E&MJ

40-Ton-Payload Dump Truck

2009-07-01T18:15:21Z

The Western Star 6900XD is designed to minimize cost-per-ton hauled when compared with traditional articulated dump trucks (ADT) and rigid frame off-road dumps. These savings are achieved by lower acquisition and maintenance costs with optimal hauling performance and productivity. On maintained terrains and hauls that exceed one-half mile (0.8 km) Western Star claims the 6900XD is 35% more fuel efficient than competitive ADT and rigid dumps in the same payload class. On longer hauls in excess of 12 miles (20 km) the 6900XD has posted average fuel consumption of 7.13 gal/h (27 L/h). A heavy-duty Allison 4500RDS automatic transmission, in combination with robust Axletech planetary gear drive axles, provides for efficient power shifting and optimal axle ratios between 10 and 12:1. This results in less reduction gearing, power loss and heat increase in the transmission compared with drop boxes and transfer cases typically used in ADTs and rigid haulers. The 6900XD employs a durable and economical dry drum brake design and is equipped with a standard Jacobs compression brake. A hydraulic transmission retarder is an option. The dump box is constructed of Hardox 400 steel and is designed to handle the most extreme materials. The low profile sides are designed for easy and efficient loading with a scowled end to secure large boulders and reduce hydraulic cylinder stress upon boulder impact. The auto lift tailgate maximizes material loading while the full cab guard protects the operators cab from falling debris. www.westernstar.com

Newcrest, Harmony Partner to Develop PNG Gold Assets

2009-07-01T18:07:27Z

The world's fifth largest gold producer, Harmony Gold Mining Co., and Australasia's largest gold company, Newcrest Mining, recently announced that they have signed an agreement which will allow Newcrest to earn a 50% interest in Harmony's Papua New Guinea (PNG) gold assets.

The joint venture includes the Hidden Valley mining operation, the Wafi-Golpu gold/copper deposit, and 3,400 km2 of Harmony's exploration leases in Morobe province, 300 km northeast of Port Moresby. Hidden Valley is a gold and silver project, expected to produce more than 250,000 oz/y gold and 3.6 million oz/y silver over a 14-year mine life, peaking at more than 300,000 oz/y gold in 2011.

In total, the PNG assets have a significant resource inventory, with a JORC-compliant resource base of approximately 31 million oz of contained gold equivalent. Current resources total 15.2 million oz gold, 90 million oz silver, 1.8 million metric tons (mt) copper, and 22,000 mt molybdenum.

Newcrest will earn its 50% interest in the new joint venture by contributing a maximum of $525 million. The commitment will be in two stages: an initial $180-million payment to acquire 30.01% interest by June 30, 2008, together with a reimbursement to Harmony of $45 million in project expenditure (Stage 1 Completion), and a farm-in commitment for the remaining 19.99% of approximately $300 million to fund project expenditure up to the commencement of mining operations at Hidden Valley. Newcrest will fund the deal from internal cash flows. Harmony and Newcrest will jointly operate the PNG assets from the date of Stage 1 Completion. As a 30.01% interest holder, during the earn-in period, Newcrest's approval will be required for major decisions in the joint venture.

Harmony announced some time ago that it was evaluating strategic alliances with qualified companies that had relevant experience and resources to help develop and optimize the mining of the PNG assets. For Harmony, the creation of a joint venture facilitates significant capital investment into the PNG assets and substantially removes Harmony's obligation to continue funding the development of these assets during the arm-in period.
Moreover, the two companies believe the introduction of Newcrest with significant technical skills, particularly in copper mining and bulk underground mining techniques including block caving will provide additional expertise to the existing Harmony team in PNG and will add to the development of the PNG assets. "The combination of Harmony and Newcrest in PNG creates a unique team with the right skills, relationships, and people to enhance the development of these assets," said Graham Briggs, CEO, Harmony.

Newcrest's CEO Ian Smith said the transaction provided Newcrest with the opportunity to enter a new and prospective mining province—one of the largest undeveloped gold resources in the Australasian region—alongside a respected partner with substantial experience in PNG. "The near-term production and cash flow from Hidden Valley, combined with the significant upside potential of Wafi-Golpu and the regional exploration leases make this portfolio of assets very attractive to Newcrest," said Smith.

