CIM Magazine February 2024

A LONG WAY TOGETHER

EARTHMAX SR 43

No matter how challenging your needs, EARTHMAX SR 43 is your best ally when it comes to operations in severe rocky conditions, such as underground mining. Thanks to its All Steel Radial structure, EARTHMAX SR 43 provides excellent performance in Load and Carry operations in open pit mines. Also, its unique tread design offers superior traction and stability.

EARTHMAX SR 43 is BKT’s response to the demand of resistance to snags and punctures as well as a long service life.

Photo

Capture more with coarseAIR™

coarseAIR™ Flotation Cells significantly improve mineral recovery and allow for coarser grinding in your circuit. Increase plant throughput, overall recovery, and support your ESG goals of energy, water and tailings management with this REFLUX™ technology.

Explore more abou coarseAIR

Key features:

■ Increase plant throughput

■ Improve overall recovery

Visit FLS Booth #1205

What is being done to strengthen the resilience of critical minerals supply chains in Canada, and is it enough to reduce dependence on foreign sources?

By Graham Chandler

45 Preliminary Program

From circularity to the energy transition, CIM CONNECT 2025 will feature the latest innovations and insights transforming the minerals and energy sectors 40

Full charge ahead

New charging solutions for battery electric vehicles are paving the way for less operational downtime and greater productivity

By Tijana Mitrovic

25 Partnerships power Stobie mine revitalization

A collaborative approach to Vale’s Stobie project promises significant community benefits for the three First Nations involved

By Ashley Fish-Robertson

In each issue

7 Editor’s letter

9 President’s notes

Tools of the trade

10 The best in new technology

Compiled by Ashley Fish-Robertson

Developments

11 Major delivery for BHP Jansen project

Compiled by Silvia Pikal

12 Changing the culture at Rio Tinto

By Ashley Fish-Robertson

18 Buried treasure in mine waste

By Kelsey Rolfe

Columns

23 Mitigating geopolitical and credit risk in a volatile global landscape

By Chantal Brazeau

24 Demystifying the centrepiece of the mining disclosure rule

By James Whyte and Craig Waldie

Occupational health and safety

28 Experts warn about the littleknown adverse effects of occupational vibration exposure for mining workers

By Sarah St-Pierre

30 As more women enter the mining industry, better strategies are needed to protect them from reproductive hazards in the workplace

By Dinah Zeldin

33 Wenco’s Emily Tetzlaff discusses why heat management programs are increasingly important to protect the health and safety of mine workers

By Ailbhe Goodbody

CIM news

43 Dany Bélanger and Mélanie LaRoche-Boisvert talk about what to expect at CIM’s premier conference

By Michele Beacom

44 CIM’s new strategic plan aims to support the transformation of the mining industry

By Rosemary Mantini

44 CIM makes a strategic shift for its committees and societies

By Rosemary Mantini

Mining the archives

80 How an accidental discovery of salty water in a well led to the development of Nova Scotia’s salt industry

By Ailbhe Goodbody

Contenu francophone

71 Table des matières

71 Lettre de l’éditeur

73 Mot du président

Les actualités

74 Une usine de taille commerciale pourrait produire entre 5 et 10 % de gallium à l’échelle mondiale

Par Ashley Fish-Robertson

75 Dany Bélanger et Mélanie

LaRoche-Boisvert parlent de quoi nous attendre au congrès phare de l’ICM

Par Michele Beacom

Santé et sécurité au travail

77 Des experts préviennent des effets négatifs peu connus de l’exposition professionnelle aux vibrations pour les travailleurs du secteur minier

Par Sarah St-Pierre

New models for growth

We begin a new editorial cycle with this issue of CIM Magazine, which is just beginning its 20th year of publication. I have had the opportunity to help produce it for the last 15 years. Among the first lessons I learned was that the Canadian mining industry does not “fail fast.” Both the successes and failures of the industry unfold slowly. Years pass between when we write about the discovery of a novel and promising approach and when it becomes a reality.

My tenure is now proving long enough to see innovative projects and ideas I had first learned about in their early concepts and pilot stages become fully operational. For as long as I have been covering the industry, the question of how Indigenous communities in Canada can participate more equitably in this country’s resource sector has been one of those ideas that has animated panel discussions and inspired aspirational feature stories.

Recently, however, there have been indicators of progress. The creation of the majority Indigenous-owned public company Nations Royalty in February 2024, for example, has the potential to provide a more durable and diversified financial opportunity to Indigenous groups. Also last year, the Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba took full ownership of the Minago nickel project on its territory. Whether either of these developments bear fruit remains to be seen, but they demonstrate that roots of growth are developing.

Editor-in-chief Ryan Bergen, rbergen@cim.org

These developments have helped inspire a new editorial series we are launching in this issue. “Indigenous Participation in Mining” was conceived to explore the people and projects that are generating wins for both the communities most impacted by mineral resource development and for the industry eager to create value from these resources.

Our first piece, by Ashley Fish-Robertson, details a new partnership in Sudbury, and how a trio of First Nations who had no role to play in the initial development and operation of Vale’s Stobie mine are participating in its revitalization (see p. 25).

Another thing that I have learned in my time in the industry is that the network of our readership has a great view of the work happening on the ground, so if there is a story you would like our help in sharing, please reach out.

Ryan Bergen, Editor-in-chief editor@cim.org

Advertising Senior Account Executives

Managing editor Michele Beacom, mbeacom@cim.org

Senior editor Ailbhe Goodbody, agoodbody@cim.org

Section editor Silvia Pikal, spikal@cim.org

Contract writer Ashley Fish-Robertson, afrobertson@cim.org

Contributors Chantal Brazeau, Graham Chandler, Rosemary Mantini, Alice Martin, Tijana Mitrovic, Kelsey Rolfe, Sarah St-Pierre, Craig Waldie, James Whyte, Dinah Zeldin

Editorial advisory board Mohammad Babaei Khorzhoughi, Vic Pakalnis, Steve Rusk, Nathan Stubina

Translations Karen Rolland, karen.g.rolland@gmail.com

Layout and design Clò Communications Inc., communications.clo@gmail.com

Published 8 times a year by: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum 1040 – 3500 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West Westmount, QC H3Z 3C1 Tel.: 514.939.2710; Fax: 514.939.2714 www.cim.org; magazine@cim.org

Leesa Nacht, lnacht@cim.org, 289-221-3730 Dinah Quattrin, dquattrin@cim.org, 416-993-9636

Subscriptions

Online version included in CIM Membership ($215/yr). Print version for institutions or agencies – Canada: $275/yr (AB, BC, MB, NT, NU, SK, YT add 5% GST; ON add 13% HST; QC add 5% GST + 9.975% PST; NB, NL, NS, PE add 15% HST).

Print version for institutions or agencies – USA/International: US$325/yr. Online access to single copy: $50.

Copyright©2025. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1718-4177. Publications Mail No. 09786. Postage paid at CPA Saint-Laurent, QC.

Dépôt légal: Bibliothèque nationale du Québec. The Institute, as a body, is not responsible for statements made or opinions advanced either in articles or in any discussion appearing in its publications

Printed in Canada

This issue’s cover

A worker at Rio Tinto’s Laterrière smelter.

Courtesy of Rio Tinto

July 7-10, 2025

Montréal, Québec

For the first time, the 64th Conference of Metallurgy and Materials joins the 6th International Conference on Light Materials. Gain valuable knowledge and professional development hours by attending this conference.

Cutting-Edge Topics:

Alloy development and characterization

Sustainable metal supply: mining, processing, recycling

Innovations in manufacturing

Materials and processes for circularity in transport applications

Joining and multi-material design

Computational materials design and engineering

Materials for clean energy transition - hydrogen, magnets, batteries

Hosted by

CIM’s strategic vision for mining’s future

The mining industry stands on the brink of transformation, shaped by technological innovation, environmental imperatives, the energy transition and shifting societal expectations. To navigate these changes and thrive in this dynamic landscape, CIM has unveiled a bold strategic plan (see p. 44) that positions the sector to lead responsibly, adapt to emerging challenges and create a sustainable future.

CIM’s mission is clear: to cultivate knowledge, champion best practices and drive innovation that empowers our members, enhances public awareness and ensures responsible evolution of the industry. Framed by four strategic pillars, CIM’s new strategic plan outlines a path to excellence while staying deeply connected to the needs of our community and society:

1. Technical excellence: Mining has always been a technologydriven industry. This pillar emphasizes the pursuit of new

knowledge via innovation and the establishment of global benchmarks. By championing technical excellence, we aim to enhance operational efficiency, reduce environmental impact and elevate the industry’s contribution to society.

2. Strength and resilience of community: Our members are the heart of CIM, and their resilience and connection are vital to our success. This pillar focuses on fostering an inclusive, supportive and vibrant community where knowledge-sharing, collaboration and mutual growth thrive.

3. Mining in society: The essential role of mining in modern life is often underappreciated. This pillar aims to amplify the sector’s voice, advocating for its critical contributions to global progress while addressing the societal imperatives of sustainability, equity and responsibility.

4. Operational excellence: Excellence in governance and operations is essential to delivering on our strategic commitments. This pillar emphasizes embedding efficiency, accountability and adaptability at every level, ensuring we meet the needs of members and stakeholders effectively.

Our aspirations are ambitious yet grounded in practical action: to embrace innovation and excellence, forge connections and drive growth, and amplify the mining industry’s voice. These goals will be achieved through a phased execution across three horizons, starting in 2025.

The foundation of this delivery lies in four key principles:

• Financial resilience to ensure long-term stability to support bold initiatives.

• Communication and collaboration to foster transparency, inclusivity and alignment across all levels of the organization.

• Innovation to foster and embrace transformative ideas to stay ahead of the curve.

• Rapid and relevant delivery to address evolving challenges and opportunities with agility.

Our strategy will be delivered through a strong governance and operational structure. A dedicated core staff at the CIM national office will oversee consistency and focus using recently deployed tools, while vibrant branches across the country, led by accountable district vice-presidents, will drive grassroots engagement. Eleven societies reporting to the council will bring specialized expertise and local insight, overseen by four committees of CIM Council: executive, audit and risk, governance and compensation.

This robust framework will ensure that our strategy is not only aspirational but actionable, rooted in sound decisionmaking and collective accountability.

The mining industry has always been a cornerstone of human progress. As we look to the future, our strategic plan will help us build a sector that is innovative, resilient and aligned with societal values. Together, with our members and stakeholders, we will shape a mining industry that leads by example, meets the demands of today and sets the standard for tomorrow.

Ian Pearce CIM President

Courtesy of Ian Pearce

Safe tools for hazardous work

Denios has introduced a new line of non-sparking tools developed for high-risk environments across a range of industries including mining. These corrosion-resistant tools are made from high-quality non-ferrous materials, including aluminum bronze, phosphor bronze, brass and beryllium copper, which prevent spark generation. Unlike steel tools, which can generate sparks that may ignite air-gas mixtures, potentially leading to explosions, this non-sparking line enhances safety in environments with flammable vapours, gases or dust, reducing the risk of ignition, and mitigating ignition risks from combustible dust during mining activities. The new line includes wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, pliers and more.

Standardized rollers

Luff Industries recently released the North American Standard Roller (NAS) for conveyor systems. The company said that standardizing its roller allows customers to use it across all of their conveyor systems, which reduces operating and maintenance costs, saves time and boosts productivity. Standardization also ensures consistent product quality. The NAS is designed to fit various manufacturer frames and is available in five-inch C steel trough rolls for 24- to 48-inch-wide conveyor belts, all of which conform to the Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association’s standards. Each roller is equipped with sealed ball bearings from Swedish bearing and seal manufacturer SKF, as well as a durable polymer endcap and a dipped shell for protection against corrosion.

Compiled by Ashley Fish-Robertson

High-capacity banana screens

The Weir Group unveiled its new high-capacity ENDURON ELITE banana screens at last year’s MINExpo International in September 2024. Designed for large-scale hard rock mining operations, its newest double-deck banana screens (named for their curved shape) come in various sizes, with the largest weighing approximately 50 tonnes and featuring a deck that measures 4.3 metres wide by 8.5 metres long. The key feature of the screens is their new exciters. “This exciter, at the moment, is the largest exciter in terms of force output in the world, so it produces just over one million newtons of force,” said Corné Kleyn, global product manager for screens at The Weir Group, in an interview with CIM Magazine at MINExpo. Due to the large capacity of its new exciters, large screens can be driven with just two exciters instead of three, which Kleyn said is the industry standard. This improvement leads to simplified maintenance and streamlined inventory management. Integrating the screen with the company’s ENDURON high pressure grinding rolls can also lead to an approximate 40 per cent reduction in energy consumption in the flowsheet.

Courtesy of Denios

Courtesy of The Weir Group

Courtesy of Luff Industries

Developments

Major delivery for BHP Jansen project

Compiled by Silvia Pikal

BHP’s Jansen project will be receiving some massive equipment in the next few years. ABB announced on Dec. 9 that it will be delivering, installing and commissioning three friction hoists and an electrical system for a temporary Blair service hoist at the potash site near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

(continued on page 12)

BHP announced last summer that the first phase of its BHP Jansen project in Saskatchewan was halfway through construction and on track for first production in 2026.

Courtesy of

BHP Jansen

The service shaft and production shaft at the site have both been sunk to prepare for the hoisting systems. ABB has already begun installing the first two friction hoists to the service shaft, including the cage, along with a hydraulic braking system, electrical controls and powertrain for the Blair hoist.

The temporary Blair hoist will be in operation in the production shaft for two years before being replaced by a production hoist that ABB stated will have the largest production capacity in the world. According to the company, it can transport payloads of 75 tonnes. The hoist’s six ropes will be able to support heavy loads from depths of one kilometre underground at a maximum speed of 18.3 metres per second thanks to dual 7,700kilowatt motors. It is expected to be operational by 2027.

First production at Jansen is anticipated to begin in 2026. CIM

From the wire

Compiled by Ashley Fish-Robertson

Emma Chapman has been appointed by Teck Resources as its new vice-president (VP) of investor relations, having served as director of investor relations since 2023. With nearly 20 years of investor relations experience, Chapman will succeed Fraser Phillips, who is retiring this year. The company also shared that Colin Hamilton will join as VP of market research and economic analysis, beginning Feb. 17. Prior to this role, Hamilton served as managing director and commodities analyst at BMO Capital Markets.

Focus Graphite has appointed Dean Hanisch as its new president and chief executive officer (CEO), replacing Marc Roy, who served as CEO for the last four years. Hanisch is an experienced entrepreneur with 30 years of experience helping companies across various industries grow, including leading the growth and sale of Paramount Gold and Silver Corp.

Éric Tremblay has resigned from his role as chief operations officer (COO) at Osisko Development to focus on other professional opportunities within the mining industry. The company has commenced its search for Tremblay’s successor, with David Rouleau, who was recently appointed VP of project development, offering leadership support during the transition period.

Changing the culture

A recent Rio Tinto progress report highlights improvements made to its workplace culture, alongside ongoing challenges at the company’s global work sites

By Ashley Fish-Robertson

A progress report released by Rio Tinto on Nov. 20, 2024, highlighted its ongoing challenges in improving working conditions for its employees since the company began an overhaul of its culture three years ago.

The progress report found that while Rio Tinto’s response to its landmark publication, the 2022 Everyday Respect Report, is gaining momentum in the company and helping to foster a more inclusive workforce, significant work remains to eliminate sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination and other concerning behaviours from its work sites.

The initial 2022 study, which spanned eight months and involved input from over 10,000 people, found bullying, sexism and racism to be systemic at Rio Tinto work sites. The progress report stated that 39 per cent of survey respondents had experienced bullying in the past 12 months, up from 31 per cent in 2021. The report highlighted a notable increase in bullying, particularly against women, which the report stated is linked to several factors, including retaliation following Rio Tinto’s inclusivity efforts. Other troubling statistics include eight reports of actual or attempted

instances of sexual assault and rape (up from five in 2021), 32 cases of pressure for sex or sexual acts (a slight decrease from 37 in 2021), with the majority involving women. Additionally, seven per cent of participants reported sexual harassment (unchanged from 2021), and seven per cent reported racism, consistent with survey results collected in 2021.

“People are still experiencing behaviours and attitudes in our company that are unacceptable and harmful,” said Jakob Stausholm, chief executive officer (CEO) at Rio Tinto, in a Nov. 24, 2024 press release.

“I am greatly troubled by this and sincerely apologize on behalf of our leadership team to anyone affected. I want to thank everyone across our business who has shown the courage to speak up, as your honesty will guide our ongoing efforts to become an organization where every day is safe, respectful and productive for everyone.”

Two separate class action lawsuits filed by law firm JGA Saddler in December 2024 against Rio Tinto and BHP allege systemic sexual harassment and gender discrimination at their Australian mining sites, with claims that women were knowingly sent to unsafe, remote locations and also faced retaliation for reporting abuse.

To collect feedback from employees for the Rio Tinto progress report, a third party made on-site visits to Rio Tinto sites in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Mongolia, conducted an online survey and several listening sessions and collected written submissions.

Courtesy of Rio Tinto

A long road ahead

Beth Borody is the CEO and founder of Femina Collective, a social enterprise launched in 2020 to empower women in mining and related sectors. The organization provides mentorship, networking, learning and professional development opportunities to support women’s growth and success in the industry.

“The industry’s initial embrace of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has waned, with these principles increasingly viewed as burdensome rather than beneficial to business,” Borody said in an email to CIM Magazine. “This shift in perception is detrimental; it suggests a retreat from the commitment to creating genuinely inclusive workplaces. To foster real change, the industry must recommit to DEI, recognizing it not just as a moral imperative but as a cornerstone of sustainable business practice.”

Borody explained that the release of Rio Tinto’s Everyday Respect Report in 2022 was a pivotal moment for the mining industry, as it represented a rare admission from one of the world’s leading mining companies that there were issues

“While I commend Rio Tinto for its ongoing commitment to transparency, it’s crucial that the industry as a whole takes these insights as a mandate to enact meaningful and urgent reforms.”

– Beth Borody, Femina Collective

within the organization and that it needed to change its culture.

“This transparency was not just about Rio Tinto but served as a broader reflection on longstanding issues that many in the industry have voiced for decades,” she wrote. “While I commend Rio Tinto for its ongoing commitment to transparency, it’s crucial that the industry as a whole takes these insights as a mandate to enact meaningful and urgent reforms.”

She believes that by doing so, mining companies can better support their workforce and foster environments where respect and dignity are paramount.

In response to the results from the 2022 report, Rio Tinto agreed to implement 26 recommendations in an attempt to prevent and address discrimination and unacceptable workplace behaviours, including ensuring women and minority groups are provided with adequate safety and support, establishing a diverse mentoring panel, and conducting traumainformed, confidential investigations into harmful behaviour.

Positive findings from the 2024 progress report include the successful implementation of 17 out of the 26 recommendations, the continued execution of the remaining recommendations, and greater empowerment among employees to speak out about problematic behaviours. Around half of survey respondents reported they perceived significant progress in combatting bullying, sexual harassment and racism.

Susan Lomas, founder and president of Mine Shift Foundation, a non-profit

mines since 1962.

Voisey’s Bay Mine, Canada

society focused on eradicating all forms of harassment from the mining industry, commended Rio Tinto for conducting and sharing its workplace culture inquiry. Lomas noted that despite unchanged or increased incidents of bullying, sexual harassment and racism at Rio Tinto since the initial report, the rise in reporting could indicate greater trust in the organization.

“It suggests that people are better at recognizing inappropriate behaviours and feel more confident in sharing their experiences,” she said in an email to CIM Magazine. “Hopefully other organizations can see the power in building trust through transparency. They can use that to understand and name the issues they are facing, to consult with their workforce and believe their experiences. Other companies can learn from Rio Tinto’s experiences that employees are facing safety issues at work that need to be addressed.”

Rio Tinto’s recent progress report engaged 1,318 employees in virtual and in-person listening sessions, 10,056 participants in an online survey and 342 individuals who submitted written contributions. The progress report, led by Elizabeth Broderick, former Australian sex discrimination commissioner, builds on the 2022 Everyday Respect Report, which her team also oversaw.

Updated uranium leading practice guidelines

The CIM Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (MRMR) Committee has updated its Uranium Leading Practice Guidelines for the first time in more than two decades. The new guidelines, approved in late November by CIM Council, expand on the original document, which was published in 2003, and are intended as a complement to CIM’s Mineral Resource Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines.

The committee recognized the need for additional guidance on uranium due to the grade information that can be gathered from its radioactive properties and the need for more guidance pertaining to deposits amenable to in-situ recovery (ISR).

Al Renaud, a professional geoscientist and chair of the CIM Uranium Leading Practice Guidelines subcommittee, noted

Looking forward

“Building on the 26 Everyday Respect recommendations, and guided by the insight from the progress [report], Rio Tinto has shaped the next stage of its plan to further embed existing interventions and accelerate change focused around three priority areas: equipping frontline leaders to drive change, building buy-in for change across all areas of our workforce, and securing and retaining diverse talent,” said Rio Tinto in an email to CIM Magazine

Rio Tinto outlined several key actions for the future, including implementing values, mindsets and behaviours training for all operational and site leadership teams by 2026, improving the reporting and resolution process for harmful behaviours by reducing timeframes and increasing transparency, and by integrating ongoing feedback through its four employee resource groups (expanding to eight this year), village councils and biannual people surveys.

The company wrote in the statement that it also offers several resources for employees facing bullying, discrimination or harassment, including the independent Business Conduct Office, which handles misconduct reports confidentially using a trauma-informed approach; myVoice, a confidential whistleblower program; and over 20 village councils

offering safe platforms for raising concerns within company-managed camps and offices.

Industry insights

From her own experience, Lomas said she has observed an improved harmonization of language and understanding of harmful behaviour in the mining industry today, namely since Mine Shift’s inception in 2018.

“When we started our organization, terms like ‘psychological safety’ were not widely known, but now they are common across most industries,” she wrote. Despite this progress, Lomas believes that advancing inclusivity and diversity is not just about increasing numbers; it’s about creating a safe and respectful workplace where everyone can fully participate, especially those who, historically, were excluded.

She added that the talent shortage in mining reflects how women, newcomers and recent graduates are less likely to pursue careers in mining compared to other industries and believes that DEI efforts should focus on creating safe experiences to attract and retain underrepresented communities.

“To make lasting progress, we must ensure that all employees, regardless of gender or background, have equal opportunities for advancement and a safe, supportive work environment,” she wrote. CIM

Canada’s status as the second largest producer and exporter of uranium globally has underscored the importance of updating the CIM MRMR Committee’s Uranium Leading Practice Guidelines. These updates are essential to ensure that industry practices align with current production methods, such as in-situ recovery.

that although the 2003 guidelines covered ISR, at the time, this method was not as prevalent or important to global uranium production as it is today.

“[ISR] makes up the majority of uranium production and is significantly different than conventional underground or open-pit mining methods in that the

uranium is solubilized in place and pumped to the surface,” Renaud said in an interview with CIM Magazine.

Clear guidelines are important for uranium for a number of reasons, explained Renaud. The type of data collected and the methods used to estimate mineral resources and mineral reserves can vary depending on how the uranium is ultimately extracted. He added that the updated guidelines are particularly timely as the increasing global demand for electricity has led to a resurgence in nuclear power, a reliable source of carbon-free energy.

“We are seeing significantly more activity in the uranium exploration and mining sectors,” Renaud said in a followup email to CIM Magazine. “We hope the guidelines will help practitioners, and that key components are factored in and/or given consideration as part of their estimation processes.” Renaud added that uranium’s radioactive nature allows unique opportunities in the collection of grade data, but it also presents additional environmental, health and safety challenges that need to be considered.

Refreshing the guidelines took the committee a little over two years to finalize. Renaud stated that during this time, the committee, which comprised six individuals with backgrounds in uranium mining, exploration and consulting, met about once a month. Several authors from the 2003 uranium guidelines contributed to the update.

The updated guidelines are available through mrmr.cim.org and OneMine.org.

– Ashley Fish-Robertson

B.C. company gets federal funds to test microwave tech

Natural Resources Canada (NRC) announced on Nov. 28, 2024, that it will grant over $1.8 million in funding to Vancouver-headquartered Arca Climate Technologies Inc. to further develop its technology that uses microwave radiation to enhance the carbon capture capacity of minerals in ultramafic tailings.

The funding was part of $12.5 million awarded to six projects in British Columbia

A power change that changes everything.

that aim to develop clean technologies that could mitigate carbon emissions from industrial activities.

Arca discovered that applying microwave radiation to tailings accelerates, or “activates,” carbon mineralization, a natural geochemical process that occurs when certain rocks or minerals are weathered and exposed to the air, where they combine with CO2 in the atmosphere to form stable carbonate minerals. This chemical reaction is particularly strong in ultramafic rock as it is rich in magnesium and iron, which makes it highly reactive to CO2.

Nickel deposits are commonly found in ultramafic rock, especially in Canada and Australia, and the enormous amounts of tailings from nickel mines already naturally capture and store CO2.

For its microwave-based mineral activation technology, Arca focuses on a specific group of minerals in the tailings, called serpentine minerals, to accelerate the carbon mineralization process.

“The most interesting category of minerals [in the tailings] is serpentine; these are hydrous silicate minerals that contain

a lot of magnesium,” said Needham. “But given the structure of the mineral, the molecular bonds are strong. The magnesium does not readily leach or react with CO2 and yet it’s highly abundant. The mine waste might be 80 per cent serpentine, so there’s a lot of potential there [for carbon capture and storage].”

“Microwaves heat from the inside out, and the water component of the serpentine mineral absorbs the microwave energy first, then dehydroxylates— which is sort of like dehydration,” Needham added. “As a result, the water component is released from the serpentine mineral, which in turn breaks the chemical bonds with the magnesium, and therefore we’re liberating the magnesium by using this microwave energy.”

The federal funding from NRC will allow Arca to scale up its mineral activation technology and go from processing kilograms of tailings on a batch basis once a month at its site in Vancouver, to processing tonnes of tailings continuously throughout the month.

“Canada, and British Columbia in particular, have an enormous potential and a very large supply of serpentine. Within the top kilometre of [the bedrock in] British Columbia, there’s enough serpentine to capture hundreds of billions of tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere. The scale of the opportunity is massive.”

– Paul Needham, Arca

“To date, what we have is a large prototype where we can process kilograms of material at a time,” said Needham.

“What this funding is allowing us to do is to develop a flow-through reactor.”

Scaling up its prototype will also allow Arca to better test its technology. “[We’ll] have much better data about the effectiveness of this technology and the appropriateness of this technology for different mine sites,” he said.

According to Needham, the funding will help Arca bring its prototype from a technology-readiness level four to a level six.

“That takes us closer to a design that would be deployable,” said Needham. “Technology-readiness level six for us would be the scale and functionality that we could potentially take it to a mine site and do a pilot. So, all of the coarse subcomponents are integrated into a system. Each of the components may be operating at too small of a scale, but [would allow] us to test an integrated system.”

Still, working with microwaves—and getting them to apply evenly to the tailings—is tricky, according to Needham.

gold annually during its first decade of operation and the project’s capital costs are estimated to be around $1 billion. The company also reported a record 567,000 ounces of gold produced in 2024, marking a seven per cent increase from the previous year.

