Section B october | november 2014 www.minersnews.com Tyco SimplexGrinnell Introduces Smart New Fire Alarm Panel for Small- and Mid-Sized Projects and Applications Simplex 4007ES Panel Offers the Benefits of Advanced Technology in a Smaller Package LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Furthering its commitment to bring customers the benefits of technology and innovation, Tyco SimplexGrinnell is introducing the Simplex 4007ES – a small, expandable fire alarm panel offering features and functionality normally associated with large systems. The Simplex 4007ES comes in two distinct models and with a 4.3-inch color touchscreen display, enabling buildings owners, facility managers, architects and engineers to meet the range of fire and life-safety protection needs in small schools, medical office buildings, strip malls, restaurants and other similarly sized applications. Designed specifically for small- and mid-sized projects, the Simplex 4007ES panel meets a key market need and expands Tyco SimplexGrinnell’s eServices capabilities. eServices is the integrated suite of technology and service capabilities that greatly enhances the overall value and cost efficiency that Tyco SimplexGrinnell can provide in fire and life-safety environments. Simplex 4007ES Addressable Panel: This panel brings the benefits of TrueInsight remote fire alarm system diagnostics and TrueAlert ES addressable notification to new construction projects. TrueInsight Remote Service alerts expert Tyco SimplexGrinnell technicians to system issues and upcoming maintenance needs, such as detectors that will soon need cleaning. For TrueInsight customers, Tyco SimplexGrinnell provides increased uptime, fewer disruptions and a 90% first-time fix rate for resolving system issues. TrueAlert ES notification, the family of addressable notification appliances from Tyco SimplexGrinnell, offers exceptional design and installation flexibility, revolutionary self-testing capability, and lower overall costs of ownership. The Simplex 4007ES panel, being demonstrated for the first time at the Tyco SimplexGrinnell booth (#1225) at the NFPA Expo in Las Vegas, can provide reliable, costeffective protection for new construction, upgrade projects and retrofit applications. At the same time, the 4007ES panel can connect customers to the value-added benefits of eServices technology – more design flexibility, easier installation, improved operational efficiency, robust data management and reporting, and lower life-cycle costs. Simplex 4007ES Hybrid Panel: Combining conventional and addressable technology, this model is ideal for upgrades and retrofit projects. It enables customers to connect a Simplex 4007ES panel to a conventional, hard-wired fire alarm system. This 4007ES hybrid panel can leverage existing wiring infrastructure and peripheral devices while also providing an easy, cost-effective path to ultimately convert the system to addressable technology. “The introduction of the Simplex 4007ES panel represents a key advancement in technology and our ability to serve the needs of customers in the small- and mid-sized market,” said John Haynes, Global Director of Simplex products, Tyco Fire Protection Products. “The new panel enables us to use addressable technology to deliver gamechanging features and value while also supporting customers looking for cost-efficient, forwarding-looking retrofit solutions. As a technology leader, Tyco is excited to bring the industry a small panel with large panel capabilities.” Your most valuable asset isn’t the material you pull out of the earth. About Tyco SimplexGrinnell Tyco SimplexGrinnell is a longtime leader in fire and life safety, with one million customers and a history that dates back to the mid 1800s. Tyco SimplexGrinnell is advancing safety and security with a comprehensive array of fire alarm, fire sprinkler, fire suppression, emergency communications, integrated security, sound, and healthcare communications systems and services. Tyco SimplexGrinnell has 11,000 employees and serves customers through 150 company-owned offices in the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.simplexgrinnell.com. Tyco SimplexGrinnell offers comprehensive safety solutions that protect people, property and production. Our expertise spans the full mining life cycle, from approval and build to operation and reclamation. We draw on our industry leadership, state-of-the-art technology and deep understanding of mining operations to deliver cost-effective fire protection, security, life safety and communications that keep your facilities up and running while keeping them safe and compliant. At Tyco SimplexGrinnell, we are constantly developing ways to advance safety and security. Learn how we can help make your world—and what’s under it—safer. Visit us at www.TycoSimplexGrinnell.com. Safer. Smarter. Tyco.™ hard rock & aggregates hard rock & aggregates Forget Silicon Valley, the Mining and Aggregate Business is High Tech By Harold Hough Anyone who thinks mining is a low tech business is misinformed. Today’s modern mining operation has more computer processing capability onsite than the average start-up Silicon Valley computer company does. Then there are companies like Modular Mining, which dwarf the average Silicon Valley computer company, but thrive by providing high tech computer solutions to the mining industry. The computer revolution has profoundly affected the mining industry. Computers are part of every sector of the industry, from the software that designs new heavy equipment to the computers in engines that keep providing a steady stream of telemetry back to the maintenance department. The computer revolution and heavy equipment manufacturers like Caterpillar have given the industry robotic mining equipment, while Silicon Valley is still playing with robotic vacuum cleaners. Caterpillar Mine Ventilation Consultants (Canada) Inc. (mine ventilation nets, types of fans, regulators, and doors, mine air quality, temperature of the air and rock-also for Permafrost, tunnels and water pressure tunnels construction, reports) Tel: +1-613-314-6092 • +1-613-422-3900 Email: [email protected] Website: http://ventilation.wix.com/website B-2 October/November 2014 | #166 | www.minersnews.com manufactures MineGem underground robotic miners. The Caterpillar system uses computers and lasers to allow underground mining equipment to move from loading to dumping areas without a driver. While traveling through the tunnels, the equipment is kept on track with lasers that make sure the equipment doesn’t run into the wall. This automation is also improving safety. In Nevada, Newmont has expanded its mining to lower grade deposits. However, it has found itself working around older operations that mined the high grade gold ore and then moved on – often leaving miles of dangerous underground tunnels. Experts estimate that the Nevada contains some 300,000 abandoned mines, 50,000 of which are classified as potential public hazards. This is where remote controlled heavy equipment comes in. Underground tunnels pose more than a sinkhole problem for heavy equipment. A dozer working on a slight slope may cause a void to collapse, causing a slight slope to become a dangerous incline – causing the equipment to tip over or even tumble down the slope in a landslide. Once again, the mining industry and heavy equipment manufacturers led the way. While Silicon Valley is currently focused on products like Anybots that allow your remotely controlled robot to go to meetings half a world away, the mining industry had already pioneered a way to handle heavy equipment remotely. The answer for Newmont and other mines is a simple add-on developed by Caterpillar. It’s called Command and it can be purchased with new Cat equipment or added on. The controls are portable and are easily carried by an operator as they move around the site. The equipment can also be used in environments that might easily tire an operator or pose other environmental risks. Unlike totally automated equipment, which is becoming more common around mine sites, Command is a remote controlled device that is controlled by the equipment operator within sight of the equipment. Since the controls are just like those on the dozer, a heavy equipment operator familiar with dozer operations can quickly learn how to use them. If an unstable area needs work, the operator can move the equipment to the site and then carry out the job from a safe location with Command. There are also several automatic shutoffs in the system is the equipment loses contact with the remote control device, the operator trips and falls down, or an emergency shutoff switch is activated on the cab, remote console, or mine control center. A less exciting, but more common use of computers is one that tracks the location of equipment, monitors the condition of the equipment, and gives the operator updates as necessary. Heavy