Canadian Mining Journal January 2022

Water BEST PRACTICES IN MANAGING A VITAL RESOURCE

PLANNING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE >

> THE FUTURE OF

B.C. MET COAL

JANUARY 2022 | www.canadianminingjournal.com | PM # 40069240

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JANUARY 2022 VOL. 143, NO.1

FEATURES 13 Climate change is already affecting mining infrastructure and operations.

13

SRK Consulting’s Samantha Barnes talks to CMJ about how miners are adapting.

BRITISH COLUMBIA 10 Ahead of the AME Roundup conference, AME president and CEO

Kendra Johnson discusses B.C.’s importance as a supplier of key critical minerals.

16 A look at B.C. miners’ efforts to supply cleaner, greener metallurgical coal.

WATER MANAGEMENT

22

22 Maven Water and Environment shares its top 10 best practices for mine water management.

25 How holistic water management can support the mining sector’s ESG goals.

29 Costmine asks how much innovation adds to the cost of water treatment technologies.

25

DEPARTMENTS

4 EDITORIAL | Too much water or not enough: mining’s next pressing challenge.

5 UNEARTHING TRENDS | EY’s Paul Tucker and NORCAT’s Don Duval on digital transformation and its importance to mining’s rebranding.

6 CSR & MINING | Carolyn Burns of the Devonshire Initiative shares how the CommWell Framework can be used to improve well-being in mining-impacted communities.

8 LAW | Cara Dowling of Norton Rose Fulbright outlines the risks and opportunities that come with climate change.

12 FAST NEWS | Updates from across the mining ecosystem.

32 ON THE MOVE | Tracking executive, management and board changes in Canada’s mining sector.

About the cover: Water droplets. CREDIT: THOMAS VOGEL/ISTOCK

Coming in February/March 2022 Canadian Mining Journal looks at mining in Ontario, the Sudbury/North Bay mining innovation cluster and attracting, training and retaining the industry’s future workforce.

For More Information

www.canadianminingjournal.com JANUARY 2022

Please visit www.canadianminingjournal.com for regular updates on what’s happening with Canadian mining companies and their personnel both here and abroad. A digital version of the magazine is also available at https://www.canadianminingjournal.com/digital-edition/

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 3

FROM THE EDITOR JANUARY 2022 Vol. 143 – No. 1

Alisha Hiyate

Too much water or too little – either way, it’s a problem for miners

F

irst fires, then floods. British Columbia’s unenviable recent experience with extreme weather has been sobering.

The extreme rainfall the province saw in November left whole communities and farms underwater and resulted in four deaths. Flooding and landslides also damaged or shut down road and rail infrastructure, with all major routes between the Lower Mainland and the interior affected.

At press time in mid-December, a state of emergency in the province declared on Nov. 17 had been extended to Dec. 28 as work continues to repair damage to highways. What’s worse is that the devastating flooding followed a destructive forest fire season in B.C. this year.

The extreme weather that has battered the province has shone a spotlight on the infrastructure impacts of climate change. As incidents of floods, wild fires and drought become more frequent and more intense as temperatures climb, mining companies need to be prepared. While B.C. miners didn’t experience significant disruptions to operations, their access to market by rail has been hurt.

Canada’s vulnerability to climate change has been established. According to the 2019 report “Canada’s Changing Climate,” led by Environment and Climate Change Canada, average annual temperatures have increased twice as much as the global average and are projected to continue increasing over the next century. There’s also been a rise in average annual precipitation across all seasons, and the expectation of more high-intensity precipitation events to come.

With increased water comes increased risk to tailings and other infrastructure.

Thankfully, mine infrastructure is already designed to withstand extreme events.

But what happens as the incidence and intensity of these events rises? We spoke to SRK’s Samantha Barnes to find out how miners are incorporating these considerations into their planning (see page 13).

While miners are adapting to the changes that are already happening and also planning for a net zero future by 2050, they may be missing one element in their plans.

In its recent report, “Beyond emissions reductions,” the Responsible Mining Foundation noted that although mining companies are making laudable progress on tracking and reducing their GHG emissions, they have paid little attention to how climate change will exacerbate the impact of mining operations on local communities.

“This disparity suggests that companies may be paying more attention to the demands of investors and financiers – increasingly concerned about financial and reputational risks to companies – than they do to the salient risks to people and environments,” reads the report.

Given the importance of social licence to mining, and the fact that water is the root cause of so many of the conflicts between mining companies and communities around the world, it would be self-defeating for miners to ignore this risk. The report recommends that companies, governments and other parties ensure that mining’s climaterelated (and climate-exacerbated) impacts are identified, assessed and addressed.

Finally, we’d like to invite you to Canadian Mining Journal’s first water-focused, live virtual event on Apr. 6, which follows our inaugural Reimagine Mining event in October 2021. Check our website for details on this important discussion in late January. CMJ

4 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

225 Duncan Mill Rd. Suite 320, Toronto, Ontario M3B 3K9 Tel. (416) 510-6789 Fax (416) 510-5138 www.canadianminingjournal.com Editor-in-Chief Alisha Hiyate 416-510-6742 ahiyate@canadianminingjournal.com Twitter: @Cdn_Mining_Jrnl Interim News Editor Marilyn Scales mscales@canadianminingjournal.com Production Manager Jessica Jubb jjubb@glacierbizinfo.com Art Director Barbara Burrows Advisory Board David Brown (Golder Associates) Michael Fox (Indigenous Community Engagement) Scott Hayne (Redpath Canada) Gary Poxleitner (SRK) Manager of Product Distribution Allison Mein 403-209-3515 amein@glacierrig.com Publisher & Sales Robert Seagraves 416-510-6891 rseagraves@canadianminingjournal.com Sales, Western Canada George Agelopoulos 416-510-5104 gagelopoulos@northernminer.com Toll Free Canada & U.S.A.: 1-888-502-3456 ext 2 or 43734 Circulation Toll Free Canada & U.S.A.: 1-888-502-3456 ext 3 President, The Northern Miner Group Anthony Vaccaro Established 1882

Canadian Mining Journal provides articles and information of practical use to those who work in the technical, administrative

and supervisory aspects of exploration, mining and processing in the Canadian mineral exploration and mining industry.

Canadian Mining Journal (ISSN 0008-4492) is published 10 times a year by Glacier Resource Innovation Group (GRIG).

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Legal deposit: National Library, Ottawa. Printed in Canada.

All rights reserved. The contents of this magazine are protected by copyright and may be used only for your personal non-commercial purposes. All other rights are reserved and commercial use is prohibited. To make use of any of this material you must first obtain the permission of the owner of the copyright. For further information please contact Robert Seagraves at 416-510-6891.

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UNEARTHING TRENDS

Why digital transformation needs to be at the heart of any mining rebrand strategy

By Paul Tucker and Don Duval

I

t’s estimated that over the next decade, Canada’s mining and metals industry will require around 100,000 new hires to account for both an increase in retirees and natural employee turnover. While an aging workforce continues to be the dominant player in driving the talent agenda, there are a number of other contributing forces. For one, the global talent shortage, compounded by the effects of Covid-19 — coupled with more flexible and disperse working options, are resulting in a competitive market for job seekers. Then, there’s the historical negative brand perception attached to the sector, which often turns prospects elsewhere. And, on top of it all, the typical norms, such as pay raises or added benefits, that once captured the workforce’s attention are now starting to falter. Bigger change is needed to develop creative attraction and retention strategies that will secure the next generation of talent.

To sum it up in one word: rebrand. While rebranding isn’t a new concept to the industry, it must become a priority. We’re already seeing some interesting approaches to achieve this, including bringing teachers or families to mine sites to meet employees and build awareness of the diverse possibilities offered by a mining career. But there needs to be more to strike the right long-term balance between digital, people and culture.

Invest in digital transformation

Technology and automation can help reduce dependence on labour, but it is also a critical component in attracting next generation talent. These individuals are demanding and expecting a digitally enabled workforce that provides e ciency, convenience and the tools needed to be more strategic. Companies will need to make investments in creating a workplace where people are motivated and supported with the appropriate technology to deliver meaningful work.

Something as simple as implementing scheduling software, can allow employees to view schedules where and whenever they want, co-ordinate shifts or manage overtime. On the other hand, holistic end-to-end HR technologies can help move away from legacy installs that often support manual tasks like payroll or rostering while utilizing employees for differentiated tasks.

Transforming processes and tools will provide the opportunity for greater e ciency and productivity two critical aspects that the new generation of workers is looking for. Boosting up the back end to deliver more automation will bring in more talent and also optimize communication and build trust.

Develop future skills for digital transformation

As investments in digital grow, skill requirements shift and talent becomes di cult to find, miners must focus on redesigning JANUARY 2022

and reviewing the critical skills and education requirements needed for each ob role and how to fill them. hether in-house or externally, there are three primary actions companies can explore to develop the future skills for transformation: Work with universities and the education sector to analyze which skills are needed and determine the best way to upskill or reskill the existing workforce.

In parallel, collaborate to develop courses that can fast-track both in-house learning and training for those new to the sector.

Review recruiting structures to ensure the organization is bringing in different people and skills from other sectors to help disrupt traditional thinking and drive innovation.

