Engineering & Mining Journal
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DECEMBER 2018 • VOL 219 • NUMBER 12 FEATURES China’s Miners Promote New Era of Openness and Cooperation Major reforms within the mining sector and the government will foster green mines at home and greater investment abroad ....................................42 Defeating the Deleterious Whether at the head of a circuit or scavenging tailings, today’s flotation innovations address challenges presented by declining grades, rising costs and aging plants ..................................................................................52 Staying on Top of Stockpile Management Smarter, quicker solutions emerge for measuring and controlling stockpile size and quality ...............................................................................58 Supporting Underground Production Specialty equipment manufacturers celebrate milestones .............................66 Special Report: Ontario: An Overview Mergers, discoveries and a new mine signal the dawn of a golden era ..........72 LEADING DEVELOPMENTS Pan American Silver, Tahoe Resources Create Diversified Silver Miner ..............6 This month, E&MJ takes a look at stockpile management. Evrim Signs 3-year Exploration Alliance ............................................................7 Mining companies are refining their stockpile strategies, 7 PDAC 2019 Offers Educational Sessions, Honors Industry Leaders ................... taking advantage of equipment and control-system Hudbay Will Acquire Mason Resources ..............................................................7 advances to refresh stockyard infrastructure to improve ICMM Commits to Human Rights Principles ......................................................8 material flow and quality control. On the cover, a stacker Premier Will Buy Creek Property in Carlin Trend ................................................8 and reclaimer handle iron ore at BHP’s Mining Area C. (Photo: thyssenkrupp) AROUND THE WORLD U.S. & Canada: Tacora Resources Completes Scully Mine Restart Financing ...12 DEPARTMENTS 38 Latin America: Los Pelambres Expansion Adds 60,000 MT of Calendar ...................................................... 110 Copper Production ..........................................................................................22 Classifi ed Advertisements .......................... Equipment Gallery ......................................106 Australia/Oceania: Developers Celebrate Pilgangoora Achievements From the Editor................................................2 at Official Opening .........................................................................................24 Markets ......................................................112 Africa: Newmont Declares Commercial Production at Subika Operating Strategies .................................... 90 26 Underground in Ghana ................................................................................... People .......................................................... 18 Asia: Polymetal Begins Building Nezhda Gold Mine in Russia ........................28 Processing Solutions ..................................100 Exploration Roundup: Exploration Generating Positive Results at Suppliers Report........................................... 94 2 Endeavour Projects......................................................................................30 This Month in Coal ....................................... 34 Flotation....52 Stockpile Management....58 Utility Equipment....66 www.e-mj.com DECEMBER 2018 • E&MJ 1 FROM THE EDITOR Balash Impresses the Crowd at AEMA Keynote www.e-mj.com The line for the 2018 American Exploration & Mining Asso- Mining Media International, Inc. 11655 Central Parkway, Suite 306; Jacksonville, Florida 32224 USA ciation (AEMA) keynote luncheon was long and some miners Phone: +1.904.721.2925 / Fax: +1.904.721.2930 were agitated. For $50 per seat, the AEMA had promised U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Ryan Zinke, Editorial but he didn’t turn up. Based on the conversations held in Publisher & Editor-In-Chief—Steve Fiscor, sfi [email protected] line, however, Zinke’s approval rating among western min- Associate Editor—Jennifer Jensen, [email protected] Steve Fiscor ers isn’t as high as one would think. The skeptics believed Technical Writer—Jesse Morton, [email protected] Publisher & Editor-in-Chief that is why the DOI dispatched Joe Balash, assistant DOI Contributing Editor—Russ Carter, [email protected] secretary for lands and minerals, to address the crowd. Latin American Editor—Oscar Martinez, [email protected] Next year will be a transitional year for the AEMA with its Executive Director South African Editor—Gavin du Venage, [email protected] Laura Skaer passing the torch to Mark Compton. Before Balash was introduced Graphic Designer—Tad Seabrook, [email protected] to a large, crowded room, the association took care of some important business. Sales The new incoming AEMA President Steve Alfers was the emcee. He explained how Midwest/Eastern U.S. & Canada, Sales—Victor Matteucci, Skaer transformed a regional mining association into a leading national voice for [email protected] exploration, the junior mining sector and federal lands issues. Skaer was presented Western U.S., Canada & Australia, Sales—Frank Strazzulla, with an award for her 22 years of service and received a standing ovation. [email protected] Under Skaer’s leadership, the AEMA fought regulatory overreach and Alfers ex- Scandinavia, UK & European Sales—Colm Barry, [email protected] plained that the group needed to maintain its momentum. “The collaborative way in Germany, Austria & Switzerland Sales—Gerd Strasmann, which this association works is impressive,” Alfers said. “As far as expertise in public [email protected] lands and operational issues, no one is more informed than the AEMA. We don’t want Japan Sales—Masao Ishiguro, [email protected] to compromise our capacity as a group to stay on top of issues as they pop up.” Production Manager—Dan Fitts, dfi [email protected] The AEMA intends to defend the Mining Law of 1872. “Tenure and security of title for the mining industry is becoming increasingly important,” Alfers said. “Twenty years ago, it didn’t take six or seven years to approve a plan of operations, but it does now. With those timelines, we have an even greater need for security of title. We should restore patents under the Mining Law.” Alfers introduced Balash, who is a young man with a big job, but he convinced the crowd that he was up to the challenge. Before accepting the DOI position, he was the commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. He managed an organization that is responsible for one of the largest portfolios of land and water Engineering & Mining Journal, Volume 219, Issue 2, (ISSN 0095-8948) is resources in the world. Today, he oversees four agencies within the DOI, including published monthly by Mining Media International, Inc., 11655 Central Parkway, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which is of paramount interest to western Suite 306, Jacksonville, FL 32224 (mining-media.com). Periodicals Postage paid at Jacksonville, FL, and additional mailing offi ces. Canada Post Publi- U.S. miners working on federal lands. cations Mail Agreement No. 41450540. Canada return address: PO Box 2600, When BLM was fi rst organized, Balash said, they had a badge that depicted the Mississauga ON L4T 0A8, Email: [email protected]. Current and back issues and additional resources, including subscription request forms and BLM mission and there were people on it: a cowboy, a miner, a surveyor, a rough- an editorial calendar, are available at www.e-mj.com. neck and a forester. The more modern version of the badge has no people. Balash SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Free and controlled circulation to qualifi ed subscrib- found this symbolic and said this administration is committed to addressing and ers. Visit www.e-mj.com to subscribe. Non-qualifi ed persons may subscribe rectifying that situation. at the following rates: USA & Canada, 1 year, $90. Outside the USA & Can- I can’t do his speech justice with this short column, but E&MJ will publish it next ada, 1 year, $150. For subscriber services or to order single copies, contact E&MJ, c/o Stamats Data Management, 615 Fifth Street SE, Cedar Rapids IA month. Balash talked about all the regulatory overreach that was rolled back in the 52401, 1-800-553-8878 ext. 5028 or email [email protected]. last two years. He discussed