100

INNOVATIONS
IN THE
MINING
INDUSTRY
Printing of this book was made possible through a generous contribution
of the Mining Association of Canada
and the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada.
004 A word from the Executive Director
010 Summary
014 Introduction
016 Research methodology
022 Exploration
024 Mining
028 Rehabilitation
030 A brief history of mining innovations
Innovations in . . .
032 Exploration
074 Ore deposit denition
094 Ore extraction
130 Transport and communications
150 Ore processing
158 Health and safety
190 Remediation
216 Acknowledgements
217 References
218 100 innovations in the mining industry
0
3
A WORD FROM
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Innovation shapes our future.
Minalliance is proud to present
an unprecedented study on
innovations in the mineral industry.
Conducted under the guidance of
Michel Jbrak, this study is the fruit
of extensive research and analysis.
It compiles and summarizes one
hundred innovations developed
around the world in several
domains of scientic expertise,
and touches on many facets of
the industry, including ongoing
initiatives that improve working
conditions for miners and minimize
the environmental footprint of
mining activities.
This book bears witness to the
ingenuity and know-how of
scientists, technicians, and all those
involved in the mining industry.
It illustrates how the industry uses
innovation as a lever to stay on
the cutting edge and prepare for
the future, resolving major issues
to remain competitive and meet
worldwide needs.
The content ts perfectly within
the mission of Minalliance, which
is to "give all Quebecers access to
clear, consistent, and coordinated
information about the activities
of the mineral industry, and
highlight its positive contribution
to Qubecs social, economic, and
environmental development."
This publication is sure to interest
those already keeping abreast
of developments in the mineral
industry, in addition to people
concerned with economic progress,
as many of the innovations are
relevant to other elds. The books
comprehensive and informative
content will remain a source of
reference for readers.
Michel Jbrak, professor in the
Dpartement des sciences de la
Terre et de latmosphre at the
Universit du Qubec Montral,
is an expert in the eld of mineral
resources. Having worked in Africa,
Europe, and the Middle East, he is
well positioned to appreciate the
innovative capacity of the mineral
industry and its potential impact
on the global scale. His point of
view clearly demonstrates the
leading role played by the industry
in terms of innovation, as well as
its contribution to scientic and
technical knowledge. Designed for
a wide readership, this book has
made no compromises in either
quality or substance, and we hope
it will give you an appreciation of
the mineral industrys energy and
strong innovative character.
Claudine Renauld
Executive Director
5
THE MINING INDUSTRY,
WHICH DATES
BACK TO THE DAWN
OF CIVILIZATION, IS
OFTEN CONSIDERED
AN ANCIENT
INDUSTRY. DESPITE
ITS AGE-OLD ROOTS,
NATURAL RESOURCE
EXPLORATION AND
EXPLOITATION
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
AMONG THE MOST
ACTIVE FIELDS FOR
RENEWAL THROUGH
INNOVATION. TODAY,
MINING INNOVATIONS
ADDRESS THE
GROWING DEMAND
FOR AN EVER-
BROADENING
RANGE OF MINERAL
RESOURCES,
WHILE RESPECTING
COMMUNITIES AND
THE ENVIRONMENT.
Michel Jbrak and Jeffrey Vaillancourt
Universit du Qubec Montral
Dpartement des sciences de la Terre et de latmosphre
Safer working conditions
Improved underground
communication
Increasingly sophisticated
means of ore transportation
Emergency response measures
developed for the harshest
conditions
A more environmentally
responsible industry
Solutions to deal with acid
mine drainage
Solutions to transform mine
tailings into benecial products
Overall, innovations in the
mining industry aim to improve
worker safety, increase efciency,
and minimize environmental
impacts
Innovation represents an
established and ongoing structural
element for the mining industry
that continues to draw from many
areas of knowledge: chemistry,
physics, biology, engineering,
computer science, etc.
By providing new techniques to
deal with particularly challenging
environments, mining industry
innovations are often transferable
to other elds and may eventually
nd much broader applications.
For example, much of the
expertise in the rapidly expanding
eld of environmental engineering
has been fuelled by innovations
from the mining sector
Innovations create lasting value,
thereby positioning Qubec as one
of the world leaders in this area
SUMMARY
This book presents one
hundred innovations, mostly
technological, that have
marked the last ten years of
mining, particularly in Qubec.
Although not exhaustive, the
list demonstrates the ingenuity
of a profession that strives for
more efcient, sustainable
practices by continually
revisiting and renewing its
methods and concepts. As such,
innovations in the industry
have been instrumental in the
following areas:
Smarter exploration
Identifying minerals, chemical
compositions, and physical
properties directly in the eld
Detecting even deeper mineral
deposits
Modelling mineral deposits,
their potential economic assets,
and challenges right from the
earliest stages of exploration
More efcient mining
Mining methods based on the
latest advances in robotics
Real-time monitoring of the
ow of rock and ore through the
mine and processing plant
Simulations at the mine design
stage to test different solutions
before implementation
11
What is innovation?
As Jacques Mnard, president of
BMO Financial Group, pointed
out during a presentation to the
Canadian Club of Montreal on
28 February 2011, "Productivity is
not working harder but working
smarter, being better organized
and using better tools. One word
sums this up: innovation." Simply
put, innovation can be dened as
a new idea that works (Mulgan,
2007). Innovation is thus the
result of an idea that meets a
need. Technological innovation
involves creating new products and
improving existing ones, as well as
optimizing production and adopting
the latest advances. Innovation
differs from discovery or invention
in that it fundamentally targets the
application aspect.
Innovation is not just technological,
however; it can also be social, in
which case the needs of society
drive the technological advances.
The most pertinent example today
would be innovations in the eld of
environmental conservation, which
stem mostly from the growth of
the green movement over the last
thirty years.
A description of our research
methodology precedes a brief
history of innovations in the
mining industry.
In the eyes of the general public,
the mining industry may not appear
especially innovative. Its budget
for research and development is
on the low side compared to
investments in the elds of
biotechnology or communications,
and even industry insiders are
self-critical in this respect.

But the reality is entirely different.
Mining has always been a source
of innovation, consistently striving
for better efciency, safety,
and environmental and social
integration, often in difcult
circumstances. The challenge
is considerable: by denition,
mines tap into non-renewable
resources hidden below the Earths
surface where unknown and
inhospitable conditions hinder
exploration and extraction.
This publication draws attention
to the innovative character of the
mining industry by documenting
and illustrating one hundred recent
innovations originating from
or relevant to the Qubec mining
industry, from initial exploration
to nal rehabilitation, which
touch on many areas of science
and technology.
INTRODUCTION
Mining lies at the foundation of civilization: from the rst
Copper Age smelters in Cyprus to the bronze workings of the
Shang Dynasty in the twelfth century BC, to the gold rushes
in the North American West and the mining complexes and
steel workings of nineteenth-century Europe, mines have
been prominent on the economic landscape since antiquity.
Although such a long history may suggest archaic traditions,
an old industry does not mean old methods!
15
THE INNOVATION
MUST IMPROVE
PERFORMANCE;
THE INNOVATION
MUST BE USEFUL TO
THE QUBEC INDUSTRY;
THE INNOVATION
MUST CURRENTLY
BE IN USE OR SOON
TO BE USED BY THE
INDUSTRY.
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
In addition to academic journals,
the following sources provided
information: Mining Association
of Canada, Canadian Mining
Innovation Council, Canadian
Mining Journal, Australian Mining
Association, CSST, Groupe MISA,
MineCan, CANMET, CONSOREM,
CIM, DIVEX, NORCAT, NSERC-
Polytechnique-UQAT Industrial
Chair, Gecamin (Chile), the
UQAT-UQAM Chair in Mining
Entrepreneurship, MRNF, and
numerous mineral exploration and
mining companies.
Most of the innovations presented
in this publication have emerged
over the last ten years. Some of
the less recent those developed
during the last couple of decades
are also included because
they represent groundbreaking
contributions to the industry that
undergo continuous improvement.