Equinox Gold has reported record gold production, with 213,906 ounces produced in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 621,870 ounces for the full year. The company consolidated 100 per cent ownership of the Greenstone mine in Ontario last year, which achieved commercial production in November 2024.

In case you missed it, here’s some notable news since the last issue of CIM Magazine, which is just a sample of the news you’ll find in our weekly recap emailed to our newsletter subscribers.

Iamgold produced 667,000 ounces of gold in 2024, up 43 per cent from 2023, fuelled by the ramp-up of its Côté Gold mine in northern Ontario (pictured) and

strong performance at its Essakane gold mine in Burkina Faso. For 2025, Iamgold anticipates a total gold production of 885,000 to 980,000 ounces, with an allin sustaining cost of US$1,625 to US$1,800 per ounce.

Alamos Gold will start construction on its Lynn Lake gold project in Manitoba this year and is targeting first production for the first half of 2028. Lynn Lake is expected to produce 176,000 ounces of

Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson has proposed a joint investment with the U.S. to boost Teck Resources’ germanium production at its Trail smelter in B.C. Wilkinson emphasized the importance of collaboration to reduce reliance on China after the country’s export ban on germanium to the U.S. was announced in late 2024. Wilkinson also pushed for G7 discussions on metals pricing, with the aim of countering China’s market influence and providing stability for investors in critical minerals.

“In a batch scale is one thing, [but] doing that in a continuous flow while the material is moving along is another,” said Needham. “You’re also now handling very hot material and in larger volume. It’s about heating rocks to over 650 degrees Celsius and doing it very fast. One of the challenges we had was simply getting enough clean power to our facility. We had to upgrade our power from BC Hydro to ensure we’re getting enough power to run the experiments.”

Although Arca’s mineral activation technology is well suited for nickel mines, the company is also looking to deploy its technology in tailings from chromite, diamond and asbestos mines, as these deposits are also found in ultramafic rock and are rich in serpentine.

“There’s a lot of legacy asbestos mine waste, so we are looking at some really interesting opportunities there too,” said Needham. “This mineral activation technology that we’re talking about—the microwave-based technology—not only captures more CO2, [but] it also destroys

Barrick Gold announced on Jan. 14 that it will temporarily suspend mining operations in Mali after the local government seized around three tonnes of gold stocks, valued at approximately US$245 million, from its LouloGounkoto complex The gold was transported to the state-owned Banque Malienne de Solidarité.

West Red Lake Gold Mines has secured a loan of up to US$35 million to help restart the shuttered Madsen gold mine in Ontario. The company released a prefeasibility study for the project and anticipates that it will begin production mining and milling ramp-up in the second quarter of this year.

Quebec’s public consultation agency has declared Ressources Falco’s proposed Horne 5 gold-silver-copper-zinc project, which would be located beneath the city of Rouyn-Noranda, to be “unacceptable,” citing a lack of sufficient data on risks and impacts. The agency’s report highlighted concerns about blasting and seismic activity risks, which it said could affect the local population and the city’s radiation oncology centre. Ressources Falco, which is aiming to

Developments

the asbestos. So, [there is] opportunity here for site remediation.”

Arca’s mineral activation technology works independently from its smart churning technology, which uses rovers to move over the surface of tailings,

start production by 2030, pledged to address the safety concerns, which includes forming a committee tasked with ensuring that the project’s operations would not impact the radiation oncology centre.

Champion Iron announced that Nippon Steel and Sojitz will purchase a 49 per cent stake in its Kamistiatusset open-pit iron ore project in Newfoundland and Labrador for $245 million. Nippon will gain a 30 per cent stake, and Sojitz 19 per cent. The project could receive up to $490 million in future funding from Nippon and Sojitz. The project’s feasibility study is expected to be done by mid-2026.

Calibre Mining has discovered more gold near its under-construction open-pit Valentine project in Newfoundland and Labrador, which bolsters its hope of starting a new gold district in the area. Project construction for Valentine is 85 per cent complete and it is on track for first gold pour in the second quarter of 2025.

Canada Nickel has filed an impact statement with the federal govern-

churn up the surface and expose the minerals to air. Since December 2023, Arca has been piloting its smart churning technology to capture carbon at BHP’s Nickel West mine at Mount Keith in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

ment for its Crawford nickel sulfide project near Timmins, Ontario, a key step that keeps it on schedule to secure permits and make a construction decision. In late 2024, the Canadian government announced conditionally approved funding for five projects in the Sudbury and Timmins regions of Ontario, with the Crawford project eligible for $6.8 million to progress a power transmission line and advance electrification studies, the latter of which it expects to complete in 2025.

Sign up for our newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest mining developments with our weekly news recap, where we catch you up on the most relevant and topical mining news from CIM Magazine and elsewhere you might have missed.

Serpentinite is a common form of ultramafic rock that is rich in serpentine minerals and can naturally mineralize atmospheric CO2.

Photo: Dave Zeko

While they are separate technologies, according to Needham, they can support each other. “After we microwave the material and activate the minerals, then the material would be out on the tailings storage facility,” he explained. “Then we would start churning it as well to further increase [the] rate of capture.”

Needham believes that Canada has the opportunity to be a world leader in carbon dioxide removal and an exporter of carbon capture and storage technologies.

“Canada, and British Columbia in particular, have an enormous potential and a very large supply of serpentine,” he said. “Within the top kilometre of [the bedrock in] British Columbia, there’s enough serpentine to capture hundreds of billions of tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere. The scale of the opportunity is massive.”

– Alice Martin

Mark Tory has joined Defense Metals Corp. as CEO and will lead the company’s development of the Wicheeda rare earth element project in B.C. Tory previously worked in various leadership roles, including as chief financial officer (CFO), then CEO, of Northern Minerals and managing director of Crescent Gold Ltd. Tory succeeds past CEO Craig Taylor, who resigned in August 2024 to pursue other opportunities.

NorthWest Copper has appointed Paul Olmsted as CEO. From 2016 to 2023, Olmsted was CFO at Superior Gold, and before that, he served as senior VP of corporate development at Iamgold from 2002 to 2014.

Leanora Brett has resigned from her role as interim CFO at EnGold, but will remain as the company’s corporate secretary. Dale Reimer, the company’s director, will take over as CFO on an interim basis until the position has been filled.

Matthew Schwab has joined Stallion Uranium as CEO, replacing Drew Zimmerman, who held the position from October 2020 to November 2024. Before this new role, Schwab held the position of president and CEO of Kraken Energy Corp., a uranium exploration and development company.

Electra Battery Metals has appointed Marty Rendall as its new CFO following the retirement of David Allen. Rendall served as CFO at Victoria Gold from 2007 to 2024 prior to accepting this new position.

Buried treasure

Ontario’s new regulation aims to facilitate the recovery of minerals from mine waste, but many hurdles remain, experts say

By Kelsey Rolfe

Ontario is becoming the first jurisdiction in Canada to have a dedicated regulatory pathway for projects aimed at recovering residual metals and minerals from mine waste.

Experts said the move is a promising step, but technical and economic hurdles still stand in the way of wide-scale waste re-mining efforts.

The province announced a regulatory change to the Mining Act in late November 2024 to create a permit process specifically for recovering metals and minerals from tailings and mine waste at open, closed or abandoned mine sites in the province.

The change will go into effect in July and will require permit applicants to submit recovery and remediation plans that detail how they propose to recover minerals and how they would remediate the land to a state that is “comparable to or better than” it was before. The government may require financial assurance as a condition of granting the permit, and noted projects will not be

exempt from other provincial or federal requirements.

Certain lands will be excluded from potential mineral recovery activities, such as former uranium or asbestos mines with high environmental risks, or areas of the province that the government has spent money to rehabilitate.

A “rare” opportunity

George Pirie, the province’s mines minister, told CIM Magazine in an interview that the province believes there are substantial stores of critical minerals currently bound up in slag dumps. The province has estimated that there are “hundreds” of potential sites that host tailings or waste rock that could be available for mineral recovery. “Metallurgy and processing has changed significantly and recoveries have increased significantly. There was quite a lot of valuable material that was left in the ground,” he said.

Pirie said that one of the potential prizes is being able to extract rare earth

An aerial view of an abandoned silver mine in northern Ontario. The Ontario goverment has introduced a regulation to simplify recovering residual metals and minerals sourced from mine waste at operating, closed or abandoned sites.

“The opportunity, especially in these base metal mines, to recover rare earths is imperative.”

– George Pirie, MPP

elements (REEs) from mine waste. REEs are used in electric vehicles, wind turbines and consumer electronics, and roughly two-thirds of global production came from China in 2023, according to the United States Geological Survey.

“If the Chinese embargoed those rare earths right now, we would not be able to produce or manufacture any electric motors here. The opportunity, especially in these base metal mines, to recover those rare earths is imperative,” he said. “These areas will have infrastructure around them—smelting and refineries. There’s an urgency to develop this capacity.”

Some Ontario companies have started to explore the possibility. Junior com-

pany Nord Precious Metals Mining Inc., which in August announced it was seeking permits to reprocess the tailings of the historic Castle silver mine north of Sudbury, said in a Dec. 2 press release that it is “positioned to be [a] first mover” to take advantage of Ontario’s new strategy.

Vale granted $875,000 over five years to the Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corporation (MIRARCO) at Laurentian University in March 2023 to support its research into biomining and bioremediation, as well as efforts to recover nickel and cobalt from pyrrhotite tailings. BacTech Environmental has also partnered with MIRARCO to develop a bioleaching pilot plant in Sudbury to recover nickel, cobalt, green iron and sulfur from mine tailings.

However, the economics may not be there yet for many companies. Aynsley Foss, manager of issues and policy for the Ontario Mining Association, said that while the association approved of the regulatory change and was heavily involved in consultations and workshops

with the provincial mines ministry and that its members have started to look at the possibility of recovering minerals from their tailings in recent years, “at this point, it’s not super economically feasible to do these types of projects.”

Pirie acknowledged that some commodity prices have slumped, “but we think those price slumps are relatively artificial.”

More potential for waste re-mining

Karen Chovan, founder and CEO of Enviro Integration Strategies Inc., and the lead of the Tailings Working Group for CIM’s Environmental and Social Responsibility Society, told CIM Magazine in an interview that she hopes to see more provinces make similar regulatory changes. She thinks the new regulation could open the door to smaller players, like independent technology or processing companies, that want to explore potential mineral value in closed or abandoned mines. She noted language in the act now specifies that a recovery permit does

not constitute the assumption of liability to rehabilitate a site and address all mine hazards.

“In the past, the minute you touch it, it’s on your plate if you do anything to it—even sampling was a problem, from what I heard,” she said. “[Previously,] if you had done some economics on tailings reprocessing and it looked like a good thing, but you later realized there’s an underlying environmental problem you never knew anything about, now you’re liable for that and all the good things you intended just put you in debt.”

Chovan said the language requiring applicants to remediate to a quality that is at least comparable to the site’s existing state also creates more potential for companies to engage in waste re-mining. A previous draft of the regulation allowed for re-mining only if remediation left the site in better condition than before. “In many cases, there’s an opportunity to go in and reprocess, but you may not be able to get rid of historic contamination problems that are already there. But you could fix the source and get rid of the source, so that opens a lot of opportunity,” she said.

A lack of historical data

Jamie Kneen, MiningWatch Canada’s outreach coordinator and Canada program co-lead, told CIM Magazine in an interview that the organization wants to see companies recover residual metals to improve the efficiency of mineral extraction and also as a way of minimizing environmental contamination. But he said companies looking into abandoned or closed sites may have little information on what has been left behind.

“From older operations, where they might’ve changed hands a few times, those records might not be there. We might need more of an inventory,” he said. “From a policy perspective, the province could be doing that work.”

Pirie said he expects consultants are currently “poring through” the province’s Abandoned Mines Information System, a database of past-producing mines that includes information on when they were in operation and the number of tonnes produced. However, he acknowledged the database does not include information on the mines’ recovery rates.

Operating mining companies will have a good understanding of the contents and geochemistry of their tailings, Chovan said.

However, even if companies have information on a past-producing site, that may no longer be accurate after years of weathering and leaching, she said. She also noted that characterizing tailings will be “more difficult” than characterizing ore bodies, because valu-

able minerals often end up in soft slimes: “It’s hard to tell where different commodities might actually be.”

Chovan also noted that any eventual recovery operations will need to have mills that can handle fluctuating material grades. CIM

Global protectionism on the rise

New research from global risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft indicated an uptick in protectionism across 72 countries, as governments aim to secure access to critical minerals. The research was included in the company’s Political Risk Outlook report, released on Dec. 12, and highlighted an unprecedented surge in state interventionism, not seen in western democracies since the early 20th century, which the company said is fuelled by concerns regarding national security and the resilience of supply chains.

To conduct this research, Verisk Maplecroft used its Resource Nationalism Index (RNI), which is updated on a quarterly basis and used to measure and compare the data that shows the trajectory of these risks as far back as 2016. The RNI, which monitors protectionism and interventionism in energy and mining across 198 countries, revealed a notable rise in protectionist policies over the last five years, particularly in Europe and North America.

According to Verisk Maplecroft, this shift is driven by governments in these regions taking action to secure access to critical minerals, fuelled by growing national security concerns over strategic industries in the face of geopolitical tensions.

“While Canada remains a low-risk jurisdiction on Verisk Maplecroft’s Resource Nationalism Index, it has experienced a very significant increase in risk since the fourth quarter of 2019,” said Jimena Blanco, chief analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, in an email to CIM Magazine

“Resource nationalism in Canada is primarily driven by a desire to counter China’s dominance in the critical minerals sector, with the new legislation [Bill C-34] likely to encourage mining [corporations] and investors to further self-regulate or even voluntarily step back from operations involving Chinese entities,” explained Robert Munks, head of Americas research at Verisk Maplecroft, in an email to CIM Magazine.

Bill C-34, which was passed into law in March 2024, addresses national security concerns, a major factor behind

Growing protectionism is reshaping global trade, with new policies on critical minerals impacting mining industries and supply chains, especially in regions like North America and Europe.

Chris Linnett/Unsplash

resource nationalism, and will now subject critical minerals to more rigorous national security reviews—impacting both operations and investments within the mining industry.

The bill aims to increase the government’s power to review investments by foreign state-owned enterprises and introduces a pre-closing notification regime for non-Canadians proposing acquisitions of Canadian businesses in critical sectors.

Amended changes to the Investment Canada Act came into effect in September 2024, tightening guidelines in an effort to deter foreign takeovers of domestic critical minerals miners, which mostly impacts larger companies. The recent changes introduce a more stringent approval process for foreign acquisitions of Canadian mining companies engaged in significant critical minerals operations, with deals only being approved in “the most exceptional of circumstances” according to Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne.

“This trend towards widening the national security criteria relevant to mining will mean higher compliance costs and longer permitting processes for mining companies where their operations or investments are deemed to present a risk,” Munks wrote. “Longer project lead times may be incurred due to

enhanced due diligence and compliance record-keeping requirements.”

At the time of print, U.S. President Donald Trump was threatening to implement 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian imports. In 2018, during his first term, 25 per cent tariffs were imposed on Canadian steel, along with a 10 per cent tax on Canadian aluminum products. The federal government stated it would retaliate with tariffs on American goods and potentially an oil export ban.

Munks noted that any tariffs imposed would almost certainly have consequences for the Canadian mining industry through pressure from the regions and provinces to curtail critical minerals exports to the U.S.

He added that any further increase in protectionism and interventionism in Canada would lead to greater uncertainty in the mining sector, making it harder for investors to predict long-term returns in a sector that already has long timelines in the development of new projects.

When considering how Canada’s regulatory actions and foreign investment restrictions may affect the future, he explained that protectionist measures, such as tariffs on imported mining equipment or restrictions on foreign ownership, may deter foreign investors by creating a hostile or unpredictable regulatory environment,

Developments

while simultaneously encouraging investment from domestic entities or companies more adept at navigating the evolving landscape.

Looking to the future, Munks believes that interventionist policies may require more comprehensive consultation with Indigenous communities, potentially leading to more inclusive development models. He also added that if protectionist policies focus on regional development and domestic job creation, the mining sector might see greater local economic benefits. However, the regional focus could create uneven opportunities across provinces or territories.

– Ashley Fish-Robertson

Rio Tinto investigates gallium production in Quebec

Rio Tinto shared on Dec. 13 that it is exploring the extraction and valorization of gallium from the bauxite processed at its Vaudreuil alumina refinery in Saguenay, Quebec, the only refinery of its kind in Canada, as part of an ongoing research and development initiative.

Should the preliminary phase of technology development prove successful, the company plans to construct a demonstration plant in Saguenay to

Mineral Economics and Mine ManagementInformed Mine Asset Valuation for Sustainable Returns Under Risk and Cyclicality

INSTRUCTOR Mustafa Kumral, McGill University, Canada • PLACE Montreal, Canada • DATE September 17-19, 2025

Strategic Mine Planning with New Digital Technologies, Risk Management and Mineral Value Chains

INSTRUCTOR Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University • PLACE Montreal, Canada • DATE September 24-26, 2025

Geostatistical Evaluation of Mineral Resources and their Uncertainty under the New Regulatory Environment

INSTRUCTORS David F. Machuca, SRK Consulting and Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University • PLACE Montreal, Canada • DATE September 29-October 3, 2025

showcase extraction technology capable of producing up to 3.5 tonnes of gallium annually. Primary gallium, which is recovered from alumina ore, is used in the production of integrated circuits, which are crucial for technologies such as radar, smartphones, electric vehicles and laptops.

40

Amount of gallium that could be produced annually by a commercialscale plant, in tonnes

US$595

Price of gallium per kilogram on Dec. 13

$7 million

Amount the Quebec government has pledged to support developing the demonstration plant

This news comes not long after China’s Dec. 3 announcement regarding an immediate export ban on gallium, germanium and antimony to the U.S. in response to new U.S. restrictions on advanced technology sales to China. Shortly after the news, on Dec. 13, gallium prices spiked to their highest levels since 2011, reaching US$595 per kilogram.

In 2022, all primary gallium for semiconductor production was sourced from outside of Canada. Recognizing the need to develop a domestic supply,

the Government of Quebec has pledged up to $7 million to support the development of the demonstration plant.

“I’m delighted to support this project, which promotes the acquisition of cuttingedge knowledge in the transformation of gallium, a critical and strategic metal in Quebec and around the world,” said Maïté Blanchette Vézina, Quebec’s minister of natural resources and forestry, in a Dec. 13 press release from Rio Tinto. “Today’s announcement is directly in line with our government’s vision of a circular economy, wealth creation in a greener economy and Quebec’s influence as a world leader in critical and strategic minerals.”

According to Rio Tinto, a commercialscale plant could have an extraction potential of 40 tonnes per year, which would account for between five and 10 per cent of global gallium production. Neo Performance Materials, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, is currently the only gallium producer in North America, with a facility located in Peterborough, Ontario, where it uses recycling to retrieve the metal.

Malika Cherry, senior advisor of media relations for Rio Tinto Canada and U.S., told CIM Magazine in an email that in the coming months, the company will develop the gallium extraction process from its alumina refining operations and will then conduct pilot tests. She noted that while the demonstration plant is being built, Rio Tinto teams will continue to work on the next research and development steps.

Gordana Slepcev is the new CEO of Lomiko Metals. She was previously the company’s COO and brings with her over 25 years of global mining experience, including serving as COO of Anaconda Mining from 2017 to 2020. Lomiko Metals has shared that it does not plan to fill the COO role.

As part of the expansion of its leadership team, Osisko Metals has hired Don Njegovan as its new president. Njegovan most recently served as Osisko Mining Inc.’s COO prior to its sale to Gold Fields Ltd. in October 2024 and brings with him over 30 years of experience in the mining industry. Blair Zaritsky will join Osisko Metals as its CFO, replacing Anthony Glavac. Zaritsky most recently served as CFO of Osisko Mining.

Cindy Davis has been appointed as the CFO of Mines D’Or Orbec Inc. Davis previously served in several CFO roles with various junior mining resource companies. Davis’s appointment follows Alain Lévesque’s departure from the role in November 2024. Lévesque accepted a position with Abcourt Mines as its new CFO.

Mathieu Savard has taken on the role of president and CEO at Vior. He brings with him executive experience from Osisko Mining and was part of the Virginia Gold Mines team that discovered the Éléonore gold deposit discovery, as well as the Lynx Zone deposit at Osisko’s Windfall project. Savard succeeds Mark Fedosiewich, who has held the position since 2017, and has transitioned to the role of chairman of the company’s board.

Silvana Costa has been appointed as Orla Mining’s new chief sustainability officer. Costa previously held senior management positions with the B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, and in 2024 was recognized as one of the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining by Women in Mining UK. Costa succeeds Chafika Eddine, who left the company to pursue her doctoral studies.

Rio Tinto has appointed Georgie Bezette as its new chief people officer to support its cultural change program (see page 12). Bezette joined the company in 2008 and previously served as its COO. Bezette will replace James Martin, who retired at the end of 2024.

“Given the strategic importance of gallium in the North American supply chain, so as not to slow down this step if we go ahead, site preparation work for the demonstration plant should begin in the next few months,” Cherry wrote.

– Ashley Fish-Robertson

Rio Tinto plans to test gallium extraction at its Vaudreuil plant in Saguenay, Quebec.

Courtesy of Rio Tinto

OInsurance as a strategic shield

By Chantal Brazeau

ver the past decade, the global geopolitical landscape has grown increasingly unstable, presenting significant challenges for industries like mining that operate in politically volatile regions. Heightened uncertainty complicates everything from securing financing to managing supply chains and mitigating regulatory risks. In this context, robust risk management strategies, including political and credit risk insurance, have become critical for mining companies. These solutions not only safeguard against losses but also enhance project viability, attract investment and improve access to capital in high-risk jurisdictions.

According to EY’s recent report, Top 10 risks and opportunities for mining and metals companies in 2025, one of the primary concerns for the mining industry is access to capital, primarily driven by escalating operational costs and the ongoing challenges of maintaining profitability.

Given financial pressures stemming from inflation, project delays and commodity price volatility—to name a few—strong capital discipline and efficient cash flow management will be paramount for mining companies that wish to meet the demand for critical minerals and metals. To address the financing requirements related to the significant pipeline of critical minerals mining developments, financial executives will need to be innovative, leveraging diverse sources of capital and adjusting their risk management strategies to meet evolving investor expectations. Robust credit and political risk management strategies, which effectively “de-risk” assets and optimize cost of capital and returns, will allow miners to allay board, shareholder and lender concerns around these financial metrics.

Political risk management strategy

A comprehensive political risk management strategy is multifaceted due to numerous components. Several key elements include:

• Dynamic risk assessment: A proactive, continuously updated risk framework is crucial. This involves regularly testing assumptions through scenario planning to anticipate potential geopolitical shifts and adjust company policies accordingly.

• Legal and fiscal protections: Robust agreements and mining contracts are necessary to ensure legal and fiscal stability and protection of assets. These agreements often include provisions for access to international arbitration in the event of disputes.

• Social licence: Building strong relationships with local communities and governments is vital for ensuring ongoing support and reducing the risk of social unrest or political challenges.

• Political risk insurance (PRI): PRI is a powerful tool used by miners to protect the balance sheet and project cash flows against losses resulting from political risks such as trade disruptions, political violence, currency controls, expropriation and regulatory interference.

While the risk mitigation benefits of PRI are well understood by miners, there has historically been limited focus on its quantifiable benefits. Often, miners only considered PRI’s cost, leading

to its perception as a burden on project cash flows. However, a recent S&P Global study showed that PRI can offset the country risk premium included in an investor’s cost of capital, thereby improving project valuation and internal rate of return.

PRI is now more than a “check-the-box” exercise for equity and debt investors. By incorporating PRI into the valuation of assets and project returns, financiers can allocate capital more judiciously to emerging market projects. This often brings back into scope projects which, in the absence of PRI, might have otherwise failed to meet investor risk appetites and target hurdle rates.

Credit risk management strategy

In addition to political risks, miners must also navigate the complexities of credit risk, especially in the wake of volatile commodity markets, inflationary pressures and elevated interest rates. Ensuring adequate liquidity to meet working capital requirements is a primary challenge for miners, a task made more difficult by stressed global credit conditions.

Trade credit insurance (TCI): TCI protects miners against payment defaults on receivables and can be an essential tool for improving financial stability. By insuring receivables, miners can often secure better financing terms from lenders—as insured receivables, pledged as loan security, represent better collateral for the lender. This, in turn, can increase miners’ borrowing capacity and unlock additional working capital.

Moreover, TCI is critical for maintaining strong trading relationships with key offtakers. In situations where payment default risk is minimal, but credit concentration is a concern (i.e., reliance on a few key buyers), TCI can provide mining companies with more confidence to extend additional credit, enabling them to continue trading with these important clients.

Prepayment financing: Offtakers often extend prepayment agreements to miners as a means of securing long-term supply. However, these agreements come with inherent risks, and these buyers may seek to hedge against potential losses resulting from non-repayment of advances in cases of non-delivery. Additionally, offtakers’ own internal credit limits on their mining suppliers can impose further restrictions on the availability of prepayment financing. TCI provides an effective solution to mitigate these challenges, offering security for both miners and offtakers.

The mining industry is facing a rapidly changing geopolitical and financial environment, characterized by heightened political risk, rising costs and an unpredictable global market. In this context, miners must adapt by implementing robust risk management strategies that address both political and credit risks.

PCI, which was once viewed merely as a protective measure, has emerged as an increasingly valuable tool in mobilizing capital for mining projects, particularly in politically unstable regions. Similarly, TCI can be essential for managing liquidity, securing favourable financing terms and maintaining commercial relationships. CIM

FLet’s get technical about technical reports

By James Whyte and Craig Waldie Part

or most practitioners in the minerals industry, the technical report is the centrepiece of the mining disclosure rule. That’s no surprise—it’s the only securities filing mandated by the National Instrument 43-101. But because many practitioners viewed the technical report in isolation from the rest of the disclosure rule, our straw man has had his head stuffed with more myths, specifically about the technical report. Everything has to be documented in a technical report.

This is the myth that leads to 455-page (and 78 megabyte!) reports. The report is meant to be a summary of the scientific and technical information about a mineral project, at the report’s effective date. It’s not a meticulous record of everything that’s ever gone on there, it’s a summary of the current state of play on the project.

As a project progresses—or regresses, as projects often do— old information that does not bear on its present status or on future plans no longer matters. Leave unimportant stuff out: if you have a mineral resource, no investor cares, or needs to know, about the 15 EM conductors you drilled that turned out to be pencil mines. Your five-year-old scoping study is likely outdated.

Summarize things that matter.

An updated technical report needs only the new information that triggered it.

This myth leads to the opposite problem. First, there are no “updated” technical reports. Every technical report is a new technical report that must be complete, because it supersedes any previous one.

Second, technical reports are triggered by a company’s disclosure, but not tailored to that disclosure. They need all technical information about the project, in summary form, and aren’t complete without it. Just because you’ve estimated mineral resources on a new Zone C doesn’t relieve you of summarizing the mineral resource estimates on Zones A and B, or of describing the mothballed mill you bought along with the property and expect to refurbish.