U.S. & Canada: PolyMet Names URS as NorthMet Project EPCM, Changes Executive Posts

2009-07-01T18:04:50Z

URS Corp.'s Washington Division has been awarded a contract by PolyMet Mining Corp. to provide engineering, procurement and construction management services for new processing facilities at PolyMet's Northmet project in northeastern Minnesota. The cost-reimbursable contract, which has a value of approximately $25 million to URS, is expected to run for three years.

The mining project involves a copper-nickel-precious metals ore body and the nearby Erie Plant with associated crushing, grinding and conveyance systems (see E&MJ, January/February 2008, "NorthMet Project Ahead of the Pack in Minnesota Polymetallic Resource Rush," p. 4). The site is located near Hoyt Lakes in the Mesabi Iron Range mining district, which is approximately 70 miles north of Duluth, Minnesota. URS' Washington Division will support new chemical processing facilities, including a hydrometallurgical plant, SX/EW facilities and a flotation plant, all of which are being added at the Erie Plant site. Certain parts of the existing infrastructure also will be upgraded. Detailed engineering and procurement activities are under way in preparation for the start of field construction in the fall of 2008.

In a related development, PolyMet reported in February that it had been notified by the State of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources that the agency would not complete the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for PolyMet's project by the end of the first quarter 2008. The MDNR, according to the company, anticipates the validation and drafting of the draft EIS will be completed before the end of the second quarter of 2008.

The company also announced that it has re-allocated responsibilities among its senior management team and is relocating its headquarters to Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. William Murray, formerly president and CEO, has been appointed executive chairman, and Joe Scipioni has assumed Murray's former role as president and CEO. Scipioni joined PolyMet in July 2006 and was appointed COO in March 2007. He will continue as general manager of the project until a replacement is hired.

Iamgold to Acquire Orezone’s Essakane Gold Project (Africa)

2009-02-18T23:17:53Z

Iamgold Corp. reported in mid-December that it was planning to acquire, through a plan of arrangement, all of the outstanding common shares of Orezone in an all-share transaction valued at approximately $139 million.

“This transaction represents excellent value and takes us a large step toward our stated goal of 1.8 million ounces annual gold production by 2012, while lowering our average cash cost by $40 to $50 per ounce,” said Joseph Conway, president and CEO of Toronto, Canada-based Iamgold.

Under the terms of the transaction, Iamgold will acquire and finance development of the Essakane project, one of West Africa’s largest undeveloped gold reserves. Orezone exploration assets will be distributed pro rata to Orezone shareholders to create an entity known as “New Orezone.” Each Orezone shareholder will receive 0.08 of an Iamgold share and a pro rata share of New Orezone for each Orezone share held. Upon completion of the transaction, Iamgold will become a 16.6% shareholder of New Orezone.

In addition, Iamgold will provide Orezone with immediate C$20 million equity financing at C$0.28/share, subject to regulatory approvals. Iamgold also will open a corporate African operations office based in Dakar, Senegal.

Orezone’s main asset is the 4-million-oz Essakane gold project, located in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Construction commenced in September 2008 on the mine, which is expected to produce more than 300,000 oz/y over a minimum nine-year mine life at an average cash operating cost of $358/oz, using a $600/oz gold price and $85/bbl oil price. Full production is anticipated in late 2010, requiring a remaining capital expenditure of approximately $350 million.

Ron Little, CEO of Orezone said, “New Orezone will be well financed through this transaction and [will] host three advanced gold projects including Bombore, the second largest gold resource in Burkina Faso with 1.7 million ounces of measured and indicated resources.”

Assuming Orezone shareholders approve the transaction at the special meeting, and final court approvals are obtained, the transaction is expected to close by the end of February 2009.

When in production in late 2010, Essakane will contribute more than 25% of Iamgold’s gold production, bringing the company’s annual production to more than 1 million oz/y. “With this transaction, we are able to achieve a significant production increase in the near-term, a cost reduction of $40 to $50 per ounce and a 32% increase in reserves, with modest share dilution,” said Conway.

Iamgold currently has interests in two gold mines in Mali, two in Ghana, and one in Botswana. In 2008, about half of the company’s global gold production was from these African operations.

Startups Will Drive Kinross Growth in 2009

2009-02-18T23:11:28Z

A full year of production from three mine projects completed during 2008 is expected to lift Kinross Gold’s 2009 gold production by 32% to between 2.4 million and 2.5 million oz, the company announced on January 7, 2009. Kinross’s production for 2008 was expected to come in at between 1.8 million and 1.9 million oz, up 16% from 2007.