equipment manufacturers offer such systems, and there are currently thousands of pieces of equipment that use these systems to increase the productivity of their operations. Other subsystems like tire condition monitors are offered by other companies that can interface with these systems. Computers are critical in maximizing the mine’s operation. Modular Mining’s IntelliMine helps the mine’s management optimize the haul cycle, while monitoring the equipment and helping schedule maintenance. By carefully monitoring telemetry from the equipment, they can also detect equipment problems before they even breakdown. Even the design of equipment has been radically changed thanks to computers. Caterpillar uses computers to maximize their equipment design. With it, Cat can determine the probable stress points even before the first prototype is built. In fact, with it, they can custom design a truck body that will enhance performance at your specific mine, while maximizing durability. This allows management to better enhance mine efficiency at the lowest cost. While some may think mining is just picks and shovels, mining has evolved into a high technology industry that leads the economy in high tech applications. In many cases, high tech computer solutions have come out of the mining industry long before the “wiz kids” of Silicon Valley ever knew there was a problem, much less a computer solution. Updated Annually For almost 30 years, Miners News mining & aggregates directories have been a mainstay in connecting active mining and aggregate/quarry operations with companies. New to 2014 is the addition of Canadian mining operations. Western region eastern region Order your copies today! • Distributed to each operation • State Maps show principal producing locations by county. M iners n ews MINING, AGGREGATE, & QUARRY NEWS YOU CAN TRUST Since 1985 • Because these directories list active operating mines and quarries (along with points of contact, addresses, and phone numbers), they are the essential reference for companies and professionals who need to connect with the mining industry. • Advertising Opportunities Available. Contact Us Today! TOLL-FREE: (800) 624-7212 • E-Mail: [email protected] • www.minersnews.com EPA agrees to delay Pebble Project ban for now… EPA acknowledges its action against the Pebble Project is unprecedented, agrees to not issue any recommendation prior to January 2, 2015. RENO (MINEWEB) - Northern Dynasty’s Pebble Project finally caught a break as a federal court judge validated an agreement that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it would stay its Section 404(c) Clean Water Act regulatory process against the Pebble Project until at least January 2, 2015. An order by U.S. District Judge H. Russel Holland Wednesday noted that EPA’s regional administrator “will not issue any recommendation on its pending, proposed determination regarding the Pebble Mine Project prior to January 2, 2015”. Judge Holland said his court must resolve the motion for a preliminary injunction filed by the Pebble Limited Partnership challenging EPA’s authority to pre-emptively impose development restrictions on Pebble prior to the submission of a proposed development plan to state and federal agencies. The Partnership has also sued on the ground that EPA has not complied with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Administrative Procedure Act in preparing the Bristol Bay Assessment study, upon which the Section 404(c) regulatory process is largely based. EPA’s attempt to expand its authority under the Clean Water Act by stopping the Pebble Project before the Pebble Partnership even files for permitting has upset more than 180-plus national and state associations and organizations - representing mining, agriculture, construction, housing, manufacturing, utilities, energy production and transportation - to stop the action. Legislation has been introduced in Congress to clarify EPA’s role in the Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting process to ensure that the agency doesn’t deny permits before applications for permits are filed. The Pebble copper-gold-molybdenum project is located in the Bristol Bay region of Southwest Alaska. Measured and indicated resources for the project include 55 billion pounds of copper, 67 million ounces of gold and 3.3 billion pounds of moly. Miller joins JCB north American dealer network JCB’s North American dealer network has expanded with the addition of Miller JCB. The full-service dealership will provide new and pre-owned heavy equipment sales and rentals to the cities of Juneau, Ketchikan and Wasilla in Southeast and South-Central Alaska. Serving the Mining & Construction Industries of Alaska Miller JCB was founded in 2005 as Miller Construction Equipment Sales in Juneau. “In partnering with JCB, the dealership will continue providing excellent customer service while growing JCB’s presence in the state of Alaska. Three JCBdedicated salespeople and seven service technicians will ensure customers receive knowledgeable and one-on-one attention at each location,” the company says. Explosive Products and Supplies Terrence Miller, Miller JCB’s president, is enthusiastic about the new partnership and opportunities ahead for both JCB and the dealership. “We’re proud of the strong reputation we've built in the region and of the success we’ve already had selling JCB equipment,” he said. “Now, by offering JCB’s full line of equipment, we can better meet customers’ needs and feel confident we’re providing a quality product and resources.” More info, visit www.mcesalaska.com. Anchorage, AK Phone: (907) 349-1424 Fax: (907) 344-6780 Fairbanks, AK Ketchikan, AK (907) 456-8506 Taiga Ventures began in 1979 when Mike Tolbert recognized a need within the natural resource exploration industry for a variety of remote logistics services. With a single truck and a load of ambition, Taiga Ventures quickly earned a reputation for providing anything and everything that might be needed for a successful project in the most remote areas of Alaska. The desire to provide the best and most modern facilities and equipment has kept Taiga Ventures going strong for thirty years and counting. Taiga Ventures has provided the opening camps for many large mining operation in the state and hundreds of exploratory camps for natural resource exploration. Today’s industry requires significantly more technology, environmental protection and safety awareness. Taiga Ventures continues to be at the forefront by utilizing the vast knowledge and experience of our local community. Several of our remote systems are custom designed and manufactured right here in Alaska to meet our clients needs. This coupled with our “can do” mentality provides the client with the best there is in this harshest of environments. B-4 (907) 225-9388 P a cWe s t dr illing supply A Leader in Arctic•Boartlongyear Remote Logistics •Baroiddrillingmud smartashincinerators Our combination of knowledge, reliability and Arctic experience and•equipment makes it possible to provide facilities and &geostoves equipment suited to each client for maximum comfort, safety, and efficiency, with minimum impact on the environment. Retail Camp Supplies Contract Services • • • • • • • • • • • Smart Ash Incinerators Geo-Stoves Pacto Waterless Toilets Baroid Drilling Mud Well monitoring supplies • Johnson Screens • Morrison Brothers • Royer Quality Castings •pactowaterlesstoilets Fairbanks: &supplies 2700 S. Cushman Equipment and Core Storage Fairbanks, AK 99701 Planning and Transportation Consultation Phone: 907-452-6631 2700southcushman Purchasing Run-Throughs Fax: 907-451-8632 fairBanks,alaska99701 Local Hire Staffing Arrangements Permitting Services for Land Use, (907)452-6631 Anchorage: Permitting for Fuel Storage, Health, and Safety 351 East 92nd (907)451-8632(fax) Anchorage, AK 99508 Phone: 907-245-3123 2000w.int’lairportrdd2 Fax: 907-830-0631 anchorage,alaska99502 telephone:(907)245-3123 Web: Camp Managers and Support Crew Equipment Rental Logistical Support Services • • • • • • • • • • Generators Forklifts Fuel Systems In-Line Water Heaters Satellite Communications Systems October/November 2014 | #166 | www.minersnews.com www.taigaventures.com Catering and Housekeeping Staff Expediting, Shipping and Receiving Email: Equipment Mobilization & Preparation [email protected] Equipment Consolidation andweb:www.taigaventures.com Forwarding Sister Company of Taiga Ventures email:[email protected] Serving You Since 1979 Pure Nickel Announces Results for Salt Chuck Drilling Program NPH-14-15 targeted a southerly trending series of gold anomalies in soil in the central part of the NPH area. This hole encountered anomalous disseminated chalcopyrite mineralization across a broad interval (0.12% Cu over 71 meters apparent width). TORONTO -- Pure Nickel Inc. (TSX-V:NIC) (the "Company") announced results for the recently completed drilling