Finally, a few innovations dating
back more than twenty years,
mainly geophysical methods,
were also deemed worthy of
mention, having greatly beneted
from a number of technological
breakthroughs over the past
decade. Other selection criteria
included the following:
Our search for innovations in the mining industry drew on
a vast wealth of literature from the worlds principal mining
regions (Canada, Australia, the United States, Europe, South
Africa, Chile), as well as information gleaned from our many
meetings with innovators on the Qubec mining scene,
particularly in the Abitibi region.
porphyries led directly to the
successful development of Osiskos
mine in Malartic in the Abitibi
region. Furthermore, the concept
of a "green mine" (or a "zero
footprint mine"), notably advanced
by Natural Resources Canada in
particular, will be of signicant
importance in the coming years
because it encourages a thorough
review of all aspects of mining in
terms of its environmental impact.
These conceptual innovations can
be conveyed to the public only
through an in-depth introduction
to the challenges and issues faced
by the mining industry.
The mining cycle can be divided into
three stages: exploration, extraction,
and rehabilitation (or remediation).
The aspect of ore transformation is
not addressed here.
MINERAL
DEVELOPMENT
CYCLE.
THE STAGES
OF A MINING
CYCLE:
PERMITTING
EXPLORATION
FEASIBILITY AND
IMPACT STUDIES
CONSTRUCTION
EXTRACTION
CLOSURE
REMEDIATION
AND MONITORING
Many of the innovations t into
broader categories, for example,
signal processing, aerospace
technologies, communications,
new materials, etc. The world
of mining innovation does not
operate in a vacuum: technological
advances are constantly shared
with other industrial elds, the
latest ideas and tools exchanged,
and new solutions presented to
society. Although innovations
come in various forms, from
concepts to applications, we have
favoured the more practical ones
in this book, especially those with
a strong technological character
that come close to true inventions
and have wide public appeal.
In addition to the one hundred
innovations presented here, other,
more conceptual, innovations have
profoundly affected the approach
of the mining industry. Looking
at how the types of minerals
targeted by the exploration and
mining industry evolve in response
to societal needs, technological
revolutions, and market values
for raw materials is a prime
example. Qubec is expected to
produce, in a few years, diamonds,
lithium, and vanadium all new
commodities for the province.
Concepts also play a pivotal role
in the development of mining
methods. A recent survey of
exploration geologists (Jbrak,
2010) revealed that ore deposit
models, whether descriptive or
genetic, were of critical importance
during the past ten years. As a case
in point, the realization that low-
grade, high-tonnage gold deposits
occur in association with granite
19
EXPLORATION
Exploration comprises
many components:
Cutting-edge research in
universities and research centres
Obtaining permits
True exploration work, which
aims to prove the existence of a
mineral resource using geological,
geochemical, and geophysical
analyses; it typically begins as
surface exploration, followed by
underground exploration, mainly
through drilling, which plays a
crucial role in deposit denition
Resource estimates and
feasibility studies, carried out
using computer modelling and
geostatistical software
Innovation plays a central role in
exploration. Periods of marked
acceleration in deposit discovery
and mining production correlate
with the introduction of new
methods (Lulin, 1990). A good
example is the debut of airborne
geophysics in the 1970s, which
led to a boom in new discoveries
across northern Canada.
Here, the distinction has been made
between the strategic exploration
phase and the deposit denition
(or tactical exploration) stage.
In the mining industry, the rst step is to discover a deposit.
Exploration is a combination of all the activities leading to the
discovery of an economically viable deposit before engaging
in any mining activities. All of the mineral deposit discoveries
in Qubec over the last decade arose from the application of
new concepts and technologies.
West was due to the successful
technological crossover of
electrolysis and Bessemer ovens.
When copper prices collapsed in
the 1970s, the copper industry
survived by implementing
the newly developed SX-EW
extraction-by-solvent process.
Most of the innovations presented
here pertain to the mining
stage. For clarity, mining-related
innovations are classied under
the following themes: ore
extraction (drilling and blasting),
transport and communications,
ore processing and safety.
MINING
Mining is the extraction of minerals from the ground, followed
by processing and beneciation (concentration) in facilities
located on or near the mine site. Modern mines are almost
completely mechanized, and the operations involve a set of
techniques that are specic to the type of mine (underground
mines work very differently than open-pit mines or quarries).
Underground ore is accessed by
shafts, ramps, and horizontal and
vertical tunnels known as drifts
and stopes, whereas quarrying relies
on classic techniques often used
in public works. In both quarries
and underground environments,
ore recovery depends on ground
stability, and, consequently, on the
eld of rock mechanics. Mining
begins by blasting apart the ore,
accomplished through explosives
and fragmentation technologies.
Several different mining methods
have been developed to extract
large volumes of ore at depth.
Once extracted, this ore is loaded
and hauled up to the surface.
Mine personnel must use a
variety of specialized equipment
for groundwater management
(dewatering), ventilation (aeration),
lighting, communications, etc.
Once removed from the mine,
the ore must undergo a series of
transformations. In the case of
metal mines, there are two main
steps: mineralogical processing,
which extracts the minerals
of interest through crushing,
grinding, sorting, and washing-
drying processes followed by
metallurgical processing, which
extracts the metals of interest
from those minerals through
melting, electrometallurgy, or
hydrometallurgy techniques.
Innovations in this sector have
played a key role in the evolution
of the mining industry, rendering
it economical to mine increasingly
low-grade ore or rock in which
the metals are particularly difcult
to extract. For example, the rise
of the late nineteenth-century
copper industry in the American
25
REHABILITATION
At this point, the nal stage of site
rehabilitation (remediation) begins.
The aim is to remove or neutralize
contaminants from the site so that
it may begin a new life in a non-
mining capacity. A considerable
number of studies must be carried
out to accomplish this, and the
ndings can also be used to restore
orphaned (abandoned) mine sites
inherited from another era.
Mine-site rehabilitation comprises
several steps dened according
to the landscape, the mines
geochemical and environmental
impacts (on water and biological
systems), and the social impacts.
Rehabilitation may include activities
specically related to storage,
burial, demolition, inerting,
inlling, and waste management.
Decontaminating waste rock and
polluted soil is an important aspect
of the rehabilitation process.
Over the last fteen years, mine-site rehabilitation has been
integrated into the early planning process, even preceding the
start of mining operations. Rehabilitation management is now
an ongoing consideration throughout the mines lifecycle, from
both a technical and nancial perspective. When a deposits
resources are depleted or no longer economically viable, the
mine ceases operations.
Mining techniques are the Formula-
One race cars of the industry: devised
for a difcult and competitive world,
they are at the cutting edge of new
ideas and represent the testing
ground for larger-scale applications.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF
MINING INNOVATIONS
Industrial innovation was born
largely from the mining sector,
and history is full of noteworthy
examples. Environmental
regulations can be traced back to
Spains Almadn mercury mine in
the seventeenth century. Not long
after, Thomas Newcomen designed
the rst steam engine in the
early eighteenth century to draw
water from tin mines in Cornwall.
Setting out to improve the limited
effectiveness of Newcomens
pump, James Watt, a technician at
the University of Glasgow, invented
the condensation chamber, thereby
making a fortune with his friend
Matthew Boulton. In 1784, the
two associates patented the steam
locomotive to move mined ore,
and when the rst locomotives
hit the market twenty years later,
they quickly left the underground
coal mines for a breath of fresh
air! Boulton and Watts mining
invention was even used to
automate the manufacture of
textiles and thus revolutionize the
clothing industry.
The safety lamp made its debut in
1815, only slightly before the North
American mining booms for copper
in Michigan (18401843) and
for gold in California (1848) and
Colorado (1858). In 1867, Alfred
Nobel invented dynamite, which
also found an early application in
the world of mining!
The expanding market for metals
at the beginning of the twentieth
century required new production
and processing methods, paving
the way for advances in the eld
of metallurgy. Electrolytic processes
to rene aluminum and, later,
copper were perfected just twenty
years after the advent of Grammes
dynamo; these processes are still
in use today to purify metals.
Flotation, the most effective
method of separating minerals
from the gangue, or the barren
parts of mined ore, emerged in
Broken Hill, Australia, in 1903,
and rapidly spread throughout
the world.