Beyond digital, the climate change agenda is also creating a long list of new technologies to support the mine of the future. mplementations such as electrification, battery vehicles or underground communication infrastructure will require a new skill set — and mindset — to support and drive the organization’s energy transition forward. It’s time to take stock of these future skills and prepare the workforce appropriately.

Build career paths and a culture of lifelong learning

The mining and metals sector hasn’t always been at the forefront of innovation when it comes to leadership and development programs — and it’s starting to show. Before the Covid-19 pandemic made virtual learning commonplace, the days of exclusively instructor-led learning in a classroom setting were slowly beginning to wane. There is now a great opportunity to refresh how learning, development and mentoring are provided, given that many subjects and skills can effectively be taught through hands-on experiential learning. With technologies such as augmented reality and equipment simulation becoming more prevalent in classrooms, the opportunity to blend interactive, tech-enabled and experiential methods of workplace education has never been greater.

Putting a greater focus on the talent agenda and lateral pathway development will not only help to close the gap in critical skills, but also improve retention. Employees want to work for an organization that invests in their future and shows potential for differentiated and exciting career progression.

Digital transformation shouldn’t only be seen as a vehicle to drive productivity, but as a tool to build more attractive, collaborative and engaging workplaces that empower employees and lead to long-term retention. CMJ PAUL TUCKER is a partner with the People Advisory Services practice at EY Canada, based in Toronto. DON DUVAL is the CEO at NORCAT. Learn more about how EY and NORCAT are collaborating through the Americas Centre of Excellence.

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 5

CSR & MINING

Data, dialogue and decision making: using a multi-stakeholder process to understand community well-being

By Carolyn Burns

The Devonshire Initiative is a multi-stakeholder forum focused on improving development outcomes in the mining context.

This article is the second in a three-part series that looks at measuring community well-being in the mining context.

See the December 2021 issue of Canadian Mining Journal for the first part.

I

n order for mining-impacted communities to see sustained positive outcomes, we need to have a clear vision, we need to use a multi-stakeholder approach and we need to track progress. The Community Well-Being and Mining Framework (CommWell) is a participatory process for discussing, defining, measuring and analyzing community well-being. The framework encourages stakeholders to participate in regular multi-stakeholder discussions to: > define what good community well being looks like > choose indicators that measure good community well being and > collaboratively monitor and evaluate those indicators.

In other words, the CommWell Framework can bring stakeholders together to plan and measure community well-being and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The CommWell Framework is a four-phase process that is designed to complement existing initiatives for baseline data collection about community development in the mining context (such as social impact assessments). It is also designed to integrate with existing community planning and development processes.

The framework helps stakeholders who are invested in improving community well-being in the mining context to achieve three specific goals.

3 | Better data: How do we know if communities are better off?

There are a number of tools and frameworks to support companies, NGOs and community representatives with stakeholder engagement, program monitoring and evaluation, and measuring of human development on a macro (national) scale. The CommWell Framework complements these tools and helps stakeholders holistically define and measure well being on a community level. Without this information stakeholders tend to focus on different data points to determine if communities are ‘better off,’ including: > company contributions to local communities, using quantifi-

6 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

> > > >

able data that focuses on direct benefits and outputs like wages, procurement, taxes, and community investment anecdotal experiences of specific stakeholders or representatives of stakeholders media attention and company responses to incidents legal proceedings and local level protests and activism.

This information is important, but doesn’t give a holistic picture of community well-being. It also focuses on inputs and outputs, as opposed to long-term outcomes and impacts from mining activity. Few approaches have consistently captured local baseline data on a broad range of well-being indicators, covering areas like health, education, safety, security, infrastructure, economy, environment, living standards, governance, civic engagement and culture.

With this in mind, the CommWell Framework provides detailed steps that guide a multi stakeholder process to define community well-being. This includes practical ways to choose specific indicators of community well being that can be measured. Each community will be different, so the framework does not include a list of required indicators, but rather a list of holistic indicators that users can choose from and are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2 | Better dialogue: How can companies and NGOs support development dialogue instead of leading it? etter data is important, but how the data is defined, collected and analyzed, and who is involved in the process are equally important. Communities typically have development processes in place when a mining company arrives in the area. However, the role of a mining company as a major source of development funding can create an imbalance, putting the company at the centre of the development dialogue. This role can also disproportionately fall on NGOs working in the area. The Sustainable Development Goals offer a great framework for thinking about well-being, but companies and NGOs are at risk of driving goals that aren’t relevant or a priority for local communities. The CommWell Framework aims to shift that balance by designing a multi-stakeholder process that centres on community representatives, with mining companies and NGOs as participants, not drivers. This type of process can be more time consuming and challenge the status quo. But we know that a multi-stakeholder process results in better planning, supports community objectives and can strengthen a company’s social licence to operate.

www.canadianminingjournal.com

About the CommWell Framework

3 | Better decision making: How can stakeholders make better decisions about development initiatives?

The CommWell Framework can also lead to improved decision-making related to development outcomes. The data, dialogue and decisions about community well-being generated by the framework act as a catalyst for various stakeholders to plan and co-ordinate community development initiatives in the mining context. he process of defining and tracking community well being is a powerful opportunity for stakeholders to align their development goals and make better decisions about the programs they support. he omm ell ramework specifically helps stakeholders define ob ectives, share information about their activities and measure the effectiveness of collective actions.

For example, if stakeholders know that the community sees education, jobs and young people learning a local language as important pillars of well-being, they can make sure their activities support them. Mining companies can work with NGOs and local education centres to provide job-related training, apprenticeships and mentorship programs. Companies and NGOs can work with elders to support language studies and language

Over the past eight years, the members of the Devonshire Initiative including mining companies, civil society organizations and academics have discussed and tested various approaches to understand community well-being in mining-impacted communities. In 2015, the DI introduced a pilot framework which was designed to engage stakeholders community well-being in the mining context. The framework has been tested in various mining communities over the past six years. Now we’ve updated and refreshed (and renamed) it based on lessons learned from the pilots and input from various stakeholders working in this space. Learn more at www.devonshireinitiative.org.

learning materials. Companies and NGOs can also offer language training on-site. Using the framework, stakeholders can regularly check in to determine how effective their programs are. Over time, stakeholders can track progress against these goals and rework programs that aren’t moving the needle. CMJ CAROLYN BURNS is the executive director of the Devonshire Initiative.

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LAW

Mining companies face an evolving array of climate change risk and opportunities

By Cara Dowling

T

he consequences of climate change for the mining sector are informed by a complex and evolving dynamic. The sector is resource intensive and a major emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG), yet it also plays a strategically important role in the economy and is essential to the energy transition. It is also vulnerable to the effects of climate change and the energy transition.

Canada is home to half of the world’s publicly listed mining and mineral exploration companies. In 2020, the sector directly and indirectly accounted for 692,000 jobs, contributed $107 billion or 5% to Canada’s GDP, and minerals accounted for $102 billion or 21% of Canada’s domestic exports, according to Natural Resources Canada. Canadian exploration and mining companies are also active globally. In 2019, publicly traded Canadian-based mining and exploration companies were present in 96 foreign countries, and two-thirds of their total $263.2 billion assets were located abroad. Emerging technologies, including those that enable the energy transition, are heavily reliant on resources that are currently primarily sourced by mining. Until a viable circular economy is established, mining activity will be needed to meet demand.

Canada is a key global producer of critical materials including copper, aluminum, cobalt, nickel, lithium and graphite.

There is high demand for these materials, driven by a global shortage, predicted further increases in demand, and concerns over securing long term supply.

Canada’s own low-carbon goals and ability to ensure a resilient supply chain for these resources depend on its mining sector. Natural Resources Canada has promised increased action to help develop Canada’s mining sector (alongside Canada’s clean technology and batteries sectors) and its transition to more productive and sustainable operations. NRCan’s goal, according to its 2021-22 Departmental Plan, is to “position Canada as a preferred supplier of ethically, socially and environmentally responsible raw materials.”

Evolving risks for mining companies

While the contribution of the mining sector is incontrovertible, there are significant climate change related risks to the sector, including physical, transition, and legal and regulatory risks.

The sector is vulnerable to the physical effects of climate change, directly and via its supply chain. Many mines are located in remote and challenging physical environments. The effects of climate change, including changing climactic conditions, more frequent and extreme weather events, and stresses on the availability of critical resources such as water, can exacerbate challenges at remote sites. Mining infrastructure is also

8 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

at risk, which may impact operations and increase environmental and occupational health and safety risks. Transportation, which is critical to mining – bringing in workers, equipment and supplies as well as getting minerals to market, is at risk too.

Extreme weather events and rising sea levels damage roads, ports and other critical transport infrastructure and impact the ability to safely transport people, supplies and commodities. In Canada, for example, degradation and reduced reliability of ice roads affects access to northern sites. In other parts of the world, rising temperatures cause railway lines to buckle and roads to melt, as well as impairing the ability of employees to work under those conditions.