New production during 2009 will derive from Kinross’s Paracatu expansion in Brazil, its Kupol mine in Russia and its Buckhorn mine in Washington, USA. Mill throughput at Paracatu was at 60% of capacity at year-end 2009 and was expected to reach design capacity during the first quarter of 2009.

Kinross’s average cost of sales per gold equivalent ounce is expected to be in the range of $390 to $420 in 2009. Material assumptions used for this forecast included a gold price of $750/oz; a silver price of $12.00/oz; an oil price of $75/bbl; and 2.10 Brazilian reals, 1.20 Canadian dollars, 28 Russian rubles, and 600 Chilean pesos to the U.S. dollar, respectively. Based on a preliminary review of fourth-quarter 2008 costs, Kinross expected its full-year 2008 average cost of sales to be in the range of $425 to $445/gold equivalent oz.

Kinross is forecasting capital expenditures during 2009 of about $460 million, including about $145 million for growth projects, primarily for the Fort Knox project in Alaska, for Paracatu and for Cerro Casale in Chile; $57 million for pit development at Round Mountain in Nevada and La Coipa and Maricunga in Chile; $50 million for mine development at Crixas in Brazil, Kupol, and Buckhorn; $18 million for leach pad development at Round Mountain and Maricunga; $40 million for tailings dam work, primarily at Paracatu; and $150 million for sustaining capital expenditures.

New CD-ROM on Fluid Couplings

2009-02-18T23:08:41Z

Voith Turbo has released a new multimedia CD-ROM of animations which show its fill-controlled fluid couplings that operate on the principle of hydrodynamic power transmission. This means that torque is transmitted by a liquid to deliver wear-free power transmission. The CDROM not only contains animations of the fill-controlled fluid couplings but also includes demonstrations of the principles of hydrodynamics and several examples of typical applications in eye-catching animations. Voith claims its couplings can handle the most difficult drive requirements in a variety of applications in the conveying and processing fields. Belt conveyor systems up to several kilometers long, armored face conveyors (AFC) for underground coal mining operations, heavy-duty shredders, such as those used in metal recycling, and ball mills used in material processing are the main fields of applications for this type of coupling. Voith couplings transmit from a few 100 kW up to several megawatts of power. They are designed to ensure controlled acceleration of the driven machine, effectively dampen shocks and vibrations in the drive line, adjust the speed precisely and, in addition, provide effective overload protection. They can be used to easily incorporate a clutching function and provide active load sharing in multi-motor drives. www.voithturbo.com/startup-components

Calendar (December 2008)

2008-12-30T20:10:38Z

JANUARY 5–6, 2009: Short Course on Recovery and Refining of Secondary Precious Metals, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Contact: Department of Metallurgical Engineering, University of Utah; Tel: 801-581-6386; Fax: 801-581-4937; E-mail: metal-info@lists.utah.edu; Web: www.metallurgy.utah.edu/precious-short-course.

JANUARY 13–14, 2009: 6^th Annual Canadian Oil Sands Summit, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Contact: Incisive Media; Tel: 888-777-1707; Fax: 866-777-1292; E-mail: talk@incisivemedia.com; Web: www.insightinfo.com.

JANUARY 20–22, 2009: 15^th Annual Underground Construction Technology International Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, USA. Contact: Karen Francis; Tel: 281-558-6930, ext 222; E-mail: francis@uctonline.com; Web: www.uctonline.com.

FEBRUARY 2–27, 2009: Advanced Geostatistics in Mining, Perth, Western Australia. Contact: Claudia Monreal; Tel: 61-8 6211 0000; E-mail: claudia.monreal@maptek.com.au; Web: www.maptek.com/geostats.

FEBRUARY 8–11, 2009: 35^th Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique, Denver, Colorado, USA. Contact: International Society of Explosives Engineers; Tel: 440-349-4400; Fax: 440-349-3788; Web: www.isee.org.

FEBRUARY 22–25, 2009: Society of Mining Engineers Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado, USA. Contact: SME; Tel: 303-973-9550; Web: www.smenet.org.