program on its 100% owned Salt Chuck Copper (Cu) - Gold (Au) - Silver (Ag) - Palladium (Pd) Property on Prince of Wales Island in south-eastern Alaska. Nine holes totalling 1,700 meters were completed on the North Pole Hill (NPH) section of the property from May 10 to June 23, 2014. The results of the 2014 drill program indicate that the Salt Chuck Property hosts numerous mineralized structures that locally exhibit elevated gold and copper values. These structures may be related to a major fault that bisects the Salt Chuck intrusion in the central part of the property, which has yet to be investigated. Soil geochemistry has proven to be an excellent indicator of bedrock mineralization, and numerous anomalies remain to be tested. Follow-up work will expand the soil surveys across the property, as Drilling targeted selected soil geochemical anomalies that occur in the NPH area. well as initiate detailed geological mapping of the numerous mineralized structures. Eight of the nine holes encountered pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization associated with hydrothermal quartz-calcite-epidote veining, similar to that intersected in 2012 drill hole About the Salt Chuck Property NPH-12-04 (29.1 g/t Au and 0.79% Cu over 2.58 meters apparent width - see press release dated December 11, 2012). The results clearly indicate that the soil anomalies reflect The Salt Chuck Property consists of 146 contiguous federal lode mining claims located underlying bedrock mineralization. David McPherson, President and CEO of Pure Nickel on Prince of Wales Island on the Alaskan Panhandle, and includes the former Salt Chuck Inc. noted: "We have demonstrated the positive relationship between soil geochemistry mine. The island is accessed by ferry service, and direct access to the property is by welland mineralization, and we now know that there are multiple mineralized structures on maintained U.S. Forest Service roads and by water. the property. Given that there are numerous untested gold, copper and palladium soil anomalies, and that some of the largest structures have yet to be investigated, we believe The former Salt Chuck mine, was the largest producer of palladium in the United States that there is significant potential for further discoveries at Salt Chuck." while it was in production from 1916 to 1941. It produced approximately 300,000 metric tonnes of ore, reported by U.S. government summaries (1948) to be 0.95 % copper, 1.96 The first five drill holes were designed to test the continuity of high grade gold g/t palladium, 1.12 g/t gold and 5.29 g/t silver. mineralization encountered during drilling in 2012 at site NPH-12-04, where a moderate gold anomaly is present in the soil. Four of these holes encountered similar hydrothermal About Pure Nickel Inc. sulphide mineralization associated with quartz-calcite-epidote veining. The best result was in hole NPH-14-07 which intersected 14.1 g/t Au and 0.74% Cu over 0.5 meters Pure Nickel is a mineral exploration company with a diverse collection of nickel, copper apparent width. In addition, NPH-14-05 intersected 1.3 g/t Au over 1.1 meters apparent and platinum group element exploration projects in North America. In 2013 the Company width, NPH-14-10 intersected 1.3 g/t Au over 1.0 meters apparent width, and hole NPH- completed an exploration program and a favourable nickel deportment study on the MAN 14-11 intersected 0.6 g/t Au over 2.0 meters apparent width. Property in Alaska. In addition, the Company has completed a re-evaluation of its William Lake Property as a bulk tonnage nickel prospect and continues to actively pursue other Drill holes NPH-14-12 through 14 tested a northwest trending gold in soil anomaly in non-nickel properties in North America and overseas. CONTACT: Pure Nickel Inc., T. (416) the eastern part of the NPH area, and each encountered pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization 644-0066; [email protected] ; www.purenickel.com in quartz-carbonate-epidote veins. Moderately anomalous gold and copper values were obtained from some of these zones, including 0.91 g/t Au over an apparent width of 0.34 meters in hole NPH-14-14, and 0.42% Cu over 2 meters apparent width in NPH-14-12. While these intersections are not ore grade, they do indicate that a significant mineralizing system is present on the property. Alaskans serving Alaskans. Oxford is proud to be the only gold refiner and bullion dealer to maintain two locations in Alaska for more than 30 years. We offer maximum returns on gold and silver, whether you’re a miner or an investor. Buying, selling, or trading – Oxford provides the service, value, honesty, and integrity that Alaskans have counted on for generations. BUY : SELL : TRADE ALASKA’S ONLY LOCAL REFINER ANCHORAGE • FAIRBANKS • NOME • NEW YORK 1.800.693.6740 www.oxfordmetals.com www.minersnews.com | #166 |October/November 2014 B-5 ALASKA DOMESTIC MINING Who’s mining the store? Everything you need. The products you want. The services you expect. Fish and Coal Together: How ‘Either/Or’ Becomes ‘Both/And’ By Kathryn G. Arlen “The Chuitna Coal Project is not a choice between a coal mine and fish—it is designed for BOTH,” states PacRim LP’s mantra for the future coal mine located just 45 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska. We’ve been keepingthat minesphilosophy: in Alaska running And Dan Graham, PE and Chuitna Project Manager, further emphasized “I just for more than a25responsible years. We do itdevelopment by having think that as an industry we all need to approach our projects from perspective…and particularly for us, with the sensitive issue salmon. to extend your theof fuel, lubricantsYou andhave other petroleum efforts if you expect to move your project forward.” products you need right here when you need The future surface coal mine, with projected life span of 25 years, expects to produce an them – at competitive prices. average 12 million metric tons of sub-bituminous, ultra low sulfur coal per year, depending on market demand. But it will also simultaneously protect and enhance the local environment, as sophisticated distribution system plus Graham explained both in a Sept. 16 presentation to theA Alaska Miners Association Fairbanks membership and in a follow-up interview. close relationships with our suppliers and PacRim’s plan may seem simple, at least in intent, butfreight still creates impressive challenges. companies allow Delta Western to As Graham explained “…the two keys are creating new [fish] habitat downstream before we start deliver the precise product you need, the mining, and then, when we’re done, constructing habitat within the [former] mine area as part of moment you need it. And now joining forces the reclamation plan.” with Inlet Petroleum Company you canmine countand Considering all the intense publicity surrounding the proposed Pebble Copper/Gold its possible adverse affects on Alaska’s salmon industry, any mention oflubricants “fishingyou and mining” in on us to have the prefer the same sentence is bound to draw attention and many questions. Butfuel “the scope issue and the quality brands youand expect, as they have are completely different from ours,” Graham first discussed, and continued stressing how the well as products ranging from filters to coal industry in particular needs to be sensitive to environmental issues: “It’s not an ‘either/or.’ absorbents, fuel additives and cleaners.Further We don’t have one resource vs. another, we’re not in competition. We’re in partnership.” emphasizing this concept he cited several highly successful reclamation examples from around the state including the Denali Mine at Valdez Creek, Fish Creek at Fort Knox Mine [gold], Middle Fork of Red Dog Creek at the Red Dog Mine [zinc], and others. As Graham reiterated throughout his comments and presentation much current opposition For all of your quality[and fuel other needs, companies] to mining efforts centers on the “this can’t be done” criticism, but PacRim us toll-free at 800.478.2688 intend to continue proving that successful and enhancingcall environmental reclamation can coexist with necessary mining activity. Lakes now exist where none did before, natural stream beds resume, wetland ponds form in depressions of reclaimed areas, ducks, beaver, moose, etc. utilize the areas, and in many cases fish population has increased after reclamation efforts. PacRim’s efforts will address two time periods: during the mine’s lifetime and after mining has ceased. Some of the projects during mining include creating side-channels for salmon rearing and spawning, adding nutrients, monitoring and adjusting [as needed], and implementing the ARED system as an alternative plan if salmon don’t successfully spawn on their own. (With this approach the fish are captured, their eggs fertilized, then the salmon are released into their natural habitat for incubation, thus avoiding the “hatchery fish” label.) During