31
INNOVATIONS
IN
EXPLORATION
35
01
Geophysics is traditionally used to predict the
position of a mineralized body by seeking out,
for example, anomalies in the magnetic eld, the
gravitational eld, or electrical conductivity. The
new inversion algorithms allow geophysical data
to be used in a different way. By rst establishing
the geophysical properties of rocks and then
measuring their geophysical signatures in the
eld, it is possible to generate three-dimensional
models of their potential mineralization and the
surrounding geological environment. Inversion
algorithms have led to many discoveries of copper
and gold deposits.
INVERSION
ALGORITHMS
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Mineral exploration requires the accurate, reliable,
and rapid analysis of rocks and minerals (expressed
as percentages or as grams of metal per metric
ton of rock). Advances in the 1990s in the eld of
spectrometric analysis led to the development of
inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, which
can simultaneously analyze dozens of elements
with great accuracy. The technique is also capable
of measuring certain metals down to a level of
milligrams per metric ton.
ICP-MS increases efciency through multiple analyses
and lowers costs. It is used at all stages of the mining
industry, from exploration to remediation.
ICP-MS ANALYSES
02
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This tool identies the chemical elements comprising
a rocks surface using X-rays. It provides on-the-spot
results, which helps avoid unnecessary sampling and
analytical testing at a laboratory. This time-saving device
thereby reduces the environmental impact of exploration.
PORTABLE
ANALYZER
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The AVIRIS airborne sensor uses hyperspectral
measurements, that is, it measures hundreds
of spectral bands, whereas ordinary satellites
measure only a few at a time (a spectral
band refers to a part of the spectrum of
electromagnetic radiation). By combining these
spectral bands, it becomes possible to identify
not only different types of vegetation, but also
the nature of the minerals present. This process
can be used to directly produce rock maps in
areas lacking ground cover (cold or hot desert
environments). The rst such satellite was
launched in 1997 (Lewis Hyperspectral Imager,
HIS, NASA). AVIRIS is a spectrometer that covers
the range between 0.400 and 2.500 nm,
divided into 224 contiguous spectral bands.
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AVIRIS
04
Deposits of copper, zinc, and gold were produced
by circulating metal-laden hot water. As this water
passed through rocks, it altered and transformed
them, dissolving some minerals and forming others.
This process may either increase or decrease the
density of the rock. Since the zone containing the
transformed rocks is often much larger than the
deposit itself, we can explore by looking for these
alteration zones.
A new quantitative method developed by
CONSOREM applies sophisticated data processing to
analytical results in order to calculate the quantities
of chemical elements that were added to or removed
from each rock sample, thereby evaluating their likely
distance from the site of potential mineralization.
06
Geographic information systems (GIS) revolutionized
exploration practices by organizing and presenting
spatially referenced numerical data on a computer.
The ofces of exploration companies were once
covered in maps at different scales; today, they are
lled with computer screens on which geologists
compile their information using geographic
information systems like MapInfo and ArcGIS.
Some GIS applications are specically developed to
represent and process particular types of geological,
geochemical, and geophysical information.
MASS BALANCE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
SYSTEMS (GIS)
05
Finding a gold-vein ore deposit is no easy task.
Research over the past few years, particularly in
Australia, has revealed that a large number of
these deposits represent fault zones that were
active during seismic aftershocks along major
geological faults, like the Cadillac Fault in the
Abitibi region.
Software programs are now available to predict
the location of these deposits using paleostress
models of the earths crust. Still at the research
stage, the software can identify the most
favourable areas, thus reducing the size of the
region to cover during exploration.
PALEOSTRESS
MAPS
07
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The Ministre des Ressources naturelles et de la
Faune du Qubec (MRNF) and CONSOREM are
developing new mapping products that help predict
the location of potential mineralization based on the
locations of known mineralization. This new kind
of map relies on advances in the eld of articial
intelligence, particularly neural networks and fuzzy
logic. Both organizations make public the locations
of identied exploration targets that share strong
geological and geochemical similarities to known
mineralized examples.
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MATAGAMI
JOUTEL
MISTISSINI
CHIBOUGAMAU
CHAPAIS
DESMARAISVILLE
MIQUELON
LEBEL-SUR-QUVILLON
NORMETAL
LA SARRE
AMOS
BARRAUTE
SENNETERRE
VAL-DOR
MALARTIC
ROUYN-NORANDA
NOTRE-DAME-DU-NORD
VILLE-MARIE
47
PREDICTIVE
MAPS
49
The Ministre des Ressources naturelles et de
la Faune du Qubec developed a computer
application that allows mining titles (mineral
claims) to be acquired online via its website.
Qubec is one of the only places in the world
to use this technology.
MAP
DESIGNATION
09
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Mineral deposits are often buried deep below the
surface. Despite the great depths involved, the
oxidation of a deposits sulphide minerals will release
gaseous substances that can be detected at the
surface by taking gas samples from soil or down drill
holes. The method can detect several different gases
if present in sufcient amounts: mercury, oxygen,
CO2, and radon. The nature and concentration of
these gases provide clues about which minerals
occur at depth, and, as a result, whether an orebody
may be present.
The method is currently the subject of
methodological testing and has already been used
in the eld of geothermics.
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GAS GEOCHEMISTRY
10
Geochemistry can be used to detect metals in surface
materials and consequently predict the presence
of underlying orebodies. This was once difcult to
impossible if the mineralization was masked by
barren cover such as sand. But in the mid-1990s,
it was demonstrated that some metals are released
from underground mineralization and travel toward
the surface in water or gases, becoming trapped
on mineral grains in the unconsolidated surface
sediments. The new MMI
TM
method takes advantage
of this characteristic, making it possible to determine
what lies below by analyzing surface materials. Weak
acids are used to attack the outer layer of the mineral
grains in the surface cover, thereby obtaining clues to
potential buried mineralization.
MOBILE METAL ION PACKAGES
MMI-M MULTI-ELEMENTS SUITE
MMI

GEOCHEMISTRY
11
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55
The global positioning system (GPS), which uses
satellite signals to determine location, provides fast
and accurate information (how fast and accurate
depends on the instrument used), and dramatically
facilitates eld work and mapping projects. It has
revolutionized exploration by allowing the user to
pinpoint an observation site quickly and accurately.
The use of GPS instruments avoids systematic line-
cutting through the forest to create conventional
location grids, thereby reducing the environmental
impact of exploration work.
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GEOPOSITIONING
12
Gravimetry is a technique that detects minute
variations in the Earths gravitational eld.
Mineralized bodies are denser than surrounding
rock, causing a slight warp in the gravitational
eld that can be detected by a highly sensitive
instrument called a gravimeter. This approach
relies on having highly accurate topographic
information, down to the nearest centimetre, in
order to interpret the measurements successfully.
Advances in geopositioning and signal detection
now allow gravimetric measurements to be made
from airplanes precisely located in space. Airborne
gravimetry signicantly lowers acquisition costs
and should revolutionize mining exploration in the
years to come.
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AIRBORNE
GRAVIMETRY
13
Developed for the exploration of base metals,
the InniTEM geophysical method measures
the in-ground circulation of electromagnetic
waves in the eld. It can detect metallic sulphide
deposits up to 1 km below the surface.
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INFINITEM
14
61
Lasers can be used to map the topography of
a region accurately. Mounted on an airplane,
a LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) or ALTM
(Airborne Laser Terrain Mapper) survey can
determine topography with an altimetric precision
between 5 and 20 cm. Two GPS devices are
used to calculate and correct the location of the
instrument: one on the aircraft and the other
at a xed location on the ground. This type of
mapping is both faster and more accurate than
conventional means.
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LIDAR
15
63
Airborne electromagnetic surveys have been
used for half a century in mineral exploration.
Nevertheless, technological advances in the elds
of geophysics and electronic data processing
have led to the development of much more
sensitive instruments capable of detecting even
deeper exploration targets, down to 250 m
below the surface in some areas.