The technical report is just for the regulators.

Every securities filing is for the public, first and foremost. Staff at the securities commissions and the exchanges may review it, but that’s to ensure it tells investors what they need to know, or to establish whether the company meets listing criteria. The principal reason securities legislation requires companies to file any document—financial statements, a prospectus, a technical report—is to provide the public with the information it needs for investment decisions.

So technical reports should be short enough to read, simple enough to understand and small enough to download. Investors have neither specialized knowledge nor unlimited time. Authors of technical reports should write for them, not for other practitioners.

If it’s been filed on SEDAR+, it’s been approved for filing by the regulators.

SEDAR+ (the revamped System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval) is a central system for companies to file

documents that securities legislation require and for the public to find and see those documents. SEDAR+ gets hundreds of filings a day and there’s no way securities commissions have enough staff to review everything. Never assume a filing on SEDAR+ has been reviewed by regulators.

If regulators don’t review everything that is filed, what is it that they do, anyway?

Regulators do review disclosure documents, but normally they only launch reviews of a company’s disclosure record for one of several reasons:

• A company files a prospectus to raise money, so staff review the prospectus and supporting filings;

• Regulators get a complaint that indicates a review is needed;

• For “issue-oriented” reviews, where staff select a number of companies, and examine a single aspect of those companies’ disclosure; or,

• For random or risk-based reviews of a company’s whole disclosure record.

We have to file technical reports on all our mineral projects and for all new information.

No, just on the company’s material projects—those significant enough to have a measurable effect on the company’s value or the price of its securities. And not all new information triggers the requirement to file a report, either—only new information that significantly changes the picture on the project, like new mineral resource estimates or completion of a drilling campaign. How could the mineral project fail? It had a technical report. Many people wrongly believe a technical report guarantees a mineral project’s significance or future viability. It does not. The technical report prepared under Form 43-101F1 is simply a disclosure document; it’s not a technical standard, nor does it provide assurance of good professional practice. The technical report is just about disclosure of information related to the mineral project so investors can make informed decisions.

We have a metallurgical report and a geotechnical report from specialist consultants. The technical report needs those as an appendix.

Absolutely not. It’s the job of the report authors to clearly summarize that work. If information is material to the project, it belongs in the text of the report, not in an appendix. Imagining that appendices are needed leads to the next myth.

The technical report has to have all the drill logs and the assay certificates to protect me from liability.

Pure nonsense. The technical report is a summary for investors, not a place to dump all your data. Practitioners protect themselves from liability by documenting and proving diligent, reasonable and prudent practice. They can do that best by retaining good records, whether in a hard drive, on optical discs or in a cardboard file box. Investors don’t need those. You do. CIM

James Whyte, P.Geo., retired in 2023 from his role as senior geologist at the Ontario Securities Commission. Craig Waldie is a senior geologist at the Ontario Securities Commission. Both authors are writing in their private capacity.

three of a series on NI 43-101 myths

Courtesy of James Whyte and Craig Waldie

Indigenous participation in mining Partnerships power Stobie mine revitalization

A collaborative approach to Vale’s Stobie project promises significant community benefits for the three First Nations involved

By Ashley Fish-Robertson

For more than a century, Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and Wahnapitae First Nation have witnessed mining on their traditional lands, but with little economic benefit to them.

Determined to change this, they sought a partnership with Technica Mining, a mining and construction contractor that shared their vision of creating lasting economic opportunities for the local community. Following discussions that began in 2021 between the two nations, a limited partnership with Technica Mining was solidified in February 2024.

The venture, Aki-eh Dibinwewziwin Limited Partnership (ADLP)—meaning “to be owned by the earth” in Anishinaabe— provides mine contracting services to mining companies. Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and Wahnapitae First Nation hold a 51 per cent stake in the partnership, with Technica Mining holding a 49 per cent share and serving as the operating partner.

A few months later, ADLP was one of two Indigenous-owned companies that were announced as part of a partnership to revitalize the site of Vale Base Metals’ former Stobie mine in Sudbury, Ontario—the other is Z’Gamok Construction LP (ZCLP), a construction company fully owned and operated by the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation. The agreement was signed on July 17, 2024, between Vale Base Metals, international mining services provider Thiess, the United Steelworkers Local 6500 union, ADLP and ZCLP; Thiess is leading the mining operations for the revitalization, working closely with the three First Nations as part of its collaboration with ADLP and ZCLP.

The $205 million project has generated approximately 150 jobs across both the construction and production phases. It began operations in the fourth quarter of 2024 and is expected to run for about 32 months. Throughout its mine life, the openpit mine is anticipated to yield around 4.7 million tonnes of ore, primarily nickel and copper, as well as some byproducts such as cobalt.

Stobie operated as an underground mine from 1914 to 2017, though it initially began as an open-pit mine in 1890. Over its lifespan, it produced approximately 375 million tonnes of nickel and copper ore. According to Vale, it was one of the most productive mines in the history of the Sudbury Basin region.

Strength in collaboration

ADLP is currently the largest Indigenous-owned full-service mine contracting limited partnership in the Sudbury Basin. Since its founding in 2024, ADLP has worked closely with the two First Nations communities to ensure its members are aware of mining opportunities, providing training and supporting small Indigenous businesses looking to participate in the industry.

“[This partnership] gives us an opportunity to be involved in decisions and get into the field where we can actually participate in mining,” said Larry Roque, Chief of Wahnapitae First Nation, in an interview with CIM Magazine. “I think it’ll help other [First Nations] communities benefit too, because we can also reach out to other communities that are experts in certain

Vale announced the closure of its Stobie mine in March 2017. The mine began as an open-pit operation in 1890, before transitioning to underground mining in 1914.

fields to [help with] certain aspects of a project [if there’s] something we can’t handle.”

Mario Grossi, CEO of Technica Mining, recalled that as Technica expanded beyond the Sudbury Basin into northern Ontario and Quebec, it became clear that building meaningful relationships with local Indigenous communities—whose lands its work would impact—was essential.

“It hit me that while I was building these relationships with Indigenous communities in various regions, I was failing to do the same in my own backyard,” said Grossi in an email to CIM Magazine

Grossi stated that although the Government of Canada’s duty to consult with surrounding communities before proposing activities that impact their land and resources was established in 2004, it seemed that in Sudbury, the brownfield status of the mine sites led some to believe consultation was unnecessary.

“This didn’t seem right to me as I saw to what extent mining activity impacted Indigenous communities right in our backyard,” he wrote. Within a few months of the initial conversations in 2021, the two nations and Technica Mining started implementing key aspects of the partnership, such as financial contributions, culminating in the signing of the official agreement in 2024.

For the Stobie project, ADLP is conducting drilling work at the site throughout the 32 months that the mine will be in operation, with four Epiroc SmartROC D65 XLF production drills being used in the project. The drills were acquired by Giyak Mishkawzid Shkagmikwe Inc. (GMS) and Taighwenini Technical Services Corporation (TTS), the economic development corporations of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and Wahnapitae First Nation, respectively.

The four drills are being leased to ADLP for use on the Stobie project. Two of them were purchased with $2.7 million in federal funding from Natural Resources Canada’s Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships Program, first announced in October 2024. This government initiative aims to enhance Indigenous participation in natural resource projects across Canada that support the clean energy transition.

Craig Nootchtai, Chief of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, expressed pride in the purchase and said that the funding was vital in accelerating the acquisition. “[The funding] really helps us generate more revenue and have less debt as well,” he added.

Nootchtai explained that the purchase is viewed as a community investment, benefiting members from both nations who wish to use or lease the drills. These drills will be instrumental in creating opportunities for the two First Nations to expand their involvement in the mining industry, as they will have the ability to rent out the equipment beyond the ADLP partnership.

Drill training is already in place with ADLP to educate new drillers, and priority has been given to hiring and training as many band members from the two nations as possible first before extending opportunities to the general public. The training also prepares new hires to take on positions in future contracts through ADLP.

“That training is vital for our members to get their foot in the door and to work with a reputable company [ADLP] on these very modern drills,” said Nootchtai.

Nootchtai explained that while there are many ways to help get Indigenous communities involved in the mining industry, at the very least, there must be employment, mentorship and internship opportunities available. He added that a step up from these opportunities is forming partnerships, similar to that of ADLP, and even encouraging First Nations to become owners of mining projects themselves.

“To me, that’s full economic reconciliation—giving First Nations that opportunity to actually work and operate mines in their own territories, and then forming relationships, not only with the mining company but the municipalities and other First Nations in the area,” said Nootchtai. “We want to take control, we want responsibility. We want the full benefit too, and we want to be able to share this success with other First Nations in our industry.”

Community-driven growth

ZCLP was founded in 2019 as a subsidiary of Z’gamok Enterprises Inc. (ZEI), which has been involved in several mining projects in the Sudbury Basin for the last decade, including Vale’s Totten mine, Magna Mining’s Crean Hill project and KGHM International’s Victoria project. ZCLP employs over 130 people across the Sudbury Basin, with around 50 per cent of its workforce being Indigenous.

Shortly after its inception in 2019, ZCLP took on the ore haulage services for the Totten mine. As part of the Stobie project, ZCLP is working as a partner and subcontractor to

Courtesy of Vale

Gord Gilpin, director of Ontario operations at Vale Base Metals (third from right), speaks about the Stobie mine revitalization during a press conference with the project's partners on July 17, 2024.

Thiess, tasked with crushing ore before it is shipped off for processing at Vale’s Clarabelle mill in Sudbury. The project has generated four full-time positions at ZCLP, along with two additional full-time indirect hires.

“The Stobie open-pit project provides Z’gamok Construction with an invaluable opportunity to build expertise and capacity working in an open-pit mining setting—a new frontier for our business,” said Will Sayers, CEO of ZEI, in an email to CIM Magazine . “With the potential for additional open-pit mines to emerge in the region, Z’gamok Construction is strategically positioning itself to play a significant role in the industry, creating long-term revenue streams and meaningful employment opportunities for the community.”

Sayers added that the scope of the Stobie project required ZCLP to invest around $7.5 million in equipment to support the project, including one of the largest crushers in the Sudbury Basin.

A model for future partnerships

“We have, with time and experience, come to understand that we do not have to do everything ourselves,” said Gord Gilpin, director of Ontario operations at Vale Base Metals, in an email to CIM Magazine. “Partnerships are an effective way to advance projects; they bring together the shared knowledge and expertise of the partners, which helps mitigate risk, and they can, in the right circumstances, be the best way to expedite production and maximize value.”

“Indigenous community partners increase diversity to the supply chain, improve environmental accountability and bring greater certainty for growth and the future of our operations,” he added. Building on the experience gained from working with Indigenous partners on the Stobie project, Gilpin believes future partnerships can be pursued.

“Meaningful Indigenous participation is really informed by what is meaningful to Indigenous communities themselves,” he wrote. “In Sudbury, First Nations told us they wanted to be involved in the operation of the Stobie open pit, so we listened and collaborated with them to find a pathway for a successful partnership. Each community will have its own ideas about what is meaningful to them, and our approach is to listen and understand and work together towards those goals.”

Darrell White, Thiess group executive, Americas, said in an email to CIM Magazine that the Stobie partnership was sparked by Vale’s “forward-thinking approach” to mining and its commitment to creating shared value for all project stakeholders.

“This model offers a pathway for meaningful Indigenous engagement and participation to generate shared benefits for all stakeholders,” White wrote. “It creates opportunities for economic development, skills training and capacity building. Moreover, it ensures that Indigenous perspectives and traditional ecological knowledge are integrated into mining practices, promoting environmental responsibility and sustainable resource management.”

White emphasized that meaningful Indigenous participation in mining projects goes beyond consultation; it requires building true partnerships where communities have an active role in planning and decision-making processes that impact their lands and lives. This involves engaging communities early in a project, maintaining open communication, valuing their insights on the land and ecosystems, and committing to minimizing the environmental impacts of mining activities, he added. CIM

Indigenous Participation in Mining will run throughout 2025 and explore the people, the ideas and the models that are moving mining projects and economic reconciliation forward.

Invite a lecturer to your event today. Scan this code for more information. CIM Distinguished Lecturers 2024-2025

CIM’s Distinguished Lecturers have been selected for their accomplishments in scientific, technical, management or educational activities. They are available to present at CIM branch, technical society, student chapter and university events.

The CIM Foundation’s generous support allows the CIM Distinguished Lecturers Program to connect CIM members with leading industry expertise. The CIM Distinguished Lecturers program is owned and operated by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM).

Losing grip

Experts warn about the little-known adverse effects of occupational vibration exposure for mining workers

By Sarah St-Pierre

Katie Goggins conducts workshops for mining workers to raise awareness about the health risks of occupational vibration exposure. Most of the time, workers who attend her sessions have little prior knowledge about the conditions associated with it. Yet, by the time she is done with her presentations, she often hears them say, “Oh my God, I have that.”

Occupational hazards are a dime a dozen for mining workers—and robust safety standards have helped to preserve their health. Vibration-induced health problems, however, remain among the least understood and least widely prevented risks.

“Vibration is typically an afterthought,” said Goggins, a senior scientist at the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH) at Laurentian University in Sudbury.

Experts, however, are unanimous: the damage occupational vibration exposure can cause is not trivial. Such exposure is not restricted to the mining industry, but it is one of the most at-risk sectors, especially in hard-rock mining. Prevention and awareness are the keys to limiting the harmful impacts of vibration exposure, and new research will be key to help workers avoid permanent injuries.

The anatomy of exposure

Prolonged exposure to vibration from equipment or machinery can create different risks for mining workers. For example, those who spend long shifts sitting in a vehicle cab may be exposed to whole-body vibration (WBV), which can disturb the spine and lead to musculoskeletal disorders.

“It also increases the load on the muscles,” said Pierre Marcotte, a noise and vibration researcher at the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) in Montreal, who has a background in engineering physics and mechanical engineering. While exposed to vibration, the back muscles work to try to stabilize the spine, he explained.

Beyond lower-back and neck pain, WBV may cause other conditions, although the evidence for them is not as well established as the evidence for back and neck problems. These conditions include elevated stress levels, digestive problems, insomnia, headaches, dizziness, motion sickness and decreased cognitive function.

There are also different types of segmental vibration exposure, which primarily affect the parts of the body that are in contact with the vibrating equipment or machinery.

For example, hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is a condition associated with damage in the hands, arms and fingers that is largely incurred through the manipulation of handheld power tools. It is currently the most researched and best understood of the types of vibration exposure.

Foot-transmitted vibration (FTV) is often lumped into studies on WBV, rather than having its own dedicated research to determine effects on the feet and toes. Workers who spend time

standing on vibrating platforms are the most at risk. Out of the three types of exposures, it is the least commonly recognized and the least studied. “It’s in its infancy as far as vibration research goes,” Goggins said.

All pain, no play

Because the health effects of occupational vibration exposure are not instantaneous, with the related conditions progressing slowly over months or even years, Marcotte said that people do not always make the connection between the symptoms they are experiencing and vibration exposure. Many conditions cause similar symptoms, so a diagnosis is largely a matter of ruling everything else out. The tests, altogether, take several hours to conduct.

When vibration is transmitted to the hands, it can damage soft tissue and the small nerve endings in the fingers and palms. Numbness, tingling and even decreased motor function can result from the neurological damage incurred. Carpal tunnel syndrome can also develop from hand-arm vibration exposure. If vibration exposure results in damage to the muscles, joints and bones, the hand’s grip strength can degrade.

If the blood vessels are damaged, they may spasm and the fingers may turn white from exposure to the cold—a condition known as vibration white finger (VWF), sometimes referred to as “Raynaud’s phenomenon of occupational origin.” At first, only the tips of the fingers may experience the blanching attacks, but if exposure goes on, VWF can creep farther up the digits.

Dawson O’Hara, a master’s student at the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health at Laurentian University, taking foot-transmitted vibration measurements underground.

Workers exposed to FTV may see the same symptoms in their toes. According to Goggins, the blanching and numbness experienced in the toes can be mistaken for frostbite and only noticed back at home when workers take off their boots.

Exactly when exposed workers start to exhibit symptoms, as well as which of those symptoms they experience, relates to the intensity and frequency of their vibration exposure over time. People with high exposure may start to show symptoms after a few days or a couple of years, making the risk a concern for workers young and old.

Dr. Ron House works with HAVS patients through the Centre for Research Expertise in Occupational Disease (CREOD) at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. “We do see some younger people with the condition in mining, especially in some of the smaller mines where there’s perhaps fewer controls in place,” he said. However, most of his patients are at least 35 to 40 years old.

The good news for workers experiencing early symptoms of HAVS is that at first, they may be transient and reversible. However, if vibration exposure continues, nerve and vascular damage can worsen to the point of permanence. In the very worst cases, HAVS can lead to the amputation of fingers if gangrene develops.

HAVS also makes fine motor activities that involve the hands and fingers more difficult to perform. Once vascular damage has set in, simply being outside in the cold aggravates the HAVS symptoms and activities become more challenging, whether they are related to work or not.

House sees a lot of patients from northern Ontario, many of whom are miners. “A lot of them like ice fishing and snowmobiling, outdoor winter activities, and those things become very difficult as they get older and HAVS progresses,” he said.

Family doctors and compensation boards refer workers exhibiting HAVS symptoms to specialists like House, whose clinic at St. Michael’s conducts an average of 200 assessments a year. The patients tend to reflect the demographics of the mining industry. “The majority of the patients that we see are men, but we do see some women; including, now, younger women,” House said.

He believes HAVS is under-recognized and underdiagnosed across Canada. “Many workers would not come to medical attention or have a compensation claim submitted until they had much more severe symptoms,” he added.

Prioritizing prevention

Experts and physicians would rather see patients who are only just starting to experience symptoms of vibration-related health conditions. At that point, it is easier to make sure permanent damage will not set in.

Canada does not have formal regulations limiting occupational vibration exposure. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety in Hamilton, many Canadian jurisdictions have no specific regulations for it, while others follow standards set by foreign agencies, like the threshold limit values suggested by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

Marcotte believes that further regulations would be helpful, but his priorities currently lie elsewhere. “For me, what is even more important than regulation is making people aware,” he said. Awareness, in this case, goes hand in hand with preventing harm. For Goggins, because the exposure is so high for mining workers, focusing on prevention in the industry is especially crucial.

Purchasing tools with lower vibration intensities can be a preventive measure. Personal protective equipment (PPE) that aims to reduce exposure to vibration exists, but according to House, it is not the most effective. Anti-vibration gloves, for example, even when tested and certified, will not entirely protect against very high-intensity vibrations, he said. They will degrade over time, needing to be replaced periodically depending on use. For frequent usage with high exposure to vibration, such PPE may need to be replaced as frequently as every few months, House added.

If workers are concerned about their exposure to vibration, House suggests reaching out to their employer, health and safety committee, or, if applicable, their union representative.

Administrative controls like limited exposure time and equipment purchasing policies that favour low-vibration tools, especially when replacing older ones, can be effective prevention measures.

For example, jackleg drills, which can drill into rock, have been common culprits in HAVS cases. According to Marcotte, using a jackleg drill would put people over the maximum daily exposure to vibration in less than half an hour. For this reason, they have become less widely used in the mining industry.

Research horizons

The move away from jackleg drills has come with complications of its own. Some have been replaced by vibrating platforms with boom arms, shifting the exposure type from the hands to the feet rather than eradicating it. This is a research focus for Goggins, who has been studying FTV since her master’s degree, and it was the sole focus of the PhD that she completed in 2019; this type of exposure does not yet have its own standards governing safe exposure limits due to a lack of epidemiological studies, she noted. “We’re working towards that at CROSH and with the ISO committee on human exposure to mechanical vibration and shock,” she said.

Meanwhile, at IRSST, Marcotte is researching suspension seats to isolate workers from the effects of whole-body vibration in vehicles. Available international standards to evaluate suspension seats to reduce exposure to vibration address only vertical vibration, but bringing a vehicle off-road can create vibrations in all directions. When people ask for recommendations on which seat to buy for mining equipment such as trucks, the limited amount of information currently available about what is on the market can make it difficult to answer. The aim of the research, he said, is to “eventually help design a better seat, and also to help people choose a seat well-adapted to the vehicle.”

House and his team at CREOD are in the process of publishing a paper on the effects of HAVS on the mental health of workers. “It’s impacting their ability to work and make money, but also all other aspects of their lives,” he said. The toll can become significant—the results indicate that workers with HAVS have poorer mental health than the general population, he noted.

House regularly enlists some of his patients to participate in research. Working in a specialized clinic that sees many patients affected by occupational vibration exposure has been a boon to his team, and he and his colleagues rarely have trouble convincing patients to sign up as research participants.

“I and the other people who work with me in the clinic say the same thing,” House said. “These patients are very decent, hardworking people who have developed this problem, and they’re very keen on getting to the bottom of it.” CIM

Protecting women’s reproductive health

As more women enter the mining industry, better strategies are needed to protect them from reproductive hazards in the workplace

By Dinah Zeldin

When Nancy Wilk became pregnant in 1989, she was concerned about exposures to reproductive hazards in the workplaces she visited as part of her role as an inspector for Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, including visits to mines and mineral processing facilities.

Her then-supervisor advised her to conduct her own research, such as making a list of teratogens—agents or factors that can affect the development of a fetus—which they would

follow up with a discussion about reproductive hazards and potential accommodations. “As an occupational hygienist, I had the knowledge to [ask the right questions], and my needs were accommodated,” Wilk explained. However, not everyone has her knowledge and experience about the potential risks.

Today, Wilk plays a leading role in helping ensure the health and well-being of mining workers as a senior technical director of environmental, health and safety (EHS) and industrial

WSP’s Courtney Gendron on site doing an occupational exposure assessment.

hygiene with WSP, and advocates for more research to support best practices in her field as president of the International Occupational Hygiene Association.

In her opinion, not enough has changed in the intervening decades. While there have been improvements from a regulatory perspective, with jurisdictions across the country enshrining rights such as protective reassignment (moving a person to another role to protect them from workplace health and safety risks) for pregnant workers, mining companies often lack the knowledge to provide optimal support.

Barriers to research

According to Wilk, women in mining face multiple barriers to accessing workplace health support tailored to their needs. For instance, fly-in-fly-out sites are often not equipped to provide adequate health care.

“We are aware of a situation where a woman at site had a miscarriage, and the site was not prepared to respond,” she recounted. “She had to be airlifted out, which added to [her] embarrassment and discomfort.”

However, mining companies are beginning to take note: Wilk and her colleague Courtney Gendron, senior occupational hygienist with WSP, have presented to mining companies’ occupational health and safety teams and have done reproductive hazard assessments at mine sites. The latter is where they encounter a challenge.

“The biggest issue around health and well-being of women in mining, and their reproductive health, is that there is a dearth of research, standards and guidance,” Wilk explained.

According to Wilk, the main reason for this lack of information is that the majority of occupational health research is based on a “reference man,” who is 25 to 30 years old, Caucasian, weighs 70 kilograms and is free of chronic disease.

One way that researchers should address this disparity in future research, she suggested, is by disaggregating data by sex, and including a representative percentage of women when possible. Although, she pointed out, this would still fail to account for the health of the fetus.

Sandra Dorman, director of the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH) at Laurentian University in Sudbury, noted the challenges of conducting original research in this space. Being a niche topic makes it difficult to access funding or find a representative sample size—women represented just 16.8 per cent of Canada’s mining workforce in 2023, according to Mining Industry Human Resources Council data— and it is also a sensitive area.

“Most of the work that has given us good guidance on what a clear hazard is during pregnancy is available because there was a group of women within a community that were all exposed to the same thing, and a problem was noticed,” she explained.

“Nobody will do a study to look at what diesel exposure does to a pregnancy [as it would be unethical], but we can look at community data from communities that have high diesel exhaust exposures and monitor their pregnancy outcomes.”

Ongoing efforts

In 2012, Dorman was approached by Ontario-based not-forprofit organization Workplace Safety North to be the lead author on a guide about reproductive hazards in mining.

Dorman and her team conducted a comprehensive literature review, consulting English-language papers from

around the world, and distilled the information to identify reproductive hazards, provide a description of the risks to the mother, the fetus and/or the breastfeeding child, and suggest actions to avoid the risks and provide appropriate accommodations.

The Guide to Healthy Pregnancies in the Mining Workplace, which was distributed to mining companies and made available on CROSH’s website, continues to be a leading resource on reproductive hazards in mining.

“It gained popularity because as more women continued to be hired in mining, people were getting pregnant and asking the health and safety representatives at their sites what they should be doing, and those people could not find a lot of answers,” Dorman said.

In her practice at WSP, Wilk relies on several sources to ensure her recommendations are as comprehensive as possible when conducting assessments for reproductive hazards at a site. Alongside Dorman’s guide, she looks at a table of exposure limits from WorkSafeBC, which provides an extensive list of reproductive toxins and exposure limits derived from publications by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. She also consults publications by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Wilk strives to identify ways to support pregnant women without resorting to protective reassignment, while ensuring that risks are as low as reasonably achievable. “It is always preferable, when possible, to keep them safe within their position, because when you are transitioning someone [to a different role], you are moving them to a different team and a different culture, and they are having to learn something new,” she explained. “Besides, they might really enjoy their job.”

Common reproductive hazards

Based on their experience, Wilk and Gendron have identified eight reproductive hazards as being the most commonly encountered by mining workers.

Noise

Noise levels above 85 dBA (A-weighted decibels, a unit to measure the relative loudness of sounds as perceived by the human ear) are associated with increased stress to the mother and the fetus, which can contribute to low birth weight, preterm delivery and hypertension for the mother. Pregnant women are advised to use adequate ear protection and avoid noisy areas whenever possible.

To protect the fetus from hearing impairment, from the fifth month of pregnancy onwards, continuous exposure (more than eight hours) of the abdomen of a pregnant worker to noise at 115 dBC (C-weighted decibels, a unit to measure peak noise and short, instantaneous impact noise) should be avoided, and peak exposure to noise at 155 dBC or above.

Heat

Heat exposure (see p. 33) can have detrimental effects for both the mother and the fetus, and may impact breastfeeding. Pregnant women are advised to avoid environmental temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius (especially in the first trimester), to increase water consumption by two cups above pre-pregnancy amounts, to wear monitoring devices for core temperature (which should remain below 38 degrees Celsius)

and heart rate (which should remain below 160 beats per minute) and to elevate their legs during breaks.

Vibration

Whole-body vibration (WBV) (see p. 28) increases risks of miscarriage and pre-term delivery and may increase risks of pre-eclampsia and other adverse health effects for the mother. There are no regulated exposure limits for WBV in Canada and specifically no data on safe exposure limits for the pregnant worker. Pregnant women are advised to avoid exposure to vibrations at resonance frequencies of the spine (10 to 12 hertz) and of the uterus (eight hertz).

Ionizing radiation

Exposure to ionizing radiation is common in mines, especially in those with thorium or uranium deposits, and is established as a potential cause for multiple serious issues with fetal development. In Canada, the legal dose limit after pregnancy disclosure is four millisieverts for the duration of the pregnancy, and certain jurisdictions have additional regulations. Controls involve monitoring the dose received, as well as minimizing exposure to as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) by restricting time, increasing distance and using shielding, as necessary.