MARCH 3–6, 2009: 14^th Annual Course on the Design of Slurry Pipeline Systems, Cape Town, South Africa. Contact: Terry Carolin; Tel: 27 (021) 683 4734; Fax: 27 (021) 683 4168; E-mail: TerryC@PatersonCooke.com; Web: www.PatersonCooke.com.

MARCH 10–13, 2009: 14^thAnnual Course on the Design of Slurry Pipeline Systems, Cape Town, South Africa. Contact: Terry Carolin; Tel: 27 (021) 683 4734; Fax: 27 (021) 683 4168; E-mail: TerryC@PatersonCooke.com; Web: www.PatersonCooke.com.

MARCH 16–17, 2009: Orebody Modeling and Strategic Mine Planning, Perth, Western Australia. Contact: Kristy Pocock; E-mail: kwynn@ausimm.com.au .

MARCH 30–APRIL 1, 2009: SPAR 2009—6^th Annual Conference on 3-D Laser Scanning, Denver, Colorado, USA. Contact: Spar Point Research; Web: www.sparllc.com.

APRIL 1–2, 2009: GEO-9 Geo-Event, Coventry, U.K. Contact: Robert Peel; Tel: 44 (0)1666 823306; Fax: 44 (0)1666 824668; E-mail: robert@market-it.co.uk.

APRIL 4–5, 2009: Sustainability Through Resource Conservation and Recycling ‘09, Cape Town, South Africa. Contact: Barry Wills; Tel: 44 (0)7768 234121; E-mail: bwills@min-eng.com; Web: www.min-eng.com/conferences.

APRIL 6–7, 2009: Bio and Hydrometallurgy ‘09, Cape Town, South Africa. Contact: Barry Wills; Tel: 44 (0)7768 234121; E-mail: bwills@min-eng.com; Web: www.min-eng.com/conferences.

APRIL 8–9, 2009: Treatment of Mining Residues Containing Toxic Minor Metals ‘09, Cape Town, South Africa. Contact: Barry Wills; Tel: 44 (0)7768 234121; E-mail: bwills@min-eng.com; Web: www.min-eng.com/conferences.

MAY 4–7, 2009: 22^nd Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition of the American Filtration and Separations Society, Bloomington, Minnesota, USA. Contact: Suzanne Sower; Tel: 612-861-127; Fax: 612-861-7959; E-mail: kssafs@mac.co; Web: www.afssociety.org.

MAY 9–13, 2009: Global Uranium Symposium, Keystone, Colorado, USA. Contact: Quality Business Services; Tel: 303-914-0694; Fax: 303-382-8061; E-mail: darline@QBSoffice.com; Web: www.U2009.org.

MAY 9–14, 2009: 3rd Canada-US Rock Mechanics and the 20^th Canadian Rock Mechanics Symposia, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Contact: Tel: 416-978-0125; E-mail: info@rockeng09.com; Web: www.rockeng09.com.

MAY 10–13, 2009: CIM, Canadian Institute of Mining Conference and Exhibition, Toronto, Canada. Contact: Tel: 514-939-2710; Web: www.cim.org.

MAY 11–12, 2009: Symposium on New Equipment New Technology Management and Safety in Mines and Mineral Based Industries, Bhubaneswar, India. Contact: Web: www.geominetech.gq.nu/.

MAY 17–19, 2009: Haulage & Loading, Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Contact: Chad Dorn; Tel: 720-855-3996; E-mail: cdorn@mining-media.com; Web: www.haulageandloading.com.

MAY 25–30, 2009: ALTA 2009 Nickel-Cobalt, Copper, & Uranium Conference, Perth, Western Australia. Contact: ALTA Conference; Tel: 61 8 9389 1488; Fax: 61 8 9389 1499; E-mail: info@eecw.com.au; Web: www.altamet.com.au.

JUNE 8–12, 2009: 24^th Annual Elko Mining Expo, Elko, Nevada, USA. Contact: Elko Convention & Visitors Authority; Tel: 800-248-3556; Fax: 775-738-2420; E-mail: cathie@elkocva.com; Web: www.elkocva.com.

JUNE 9–11, 2009: BPI Mining Conference 2009, Toronto, Canada. Contact: Penn State Outreach Marketing and Communications; E-mail: ConferenceInfo1@outreach.psu.edu; Web: http://programs.psu.edu/bpi2009.

JUNE 16–18, 2009: Longwall USA, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Contact: Tanna Holzer; Tel: 303-283-0640; E-mail: tholzer@mining-media.com; Web: www.longwallusa.com.