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MEGATEM AIRBORNE
ELECTROMAGNETIC
SURVEYS
16
65
Diamond exploration relies on nding so-called
indicator minerals that are naturally associated with
diamonds, but present in much greater quantities
(typically, garnet, chromite, and ilmenite). These
minerals thus act as natural pathnders.
The method is based on collecting sandy samples
from river or glacial deposits and then extracting
the densest minerals. The approach has also been
successfully used to explore for other types of
mineralization, such as metamorphosed lead-zinc
bodies or gold porphyry deposits.
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INDICATOR
MINERALS
17
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For more than thirty years, satellite imagery has
been used to observe vast tracts of land, some of
which are very difcult to access from the ground.
Recent technological advances provide optical
satellites with much greater accuracy, even down
to less than a metre (QuickBird). These satellites
have consequently become much more powerful
and can be used to better assess areas that have
been targeted for exploration.
CENTIMETRE-PRECISION
SATELLITES
18
69
The principle behind seismic geophysical methods consists
of creating a shock at the earths surface, using a hammer
or explosion, which generates a signal that is received
by a wave detection system (specialized microphones or
geophones). Analyzing the responses determines the nature
of the rocky subsurface.
Explosions can be harmful to the environment, particularly
aquatic systems. Improvements in signal capture and signal
processing mean that seismic signals can now be much
weaker; these more sensitive instruments need much smaller
explosions, resulting in less damage to the environment.
The term low-impact seismic describes a number of less-
intrusive shock-emission methods and lighter geophones.
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LOW-IMPACT
SEISMICS
19
71
20
In mineral exploration, it is important to quickly
determine the geophysical properties of the rocks
as well as their magnetic characteristics and their
ability to transmit electrical currents (conductivity).
A multiparameter probe, such as the MPP EM2S+
model, can instantly measure the properties of
the sulphide minerals contained in samples of drill
core or in rock samples collected at the surface.
The probe measures magnetic susceptibility as well
as the relative and absolute conductivity values.
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MULTIPARAMETER
PROBE
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The term spectrometer covers a broad range
of measuring devices that can analyze substances
using different wavelengths. A new type of
spectrometer uses the shortwave infrared range
of the electromagnetic spectrum. The instrument
can recognize different clay and mica minerals,
which are widely used as indicator minerals in the
search of copper, gold, and uranium. The device
allows the user to identify an entire assemblage of
minerals in one go and has much greater sensitivity
than the human eye.
PORTABLE
SPECTROMETRY
21
INNOVATIONS
IN ORE DEPOSIT
DEFINITION
77
Quantifying the fractures down a borehole
provides a better understanding of the geological
environment and a clearer assessment of the
mechanical properties of the rocks. It is now possible
to measure many parameters directly from inside
the borehole, without extracting the rock core,
by using optical, sonic, or infrared microcameras
inserted down the hole. This technology also has
applications in the eld of civil engineering, notably
for hydroelectric dams, where the method is used to
ensure proper dam design.
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STRUCTURAL
LOGS
22
To carry out geophysical surveys, drillers must
drive metal pipes known as casing into the ground.
Each pipe, either 1.20 or 1.82 m long, must be
pulled out afterwards. The extractor is a hook
specially designed to withdraw the metal casing
from a borehole with a minimum of effort.
GEOMETALLURGY
It is desirable to know as quickly as possible the
optimal characteristics for processing ore from a given
deposit. Geometallurgy is a newly emerging eld of
characterization that reduces the risks related to ore
processing at an early stage.
CASING EXTRACTOR
23 24
81
Every mineral can be characterized by its spectral
colour or range. The hyperspectral imager used for
mineralogical mapping in mining and exploration
is capable of characterizing every mineral along a
borehole. The device, also known as Core Mapper,
takes an image for every 2 nm of the visible and
near-infrared spectral range, covering wavelengths
from 400 to 1,000 nm. The 300 monochromatic
images are then compiled. The result is very
detailed drill core mapping.
HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGER
25
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LAMROC, a mobile multiparameter drill core
analysis laboratory, determines the physical,
mineralogical, and chemical characteristics of
rocks and minerals. It is housed in a modied
trailer pulled by a 4X4 vehicle that can be
driven to a core storage site. The automated
system provides continuous measurements
that would be impossible using the naked eye.
MOBILE LABORATORY
26
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83
VERSAGUARD
Versaguard is a barricade specially designed
to block access to the rotating parts of a
drill rig. These easy-to-use barricades offer
excellent protection for drill rig operators.
The Bulk Density Weigh Unit (BDWU) determines
the density of drill core samples. This mechanized
system provides drill core density measurements with
very little manual handling. It is also connected to a
computer, resulting in fast and efcient data entry.
DENSITY MEASUREMENTS
27 28
87
Many software programs have emerged during the past
decade to transform drilling or mining databases into
3-D images and data integration platforms that facilitate
information management. The 3-D reconstruction of a
mineral deposit reveals its shape and size, making it easier
to devise an exploration and mining strategy.
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3-D GEOLOGICAL MODEL
29
30
Drill holes must be positioned with great accuracy.
Since a drills trajectory may deviate signicantly from
its intended path, it is important to obtain the spatial
coordinates of many points along the hole. A down-
hole survey probe is a measuring device that determines
the orientation of the drill core relative to the bedrock
from which it was extracted, or as an absolute
orientation in space, in which case a gyroscope is part
of the device. This information can be added to a data-
integration platform for the purposes of information
management and developing three-dimensional models.
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CORIENTR
CORE ORIENTATION
SYSTEM
91
Drilling programs are very costly to operate,
and analyzing the drill core is paramount to
understanding a mineral deposit. The OWL self-
lock head assembly is designed for optimal sample
recovery thanks to locking and independent
latches. This device eliminates the risk of losing
core. A piston system keeps the latches in place
while they are engaged so they cannot be
accidentally retracted.
OWL HEAD ASSEMBLY
31
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93
Many different types of core bits have been
developed and improved over the years, leading
to todays tough, high-performance drill heads
that bore more quickly and wear down more
slowly. The alloys used in their construction vary
greatly and depend on the type of bedrock to be
drilled and on the manufacturing company.
CORE BITS
32
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INNOVATIONS
IN ORE
EXTRACTION
HYBRID BOLT
The hybrid bolt is a combination of the friction bolt
and the resin bolt. In deep mines (> 1 km), bolts
become deformed by foliation in the rock so that
they can no longer follow the rocks movements.
The bolts end up breaking and can fail to hold the
screens in place. The hybrid bolt solves this problem.
34
The role of the blasting box, or ring box, is to ignite
explosives. It may include components designed to
explode the dynamite sequentially outward from
the centre of a mining tunnel. And it is now possible
to use an air-pressurized ignition mechanism rather
than one that is spring-loaded in order to avoid
unexpected explosions.
BLASTING BOX
33
At some point, masses of rock must be broken
down to facilitate their transport. The Boulder Buster
simply blows them apart. A small hole is drilled into
the rock and lled with water. A breech body is then
inserted in the hole, a protective mat placed over
the rock, and a cartridge placed in the breech body.
The detonator is screwed into the breech body and
an explosion is set off. No blasting licence is required
to use the device.
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BOULDER BUSTER
35
101
A wheeled inspection camera is xed to a
rigid wheel-mounted housing and equipped
with a forward-facing lighting system to carry
out inspections of mine shafts and tunnels.
INSPECTION CAMERAS
36
For a long time, mines were ventilated through
large ducts made of fabric. The use of rigid polymer
ducts reduces air friction, thereby improving energy
efciency. Moreover, transport is considerably
facilitated by shipping the product as sheets before
assembly at the mine.
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POLYMER DUCTS
37
103
Putting a mine into operation is a complex process
during which multiple units must be designed in
parallel: the geometry of the mine workings, the
volume of the rocks to displace, mining rates, etc.
A number of software programs have been
developed to plan and manage all the operational
aspects of any type of mine. It is now possible to
design a virtual mine before building it using a
3-D model of the mine workings, and to plan the
development schedule in advance.
INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT
38
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LUNAR MODULE
Manning the system control centre for a muck
bucket in an underground mine was once a difcult
and dangerous job because of its hefty weight
(about 175 kg). The lunar module is a prefabricated
piece of equipment that can be towed and set up in
a new tunnel each time the muck bucket needs to
be used. This saves time and improves safety.