Toxic metals

The most common toxic metals exposure in mining comes from lead, which is encountered in fire assay labs, in ore or waste rock, or if it is the commodity being mined. Lead is known to cross the placenta and affect the fetus, can cause hypertension in the mother and can be excreted in breast milk.

There are no set lead exposure standards for pregnant workers, so women are advised to keep exposures as low as possible while pregnant and breastfeeding. The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development provides a few values that include specific review and removal criteria for pregnant women and women of child-bearing potential, which Wilk advises be used as best practice across the country.

Other metals of high concern include cadmium, chromium and mercury, which also have no set exposure standards for pregnant workers. Wilk recommends removal from potential exposure.

Ergonomic hazards

Lifting, pushing, pulling, bending and sustained postures can have an array of effects on both the mother and the fetus. These can range from muscle strain, back pain and fatigue for the mother to an increased risk of spontaneous abortion, low birth weight and pre-term delivery for the fetus. “[During pregnancy] ligaments relax, the centre of gravity changes and general movement is more difficult,” explained Wilk.

She recommends controls be implemented based on a woman’s health history as some need more accommodations, and to be adjusted as the pregnancy progresses.

Scheduling

Extended shifts and overnight work can increase risks of spontaneous abortion, low birth weight, pre-term delivery and sleep disturbances for the mother. Scheduling accommodations

also need to be made to ensure breastfeeding women are able to express milk.

Wilk recommends avoiding night shifts, as well as restricting the number of hours worked and the window of hours during which work occurs, but encourages employers to actively engage women in any scheduling decisions as every worker experiences fatigue and stress in a different way.

Stress

Stress can affect a pregnancy, potentially leading to preterm delivery or low birth weight. Being pregnant in a maledominated workplace can be stressful. Wilk advises that mining companies focus on education, awareness-building and site preparation to help pregnant women feel more at ease. A workplace health and safety culture where early disclosure of pregnancy is supported, and a site where health facilities are able to support women going through a miscarriage or experiencing early labour, play an important role.

Looking to the future

Dorman feels mining companies could do more to support pregnant workers. “For now, it’s mostly about education within the workplace,” she said. “Leaders who are really passionate about health and safety can help drive that change.”

For Dorman, the key to mitigating reproductive hazards for women in the workplace is simple. “People get especially nervous about some of the chemicals,” she said. “But I think addressing the broader effects that are hurting everybody, like exposure to carbon monoxide from diesel exhaust, will go a long way. As long as you are reducing hazards to everybody, you are reducing hazards to women across the reproductive health cycle.”

From a research perspective, Dorman said there are opportunities for mining companies to step up—by collecting data and conducting monitoring internally, and by funding research.

For physical and chemical hazards, she recommends closer monitoring of baseline exposure. “For carbon monoxide, you could do a breath test daily, and if you saw your level went up during pregnancy, you could make a modification based on that knowledge,” she explained. “There are a number of hazards you could do the same thing with through regular blood testing.”

Dorman also suggested that an investment in qualitative research would help mining leaders to better identify potential reproductive hazards. “If a number of women were identifying the same concerns and we were documenting it, we would be getting valuable information,” she pointed out.

In the meantime, Dorman plans to update her guide to make it more accessible to mining workers and to translate it into French.

For her part, Wilk remains dedicated to advocating for more original research and industry support for pregnant women in mining. “I regularly meet with occupational health professionals in mining, as a mentor, and we discuss this,” she said. “Items have yet to be actioned. An approach like this needs to be driven by leadership at a very high level.”

Wilk also shares her message by presenting to global mining companies.

“All of us have a responsibility to create inclusive and safe cultures. Until this happens, there will be low participation and low retention of women in mining,” she concluded. CIM

Emily Tetzlaff is a recent PhD graduate of the human kinetics program from the Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit at the University of Ottawa. Through her doctorate, she was also a research affiliate with the Climate Change and Innovation Bureau at Health Canada, and a fatigue risk management analyst for Torex Gold Resources Inc.

Since Tetzlaff entered the mining industry in 2015 as a researcher and corporate health promotion specialist, she has published more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and now holds the title of principal scientist, environmental, health and safety (EHS), for Wenco International Mining Systems. CIM Magazine talked to Tetzlaff to learn more about the dangers of heat stress in mining environments and a proposed worker heat protection standard that is currently being considered in Ontario.

CIM: Why are occupational heat management programs important at mining operations?

Tetzlaff: The mining industry has multiple work environments—underground operations, open pits, smelters, mills, exploration sites—that all have a unique context when it comes to heat stress. But there are three key aspects to understanding the complexity of heat stress in mining: environmental factors, metabolic heat and clothing requirements.

Environmental factors include heat, humidity, air flow and radiant sources of heat at the site. Underground sites have high heat loads from the geothermal gradient [the climb in temperature with increased underground depth], heat generated by auto compression [a temperature increase caused by elevated air pressure at depth], heat from groundwater in the mine headings,

In the heat of the mine

Wenco’s Emily Tetzlaff discusses why heat management programs are increasingly important to protect the health and safety of mine workers

By Ailbhe Goodbody

and heat generated by blasting. There is also a massive push right now for mining at depth and going even deeper on existing sites, which exacerbates the heat load.

In surface mining, anyone working in open pits has radiant exposure from the sun. If you’re working at a plant, a refinery or a mill, there is lots of radiant heat coming off of different mechanized equipment.

The mining industry also has a lot of confined space work in mills and smelters, as well as underground. These environments are challenging because if we don’t have air passing sweat on the skin’s surface, we don’t have a cooling effect.

The second factor to consider is the metabolic heat that a person generates, which is related to their workload. Despite lots of movement towards automated equipment and remote work in the mining industry, there’s still a requirement for moderate to very heavy work being performed. That is going to generate heat inside the person’s body and it can pose a substantial compounding risk as well.

The third aspect is the clothing requirements. The mining industry has extremely rigorous standards for personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect workers from other critical hazards. Because of that, they’re often working in an uncompensable environment—[meaning] there are challenges to their ability to sweat or vasodilate, so they are unable to dissipate heat into their work environment.

In the smelter, for example, we’ve got individuals working at the furnace in aluminized garments, and others loading acid into train cars in Tyvek suits in the heat of summer. Those are two examples of the required PPE garments that are entirely

Courtesy of Emily Tetzlaff

uncompensable, so those workers are at an extreme risk of heat strain when they’re operating.

Because of how unique the work environments, workloads and PPE are in mining—a lot of the standard heat management controls that are used in, say, a factory or a smaller entity, like ventilation or site-wide air conditioning, are not necessarily feasible, cost effective or practical in many mining environments— this means that the industry is at a disadvantage for some of the primary control measures for heat stress.

CIM: What are some of the adverse effects of heat stress?

Tetzlaff: The difference between heat stress and heat strain is important. Heat stress is the heat load that workers are exposed to, while heat strain is the physiological response to heat stress; when we can’t cope with that stress, we can experience a heatrelated illness.

Heat-related illnesses exist on a continuum. So, the physical effects could be mild, like heat-induced fatigue or a heat rash. They could be heat syncope (fainting) or heat edema (swelling in the hands or feet). But they can also be moderate or severe, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Heatstroke can be a fatal outcome for some people if it is not treated as an emergency.

There can also be acute psychological or cognitive effects from the heat, such as slower reaction times, a decrement to our ability to think critically or a lower awareness of our environment. This is key because mining environments can change rapidly, so if we’re not aware of our surroundings—for example, if there’s mobile equipment coming towards us—heat stress is now posing a safety hazard, as well as a health hazard.

There are also chronic outcomes that can happen from repeat exposure to the heat or having experienced multiple heatrelated illnesses. That could be something like acute kidney injury—micro damages can happen at the cellular level over time—which can become chronic kidney disease, and that can lead to end-stage renal failure. There are potential chronic outcomes to the entire cardiovascular system, to the liver—all of our end organ systems can be impacted over time.

CIM: What signs or symptoms should people be aware of?

Tetzlaff: For heat exhaustion, you’re looking for signs like feeling nauseous, or a heat rash. You might feel very thirsty, have a dry mouth or have difficulty swallowing. Your body temperature is probably around 38 degrees Celsius. You might be starting to feel light-headed, have very low or no urine output, and there could be challenges with your breathing. At this point, you likely have excessive sweating—I emphasize that one, because that’s one of the transition symptoms that we see when we move from heat exhaustion towards heatstroke.

Signs of heatstroke are not just nausea, but actual vomiting; not just low urine, but no or extremely dark urine. Body temperature is now typically over 39 degrees Celsius, and you are likely no longer producing sweat because your body has become dehydrated. Sweating is our primary method for cooling the body, so if you lose that, your body temperature will continue to increase. You might have muscle cramps and spasms, a change in your comprehension and perhaps become a little erratic with your behaviour. As heatstroke progresses, you could become disoriented, faint or lose consciousness. At that point, you need to go to the hospital, as heatstroke can hit a critical point.

A big piece to highlight here is the importance of looking out for your colleagues, because often when you start to experience

a heat-related illness, you’ve already lost some cognition and are not as aware of what’s happening. So you need others to potentially step in and help each other.

CIM: What are the current regulations for heat management at mining operations?

Tetzlaff: We are at a very big transition point right now with policy reform; there is a huge movement, both in Canada as well as globally, for safety authorities to move towards acts and regulations that require companies to have heat management plans enacted with full requirements for training, reporting and all of the hazard controls to be in place. In Canada, there are different jurisdictions when it comes to safety—the federal authority (the Canada Labour Code), and then every province and territory has different legislation. The push for policy reform is a great step, but there are some gaps that need to be addressed in order to translate these new or proposed regulations to make them applicable to mining.

I will give Ontario’s Bill 222 as an example, as we have many underground operations there and it will impact them pretty substantially. Bill 222 is an amendment to the Occupational Health and Safety Act in Ontario that will develop a worker heat protection standard; it was proposed in fall 2023, and the provincial government released the bill in November 2024.

Unfortunately, like a lot of heat management guidelines globally, the worker heat protection standard heavily references the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists heat stress guidelines, which were not formulated for the mining environment. For example, most mine sites are operating on 10to 12-hour shifts and don’t follow a standard five-day work week. This poses a challenge to complying with the current guidance.

On top of that, it doesn’t necessarily protect all workers, because the guidance is founded off data that only included healthy young males that had no chronic disease and were not on any medication. This means that the mining industry’s female workers, workers over the age of 65 or anybody with diabetes, hypertension or other comorbidity that relates to heat stress and impaired thermoregulation is at greater risk and might not be protected by current guidelines.

We also have massive under-reporting of heat-related illnesses in the Canadian mining industry. We’ve seen that in some of the work that I’ve led in the last couple of years, where people stated that they’ve had signs and symptoms while performing typical mining-related tasks, but they didn’t report it. Some of it is due to rapid recovery; often, people don’t report heat-related illnesses when they recover quickly, but if they did, we would see that there are many incidents happening.

Without that data and evidence, it becomes really challenging to say that we need more time, more resources, better controls or better administration of the work-to-rest regimes within a company.

We also need to have the proper education and training for the health and safety personnel at operations across Canada, so that they can respond to new regulations and develop strong protocols. This necessitates greater communication between industry representation and researchers to address this.

CIM: How can mining companies minimize and manage their workers’ exposure to heat?

Tetzlaff: It is important to understand heat vulnerability and what it actually means. Just like heat stress, heat vulnerability

has three core factors that heat management programs need to look at: exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity.

Exposure, or how often a person is exposed to heat stress, is critical. How long are they in the heat? How frequent is that rotation? Is this a task they do for 30 minutes once a month, or do they have 12 hours of exposure every single day, every single shift? This matters for acclimation to the environment, which is a critical function that our body does to help get us used to the heat so that we can adapt and thermoregulate correctly.

The second thing is sensitivity, which refers to inherent factors such as sex; females have about a five per cent lower heat loss capacity than their male counterparts. People who are pregnant (see p. 30) have a lower capacity as well, as do those with chronic conditions and those on [certain] medications. Heat management can’t just be one size fits all, but must be a little bit tailored to the individual worker.

But the third factor, which is very important for mining companies to consider, is adaptive capacity. In the mining context, this would refer to things like if a worker has autonomy to take action to protect themselves—if their company or supervisors would be okay with them taking a break from the heat if they need to, or if they can employ self-pacing to lower their metabolic load and stay within a safe limit. There is still some pretty big incentive-based programming within the mining industry. If there is a push to go farther or faster or produce more, then we typically don’t self-pace adequately, and we don’t apply things like a work-to-rest regime that’s designed to help keep the body temperature within a safe limit.

Access to reprieve is also important. If you’re underground, how close are you to your refuge station and does it have cooling, or are you in an area where you’re taking your lunch while still in the high heat?

Companies looking to help minimize and manage their workers’ exposure to heat stress have to critically consider these factors.

CIM: Are workers required to tell their workplace if they have a health condition or take medication that can affect their capacity to deal with heat?

Tetzlaff: This is a conversation we’ve had with different union representatives, because, of course, workers should have full control of what health conditions and medications they disclose to their employer. That being said, it is hard for an organization to help protect against vulnerabilities they aren’t aware of.

I believe that training is a huge part of the solution to this challenge. Work sites should be providing heat-related training to their employees, which should include education on these comorbidities so that a person can have autonomy to then make their own decisions.

For example, if I’m pregnant and working in the mining industry and I receive heat-related training and see that working in the heat could place me and potentially the fetus at greater risk, I can then make a choice to go to my occupational nurse or HR rep and put a plan in place. If you don’t know that you’re at greater risk, you are at a disadvantage.

Similarly, the training should discuss medications that change how your body thermoregulates—certain antidepressants are a good example of this.

CIM: What would you recommend for companies that want to improve their heat management program?

Tetzlaff: Heat stress is a complex challenge with many nuances. Because of that, I think that it’s often viewed as an unmanageable challenge, but it is not. There are very small steps that can be taken towards building up a heat management program, and there are good researchers across Canada who are dedicated to working on this problem and can act as a resource to help. I would encourage people to reach out to these researchers to get support in tailoring [a program] to their individual workplace. CIM

Critical matters

What is being done to strengthen the resilience of critical minerals supply chains in Canada, and is it enough to reduce dependence on foreign sources?

By Graham Chandler

Many critical minerals are extracted as byproducts during mining operations for other commodities. But processing and refining them into usable forms is costly, so they have just been treated as waste by western miners.

Not China—it has generally thought otherwise, and so has come to dominate the world supply of several critical minerals. Indeed, an August 2023 report by the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies noted that, as of 2022, “China produced a staggering 98 per cent of the world’s supply of raw gallium.”

The recent escalation of geopolitical tensions led to China’s December 2024 decision to ban exports of gallium, germanium, antimony and other critical minerals to the United States. This has raised concerns about potential shortages of these minerals, which are used in many applications, particularly in the clean energy and defence sectors.

A Dec. 3, 2024, press release from the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) stated that the ban underscores the precariousness of global supply chains and highlights the vital role of the

Canada-U.S. trade relationship in addressing supply chain vulnerabilities. The MAC release said that China’s decision “serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by geopolitical tensions, particularly on the reliable supply of such critical minerals,” noting that they are essential not only for technological innovation and economic growth but also for defence applications that are critical to national security.

So, what strategies does Canada have in place to boost domestic production of critical minerals and to mitigate the risks of interruptions from foreign suppliers? CIM Magazine examines what some companies are doing to increase production, the government support available to do it, the hurdles they face, and what still needs to be done to build more resilient supply chains of critical minerals.

Canada’s strategy

To be deemed “critical” in Canada, a mineral’s supply chain must be threatened, and there must be a reasonable chance of it being produced by Canada. It must also meet one of the following

criteria: it is essential to Canada’s economic or national security; it is required for the national transition to a sustainable low-carbon and digital economy; or it positions Canada as a sustainable and strategic partner within global supply chains.

Canada’s critical minerals list, which was released in March 2021 and updated in June 2024, includes 34 minerals. The Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy (CCMS) was released in December 2022, and has been supported by nearly $4 billion in total funding from federal budgets in 2021 to 2024. The CCMS vision is to increase the supply of responsibly sourced critical minerals and to support development of the green and digital economy at home and abroad—for all stages of the minerals’ value chains.

“The CCMS is a framework for enabling and building the necessary foundations for a competitive critical minerals sector,” explained Photinie Koutsavlis, MAC’s vice-president of economic affairs and climate change. In her previous position as director general of the policy and economics branch in the lands and minerals sector at Natural Resources Canada, Koutsavlis played a vital role in developing and implementing the Canadian Minerals

and Metals Plan, launched in March 2019, and led the efforts of the department’s Critical Minerals Task Force to establish Canada as the preferred global supplier of critical minerals, products and technologies essential to building a net-zero economy.

“The CCMS is all-encompassing,” said Koutsavlis. “It spans everything from increasing the participation of Indigenous peoples in the mining sector to building sustainable value chains, fostering innovation, securing supply chains to meet domestic and international demand, and advancing Canada’s multilateral relationships with other countries regarding raw materials—and everything in between. The strategy is both operational and strategic, addressing current initiatives and opportunities. Our question now is: how will the strategy continue to be implemented?”

The Government of Canada has been working on operationalizing the strategy—but has it been effective? “The budgets from 2022, 2023 and 2024 include a number of measures to support Canada’s critical minerals mining sector,” said Koutsavlis. “These include announcements for infrastructure, research and

Courtesy of Teck Resources

Teck Resources, which is one of the world’s largest producers of germanium, processes germanium-bearing concentrates at its integrated refinery in Trail, B.C.

development, and taxation measures for companies purchasing equipment and machinery. There have been several positive responses by the Government of Canada to support the CCMS.”

Barriers and challenges

Koutsavlis stated that there are multiple challenges in strengthening domestic supply chains for critical minerals, with one of the major obstacles being the difficulty companies face in raising the capital needed to develop new mining projects.

“Financing capital is very scarce for mining projects; it’s very difficult for the sector to raise funds. To increase critical minerals production in Canada, MAC is recommending an expansion of the Clean Technology Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit (CTMITC),” she said.

Expanding the eligibility of the CTM-ITC, announced in budget 2023, to include intangible mine development-related costs—such as shaft sinking, ventilation, underground vertical and lateral development, and infrastructure—during the 2024 to 2034 period would help grow critical minerals production and facilitate the life extension of existing mines.

“Building a mine from exploration to production takes about 13 to 15 years on average,” Koutsavlis pointed out. “So, if you’re looking at discoveries being made now or focusing on existing mines already in production, how do you incentivize those mines to produce more?” She suggested that one approach could be expanding the eligibility of the existing tax credit.

Infrastructure is another barrier. Canada’s critical minerals are often found in remote areas with limited access to energy, transportation or other necessary infrastructure. These regions require significant infrastructure investments to bring critical minerals operations online and connect them to markets.

For this reason, infrastructure is a key component of the CCMS. It advocates for investments in clean energy and transportation infrastructure, which can help unlock critical minerals production and develop value chains.

Koutsavlis highlighted another area for potential improvement, referring to what mineral explorers often call the “valley of death,” where some projects encounter significant challenges.

“This typically occurs after an exciting discovery, when the initial enthusiasm of finding something valuable or economic generates considerable interest, often supported by the tax benefits of flow-through shares, which allow investors to deduct exploration costs from their taxable income,” she explained.

However, as these projects progress along the mining life cycle, investor interest often wanes. At the same time, government support and incentives may also diminish, leaving insufficient resources to advance the projects into production, she noted. “Many of these projects stall or fail in the ‘valley of death’ once the initial excitement and incentives fade. They require substantial funding to progress through feasibility studies, engineering assessments and permitting processes,” she said.

Canada’s major trading partners and allies are also taking action to secure and diversify critical minerals supply chains, according to the CCMS annual report for 2024. The United States, which is Canada’s largest trading partner, has introduced major investments through recent legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was passed in August 2022 and includes tax breaks for initiatives like electric vehicle production in North America.

In May 2024, the U.S. and Canada co-invested in two Canadian critical minerals projects: Fortune Minerals’ NICO bismuth, cobalt, copper and gold project in the Northwest Territories, and Lomiko Metals’ pilot plant in Quebec to test converting flake graphite into battery-grade material.

However, in the future, the IRA and such cooperation between the two countries may be threatened under the administration of the newly sworn in U.S. President Trump. “With the impending shift to a Republican-controlled White House and Congress, the fate of the IRA and its estimated US$1.045 trillion worth of climate and energy provisions is uncertain,” stated Washington D.C.-based think tank the Brookings Institution in a January 2025 article.

Company initiatives

Nevertheless, despite the unpredictable future at the time of writing, some mining companies will be—or are—taking

Rio Tinto’s plant in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, extracts high-purity scandium oxide from the waste streams of titanium dioxide production.

individual initiatives to boost the North American supply of certain critical minerals. For example, in December 2024, Rio Tinto announced it was assessing the potential to extract and valorize gallium from the bauxite being processed in its alumina refinery in Saguenay, Quebec (see p. 21).

The company stated that a commercial-scale plant could extract up to 40 tonnes of gallium per year, representing between five and 10 per cent of current global production, which would bolster Canada’s place in the global production of primary gallium.

It is not Rio Tinto’s first venture into critical minerals production. A release on May 11, 2022, announced it had “started producing tellurium at its Kennecott copper operation in Utah, becoming one of only two U.S. producers of the critical mineral used in advanced thin film photovoltaic solar panels.” Tellurium is recovered from byproduct streams generated during the copper refining process, reducing the amount of waste that needs to be treated and discarded as mine tailings, stated the announcement.

That same month saw another Rio Tinto North American critical minerals first—in Canada: “Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium has produced a first batch of high-purity scandium oxide at its commercial-scale demonstration plant in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, becoming the first North American producer of this critical mineral, which is notably used in solid oxide fuel cells and in aluminum alloys,” reported the news release.

Another important mining company producing a key critical mineral is Teck Resources, which is one of the world’s largest producers of germanium, and a primary supplier of germanium to the United States. “Germanium is mainly a byproduct of zinc ore concentrate processing, and the germanium that Teck produces originates from our Red Dog mine in northwest Alaska, the largest zinc mine in the world,” said Dale Steeves, director of stakeholder relations at Teck.

From Red Dog, the zinc concentrate is shipped to Teck’s Trail operations in B.C.—one of the world’s largest fully integrated zinc and lead smelting and refining complexes—where it is converted into refined products, including germanium. From Trail, Teck then sells germanium to customers in the United States, as well as others around the world.

There is potential for more production at Trail. “We are examining options and market support for increasing production capacity of germanium,” said Steeves.

In a speech in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 15, Canada’s Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson pitched a joint CanadaU.S. investment to bolster Teck’s production of germanium. “There is an opportunity to jointly invest in a project that will enable greater germanium supply—which can displace germanium the U.S. has been purchasing from China,” Wilkinson said.

He noted that there are also opportunities for the two countries to enhance the scandium and titanium supply from Quebec, as well as boosting Canada’s production of gallium and rare earths elements, to reduce North America’s exposure to and dependence on China for these critical minerals.

Other considerations

When planning the development of new critical minerals production, mining companies need to be cognizant of several factors.

Theo Yameogo, head of EY Americas’ metals and mining practice, said that financial support and resources for mining companies to invest in new technology are multifaceted. “Governments

and private investors are aligning on traditional funding mechanisms such as loans, equity investments and offtake agreements to support the responsible development of critical minerals,” he said. “Additionally, trade agreements are being utilized to promote secure and diversified supply chains. However, there is a consensus that temporary incentives may not provide sustainable long-term support, and a more permanent solution is necessary.”

Times are changing in financial markets. “Mining companies are now perceived as ‘yield’ plays [profits only] and are not necessarily able to access the same level of capital as a result,” said Yameogo. But this approach to financing will likely need to change for companies seeking to bring greater supply online for the energy transition, he said.

“Mining companies are accessing a wider range of capital: recent EY survey data revealed that on average, the mining executives surveyed are considering up to four sources of finance, and they rank alternative sources of capital such as commodity traders, supplier funding and export credit finance as highly as traditional debt and equity,” added Yameogo. “Miners are also considering partnerships, joint ventures or integration to help share the financial burden and mitigate risks of large-scale projects.”

Still more creativity is required in the mining sector if it is to achieve a more integrated resource strategy to manage the complexities of the energy transition effectively. “Critical minerals like graphite are particularly attractive due to their essential role in clean energy technologies such as batteries and electric vehicles,” said Yameogo. “To capitalize on these opportunities, coordinated efforts between governments and businesses are essential to build diversified supply chains and transform resources into viable reserves.”

The creativity required for the development of critical minerals extends beyond financing, noted Yameogo.

“An example of this is the industry’s focus on waste and water management, with efforts to create a positive environmental legacy,” he said. “ICMM is leading the push towards nature-positive goals, aiming to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. This involves collaboration with Indigenous communities, leveraging their knowledge and sustainable land management practices.”

New unknowns, however, still lurk. For example, how will U.S. President Trump and his proposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports affect company and government critical minerals planning and policies?

In its December 2024 press release, MAC pointed out that Canada has long been a dependable partner to the United States, providing certainty to the country’s manufacturing and defence industries by serving as a major supplier of minerals and metals. In addition, it noted that 52 per cent of Canada’s mineral exports in 2022 (with a value of over $80 billion) went to the U.S.

“Strengthening the free flow of minerals and metals between Canada and the U.S. is more critical than ever,” the organization stated. “Imposing tariffs on Canadian mineral and metal exports to the U.S. would run counter to the shared goals of secure and reliable supply chains. Such measures risk disrupting the essential flow of these resources, undermining the competitiveness of North American industries, and exacerbating vulnerabilities in critical mineral supply chains that both nations are working to address.”

As this issue was going to press, Koutsavlis said, “I think we are all in ‘wait and see’ mode.” CIM

Full charge ahead

New charging solutions for battery electric vehicles are paving the way for less operational downtime and greater productivity

By Tijana Mitrovic

When it comes to increasing the adoption of electrification technology in mines, improvements still need to be made to charge battery electric vehicles (BEVs) quickly and to maintain and improve productivity, Matthew Cate, regional marketing and communications manager of North America at ABB, told CIM Magazine in an interview.

“Fast charging is critical, and to do it safely is even more critical,” Cate said. “We need to hit a point [with electrification technology] where [miners] don’t feel or see much difference in terms of the solution. When we can get to that point while making sure that it’s safe, that will be a huge milestone for miners.”

New charging solutions for BEVs are coming to market, with a focus on megawatt charging, less machine downtime and improved safety for miners.

Continuous charging

Among the key issues miners must confront with electrification are the management of energy and of machine downtime, Thad Litkenhus, the director of product management at Caterpillar, told CIM Magazine at last year’s MINExpo International in September 2024.

“Especially with the highly productive haulage units, you really do not want to take a truck to [the charging station] and stop it from producing—you want to bring the energy to the machine,” Litkenhus said. The company’s new Dynamic Energy Transfer (DET) system helps to do just that.

ABB’s new eMine Robot Automated Connection Device (ACD) will fully automate the charging process.

