ENVIRONMENT

Ten-year gold bonanza may be over: CMP Group

Gold prices will remain high this year, but are unlikely to rise above the record high reached in 2011, says the latest report by U.S.-based mining consultants CPM Group.

US coal-fired power: What the gas boom started, Obama has just finished off

The closures and the dearth of new builds are as much a function of new environmental impact laws as it is of the US gas boom, which has sent natural gas prices to decade lows.

Stornoway signs impacts and benefits agreement for the Renard Diamond Project

Stornoway Diamond Corporation (TSX:SWY) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an Impacts and Benefits Agreement for the Renard Diamond Project with the Cree Nation of Mistissini ("CNM") and the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) / Cree Regional Authority ("GCC(EI)/CRA").

Third diamond drill rig deployed by Angkor Gold in Cambodia

Canadian-based Angkor Gold Corp. (TSXV: ANK) announced today it has deployed a three diamond drill at its Katieng prospect. Drilling is set to commence on geochemical targets at the property. After Angkor completes the Katieng program, the rig will be moved to either its Kunmum prospect or Oyadao tenement.

Forsys completes acquisition of remaining 30% interest in Namibplaas

"This acquisition positions Forsys to be better able to realize the full potential of consolidating Namibplaas with its wholly-owned Valencia Uranium Project," said Marcel Hilmer, CEO and Director of Forsys.

GIW Froth Pump prevents airlock shutdowns at Mondo Minerals Talc Plant

GIW Industries, the leader in the design, manufacture and application of heavy-duty, centrifugal slurry pumps, announced that global talc producer Mondo Minerals has installed GIW's High Volume Froth (HVF) pump at its talc processing plant in Outokumpu, Finland. During the pump's first month of operations, the plant was able to stabilize the flotation process and eliminate a safety hazard.

Big guns all on board for Beijing's new spot iron ore trading platform

Beijing launched the new spot price platform in January in a bid to shift the balance of power in price negotiations away from the big three.

SouthGobi selects Modular for mine management solution

Modular Mining Systems, Inc. (Modular), the world leader in information management solutions for mining operations, announces that SouthGobi Resources, Ltd. has chosen to implement the Modular® IntelliMine® Integrated Asset Management Suite at its Ovoot Tolgoi operation in southern Mongolia.

AMEC to buy MACTEC

AMEC announced today that it has agreed to buy MACTEC, a leading US engineering and environmental services company, from its private equity and other individual shareholders for a cash consideration of US$280 million. Completion is subject to regulatory approval and is expected by the end of June 2011. Read more

Filter cleaning machine could dust thousands off maintenance bill

The movement of ore, either through surface or underground operations, generates a tremendous amount of dust. The tiny dust particles must be run through filters to avoid damaging, or impeding the performance, of moving parts located in key pieces of mining equipment, including trucks, loaders, shovels, and crushing and grinding machinery.

Canadian company Diversi-Tech saw the opportunity in the problem, and the result was the “Green Machine.” The machine releases compressed air through a rotating air jet that moves up and down in a spiral motion inside an enclosed chamber. As the filter is cleaned, pollutants are captured and stored in a 55-gallon drum.

Sandvik Unveils New Track-Mounted Impactor – the QI440 in Action

The QI440 is the latest crushing development from Sandvik that combines expertise in the design of track-mounted mobile crushers, with Sandvik’s proven ability to manufacture durable and highly productive impact crushers.

Payout to Flathead miners is unfair says Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia

The Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia said on Wednesday that the agreement to compensate the miners for development work in the Flathead River basin are too low.

"AME BC remains appalled by the lack of due process in reaching a timely and fair compensation agreement for the taking of mineral titles in the Flathead", stated Gavin C. Dirom, President & CEO of AME BC in a press release.

Doe Run showcases new lead processing technology

Environmental impact is one of the most immediate challenges facing the global lead industry, said Jerry Pyatt, COO of The Doe Run Co., at the Lead-Zinc 2010 Symposium in Vancouver, British Columbia, earlier this month. Read more

The surface crawler drill of the future – in Shanghai

Atlas Copco’s futuristic vision of a surface drill crawler has been revealed to the world at Shanghai World Expo. The model on display shows a rig that offers greatly increased productivity, high mobility, silenced operation and environmental friendliness. Read more

South African PGM mining – the power squeeze

RBC Capital Markets notes that South Africa has been plagued by a power shortage since early 2008. "Over the past two years, the situation improved only because the economic environment slowed dramatically, reducing electricity demand. At the same time industry, mining …

New drilling system uses 60% less water 
than existing systems – manufacturer

Water hydraulic drilling systems manufacturer Peterstow Aquapower has developed an environment-friendly drilling technology that could save mining companies significant capital and operational costs, while also reducing the industry’s environmental effect. Read more

Consolidating information into one program

Gold-mining major Gold Fields has turned to information technology solutions provider Integr8 to move 7,000 users across the globe onto a consolidated Microsoft Active Directory and Exchange environment, in one of the most complex coexistence deployments undertaken by a South …

American Manganese discovers process to produce electrolytic manganese

As illegal levels of pollution from the Lanjigarh refinery ruled out Vedanta’s proposed bauxite project in India Larry Reaugh, CEO of American Manganese, was busy giving Vedanta directors more reason to blush-as well as providing a glimmer of hope to …

Caterpillar receives EPA TIER 4 Interim and EU Stage IIIB engine certification for non-road

Caterpillar's new C9.3 ACERTTM engine features integrated design and provides improved fuel efficiency and productivity for next generation machines. It has received the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Tier 4 emissions certification and European Union (EU) emissions type approval. The C9.3 ACERT is the first Caterpillar non-road engine to receive emissions certification in the 130-560 kW [...]

MEGTEC to Build World’s Largest Coal Mine Ventilation Methane Emissions Abatement System in China

MEGTEC Systems today announced that its China subsidiary has been contracted to build the largest plant in the world to capture and eliminate ventilation air methane (VAM) from the Datong coal mine in China’s Chongqing municipality. The agreement was formally …

Cyanide ban threatens European gold mines

On May 5, 2010, the European Union Parliament approved a resolution which calls on the Commission to initiate a complete ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies in the European Union by the end of 2011. Endomines says "the resolution was based on erroneous information about the usage of cyanide in the mining industry. [...]

Allison transmissions deployed to outback mining operation

Allison transmissions prove to be more than a match for some of the harshest conditions in the world. After more than 25 years, two of these tough automatic transmissions are logging amazing performance in Steiger broad acre tractors in a …

Rio Tinto expands Mine of the Future programme

Rio Tinto is expanding its Mine of the Future™ programme to develop new equipment and systems for deep underground mines and has selected three partners to work on the project. Aker Wirth and Atlas Copco will individually work with Rio …

ABB commissions world’s largest high pressure grinding roll (HPGR) drive system

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group has successfully commissioned the world’s largest high pressure grinding roll (HPGR) drive system for the Boddington Gold Mine Expansion project in western Australia.Newmont Mining Corp., America’s biggest gold producer, has begun production …

FLSmidth to supply filters for Rosemont Copper Project in USA

FLSmidth has received an order worth approximately USD 31m from Rosemont Copper Company for the supply of 14 filter presses. These minerals-type automated filter presses will be the largest in the world and will be installed as part of Rosemont …