the traditional post-mining reclamation period habitat reconstruction will constitute the main focus. Water supply, streams in particular, surface as a major issue. “The first thing you have to do is look hard at what you’re dealing with, and in our case with the Chuit River and its tributaries we’re mostly dealing with coho salmon.” The second issue is testing fish numbers/population, then the third and fourth steps in this reclamation process focus on water management (flow/discharge) and quality. “Our water source is mostly storm water. We don’t have Alaskans Serving a processing wash, no chemical process involved, and that’s a key—this is soft coal,Alaska ultra low sulfur. Some power plants can get compliance [just] by burning this coal.” Thus, understanding “area hydrology and hydrogeology in the area” is critical for generating a successful water management plan for streams both below and adjacent to the mine site. In addition to identifying and researching case studies from around the Pacific Northwest, Graham 39901 N. Glenn Hwy. Sutton, AK 99674 (907) 745-5701 www.LFAV.com Helicopter Charter RAM® Truck Hemi® UNDERHOOD now Available for Order VMAC's latest UNDERHOOD air compressor broadens product range Nanaimo, B.C. - With VMAC's latest UNDERHOOD kit going into production soon, dealers now have an opportunity to provide an UNDERHOOD air compressor for the latest model of RAM® trucks with Hemi® 6.4L and 5.7L engines. In the last year 49,015 new RAM trucks were sold in the United States for commercial purposes. RAM has a large and growing base of very loyal customers who have been asking for a VMAC UNDERHOOD system to be available on this engine. This system is a continuation of VMAC's support of the RAM truck. Last year, VMAC announced the UNDERHOOD for RAM trucks with the Cummins Natural stream after engine. mine reclamation efforts, and a happy salmon enjoying his/her new home. added thattrucks the state’s Fish and department has been both are cooperative and helpful in “pointing "RAM with theGame Hemi 6.4L and 5.7L important vehicles in us towards the science behind the designing. But I wouldn’t say that turns into instant approval. We the North American commercial truck industry," says Dan Hutchinson, still have to prove our design on its merits.” VMAC President of Sales andhoped-for, Marketing. are for known for DesignVice approval, of course, translates into that eventual"They “green light” permitting. their and like the UNDERHOOD, so we want to As havestrength many others, “Wereliability, are finding thejust permitting avenue to be an incredible challenge,” Graham understandably lamented. “We for are it." in an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) process that provide great products normally takes about two years, and we’re in year five and still have at least a year and a half to go. It began in 2006.” The same expected? reliable, compact of things,” powerGraham the Why issystem this taking soprovides long, or longerthe than originally “It’s combination UNDERHOOD is known weighs just 150 so lbs andhadleaves behind no continued. “For one, agencies wantfor. moreItand more information, we’ve to go back and gather footprintbaseline at allinformation. on the truck providing 70since CFM and psi. additional Plus wewhile have redone the design 2006, andup thatto has175 put things on until our new is plan is finalized. But this is being thoroughly vetted.in Ithe mean, the of levelthe of Itshold performance unrivalled, providing reliable power heat scrutiny that is being given to this project….” one can conclude is quite intense. Australian Outback and the frozen Alaskan Slope. And perhaps that is as it should be, as the project manager continued commenting on the “state of world” from the mining perspective, citing such organizations as the powerful Sierra Club and its the This system is now available for pre-order. photos information persistent “bird-dogging” efforts, particularly relating to the coalFor industry. In otherorwords, one aim of about this coal system, visit iswww.vmacair.com/hemi or itcall this particular mine project to prove the critics wrong: “you say can’t1-866-271-2956. be done. Here’s proof that it can, and we will continue to do it right.” Once again, another tangible example of transforming the “either/or” dictum into a productive, inclusive “both/and” philosophy, with results. Kathryn G. Arlen MA [professional communication] is a consultant and freelance writer in Fairbanks, Alaska. She can be reached via email at [email protected]. Last Frontier Air Ventures is an Alaskan owned and operated company that offers many years of expertise and experience in the field of mining as well as good old fashioned Alaskan customer service. Last Frontier Air Ventures offers Helicopter Support for the following anywhere in the State: Mineral Exploration, Survey, Staking, Research and Development, Slung Cargo, Video and Film Projects, Aerial Photography, Tours, Crew Transport, Heli Skiing, Short and Long Term Contracts. We have four Astar 350B2 Aircraft which can seat up to 5 persons in addition to the pilot with a sling load capacity of up to 2000 lbs load. All of our pilots are proficient with precision long line, and mountain operations. Last Frontier Air Ventures, being locally owned and operated, can customize any job, big or small, to meet specific client needs. Think of us for ALL your helicopter support needs. Mineral Exploration | Survey & Staking Oil Field Support | Slung Cargo Video & Film | Tours Short & Long Term Contracts B-6 2014 | www.minersnews.com #166 | www.minersnews.com October/November 2011 For more information, please call us at 907-745-5701 and visit our website at www.LFAV.com OIL INDUSTRY: Exploration, survey, development, support MINING INDUSTRY: Mineral exploration, survey, development, drilling program support UNIVERSITIES/SCIENCE FOUNDATIONS: Exploration, survey, support STATE/FEDERAL AGENCIES: Exploration, survey, development, support FILM INDUSTRY: Aerial film and Cineflex video, locations and support TOURSIM INDUSTRY: Heli skiing, Heli hiking and Heli tours Komatsu’s HD325-7 New Dump Truck Komatsu America's HD325-7 is designed for sand and gravel and rock quarry sites. The truck increases productivity while lowering fuel consumption to provide a safer and more comfortable operator environment and offer improved durability and reliability, says the manufacturer. The truck has a SAA6D140E-5 turbocharged, after-cooled diesel engine that provides a maximum net output of 498hp (371kW). Performance engine is enhanced with an advanced cooling system and improved fuel pre-filters. It has Komtrax technology that sends machine operating information to a website for fleet monitoring. The Komatsu designed electronically controlled countershaft transmission selects the right gear according to vehicle speed, engine speed and the shift position chosen, resulting in the best gear for any operating condition, according to the manufacturer. Low maintenance is gained from brakes that do not require adjustment for wear. The braking system is designed with added reliability with three independent The optional automatic retard speed control system with a large capacity hydraulic circuits that provide hydraulic back-up should one of the circuits fail. retarder allows operators to set downhill travel speed at a constant level. Cooling This system eliminates air bleeding so water condensation — which can lead to oil temperature is monitored so the speed is automatically lowered if the retarder contamination, corrosion and freezing — also is eliminated. oil temperature rises. Service filters and greasing points have been centralized for easier servicing. Flat face-to-face O-ring seals are used to securely seal all hydraulic hose To minimize operating costs, oil change intervals also have been extended to 500 connections and prevent oil leakage. The main harnesses and controller connectors hours for engine oil and 4000 hours for hydraulic oil. Flange-type tire rims make are equipped with sealed DT connectors to provide high reliability, and water and removal and installation of the trucks' tires easy. Komatsu's advanced onboard dust resistance. diagnostic system maximizes machine production time by identifying maintenance items, reducing diagnostic times, indicating oil and filter replacement hours and The truck's fully hydraulic controlled wet multiple-disc brakes ensure reliable displaying abnormality codes. and stable brake performance. The continuously cooled wet-multiple disc brakes also function as a highly responsive retarder, which gives the operator greater Visit www.komatsuamerica.com for more information. confidence at higher downhill travel speeds. Wet disc brakes are fully sealed to keep contaminants out, reducing wear and maintenance. Alaska’s largest supplier of Hose, Fittings, and Rigging accessories is proud to support our states mining