The DET system transfers energy to battery electric and electric drive diesel trucks, and charges the vehicle’s batteries or powers it while it is in operation, which Litkenhus said will help preserve the machine’s productivity.

According to Caterpillar, the DET works through a series of “integrated elements,” including a power module that converts energy from the mine’s power source, an electrified rail system that transmits the energy to the vehicle and a machine system that then transfers it to a truck’s powertrain.

The DET’s rail system is mobile and can be customized to a mine’s specific layout and needs, such as on steep ramps or curved sections of flat, high-speed haul roads, to help them cover as much of the site as possible. “Being able to install this quickly, pick it up and move it, we can give customers flexibility as a mine site’s plan changes,” Litkenhus said. “That’s a value proposition we’re keenly focused on.”

The system is meant to support mining companies looking at sustainability strategies for both the short and long term. “We initially [looked] at it as a dynamic charging device but quickly realized that the solution will give customers flexibility on their energy transition,” Litkenhus explained.

He said that the system can help mitigate volatile energy demands of operations that may require miners to have additional energy sources to power electric fleets, which can lead to extra costs and capital assets.

“Peaks and valleys in that energy demand really tax the economics of their utility,” he explained. “[With DET], we can optimize the energy deployment across all those assets so that you

can actually reduce that peak and bring that average power requirement down.”

DET is designed not only for the next generation of Caterpillar’s large battery electric haul trucks that are currently being tested at its customer sites, but the system can also be retrofitted to its trucks that are currently operating, such as the Cat 794 AC electric drive truck, which was displayed at MINExpo with the DET system attached.

Caterpillar has partnered with “early learning customers” to deploy the new technology on both battery electric and dieselelectric trucks, which will help the company gather more feedback on optimizing DET as part of its field validation plan for 2025. Afterwards, the company plans to begin production on the DET in mid- to late-2026.

“Delivering higher productivity is a step in the right direction on infrastructure that leads us to sustainability and a zero emissions future,” Litkenhus said. “[And the DET’s] ability to run on both battery electric and diesel-electric trucks [means] customers have options and we can meet them wherever they are in their [electrification] journey.”

Charging within minutes

Tyler Vien, LHD (load-haul-dump) product manager at Komatsu, told CIM Magazine in an interview that the company has made a battery electric version of its WX04 diesel machine with several key features. The WX04B is Komatsu’s first battery electric LHD machine, and it comes with an agnostic 150 kWh battery charger.

Courtesy of Caterpillar

The connecting arm of Caterpillar’s Dynamic Energy Transfer system can be installed on either side of a truck and on multiple truck models.

“Changing batteries is a big drawback to battery electric equipment in that it’s not always as easy as just refuelling it,” Vien said. The WX04B, however, allows for ground-level battery changes with no cranes, rigging or other equipment. “It allows you to very quickly and easily change batteries. Just drop the battery to the ground, then drive over and pick up a new one that’s fully charged. In this size class, that’s game-changing,” he said. The minimal infrastructure demand and capability to connect to existing connections means that it can easily be retrofitted into an existing application.

Philip Rosenstern, energy storage product manager at Komatsu, told CIM Magazine in an interview that the charger is also infrastructure-light. With no fixed installation requirements other than an electrical connection, it allows miners to set up charge bays rapidly and without significant infrastructure costs. “It also has portability and flexibility, so if a mine is moving significantly from one working area to another, the products can be moved relatively easily,” Rosenstern explained. “From a whole battery system perspective, it allows for almost continuous operation of the product because we can swap batteries from one that’s depleted, to one that’s fully charged, pretty much in real time with just a short gap in operations.”

The WX04B has a three- to four-hour run time on a single charge and its battery swap system can change a battery within five minutes. According to Vien, since the charger recharges the battery in approximately two hours, which is less than the operating time of its full charge, this means that a worker might only need to change the battery once a shift. “Although the battery can be charged in a quicker time…it’s part of our strategy to keep that battery on the machine as long as we can,” he said. “[This reduces] the amount of swaps and then also extends the battery life because we’re not charging at too quick of a rate.”

Komatsu is currently testing the WX04B and charger in surface and underground environments, and Vien said that initial testing is progressing well. The company plans to make the WX04B and the charger available for commercial sale in mid2025 and release the charger as a standalone product later on.

When the company presented the products at MINExpo, Vien said that the feedback was positive: “Many were shocked to see how we incorporated the battery swap in such a small machine [the LHD], as well as the size of the battery, for 165 kWh of energy. There’s a lot of interest, and it’s extremely motivating to hear the results of [our] efforts for the last three, four years that we’ve been working on this from the customer side.”

Safe and automated

For ABB, the focus of its new battery charging solution under development is safety. In an interview with CIM Magazine, Sachin Jari, the general manager of mining, North America at ABB, said that the company’s new eMine Robot Automated Connection Device (ACD) is being designed to remove miners from potential hazards.

An addition to its eMine Megawatt power charging system for electric mining trucks, the ACD will be a fully automated, interoperable connection device and can be monitored and controlled remotely, meaning miners do not need to manually handle charging. “Once you start talking about these large 100, 200-, 300-, 400-tonne trucks, the amount of power that you want to deliver is in megawatts,” Jari explained. “And you want to deliver this power as safely as possible in as short a time as possible. So, the ACD is being designed to deliver power to a truck safely— without human intervention.”

When a vehicle approaches a charging station, the ACD system software assesses how much charge and charging time the vehicle needs, attaches a charging cable to the truck using a robotic arm, plugs the cable in until the truck is charged and removes it. Because the ACD’s charging will be automated, miners can schedule charging to suit their needs and optimize their workflow. The product is also being designed to be agnostic, so it is compatible with a variety of BEVs and charging systems.

“The largest amount of carbon emissions in a mine are taking place from the moving of material, the haulage,” Jari said. “ACD will be another step to reduce the carbon footprint, to help mines in general to decarbonize. This solution is going to help mining companies come closer to [their sustainability goals].”

ABB is currently testing the ACD at its laboratory in Europe and is trialling a partial application. According to Jari, the complete testing demonstration of the ACD with a truck and a charger is planned for 2025. ABB is also collaborating with large miners and original equipment manufacturers.

When it comes to the market availability of the product, Jari said that it is “going fast,” pointing to the quick progression and development of electrification technology. “A couple of years ago, people were saying that it would be another five, seven, 10 years before this happens,” Jari said. “Now people are talking about less than two years. The speed at which this technology is improving, it’s exponential.” CIM

Courtesy of Komatsu

Komatsu’s WX04B and charger displayed on the 2024 MINExpo show floor.

ABB’s robot ACD is being designed to improve safety by eliminating the need for human intervention in charging electric mining trucks.

Courtesy of ABB

Minerals, Innovation & the Energy Transition

Dany Bélanger

and Mélanie

LaRoche-Boisvert talk about what to expect at CIM’s premier conference

By Michele Beacom

CIM CONNECT 2025, CIM’s annual convention, being held this year in Montreal from May 4 to 7, will offer three days of immersive learning and knowledge sharing, enhanced by professional development courses preceding the convention. CIM Magazine spoke with Convention Chair Dany Bélanger and Mélanie LaRoche-Boisvert, who is Technical Program Co-Chair with Matthew Stewart, about the experience at this year’s CIM CONNECT conference.

CIM: The theme of this year’s conference is “Minerals, Innovation & the Energy Transition.” What can attendees expect to learn at CIM CONNECT 2025?

Bélanger: We have over 275 technical papers that talk to that theme. The convention is going to be very much about learning what the energy transition is, and where we are. We’re kind of at the infancy stage right now. It’s a great thing for the politicians to say, but what does it mean practically? So here we’re going to try to define and educate people on the energy transition.

LaRoche-Boisvert: I think the main thing that they can expect to learn at the conference is how miners, suppliers and technology companies are working towards innovation and the energy transition. So, how are they innovating and how are they applying innovations, maybe from other industries, to the mining industry, and how are they contributing to the energy transition as a whole?

What do you think will be the highlight of this year’s conference?

LaRoche-Boisvert: I think the highlight of this year’s conference will be the sheer variety of topics being covered and the innovations that people will be presenting. We have a big focus on not only best practices in the industry, but innovations in the industry as well, so that we can see what they’re doing well and where they want to go by applying these new technologies or new processes and procedures to do better in the future. We also have added quite a few different sub-topics that we haven’t seen before at CIM conferences, so that should bring new attention or new points of view to the audience as well.

Bélanger: I hope the highlight is that people come out of this conference saying that they’ve received value for their investment of time and money, and that this conference clarified things around innovation and the energy transition. I’m hoping people get out of this convention saying, “I really learned

something different here. I picked up something I can bring back to my business and apply it.”

Can you give us a sneak preview of innovations and new things to expect this year?

Bélanger: A new thing we are doing this year is introducing the Innovation Exchange speaker series. We’ll have six sessions in the technical program where, instead of people presenting a paper, we’ll have, for example, operators presenting what they’re doing at their mining projects and how it relates to innovation and the energy transition.

LaRoche-Boisvert: We’ll also have groups from outside of mining presenting at the Innovation Exchange sessions. These sessions will be looking beyond our industry and asking, where else can we find innovations? Because often we are preaching to the choir. We need to bring more people from outside of the industry, and we need to take mining to outside industries and exchange ideas.

Why is CIM CONNECT the premier event for the mining industry?

Bélanger: There are a lot of mining-related conferences out there, but ours is about people actually mining. You’ve got PDAC, where the financing and the project assessment are at. But CIM CONNECT, to me, is where the rubber meets the road. This is the place for mining operators and engineers, from the time a mine is born to the end of its life.

LaRoche-Boisvert: CIM CONNECT brings together the operators, the suppliers, the innovators of the mining industry together in one place to focus on actually mining. We’re not talking about staking claims or doing exploration work. We’re talking about mines that will be built as well as operating mines, which is what I think differentiates CIM CONNECT from other conferences.

Bélanger: Another thing I think differentiates our convention is that CIM is a bilingual institute, and our head office is in Montreal. I understand that roughly 30 per cent of Canadian miners are francophone, so we have to be more sensitive as an association to make sure language is not a barrier for them to participate. This year at the conference we will have for the first time artificial intelligence-powered simultaneous translation of all the technical sessions. That’s very exciting! CIM

Focus on the future

CIM’s new strategic plan aims to support the transformation of the mining industry

By Rosemary Mantini

The CIM Strategic Plan 2025-2028 is the result of months of reflection and stakeholder interviews. It embodies the experiences and insights of our volunteers, staff and the community CIM serves.

Together, they identified three priority initiatives: Embrace innovation and excellence: Stand as the definitive leader in industry best practices, known for technical expertise in mining, minerals and metals. Forge connections and drive growth: Serve as the premier hub for networking, mentorship and building strategic partnerships within the mining industry. Support the value of the minerals and metals industry: Elevate the public’s understanding of—and appreciation for—the industry’s vital contributions to society.

The feedback CIM received while developing those priority initiatives led to clear objectives that will help CIM achieve its goals. This plan supports the transformation that the mining industry is undergoing while keeping its members as a central focus.

“Now more than ever, leadership within the minerals, metals and energy industries is critical,” said Ian Pearce, CIM president. “This strategic plan ensures that we are aligned on a

The evolution of a society

By Rosemary Mantini

As part of CIM’s ongoing commitment to its community and the wider minerals, metals and energy industries, the institute is introducing significant changes for 2025.

With the release of a new strategic plan, CIM set out to ensure that its committees and societies are not only aligned with its organizational goals but also positioned to maximize engagement, growth and operational excellence. In November 2024, CIM Council approved a new reporting structure that will see some committees reclassified as sub-sections of CIM societies.

This streamlined approach is exemplified by the transformation of the Mineral Resources Mineral Reserves (MRMR) Committee into the newly created Mineral Resources Mineral Reserves Society (MRMRS). Among the immediate steps CIM has taken in enacting this strategy is the merging of the Geological Society of CIM into the new MRMRS. This rebranded society brings focus to a key strength of CIM’s community of expertise and more clearly expresses the unique value that our membership has been providing the industry for over a quarter century.

Historically, the MRMR Committee has been instrumental in developing industry standards and guidelines. Under the new structure, this important work will continue but with an expanded mandate to foster innovation and excellence across a broader spectrum of the industry.

common vision and positions us to meet future challenges together.”

Among the immediate steps taken to enact this strategy is the merging of the Geological Society of CIM into the newly created Mineral Resources Mineral Reserves Society (see below). CIM is also in the process of developing a new society dedicated to innovation and technology that will focus on helping industry accelerate the digitalization of mining, as well as the broader development and application of technologies.

“We have also been active in reviewing and updating our governance to ensure accountability and transparency in our operations,” said Angela Hamlyn, chief executive officer of CIM. “Among the results will be a streamlined and simplified committee structure, which ensures that we will remain agile and responsive to the needs of our community.”

To everyone who contributed to this strategic plan, CIM extends its deepest gratitude. This is truly a plan for the future that reaffirms CIM’s commitment and its value to the minerals, metals and energy sectors.

“With the valuable support of our technical societies, local branches and dedicated volunteers,” said Hamlyn, “we look forward to building a stronger CIM that listens, learns and leads.” CIM

Garth Kirkham, principal of Kirkham Geosystems, past CIM president, co-chair of the MRMR Committee and chairperson of the Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO), explained, “The actual mechanics of mineral resource and mineral reserves estimations aren’t taught at the university level. You need to find a company that will train you, and because it’s a high-profile activity, it’s really tough for a junior to get in there. That’s what we’re doing. We’re going to be that place where anyone who’s interested in learning more about mineral reserves estimation can get that training.”

The MRMR Committee’s successful conference in October 2024 drew interest from a diverse range of industries adjacent to mining, including artificial intelligence groups, and demonstrated the value of its work and commitment to innovation. Moving forward, the MRMRS will host this event biennially.

Kirkham shared his hope that this restructured approach will encourage engagement with new audiences across a broader range of sectors. “We’re reaching out to people from a cross-section of disciplines and generations to join us,” he said. “We’re making sure it’s not just engineers and geoscientists. We want to include social scientists, environmentalists and people of all ages and experience levels.” CIM

Photo: Jon Benjamin Photography

Welcome to / Bienvenue à

Iand the CIM National Office are thrilled to invite you to the much-awaited CIM CONNECT 2025 our annual gathering of the brightest and best within the Canadian mining industry.

Through the decades, our convention mission has remained constant. We want to connect new members to existing members, exchange ideas with domestic and international business communities, engage with government bodies, strengthen Indigenous relationships, showcase academic contributions, and welcome future industry practitioners with an exciting and interactive student program.

The CIM convention brings together a diversified group of people who over the course of three days connect, exchange ideas, collaborate, innovate, and, ultimately, promote Canadian mining excellence. Together, we can move the industry to meet the needs of Canadian society as well as other communities and nations.

The theme for CIM CONNECT 2025 is “Minerals, Innovation & the Energy Transition.” Keynote presentations and technical sessions will highlight Canada’s unique leadership role within the global minerals, metals and energy landscape. Discussions will underscore our commitment to developing valuable resources responsibly and demonstrate Canadian leadership.

This theme will provide a platform for exploring the significance of Canada’s position within the global industry, including identifying the mining opportunities we provide on an international scale. Canada’s minerals, metals and energy sectors are strategically important. CIM CONNECT 2025 provides a platform to examine how we, and like-minded nations, can leverage these advantages.

Prepare for three full days of keynote presentations, plenaries, a new industry leadership speaker program, immersive learning, networking opportunities, and knowledge exchange sessions through our extensive technical program. Start your professional development experience early by immersing yourself in short courses in the days leading up to the convention.

As always, our expansive tradeshow will be buzzing with companies showcasing cutting-edge products and services and offering you a unique opportunity for networking and discovery.

We look forward to welcoming you to the beautiful and historic city of Montreal.

Let’s connect, exchange insights, and pave the way forward for a brighter future for the mining industry.

New at CIM CONNECT 2025!

This year’s event will conclude with our first-ever President’s Golf Tournament. Join us on Thursday, May 8 at Elm Ridge Country Club in the greater Montreal area. Register now

Dany Bélanger CIM CONNECT 2025 Convention Chair

C’est avec enthousiasme que moi-même et le bureau national de l’ICM vous invitons à CIM CONNECT 2025 notre rendez-vous annuel réunissant les plus brillants talents de l’industrie minière canadienne.

Au fil des décennies, la mission de notre congrès est restée constante. Nous cherchons à connecter les nouveaux membres avec les membres actuels, à échanger avec les communautés d’affaires nationales et internationales, à collaborer avec les instances gouvernementales, à renforcer les relations avec les peuples autochtones, à mettre en valeur les contributions académiques et à accueillir les futurs professionnels de l’industrie grâce à un programme étudiant captivant et interactif.

Le congrès de l’ICM réunit un groupe diversifié de personnes qui, pendant trois jours, se connectent, échangent des idées, collaborent, innovent et, au final, promeuvent l’excellence minière canadienne. Ensemble, nous pouvons faire avancer l’industrie pour répondre aux besoins de la société canadienne ainsi qu’à ceux des autres communautés et nations.

Le thème de CIM CONNECT 2025 est « Innovation,minéraux et transition énergétique ». Les plénières principales et les sessions techniques mettront en lumière le rôle unique du Canada en tant que leader mondial dans les secteurs des minéraux, des métaux et de l’énergie. Les discussions souligneront notre engagement à développer des ressources précieuses de manière responsable et démontreront le leadership canadien.

Ce thème servira de plateforme pour explorer l’importance de la position stratégique du Canada dans l’industrie mondiale, notamment en identifiant les opportunités minières qu’il offre à l’échelle internationale. Les secteurs canadiens des minéraux, des métaux et de l’énergie revêtent une importance stratégique. CIM CONNECT 2025 offre une occasion d’examiner comment nous, ainsi que des nations partageant les mêmes valeurs, pouvons tirer parti de ces avantages.

Préparez-vous à trois jours riches en présentations, plénières, un nouveau programme de conférences sur le leadership industriel, des apprentissages immersifs, des occasions de réseautage et des séances d’échange de connaissances grâce à notre vaste programme technique. Débutez votre expérience de développement professionnel en participant à des cours intensifs dans les jours précédant le congrès.

Comme toujours, notre salon professionnel d’envergure sera animé par des entreprises présentant des produits et services de pointe, vous offrant ainsi une opportunité unique de réseautage et de découverte.

Nouveauté à CIM CONNECT 2025 !

Cette année, l’événement se terminera par notre tout premier Tournoi de golf du président. Rejoignez-nous le jeudi 8 mai au Elm Ridge Country Club, dans la grande région de Montréal.

Inscrivez

Nous avons hâte de vous accueillir dans la magnifique et historique ville de Montréal.

Dany Bélanger

Président du congrès CIM CONNECT 2025

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE COMITÉ ORGANISATEUR

Honorary Chairs

Angelina Mehta, General Manager, Joint Ventures | Aluminium, Rio Tinto

Marie-Pierre Paquin, Head of Science and Partnerships, Innovation, Science and Technology Group, Rio Tinto

Convention Chair

Dany Bélanger, Treasurer, CIM Montréal Branch

CIM President 2024-2025

Ian Pearce, Director, Hattrick Resources

Technical Program Chairs

Mélanie LaRoche-Boisvert, Principal Specialist, Technical Services, ArcelorMittal

Matthew Stewart, Global Manager, Mineral Resources, Vale Base Metals

Student Program Chairs

Kevin Brouillard-Tejeda, Recent Graduate, Baccalaureate in Mining Engineering, Polytechnique de Montréal

Hassan Yousif, 3rd year Student, Bachelor of Applied Science, Mining and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto

CIM STAFF

Chief Executive Officer

Angela Hamlyn

Director of Events Carol Damiani, cdamiani@cim.org

Event Operations Manager Chantal Murphy, cmurphy@cim.org

Conference Planner Marie Tota, mtota@cim.org

Conference Planner–Technical Program

Anne-Claude Michellod, acmichellod@cim.org

Sales Manager, Exhibition and Sponsorship

Nadia Bakka, nbakka@cim.org

Coordinator, Exhibit Service

Emie Gendron, egendron@cim.org

Registration Coordinator Jessica Galindo, jgalindo@cim.org

Event Marketing Coordinator Michelle To, mto@cim.org

Short Courses Victoria Burnie, vburnie@cim.org

Student Program Neal Young, nyoung@cim.org

Awards Julie Stuart, jstuart@cim.org

SATURDAY, MAY 3

CIM Council Meeting

Short Courses

09:00 - 16:00

09:00 - 17:00

Registration 13:00 - 17:00

SUNDAY, MAY 4

Registration

Short Courses

08:00 - 20:00

08:00 - 17:00

CIM Officers’ Meeting and 08:30 - 11:00 Orientation Session

CIM Annual General Meeting 11:00 - 12:00

Lunch for Short Course Participants 12:00 - 14:00

Presenters’ Preparation Room 15:00 - 20:00

Business Class Lounge and Press Room 15:00 - 20:00

First-Time Attendee and VIP Reception 15:30 - 16:30

Convention Opening Ceremony 16:30 - 17:00

CIM CONNECT Expo Opening 17:00 - 20:00 and Reception

Student Poster Session 17:00 - 20:00

MONDAY, MAY 5

Registration 07:30 - 17:00

Presenters’ Preparation Room 07:30 - 17:00

Opening Keynote and Plenary Session

08:30 - 10:30

Business Class Lounge and Press Room 09:00 - 17:00

CIM CONNECT Expo 10:00 - 17:00

Student Poster Session 10:00 - 17:00

Student Mentorship Event 10:45 - 12:00

Technical Program 11:00 - 16:45

CEO Luncheon (by invitation)

12:00 - 14:00

Lunch at the Expo 12:00 - 14:00

Networking Reception at the Expo 15:30 - 17:00

Student Poster Judging Reception 15:30 - 17:00

Reception, CIM Awards Gala 17:30 - 19:00

Past President Reception (by invitation) 18:00 - 19:00

CIM Awards Gala, presented by 19:00 - 22:00

Caterpillar and its Canadian dealers

TUESDAY, MAY 6

Registration 07:30 - 17:00

Presenters’ Preparation Room 07:30 - 17:00

General Keynote and Panel Session 08:30 - 10:00

Business Class Lounge and Press Room 09:00 - 17:00

CIM CONNECT Expo 10:00 - 17:00

Student Poster Session 10:00 - 17:00

Technical Program 10:30 - 16:45

CEO Luncheon (by invitation) 12:00 - 14:00

Lunch at the Expo 12:00 - 14:00

Student-Industry Networking Lunch 12:00 - 14:00

Career Fair 15:00 - 17:00

Networking Reception at the Expo 15:30 - 17:00

Women in Mining Reception 17:00 - 19:00

Komatsu Gala 20:00 - 00:00

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7

Registration 08:00 - 14:00

Presenters’ Preparation Room 08:00 - 14:00

General Keynote and Panel Session 08:30 - 10:00

Business Class Lounge and Press Room 09:00 - 14:00

Technical Program 10:30 - 16:45

Lunch with Guest Speakers 12:00 - 14:00

Convention Closing Reception 16:45 - 17:45

SAMEDI 3 MAI

Réunion du conseil de l’ICM 9h - 16h

Cours intensifs 9h - 17h

Inscription 13h - 17h

DIMANCHE 4 MAI

Inscription 8h - 20h

Cours intensifs 8h - 17h

Assemblée d’orientation des dirigeants 8h30 - 11h de l’ICM

Assemblée générale annuelle de l’ICM 11h - 12h

Lunch pour les participants des cours 12h - 14h intensifs

Salle de préparation des présentateurs 15h - 20h

Salon classe affaire et salle de presse 15h - 20h

Réception aux nouveaux délégués et VIP 15h30 - 16h30

Cérémonie d’ouverture du congrès 16h30 - 17h

Ouverture de l’Expo de CIM CONNECT 17h - 20h et réception

Concours d’affiches des étudiants 17h - 20h

LUNDI 5 MAI

Inscription 7h30 - 17h

Salle de préparation des présentateurs 7h30 - 17h

Discours d’ouverture, conférencier 8h30 - 10h30 invité et séance plénière

Salon classe affaire et salle de presse 9h - 17h

L’Expo de CIM CONNECT 10h - 17h

Concours d’affiches des étudiants 10h - 17h

Événement de mentorat des étudiants 10h45 - 12h

Programme technique 11h - 16h45

Lunch des délégués à l’Expo 12h - 14h

Lunch des PDG (sur invitation) 12h - 14h

Réception de réseautage à l’Expo 15h30 - 17h

Réception du gala des prix d’excellence 17h30 - 19h de l’ICM

Réception des anciens présidents 18h - 19h de l’ICM (sur invitation)

Gala des prix d’excellence de l’ICM, 19h - 22h présenté par Caterpillar et ses concessionnaires canadiens

MARDI 6 MAI

Inscription 7h30 - 17h

Salle de préparation des présentateurs 7h30 - 17h

Séance générale, conférencier invité 8h30 - 10h et panel de discussion

Salon classe affaire et salle de presse 9h - 17h

L’expo de CIM CONNECT 10h - 17h

Concours d’affiches des étudiants 10h - 17h

Programme technique 10h30 - 16h45

Lunch des PDG (sur invitation) 12h - 14h

Lunch pour les délégués à l’expo 12h - 14h

Lunch de réseautage étudiants-industries 12h - 14h

Salon de l’emploi 15h - 17h

Réception - réseautage à l’expo 15h30 - 17h

Reception - l'évaluation d’affiches des 15h30 - 17h étudiants

Réception des Femmes en exploitation 17h - 19h minière

Gala Komatsu 20h - 00h

MERCREDI 7 MAI

Inscription 8h - 14h

Salle de préparation pour les présentateurs 8h - 14h

Séance générale, conférencier invité 8h30 - 10h et panel de discussion

Salon pour les délégués affaires et média 9h - 14h

Programme technique 10h30 - 16h45

Lunch avec conférenciers invités 12h - 14h

Réception de clôture du congrès 16h45 - 17h45

CIM CONNECT 2025 acknowledges that the conference will be on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehà:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtià:ke/Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.

CIM CONNECT 2025 reconnaît que la conférence se tiendra en territoire autochtone, lequel n’a jamais été cédé. Nous reconnaissons la nation Kanien’kehà:ka comme gardienne des terres et des eaux sur lesquelles nous nous réunissons aujourd’hui. Tiohtià:ke/Montréal est historiquement connu comme un lieu de rassemblement pour de nombreuses Premières Nations et, aujourd’hui, une population autochtone diversifiée ainsi que d’autres peuples, y résident. C’est dans le respect des liens avec le passé, le présent et l’avenir que nous reconnaissons les relations continues entre les peuples autochtones et autres personnes de la communauté montréalaise.

Be Part of the Future of Mining

Secure Your Sponsorship Today!

Why Sponsor?

Elevate your brand Expand your in昀uence Network with Leaders

70% of a琀endees in昀uence or make purchasing decisions. Build connections that will drive your business forward.

Showcase your brand to 550+ exhibitors and thousands of professionals. Join us in Montréal to connect with over 7,100 industry leaders, decision-makers, and in昀uencers at the must-a琀end event in the mining sector.