Signicant progress has been made in drilling accuracy.
It is now possible to drill down to a precise point up
to 800 m deep. The effectiveness of the process was
demonstrated during the rescue of Chilean miners
in 2010. An additional advantage is that the drilled
material can be brought up to the surface.
VENTILATION DRILLING
39 40
The CMAC SPLH drill is used for production
holes and ground support in underground mining,
being employed as much for diamond drilling
as it is for regular boreholes. The small conveyor
makes it easier to access narrow excavations. The
positioning table (patented by CMAC-Thyssen)
makes for quick manoeuvring.
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MOBILE DRILL
41
109
Measuring mine cavities is an essential step
in underground operations since it supplies
information about the shape and volume of
the rock mass that was extracted. Optechs
Cavity Monitoring System (CMS) provides
the 3-D geometry of a mine tunnel using
an optical telemetry device that is rugged
enough to work in a mine.
CAVITY MEASURING
42
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Mine shafts need to be smooth to avoid friction
between the walls and the hoisting cage that
transports miners and ore. A new robotic system
can apply a liner to the shaft walls (Robotic
Shotcrete Shaft Liner), which reduces the risk to
workers while they are moving up and down the
mine, and gives better results than conventional
methods of shaft lining.
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MINE SHAFT LINER
43
113
115
RFID tags are the successors to barcodes. They are
used to identify a product without any need for an
optical scanner by communicating the information
using radio waves, which can even pass through
thin layers of materials like paint or snow.
The tags are now being used to track ore after it
has been extracted: RFID tags are afxed to each
shipment of ore trucked from the mine, allowing
it to be tracked from its source to its point of
processing. This monitoring provides the mining
company with real-time information about daily
production rates.
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ORE RFID
44
117
The invention of mining robots provided an
opportunity to design autonomous tools for mapping
underground tunnels in mines, particularly for
mapping the texture (roughness) of their walls. The
robots are able to gain access to areas that would be
difcult for humans. Robomap is an autonomous or
remote-controlled machine equipped with a motion
sensor (accelerometer) for positioning much like
video game joysticks and a set of telemetry lasers.
See www.headupight.net.
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ROBOMAP
45
ROCK MESHA
TM
installs protective meshes on mine
walls. The machine improves safety by mechanizing
the application of the mesh, thereby avoiding
manual handling by workers. An operator can send
all commands from inside the vehicle. In addition,
mesh can be installed up to 30% faster than the
standard practice.
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ROCK MESHA

46
Immersive and virtual training systems for all types of
mining operations provide training for personnel in
a safe environment. By placing workers in situations
they are likely to encounter over the course of their
careers, these amazingly realistic systems teach
workers to react appropriately without exposing
them to any real danger.
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MINING SIMULATOR
47
123
It is often difcult to track the movement of rocks
in an underground mine when the broken ore is
stored in vast underground spaces during a mining
process known as block caving. To help solve
this issue is Smart Rock an electronic gadget
that resembles a rock. It is equipped with an
electronic device containing a positioning system
that functions on the same principle as a GPS, as
well as a computer and an emitter. Smart Rock is
inserted into the ore through a drill hole and can
signal its position up to a distance of 2 km inside
a rock mass. This makes it possible to track the
movement of ore in real time using a geographic
information system.
SMART ROCK
48
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SUPER WATER CANON
Water cannons are used to clean mine walls and in
some cases to mine clay deposits. They can also be used
as cutting instruments to slice into or through harder
materials. The super water cannon has an even stronger
jet than other types of cannons, but uses less water.
When a drill operator bores holes into the oor of
a mining tunnel, the roof of the tunnel below could
collapse. A warning probe attached to a rope is
lowered into one of the boreholes in the tunnel oor
until it rests on the roof of the lower tunnel. If the
roof collapses, tension on the rope will illuminate
a signal light that warns the drill operator.
WARNING PROBE
49 50
127
Vertical tunnels excavated in ore (known as raises)
are used to drop the broken ore into a collecting
tunnel below. The descending ore sometimes gets
stuck and blocks the raise. Spoutnik is an air-lled
balloon that carries an explosive charge to the
base of the obstruction in the raise. It is released
from the lower tunnel and the ensuing explosion
clears the blockage.
SPOUTNIK
51
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129
Ventilation in underground mines is a top priority for
any operation looking to provide a satisfactory work
environment. A ventilation system is complex because
it must maintain adequate quality, temperature,
and pressure for the air in every part of a mine. It is
possible to improve energy efciency through better
management of the ventilation system by supplying
air only where it is required and adapting the ow
to the specic needs of those areas. Modelling is
done using the animated 3-D graphics interface in
Ventsim System. Ventsim System uses thermodynamic
modelling to simulate airows, the movement of
particles emitted from diesel engines, and pressure
and temperature conditions. This innovation can also
be used to improve the ventilation of other types of
underground workings.
VENTILATION
ON DEMAND
52
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INNOVATIONS IN
TRANSPORT AND
COMMUNICATIONS
133
Tires need to be regularly deated as part of vehicle
maintenance in a mine. In addition to being noisy,
the process carries with it the risk of injury caused by
ying impurities and pieces of rubber ejected at high
pressure. Specialized equipment is now available,
consisting of a mobile trolley tted with two mufers
and a deector. This tool, which is easy to move
around, is attached to the tire that requires deating;
the air released from the tire passes into the tubes
connecting the tire to the mufer and ends up at the
deector, which traps any ejected impurities.
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DEFLATION STATION
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135
Underground mines are potentially hazardous
environments, and it is sometimes imperative
to relay messages right through the rock. The
MagneLink Magnetic Communication System
(MCS) is an emergency communication system
for underground mines that transmits magnetic
waves through the ground. It allows two-way
communication via voice or text messages.
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MAGNELINK
54
A German company has developed a new design
for mine trucks with a hauling capacity ranging
from 88 to 240 metric tons. The trucks are
modular and have up to ve axles with a total of
up to twenty tires. The axles can tilt 10 degrees
to either side and adapt to the ground, with very
exible suspension. When a truck is empty, eight
tires are not used. The trucks can practically turn
on a dime compared to conventional trucks, and
tire pressure is continually adjusted. Each truck
has four engines that work independently or are
synchronized electronically, which translates into
lower fuel and oil consumption.
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NEW TRUCKS
55
Replacing the rollers of a conveyor system was once
a difcult task owing to the considerable weight of
the pieces and the uncomfortable position required
to change them. A specially designed tool has
greatly facilitated this job.
TRUCK SEALANT
Dust and rock fragments tend to y out of a truck
while it transports ore. To avoid this problem,
the trucks pass through a station where a liquid
sealant is applied over the surface of the load
to keep it in place. This innovation reduces the
environmental impact of ore transport.
ROLLER
REPLACEMENT
56 57
141
Mining vehicles are getting bigger all the time,
considerably reducing visibility for the operator.
The machines are now equipped with radars
(radar sensors for vehicle detection) that alert the
operator if there are any vehicles or people nearby,
whether moving or stationary. These radars use
high-frequency waves and are more effective than
optical devices, which could be obstructed by mud
and dust, or magnetic devices, which are affected
by electrical elds generated by steel machinery in
the vicinity of the vehicle.
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RADAR SENSORS
58
Large mine trucks are subjected to enormous
forces owing to their heavy loads (which can be
more than 150 metric tons) and the often harsh
road conditions in mines. The Road Analysis
Control (RAC) is a system of sensors linked to
computer software. The system monitors the
road conditions for heavy loads and improves
truck performance and safety while reducing
maintenance requirements. It measures road
conditions ten times per second using truck-
mounted sensors and informs the driver when to
slow down. Coupled with a GPS and telemetry
system, it can also be used to map out problem
areas and alert managers about necessary road
repairs. The data are recorded and can be used
to compile a chronicle of each trucks physical
condition.