JUNE 16–17, 2009: Physical Separation ‘09, Cornwall, U.K. Contact: Barry Wills; Tel: 44 (0)7768 234121; E-mail: bwills@min-eng.com; Web: www.min-eng.com.

JUNE 16–18, 2009: Exponor 2009, Antofagasta, Chile. Contact: Tel: 56-66-454 306; Web: www.exponor.cl.

JUNE 23–26, 2009: Securing the Future—Mining, Metals & the Environment in a Sustainable Society; and 8th International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, Skelleftea, Sweden. Contact: Web: www.securing.skelleftea.se.

JUNE 23–25, 2009: Recycling Metals from Industrial Waste: Plant Practice, Golden, Colorado, USA. Contact: Colorado School of Mines; Tel: 303-273-3321; Fax: 303-273-3314; E-mail: space@mines.edu; Web: www.mines.edu/outreach/cont_ed/heavy.shtm.

SEPTEMBER 15–18, 2009: ESCC 2009—European Symposium on Comminution and Classification, Espoo, Finland. Contact: Web: www.escc2009.fi.

OCTOBER 6–9, 2009: APCOM–Application of Computers and Operations Research in the Mining Industry, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Contact: Web: www.cim.org/apcom2009.

OCTOBER 14–17, 2009: Mining Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia. Contact: Christine Tan; Tel: 65 6233 6777: Fax: 65 6233 6768; E-mail: Christine@iemallworld.com; Web: www.pamerindo.com.

NOVEMBER 9–10, 2009: Flotation ‘09: 4^thInternational Flotation Conference, Cape Town, South Africa. Contact: Barry Wills; Tel: 44 (0)7768 234121; E-mail: bwills@min-eng.com; Web: www.min-eng.com.

JUNE 8–10, 2010: INTERtunnel 2010, Turin, Italy. Contact: Mack Brooks Exhibitions; Tel: 44 (0)01727 814 400; E-mail: intertunnel@mackbrooks.com; Web: www.intertunnel.com/en.

Teck Cominco Restructures and Renames

2008-12-29T17:58:26Z

Teck Cominco announced on October 1 a corporate restructuring into five commodity-based strategic business units (divisions), specializing in copper, zinc, gold, metallurgical coal and energy. At the same time, the company said it is simplifying its name and corporate brand to "Teck." The company’s legal name will remain "Teck Cominco Limited" until its next annual general meeting in April 2009, when, subject to the approval of shareholders, the company proposes to change its legal name to "Teck Resources Limited."

"The new structure is designed to improve the company's competitiveness by increasing Teck’s ability to analyze and act on available opportunities in each commodity segment," the Teck announcement said. "Each business unit is led by a senior executive with full responsibility for the unit's performance, including establishing a growth strategy, project identification and development, the safe and sustainable operation of the unit’s assets, delivering quality products to customers and overall profit and loss accountability."

Following is an outline of Teck's five divisions and their assets. Numbers in parentheses represent Teck's ownership interest.