The sector also faces transition risk. Globally, there are rapid and deep transitions underway across all sectors to move towards low-carbon economies. Transition risks span the entire mining value chain, such as: evolving political, social and consumer attitudes to high GHG emitting and polluting industries and products; evolving expectations of communities, shareholders, financiers and other key stakeholders changing regulatory and legal frameworks; increased political risks (e.g. resource nationalization and trade tensions); regional security concerns changing global markets and competition and fluctuating commodity prices.

The sector is also at risk of climate change and sustainability related litigation and investigations. Mining operations are resource-intensive, contribute to pollution and environmental degradation, and are a major emitter of GHGs. UNEP’s Global Resources Outlook 2019 found that resource extraction and processing contributes to about half of global GHG emissions, and 90% of water stress and global biodiversity loss are caused by those activities. This makes the sector a target of climate-related activism, litigation and regulatory action. Such cases can have serious reputational, financial and operational consequences.

The range of climate-related disputes is vast. Legal issues traverse many fields of law and causes of action, and involve a variety of plaintiffs and defendants from multiple sectors. The risk landscape is in a state of flux as governments, regulators and the judiciary grapple with how to deal with these complex issues. But one trend is clear – globally, climate-related cases are on the rise.

Lawsuits have been brought against companies (and their directors) seeking compensation for damages associated with the effects of climate change. Oil and gas companies have been primary targets, but the risk landscape is evolving with claims threatened and brought against companies in a variety of other high emitting sectors, as well as those that finance them.

www.canadianminingjournal.com

Governments have also been targeted by plaintiffs seeking to compel action on existing climate change policies or to create new or better policies. Such claims have a knock-on effect on companies as new or changing regulations may lead to increased costs of compliance, and successful claims against governments can spawn copycat claims against companies.

However, the majority of climate-related disputes are found in routine licencing, permitting and other matters related to obtaining project approvals. This has been a quiet revolution over the last two decades, where it is now common to see climate change related arguments and science raised and considered by decision-makers. Approvals may also be prolonged as governmental agencies conduct additional analyses in order to mitigate their own litigation risk.

Companies have also faced claims related to reporting of climate-related risks, as well as a variety of “greenwashing” claims over allegedly inaccurate or misleading statements about the sustainability credentials of a particular service, product or company.

In addition, climate-related contractual disputes arise in a variety of ways, for example, disputes arising out of energy transition or resilience projects, or business disruptions caused by climate-related weather events.

Legal and regulatory changes can also lead to disputes. Governments globally are taking steps to respond to climate change and drive the energy transition. Some may also pursue resource nationalism agendas or seek higher stakes in projects. Particular risks for the sector include changes to tariffs, royalty or tax regimes, and restrictions or duties imposed on certain materials. overnmental action can impact the profitability or even viability of commercial mining arrangements – and when that happens, strategically important disputes follow.

Key takeaways

Many major mining companies now place an emphasis on sustainable mine development practices. Companies are able to leverage technological advances that allow for increased e ciency, reduced waste, and greater use of renewable energies. But the sector needs to continue to focus on reducing emissions through greater adoption of technologies, operational innovation, resource e ciency and circular economy practices. Strong sustainability practices and stakeholder engagement are important for obtaining or maintaining social licence and also reduce litigation risk. Climate change risks should also be embedded into strategic risk management practices. Risk JANUARY 2022

assessments should be undertaken in the normal course of business as well as at the outset of a project, and these should include the risk of litigation and investigations. Not all disputes are avoidable, so companies should also have protocols in place that put them in the best position to deal with disputes in an e cient and effective manner. CMJ CARA DOWLING is director, Global Disputes with Norton Rose Fulbright.

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CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 9

MESSAGE FROM AME

AME Roundup 2022: Where deals are made, talent is discovered, and trends are set

By Kendra Johnson

Opening ceremonies at the 2019 AME Roundup in Vancouver, B.C. CREDIT: VELOUR PRODUCTIONS/AME

I

t’s no secret; demand for critical minerals continues to grow and finding more resources starts with us, responsible explorers. hese metals and minerals are vital in everything we use today and everything we need for tomorrow from electric vehicle batteries and solar panels to technology and building supplies. ccording to the orld ank, the production of critical minerals could increase by nearly 00 by 0 0, to meet the growing demand for clean energy technologies. ur time is now. e re ready to meet demands because in ritish olumbia, we are already exploring for these critical minerals using the highest environmental, social and governance standards. e are on the right path to reach our potential as the critical mineral supplier for the global clean energy transition while protecting and respecting the land, communities and encouraging ndigenous participation. t s never been more important for our industry to come together and sei e the opportunities we have in front of us. osted by explorers for explorers, oundup is the premier event for thousands of geoscientists, prospectors, financiers, investors, suppliers, ndigenous partners, and governments to engage, share knowledge, and stay at the forefront of the opportunities and challenges shaping the mineral exploration industry. onnect with colleagues from around the world to exchange ideas and inspire new discoveries exploration pro ects that identify resources critical to our everyday life, sustain vibrant regional communities for generations to come and respect the environment around us. e are eager to facilitate and continue our conversations

10 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

Olympic gold medalist Christine Sinclair is the keynote speaker at this year’s opening ceremonies. COURTESY: CHRISTINE SINCLAIR

with the . . government, particularly working to improve permitting timelines and maintain our competitiveness. hese are essential for attracting investors who want to fund pro ects that meet and exceed the highest standards, build respectful partnerships with ndigenous communities and attract the next generation talent. oundup is where deals are made, talent is discovered, and trends are set. ur content is relevant and timely, delivered by knowledgeable speakers, engaging exhibitors, and inspiring presenters. t cannot be missed rom an. 1 to eb. , 0 , oundup participants will be able to oin us in person at the ancouver onvention entre est and access live and on demand online programming from anywhere in the world, whether from home, at work or in camp. hether you can make it in person or attend online, we look

www.canadianminingjournal.com

At AME Roundup 2019. CREDIT: VELOUR PRODUCTIONS/AME

forward to connecting with you and building an even better mineral exploration industry together. tay up to date on conference details, including program announcements, short courses, speakers and networking opportunities at roundup.amebc.ca or follow our oundup social media channels roundup on witter ameroundup on nstagram ame roundup on inked n oundup 0 asses are available for in person and online access to the conference or an online only pass. n demand programming will be available online for six months following the conference. CMJ KENDRA JOHNSON is the president and CEO of the B.C.-based Association for Mineral Exploration (AME).

JANUARY 2022

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 11

FAST NEWS

Updates from across the mining ecosytem

• EQUIPMENT |

Metso Outotec introduces modular horizontal mill units to simplify grinding

Metso Outotec horizontal mill plant unit.

CREDIT: METSO OUTOTEC

Metso Outotec is launching yet another unique solution in its range of minerals processing plant islands – the horizontal mill plant units. The pre-engineered plant units provide optimized grinding performance and simplify project management through easy circuit selection and flowsheet implementation.

At the same time, they ensure safe operability and maintainability thanks to their state-of-the-art design.

The innovative horizontal mill plant units combine Metso utotec hori ontal mills, classification, pumping and automation technologies with a wide range of services and operation support. It takes sustainability and grinding performance to a

• M&A |

new level by optimi ing the usage of energy, water, grinding media and consumables. The scope of the unit can be tailored according to pro ect requirements brownfield or greenfield, open or closed circuit).

“Our modular horizontal mill plant units have been developed to make it easier for customers to select and execute the best solution for their grinding needs,” said Fernando Marques, global product manager at Metso Outotec.” Our pre-engineered modules provide a safe and optimized solution for many grinding applications.” CMJ

Sandvik to acquire mine planning software supplier Deswik, launch digital tech division

Leading mining equipment manufacturer Sandvik is acquiring mine planning software developer eswik, a private company based in ustralia. eswik will be a key part of Sandvik Mining and Rock olutions newly launched igital ining Technologies division. andvik says eswik, a top tier supplier of integrated software platforms that support digitalization throughout mine planning stages, will fill a value chain gap in its mining offering. The acquisition is expected to increase upstream mining coverage and enable opportunities for end-to-end optimization solutions, such as incorporating electrification at the mine planning stage. eswik s core software suite includes computer aided mine design, scheduling, operations planning, mining data management and geological mapping.

12 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

The company also offers consultancy services, including mine planning, scoping, software implementation and training support. eswik s second to none software suite combined with andvik s digital and automation offering creates a clear

• INNOVATION |

world leader in digital solutions for the mining industry,” said Henrik Ager, president of Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, in a release.

The SEK50 million ($7.1 million) acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022. CMJ

MABC launches water-focused challenge

The Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC) has launched its first Mining Innovation Challenge: Reducing Water Use. Cleantech and technology providers are invited to bring forward their ideas. The winner will receive $150,000 and the potential opportunity to pilot their innovation at a B.C. mine.

The challenge is led by MABC and Foresight Canada, in partnership with the government of

British Columbia, Newcrest Mining, Teck Resources, NRCan, PwC, the Bradshaw Research Initiative for Minerals Mining (BRIMM), the Global Mining Guidelines Group, and the Mining Suppliers Association of BC. Organizations need to declare their participation by Feb. 18, 2022, and final submissions are due on May 12, 2022.

The winner will be announced in June. CMJ www.canadianminingjournal.com

CLIMATE ADAPTATION

> By Alisha Hiyate

planning for

EXTREMES Climate change is here and it’s affecting mining infrastructure and operations.