OPENING KEYNOTE & PLENARY SESSION

| DISCOURS D’OUVERTURE, CONFÉRENCIER INVITÉ & SÉANCE PLÉNIÈRE

Monday May 5 | 8:30 | Lundi 5 Mai | 8h30

KEYNOTE PANELISTS

Sponsored by:

“Innovation and Artificial Intelligence”

Start CIM CONNECT 2025 by exploring the conference theme, Minerals, Innovation & the Energy Transition which reflects the industry’s shift from focusing solely on extraction ( “ mining ” ) to the broader economic value of minerals in a sustainable future. The Opening Plenary features a keynote address on the transformative role of innovation and artificial intelligence in the minerals industry, showcasing how these advancements are shaping decarbonization efforts and accelerating the energy transition. Following the keynote, a dynamic panel of industry leaders and experts will discuss the challenges and opportunities in leveraging technology to build a resilient and sustainable minerals sector.

“Innovation et intelligence artificielle”

Commencez CIM CONNECT 2025 en explorant le thème de la conférence, « Minéraux, innovation et transition énergétique », qui reflète le passage de l’industrie d’une focalisation exclusive sur l’extraction (« mining ») à la valorisation économique plus large des minéraux dans un avenir durable. La séance plénière d’ouverture mettra en vedette une allocution principale sur le rôle transformateur de l’innovation et de l’intelligence artificielle dans l’industrie minérale, mettant en lumière comment ces avancées façonnent les efforts de décarbonisation et accélèrent la transition énergétique. Après le discours d’ouverture, un panel dynamique de leaders et d’experts du secteur discutera des défis et des opportunités liés à l’utilisation des technologies pour bâtir un secteur minéral résilient et durable.

TUESDAY GENERAL KEYNOTE & PANEL SESSION | SÉANCE GÉNÉRALE DU MARDI, CONFÉRENCIER INVITÉ

Tuesday May 6 | 8:30 | Mardi 6 Mai | 8h30

MODERATOR

Carolyn Chisholm

General Manager External Affairs, Rio Tinto

PANELISTS (confirmed to date)

“Energy Transition and the Evolving Energy Sector”

On the second day of the CIM CONNECT 2025 technical program, delve into the transformative forces shaping the future of energy. The Tuesday session begins with a compelling keynote address exploring the critical role of renewable energy, battery storage innovations and transportation electrification in revolutionizing the energy sector. Following the keynote, a panel of experts will discuss the technological advancements and strategic initiatives driving the transition to a greener, more sustainable economy.

& PANEL DE DISCUSSION

Sonia St-Arnaud President & CEO, EVLO

Sponsored by:

Scott MacKenzie Director, Corporate & External Affairs, Toyota Motor Manufacturing

“Transition énergétique et évolution du secteur de l’énergie” Lors de la deuxième journée du programme technique de CIM CONNECT 2025, plongez dans les forces transformatrices qui façonnent l’avenir de l’énergie. La session du mardi débutera par une allocution captivante sur le rôle essentiel des énergies renouvelables, des innovations dans le stockage des batteries et de l’électrification des transports dans la révolution du secteur énergétique. À la suite du discours d’ouverture, un panel d’experts discutera des avancées technologiques et des initiatives stratégiques qui propulsent la transition vers une économie plus verte et durable.

Saskia Duyvesteyn Chief Advisor –Research and Development Copper, Rio Tinto

Jeff More President & CEO, MineSense

Kimberly Keating Board Director, Pan American Silver

Eric Desaulniers Founder, President & CEO, Nouveau Monde Graphite

Rohitesh Dhawan President & CEO, International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM)

WEDNESDAY GENERAL KEYNOTE & PANEL SESSION | SÉANCE GÉNÉRALE DU MERCREDI, CONFÉRENCIER INVITÉ & PANEL DE

DISCUSSION

Wednesday May 7 | 8:30 | Mercredi 7 Mai | 8h30

MODERATOR

KEYNOTE

PANELISTS

Nadine Miller CEO & Founder, Tinkerer Borg

Steven Bowles Managing Director, Nebari Partners

Ammar Al-Joundi President & CEO, Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.

“Financial Strategies for a Dynamic Industry”

The final day of the CIM CONNECT 2025 technical program offers another content-rich experience, beginning with a keynote and panel session focused on the financial strategies essential for navigating the evolving minerals industry.

The morning keynote will provide expert insights into managing investments, optimizing capital and developing financial plans in the face of fluctuating commodity prices and global market uncertainties. Following the keynote, a dynamic panel discussion will explore practical approaches to mitigating risk, securing funding for innovation and ensuring the long-term sustainability of mining and mineral operations.

“Stratégies Financières pour une Industrie Dynamique”

La dernière journée du programme technique de CIM CONNECT 2025 offre une expérience riche en contenu, débutant par une allocution principale et une séance de panel axées sur les stratégies financières essentielles pour naviguer dans une industrie minérale en constante évolution.

Le discours d’ouverture du matin fournira des perspectives d’experts sur la gestion des investissements, l’optimisation du capital et l’élaboration de plans financiers face aux fluctuations des prix des matières premières et aux incertitudes des marchés mondiaux. À la suite de cette allocution, une discussion dynamique en panel explorera des approches pratiques pour atténuer les risques, sécuriser les financements pour l’innovation et garantir la durabilité à long terme des opérations minières et minérales.

WEDNESDAY LUNCH WITH GUEST SPEAKERS | LUNCH DES DÉLÉGUÉS AVEC PRÉSENTATEURS INVITÉS

Wednesday May 7 | 12:00 | Mercredi 7 Mai | 12h

Keynote and Iron Ore Panel

Join us for an inspiring lunchtime session featuring a keynote address by distinguished guest speaker Lucy Potter, from Rio Tinto, offering insights into critical trends and opportunities in the minerals industry. Following the keynote, an engaging iron ore panel will bring together industry experts to discuss the latest developments, innovations and best practices transforming the iron ore sector.

Conférence principale et panel sur le minerai de fer

Rejoignez-nous pour une session inspirante à l’heure du lunch, mettant en vedette une conférencière principale présentée par l’éminente invitée Lucy Potter, de Rio Tinto, qui partagera ses perspectives sur les tendances et opportunités clés dans l’industrie minérale. À la suite de cette allocution, un panel captivant sur le minerai de fer réunira des experts du secteur pour discuter des dernières avancées, innovations et meilleures pratiques qui transforment le secteur du minerai de fer.

KEYNOTE AND MODERATOR

Matt Simpson CEO, Black Iron Ore Inc.

Alice Tharenos CFO, Iron Ore Company of Canada

Erin Flanagan Senior Director, Canada Growth Fund Investment Management

Kendra Johnston Managing Director, PearTree Securities Inc.

Nicole AdsheadBell Director, Cupel Advisory Corp.

Lucy Potter General Manager, Technical, Rio Tinto Minerals

PANELISTS

Mapi Mobwano President & CEO, ArcelorMittal

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

PARTENAIRES D’AFFAIRES

MINERALS, INNOVATION & THE ENERGY TRANSITION

MINÉRAUX, INNOVATION ET TRANSITION ÉNERGÉTIQUE

#CIMCONNECT2025

In alignment with the conference theme, “Minerals, Innovation & the Energy Transition, ” our technical program will bring together industry experts to explore the pivotal role of minerals and innovation in driving the global energy transition.

We will focus on how embracing key innovations can position us as leaders in the evolving mineral supply chain, supporting sustainable energy solutions and fostering growth in the industry.

The technical program spans three full days and includes a variety of formats, such as technical presentations, keynotes and panel discussions. On Wednesday, May 7, the technical program will run throughout the day, featuring a delegates’ lunch with Lucy Potter as the keynote speaker. The event will conclude with the Convention Closing Reception at 16:45. We recommend adjusting your hotel reservation accordingly to ensure your participation in the exciting program on the final day.

The full program, including sessions, presenters, and panelists, will be available in March on the CIM CONNECT website at convention.cim.org, under the Technical Program section.

Aligné sur le thème de la conférence « Minéraux, Innovation et Transition Énergétique » , notre programme technique réunira des experts de l’industrie pour explorer le rôle des minéraux dans l’innovation et la transition énergétique mondiale.

Nous mettrons l’accent sur comment l’adoption de technologies et d’innovations clés peut renforcer notre position de leader dans la chaîne d’approvisionnement en minéraux qui est en constante évolution, soutenant ainsi des solutions énergétiques durables et favorisant la croissance de l’industrie minière.

Le programme technique s’étendra sur trois jours complets et proposera divers formats, tels que des présentations techniques, des conférences et des panels. Le mercredi 7 mai, en plus du programme technique qui se déroulera toute la journée, Lucy Potter prendra la parole en tant qu’oratrice principale. La réception de clôture marquera la fin de la conférence à 16 h 45. Nous vous recommandons d’ajuster votre réservation d’hôtel en conséquence pour garantir votre participation au programme captivant du dernier jour.

Le programme complet, incluant les sessions, intervenants et panélistes, sera disponible en mars sur le site de CIM CONNECT, à l’adresse convention.cim.org, dans la section Programme Technique.

URBANISATION ENERGY TRANSITION

• Green Equipment & Infrastructure

• Decarbonization & Electrification & Energy Storage

• Nuclear Power Generation

• Urbanisation, Energy Transition

• Renewable Energy Integration

• Integrated Supply Chain

• Commodities in High Demand

DIGITAL MATURITY & TRANSFORMATION

• Artificial Intelligence & Data

• Cybersecurity, Integration & Connectivity

• Automation & Robotics

• Disruptive Trends

INNOVATION AND BEST PRACTICES IN MINING: OPERATIONS AND PROCESSING

• Maintenance Practices

• Hoist and Haul

• Innovations in Underground Mining and Tunnelling

• Innovations and Best Practices in Open Pit Mining

• Innovation and Best Practice in Tailings Management

• Process Flow Optimization

• Silos and Breaking Down Barriers

• Integrated Planning

• R&D and Energy Optimization

• Advances in Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering

• Managing Risk

SUSTAINABILITY & CULTURE

• Green Mining Future

• Metal Recovery/Reprocessing

• Carbon Capture, Storage & Petroleum Transition

• Health & Safety

• Governance

• Culture

• Sustainability

PARTNERSHIP & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

• Community and Indigenous Relations

• Leveraging Partnerships for Sustainable Development

• Licence to Operate

INVESTMENT & FINANCING TO MEET THE ENERGY TRANSITION

• Investment Strategies for a Sustainable Future

• Attracting Investment for Sustainable Canadian Mining Projects in the Face of Climate Change

GEOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE MINERAL EXPLORATION

• Geological Innovations for Sustainable Mineral Exploration

• Silos and Breaking Down Barriers

WATER & ENVIRONMENT

• Environmental Stewardship

• Water Management

• Circular Economy

The 2025 Canadian Mining Education Forum will explore how AI advancements, environmental demands and sustainability will reshape mining education. With industry and academic experts, the forum will address integrating AI (machine learning, robotics) into curricula, industry adoption and interdisciplinary collaboration. The goal is to prepare mining engineers to be skilled, ethical and adaptable leaders in an evolving industry.

Le Forum Canadien de l’Éducation Minière 2025 explorera comment les avancées de l’IA, les exigences environnementales et la durabilité transformeront l’éducation minière. Avec des experts de l’industrie et du milieu académique, le forum abordera l’intégration de l’IA dans les programmes et dans l’industrie, ainsi que la collaboration interdisciplinaire. L’objectif est de préparer les ingénieurs miniers à devenir des leaders compétents, éthiques et capables de s’adapter dans une industrie en évolution.

In addition to our scheduled program, we will host a Women in Mining Panel, organized by WIM Montreal. This panel showcases female leaders in mining who share their journeys, challenges, and strategies for success in a male-dominated sector. Discussions will cover leadership, innovation, work-life balance, and fostering diversity. Attendees will gain insights and actionable tools to support women in leadership, driving inclusivity and equity within the mining industry.

En complément de notre programme régulier, le panel sur les femmes dans l’industrie sera présenté par WIM Montréal. Ce panel met en lumière des femmes influentes dans l’industrie minière qui partageront leurs parcours, défis et stratégies dans un secteur majoritairement masculin. Les discussions porteront sur le leadership, l’innovation, l’équilibre travail-vie personnelle et la promotion de la diversité. Les participants repartiront avec des idées et des outils concrets pour soutenir les femmes en leadership, favorisant ainsi l’inclusion et l’équité dans l’industrie minière.

URBANISATION, TRANSITION ÉNERGÉTIQUE

• Décarbonisation, électrification & stockage de l’énergie

• Production d’énergie nucléaire

• Urbanisation, transition énergétique

• Intégration de l’énergie renouvelable

• Chaîne d’approvisionnement intégrée

• Matières premières en forte demande

• Matériel & infrastructure écologiques

MATURITÉ ET TRANSFORMATION NUMÉRIQUES

• Intelligence artificielle (IA) et données

• Cybersécurité, intégration & connectivité

• Automatisation et robotique

• Tendances perturbatrices

INNOVATIONS ET PRATIQUES EXEMPLAIRES

DANS L’INDUSTRIE MINIÈRE : EXPLOITATION ET TRAITEMENT

• Pratiques de maintenance

• Treuil d’extraction minière et transport

• Innovations en matière d’exploitation minière souterraine et de creusement de tunnel

• Innovations en matière d’exploitation à ciel ouvert

• Innovations pour la gestion des résidus miniers

• Progrès en matière de mécanique des roches

• Optimisation du déroulement des opérations

• Silos et obstacles à éliminer

• Planification intégrée

• Recherche et développement (R&D) et optimisation énergétique

• Gestion des risques

DURABILITÉ ET CULTURE

• Un avenir axé sur les mines vertes

• Récupération/retraitement des métaux

• Capture et stockage du CO2, et transition vers une ère de l’après pétrole

• Santé & sécurité

• Gouvernance

• Culture

• Développement durable

PARTENARIAT ET ENGAGEMENT COMMUNAUTAIRE

• Relations communautaires et avec les Autochtones

• Tirer parti des partenariats au profit du développement durable

• Permis d’exploitation

INVESTIR

ET FINANCER POUR RÉPONDRE AUX BESOINS DE LA TRANSITION ÉNERGÉTIQUE

• Stratégies d’investissement pour un avenir durable.

• Attirer l’investissement dans des projets miniers canadiens durables face au changement climatique

INNOVATIONS GÉOLOGIQUES POUR UNE EXPLORATION MINIÈRE DURABLE

• Silos et obstacles à éliminer

• Innovations géologiques pour une exploration minière durable

EAU ET ENVIRONNEMENT

• Économie circulaire

• Bonne intendance de l’environnement

• Intendance de l’eau et gestion

INNOVATION EXCHANGE: Leaders transforming vision into rock solid results | ÉCHANGE D’INNOVATION : Des leaders qui transforment leur vision en résultats concrets

New this year, engaging presentations and panels will showcase how leaders turn their vision into tangible outcomes. Gain unique insights, discover innovative strategies, and be inspired by experiences that address industry challenges and shape the future.

Nouveau cette année, des présentations et des panels captivants mettront en lumière comment les leaders transforment leur vision en résultats tangibles. Découvrez des perspectives uniques, des stratégies novatrices et des expériences inspirantes pour relever les défis de l’industrie et façonner l’avenir.

CIM Celebration of Excellence Gala

Elevating the people who drive our industry forward.

Tickets are limited!

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unforge琀able evening. Reserve your seat today.

Monday, May 5, 2024

Reception 5:30 PM Gala 7:00 PM $250

There will be 23 highly specialized short courses offered by top experts in their fields, immediately preceding the conference. These in-depth courses are essential for professionals who want to stay abreast of the most recent developments and techniques in their areas of expertise. The short courses are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The organizer reserves the right to cancel a short course if the number of participants does not meet the minimum number required to hold a short course.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY 2 DAYS

May 3-4 | 09:00 to 17:00

• Automate Mine Metrics Reporting: From Excel to Power BI

• Applied Geostatistics and Mineral Resource Estimation

• Reporting Standards Under NI 43-101: Rules, Policies and Guidance—Changes that have occurred and more that are coming

SATURDAY FULL DAY

• Active Allies

May 3 | 08:00 to 17:00

• Risk Management Through Innovations in Geomechanics

SATURDAY HALF DAY PM

May 3 | 13:00 to 17:00

• Strengthening your Management Operating System: The Key to Resolving Daily Tonnage Shortages, Equipment Availability Issues, and Other Operational Challenges

• Discuss an Approach to Develop an Effective Mine Water Management and Treatment Strategy

• How Clays Influence Mining Processes

• Introduction to Instrumentation and Monitoring Systems for Tailings Storage Facilities

SUNDAY FULL DAY

May 4 | 08:00 to 17:00

• From Complexity to Action: Adopting a Holistic and Practical Approach to Mine Decarbonization (Workshop)

• Mining 101

Vingt-trois cours intensifs sont proposés par des experts de renom dans leur domaine, immédiatement avant la conférence. Ces cours sont essentiels pour les professionnels qui souhaitent se tenir au courant des développements et des techniques les plus récents dans leur domaine d’expertise. Les cours sont disponibles selon le principe du premier arrivé, premier servi. L’organisateur se réserve le droit d’annuler une session si le nombre de participants ne répond pas au nombre minimum requis pour la tenue d’un cours court.

• Steps in Open Pit Mine Design

• Introduction to Machine Learning and its Application across the Mine Project Life Cycle

• Source Control of Mine Waste for Integrated Mine Closure and Full Lifecycle Water Stewardship

• Advancing Your Understanding of NI 43-101 and S-K 1300

• Introduction to Water Management for Mining and Mineral Processing

• Connecting Science and Finance to Make Better Project Decisions

HALF DAY AM SUNDAY

May 4 | 8:00 to 12:00

• Fast-Track Innovation: Integrating Low-Risk, Mature Technologies for Mining Companies to Enhance Safety, Sustainability, and Productivity

• Mastering Operational Readiness: Strategies for Effective Project Lifecycle Management in the Era of Innovation and Energy Transition

• Engineering Statistics for Fun and Profit

HALF DAY PM SUNDAY

May 4 | 13:00 to 17:00

• Effective Strategies for BEV Adoption in Mining Operations

• Geometallurgical Sample Selection

• Leadership Skills for Innovation: Building Psychological Safety in Mining Conversations

For course descriptions, visit the CIM CONNECT website. Pour consulter la liste des cours et leurs descriptions, veuillez visiter le site web de CIM CONNECT. convention.cim.org/short-courses

Join us for the Komatsu Gala

Get ready for an evening of non-stop entertainment. The Komatsu Gala features live music and delectable

昀nger foods and refreshments. This exciting party allows acquaintances and peers to dance the night away.

Tuesday, May 6

8 p.m. to midnight Palais des congrès, Montréal Tickets included in convention registration

A variety of engaging social activities has been thoughtfully planned to boost your networking opportunities and create an unforgettable convention experience. Be sure to secure your tickets early and save the date!

De nombreuses activités sociales ont été soigneusement planifiées pour enrichir vos opportunités de réseautage et vous offrir une expérience de convention inoubliable. Pensez à réserver vos billets à l’avance et à bloquer la date dans votre agenda

SUNDAY, MAY 4

DIMANCHE 4 MAI

OPENING CEREMONY | 16:30

CÉRÉMONIE D’OUVERTURE | 16H30

WELCOME RECEPTION | 17:00

RÉCEPTION DE BIENVENUE | 17H

Kick off your CIM CONNECT experience with the opening ceremony and reception, an evening designed for networking, refreshments and live entertainment. Reunite with colleagues and friends over drinks and finger foods while exploring cutting-edge exhibitor innovations at the Expo. As the convention’s central hub, the Expo offers the perfect setting to build connections, share knowledge and spark business opportunities.

Participez à la cérémonie d’ouverture et à la réception de CIM CONNECT pour une soirée conviviale mêlant réseautage, rafraîchissements et spectacles en direct.

Profitez de cette occasion pour retrouver d’anciens collègues et amis autour de boissons et d’amuse-bouches à l’Expo, tout en découvrant les dernières innovations des exposants. Véritable cœur de la convention, l’Expo facilite les échanges professionnels, le partage de connaissances et les opportunités d’affaires.

Sponsored by:

MONDAY & TUESDAY, MAY 5-6

NETWORKING AT THE EXPO | RÉSEAUTAGE À L’EXPO

MONDAY, MAY 5

5 MAI

CIM CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE GALA, PRESENTED BY CATERPILLAR AND ITS CANADIAN DEALERS | GALA DES PRIX DE L’EXCELLENCE DE L’ICM, PRÉSENTÉ PAR CATERPILLAR ET SES CONCESSIONNAIRES CANADIENS

Experience an elegant gala evening, proudly sponsored by Caterpillar and its Canadian dealers, celebrating outstanding achievements in the minerals industry. Join hundreds of industry professionals to honour this year’s top performers while enjoying gourmet dining and exceptional entertainment. Be sure to reserve your tickets early, as seating is limited, and dress to impress for this distinguished occasion.

Vivez une soirée de gala exceptionnelle, gracieusement parrainée par Caterpillar et ses concessionnaires canadiens, en l’honneur de l’excellence dans l’industrie des minéraux. Rejoignez des centaines de professionnels du secteur pour célébrer les figures marquantes de l’année dans une ambiance alliant cuisine gastronomique et divertissements de qualité. Réservez vos billets dès maintenant, car les places sont limitées, et sortez votre plus belle tenue de soirée pour ce rendez-vous prestigieux.

17:30 | Reception 19:00 | Gala | $ 250

Sponsored by:

Savour lunch and cocktail receptions at the Expo, with lunch served from 12:00 to 14:00, and cocktails offered on Monday and Tuesday from 15:30 to 17:00. As part of your delegate registration, you’ll enjoy the added perk of daily provisions, including lunch and one drink ticket per day.

Dégustez un déjeuner et un cocktail à l’Expo entre 12h00 et 14h00, ainsi qu’un cocktail le lundi et mardi de 15h30 à 17h00. Votre inscription en tant que délégué inclut également un avantage exclusif : une prestation quotidienne comprenant un déjeuner et un ticket pour une boisson chaque jour.

Monday Lunch | lunch du lundi :

LUNDI

WOMEN IN MINING RECEPTION | RÉCEPTION DES FEMMES EN EXPLOITATION MINIÈRE

Join CIM and Women in Mining Montreal for an exciting evening of drinks and appetizers, celebrating diversity and inclusion in the industry. Connect with a dynamic group of professionals from all backgrounds and expand your network. This event is a must for anyone passionate about fostering diversity in the field. Don’t wait—secure your tickets now, as they sell out quickly!

Rejoignez l’ICM et Women in Mining Montréal pour une soirée dynamique autour de boissons et d’amuse-gueules, mettant à l’honneur la diversité et l’inclusion dans l’industrie. Profitez de cette occasion pour échanger et réseauter avec des professionnels de tous horizons. Cet événement est essentiel pour ceux qui soutiennent la diversité dans le secteur. Réservez vos billets sans tarder, car ils partent vite !

17:00-19:00 | $ 90

Co-sponsored by

KOMATSU GALA | GALA KOMATSU

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of entertainment at the Komatsu Gala. Enjoy live music, indulge in delicious finger foods, and sip on refreshing beverages as you soak up the vibrant atmosphere. This festive event offers the perfect opportunity to connect with friends and colleagues, celebrating late into the night before parting ways until next year.

Préparez-vous à une soirée inoubliable de divertissement lors du Gala Komatsu. Laissez-vous envoûter par la musique live, régalez-vous de savoureux amuse-gueules et profitez de boissons rafraîchissantes. Ce rassemblement festif est l’occasion idéale pour célébrer avec vos pairs jusqu’au matin, avant de vous dire au revoir jusqu’à l’année prochaine.

20:00-00:00 | Included in your registration. Inclus dans votre inscription.

Sponsored by:

WEDNESDAY LUNCH WITH GUEST SPEAKERS | LUNCH DU MERCREDI AVEC DES CONFÉRENCIERS INVITÉS

The technical program is in full swing! Join an informal networking lunch before afternoon sessions, featuring a keynote by Lucy Potter of Rio Tinto on minerals industry trends, followed by an engaging Iron Ore Panel with industry experts.

Le programme technique bat son plein! Participez à un lunch de réseautage informel avant les sessions de l’après-midi, avec une allocution de Lucy Potter de Rio Tinto sur les tendances de l’industrie minérale, suivie d’un panel captivant sur le minerai de fer avec des experts du secteur.

12:00-14:00 | Included in the delegate registration fee. Tickets available for exhibitors. Inclus dans l’inscription délégué. Billets disponibles à l’inscription pour les exposants.

CLOSING RECEPTION | RÉCEPTION DE CLÔTURE

Here’s to a week filled with learning, knowledge sharing, networking, business opportunities and, most importantly, SUCCESS! Let’s toast to both old and new friendships and satisfy our sweet tooth as we reflect on the unforgettable moments of CIM CONNECT 2025.

Célébrons une semaine riche en apprentissages, échanges de connaissances, réseautage, affaires et, avant tout, en SUCCÈS ! Levons nos verres aux amitiés anciennes et nouvelles, tout en savourant quelques douceurs et en repensant aux moments forts de CIM CONNECT 2025. 16:45-17:45 | Drink ticket is included in the registration fee. Billet de boisson inclus dans l’inscription.

CIM CONNECT stands as the paramount professional networking opportunity. Student registration grants access to all Plenary sessions, the Technical Program, Student Workshops, Student Poster Competition, Career Fair, Student Lounge, Mentorship Event, CIM Opening Reception, CIM Expo, Monday lunch at the Expo, Tuesday CIM Student-Industry Networking Lunch, Wednesday lunch with Guest Speaker, Komatsu Gala on Tuesday night, and the Closing Reception on Wednesday.

SUNDAY-TUESDAY MAY 4-6

DIMANCHE-MARDI 4-6 MAI

YOUNG LEADERS LOUNGE | LOUNGE DES JEUNES PROFESSIONNELS

The student lounge is the perfect place for Young Professionals to network with fellow university students or recent grads, or to just relax between sessions.

Le salon des étudiants est l’endroit idéal pour que les jeunes professionnels puissent réseauter avec d’autres étudiants universitaires ou jeunes diplômés, ou tout simplement se détendre entre les sessions.

LINKEDIN & HEADSHOT STATION | STATION LINKEDIN & PHOTO PROFESSIONNELLE

Get a professional quality headshot and speak with our LinkedIn expert to get tips and ideas to take your professional LinkedIn profile to the next level!

Obtenez une photo professionnelle de qualité et discutez avec notre expert LinkedIn pour recevoir des conseils et des idées afin de propulser votre profil professionnel LinkedIn à un niveau supérieur !

Sponsored by:

CIM CONNECT représente la principale opportunité de réseautage professionnel. L’inscription des étudiants donne accès à une gamme d’activités enrichissantes, incluant les sessions plénières, le programme technique, les ateliers étudiants, le concours de posters, la foire de l’emploi, et la session internationale. Les participants pourront également profiter du salon des étudiants, de l’événement de mentorat, de l’Expo CIM et des déjeuners officiels, ainsi que du gala Komatsu et de la réception de clôture, tout en bénéficiant d’opportunités de réseautage avec l’industrie.