UNDERGROUND
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Communicating underground is difcult. For a long
time, whistles were the only means of exchanging
messages. The arrival of wireless telephones and
Wi-Fi antennas revolutionized communication
in mines. Installing relays made it possible to
communicate using wireless VOIP-type telephones
in the tunnels. This made it easier for workers to
communicate with each other inside the mine; they
can also be used to call up to the mine surface and
even to contact people much farther away.
TRUCK TRACKING
59 60
145
Tires constitute a vital component of mining
operations. Tires for an underground ore loader
or a large-haul truck can cost more than
$100,000, so tire maintenance is extremely
important. The tire monitoring system can
provide a driver with information on the state
of the tires: pressure, temperature, air leaks,
change in tire pressure over time, etc. For example,
inadequate tire pressure raises fuel consumption.
This information also helps prevent blowouts
at high speed.
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TIRE PRESSURE
MONITORING
SYSTEM
61
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Transporting ore from a satellite deposit to the
processing site is a very costly operation. To reduce
this cost, companies use a dual-engine road-train
(Smith MK4 Hydrapede Dolly), which increases
haulage capacity to more than 300 metric tons
compared to 55 metric tons for conventional
vehicles. In contrast to other vehicles used in the
mining industry, the Smith MK4 Hydrapede Dolly
can drive on existing road infrastructure because
of its small size.
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ROAD-TRAIN
62
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Mining vehicles are enormous their tires alone
can weigh more than 2,000 kg! The Wheelpro is
a hydraulic clamp attached to a forklift to remove
tires from vehicles.
WHEELPRO
63
INNOVATIONS
IN ORE
PROCESSING
153
In a mining complex, the ore follows a predetermined
path from extraction to concentration, mainly via
trucks and conveyor belts. Tools such as SONARTRAC
from CIDRA have been developed to measure the
ow of material en route, particularly in iron mines.
Without coming into physical contact, these tools
measure the amount of material passing along
conveyor belts using a sonar capable of measuring
solids just as well as liquids.
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SONAR
FLOWMETER
64
The rst step in separating ore minerals from gangue
(the non-economic part of mined rock) typically involves
crushing and grinding the ore. This preconcentration
step is very noisy and often emits a lot of dust, resulting
in considerable environmental impact.
Attempts are now being made to carry out
preconcentration operations directly underground.
This would also reduce transport costs since less
material would have to be moved out of the mine.
ORE GRINDING
MONITORING
Milling is the rst step in ore processing. The ore must be broken
down into increasingly smaller pieces in order to separate out the
minerals of interest. This reduction can be done at the time of
mining by blasting, and during processing by crushers and grinders.
It is important to know the size of the fragments throughout the
process. Sieves can be used to take measurements, but this is often
a difcult process owing to mud build-up.
It is now possible to instantaneously measure the size of fragments
using continuous image analysis. The Split-Online System is an
automated digital imaging system that monitors ore during milling.
The images are captured by photographic devices installed in the
crusher and on the conveyors. These images are then processed by
specialized software that measures the size of the milled fragments
as well as their shape, colour, and texture. This information is sent to
the control centre in real time for an assessment of milling quality.
UNDERGROUND
PRECONCENTRATION
65 66
157
The UMCO modular treatment plant is a low-
cost solution for mining small-scale ore deposits.
Although designed for gold processing, it could be
used to concentrate other types of ore. Its small size
allows it to be moved from one mine to another.
MODULAR PLANT
67
INNOVATIONS IN
HEALTH AND
SAFETY
Heavy machinery requires regular maintenance
and occasional repairs. To do either, the equipment
must be lifted up and held there, safely and
securely. To prevent the jack from slipping, Rio Tinto
Alcan designed an adapter that is placed between
the jack and the raised machine.
PERSONNEL TRACKING
Knowing the whereabouts of employees is a constant
preoccupation at an underground mine. The traditional
method was to place a token on a board each time a
worker went underground, and to remove the token
once he came back up. This method was not very reliable
because of mistakes or oversights, and operations were
sometimes stopped just to see whether a worker was
underground or not.
RFID tags easily solve this problem. Presented earlier
as innovation 44 for ore transport, these radar tags,
which emit radio frequencies, can be sown into miners
clothes to track exactly who is down the mine and who
is out. The risk of human error is thus eliminated and
emergency rescue teams are better prepared, in the case
of an accident, by knowing the location of each miner.
JACK ADAPTER
68 69
Underground mining operations produce gases,
often toxic, from machinery running on diesel
engines and from explosives. Sensors that
measure gas concentrations in real time have been
designed to assist with ventilation management.
These systems can be adapted to work in other
conned areas such as underground parking lots.
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GAS-DETECTION
DEVICES
70
165
FENIX CAPSULE
NASA designed the Fenix capsule to rescue
thirty-three Chilean miners in 2010. It can
transport one person through a hole with a
diameter of about 60 cm.
71
167
Open-pit mines are dangerous places to work
because of the many cliffs and steep embankments
that may collapse. To protect personnel and
machinery from these geotechnical hazards, the
company BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance-Poitrel
Mine designed a risk-area map using acoustic
and optical telemetry. The map, which is updated
once a week, provides a simple colour code to
identify dangerous and safe areas at the mine site.
Easy to understand, it encourages discussion and
communication between workers.
Similar maps could be made for underground
operations using rock mechanics data
and 3-D modelling.
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RISK-AREA
MAPS
72
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In case of an accident, survival chambers offer
protection for trapped workers. Easily moved from
one place to another, these chambers provide
thirty-six hours of protection, including a supply of
oxygen and electricity, for four to six workers.
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SURVIVAL CHAMBER
73
171
The clothing used in the mining industry is
becoming increasingly sophisticated, allowing
greater comfort and safety for the wearer. Among
recent improvements is a series of microclimate
conditioning garments that use a membrane
technology; a liquid coolant gradually evaporates,
thereby cooling the person wearing the clothing,
vest, or head/neck shade. The garments combat
the heat found in deep mines where it can get
very hot, sometimes reaching more than 60C.
Other advances in mining apparel include the use
of new highly reective fabrics (3M).
COOLING APPAREL
74
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173
The technology for the lamps that attach to
miners helmets has progressed signicantly.
Before the advent of LED bulbs, mine lamps were
heavy (more than a kilogram hanging from the
miners belt) and their lighting power paled in
comparison to the technology available today.
LED lamps offer better illumination and have
much longer continuous operating times. They
also have a longer lifespan because they use
lithium batteries, which are also much smaller and
lighter (only 0.45 kg). Some models have a battery
integrated into the lamp.
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LED MINING HEADLAMPS
75
The ReadiBand Fatigue Risk Management System
(FRMS) is an electronic strap that measures the
fatigue level of a worker, particularly heavy
equipment operators, to determine whether they
are t for work.
The design of this wrist-worn device combines
knowledge acquired from fty years of
sleep research with the latest in data-processing
technologies.
The strap quanties and processes a multitude
of data relating to fatigue accumulation: amount
of sleep, quality of sleep, ratio between the time
spent sleeping and the time spent awake, etc.
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FATIGUE-MEASURING
WATCH
76
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During snowstorms and blizzards, snow
accumulates on road signs and signal ags.
Workers knock the snow off by tapping them
with a metal pole.
This tedious task is circumvented by mounting
a movable metal bar, controlled by a spring,
onto the back of a truck. The driver rolls along
at 22 km/h while the bar strikes sign panels and
ags, clearing them of snow. This innovation
saves time and avoids possible injury.
SOUNDPROOF TENT
Some parts of the mechanical winch used to lower the
cage elevator down a mine are very noisy. The gearbox
casing for the winch is covered by a soundproof
tent, which serves the dual purpose of improving
communication between the winch operator and the
miners in the cage, and reducing the risk of hearing
problems for the winch operator.
ROAD SIGNS
SNOW REMOVAL
77 78
179
In open-pit mines, roadsides are marked with reective
pickets to improve nighttime safety for heavy vehicle
operators. Dust, vibrations, and bad weather damage
the pickets. Replacing them is a long and tedious task
that is also hazardous because the pickets are planted
on top of rock mounds.