SRK’s Samantha Barnes discusses how miners are adapting to the increased risks.

/ISTOCK

M IMAGE:

ETES

OTOG A

SAMANTHA BARNES

JANUARY 2022

ost mining companies have committed to reducing their carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 in order to limit global warming. But mine sites are already experiencing the effects of climate change – and the recent heavy rains and flooding in British Columbia have shone a spotlight on the risks to essential infrastructure from extreme weather events.

To find out how miners are dealing with the infrastructure risks and challenges associated with climate change, CMJ reached out to Samantha Barnes, a hydrotechnical engineer with SRK Consulting. In her work as a senior consultant with SRK supporting mine water management planning, Barnes’ job increasingly includes discussion of climate change risks to mine sites and planning to mitigate those risks.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 13

CLIMATE ADAPTATION Flooding on the Trans-Canada Highway in British Columbia on Nov. 17, 2021.

CREDIT: RICHARD STAWN/ISTOCK

14 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

SB: The risk comes down to a combination of the consequence of a structure failing and the probability of that event occurring. When we design mining infrastructure, we design for low probability events, such as the one in 100, or one in 1,000 year flood to ensure that the associated risk profile for that structure is low.

To change the risk for the infrastructure, either the probability or the consequence of that event needs to change. What we’re seeing now from climate change models is an increased probability of some of these extreme events which can translate into an increased risk. For tailings management, this could mean an increasing

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/ISTOCK

CMJ: r i to specifica the rece t oo i i the pro i ce mainly affected mining companies’ transportation of goods to market and supplies to site through damage to provincial highways and rail infrastructure. Is there also a risk to mine site infrastructure, such as tailings facilities, access roads, etc?

STA

try has always faced extreme conditions.

Mines are located in high mountain catchments, wide river valleys or arid plains, they’re far away from communities and resources, which means they’re reliant on long access routes and di cult transport mechanisms. So they’ve always been aware of extreme events like flooding and landslides and droughts, and mining infrastructure designs are built to account for this. Their focus is understanding how susceptible their infrastructure is going to be to some of these extreme events and designing accordingly.

But the climate change models and the science behind that is telling us that the trends that we use to develop our designs, that historical information, is not necessarily representative of what’s going to happen in the future.

The impacts to mining generally fall into four categories: loss of production, loss to the environment, loss of access,

extreme conditions also have an impact on mine water balances and their ability to sustain water supply.

The important thing is these are not necessarily new risks or impacts. But climate change is affecting the uncertainty in how we ve quantified these risks in the past and how frequently these events can occur in the future.

IC A

Samantha Barnes: The mining indus-

or in extreme cases, loss of life. All of these have different cost implications, and some of them have reputation consequences as well. The drivers of some of these losses are often tied to climatic events, like forest fires, floods and landslides, and that’s where we see the link related to climate change.

The consequence of climatic events to mining can include infrastructure losses from flooding or fires similar to what we’re seeing in communities across Canada, as well as accumulating too much water. The risk from having too much water can include an uncontrolled discharge of mine water and a potential loss to the environment. At the most extreme end, it could be a dam failure, which could result in a loss of production, a loss of reputation and a loss to environment. Access roads are also prone to flooding risk and erosion damage in general across a site which can take time and money to address and repair. ust as important as the flooding risks are the opposite extremes, the longer periods without rain and more intense droughts. The heatwave in B.C. is an extreme example, where high temperatures can pose a health risk for workers that can result in a temporary shutdown and loss of production, and can have secondary consequences through an increase in forest fires, which can affect mine access and production.

Generally drier periods under less

IMAGE:

Canadian Mining Journal: Samantha, you have an excellent overview of the global impacts of climate change on mining with your experience spanning sites in B.C., the Yukon and Nunavut, elsewhere in North and South America, Europe, West Africa, and Greenland. In your experience, what kind of climate impacts are miners seeing on their operations generally?

Wild fire in Queensland, Australia.

CREDIT: PHILIPS/ISTOCK

IMAGE:

ILI S/ISTOCK

risk from storing more water or having to manage larger flood events through dam spillways.

But this isn’t news for tailings management. Climate change is mentioned throughout the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management released in August 2020, for example. The emphasis on considering climate change risk in terms of how to design and operate these facilities is also seen in other guidance documents from the Mining Association of Canada or the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM). The importance of climate change risk evaluation in mining infrastructure has been a frequent topic, and we continue to learn more about it as the science evolves.

So again, it’s not necessarily new risks from climate change, it’s more about how we characterize the risk, how comfortable we are in the change in the risk profile if these events are more frequent. And then thinking about how we can adapt and adjust the infrastructure to account for some of the uncertainty around the future.

mafrost, companies have to think about alternative means to site or additional operating costs for road maintenance.

Companies that rely on ice roads for their winter access have experienced shorter winter periods, which strains their shipping and transport requirements. Alternatives like flying equipment to site or increasing shipments by water in the summertime can be expensive.

Some northern mine sites also have infrastructure that relies on continuous frozen ground conditions to act as thermal barriers for mine waste products. Mitigation measures to maintain

these conditions have been implemented but they can be expensive and may be required in perpetuity.

However, there are also opportunities in the North. A longer open water season can mean longer periods for ships to come through on the Arctic Ocean to deliver products. The summer construction season can be longer, for example.

In the South, closer to the equator, a lot of the challenges are around water supply, making sure there’s enough water to operate the mill, to minimize dust migration or to cover potentially acid generating rock. Improving water recycling and CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

CMJ: Talk to me about the impacts in northern climates vs. southern climates and how miners are reacting to those different risks?

SB: Permafrost degradation is a big topic

in the North, since it’s a key component in a lot of infrastructure and foundation design. Where roads traverse across perJANUARY 2022

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 15

BRITISH COLUMBIA

> By Mark Cardwell

cleaner, greener

coal?

J

ohn Steen has no illusions about the future of metallurgical coal mining in British Columbia. But as the world moves slowly towards the production of greener steel using hydrogen instead of met coal as foundry fuel – a technology still in its infancy – he thinks B.C.’s industry can be a bridge to a cleaner future.

“Met coal is on borrowed time – but that time is not nigh,” said Steen, director of the Bradshaw Research Initiative in Minerals and Mining at the University of British Columbia and a renowned researcher who leads major international studies on innovation and sustainable development in the resources sector.

According to Steen, the process of using hydrogen to suck oxygen out of iron ore – a key role played by carbon-rich met

16 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

coal in steel production, making it one of the most polluting industries on the planet – is still decades away from widespread commercial use.

Until then, he said, all the time and money that industry and government have spent grappling with the groundwater pollution problems caused by metallurgical coal mining in B.C. could and should make it the international standard and go-to source for the steelmaking industry on its path to decarbonization.

“There is an ethical case for B.C. to do this, rather than places like India or Africa that don’t have the resources we do to deal with these issues,” said Steen. “The problems caused by met coal mining are not intractable. There are clever technical solutions, many of which have and are being developed here.”

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IMAGE: LIUSOL/ISTOCK

Can BC’s met coal industry be a bridge to a cleaner future?

‘Met coal is on borrowed time – but that time is not nigh.’

— JOHN STEEN, DIRECTOR OF THE BRADSHAW RESEARCH INITIATIVE IN MINERALS AND MINING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

While Teck Resources dominates production of steelmaking coal in the province with its operations in southeastern B.C.’s Elk Valley, it’s not just existing operators that see some life yet in the industry. North Coal, a subsidiary of a privately held Australian resource company, is betting that there will be demand for metallurgical coal from its Michel project in the same region, near Sparwood. The project, currently in the environmental assessment phase, could begin production in 2025 and has an estimated 25-year mine life. To help demonstrate the project is being developed responsibly, North Coal is partnering with U.K.-based Circulor to establish dynamic tracking of ESG metrics, including carbon intensity.

“This data is increasingly critical to steel manufacturers’ JANUARY 2022

growing imperative to ensure their supply chain has the lowest possible CO2 emissions and other leading ESG performance metrics such as Indigenous engagement and environmental management,” the company said in a release.

North Coal points to the clean hydropowered grid in B.C., as well as carbon offsets, as being key to low-carbon production.

According to a BC Mining and Carbon Pricing Report commissioned by the Mining Association of B.C. (MABC), met coal in the province produces about half the carbon emissions as production from the world’s leading producer, Australia. or its part, diversified multinational miner eck has committed to reaching net ero carbon by 0 0. here coal fits into CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 17

BRITISH COLUMBIA

its plans isn’t entirely clear. Bloomberg has reported the company is interested in selling off or spinning out its coal assets.

A solution for selenium?

While the climate impact of coking coal in steelmaking has put the sector under scrutiny, mining the material has also caused water pollution in the form of selenium. A natural occurring metalloid like arsenic, selenium can exist as a metal. But it also dissolves in water, becoming both a negatively-charged ion and bioavailable to algae and insects that ingest it in water or sediments.

Though a nutritional requirement for proper enzyme function in humans and other species – albeit in tiny amounts – selenium becomes toxic as it bioaccumulates up through the food chain, resulting in embryonic defects.