STUDENT WORKSHOPS | ATELIERS POUR ÉTUDIANTS

Learn key skills and tactics to overcome the challenges facing students—from creating the perfect CV, to honing your interviewing and presentation skills, to finding the perfect co-op or job, this series is not to be missed!

Découvrez les compétences essentielles et les stratégies indispensables pour relever les défis étudiants. De la rédaction d’un CV percutant à l’amélioration de vos performances en entretien et présentation, en passant par la recherche du stage ou du poste idéal, cette série est incontournable !

STUDENT

E-POSTER

COMPETITION | CONCOURS DE POSTERS DIGITAUX POUR ÉTUDIANTS

Showcase your talents and research to leading industry professionals with our new Digital Poster Competition. Put your best foot forward and submit an abstract and video presentation online before March 7, 2025, on topics ranging from geology and mining to mineral processing and sustainability. Cash prizes will be presented to the top three posters as decided by our panel of judges at Tuesday’s Student-Industry Networking Lunch.

Mettez en valeur vos talents et vos recherches auprès des principaux professionnels de l’industrie grâce à notre nouveau concours de posters numériques. Donnez le meilleur de vousmême et soumettez un résumé et une présentation vidéo en ligne

avant le 7 mars 2025 , sur des sujets allant de la géologie et l’exploitation minière au traitement des minéraux et à la durabilité. Des prix en argent seront attribués aux trois meilleurs posters, sélectionnés par notre panel de juges lors de l’événement de réseautage étudiants-industrie du mardi.

MONDAY MAY 5 | LUNDI MAI 5

10:45-12:00

MENTORSHIP EVENT | ÉVÉNEMENT DE MENTORAT

The mentorship session will provide students with the opportunity to connect with experienced industry professionals for advice, to discuss career paths, provide industry insights, and to build their professional network.

La session de mentorat offrira aux étudiants l’opportunité de se connecter avec des professionnels expérimentés de l’industrie pour obtenir des conseils, discuter des parcours professionnels, fournir des perspectives sur l’industrie et développer leur réseau professionnel.

MONDAY MAY 5 | LUNDI 5 MAI

15:30-17:00

CIM POSTER RECEPTION | RÉCEPTION DES POSTERS DE L’ICM

Enjoy catching up with others who share your interests and watch the judges review the posters. Poster competition winners will be announced at the Student-Industry Networking Lunch on Tuesday May 6th.

Profitez de l’occasion pour échanger avec d’autres personnes partageant vos intérêts et regardez les juges évaluer les posters.

Les gagnants du concours de posters seront annoncés lors de l’événement de réseautage étudiants-industrie le mardi 6 mai.

TUESDAY MAY 6 | MARDI 6 MAI 12:00-14:00

STUDENT-INDUSTRY NETWORKING LUNCH | LUNCH DE RÉSEAUTAGE ÉTUDIANTS-INDUSTRIES

Make that all-important contact with the mining professionals who can help propel your career at the Student-Industry Lunch. Practice networking skills by engaging with potential employers and mentors in this select and professional networking environment.

Établissez des liens essentiels avec des professionnels de l’industrie minière capables de dynamiser votre carrière lors de l’événement étudiants-industrie. Profitez de cette occasion unique pour perfectionner vos compétences en réseautage en échangeant avec des employeurs et mentors potentiels dans un cadre professionnel et privilégié.

TUESDAY MAY 6 | MARDI 6 MAI 15:00-17:00

CAREER FAIR | FOIRE À L’EMPLOI

Join us for the CIM CONNECT Career Fair, where you’ll have the chance to connect with companies and professionals that are looking to hire.

Rejoignez-nous pour la Foire de l’Emploi CIM CONNECT, où vous aurez l’opportunité de vous connecter avec des entreprises et des professionnels à la recherche de candidats.

The CIM Expo takes centre stage as the premier platform for showcasing cutting-edge technology, innovative solutions and a diverse range of services. It offers a unique opportunity to engage in conversations with industry professionals, experts and key decision-makers. Attendees can explore and test products, forge valuable partnerships and spark new ideas. The CIM Expo extends a warm invitation to all industry professionals, encouraging active participation and the chance to derive significant benefits from this exceptional event.

The CIM Expo has been the leading mining trade show in Canada for decades. The Expo floor showcases the latest mining equipment, tools, technology, hardware, and software. Attendees can experience product demonstrations, explore solutions to industry challenges, chat with exhibitors or set up focused oneon-one meetings to gain deeper insights and find the answers they need.

This year’s Expo will be the biggest so far, with the largest number of pavilions. Explore the latest advancements in our pavilions from Quebec, Northern Ontario Mining Showcase, Saskatchewan Mining Showcase, Arizona, Australia, Germany and China. Make sure to visit the Career Fair, our Poster Presentations and the CIM Foundation Silent Auction. And don’t forget to stop by the CIM Magazine Lounge to chat with our editors and advertising sales team.

Lunch and cocktail receptions will be held in the Expo on Monday and Tuesday, May 5 and 6, at 12:00 to 14:00 and 15:30 to 17:00.

L’Expo de l’ICM est le principal salon minier au Canada depuis des décennies. L’Expo présente les derniers équipements, outils, technologies, matériels et logiciels miniers. Les participants peuvent assister à des démonstrations de produits, explorer des solutions aux défis de l’industrie, discuter avec les exposants ou organiser des réunions individuelles ciblées pour approfondir leurs connaissances et trouver les réponses dont ils ont besoin.

L’Expo de cette année sera la plus grande jamais organisée, avec le plus grand nombre de pavillons. Explorez les dernières avancées dans nos pavillons du Québec, du salon minier du Nord de l’Ontario, du salon minier de la Saskatchewan, de l’Arizona, de l’Australie, de l’Allemagne et de la Chine.

Ne manquez pas de visiter la foire de l’emploi, nos présentations d’affiches étudiants et la vente aux enchères silencieuse de la FICM. Et n’oubliez pas de vous arrêter au salon du magazine CIM pour discuter avec nos rédacteurs et notre équipe de vente de publicité.

Des lunchs et des cocktails auront lieu à l’Expo le lundi 5 et le mardi 6 mai, de 12h00 à 14h00 et de 15h30 à 17h00.

#CIMCONNECT2025

Sponsored by

MEETING PODS | ESPACES DE RÉUNIONS

Whether to work out an agreement or interview a potential employee, closed meeting spaces will be available to CIM corporate members, sponsors and convention exhibitors. Reserve the private meeting pods for 30-minute time slots. First come, first served.

Que ce soit pour conclure un accord ou interviewer un employé potentiel, des espaces de réunions fermés seront disponibles aux membres corporatifs de l’ICM, nos commanditaires et exposants. Premier arrivé, premier servi.

Exhibitor Name

Booth Number

2sp Solution Providers Inc. 729

48e Nord International P12 a

ABB Inc. 2327

ABC Ventilation Systems 1121

Acces Industriel Minier 1324

Access Industrial Inc. 3102

Accutron Instruments Inc. 2719

Acme Produits d’Ingenierie Ltee. 1528

Action SST 827B

ADF Diesel Industriel inc. 1227

Adria Power Systems 1401

AFM Industries 2309

African Canadian Business Chamber 2706

AFX Mixing and Pumping Technologies Inc. P15

AGI Envirotank LP 1222

AIM Minesource 1317

AireSafe 2026

AIRMP Inc. 1408

airth.io 2024

Allegheny Instruments Inc. 3112

Am Cast, Inc. 503

Ambra Solutions 2216

AMC Consultants 824

American Biltrite 1400

AMI Attachments 1129

ANDRITZ 926

Anton Paar Canada 2020

ARA Robotique 1225

Arizona Commerce Authority 2604B

ARLYX Technologies Inc. 1524

Armacell Canada Inc. 308

Arrow Speed Controls 824B

Artelia Canada Inc. 3207

ASDR Canada Inc. 1416

ASGCO 814B

Atlantic Industries Limited 914

ATS Electro-Lube International Inc. 2618

Austin 2322

Austmine Limited 1815

AVEVA 2019

AW Chesterton 500

Axceta 1403

Check out our full exhibitors’ listings online. Vous trouverez la liste complète de nos Exposants en ligne.

Axter Coletanche Inc 302 b

B.I.D. Ltd. 720

Barchip Inc. 2902

Baseline x Lichens 1425

BBA Inc. 717

Becker Mining Systems 1601

Beijing Bom International Exhibition Co., Ltd. 417, 516, 2225, 2908, 3009

Beijing Essence Fairs Co., Ltd. 423, 425, 427, 526

Beijing G&Ruita International Fairs Co., Ltd. 317, 401, 419, 421, 2631, 2633, 2707, 2803, 2805

Beijing Joint Union 402, 404, 406, 408, 2523, 2525, 2622, 2624, 2702, 2704

Beijing Kuiboen Machinery Co., Ltd. 627

Benshaw Canada 714

BEUMER Group 921

BGC Engineering Inc. 2909

Big Country Equipment Repair Ltd. 3109

414 Brandt 1115 Bray Controls Canada 2419

Brenntag Canada Inc. 2317

Bridon Bekaert The Ropes Group 1511

CAB Products 510 Cameco Corporation 2709

Canada Mining Machinery Sales LTD. 321

Canada North Environmental Limited Partnership 1224

Canam Group Inc. 504 Carlson Software 1901

Castech International 1319

CATHAYA INTERNATIONAL (HONGKONG)CO. LTD 3008

CCPIT 301, 311, 315, 407, 409, 508

Cementation Canada Inc. 1116, P17

Center Rock Inc. 1017

Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) 726

ChemTreat, Inc. 410

CIM EXPO Sales Office 2133

CIM Magazine 1021

Cintas

CMAC-Thyssen

Conval

Coogar

Corner

Corriveau

DeZhou

Huasheng

Thurston Machine Inc. 1905

TIMINING 818B

Titan Environmental Containment 2510

TLT-Turbo Inc. 411

Topy America, Inc. 2027

Toshiba International Corporation 927

Transfert Environnement et Société P11

Transmin Pty Ltd. 328

Trimay Group 3203

Trinum 1329

Triodetic 3001

Tsubaki of Canada Limited 309

Tuyaux HiTech (HTP) 305

ULMA Conveyor Components Ltd. 825B

United Rentals Fluid Solutions 304

Unmanned Aerial Services Inc. 2405

Usha Martin Americas, Inc. 2323

REGISTRATION INSCRIPTION

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION Register before March 28, 2025 to benefit from the early bird rate. Visit Register – CIM CONNECT for more details.

INSCRIPTION AVANTAGEUSE Inscrivez-vous avant le 28 mars 2025 pour bénéficier du tarif de préinscription. Visitez le Register-CIM CONNECT pour plus de détails.

V.J. Pamensky Canada Inc. (WEG Canada) 2520

Vale Base Metals 2102

Vallee 2533

Valmet Flow Control Inc. 2713

Veolia Water Technologies 801B

Viacore 528

Vibrotech 420

Victaulic 810B

VISION Process Solutions 802B

Voith Turbo Inc. 809

Wajax 1207

Watson Marlow Canada Inc. P6

WEIR 907

Wenco International Mining Systems Ltd. 400 Wesco 2634

Westpro Machinery Inc. 601

WireCo 820

Wuxi Geological Drilling Equipment Co., Ltd. 818

XPS Itndustry Relevant Solutions

Zhejiang Wujing Machine Manufacture Co., Ltd. 523

ZITRON 2303

Sponsored by

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS HÉBERGEMENT

Conference Direct serves as the official housing bureau for CIM Connect. Take advantage of the online one-stop reservation tool to seamlessly book your room at preferred rates. Due to limited availability, it is advisable to make your reservation early.

Visit Hotel Reservations—CIM CONNECT for more details.

IMPORTANT: Exercise caution regarding calls or emails claiming to represent CIM. Refrain from providing personal information via phone or email, as such communications may be suspicious.

Conference Direct est le bureau officiel d’hébergement de CIM CONNECT. Profitez de l’outil de réservation en ligne à guichet unique pour réserver votre chambre à des tarifs préférentiels. En raison de la disponibilité limitée, il est conseillé de faire votre réservation à l’avance.

Pour plus de détails, visitez la page Réservations d’hôtel— CIM CONNECT.

IMPORTANT : Faites preuve de prudence en ce qui concerne les appels ou les courriels prétendant représenter l’ICM. Abstenez-vous de fournir des renseignements personnels par téléphone ou par courriel, car de telles communications peuvent être suspectes.

OFFICIAL CONVENTION SPONSOR | COMMANDITAIRE OFFICIEL DU CONGRÈS

PATRON | PARRAIN

COPPER | CUIVRE

NICKEL

FRIEND | AMI

SILVER | ARGENT

GOLD | OR

PLATINUM | PLATINE

DOUBLE DIAMOND | DOUBLE DIAMANT

FÉVRIER 2025

71 Lettre de l’éditeur

73 Mot du président

Les actualités

74 Une usine de taille commerciale pourrait produire entre 5 et 10 % de gallium à l’échelle mondiale

Par Ashley Fish-Robertson

75 Dany Bélanger et Mélanie LaRocheBoisvert parlent de quoi nous attendre au congrès phare de l’ICM

Par Michele Beacom

Santé et sécurité au travail

77 Des experts préviennent des effets négatifs peu connus de l’exposition professionnelle aux vibrations pour les travailleurs du secteur minier

Par Sarah St-Pierre

De nouveaux modèles de croissance

Nous entamons un nouveau cycle éditorial avec ce numéro du CIM Magazine, qui entre dans sa 20e année de publication. Ces quinze dernières années, j’ai eu le privilège de contribuer à sa production. L’une des premières leçons que j’ai apprises est que le concept du fail fast (ou échec rapide) n’est pas courant dans l’industrie minière canadienne. Les succès, tout comme les échecs de l’industrie, évoluent lentement. Des années s’écoulent entrent le moment où nous écrivons un article sur la découverte d’une approche innovante et prometteuse, et celui où elle devient une réalité.

J’occupe ce poste depuis suffisamment longtemps pour avoir pu assister à la concrétisation d’idées et de projets innovants dont j’avais entendu parler alors qu’ils n’étaient que de simples concepts et en phases expérimentales. Depuis que j’assure la couverture de l’évolution de l’industrie, la question de savoir comment les peuples autochtones du Canada peuvent participer plus équitablement au secteur des ressources du pays fait partie des idées qui ont animé les débats entre experts et inspiré la rédaction d’articles de fond ambitieux.

Toutefois, des indicateurs du progrès sont récemment apparus. Par exemple, la création en février 2024 de Nations Royalty, une société faisant appel public à l’épargne détenue en majorité par des Autochtones, pourrait s’accompagner de débouchés financiers plus durables et diversifiés pour les groupes autochtones. L’année dernière également, la Nation des Cris de Norway House, au Manitoba, s’est entièrement appropriée le projet de nickel de Minago sur son territoire. Reste à voir si ces développements aboutiront à des résultats fructueux. Cependant, ils démontrent que les racines de la croissance se développent.

Ces développements ont inspiré une nouvelle série éditoriale que nous inaugurons dans ce numéro. Intitulée « La participation des Autochtones à l’exploitation minière », cette série a été conçue dans l’optique d’explorer les personnes et les projets qui entraînent des victoires pour les communautés les plus touchées par le développement des ressources minérales, et pour l’industrie qui souhaite créer de la valeur à partir de ces ressources.

Notre premier article, par Ashley Fish-Robertson, décrit en détail un nouveau partenariat à Sudbury et un trio de Premières Nations qui ne jouait initialement aucun rôle dans le développement et l’exploitation de la mine de Stobie de Vale, mais qui contribue désormais à sa revitalisation [voir p. 25, uniquement disponible en anglais].

Une autre chose que j’ai apprise depuis que je travaille dans cette industrie est que notre réseau de lectrices et lecteurs a une grande visibilité des travaux sur le terrain. Ainsi, si vous avez besoin d’aide pour partager un récit, n’hésitez pas à nous contacter.

Ryan Bergen, Rédacteur en chef editor@cim.org

Le thème de ce琀e année | Minéraux, innovation et transition énergétique

Faites partie de l’avenir de l’industrie minière.

Rejoignez-nous à Montréal pour vous connecter avec plus de 7 100 leaders de l’industrie, décideurs et in昀uenceurs lors de l’événement incontournable du secteur minier.

Sécurisez votre commandite dès aujourd’hui !

Avantages du parrainage ?

Élevez votre marque

70 % des participants in昀uencent ou prennent des décisions d’achat.

Développez votre in昀uence

Présentez votre marque à plus de 550 exposants et à des milliers de professionnels.

Rencontrez des responsables

Créez des liens qui feront progresser votre entreprise.

La vision stratégique de l’ICM pour

l’avenir du secteur minier

L’industrie minière est à la veille d’une métamorphose, façonnée par l’innovation technologique, les impératifs environnementaux, la transition énergétique et l’évolution des attentes de la société. Pour s’y retrouver dans ces changements et s’épanouir dans ce paysage dynamique, l’ICM a révélé un plan stratégique audacieux (voir p. 44, uniquement en anglais.) qui invite le secteur à diriger de manière responsable, à s’adapter aux enjeux émergents et à créer un avenir durable. La mission de l’ICM est claire : cultiver les connaissances, défendre les pratiques exemplaires et promouvoir l’innovation qui autonomise nos membres, sensibilise davantage le public et garantit une évolution responsable de l’industrie. Guidé par quatre piliers stratégiques, le nouveau plan stratégique de l’ICM présente une voie vers l’excellence tout en restant profondément connecté aux besoins de notre communauté et de notre société.

1. Excellence technique : l’exploitation minière a toujours été une industrie axée sur la technologie. Ce pilier insiste sur la quête de nouvelles connaissances par le biais de l’innovation et de la création de références mondiales. En défendant cette excellence technique, nous cherchons à renforcer notre efficacité opérationnelle, à réduire notre impact sur l’environnement et à élever la contribution de l’industrie à la société.

2. Force et résilience de la communauté : nos membres sont au cœur de l’ICM, et leur résilience et leur connexion sont essentielles à notre réussite. Ce pilier s’intéresse à la promotion

d’une communauté d’entraide inclusive et dynamique où prospèrent le partage de connaissances, la collaboration et la croissance mutuelle.

3. L’industrie minière dans la société : le rôle essentiel de l’industrie minière dans la vie moderne est souvent sousestimé. Ce pilier vise à amplifier la voix du secteur, à se faire le défenseur de ses contributions essentielles au progrès à l’échelle mondiale tout en répondant aux impératifs sociaux que sont la durabilité, l’équité et la responsabilité.

4. Excellence opérationnelle : l’excellence dans la gouvernance et l’exploitation est essentielle à l’exécution de nos engagements stratégiques. Ce pilier insiste sur l’intégration de l’efficacité, de la responsabilité et de l’adaptabilité à tous les niveaux, pour garantir que nous répondons correctement aux besoins des membres et des parties prenantes.

Si nos aspirations sont ambitieuses, elles sont ancrées dans l’action concrète. Elles visent à adopter l’innovation et l’excellence, à forger des liens et à stimuler la croissance, ainsi qu’à amplifier la voix de l’industrie minière. Ces objectifs seront atteints au travers d’une exécution par étapes à trois horizons, le premier étant 2025.

Le fondement de cette exécution réside dans quatre grands principes :

• La résilience financière pour garantir la stabilité à long terme afin de soutenir des initiatives audacieuses.

• La communication et la collaboration pour encourager la transparence, l’inclusivité et l’alignement à tous les niveaux de l’organisation.

• L’innovation pour promouvoir et adopter les idées transformatrices afin de garder une longueur d’avance.

• Une exécution rapide et pertinente pour répondre à l’évolution des possibilités et des enjeux avec agilité.

Notre stratégie sera mise en œuvre à l’aide d’une structure opérationnelle et de gouvernance solide. Le personnel dédié du bureau national de l’ICM surveillera la cohérence et se concentrera sur l’utilisation des outils récemment déployés. Les sections dynamiques de tout le pays, dirigées par des vice-président(e)s de districts responsables, stimuleront l’engagement communautaire. Onze sociétés, sous l’autorité du conseil, offriront leur expertise spécialisée et un point de vue local. Elles seront supervisées par quatre comités de gouvernance : le comité exécutif, le comité de la vérification et des risques, le comité de la gouvernance et le comité de rémunération.

Ce cadre solide garantira que notre stratégie ne sera pas seulement ambitieuse, mais qu’elle sera exploitable, ancrée dans un processus décisionnel et une responsabilité collective solide.

L’industrie minière a toujours été un fondement du progrès humain. Alors que nous nous tournons vers l’avenir, notre plan stratégique nous aidera à bâtir un secteur innovant, résilient et aligné sur nos valeurs sociétales. Ensemble, aux côtés de nos membres et de nos parties prenantes, nous façonnerons une industrie minière qui donne l’exemple, répond aux demandes de notre temps et définit les normes de demain.

Ian Pearce Président de l’ICM

Les actualités

Rio Tinto envisage de produire du gallium au Québec

Une usine de taille commerciale pourrait produire entre 5 et 10 % de gallium à l’échelle mondiale

Par Ashley Fish-Robertson

Dans le cadre d’un programme de recherche et développement, Rio Tinto annonçait le 13 décembre dernier qu’elle évaluait la possibilité d’extraire et de valoriser le gallium, un minéral présent dans la bauxite traitée à sa raffinerie d’alumine de Vaudreuil située au Saguenay, au Québec. Il s’agit de la seule raffinerie en son genre au Canada.

Si la phase préliminaire de développement de la technologie s’avère concluante, la société prévoit de construire une usine de démonstration au Saguenay pour présenter la technologie d’extraction, qui permettra de produire jusqu’à 3,5 tonnes de gallium par an. Le gallium primaire, récupéré dans l’alumine, est un métal essentiel, notamment pour fabriquer des circuits intégrés. Ces derniers ont une importance capitale dans des technologies telles que les radars, les téléphones intelligents, les voitures électriques et les ordinateurs portables.

Cette nouvelle arrivait peu de temps après l’annonce de la Chine, le 3 décembre, concernant une interdiction immédiate de l’exportation de gallium, de germanium et d’antimoine vers les États-Unis, en réponse aux nouvelles restrictions américaines quant aux ventes

de technologies de pointe à la Chine. Le 13 décembre, le gallium atteignait 595 dollars américains le kilogramme, son prix le plus élevé depuis 2011.

En 2022, tout le gallium primaire pour la production de semi-conducteurs provenait de pays autres que le Canada. Compte tenu du besoin de développer un approvisionnement à l’échelle nationale, le gouvernement du Québec s’est engagé à financer jusqu’à 7 millions de dollars le développement de l’usine de démonstration.

« Je suis très heureuse d’appuyer ce projet qui favorise l’acquisition de connaissances de pointe dans la transformation du gallium, ce métal critique et stratégique au Québec et partout dans le monde », déclarait Maïté Blanchette Vézina, ministre des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts du Québec dans un communiqué de presse de Rio Tinto du 13 décembre. « L’annonce d’aujourd’hui est en lien direct avec la vision de notre gouvernement en ce qui a trait à l’économie circulaire, à la création de richesse dans une économie plus verte et au rayonnement du Québec comme chef de file mondial en matière de minéraux critiques et stratégiques. »

D’après Rio Tinto, le potentiel d’extraction d’une usine de taille commerciale

pourrait atteindre 40 tonnes annuellement, ce qui représente entre 5 et 10 % de la production mondiale de gallium. Neo Performance Materials, dont le siège se trouve à Toronto, en Ontario, est actuellement le seul producteur de gallium en Amérique du Nord. La société dispose d’une installation à Peterborough, en Ontario, où elle a recours au recyclage pour récupérer le métal.

Malika Cherry, conseillère principale des relations avec les médias pour Rio Tinto Canada et États-Unis, déclarait à l’équipe du CIM Magazine dans un courriel que dans les mois à venir, la société développerait ses exploitations d’affinage de l’alumine et mènerait ensuite des essais pilotes. Elle indiquait que pendant la phase de construction de l’usine de démonstration, les équipes de Rio Tinto continueront à travailler sur les prochaines étapes de recherche et développement.

« Étant donné l’importance du gallium dans la chaîne d’approvisionnement nord-américaine, et de façon à ne pas ralentir cette étape si ce projet se concrétise, les travaux de préparation du site pour l’usine de démonstration pourraient commencer dans les mois à venir », ajoutait Mme Cherry. ICM

Rio Tinto prévoit de tester l’extraction de gallium à son usine de Vaudreuil au Saguenay, au Québec.

Avec

l’aimable

de Rio Tinto

Minéraux, innovation et transition énergétique

Dany Bélanger et Mélanie LaRoche-Boisvert parlent de quoi nous attendre au congrès phare de l’ICM

Par Michele Beacom

CIM CONNECT 2025, le congrès annuel de l’ICM, se tiendra cette année à Montréal du 4 au 7 mai. Il proposera trois jours d’apprentissage en immersion et de partage de connaissances, renforcés par des cours de perfectionnement professionnel précédant le congrès. L’équipe du CIM Magazine s’est entretenue avec le président du congrès Dany Bélanger, et avec Mélanie LaRocheBoisvert, coprésidente du programme technique aux côtés de Matthew Stewart, quant à l’expérience qui se profile cette année au CIM CONNECT

L’ICM : Cette année, le congrès porte sur le thème « Minéraux, innovation et transition énergétique ». Quelles sont les perspectives d’apprentissage des participants au CIM CONNECT 2025 ?

M. Bélanger : Plus de 275 documents techniques abordent ce thème. Le congrès s’attellera principalement à nous faire découvrir la notion de transition énergétique, et à nous montrer notre position par rapport à cette dernière. Nous en sommes aux balbutiements, en quelque sorte. C’est formidable pour les politiciens de dire une chose pareille, n’est-ce pas ? Mais qu’en est-il réellement ? Nous allons essayer durant le congrès de définir et d’éduquer le public à la transition énergétique.

Mme LaRoche-Boisvert : Le principal enseignement que les participants peuvent s’attendre à tirer du congrès, selon moi, est que les sociétés minières, les fournisseurs et les entreprises spécialisées dans la technologie œuvrent en faveur de l’innovation et de la transition énergétique. La question est de savoir en quoi ils sont innovants, comment ils met-

tent en application les innovations, peutêtre tirées d’autres secteurs, dans l’industrie minière, et quelle est leur contribution à la transition énergétique dans sa totalité.

Selon vous, quel sera le point fort du congrès cette année ?

Mme LaRoche-Boisvert : Le point fort sera, selon moi, la variété pure et simple de thèmes abordés par le congrès et les innovations que présenteront les exposants. L’un des centres d’intérêt concernera les meilleures pratiques dans l’industrie, mais aussi les innovations. Ceci nous permettra de voir ce qui est bien fait ainsi que la direction que l’industrie souhaite prendre en appliquant ces nouvelles technologies ou ces nouveaux processus et procédures pour mieux faire à l’avenir. Nous avons aussi ajouté quelques sous-thèmes différents que nous n’avons jamais traités lors des précédents congrès de l’ICM. Ceci devrait aussi attirer l’attention du public ou lui offrir de nouveaux points de vue.