Teck's copper division's assets include Teck's interests in the Highland Valley Copper mine in south-central British Columbia (97.5%), the Antamina copper-zinc mine in the north-central Peruvian Andes (22.5%), the Quebrada Blanca copper mine in northern Chile (76.5%), the Andacollo mine southeast of the city of La Serena in north-central Chile (90%), and the Duck Pond copper-zinc mine in central Newfoundland (100%). Molybdenum and zinc are produced as significant by-products at some of the mines.
Zinc assets, all 100% owned by Teck, include the Trail refining and smelting complex in south-central British Columbia, the Red Dog mine in northwest Alaska, and the Pend Oreille mine in Washington State just south of Trail. The mines produce zinc and lead concentrates. The Trail complex produces refined zinc and lead and various precious and specialty metals, fertilizers, and chemicals. The Trail operations also own the Waneta dam, which produces electricity for the metallurgical facilities and for sale to third parties.
The gold division includes the Pogo mine southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska (40%), the Hemlo mining operations in northwestern Ontario (50%), the Morelos project in Mexico (78.8%), the Lobo-Marte property in Chile (60%) and interests in several other advanced gold exploration properties.
Teck's metallurgical coal division comprises Teck's 40% interest in the Elk Valley Coal Partnership and its 19.95% investment in the Fording Canadian Coal Trust, which owns 60% of Elk Valley Coal, giving Teck a 52% direct and indirect interest in the partnership. Teck is the managing partner of Elk Valley Coal, which has six metallurgical coal mines in British Columbia and Alberta, and is the world's second largest exporter of seaborne hard coking coal. In late July 2008, Teck announced an agreement to acquire all of the assets of the Fording Canadian Coal Trust. That transaction remained open as of mid-October 2008.
Teck's energy division's assets are centered on the Fort Hills oil sands project in northern Alberta (20%) and Teck’s 50% interest in various oil sands leases held jointly with UTS Energy Corp. In mid-September 2008, Teck and its Fort Hills partners reported that preliminary results from front-end engineering and design work suggest that estimated capital costs for the first phase of the Fort Hills project have risen by about 50% from the $14.1-billion estimate announced in June 2007. The major increases are costs associated with construction materials, labor, project management and engineering. The partners are assessing the new estimates and a range of options to reduce or defer capital costs. The Fort Hills project, as currently conceived, consists of an intgrated oil sands mine and bitumen extraction plant 90 km north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, and an upgrader in Sturgeon County northeast of Edmonton, Alberta. The first phase of the project has been planned to produce 140,000 bbl/d of synthetic crude oil.

Hand-Cranked Blast Exploder

2008-12-29T17:55:14Z

The Suprex 621F shot exploder from AEC Electronics is capable of firing up to 25 StatSafe detonators connected in series where the total blasting circuit resistance does not exceed 25W. The unit is housed in a toughened plastic enclosure and is fully water resistant. The exploder is powered by means of a hand-cranked dynamo and fires automatically after a period of two to three seconds. A lamp glows dimly during charging and flashes when the unit fires. www.aece.co.za

Fog Cannon Controls Dust

2008-12-18T23:02:49Z

The Fog Cannon from Italian company Ecology SRL is designed to mitigate airborne particles and dust generated by open mining activities, general demolition work and industrial bulk material handling. The cannon, available in both manual and fully automated versions, emits a powerful fog jet of fine droplets of water/air and if desired, also a surfactant. Two kind of surfactant are available: agglomerating and film-forming. Surfactant ECS89 (certified by the German Ministry of Health, VDI 2584 and Ta-Luft.) creates a harmless fog capable of quickly suppressing airborne particles. The film-forming ECS90 is saline-based combined with natural biological glue, creating a crust formation capable of containing the dust particles. Several models of Fog Cannon are available offering different projection and reach capabilities, from a range of 30 to 250 m and an aperture angle of approximately 270° laterally but with a continuously adjustable height. This means that a single machine is capable of covering a level area of up to 130,000 m2. Water consumption varies from 210 liters/min. up to 1,000 liters/min., while the maximum consumption of surfactant is proportionally set at 1:400 relative to the flow of water. The Fog Cannon is electrically powered but is also available in an intrinsically safe version for explosive atmospheres, or with a hydraulic motor. www.ecology.it

Exploration News Briefs

2008-12-18T22:58:28Z

Cia de Minas Buenaventura, Peru’s largest publicly traded precious metals mining company, has signed an agreement with Global Geoscience, an Australian junior company headquartered in Sydney, to explore the latter’s Mancha Pampa copper-gold porphyry project in Peru. Buenaventura can earn a 61% ownership interest in the project by investing $3 million in exploration over a five-year period. Further, Buenaventura has the option of increasing this stake by an additional 19% via completion of a feasibility study if Global elects not to participate in this expenditure.

The Mancha Pampa project (100% owned by Global) is located 150 km southeast of Lima in the Yauyos District of central Peru. Work to date has identified an anomalous copper zone approximately 600 m by 450 m. Soil samples are generally over 120 ppm copper in this zone and range up to 5,150 ppm copper. The 150-m-wide northeastern third of this copper anomaly is generally more anomalous, with soil samples generally exceeding 1,000 ppm copper. Numerous rock chip samples have been collected within the high-copper soil zone, with copper contents averaging about 500 ppm. One grab sample contained 2.6% copper.

The area of the copper soil anomaly also contains anomalous molybdenum in soils, with values of more than 3 and up to 170 ppm molybdenum. Rock chip samples within this zone average 3 to 4 ppm and up to 157 ppm molybdenum.