In B.C., which produces the majority of Canada’s hard coking coal, the rocks mixed with the massive deposits of metallurgical coal that have been mined for the past 50 years in two main areas – the Elk Valley in southeastern B.C. and near Tumbler Ridge in the northeast – have high concentrations of selenium.

Due to the mountainous terrain, huge volumes of tailings have been piled on low-lying surfaces, notably in the Elk River Valley, which features four large open-pit coal mines operated

by Teck that supply a third of the world’s steel-making coal.

Over time, however, rain, ice and snow enabled the unearthed selenium in the tailings to leach into the Elk River, a 220-km-long waterway that flows south to ontana, where it eventually oins the Columbia River.

Selenium pollution has notably been blamed for gill deformation in angler-prized cutthroat trout, pushing the species in the international waterway to the brink of collapse.

The situation led to two charges being laid in 2012 under Canada’s Fisheries Act for selenium and calcite pollution released from holding ponds at two of its Elk River Valley mines.

The slow progress of those cases, however, led two American commissioners on the International Joint Commission to publicly criticize Canada in 2018 for failing to deal with the problem.

The following year, eight U.S. senators from states bordering B.C. also voiced concern over the apparent lack of federal oversight at the Canadian mines, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency called on the B.C. government to hand over data related to selenium pollution in the Elk River. n arch 0 1, eck finally pleaded guilty to the two charges and was subsequently fined 0 million the largest penalty of its kind in Canadian history. Environmental groups, however, continue to criticize the federal government for allowing “one of the biggest polluting events in waters frequented by fish in North America” to continue.

For its part, Teck Resources has been quick to defend what it says are decades of ongoing efforts and actions aimed at both understanding and addressing the water quality issues stemming from its steelmaking coal operations in B.C. “Teck is committed to protecting water quality and we have made significant progress implementing the lk alley ater Quality Plan,” Teck Resources public relations manager Chris Stannell told Canadian Mining Journal. ccording to tannell, eck has already spent 1 billion on the long-term watershed protection plan, which was approved

20 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

Teck Resources’ 80%-owned Greenhills metallurgical coal operation in B.C.’s Elk Valley.

CREDIT: TECK RESOURCES

in 2014 following consultations with government, scientists and local communities, including B.C.’s Ktunaxa Nation, and will spend another million by 0 .

In addition to monitoring water quality and aquatic health at more than 130 locations in the Elk River Valley watershed – generating data and reports that are available to the public – the plan includes the building of several onsite treatment facilities to remove selenium from water contaminated as a result of mining.

Several of those facilities, which are either in operation or are being planned or constructed, use Teck’s Saturated Rock Fill technology. The innovation uses natural biological reactors – notably enzymes – to passively treat water in massive tanks by changing selenium back into solid form, allowing it to be filtered out. eck s first facility, which went into operation at its Elkview mine in early 2018, allows for the near total elimination of selenium and nitrate from up to 10 million litres of water per day.

In February 2021 – just weeks after it made a Top-100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies, and a month before it was slapped with its record fine under anada s fish protection laws – Teck commissioned its latest bioreactor tank at the Elkview mine, doubling the water-cleaning capacity there to 20 million litres a day.

“Teck is committed to responsible mining that is protective of the environment and supports the social and economic well-being of the Elk Valley,” Robin Sheremeta, Teck’s senior vice president, coal, said at the commissioning of the newest bioreactor tank. e continue to make significant progress in advancing the plan and reducing selenium levels throughout the watershed.”

North oal also plans to use saturated rock fill to passively treat water at Michel, in addition to active treatment and diverting water around the mine site to minimize contact.)

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Teck has already spent $1 billion implementing the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan, which was approved in 2014 following consultations with government, scientists and local communities, including B.C.’s Ktunaxa Nation, and will spend another $755 million by 2024.

‘Big improvement’

For Sue Baldwin, a professor of chemical engineering at UBC and BRIMM’s mining microbiome theme leader, Teck is tackling what she calls “an obvious problem” head on.

“They are very committed corporate leaders on the selenium issue,” said Baldwin, a South African-born expert in the use of natural biological and geochemical processes to solve environmental challenges caused by anthropogenic activities – better known as bio-remediation. he first got involved with the lk iver selenium problem in 2004, when B.C.’s environment ministry hired her to identify the source of the selenium and where it was ending up. n 01 , eck and aldwin teamed up in a now completed 00,000 research pro ect that helped to make their bioreactors as e cient and effective as possible by identifying nutrients that help microbes remove selenium from mine-affected water.

“They have probably hired more scientists than any other company in the world to look at look at how microorganisms metabolize selenium, which is an under-studied issue we know little about,” said Baldwin. overnment and eck funded scientific efforts now, she added, are focused on a wide range of issues, from improving or finding other treatment possibilities for getting selenium out of the water to reusing recouped selenium as a metal, possibly as nutrition supplements or as semi-conductor in electronics.

Those efforts parallel mining innovations such as rock sorting techniques like X-ray machines on top of shovels that aim to leave selenium undisturbed while mining met coal, and the reuse and/or recycling of pilings to extract and recover rare earth and other metals, make building materials and even neutral soils for use in agriculture and forestry.

“Teck has made a big improvement to the quality of the water in the Elk Valley,” said Baldwin. “But it’s not the end of the story yet. Like with legacy mines, dealing with contaminant problems is always big and ongoing.” CMJ JANUARY 2022

Projects that hold water Water – you can’t operate without it. As your partner, we enable you to secure, manage and utilize every single drop.

That’s an approach that holds water.

Learn about our creative and custom water management solutions for every stage of your mine’s life.

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CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 21

SUPPLIED CONTENT

HY-TECH DRILLING CLOSES THE LOOP ON WASTED WATER WITH THEIR PROPRIETARY CENTRIFUGE U nder typical conditions in the field, it can take up to 577,600 litres of water to complete the average 1000-metre NQ hole. In remote or sensitive areas, the costs associated with delivering this water are substantial, the logistics are challenging, and the process is unnecessarily wasteful.

With this in mind, Hy-Tech Drilling designed and built a compact, highperformance centrifuge capable of drilling 1000m NQ with just 2,400 litres of water. By returning pure, clean water to the drill string when it’s needed and continuously purifying the water when it’s not, the centrifuge helps to maximize the life of downhole tools while maintaining an optimal penetration rate – sparing hundreds of thousands of litres of water in the process.

Several years and many iterations later, Hy-Tech’s fleet of centrifuges has grown to 15 units and has delivered unprecedented results for clients including Galore Creek Mining, Teck Resources, Hecla Mining, Pretium Resources, Newcrest and Highgold Mining.

With no water discharge, the closed loop system separates liquids from solids down to the smallest micron level.

Applying centrifugal forces around 1700 times the force of gravity, solids exit the system with the consistency of drywall compound and can be easily bagged, stored or transported off-site, eliminating the need for a permitted sump.

Clean water is sent down the drill string, while dirty water returns from the hole and is fed through a pre-filter to remove any burlap and splinters.

The water is then collected in the dirty mud tank, where solids are kept in suspension to maintain an even consistency. From there, it is sent to the centrifuge.

With solids removed, the centrifuge returns clean water to the active mud tank, where it is made ready to be sent back down the hole. When clean water is not needed at the drill, the system recirculates the water through the dirty mud tank and centrifuge, continuously purifying it.

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Defaulting to continuous recirculation allows the centrifuge to run without supervision or worrying about overflows.

Powered by a simple control unit that doesn’t require active management, the system is easy to implement, train on and operate; requiring only minimal interaction from the driller or his helper, so they can remain focussed on the drilling at hand.

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was also designed for maximum versatility, with configurations for fly, skid, and underground drilling all possible. Its small footprint makes it one of the most versatile closed loop solids removal systems in the world – increasing tool life and reducing water consumption by up to 90%, all from a portable package that can be deployed virtually anywhere.

A globally recognized leader in the diamond drilling industry, Hy-Tech Drilling is an innovative company with projects in Canada, the United States, South America and Europe. With a 99.7% hole completion rate and less than 1% downtime, the company’s inhouse capabilities include the design and manufacturing of its own drills, as well as new drilling technologies to continuously improve every aspect of their operations. n

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WATER MANAGEMENT

> By Monique Simair

ten BEST

PRACTICES

for mine water treatment

C

anada’s mining industry is held to some of the world’s highest standards when it comes to protecting the environment. As a result, there is an ever-evolving desire to improve and implement best practices. Mine water treatment is a complex subject and selecting water treatment approaches requires consideration of many aspects.

However, there are several current best practices that should be applied to all projects. Some of these have been used for decades, while others are emerging and aspirational. With decades of experience in mine water treatment and hundreds of discussions with proponents, consultants, regulators, and stakeholders, we have created a list of best practices that will be useful for everyone in the mining sector, regardless of your role.

one

Keep clean water clean, prevent contamination

While this may seem like common sense, it can be di cult to implement. ell known applications include diversion structures

22 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

and contouring. It can also take the form of implementing covers and revegetation progressively during operations. The aspect of “prevent rather than treat” is a more recent addition to this best practice and involves application of in situ (in place) source control measures. Examples of well-known applications of this principal include adding pH buffering materials (such as lime) and using water covers to prevent oxygen from reaching tailings or waste rock and maintain neutral conditions. A more modern example is to implement redox buffering, using biological processes and biogeochemical interactions to buffer oxidation in pit lakes, tailings ponds, and underground mine pools. While these applications can also help to treat contaminated water, their application can also maintain conditions that prevent the contamination of water.

two

Use a site-specific approach

Gone are the days of out of the box ‘cookie-cutter’ type water treatment systems.