M. Bélanger : J’espère que le point fort sera la satisfaction des participants au congrès, qu’ils en partiront en reconnaissant la valeur qu’ils ont retirée de leur investissement en temps et en argent, que ce congrès leur aura permis de clarifier certains points autour de l’innovation et de la transition énergétique. J’espère que les personnes quitteront le congrès en disant qu’elles ont vraiment appris quelque chose de différent ici. Quelque chose qu’elles peuvent emporter avec elles et mettre en application dans leur entreprise.

Pouvez-vous nous donner un aperçu des innovations et des

nouveautés qui seront présentées cette année ?

M. Bélanger : Une nouveauté cette année est que nous introduisons la série de conférences Innovation Exchange (Échange sur l’innovation). Nous aurons six sessions dans le programme technique où, plutôt que des personnes présentent un article, nous demanderons par exemple à des opérateurs de nous expliquer ce qu’ils font dans leurs projets miniers, et quel lien ont leurs activités avec l’innovation et la transition énergétique.

Mme LaRoche-Boisvert : Nous accueillerons aussi des groupes d’autres secteurs que le secteur minier, avec des présentations dans le cadre des sessions d’Innovation Exchange. Ces sessions regarderont au-delà de notre industrie et se demanderont où l’on peut trouver des innovations ailleurs. Car nous prêchons souvent à des convertis. Nous devons réunir un plus grand public ne travaillant pas dans l’industrie, et faire découvrir l’industrie minière à d’autres secteurs pour favoriser l’échange d’idées.

Pourquoi CIM CONNECT est-il l’événement phare de l’industrie minière ?

M. Bélanger : De nombreuses conférences sur le secteur minier ont lieu tout au long de l’année, mais notre congrès réunit les personnes qui sont réellement au cœur de l’extraction minière. Prenons, par exemple, la Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC, l’association canadienne des prospecteurs et entrepreneurs), d’où proviennent le financement et l’évaluation des projets. Au CIM CONNECT, la théorie est mise en pratique. C’est le congrès par excellence

pour les opérateurs et les ingénieurs des mines, depuis la conception de la mine jusqu’à sa fin de vie.

Mme LaRoche-Boisvert : CIM CONNECT réunit des opérateurs, des fournisseurs, des innovateurs de l’industrie minière dans un seul congrès pour vraiment se concentrer sur l’exploitation minière. Il n’est pas question de jalonnement ni de travail de pros-

pection. Il est question de mines en cours de construction ou en service, et c’est selon moi ce qui différencie CIM CONNECT des autres conférences et congrès.

M. Bélanger : Une autre chose qui distingue notre congrès est que l’ICM est un institut bilingue, avec son siège à Montréal. Je crois savoir que près de 30 % des sociétés minières sont francophones. Ainsi, en

tant qu’association, nous devons être plus sensibles à la question de la langue, nous devons nous assurer qu’elle ne constitue un obstacle pour personne souhaitant participer. Cette année, pour la première fois au congrès, toutes les sessions techniques bénéficieront de la traduction simultanée alimentée par l’intelligence artificielle. C’est passionnant ! ICM

Gala des prix de l’excellence de l’ICM

Mettre en valeur les personnes qui font avancer notre industrie.

Le nombre de billets est limité !

Ne manquez pas votre chance de participer à cette soirée inoubliable. Réservez votre place dès aujourd’hui.

Lundi 5 mai 2024

Réception 17 h 30 | Gala 19 h 00 | 250 $

Fièrement commandité par Caterpillar et ses concessionnaires canadiens, cet événement se distingue par sa gastronomie et ses divertissements, en compagnie agréable. Nous vous invitons à célébrer avec nous les personnes exceptionnelles qui font avancer notre industrie, honorées devant leurs pairs.

Lâcher prise

Des experts préviennent des effets négatifs peu connus de l’exposition professionnelle aux vibrations pour les travailleurs du secteur minier

Par Sarah St-Pierre

Katie Goggins organise des ateliers pour les travailleurs du secteur minier afin de les sensibiliser aux risques pour la santé de l’exposition professionnelle aux vibrations. La plupart du temps, les travailleurs qui participent à ces sessions ont peu de connaissances quant aux problèmes de santé qui sont associés à ces expositions. Pourtant, lorsqu’elle termine ses présentations, elle les entend souvent dire qu’ils souffrent de tel ou tel problème.

Les risques professionnels foisonnent pour les travailleurs du secteur minier, et des normes de sécurité concrètes les ont aidés à préserver leur santé. Les problèmes de santé provoqués par les vibrations restent toutefois parmi les moins bien compris et les moins détectés.

« Les vibrations sont généralement une pensée d’aprèscoup », déclarait Mme Goggins, scientifique principale au Centre de recherche sur la santé et la sécurité au travail (CRSST) de l’université Laurentienne, à Sudbury.

Les experts sont toutefois unanimes : les dégâts causés par l’exposition professionnelle aux vibrations ne sont pas négligeables. Cette exposition ne se restreint pas à l’industrie minière, même s’il reste l’un des secteurs les plus à risque, surtout l’exploitation minière en roche dure. La prévention et la sensibilisation sont essentielles pour limiter les répercussions négatives de l’exposition aux vibrations. De nouveaux travaux de recherche seront indispensables pour aider les travailleurs à éviter des dommages permanents.

L’anatomie de l’exposition

Une exposition prolongée à la vibration de l’équipement ou des machines peut engendrer différents risques pour les travailleurs du secteur minier. Par exemple, celles et ceux qui, pendant leurs postes, passent de longues heures assis dans la cabine d’un véhicule seront exposés à des vibrations transmises à l’ensemble du corps (WBV, de l’anglais whole-body vibration), qui peuvent perturber la colonne vertébrale et aboutir à des troubles musculosquelettiques.

« Ces vibrations augmentent aussi la charge sur les muscles », déclarait Pierre Marcotte, chercheur en nuisances sonores et vibrations à l’Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) de Montréal, qui a une formation en génie physique et en génie mécanique. Lors de l’exposition aux vibrations, les muscles du dos sont sollicités pour essayer de stabiliser la colonne vertébrale, expliquait-il.

Au-delà des douleurs au niveau du bas du dos (lombalgies) et du cou (cervicalgies), les vibrations transmises à l’ensemble du corps peuvent entraîner d’autres problèmes de santé, même si les preuves les concernant ne sont pas aussi clairement déterminées

Dawson O’Hara, un étudiant en maîtrise au Centre de recherche sur la santé et la sécurité au travail de l’Université Laurentienne, prenant des mesures des vibrations transmises par les pieds sous la terre.

que celles pour les lombalgies et les cervicalgies. Ces problèmes incluent du stress, des problèmes digestifs, de l’insomnie, des maux de tête, des vertiges, le mal des transports et une réduction de la fonction cognitive.

Il existe différents types d’exposition à des vibrations segmentaires, dont les effets principaux concernent la partie du corps en contact avec l’équipement ou les machines en vibration.

Par exemple, le syndrome des vibrations (HAVS, de l’anglais hand-arm vibration syndrome) est un problème de santé associé aux dommages causés aux mains, aux bras et aux doigts, qui découle largement de la manipulation d’outils électriques portatifs. Ce type d’exposition aux vibrations fait l’objet du plus grand nombre de recherches et est parmi les mieux compris.

Les vibrations transmises par les pieds (FTV, de l’anglais Foottransmitted vibration) sont souvent regroupées avec les études sur les vibrations transmises à l’ensemble du corps, et ne font pas nécessairement l’objet de recherches dédiées pour déterminer les effets sur les pieds et les orteils. Les travailleurs qui passent leur temps sur des plateformes vibrantes sont les plus à risque. Sur les trois types d’exposition, c’est le moins facilement reconnaissable et le moins étudié. « La recherche sur les vibrations n’en est qu’à ses balbutiements », indiquait Mme Goggins.

Les effets à plus long terme

Les effets sur la santé de l’exposition professionnelle aux vibrations ne sont pas immédiats, et les problèmes médicaux connexes progressent doucement au fil des mois, voire des années. Ainsi, M. Marcotte indiquait que les personnes ne font pas nécessairement le lien entre leurs symptômes et l’exposition aux vibrations. De nombreux problèmes de santé provoquent des symptômes semblables, aussi le diagnostic permettra d’écarter toute autre cause possible. L’intégralité des examens à effectuer prend plusieurs heures.

Lorsque la vibration est transmise aux mains, elle peut endommager les tissus mous et les petites terminaisons nerveuses dans les doigts et la paume des mains. Les dommages neurologiques peuvent provoquer un engourdissement, des fourmillements et même une diminution de la fonction motrice. Le syndrome du canal carpien peut aussi découler d’une exposition aux vibrations transmises aux mains et aux bras. Si l’exposition aux vibrations entraîne des dommages dans les muscles, les articulations et les os, la force de préhension dans les mains se dégradera.

Si les vaisseaux sanguins sont endommagés, ils peuvent provoquer des spasmes, les doigts peuvent devenir blancs lorsqu’ils sont exposés au froid, un problème qu’on appelle syndrome du doigt blanc causé par les vibrations (parfois qualifié de « syndrome de Raynaud d’origine professionnelle »). Au départ, seules les extrémités des doigts connaissent des épisodes de blanchiment. Si l’exposition se poursuit, le syndrome du doigt blanc causé par les vibrations peut progressivement toucher l’intégralité des doigts.

Les travailleurs exposés aux vibrations transmises par les pieds peuvent ressentir les mêmes symptômes dans leurs orteils. D’après Mme Goggins, les travailleurs peuvent facilement confondre le blanchiment et l’engourdissement ressentis dans les orteils avec des engelures et ne s’en rendre compte que lorsqu’ils rentrent chez eux et enlèvent leurs bottes.

Savoir exactement à quel moment les travailleurs exposés commencent à ressentir des symptômes, et quelle sorte de symptômes ils ressentent, dépendra de l’intensité et de la fréquence de leur exposition aux vibrations au fil du temps. Les personnes très exposées peuvent commencer à présenter des symptômes après quelques jours ou quelques années, faisant de ce risque une préoccupation pour les travailleurs, jeunes et moins jeunes.

Le Dr Ron House travaille avec des patients souffrant du syndrome des vibrations avec le Centre for Research Expertise in Occupational Disease (CREOD, le centre d’expertise en matière de recherche sur les maladies professionnelles) à l’hôpital St Michael de Toronto. « Nous rencontrons des jeunes présentant ces problèmes dans le secteur minier, surtout dans les petites exploitations où les contrôles sont moins fréquents », indiquaitil. Toutefois, la plupart de ses patients sont âgés d’au moins 35 ou 40 ans.

La bonne nouvelle pour les travailleurs qui ressentent les premiers symptômes du syndrome des vibrations est qu’ils sont passagers et réversibles au départ. Toutefois, si l’exposition aux vibrations se poursuit, les atteintes nerveuses et les lésions vasculaires peuvent empirer jusqu’à devenir permanentes. Dans les cas les plus graves, le syndrome des vibrations peut mener à l’amputation des doigts en cas de gangrène.

Le syndrome des vibrations peut aussi rendre difficiles à réaliser des activités nécessitant une motricité fine avec les mains

et les doigts. Une fois les lésions vasculaires installées, les symptômes du syndrome des vibrations s’aggraveront dès que le sujet se trouve à l’extérieur, dans le froid. Les activités deviendront plus difficiles, qu’elles soient liées au travail ou pas.

Le Dr House voit en consultation de nombreux patients du nord de l’Ontario, dont beaucoup travaillent dans des mines. « Beaucoup aiment la pêche sur glace ou la motoneige, des activités extérieures hivernales. Ces activités deviennent très difficiles lorsqu’ils vieillissent et que le syndrome des vibrations progresse », indiquait-il.

Les médecins de famille et les commissions de l’indemnisation des accidentés du travail envoient les travailleurs présentant des symptômes du syndrome des vibrations consulter auprès de spécialistes comme le Dr House, dont la clinique à St Michael effectue en moyenne 200 évaluations par an. Les patients reflètent généralement les données démographiques de l’industrie minière. « La majorité des patients que nous rencontrons sont des hommes, mais nous voyons aussi des femmes, notamment des jeunes femmes », indiquait-il.

Selon lui, le syndrome des vibrations est sous-reconnu et sous-diagnostiqué partout au Canada. « De nombreux travailleurs ne demandent pas d’examen médical ni ne déposent de demande d’indemnisation jusqu’à ce qu’ils présentent des symptômes bien plus invalidants », ajoutait-il.

La prévention avant tout

Les experts et les médecins préféreraient voir des patients qui commencent à peine à ressentir les symptômes des problèmes de santé liés aux vibrations. À ce stade, il est plus facile de s’assurer que des dommages permanents ne s’installeront pas.

Le Canada ne dispose d’aucune réglementation officielle limitant l’exposition professionnelle aux vibrations. D’après le centre canadien d’hygiène et de sécurité au travail à Hamilton, de nombreux territoires canadiens n’ont aucune réglementation spécifique à ce problème. D’autres suivent des normes établies par des organismes étrangers, par exemple les valeurs limites d’exposition suggérées par l’American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (la conférence américaine des hygiénistes industriels du gouvernement).

M. Marcotte est d’avis que des réglementations plus strictes seraient utiles, mais ses priorités actuelles sont ailleurs. « La sensibilisation à ce problème est encore plus importante que la réglementation », indiquait-il.

La sensibilisation, dans ce cas, va de pair avec la prévention des risques. Pour Mme Goggins, parce que l’exposition est si élevée pour les travailleurs du secteur minier, il est primordial de se concentrer sur la prévention dans l’industrie.

L’achat d’outils dont les intensités de vibration sont inférieures peut constituer une mesure préventive. Il existe des équipements de protection individuelle (ÉPI) qui visent à réduire l’exposition aux vibrations, même si le Dr House n’est pas convaincu de leur efficacité. Les gants anti-vibrations par exemple, même lorsqu’ils sont testés et certifiés, ne protégeront pas entièrement contre les vibrations à haute intensité, indiquait-il. Ils s’abîmeront au fil du temps, et devront être remplacés en fonction de leur utilisation. Pour un usage fréquent dans le cadre d’une exposition élevée aux vibrations, ces ÉPI doivent être remplacés fréquemment, après quelques mois, ajoutait le Dr House.

Si les travailleurs s’inquiètent de leur niveau d’exposition aux vibrations, le Dr House leur suggère d’en parler à leur employeur,

au comité de la santé et la sécurité ou, le cas échéant, aux représentants de leur syndicat.

Les contrôles administratifs tels que les politiques sur les limites du temps d’exposition ou l’achat d’équipement qui favorise les outils à faible vibration, surtout lorsqu’on remplace les anciens, constituent des mesures préventives efficaces.

Par exemple, les marteaux perforateurs montés sur béquille, qui forent dans la roche, sont couramment accusés dans les cas de syndrome des vibrations. D’après M. Marcotte, l’utilisation d’un marteau perforateur monté sur béquille placerait les personnes au-delà de l’exposition quotidienne maximum à la vibration en moins d’une demi-heure. Pour cette raison, ils sont maintenant moins utilisés dans l’industrie minière.

Horizons de recherche

Le retrait progressif des marteaux perforateurs montés sur béquille s’est accompagné de ses propres complications. Certains ont été remplacés par des plateformes vibrantes équipées de flèches, déplaçant le type d’exposition des mains aux pieds plutôt que de l’éliminer. Ceci est au cœur des recherches de Mme Goggins, qui étudie les vibrations transmises par les pieds depuis son master. C’était d’ailleurs le thème unique de son doctorat, qu’elle a obtenu en 2019. Ce type d’exposition ne dispose pas encore de ses propres normes gouvernant les limites d’exposition sans risques en raison de l’insuffisance des études épidémiologiques à ce sujet, faisait-elle remarquer. « Nous travaillons là-dessus au CROSH, avec l’aide du comité de l’ISO sur l’exposition des individus aux vibrations et chocs mécaniques », expliquait-elle.

Pendant ce temps, à l’IRSST, M. Marcotte recherche des sièges à suspension pour isoler les travailleurs des effets des

vibrations transmises à l’ensemble du corps dans les véhicules. Les normes internationales existantes pour évaluer les sièges à suspension permettant de réduire l’exposition aux vibrations ne concernent que la vibration verticale. Toutefois, sortir des routes avec un véhicule peut entraîner des vibrations dans toutes les directions. Lorsque les gens demandent des recommandations sur les sièges à acheter pour l’équipement minier tels que les camions, la quantité limitée d’informations à disposition concernant ce qu’il existe sur le marché n’aide pas à fournir une réponse. L’objectif de la recherche, indiquait-il, est « de finir par créer un meilleur siège, mais aussi d’aider les gens à choisir un siège bien adapté au véhicule ».

Le Dr House et son équipe au CREOD se préparent à publier un article dédié aux effets du syndrome des vibrations sur la santé mentale des travailleurs. « Ce syndrome a des répercussions sur leur capacité à travailler et à gagner de l’argent, mais aussi sur d’autres aspects de leur vie », expliquait-il. Le tribut peut être lourd. Les résultats indiquent que la santé mentale des travailleurs atteints du syndrome des vibrations est moins bonne que celle de la population en général, faisait-il remarquer.

Le Dr House propose d’inscrire certains de ses patients afin qu’ils participent à la recherche. C’est un grand avantage pour son équipe de travailler dans une clinique spécialisée où de nombreux patients souffrent d’une exposition professionnelle aux vibrations, et lui et ses collègues ont rarement du mal à convaincre les patients de s’inscrire en tant que participants à la recherche.

« Les personnes qui travaillent avec moi à la clinique pensent comme moi », indiquait le Dr House. « Ces patients sont des gens honnêtes, qui travaillent dur et qui ont développé ce problème. Ils souhaitent vraiment trouver une solution. » ICM

Les éminents conférenciers de l’ICM | 2024-2025

Les conférenciers émérites de l’ICM ont été sélectionnés pour leurs réalisations dans les domaines scientifique, technique, de la gestion ou de l’éducation. Ils sont disponibles pour faire des présentations lors d’événements organisés par les branches de l’ICM, les sociétés techniques, les sections étudiantes et les universités.

Invitez un conférencier à votre événement dès aujourd’hui. Scannez ce code pour plus d'informations.

La fondation de l’ICM (FICM), permet au programme des éminents conférenciers de l’ICM de mettre en relation les membres de l’ICM dotés d’une expertise de premier plan dans l’industrie. Le programme est détenu et géré par l’Institut canadien des mines, de la métallurgie et du pétrole (ICM).

CANADA’S FIRST ROCK SALT MINE

The origin stories of our industry are contained within the digital archives of the CIM Bulletin, the predecessor to CIM Magazine. In this issue, we look at how an accidental discovery of salty water in a well led to the development of Nova Scotia’s salt industry

By Ailbhe Goodbody

“We can speak today of the vastness of Canada’s salt resources, but it was not always so,” wrote H.A. Wilson (CIM Bulletin, 1947). “From at least 1800 onward, the need for a domestic salt industry was clearly recognized by the governments of the day.”

While the existence of salt springs and brine pools in Nova Scotia were well known, there was no large-scale extraction until the 20th century. “Attempts to produce salt were made near Antigonish in 1866, at Black Brook, Cumberland County and at Salt Springs, Pictou County, around 1813, and near Springhill,” wrote A.D. Huffman (CIM Bulletin, May 1968). “All failed or, at best, produced a very small quantity for local use.”

In 1912, a farmer named Peter Murray drilled a well in Malagash, in Cumberland County in northwestern Nova Scotia, while looking for water for his cattle; however, the water was even saltier than seawater. He had discovered the salt deposits of the Cumberland basin, which have thicknesses varying from a few feet to over 1,500 feet, according to Huffman (1968).

Word about his discovery attracted the attention of A. Robert Chambers and George Walker MacKay, two engineers from New Glasgow. They formed the ChambersMacKay Salt Company (later renamed the Malagash Salt Company) to develop a salt mine at the site.

The Malagash mine

The Malagash mine—Canada’s first rock salt mine— opened in 1918, and the first salt shipments began in 1919.

“Since 1919 there has been a growing production, now amounting to about 5,000 tons per year, from deposits at Malagash,” wrote R.P.D. Graham (CIM Bulletin, 1924). “The salt beds are encountered within 85 feet of the surface.”

This allowed shafts to be sunk into the salt beds, and the salt to be extracted in a solid state (rock salt) using conventional underground mining methods, as opposed to other salt mines in Canada at the time—mostly in Ontario—that extracted salt from brine by evaporation.

“Mining at present is confined to the 200-foot level where a bed of particularly pure salt has been encountered,” wrote the members of the Mineral Resources Division, Mines Branch (CIM Bulletin, 1925). “This averages 15 feet in thickness and is one of four known beds of very pure salt. The estimated total thickness of the whole deposit is 400 feet.”

Chambers (CIM Bulletin, 1924) recorded that there was no definite footwall, hanging wall or cleavage planes at the 200-foot level. “The section is practically a crystal mass for its full known thickness; the few beds of gypsum and interbanded clay being so located that no advantage can be taken of their presence to cheapen mining operations,” he wrote. “This difficulty, however, can be overcome by the use of undercutting machines.”

In 1929, Chambers described the workings of the mine in CIM Bulletin. “There is plenty of head-room, it is electrically lighted, and there is not a stick of timber in the workings, some of which are of huge size and cathedral-like, presenting an appearance at once beautiful and majestic,” he wrote. “The rock salt often resembles ice, though when crushed it becomes white as the driven snow, due, of course, not to any real change in its colour, but to the diffusion of the light reflected from each tiny particle.”

Six feet of pure white salt in the Malagash mine (CIM Bulletin, 1924).

He continued: “The salt is mined and screened very much as is coal, but [with] special screens being used for eliminating the very fine dusty salt made by the explosives and in the crushing operations.”

The members of the Mineral Resources Division, Mines Branch (1925) noted that the rock salt was screened into different grades required for the fish-packing trade, land salt, dairying, ice cream freezing and domestic use.

“The output is carried over the company’s own railway, either to the main Canadian National Railways line some nine miles distant, or a shorter haul of 2¾ miles to the company’s shipping pier at tide-water, where warehouse storage of some 5,000 tons capacity is located,” wrote Chambers (1929). “The salt is transferred from the cars to warehouse, or direct to ship, by elevators and a system of conveying belts, by means of which it may be cheaply and quickly loaded on to either ocean-going steamers or small local craft.”

In 1928, a set of grainer evaporators was added at the Malagash mine. “The bulk of the output still consists of ‘mined’ salt, but recently an evaporating plant has been installed, in which waste material from the mine is converted into ‘manufactured’ salt,” wrote Chambers (1929).

Economic benefits

The development of the Malagash mine was beneficial to Nova Scotia’s economy. “That an ample market is available to absorb the output of a large Nova Scotian salt industry is evident from the fact that Canada is at the present time importing about one-half of the 500,000 tons of salt consumed annually in the country,” wrote Chambers (1929).

The members of the Mineral Resources Division, Mines Branch (1925) noted that the increasing production of salt from the Malagash deposit would materially aid the fish curing industry of the Maritime provinces.

“With the exception of only a small quantity that is exported, the domestic production is disposed of in Canada principally to the dairy, meat-curing, fisheries and chemical industries and as table salt for household,” they wrote. “Until the Malagash deposit was opened, the Ontario district was the only one producing and since it was unfavourably situated with respect to the fishery markets on the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards, large quantities of salt had to be imported. The product from the Malagash deposit has therefore a ready market at hand.”

By 1945, the mine had an annual production of around 38,000 tons of salt, according to Wilson (1947).

“Over the past eight years, Canada’s salt position has changed from utter poverty to untold affluence. Our salt resources are so abundant as to be virtually inexhaustible,” he wrote. “Canadian salt takes second place to none in quality. Our industry goes forward with confidence in itself and in Canada.”

New uses for salt also began to develop. Huffman (1968) wrote, “Since 1950, we have seen the growth of a product, salt, supplying three young markets in Canada—

Mining the archives

kraft pulp, organic chemicals and highway ice-control. The use of salt for the control of ice and snow will increase.”

Transition to the Pugwash mine

Another significant deposit of rock salt was discovered in 1953 at Pugwash, also in Cumberland County, during the drilling of a water well. The Malagash Salt Co. undertook a drilling program in 1954 that found significant thicknesses of salt. The Malagash mine had been having problems with mining and ore grades, so the company had been looking for alternative salt deposits to exploit.

Shaft sinking at Pugwash began in June 1955, according to Lionel A. York (CIM Bulletin, March 1961). “A few months later the shaft reached a depth of 90’, at which horizon large volumes of water and sand entered the shaft and forced suspension of operations,” he wrote. “ln order to combat the running sand, various methods were employed and many attempts were made to deepen the shaft below the 90’ horizon but these were unsuccessful.”

“Late in 1956 a decision was made for The Cementation Company (Canada) Limited to grout and consolidate the formation ahead of the shaft bottom prior to sinking. The first grout treatment was carried out in October of that year and slow progress was made until the upper salt bed was reached at a depth of 360’ below surface.”

In 1958, M.G. Goudge wrote in CIM Bulletin that a mill building, storage facilities, office and a railway siding had already been completed at the Pugwash site, as well as a powerhouse, hoist house and a steel headframe. “Production is expected during the latter part of this year,” he wrote. “The mine at Malagash is currently operating on a reduced basis. This mine will be closed when the Pugwash mine comes into operation.”

D.H. Stonehouse (CIM Bulletin, September 1959) wrote that the new shaft continued to encounter difficulties and that sinking had only advanced 92 feet during 1958. “However, solid material has now been entered, a good bond has been made at the contact, and sinking is progressing very favourably at this date, with intentions to break off a station at the 633-foot level,” he added. “Production continued at the Malagash mine during 1958, but the mine has since been closed.”

The Pugwash mine finally began production in fall 1959. Huffman (1968) noted that the mine used “the room-andpillar system and large trackless equipment carrying up to 40 tons per load… The face is undercut, drilled and blasted. The broken salt, up to 1,800 tons per blast, is crushed, screened, bagged and shipped.”

The mine has been in continuous production since 1959, and it is currently operated by Windsor Salt Ltd.

The mine produced 581,605 tonnes of finished product in the form of bulk and packaged salt in 2022, according to the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, of which 467,788 tonnes were shipped for sale. “Most of the finished product was sold in Atlantic Canada and used for de-icing roads,” it stated. CIM

ENDURON® HPGR

Only ENDURON® HPGR comes with a 10-year bearing warranty. Not that you’ll need it. After all, there hasn’t been one premature bearing failure to date.

ENDURON® HPGR delivers unmatched grinding effciency, even when processing the hardest rocks, boosting mineral recovery. Expect ≥95% equipment availability, so operators can rest assured production targets will be achieved whilst using the lowest possible resources.

With lowest energy consumption and no water or grinding media required, typical operating costs for HPGR based circuits are over 20% lower compared to conventional SABC circuits whilst reducing comminution CO2 emissions by 30%.

It’s no wonder we say ENDURON® on and on and on.

Find out why. www.global.weir/ENDURON

Curved thread system Packed with power

Ifyouwant to significantly increase productivity, reduce energyconsumption, and extend tool lifeyou need the most advanced top hammertool system ever made. Meet the curved thread CT55 and CT67 for hole sizes from 89 to 140 mm.

The curved line to profit