industry. November AMA Show Come Visit Us At Our Booths 159 & 160 s • Domestic Wire Rope, Chain & Synthetic Sling Fabrication • Hydrostatic P t s i l a ci e p S e s o H e d a ressure Testin l & Arctic Gr a i r g & Certific t ul a r i d c s y C H o m s e p i r o o n s e u s n e c t c R A e d p & a s i n r g n • I S ti t h i , e F e c d t l i e R fi u l i b O b • e ation r t , n G e a s m k p i e u t Hydraul q M E a g t e n i r l i d a n l a & H A d hesives Petroleum 100% Employee Owned Alaska Rubber Group Member of: Associated Wire Rope Fabricators Alaska Rubber & RIGGING SUPPLY ANCHORAGE • FAIRBANKS • KENAI • WASILLA www.alaskarubber.com www.minersnews.com | #166 |October/November 2014 B-7 Alaska Miners Association Annual Convention & Trade Show Celebrating 75 years! We have moved to the Dena’ina Center this year! Trade Show With space for more than 160 10x10 booths and tables, we can invite more companies to participate. Large equipment now welcome inside! Technical Sessions & Training Three days of technical sessions that include presentations on current issues and project updates. Also, choose from an assortment of Short Courses and underground or surface MSHA refreshers. Networking Our always-popular special events such as the Suppliers’ Reception and Closing Banquet give people the opportunity to network in a light, fun, and social environment. Convention Dates: November 3-9, 2014 To register, or for more information go to www.alaskaminers.org or call 907-563-9229 Photos courtesy of Mark Huffington 800.331.3522 B-8 www.samsontug.com October/November 2014 | #166 | www.minersnews.com Refinery closure drives up Alaska asphalt prices Prices for asphalt have spiked this construction season following the closure of the Flint Hills Resources refinery in North Pole, Fairbanks, Alaska. The real price of asphalt oil has spiked about 20% over last year — about $150 per ton — for construction projects in Fairbanks and more remote locations, Exclusive Paving general manager Travis Cline said. The reason for the cost increase is asphalt oil used for state Transportation Department Northern Region projects must now be trucked up from Tesoro’s Nikiski refinery. Tracked bi-weekly by DOT, the base, or “rack” price of asphalt oil is actually less than last year. Through September 4 the rack price was $600 per ton and had been steady since June 20, as opposed to $619 per ton for the 2013 paving season. While work on road projects occurs all summer long, most paving is done in late summer and early fall. “Those numbers, that they use for that index, that is what they get direct from the manufacturer,” Cline said. “That price doesn’t take into account the trucking. That’s why when it finally gets to our jobs here in Northern Region it’s quite a bit more expensive.” DOT Northern Region Construction Engineer Frank Ganley said the state was initially hearing that asphalt was running about $100 more per ton than was projected in many of the contracts it has with construction companies, but added that the $150 figure is reasonable as well. “A lot of that information we just don’t have yet from our contractors,” Ganley said. Contracts for this summer’s projects were bid and awarded last winter and early spring, prior to when Flint Hills announced it would close its North Pole refinery, which happened June 1. He estimated Northern Region work would use about 25,000 tons of asphalt oil this year, meaning it could cost the state and its contractors combined up to $3.75 million more than projected. Asphalt oil typically makes up about 6 percent of the final product that is laid on the road surface. The rest is mostly sand and gravel aggregates. DOT road construction contracts include a price adjustment clause that requires contractors to share in the added cost, up to 7.5 percent, Ganley said. “That cause was put in there to deal with the volatility of oil prices seven and eight years ago,” he said. Cline said Exclusive Paving happened to get two of the largest resurfacing jobs in Fairbanks — Airport Way and the Johansen Expressway — at the wrong time. “What a year to get have the big paving jobs when the price of (asphalt) oil goes up like that,” he said. Bids for future work in the region will include the new, added cost of transporting asphalt oil from the Kenai Peninsula, rather than from an Interior source, he said. Preseason fears about Tesoro being able to meet the asphalt needs of the entire mainland of Alaska have been quelled, according to state officials and paving companies. This spring, a Tesoro spokesman said the company would not have a problem meeting the demand. Southeast paving projects are supplied with asphalt that is shipped up from Seattle. While supply from Tesoro has not been an issue, Lane Keator, Carlile Transportation System’s Fairbanks terminal manager, said the logistics of the trucking operation from Nikiski have contributed to the cost. “The biggest challenge is probably maintaining the heat,” Keator said. “It’s loaded hot in Nikiski and it’s a 12-hour, one-way trip minimum from Nikiski to Fairbanks.” Highly viscous asphalt oil is heated to 300 degrees Fahrenheit or more keep it liquid. Keator said Carlile and other companies that haul asphalt oil to the Interior now have to pump it into heated tanks once they get to Fairbanks or North Pole, allow it to reheat and then pump it back into the tanker trucks before it is sent to its final destination, which could be as far away as Deadhorse or Eagle. Luckily, the State of Alaska allows truckers to drive 15 hours per day, as opposed to the 12-hour limit many other states have, he added. However, drivers hauling asphalt north must “start fresh” in Nikiski, he said. Tesoro has the ability to load about one truck per hour with asphalt oil, and the added demand has required cooperation between dispatch centers to make sure nobody is stuck in line at the refinery, Keator said. “The trucking companies have worked well together to make sure we don’t step on each others’ toes — to make sure nobody has to wait” at the asphalt rack, he said. UI Receives Grant for Recruitment, Retention of Native STEM Students MAPTS www.mapts.alaska.edu MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Idaho is expanding and strengthening its efforts to promote Native education through a new program to support recruitment and retention of American Indian and Native Alaskan graduate students in science, technology, engineering and math – or STEM – fields. The National Science Foundation recently awarded the UI College of Graduate Studies nearly $600,000 to support this program, which will be implemented through the Pacific Northwest Alliance: Collaborative Opportunities for Success and Mentoring of Students, or COSMOS. UI will work collaboratively with Montana State University, the University of Montana and Washington State University, which have received similar grants to focus on recruiting and retaining other minority students who are underrepresented in STEM. Together, the institutions received a total of $2.4 million, the largest grant of its kind NSF has awarded to date. The grant will support UI’s work as it develops, implements and studies the effectiveness of a discipline-focused, culturally relevant model for recruiting and mentoring Native students. Once a model is developed, the university could adapt it for other minority student groups and share it with other institutions. Jie Chen, dean of the UI College of Graduate Studies, said he hopes this will raise UI’s profile as a hub for graduate education among American Indians and Native Alaskans, and help improve STEM education for Native students regionally and nationally. “Recruitment and retention of minority students, particularly with underrepresented students, is part of the mission of graduate education at this university. It is one of our most important strategic goals,” Chen said. “Fundamentally we believe that diversity serves as an engine that drives excellence. If we want to promote excellence in graduate education, we have to put effort into promoting diversity.” COSMOS co-primary investigator Ed Galindo, associate director of the Idaho Space Grant at UI and director of the nonprofit Native American Research and Education Foundation, said retention efforts are a particularly important piece of the puzzle. “It’s one thing to get our Native students here on campus. It’s another thing that they walk across that stage with diploma in hand,” Galindo said. “I’m very pleased we have the opportunity to focus on getting Native students here and getting those students their degree.” UI will study ways to help Native graduate students succeed, including mentorship programs. Galindo said all students, but particularly American Indian and Native Alaskan students, benefit from finding a sense of place at a university, which includes feeling welcomed, finding support systems and being part of a larger academic