Editorial Mining like shovelling snow?

Just when we thought the Mining Association of Canada was winning its battle of informing and educating our elected representatives in Ottawa, this gem comes across our desk:

“Extracting minerals from the ground doesn’t take a lot of brains and scientific talent. It’s like shovelling snow and being able to sell it.”

The statement comes from a senior government official who remained unidentified in a cover story on technolgy in Maclean’s, the weekly news magazine. While demonstrating his total ignorance of mining and mining practices, the government official also perpetuates beliefs about the industry which were probably true in 1887 — not today.

The Canadian mining industry, for the official’s information, has been a leader not only in the use and design of state-of-the-art geophysical and geochemical techniques in mineral exploration, but also in the use of powerful computer technology in mine planning and underground operations. Today all facets of the industry, from mineral processing to rock mechanics applications, utilize the collective scientific talents of thousands of engineers and computer scientists.

Some of the most efficient and lowest-cost mines in the world can be found in Sudbury, Ont., operated by Inco Ltd. New methods of ore extraction, designed by imaginative engineers and implemented by highly trained and skilled miners, has enabled that company to lower costs dramatically.

Requires no brains and is as easy as shovelling snow? We dare think that if mining was that simple and profitable, the good official, who has met the first criterion admirably, will grab a claim map and head for the hills to make his fortune.

On second thought, leave the claim map at home.