Gold anomalous soil samples occur in a 600-m-long, 50- to 100-m-wide zone within the broader copper anomaly. These samples contain between 0.1 and 2.3 g/mt gold. A silver soil anomaly overlaps the eastern boundary of the copper soil anomaly, with silver assaying over 5 g/mt. Rock chip samples within this zone commonly exceed 2 g/mt silver. (www.buenaventura.com and www.globalgeo.com.au)

Iamgold is pursuing an aggressive exploration campaign at its Buckreef project in Tanzania. A 2,329-m diamond-drilling program was carried out during 2008 to augment structural studies and validate earlier reverse circulation drilling. Total Measured and Indicated resources at the project now stand at 1 million oz of gold at an average grade of 2 g/mt. Eight early-stage exploration targets on the property are being targeted by first-pass reconnaissance aircore drilling. Follow-up drilling is in progress, and additional targets have been identified by a geophysical gravity survey.

In eastern Senegal, Iamgold is exploring a significant gold mineralized trend at its Boto project. Work is currently targeting the Guemedji Trend, a 6-km-long mineralized corridor, to define drill targets in three distinct zones. A High Resolution I.P.-Resistivity geophysical survey was 60% complete prior to being temporarily interrupted by the annual rainy season. A minimum 5,000-m diamond drill program was tentatively scheduled to start in November and extend into 2009. (www.iamgold.com)

Software Provides Automated Solution for Mineral Spectroscopy

2008-10-06T23:10:38Z

Thermo Fisher Scientific has introduced Thermo Scientific ARL SMS version 6. Based on the recently released OXSAS analytical software for Thermo Scientific Optical Emission (OES) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometers, ARL SMS version 6 features a common software platform covering both the instrument and automation solution. The new graphic user interface is designed for ease-of-use and features common audit trail, system monitoring software and integrated contextual help. The company says this standardized system ensures minimal training is required for users in the metals, mining and cement industries. The new ARL SMS version 6 provides an integrated automation solution for the Thermo Scientific ARL 3460, ARL 4460, ARL Fire Assay, ARL OPTIM’X, ARL ADVANT’X and ARL 9900 spectrometers. Based on the Microsoft SQL server relational database, this new software supports different sample preparation techniques for metals and oxides for a full range of automation devices such as linear or X-Y manipulators. It also supports a number of different robots, covering all applications from simple systems to larger configurations involving multiple instruments.
www.thermofisher.com

Strike Clouds Potash Corp Outlook

2008-10-01T21:49:10Z

A strike by United Steelworkers union members at PotashCorp's Allan, Cory and Patience Lake potash mines in Saskatchewan, which was not resolved as of press time, took some steam out of the company’s near-term outlook. The strike came on the heels of PotashCorp's record first-half 2008 financial performance and an announcement in mid-July that it will invest $1.6 billion to add 2.7 million mt of annual potash capacity at its Allan, Cory and Rocanville mines in Saskatchewan. The strike was over workers' compensation, and as of mid-August, negotiations had broken off. A prolonged work stoppage appeared to be in the making.

The Allan, Cory and Patience Lake mines supply about 30% of PotashCorp's potash production and account for about 6% of world potash supply. All three mines are underground operations that mine potash at depths of about 1,000 m. In 2007, PotashCorp's Canadian mines produced 9.2 million mt of potash.

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The Allan debottlenecking project will add 1 million mt/y of production capacity and raise the mine’s total capacity to 3 million mt/y. Construction and ramp-up are scheduled for completion by the end of 2012. The project has an estimated cost of $350 million and follows a 400,000-mt/y expansion completed at Allan in 2007.

At Cory, the new expansion project will add 1 million mt/y to a 1.2-million-mt/y debottlenecking and expansion project initiated in 2007. The initial project is scheduled for completion in 2010, while construction and ramp-up of the new project is planned for completion by the end of 2012. The new project has an estimated cost of $220 million and will raise the mine’s annual capacity to 3 million mt/y.

At Rocanville, an additional 700,000 mt/y of capacity will be incorporated into a 2-million-mt/y mine and mill expansion project announced in 2007. With an additional investment of $1 billion, the combined project now is expected to add 2.7 million mt/y of production capacity at a cost of $2.8 billion and raise Rocanville’s total capacity to 5.7 million mt/y. Construction is scheduled for completion at the end of 2012, with ramp-up over the following two years.