community. Also working with COSMOS at UI are Yolanda Bisbee, the university’s tribal liaison, who will help the project staff coordinate with Native populations, and Jerry McMurtry, associate dean of the College of Graduate Studies, who will be the project’s liaison to university faculty and the alliance with other institutions. The grant was funded through the National Science Foundation’s Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate program. Anchorage Location ! New 1840 Bragaw Street, Ste 100 Anchorage, Alaska 99508 (907) 786-6413 University of Alaska Workforce Programs 162 College Road Soldotna, Alaska 99669 (907) 262-2788 University of Alaska is an EO/AA employer and educational institution. About UI The University of Idaho is one of only 72 land-grant research universities across the country. Home to nearly 12,000 students, the UI is a leader in student-centered learning and excels at interdisciplinary research, service to businesses and communities and in advancing diversity, citizenship and global outreach. U-Idaho is home to the Vandals and competes in the Big Sky Conference and Sun Belt Conference. Learn more: www.uidaho.edu. P A S S E N GE R A I F R E I GH T L R | R E A L E S TAT E O A D ©Glenn Aronwits R | YOUR TICKET TO GETTING IT DONE Alaska Railroad’s Rail/Marine Service is one of the most affordable and efficient ways to transport resources, equipment and supplies. We can ship to and from anywhere in North America with no transloading, and no headaches. | E A S Y. A F F O R D A B L E . E F F I C I E N T. BE MOVED. AlaskaRailroad.com 800.321.6518 www.minersnews.com | #166 |October/November 2014 B-9 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT environmental management Need Reclamation Hints? Check Out Your Local Aggregate Company By Harold Hough Although mining companies have an excellent reclamation record, we seldom look to the aggregate segment of the industry for hints. Yet, these companies are often the unsung heroes of reclamation, who have frequently led the nation in quality reclamation. There are several reasons for their excellent reclamation record. First, since they are frequently family owned businesses with deep roots in the community, they see the area not as a place to be exploited before moving on, but as part of their family heritage. Consequently, they will go above and beyond to restore the land. Family owned aggregate businesses also have better connections with the community and know what their neighbors want (they also have to answer any embarrassing questions from their neighbors everyday at the grocery store). While a larger business may think they know the community’s needs and think it is primarily good paying jobs, a family business may be better able to cater to the community by focusing on popular recreational outgrowths of reclamation like fishing, camping, and hunting. The result is a reclamation project that appeals more to the residents. Family aggregate companies also know that their aggregate resources are limited and future family members may not be able to rely on the aggregate business. This means they practice conservation. It also means that the reclaimed land is more than just land – it’s what future generations of the family must rely upon. That means that what is now a gravel pit today may need to be profitable farm land 50 years from now. Since small aggregate firms are more closely tied to the community, they go out of the way to clean up problems – even ones they didn’t cause. One example is the family owned Badger Mining, of Wisconsin. When they decided to build a new corporate headquarters, they picked an industrial wasteland that was a former dump for local foundries. There was little vegetation at the site and erosion was a problem for the neighboring wetland. During the construction process, the company moved 150,000 yards of fill and added topsoil to half the property, some of which wasn’t even 41st ANNUAL December 11 & 12, 2014 Conference includes 2 sessions of technical presentations, and 4 workshop sessions which can provide up to 12 hours of continuing education for licensed blasters in Kentucky. In conjunction, there will also be a trade show with over 50 exhibitors. For more information go to: www.kyblastingconference.com Or call (859) 312-0625 B-10 October/November 2014 | #166 | www.minersnews.com theirs. The company made the area a wildlife refuge with a four-acre fish lake and a two-acre wetland. Piles of dirt that had blocked the flow of water from the lake were removed so walleye could begin breeding in the area once again. Fortunately, as the aggregate industry has consolidated, the attention to quality reclamation has continued, probably because the individual sites are still run by the same family oriented people who have operated the site for years. One example is Titan America, which although an international company still holds to its Greek, family oriented business model. It is also associated with preserving wetlands and critical ecosystems in Florida. As part of its plans to open the King Road Limestone Mine, Titan America purchased and restored an area adjacent to the mine site to offset any impact of the proposed limestone mine. The area is part of the historic Gulf Hammock. Hammock is a term used in the southeastern United States for stands of trees, usually hardwood, that form an ecological island in a different ecosystem. Hammocks grow on elevated areas, often just a few inches high, surrounded by wetlands that are too wet to support them. Since the early 1800s, the hammock has been disturbed repeatedly beginning with selective harvesting of specific tree species (such as eastern red cedar for pencils), and more recently, planted pine plantations. Titan America intends to thin the trees until they more closely match the density of natural tree cover in the hammock. They will also plant more native species and remove nuisance species. Another large aggregate company with a commitment to reclamation is Lafarge. The rare Lakeside Daisy is currently known to exist at only two natural sites in the United States: the Lafarge Marblehead Quarry in Ohio and in Michigan. The Marblehead Quarry produces approximately 4,000,000 tons of crushed limestone per year. Despite that, the endangered Lakesite Daisy isn’t in danger of disappearing thanks to the Lakeside Daisy Preserve, which encompasses 19 acres of the old limestone quarries on the Marblehead Peninsula of Lake Erie. The Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves works with Lafarge Corporation to protect the Lakeside Daisy within the active limestone quarry. This is one of Ohio’s most spectacular wildflowers. In early to mid-May, its bright yellow flowers adorn the sun-baked landscape of the Marblehead Quarry. So, when looking for new, better reclamation ideas, don’t merely rely upon the big mining companies. Look to the small aggregate operations that have a commitment to preserving their community. October 2014 October 7-9: 4th Water Management for Mining. Crown Plaza Hotel, Denver, CO. Call 1818-888-444 or visit www.infocastinc.com/mining-denver October 9-10: 2014 National Drilling Association Convention. Great Wolf Lodge, Mason, OH. Call 1-877-632-4748 or visit www.nda4u.com November 2014 November 2-5: CalCIMA 2014 Education Conference. Paradise Point, San Diego, CA. Call Stephanie 1-916-554-1000 or visit www.calcima.org November 3-7: AMA Fall Convention—75th Year. Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, Anchorage, AK. Call 907-270-9232 or Email [email protected] November 4-5: Asphalt Sustainability Conference. Omni Royal Orleans, New Orleans, LA. Visit www.asphaltpavement.org November 5-7: Global Minerals Industry Risk Management. Goodman School of Mines, Laurentian University Campus, Sudbury, ON, Canada. Email Leroy: [email protected] or call 1-705-675-1151 ext 7222 January 2015 January 26-29: Roundup 2015. Vancouver Convention Center East, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Call 1.877.307.6918 or visit www.amebc.ca/roundup-2015-home February 2015 February 1-4: ISEE 2014 41st Annual Meeting. Sheraton New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana. Call 440-349-4400 or Visit www.isee.org February 3-6: World of Concrete 2015. Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV. Call 1866-860-1983 or Visit www.worldofconcrete.com February 15-18: 2015 SME Annual Conference & Expo. Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO. Call 1-303-948-4200 or email [email protected] March 2015 March 17-19: World of Asphalt 2015. The Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD. Call 1-800-867-6060 or visit www.worldofasphalt.com December 2014 December 1-5: American Exploration and Mining Association Annual Meeting. JA Nugget Casino Resort, Sparks, Nevada. Call 509624-1158 or email [email protected] December 9-11: Power-Gen 2014. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida. Call 1-888-299-8016 or visit www.power-gen.com December 11-12: Kentucky Blasting Conference 2014. Lexington Center, Lexington, Kentucky. Call 859-312-0625 or visit www.kyblastingconference.com Make sure your conference is listed by sending or emailing us your information: Miners News PO Box 4965 * Boise, ID 83711 Or [email protected] Thank you! www.minersnews.com | #166 |October/November 2014 B-11 industrial minerals industrial minerals Special Sand Critical for Shale Oil Recovery By Harold Hough While the demand for many mined products is down, one of the hottest mined products is sand, fracking sand, that is. Fracking sand is used for hydraulic fracturing, which has been responsible for the boom in oil production in the US. And, is so critical that demand for this specialized sand has more than tripled in the last four years. In 2013, over 56 billion pounds of fracking sand was used to increase oil and natural gas production, Fracking sand is not your ordinary sand. It has many unique characteristics that make it ideal for fracking. Fracking is the process of retrieving oil, natural gas, or natural gas liquids from naturally impermeable rock formations like shale. Hydraulic fracturing involves drilling a well into the rock, sealing the portion of the well in the petroleum-bearing zone, and pumping water under high pressure into that portion of the well. This water contains sand and a gel to suspend the sand in the water. Large pumps at Earth’s surface increase the water pressure in the sealed portion of the well until it is high enough to exceed the breaking point of the surrounding rocks. When their breaking point is reached they fracture suddenly and water rushes rapidly into the fractures, inflating them and extending them deeper into the rock. Billions of sand grains are carried deep into the fractures by this sudden rush of water. Two to five million pounds of fracking sand can be required to stimulate a single well. When the high pressure pumps are turned off, the rock formation deflates. However, the sand that was pumped in holds open the fractures enough that oil and gas can pass out of the rock and into the well. The sand also acts as a filter that prevents formation cuttings from entering the well bore. But, not all sand can be used in fracking. It has to be high purity silica since that is the only type of sand that can stand the high pressures of the deflating rock and resist chemical attacks in the harsh environment underground. The grains have to be spherical so it can be carried in the fluid without creating turbulence. And, the grains have to of a uniform size in order to meet the needs of the rock formation and to prevent clogging. Fortunately, there are certain specific sandstone formations that are ideal like the St. Peter Sandstone, Jordan Sandstone, Oil Creek Sandstone and Hickory Sandstone formations. What makes these formations ideal is that they have undergone For your mining operation we offer the unique ability from engineering your system, building a custom system for your requirements, repair of systems currently in operation, or setting up a preventative maintenance program. With operating limits up to 30,000 CFM we can give you that uninterrupted service that you’re looking for. Let us reduce your operating costs. For additional information please visit our web site. www.Somarakis.com Vancouver, Washington • (360) 574-6722 B-12 October/November 2014 | #166 | www.minersnews.com considerable weathering and erosion, which has washed other mineral grains away and left sand grains with spherical shapes. Unlike other sandstone formations, they haven’t undergone several tectonic upheavals that deform and crack the sand grains. Fracking sand also requires considerable processing after mining. It needs to be washed to remove the undesirable fine particles, dried, and screened to separate the different grain sizes. The grain size can range from 0.1 millimeters to 2 millimeters, depending on the customer’s needs. Some sand undergoes additional processing in order to make a premium product for high pressure applications. Fairmont Minerals of Ohio is a leader in hydraulic fracturing sand due their resin technology. Their resin coated sand has helped the hydraulic fracturing industry by allowing 2-4 times more oil and gas movement compared to raw frac sand. Their products can withstand closure pressures of up to 10,000 psi. Traditionally, most fracking sand came from formations in Texas and Wisconsin. In fact, Wisconsin fracking sand is so valuable that it has its own name, “Northern White,” which is 99 percent silica and has a compressive strength between 6,000 and 14,000 pounds per square inch. About 9,000 truckloads of Northern White leave Wisconsin each day for the oil fields. However, as demand has grown, sand mining companies are looking at exploiting other sandstone formations that were ignored in the past because the demand wasn’t there. Some of these new fracking sand mining areas are found close to the surface in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, and Nebraska. Since weight is an important consideration, the closer the sand is to the oil field, the more competitive it is. That means these Midwest States may be providing fracking sand for a long time to come. Atlas Copco among top ranked companies in Dow Jones Sustainability Index COMMERCE CITY, Colo. –Atlas Copco, a leading provider of industrial productivity solutions, was again listed as one of the top companies in its industry in the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 2014/2015. The index lists the world’s leading sustainabilitydriven companies. “It is gratifying that this well-respected index once again has chosen Atlas Copco for inclusion,” said Mala Chakraborti, Atlas Copco’s vice president corporate responsibility. “It is the result of our continued hard work on sustainable productivity.” Atlas Copco was among the top tier in the Machinery & Electrical Equipment industry, scoring particularly well in the categories Environmental Policy/Management Systems, Environmental Reporting, and Risk & Crisis Management. The DJSI World Index assesses some 2,500 public companies from around the world, and only 10% of those end up being included in the index. The index helps identify and measure the companies that represent an attractive investment opportunity by demonstrating an ability to manage sustainability issues. The companies were also analyzed on factors such as climate strategy, labor practices, occupational health and safety, and strategy for emerging markets. The DJSI ranking is based on research by RobecoSAM, a specialized and renowned investment group, in collaboration with S&P 500. Sustainability leaders are known to outperform their peers financially in the long term. Earlier this year Atlas Copco was ranked number seven globally in the Newsweek Green Rankings, one of the world’s foremost ranking on corporate sustainability. The company was also recognized by the annual Global 100 list, presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as one of the world’s most sustainable companies. Atlas Copco is an industrial group with world-leading positions in compressors, expanders and air treatment systems, construction and mining equipment, power tools and assembly systems. With innovative products and services, Atlas Copco delivers solutions for sustainable productivity. Learn more at www.atlascopco.com. World Stone Industry Over $22bn FULL SUITE OF SLIM LOGGING TOOLS FOR MINERAL LOGGING Trade in natural stone in 2013 was over $22 billion with quarried and processed material volumes totalling 265 million tonnes, up 5% over the previous year, according to the XXV World Stone Report by Carlo Montani, in collaboration with publisher Aldus. China, India, Turkey and Italy are the top four exporters with a 61% share of total, while Italy stands at the top of the technologies sector, with one-third of the world market. These are just some of the details in the report, which says that between 1990 and 2013, international natural stone production grew by 180%, from 46 to 130 million tonnes, equal to 1.4 billion equivalent square metres (based on the conventional slab thickness of 2cm), while consumption levels boomed by 185%. This is a trend of steady increase over the years that becomes even more apparent when taking into account that the last half-century has seen more marble and granite used than in all previous eras. REDUCE YOUR RISK, KNOW YOUR MINERALS LOCAL SERVICE CENTERS WYOMING UTAH COLORADO ALBERTA (CANADA) For 25 years, the report has been an analytical and informative tool for all sector operators, with more than 200,000 figures organised in tables and statistics. Marble is increasingly used as a constructive and decorative material, with per capita usage up in 2013 to 226m² every thousand units, against 215 the previous year and 135 in 2003. This general expansion, however, is