Cross-Cuts (December 07, 1990)

HERE, THERE, EVERYWHERE

Ontario Mining Association Chairman Andy Rickaby, addressing a lunchtime crowd in downtown Toronto to kick off Ontario Mining Week (in mid-October), points out the uses to which the province’s metals are put:

“From this vantage point, the uses of minerals are dramatically evident. The building in front of us — Commerce Court West — — clad in more than 1,000 tons (more than 910 tonnes) of stainless steel, which is given its durability and corrosion resistant characteristics from nickel . . .

“Across the street at First Canadian Place, there are more than 60 miles (97 km) of copper plumbing pipe and hundreds of miles of copper telephone wire. Around the corner in shining and spectacular fashion more than 2,500 oz. (78 kg) of gold coat the windows of the Royal Bank Plaza.

“The 1,851-foot-tall (555-metre) CN Tower contains more than 5,000 tons (4,550 tonnes) of reinforcing steel, 600 tons (545 tonnes) of structural steel and five tons of copper connectors and shielding for the communications cables. In moving from the most impressive free-standing CN Tower to street level the evidence of mineral use continues. Street cars, trolley buses, trucks, automobiles, courier bicycles and even the band’s instruments are all made from minerals.

“About half of the electricity which powers this province is generated from uranium.”

HIGH-TECH NOW COMMONPLACE

Mining and high-technology are not total strangers, according to a recent Statistics Canada release called Survey of Diffusion of Technology in the Mining Industry. The survey covered 324 mines, of which 97% responded, according to an article inin Mining Industry Technology Council of Canada newsletter.

It was found that more than 75% of the mines surveyed use one or more of the following categories of advanced technologies: automated material handling, communications networks, control, and automated processing systems. Nearly 70% report increased productivity and reduced costs as a result of the technology. User satisfaction is very high.

The most common technologies are programmable logic controllers (PLCS), automatic bin level measurements, flow density measurement and analog controllers. The least used were automated television image analysis, on-stream size analysis, near-stream analysis, and open pit data communication networks. Not surprisingly, technological innovation is preponderately a function of mine size.

Mines with more than 250 employees are most likely to lean toward technologically advanced solutions.

The survey also reveals promise of continued growth in the use of advanced technologies in mines. Underground data communication networks, PLCS, supervisory control and data acquisition, integrated expert systems for process control and on-line process control should see significant growth over the next three years.

AN ILL WIND BLOWS THROUGH CATTLE COUNTRY

They are saying nasty things about bovine Bessie down at the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States. They say Bessie has a gas problem. They say she may be an environmental hazard. Now a single cow passing gas is OK. But you’ve got the multiplier effect of a billion Bessies breaking wind on this planet. That whips up a foul storm ascending into the atmosphere as methane gas and exacerbating the greenhouse effect.

The EPA isn’t just blowing smoke. A US$300,000 study has verified (with the aid of flatulometres, presumably) that a single flatulent cow expels 400 litres of methane gas per day. In the mining industry, there is little need for worry. Apart from the hot air that occasionally emanates from promoters, gas is not a serious problem. But out in cattle country, where concentrations of explosive methane might run high, it could spell the end of the Marlboro man, if he lights up.

LESS S02 AT CAMPBELL MINE

A new C$24-million plant to treat refractory gold ores from Placer Dome’s Campbell Red Lake mine, at Balmertown in northern Ontario, will result in the elimination of sulphur dioxide gas emissions from the site.

The new plant, known as a pressure oxidation circuit, is under construction at the mill and should be fully operational by the fall of 1991, the company says.

The circuit, designed to handle about 60 tons (55 tonnes) of refractory sulphide concentrates per day, will replace the current roasting operation which processes sulphide concentrates for later gold recovery. Up until now the old roaster had been operating under controlled conditions with occasional shutdowns necessary when the wind direction is unfavorable. About 35% of the mine’s annual gold output (248,000 oz. or 7,710 kg) is extracted from refractory ore.

By employing modern technology, all sulphur dioxide emissions will be eliminated, and the mill’s effluent products will be treated as part of the process. The new circuit will have significant environmental benefits from both water effluent and air emission standpoints.

NOT JUST A LOONY IDEA

Here’s another small step for mankind on its way to moon mining. A non-profit, public service corporation has been formed to further research on the physical properties of lunar soils and rocks. The Lunar Geotechnical Institute, as it is called, will try to develop products and processes to facilitate exploration, construction and mining on and below the surface of the moon. According to Geotechnical News, more information is available from Mr. W. D. Carrier, Box 5056, Lakeland, Fla. 33807-50505