The new generation of pickets has wider reective
bands, which offer better visibility. In addition, the
attachment system makes them safer to position
because it is no longer necessary to climb up onto
the rock mounds. The pickets can be adjusted to the
shape of the road.
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SAFETY PICKETS
79
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Vibrations caused by hand-held tools, like the
hydraulic drill, are a major cause of injuries in mine
workers (white-nger and carpal tunnel syndromes).
The anti-vibration handle is a separate device that
attaches to a tool and reduces damaging vibrations
by up to 60%.
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ANTI-VIBRATION HANDLE
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Wire-mesh screens are attached to the roofs of tunnels
in underground mines to help retain the rock and
increase safety.
Supports are needed to hold the screens in place. The
old-style supports were not completely safe for workers,
who could be injured by the equipment or required to
use extreme force to install the wire screens.
Today, a new T-shaped, spring-loaded support is
available, designed by IAMGOLD. The spring ensures
stability when the support is vertical by applying
pressure on both the roof and oor of the tunnel.
WIRE-MESH
APPLICATION
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Rock masses react to mining excavation by tiny
readjustments that produce microquakes. Recording
these microquakes and locating them in three-
dimensional space provides a means to monitor rock
mass stability in real time, as much in underground
mines as in surface operations.
This approach records the changes in stresses and
their redistribution, the locations and growth of
fractures, and the effects of the mining operations.
It also makes it possible to predict the appearance
of instabilities that could lead to collapse.
MICROSEISMIC
MONITORING
187
The cable of a mine cage is a critical element in
miner safety. Maximum allowable loads and cable
lifespans are governed by strict standards laid
out by Qubecs health and safety commission.
Although cable breaks are extremely rare, it is
nonetheless necessary to conduct periodic checks.
A continuous monitoring system for winch cables
in underground mines has been developed by
the research consortium SOREDEM. The system
establishes the amount of wear in real time and
determines the precise moment the cables should
be replaced, thanks to an electromagnetic coil
that induces a eld in the cable.
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CABLE CHECKUPS
83
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Some ores are not easily accessible, such as the
uranium-rich ores of the Athabasca Basin, which
are too naturally radioactive to be handled
directly by miners. Many technological solutions
were developed to allow these types of ore to
be mined using robots. The mining machines are
remote-controlled, operated from a safe zone
inside the mine or even from the surface. In fact,
thanks to the Internet, these robotic devices
could be controlled from anywhere in the world.
The operator uses cameras and joysticks to work
the equipment.
TELE-MINING
84
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INNOVATIONS
IN
REMEDIATION
When sulphide minerals are exposed to air and
natural elements, they produce acids that penetrate
the ground and contaminate groundwater.
A capillary barrier covering, commonly known as a
multi-layer covering, controls the acid mine drainage
emanating from a tailings pond by shielding the
problem minerals from the elements.
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SUPPORTING LAYER
TAILINGS
MOISTURE-RETENTION LAYER
DRAINAGE LAYER
PROTECTIVE LAYER
SURFACE LAYER
MULTI-LAYER BARRIER
85
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When gold is very ne-grained, one of the only
feasible extraction methods is to mix it with cyanide,
a toxic chemical responsible for major incidences of
pollution. Cyanide management necessarily constitutes
an important factor in all processing operations of
this kind. A new cyanide destruction procedure was
devised by Maelgwyn Mineral Services (MMS CN-D
process), which also allows any remaining gold in the
residue to be recovered.
BIODEGRADABLE
EXPLOSIVES
The residue from explosives contributes to mine
site pollution. To combat this problem, strains of
the Bacillus subtilis GN bacterium were selected for
their ability to decompose explosives in only a few
days. Bacterial spores may be added to wood our,
an ingredient in explosives, without substantially
affecting its properties (Dario et al., 2010).
CYANIDE
DESTRUCTION
86 87
197
Wetlands have the ability to remove metals from mine
site efuents and neutralize their acidity. Since these
ecosystems are self-regulating, they may represent a
long-term solution to acid mine drainage.
Constructed wetlands comprise vegetation (reeds and
cattails) and bacteria that uptake contaminants. The
construction of these articial wetlands is a complex
process, however, and the bacteria require nutrients
to perform their function as decontaminators.
New methods elaborated by the Savannah River
National Laboratory (SRNL) research group consist
of pouring biodegradable oils and waxes on top of
contaminated waters. These waxes and oils provide
food for selected bacterial populations, which induce
precipitation of minerals at the bottom of the basin.
88
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CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS
NEUTRALIZATION
OF TAILINGS
To reuse mine tailings, they must rst be
stabilized. Tailings can be mixed with lime,
ashes, wood shavings, cement, or other
types of material to make a paste that can
serve as a waterproof barrier or as backll.
Some companies use the tailings from active mines
to treat contaminated soil. Tailings act as an oxygen
barrier and stem the ow of contaminated drainage
water by sequestering polluted sediments.
REUSING
MINE TAILINGS
89 90
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Wastewater can be ltered through peat to reduce
acidity and eliminate up to 90% of biodegradable
organic matter and 99% of pathogenic organisms
(coliforms). The ltration systems use sphagnum
moss and coconut shavings, effectively replacing
septic elds. These systems are remarkably effective
(Kennedy and Van Geel, 2001). They are capable of
working in very cold conditions and meet the strictest
environmental requirements. Sand lters can be
added, consisting of a membrane and beds of sand.
Industrial units are prefabricated in Qubec, notably
at Rivire-du-Loup (Premier Tech Aqua).
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PEAT AND SAND
FILTERS
91
ROBYS

SYSTEM
Used oils can be recycled by thermal cracking, a
process that uses heat to break the long molecules
in oil into the shorter molecules of diesel fuel.
There is a problem with the process: the fuel it
produces is unstable and has an unpleasant odour
because it is contaminated by acid compounds.
The solution is ROBYS
TM
, a solvent that stabilizes
the fuels derived from thermally cracked used oils
and puries them, providing a marketable product.
Bauxite residues can be processed and transformed
into three marketable products: Red Sand
TM
(used
in backll, road construction, etc.), Red Lime
TM
(for
neutralizing acidity, controlling pH), and Alkaloam

(for enriching agricultural soils, quickly lowering soil
pH, and reducing the migration of soil nutrients into
ground and surface waters).
REUSING
BAUXITE WASTE
92 93
Geotextiles are lms composed of a screen,
woven or not, made of synthetic material. Their
main role is to create a physical barrier between
the ground and the materials stored in or used
to construct a facility or structure. At a mine
site, they are particularly useful for ore storage
areas. The barrier allows water to ow through,
but stops ne particles in the underlying natural
environment from entering the storage area.
Another application is to prevent clogging in
drains and drainage systems. Geotextiles thus
act as separators or anticontaminants and can
also be used to protect mine tunnels.
Geotextiles can be reinforced by new structural
elements that form a semi-rigid lattice.
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GEOTEXTILE
SEPARATORS
94
SOLAR PANELS
FOR TAILINGS SITES
Mine tailings can cover considerable amounts of
land. They are difcult to rehabilitate and may quickly
become abandoned environmentally. Reforestation is
the most commonly attempted remediation measure.
Chevron has been recently developing their innovative
idea of using old tailings sites as solar farms. The acid-
generating waste at the Questa mine in New Mexico
is now tted with 173 solar cell panels that should
produce about 1 MW of energy.
95 96
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Sending waste material underground (either waste
rock or cement paste) has several advantages: it
reduces the amount of surface waste by about 50%
and stores the waste in a stable environment (little
water circulation, no temperature uctuation, and
no rainfall or meltwater).
Hydrological and geomechanical models have been
developed to assess the changing properties of these
waste materials and their effect on the underground
environment (Aubertin and Bussire, 2010).
UNDERGROUND
BACKFILL
209
Processing zinc ores produces a residue known as
jarosite. In 1998, CEZinc of Valleyeld developed
a process that physically and chemically stabilizes
this residue. The Jarox process involves adding
lime, cement, and water to the residue. Once dried,
the resulting mixture has a consistency similar to
clay. Since Jarox is compact, easy to dig into, and
chemically stable, it constitutes an excellent ller
material (Seyer et al., 2001).
