetrain to allow for higher acceleration than conventional loaders as well as fast ramp speeds. Courtesy of its space-efficient battery system and driveline, it is the most compact 18-t loader on the market, capable of fitting in a 4.5 x 4.5 m tunnel, the OEM claims.

On the expected benefits of the new BEV truck fleet, Newcrest said it was anticipating improved truck productivity, lower unit costs and the abatement of approximately 65,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions through to 2030.

The project is being partly funded thanks to a C$7.95 million ($5.9 million) investment from the CleanBC Industry Fund.

It is also part of a wider transformation program Newcrest established for the asset following the acquisition of former owner Pretium Resources in 2022.

In addition to the BEV truck and LHD work included in this program, the company is also rolling out the “NewSafe program” to reinforce safety culture, carrying out a debottlenecking study set to investigate a mill capacity increase to 4,500-5,000 t/d, and conducting trials of ore sorting technology to classify and separate mineralised material to deliver more consistent mill feed grades.