We now know that each mine is totally

unique in its water quality and needs, and therefore requires a customized and site specific approach to water treatment. While traditional turnkey water treatment systems still have a role in the overall water treatment and water management strategy, it is now recognized that they work best as part of a bigger strategy. Some other considerations of a site specific approach include > End use of water > Water chemistry and constituents targeted for treatment > Lifespan of treatment system > Lead time for system operation > Constructable land area > Climate > Periodicity of treatment > Site infrastructure that can be repurposed (e.g., pit lakes, mine pools, tailings ponds) > Availability of local materials

three

Appreciate that water treatment changes with the mine life cycle

Water quality and volumes will change

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over the lifespan of a mine. Fortunately, many of these changes are predictable and can be planned for. For example, in the construction and early closure stages when earth moving activities are extensive, higher turbidity and suspended solids are expected. During active blasting, there is an increase in nitrogen species such as ammonia, nitrate and nitrite, which eventually converts into nitrate, that finally deplete into closure. In contrast, metals and metalloids can increase over time through oxidation. The source and location of water also changes throughout the life of a mine (e.g., dewatering, milling, and metallurgical processes) which creates contact water during operations.

These considerations must be incorporated into the water treatment plan.

four

Respect the fate, form, distribution, and stability of treated constituents

The focus of water treatment has historically been on removing contaminants from the water; however, this often results in secondary waste streams. Many JANUARY 2022

LEFT: A project site in the Yukon. INSET: At New Gold’s Rainy River mine in Ontario.

CREDIT: MONIQUE SIMAIR/MAVEN WATER & ENVIRONMENT

active treatment systems create byproducts such as sludges and brines which must be considered in the long-term viability of the site-wide water management strategy. For example, if a sludge or brine is being placed into an area where water is stored, this must be considered for future water treatment plans. If more modern semi-passive or in situ treatment system is used, the stability of the entrained constituents and minerals must be considered.

five

Design with closure in mind and use passive or semi-passive treatment

When developing a new asset or updating an existing one, the water management and treatment strategy should take a primary role in the process of developing the site layout. A newer inclusion in this planning and best practices is an increasing number of jurisdictions requesting

or requiring that passive or semi-passive treatment be used for closure. In many places, active treatment in perpetuity is now regarded as impractical for either implementation or bonding. Therefore, passive and semi-passive treatment methods are being sought to increase the sustainability of treatment and decrease the long-term costs of mine closure. To achieve this, the proposed mine plan should be developed with this in mind.

This places long-term water treatment and closure plans at the table alongside with asset development plans to assess overall project return on investment.

six

Decentralize treatment, treat as close to the source as possible

Treating water at the source reduces environmental exposure and potential risks of CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 23

WATER MANAGEMENT further contamination. Older approaches to mine water treatment gathered all water from a site together in one place for treatment. Modern approaches consider the chemistry of the water and how mixing different sources will impact the overall treatability. his can significantly decrease water treatment operating costs and often creates more stable byproducts. This can also allow for more water to be reused on site, decreasing overall consumption. However, the cost of multiple treatment systems can be high. To offset this, semi-passive and in situ treatment is often used at source points to achieve the same outcomes without the excess capital. Where permits require single discharge points, water can be combined post treatment for discharge.

seven

Integrate technologies with treatment trains for best outcomes

The overall chemistry of the water will impact how effectively the water can be treated. A ‘treatment train’ most often refers to a system with stepwise treatment designed to ensure potential inhib-

Is your mine design based on sound geology? .com

iting compounds are removed. For example, filtration is a step before reverse osmosis. Treatment trains can also be used to decrease overall operating costs.

This often involves using semi-passive treatment in some steps. However, not all technologies are compatible, so this must be approached with an integrated plan.

eight

Use a team of experts

Water treatment technology is advancing as quickly as the other technologies in your life. Where large multidisciplinary firms used to be a go to for water treatment consulting, there is a trend towards using smaller, nimbler, specialist firms who stay at the leading edge of their specific technology area. his emergence of more niche firms requires skilled integration of expert interdisciplinary teams, a trend that has been accelerated by the recent advances in remote collaboration.

nine

Use a phased approach to development

No matter the approach you use, site-specific optimi ation is necessary. he path

from concept implementation should include clear phases, decision points, and weighting criteria. If passive, semi-passive, or in situ treatment is used, the development phases can be much longer than expected with active treatment. These semi-passive systems must address variation of conditions through their design, whereas active treatment systems can overcome variability using electricity and reagents. Regardless of the approach taken, a phased approach often uses a path of information gathering, lab/bench testing, pilot testing (on site or in dedicated facilities , field testing, and full-scale implementation. Each phase should be purposeful with specific goals that link directly to full scale design, commissioning, operation, and adaptive management.

ten

Expect to evolve

Even the best made plans will encounter some bumps. The best way to proactively plan for changes in mine water treatment is implementing an adaptive management plan. Bolstered by a failure modes and effects analysis, an adaptive management plan outlines likely outcomes of specific situations and how they will be managed if or when they arise. It is a living document that incorporates the latest data, newest technology, and most recent knowledge which is used to inform decisions. These are often structured with if/then decision trees with clear action thresholds.

How many of these best practices do you have in place for your mine water treatment plan? Whether it is implementing all 10, or making incremental adjustments, with ongoing updates to both operational mine water management and closure strategies throughout a mine life, there’s no shortage of opportunity to begin to make changes. CMJ Dr. Monique Simair is a globally recognized leader in passive and semi-passive water treatment for the mining sector, including bioreactors, constructed wetlands, in situ treatment, and contaminant source control methods. She is the founder and CEO of Maven Water & Environment (www.mavenwe.com) and can be contacted at monique@mavenwe.com.

24 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

www.canadianminingjournal.com

WATER MANAGEMENT

> By David Kratochvil

How

holistic water management supports mining’s

ESG GOALS

End-of-pipe discharge point for treatment plant. The effluent produced eliminates the reliance

S

uccess or failure of the mining industry to support decarboni ation of the global economy through the supply of essential raw materials relies heavily on the industry to embrace a holistic approach to managing water. his approach looks at water for a mining pro ect in its entirety, from early exploration and permitting through to closure and post closure. olistic water management improves outcomes, minimi ing pro ect risks and costs throughout the full life of the mine.

JANUARY 2022

on dilution.

CREDIT: BQE WATER

enefits of this approach aside, what warrants attention in an era that has seen rising importance given to environmental, social and governance evaluations and reporting, is that the drivers of holistic water management directly align with goals. ere share some insights into these drivers from the work we at ater have done and are doing to support better outcomes for water.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 25

WATER MANAGEMENT

Electrochemical cells from the electro-reduction circuit applied in combination with ion exchange to provide selenium removal to single digit parts per billion.

CREDIT: BQE WATER

Social acceptability

ocial acceptability is a requirement of modern mining. ro ects can tick off all the boxes from sub ect matter experts who are well versed in assessing technical and investment risks and legal compliance, but unless they are socially acceptable to the public, they are unlikely to happen.

Mining is a global enterprise. While there is great diversity in the professional workforce in the industry, water opens new opportunities for inclusivity, increased transparency and better environmental governance. ater management professionals can commit to making mining socially acceptable by eliminating the reliance on dilution to meet in stream limits. his requires end of pipe limits for treated water to equal those applied to the receiving environment. ine water treatment should also be carried out in a manner that does not introduce new chemicals or biological substances into the treated e uent that were not previously present in the source water. eceiving environment standards are broadly protective of all aquatic life and as such, the limits for many metals and metalloids are ultra low. admium and selenium are good examples

26 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

of constituents often present in mine water in trace amounts that require removal to even lower levels. ntil recently, industry had little choice but to accept dilution and to cope with the unexpected impacts of organo selenium substances produced by biological treatment systems to control selenium. his has now changed with the introduction of electro reduction applied either alone or in combination with ion exchange to remove selenium to single digit parts per billion and without any unintended consequences from treatment.

Inclusivity

ining is a global enterprise. hile there is great diversity in the professional work force in the industry, water opens new opportunities for inclusivity, increased transparency and better environmental governance. ne opportunity is to invite representatives of local communities to take part in guided tours of water treatment pilot demonstrations during the environmental assessment and permitting stages of mining pro ects. his was done at eabridge old s pro ect in ritish olumbia and not only did it help to create clarity around water management and treatment, but it also allowed the mine owner to address water concerns from regulators and the public early on. nother opportunity is to allow communities a say in where the treated water is discharged. t a pro ect in ritish olumbia, it was the local irst Nations that selected the water body that would receive the environmental discharge. or the irst Nations who have hunted, gathered and fished in the area, this showed respect and allowed their historical and cultural tradi-

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Guided tour of water treatment pilot program with representatives from local First Nations and B.C. regulators.

tions to continue. here is also no better champion and steward for clean water than local communities who have tangible incentives to safeguard local environments for present and future generations. s water treatment plant operators, we seek engagement with local communities and offer training to those interested

CREDIT: BQE WATER

in learning how to best manage and treat water. n example of this is our partnership with an nuit community based company focused on securing economic development opportunities, Nuvumiut evelopments, to provide ongoing operations for multiple mine water treatment plants in northern anada.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

medatech.ca Serving Customers Worldwide JANUARY 2022

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 27

WATER MANAGEMENT

Commercial grade copper and zinc metal concentrate recovered by a water treatment plant with concurrent selective recovery of metals of value.