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JAROFIX
97
Georadar is a technology that emits radar waves
into the subsurface. Like an aboveground radar,
a georadar unit emits short, high-powered waves
in the direction of the intended target. It receives
signal echoes that are analyzed to determine the
characteristics of the object. The depth range is
up to several metres below the surface.
This method can be used to determine soil
structure, particularly that of permafrost in arctic
environments, or to monitor changes over time in
underground contamination by using the device to
conduct periodic surveys over the ground surface.
Georadar is used in many other elds, particularly
for recognizing subsurface stratigraphy
(Geophysics GPR, Chile).
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GEORADAR
98
213
A geotube is a tubular polypropylene bag used for
dewatering and sludge drying at water-treatment
facilities. Geotubes come in various sizes (from 5 to
100 m long) and are lled via cyclic or continuous
pumping, with or without the addition of a polymer
occulant. Dewatering is accomplished by ltration,
thereby capturing the solids (heavy metals and
nutrients) in the bag. Clear water ows out through
the pores of the geotubes, and the solids are
consolidated through desiccation (drying).
Geotubes reduce the volume of waste to be treated
by up to 90%.
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GEOTUBE
99
100
215
A mine site must be landscaped both during
production and after it closes. A planting
process known as hydroseeding sprays a slurry
of fertilizer, seeds, and water onto the ground
to make grass grow.
HYDROSEEDING
We would like to thank all those who
helped us in our research in Montral,
the city of Qubec, and the Abitibi
region, in particular:
Andrea Amortigui (MRNF)
Robert Lacroix (MRNF)
James Moorhead (MRNF)
Jean Carrier (MRNF)
Gatan Lavallire (Groupe MISA)
Denis Bois (UQAT)
Michel Aubertin (cole Polytechnique)
Pierre Brub (Abitibi Geophysics)
Alain Carrier (InnovExplo)
Carl Pelletier (InnovExplo)
Sylvie Poirier (InnovExplo)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS REFERENCES
1/ Aubertin, M., and B. Bussire. 2010.
Industrial NSERC Polytechnique-UQAT Chair in
Environment and Mine Wastes Management.
http://www.enviro-geremi.polymtl.ca/
2/ Dario, A. et al. 2010. Development of a
biodegradable ethylene glycol dinitrate-based
explosive. Journal of Hazardous Materials
176: 125130.
3/ Global Economics Limited. 2001. Mining
Innovation: An overview of Canadas dynamic,
technologically advanced mining industry.
Prepared for the Mining Association of Canada.
http://www.mining.ca/www/media_lib/MAC_Documents/
Publications/English/innovation.pdf
4/ Hale, M. 2010. Gas geochemistry and deeply
buried mineral deposits: The contribution of the
Applied Geochemistry Research Group, Imperial
College of Science and Technology, London.
Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment,
Analysis 10: 261267.
5/ Jbrak, M. 2010. Linnovation en
exploration minire: enjeux et ds.
Paper presented at Qubec Exploration,
November 2010.
6/ Kennedy, P., and P. J. Van Geel. 2001. Impact
of density on the hydraulics of peat lters.
Can Geotech J. 38: 12131219.
7/ Leybourne, M. I. 2007. Aqueous geochemistry
in mineral exploration. In Mineral deposits of
Canada: A synthesis of major deposit-types,
district metallogeny, the evolution of geological
provinces, and exploration methods, ed. W. D.
Goodfellow, pp. 10071033. Geological
Association of Canada, Mineral Deposits
Division. Special Publication 5.
8/ Lulin, J-M. 1990. Une analyse du
dveloppement minier du Nord-Ouest qubcois.
In Rive et al. , pp. 1734.
9/ Mulgan, G. 2007. The process
of social innovation.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/8177770/Geoff-Mulgan-The-
Process-of-Social-Innovation-2007
10/ Rive, M., P. Verpaelst, Y. Gagnon, J-M Lulin,
G. Riverin, and A. Simard. 1990. The
Northwestern Quebec polymetallic belt.
CIM Special Volume 43: 1734.
11/ Seyer, S., T. T. Chen, and J. E. Dutrizac. 2001.
Jarox: Addressing iron disposal in the zinc
industry. JOM 53: 3235.
12/ Sobolewski, A. 1996. Wetlands for treatment
of mine drainage.
http://technology.infomine.com/enviromine/wetlands/
Welcome.htm
13/ Wright, G., and J. Czelusta. 2002. Exorcizing
the resource curse: Minerals as a knowledge
industry, past and present. Working Papers,
Stanford University, Department of Economics.
http://www-siepr.stanford.edu/workp/swp02008.pdf
Printed on Rolland Enviro100 Satin.
This 100% post-consumer paper is certied EcoLogo,
Processed Chlorine Free and FSC Recycled, and was
manufactured using biogas energy.
EXPLORATION Airborne Gravimetry 13
AVIRIS 04
Centimetre-Precision 18
Satellites
Gas Geochemistry 10
Geographic Information 06
Systems (GIS)
Geopositioning 12
ICP-MS Analyses 02
Indicator Minerals 17
InniTEM 14
Inversion Algorithms 01
LIDAR 15
Low-Impact Seismics 19
Map Designation 09
Mass Balance 05
MEGATEM Airborne 16
Electromagnetic Surveys
MMI
TM
Geochemistry 11
Multiparameter Probe 20
Paleostress Maps 07
Portable Analyzer 03
Portable Spectrometry 21
Predictive Maps 08
ORE DEPOSIT Casing Extractor 23
DEFINITION Core Bits 32
CORIENTR Core 30
Orientation System
Density Measurements 27
TRANSPORT AND Deation Station 53
COMMUNICATIONS Magnelink 54
New Trucks 55
Radar Sensors 58
Road-Train 62
Roller Replacement 56
Tire Pressure 61
Monitoring System
Truck Sealant 57
Truck Tracking 59
Underground 60
Telecommunications
Wheelpro 63
ORE Modular Plant 67
PROCESSING Ore Grinding Monitoring 66
Sonar Flowmeter 64
Underground 65
Preconcentration
HEALTH Anti-Vibration Handle 80
AND SAFETY Cable Checkups 83
Cooling Apparel 74
Fatigue-Measuring Watch 76
Fenix Capsule 71
Gas-Detection Devices 70
Jack Adapter 68
LED Mining Headlamps 75
Geometallurgy 24
Hyperspectral Imager 25
Mobile Laboratory 26
OWL Head Assembly 31
Structural Logs 22
Versaguard 28
3-D Geological Model 29
ORE Blasting Box 33
EXTRACTION Boulder Buster 35
Cavity Measuring 42
Hybrid Bolt 34
Inspection Cameras 36
Integrated Development 38
Lunar Module 40
Mine Shaft Liner 43
Mining Simulator 47
Mobile Drill 41
Ore RFID 44
Polymer Ducts 37
Robomap 45
Rock Mesha
TM
46
Smart Rock 48
Spoutnik 51
Super Water Canon 50
Ventilation Drilling 39
Ventilation On Demand 52
Warning Probe 49

Microseismic Monitoring 82
Personnel Tracking 69
Risk-Area Maps 72
Road Signs Snow Removal 77
Safety Pickets 79
Soundproof Tent 78
Survival Chamber 73
Tele-Mining 84
Wire-Mesh Application 81
REMEDIATION Biodegradable Explosives 87
Constructed Wetlands 88
Cyanide Destruction 86
Georadar 98
Geotextile Separators 94
Geotube 99
Hydroseeding 100
Jarox 97
Multi-Layer Barrier 85
Neutralization of Tailings 90
Peat and Sand Filters 91
Reusing Bauxite Waste 92
Reusing Mine Tailings 89
ROBYS
TM
System 93
Solar Panels for Tailings Sites 96
Underground Backll 95
100 INNOVATIONS
IN THE MINING INDUSTRY
www.minalliance.ca
ISBN 978-2-9812840-3-7
(French edition: ISBN 978-2-9812840-1-3, Minalliance, Montral)
Legal deposit - Bibliothque et Archives nationales du Qubec, 2012
Legal deposit - Library and Archives Canada, 2012