matched by progressive concentration of production in a handful of countries. “Since the 1960s, the balance of power has changed radically, with the top four producers, China, India, Turkey and Brazil, expanding from 30% to 61% global production..,” says Montani. “As regards trade, 2013 posted values of US$22 billion, 58.5% of which is in the hands of the top four exporting countries: China, Italy, Turkey and India. “Stone boasts an extremely long history and will have an equally long future by combining technology, aesthetics and professional values: in a word, quality. Translated into numbers, prospects through to 2020 indicate total output of at least 170 million tonnes, equal to 1.8 billion equivalent m².” Source: http://www.aggbusiness.com/sections/events/news/world-stone-industry-trade-in-2013-in-excess-of-us22bn/ CALIPER TOOLS ACTV TOOLS OPTV and ACTV TOOLS SUSCEPTIBILITY MAGNETIC MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY SONIC (OPEN (OPEN & & CASED CASED HOLE) HOLE) SONIC GR & SGR SGR TOOL TOOL GR & RESISTIVITY-SP TOOL RESISTIVITY-SP TOOL COMPENSATED NEUTRON COMPENSATED NEUTRON COMPENSATED DENSITY, P Pee COMPENSATED DENSITY, , IMAGING DIPMETER DIPMETER , IMAGING TOOL TEMPERATURE TEMPERATURE TOOL TOOL DIRECTIONAL TOOL DIRECTIONAL TOOL FLOWMETER TOOL FLOWMETER USAT TOOL TOOL USAT Century Wireline Services 1223 S. 71st East Ave. Tulsa, OK 74112 , USA Phone 918-838-9811, www.centurywirelineservices.com sales@century‐geo.com www.minersnews.com | #166 |October/November 2014 B-13 mining history mining history Secret Unit of Miners Was Critical to a Major Victory in WW I By Harold Hough When we think of top secret military units, we usually think of the Seals, Green Berets, and other Special Forces. However, in World War One, one of the most secret military units in the British Army consisted of Welsh miners. The unit was so secret that other soldiers were unaware of their existence and when these miners died during operations, the families weren’t even told how and where they died. In many cases, these brave miners remain in unmarked graves under the soil of Flanders and France. A hundred years ago, in the autumn of 1914, the battle lines on the Western Front had stabilized and a network of German and Allied trenches ran from the Swiss border to the English Channel. No man’s land was crisscrossed with barbed wire and swept by machineguns. To charge across hundreds of yards of such terrain was suicide. It was the Germans who first came up with the idea of tunneling underground to destroy part of the enemy’s trenches. On December 21, 1914, they set off 10 landmines in the trenches of a British-Indian unit. But, the British were quick to respond. Within weeks they had formed the first tunneling companies and a year later they had 25,000 trained tunnelers, mostly raised from coal mines in Wales. Although the first tunnelers were recruited from sewer digging firms, the Army soon realized they needed more experienced men. The soil of Flanders covered a layer of unstable sand and then clay and chalk. In order to dig deep enough to reach the safer clay and chalk layers and to make the tunneling effort harder to detect, they needed professional miners who could dig tunnels over 80 feet deep and keep them free of water and poisonous fumes. This was where the Welsh coal miner was ideal. Not only was he comfortable working underground, he was known for his work ethic and was usually shorter and more muscular than the average Englishman. In fact, during the patriotic rush to join the Army in the early days of the war, many miners were turned down for being too short (the minimum height requirement for the British Army was 5’ 3”) or too old. Now coal miners under the height requirement and up to 60 years old were in great demand. Although tunneling under German trenches was a dangerous business, the members of these tunneling companies didn’t get any public accolades for their work. In fact, their work was highly secret. Troops not directly involved in tunneling (including attached infantry) were not told about any mining effort because it took so long to complete a tunnel – well over a year for the Messines offensive. Any leak of intelligence to the Germans on a tunneling effort would mean the loss of a lot of time and energy. It would also probably force the cancellation of a planned offensive. Another reason for the secrecy was what could happen if the enemy did discover the tunnel. The best method for destroying a tunnel was to build a counter-tunnel that would come close to the first tunnel and then be loaded with explosive and set off. This not only destroyed the original tunnel, but would often leave the miners trapped to die from entombment, drowning, gassing or bleeding to death in cramped and claustrophobic galleries beneath no man’s land. In some cases, the enemy miners would unexpectedly break into each others tunnels and fierce hand to hand combat with knives, shovels, and pickaxes would ensue. AAMCOR, LLC Atlas Electric Inc. BWI Eagle, Inc. Caribou Construction Compliance Assurance Associates, Inc Copeland Supply Co LLC Cowin & Company Crowder Supply Co, Inc DMC Mining Services ECRS/Metalocks Embroideri with Wings EVCO Plastics F & H Mine Supply, Inc. Florin Analytical Services FLSmidth Foam Concepts LLC Force Control Industries Golder Associates Groundhog Mining & Milling Co. Humboldt Readymix Inc. Infomine USA, Inc International Directional Services, LLC ISEE 2015 Jentech Drilling Supply Jordan River Galvanizing, Inc. L.C. Vought Company Nelson Irrigation Corporation Northwest Mine Supply Ore-Max Div. of Wade Rain, Inc. Phoenix Process Equipment Rastall Tool Corporation Redcor Drilling, Inc Rock Tools, Inc. S & G Electric Motor Repair Sacrison Engineering Silica Resources, Inc. Small Mine Development SME 2015 Star Iron Works Tandem Products Traveling Safety Training Woods Equipment Co. World of Concrete 2015 B-14 Despite the dangers, these tunnels proved valuable to the war effort. In fact, one of the most successful operations of the war, the Battle of Messines, couldn’t have been won by the British Army without the effort of the Welsh miners. The target of the offensive was the Messines Ridge, a natural stronghold southeast of Ypres in Flanders. The general in charge, General Plummer was a cautious man who wanted to limit British casualties. About 18 months before the battle, he had authorized the laying of 22 mine shafts underneath German lines all along the ridge. His plan was to detonate all 22 at one time - followed by infantry, heavily supported by the use of artillery bombardments, tanks and the use of gas. Despite heavy German counter-tunneling, British miners were able to dig 8 kilometers of tunnels and lay 600 tons of high explosives by the day of the attack. One tunnel was destroyed by German counter-tunneling and hand to hand combat between German and Welsh miners. Although the Germans were expecting an attack and were in their defensive positions, they didn’t expect what would happen next. 19 tunnels exploded simultaneously with a blast that was heard in Dublin, Ireland and No. 10 Downing Street in London. 10,000 Germans were killed instantly and the stunned ones were left to face 9 British divisions that moved forward. In a war where offensives could take months and where gains were frequently measured in yards, The British reached their final objectives by mid afternoon. But, the victories of WW I had a high price. Hundreds of miners died in the tunnels, their bodies often unrecoverable. Since the tunneling operations were so secret, the families were merely told that they had died, but weren’t told how or where. And, since many were killed deep underground, there was no grave – only a name of a memorial. There was, however, a long term benefit to the mining industry. In 1915, the Royal Engineers formed a mine rescue school to train soldiers and miners in mine rescue. The school also designed and tested mine rescue equipment, including breathing apparatuses. Much of this work would finally find its way back to the mining industry. The value of what these miners did was noted by one of the most important field commanders of the war. Writing at the end of 1916, Field Marshal Haig, commander of British forces on the Western Front, noted: “The Tunneling Companies still maintain their superiority over the enemy underground, thus safeguarding their comrades in the trenches…Their skill, enterprise, and courage have been remarkable.” P.S. If you have been counting the number of tunnels mentioned in the article, you probably have noticed that two tunnels at the Battle of Messines are unaccounted for. For some reason they didn’t explode and their location was lost. One of the mines was detonated in a thunderstorm on June 17, 1955: the only casualty was a dead cow. The second mine remains undetected nearly a century later. 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