Sustainability

ater treatment is an essential component of any mine operation. o be sustainable, it must go beyond the immediate need of removing the targeted constituents of concern. he selected treatment system should also take social, ecological and economic factors into consideration. crucial tenet of sustainable water management is the reduction or elimination of treatment residues. he waste generated from treatment is most often in the form of solid sludge or liquid brine requiring additional treatment and or long term monitoring. he goals of holistic water management and are to implement water treatment solutions that avoid long term costs and liabilities by either generating byproducts suitable for reuse or recovering value from waste. his raises the bar above the regulatory check box of producing waste that is non toxic and non ha ardous. ver the last two decades, water treatment systems with concurrent selective recovery of copper, inc and nickel have been implemented with great success. aste generation is reduced with the value of recovered metals paying for the entire treatment or offsetting a portion of the costs. nd there are new water treatment technologies available that produce stable and inert solids that have received independent verification as inputs for construction materials and steel fabrication. ompanies that select treatment based on short term financial criteria or that don t consider value recovery from waste or non toxic residue generation treatment systems do themselves a disservice in the long term. he reduction or elimination of waste, along with value generated over decades even after pri-

28 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

CREDIT: BQE WATER

mary production stops can be significant. ustainability also means a low carbon footprint. uring mine production, the incremental carbon footprint related to water is relatively small compared to comminution and the hauling of ore and waste rock. owever, it may still be equivalent to the carbon footprint of a town several times the si e of all local communities combined. nce the pro ect enters closure and post closure, water management and treatment can become the dominant carbon generator. nd because the contact between water and the sources of contamination often takes years to stop, carbon generation through treatment can continue for decades after mining ends. o avoid a large carbon footprint over the long term, industry must choose their methods of water management and treatment from a holistic perspective.

Final words

f we want the mining industry to play a positive role in transforming society and the economy away from fossil fuels and towards a circular economy, we need to move beyond the principle of doing no harm. holistic approach to water can contribute to this effort. ow we start, whether we are mining companies, regulators, service providers or suppliers, is by purposefully choosing to do better in tandem with advancements in knowledge and technologies to achieve better outcomes for the mining industry and for society as a whole. CMJ David Kratochvil, PhD, PEng is the president & CEO of BQE Water (bqewater.com).

www.canadianminingjournal.com

COSTING

> By Scott Stebbins

innovation HOW MUCH DOES

ADD TO THE COST OF WATER TREATMENT?

IMAGE: GAJUS/ISTOCK

I

f you attend any mine-related trade show you will notice that there are as many booths displaying products for a variety of water treatment machines and systems as there are for any other single product category. And this emphasis is ustified. ater quality is an ever expanding issue as the developing world catches up with standards currently in place in Canada, the nited tates, estern urope, and ustralia.

All these new methods, systems, and machines come with an associated cost, and it is worth trying to understand who pays for the innovation and how much it adds to overall mineral development expenses. hy is this an issue for the mining industry It is critical to understand that the prices for precious and base metals are fixed. hey cannot be increased by mineral producers to cover the costs of innovation. In contrast, industries like aerospace, pharmaceutical, automobile, and energy can pass research and development costs directly to those who may benefit. or those developing mineral deposits, increases in costs directly impact profit or loss . n the pharmaceutical industry, the final price of a new product to the consumer can be based to a great extent on the research behind it, and as such this price covers to a large JANUARY 2022

degree the costs of development and innovation. he aerospace industry is a little different in that production costs are typically where most of the dollars are spent, so the costs of innovation to the client are not so severe. Still, the client bears these costs.

How much does innovation in water treatment impact the mining industry here are a variety of factors that shape the answer to this question. or example, companies that develop treatment processes have clients outside the mineral industry. Public utilities, food processing plants, and manufacturing facilities all fall into this category. Public utilities can increase their revenues through a variety of measures to cover the costs incurred for research and development. But because mining companies pay the same as public utilities for these methods and systems, there is an internal economic burden that mining companies face without realizing a similar benefit. ater treatment research for public utilities and food processors centre primarily on the elimination of dangerous pathogens, although heavy metals and acidity can also be an issue. In the mineral processing industry, it is most often the deleterious elements CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 29

COSTING and the level of acidity that are concerns. So a good deal of the costs of innovation in municipal water treatment, while they may in part be borne by mining companies, are not designed for our needs. Still, it is di cult to know whether the dispersal of the costs of innovation through clients external to the mining industry is a hindrance, or a help.

On the other hand, it is also critical to note that while the capital costs associated with innovation are of concern, at least some of this research, engineering, and machinery development goes into designing very low cost treatment options. his can be attributed to the fact that so much water contamination is found in areas where the funds, infrastructure, and regulations are not yet in place to ensure clean water. or instance, an estimated 100 million people in developing countries today are exposed to excessive levels of arsenic in their water. ypically, the costs of the more elaborate purification methods used in North America are out of reach of those tasked with providing safe drinking water in these regions. However, Monmouth University chemistry professor sanangurayi ongesayi has developed an inexpensive system that uses chopped up pieces of plastic beverage bottles coated with cysteine an amino acid to remove arsenic. As reported by the American Chemical Society, the solution has been able to reduce arsenic levels from 0 parts per billion ppb to 0. ppb in tests a level that meets the . nvironmental Protection Agency’s standard. his research provides a low cost, practical alternative. t serves as an example of an investment in research and innovation that results in a positive impact on both water quality and profitability for remote mineral development pro ects.

Diminishing returns?

n argument can be and has been made that innovation in the treatment of mine e uent may have reached a point of diminishing returns. It is simply a fact that the water draining from many sites is cleaner now that it was prior to mine development. he ed og pro ect in laska is a prime example. Because so many mine sites were initially developed long before water quality base line studies were the norm, it is not necessarily correct to say that mineral development is always the problem. So, at issue here are the standards; are mine developers responsible for making the water cleaner than it was originally egardless, while water treatment can no longer be considered a new field of endeavor, it is still one that is ripe for expansion and innovation.

Revenue generation

ur focus to this point has been the costs of purification. n many parts of the world water is extremely scarce and the return of plant process e uent and mine wastewater to a useable form can represent a revenue stream, as opposed to an expense. process which combines reverse osmosis and de-ionization has been introduced to mines in remote areas with little access to fresh water. It cleans contaminated water in situations where recycling is critical for sustainability. According to the manufacturer, the process results in water quality suitable for crop irrigation ad acent to mines, which could be quite lucrative with bulk water valued at roughly ,000 per million litres.

30 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

n addition, new technology also exists that can accurately measure evaporation rates and reduce evaporation by up to 0 . s reported by Venture Magazine, this can save money on financial assurance bonds that often overestimate evaporation rates and reduce the number of new dams that need to be built. ith all these factors in play, it is nearly impossible and perhaps misleading to try to gauge the real impact of the costs of innovation on the minerals industry. However, some insight is possible. A brief survey of the purchase prices for machinery designed specifically for water treatment in ostmine s eclamation ost ervice shows an average increase of roughly from 011 to 0 1. or instance, a litre per minute capacity reverse osmosis plant that was reported to cost 110, 00 in 011 today is listed at 1 ,100. ccording to the . . epartment of abor, ureau of tatistics, the average purchase price for machinery in general increased roughly over that same time period. It is of course presumptuous to say that the difference in cost increases between water treatment machinery and machinery in general is attributable to focused innovation. It is also unlikely that the sampling from Costmine is fully representative of the water treatment machinery industry. ut water treatment is a growing field with a high demand for treatment options and it is certain that funds are spent designing and researching innovative techniques. hile there is obviously a cost associated with the research, development, and testing of newly imagined methods of transforming mine wastewater to a standard equal, or superior, to its original state, at first glance it appears as though these costs do impact the profitability of mineral development pro ects, although perhaps not significantly. he fact that many are designed to reduce the long-term operating costs in a way that may generate revenues and that at least some of the research and development expenditures can be shared by larger associated markets keep the expense of providing clean, usable water well within reason. CMJ n Scott Stebbins, P.E., is president of Aventurine Mine Cost Engineering and can be reached at aventsherp@aol.com. He is also a principal consultant at Costmine (www.costmine.com).

www.canadianminingjournal.com

IMAGE: JACOB WACKERHAUSEN/ISTOCK

In many parts of the world water is extremely scarce and the return of plant process effluent and mine wastewater to a useable form can represent a revenue stream, as opposed to an expense.

CLIMATE ADAPTATION | continued from page 15

‘The most challenging areas are those sites that were historically in a positive water balance that are now shifting towards a negative water balance. Those sites may not be as prepared as other sites in typically arid environments.’ reducing water demand have been integral parts of water management strategies for years.