PotashCorp estimates that the three expansion projects will cost approximately 60% less than current costs for comparable greenfield capacity. The projects also will add production much more quickly than would be the case with production from a new mine.

The newly announced PotashCorp projects at Allan, Cory and Rocanville are a continuation of a long-term expansion program that has included projects completed at Rocanville in 2005, Allan and Esterhazy in 2007, and Lanigan in 2008, as well as in-progress construction projects scheduled for completion at Patience Lake in 2008, Cory in 2010, and New Brunswick in 2011.

On July 24, 2008, PotashCorp reported record first-half 2008 earnings of $1.5 billion, more than triple the $483.7 million the company earned in the first half of 2007 and also more than its full-year earnings record of $1.1 billion set in 2007. In announcing these results, PotashCorp reported that the global need for increased food production continues to fuel strong fertilizer demand.

“The resulting tight fertilizer supply/demand fundamentals impacted all three nutrients (potash, nitrogen and phosphate) in the second quarter, and this was clearly evident in higher product prices. Potash inventories were reduced to historically low levels around the world. For example, reported North American producer inventories at the end of June were 41% below the previous five-year average, an extremely low level given upcoming summer maintenance shutdowns. Global demand remains unsatisfied, even without considering the protracted contract settlements that left China approximately 3 million mt short of previously expected 2008 potash requirements.”

In the phosphate and nitrogen markets, global supply tightened during the first quarter of 2008, when China introduced a 35% tax on phosphate and nitrogen exports to protect its domestic supply. Then, the tax was raised to 135% for the period April 20 to September 30, 2008. The May 2008 earthquake in Sichuan province, China, also impacted phosphate supply. The province produces 11% of China’s phosphate rock and a significant amount of related downstream fertilizer, feed, and industrial products. In nitrogen, higher global costs for oil and natural gas have supported higher product prices generally, and the Chinese export tax immediately and significantly drove world urea prices higher.

Programmable Personal Air Sampling Pump

2008-10-01T21:46:27Z

Sensidyne’s new Gilian 5000 is a personal air sampling pump for monitoring worker exposure to hazardous gases, vapors and particulates at flow rates from 20 to 5000 cc per minute. According to the company, the Gilian 5000 has an onboard intuitive four-button design with lock-out capability that does not require special tools or a personal computer to create or edit its programming. This new feature adds a four stage program with repeat cycling, permits scheduled sampling or intermittent duty cycles and programmable delayed start. Programmable features on personal air sampling pumps can be highly beneficial during many applications when a worker is fitted with the instrument prior to commencing the work shift or when a sampling method requires intermittent sampling. The unit is also available in a 5-pack which adds a 5-unit cradle charging system capable of quick charging the air sampling pumps is less time than ever.
www.sensidyne.com

Outokumpu Doubling Tornio Ferrochrome Capacity - Europe

2008-09-16T23:08:24Z

Outokumpu has initiated a construction program to double ferrochrome production capacity at its Tornio Works in Finland. The €420-million program will lift the Tornio plant’s annual ferrochrome capacity to 530,000 mt. The new capacity is scheduled to come on line during the first quarter of 2011.

The Tornio ferrochrome smelter is located adjacent to Outokumpu’s stainless steel mill and will make the company “comfortably self-sufficient in terms of its primary chromium,” according to the company. The ferrochrome smelter processes ore from the adjacent Kemi chromium mine.

Because the ferrochrome smelter is located at the same site as the stainless steel mill, ferrochrome can be transferred to the mill’s melt shop in liquid form, foregoing the re-melting that is required at most stainless steel mills. This, said Outokumpu, gives the Tornio Works an exceptional cost advantage. Also, the carbon monoxide emanating from the Tornio ferrochrome process is used as fuel in the stainless steel mill, reducing the plant’s need for external energy.

The market price of ferrochrome has increased substantially in recent years due to increased demand from the stainless steel industry and, more recently, due to production constraints relating mainly to the availability of electricity in South Africa, which produces more than half of the world’s ferrochrome.

Outokumpu CEO Juha Rantanen said, “Doubling our ferrochrome production is an exceptionally attractive and profitable project. Already, Outokumpu Tornio Works is the most integrated stainless steel mill in the world. We have estimated that, with current prices, the expansion will bring additional annual operating profits in the order of €200 million.”