The most challenging areas are those sites that were historically in a positive water balance that are now shifting towards a negative water balance. Those sites may not be as prepared as other sites in typically arid environments.

CMJ: Where do you see that shift happening?

SB: Parts of interior B.C. have started to see this shift, with drier summer periods and strains on water supply. The same trend can be seen across the Prairies as well. Smaller snowpack in winter followed by cyclical dry summers can result in a slow drain on water supply. The challenge for these sites is the cost and timeline to implement alternative water supply options, like pipelines or groundwater wells. The delay in getting these systems in place can result in a temporary loss of production.

CMJ: What other risks or challenges do miners need to consider when it comes to climate change?

SB: We often go straight to the extreme events like forest fires, droughts and floods when it comes to climate change.

But there are a lot of secondary risks that aren’t necessarily physical or eventdriven – changing regulations and policy, for example. As climate change knowledge continues to evolve, so do governments’ minimum requirements for mining companies. These changes can put mining companies at risk of becoming non-compliant – an operating site that suddenly has to contain or convey a larger flood event could require a lot of capital investment to get their systems up to the new codes.

There are also societal and market responses to climate change, which can produce risks and opportunities as JANUARY 2022

demand for certain products or energy sources increase or decrease.

Climate science is evolving very quickly, and there are risks that we haven’t characterized that will emerge over time. These risks, along with the risks we’ve already talked about, really emphasize how important it is to revisit climate change predictions and models every couple of years.

CMJ: What about new technologies, such as monitoring technologies, that are helping miners either assess or mitigate climate risks? How is technology helping?

SB: Mining is full of great examples of

technology to monitor climate. Some sites have implemented advanced weather forecasting systems so that they have more time to prepare for extreme events.

Another example is temperature monitoring sensors that can trigger active cooling systems for northern sites and infrastructure that rely on frozen ground conditions.

There are automated pumping systems with triggers based on specific water levels to facilitate water storage and water discharge. There have also been advancements in fire monitoring and modelling technologies, so it’s easier to track the progress of fires, and develop evacuation plans. Evaporation reducing strategies for water storage ponds, like floating covers or rock covers, have long been considered to control water supply.

None of these tools were specifically developed for climate change, but they can be used to help mitigate the risk.

Another type of tool that is widely used is probabilistic and stochastic modelling.

This type of statistical modelling is often included in mine site water balance models to evaluate water supply and water discharge rates, or hydrogeological models for effects assessments, or slope stability models for dams and pit walls.

These types of models allow us to test infrastructure and systems under a wide

range of condition, to see how resilient the system may be, or test how effective different mitigation measures might be.

There’s a lot of technology out there, but before implementing it, it’s important to really understand the problem. Once we understand which hazards will have a significant effect on operations, and how they may occur, we can choose the right technology to help address the issue.

CMJ: How proactive are mining companies being in addressing these risks? They’re seeing some impacts already, and obviously, the longer they wait to address those risks, the more expensive it will be later on.

SB: There has been a steady rise in interest for climate change risk assessments, starting with evaluating what the future climate will look like. The detail in the climate change models has been improving, which can give insight into not only the normal average conditions, but the extreme events as well. Permits for new mining sites or amendments require consideration of climate change, though the level of detail varies.

Sites that are nearing the end of their operating life in the next five to 10 years for example, aren’t as concerned with climate change effects on the infrastructure that will be decommissioned. But there’s a much bigger emphasis on climate change when mine sites are updating closure plans.

The Mining Association of Canada climate adaptation guidelines that came out this year have some really useful Canadian references about what tools to use, how to evaluate climate change, and how to develop adaptation strategies. They’ve also got an appendix of case studies, which is a great reference for miners to look at actual consequences and costs associated with some of these climate events – and without the cost implication, it’s hard to drive home the point.

With some of the events that have happened lately, we’ll probably see an increase in demand for developing adaptation strategies, because there is now quite a bit of information on the cost and consequence of some of these extreme events. And I imagine the interest will continue to increase because of regulatory pressure, community pressure, and Canadian commitments to adapting to climate change. CMJ CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 31

DECEMBER 2021 | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 12

ON THE MOVE

SPONSORED BY

ERIK BUCKLAND Senior Client Director Global Mining Recruitment

+1 416.854.8468 erik.buckland@lincolnstrategic.com W: www.lincolnstrategic.com M: E:

Executive, Management and Board Changes in Canada’s Mining Sector

MANAGEMENT MOVES

TOP MOVES IN THIS ISSUE

» Anglo American selected Duncan Wanblad to succeed Mark Cutifani as chief executive, effective Apr. 19. » David Ball has joined Cerrado Gold as VP business development.

David van Heerden

Marc-Andre Pelletier

David Van Heerden has been chosen by Ivanhoe Mines as its VP in charge of finance, treasury and tax.

He joined the company in 2011 and has assumed progressively senior responsibilities in finance.

Prior to joining Ivanhoe, he was in the assurance division of Ernst & Young in South Africa with a focus on mining and construction clients. He is a registered chartered accountant and holds an honours degree in chartered accountancy.

Marc-Andre Pelletier, a professional engineer with over 25 years’ experience, is joining Bonterra Gold as president and CEO, effective Jan 17. He was most recently COO at Wesdome Gold Mines, where he was instrumental in the restart of the Kiena gold mine.

Prior to that he was VP operations at St Andrew Goldfields, where he put three underground mines and one open pit mine into production in less than five years.

32 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL

Mark Wall

Mark Wall is the new president, CEO and a director of Mountain Province Diamonds. He has more than 25 years of experience in executive, commercial, operations and sustainability roles in the mining sector. He has been general manager of the Veladero open pit mine in Argentina, and also served in several VP roles at Barrick Gold.

Most recently he was CEO of Streamers Gold.

His academic credentials include business administration, management, risk management and project management.

» Dolly Varden Silver has strengthened its management team with the addition of Andrew Hamilton as senior geologist. » Shane Mele is now VP exploration at E79 Resources. » Fireweed Zinc has appointed Candy Chiang its new CFO. » Forty Pillars Mining named Derrick Strickland VP exploration. » The new CFO of Hanstone Gold is Jennifer L. Boyle.

She replaces Dong Shim, who will continue as corporate secretary and controller. » Hudbay Minerals has named Andre Lauzon as its senior VP and COO, effective Jan. 4. He currently works for the company in Arizona. » Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas welcomed Stan Park as president. He was formerly VP marketing and dealer development.

» Henry Chow has been named CFO of Millennium Silver, replacing Lonny Wong. » Heike Truol is the new chief commercial officer at MineHub Technologies. » Moneta Gold named Ardem Keshishian VP corporate development and Vince Deschamps director of sustainability. » The new CFO at Newcrest Mining is Sherry Huhe, replacing Gerard Bond. » Outcrop Silver & Gold has appointed Melissa Martensen as corporate secretary. » Quaterra Resources has appointed David Harvey VP exploration. » Railveyor has named Jim Hawkins formerly of Caterpillar, as the new CEO. » Ready Set Gold reported that Robert “Bob” Middleton, its VP exploration, has passed away. » Red Pine Exploration has appointed Jim O’Neill its CFO and corporate secretary.

» International Lithium has appointed Muhammad Memon as corporate secretary.

» Alex Carpenter has been named the new VP sustainability and reconciliation at S2 Minerals, and he has been given a seat on the board.

» KWG Resources has appointed Megan McElwain as president.

» Sharyn Alexander named president of Sun Summit Minerals. www.canadianminingjournal.com

BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS » John Clarke has joined the board of Alpha Exploration.

» Meridian Mining welcomed Susanne Sesselmann to the board.

» Kevin Wilson is joining the board of Solis Minerals.

» Bald Eagle named Darren Collins to its board.

» Nevada Canyon asked Robert (Bob) F. List and Alan Day to join the board.

» Mike Young and Zoya Shashkova are joining the board of Standard Uranium.

» Newmont has named two new directors, Emma FitzGerald and Mary Laschinger.

» Sun Summit Minerals appointed Pumi Parikh to its board of directors.

» Hongyu Cai joined the board of Barrick Gold as an independent director. » Clean Air Metals has named Shannin Metatawabin a director. » Frank Bain joined the boards of Cruz Battery Metals and Spearmint Resources. » Ken Owen is the newest board member at Cypress Development.

Donald Huston and Amanada Chow have resigned from the board. » FAR Resources nominated Mark Fedikow to the board. » Garry Billingsley has been appointed an independent director of Hanstone Gold.

» Johanna Fipke has joined the board of Nova Royalty as an independent director. » Royal Road Minerals asked Ana Gabriela Juarez to take a seat on its board.

» Arne Frandsen, managing director and co-founder of the Pallinghurst Group, and Frank Wheatley, CEO of Wheatley Advisors, are taking up seats on the board of Talon Metals. » Val-d’Or Mining offered Louis Doyle a seat on its board.

» Mark Billings was given a seat on the board of ScoZinc Mining. » Sherritt International asked Peter Hancock to join the board. » The newest director at Sienna Resources is Scott Jobin-Bevans.

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CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL | 33

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