Climatologists have been building sophisticated computer models for several years now, trying to predict the effect the exhaust from cars and industrial processes will have on the global climate in years to come. Their predictions of a 2-m rise in sea levels over the next 50 years seem unbelievable. But striking information in Cominco’s second quarterly report seems to bring that prediction home. “The first concentrate ship of the season was loaded and sailed from Polaris operations on July 15, the earliest shipment date yet from the mine (which is six years old),” President D. L. Johnston says. Could this be the first indication that the greenhouse effect is already affecting the timing of spring break-up in the High Arctic? Cominco employees, we’re sure, will want to wait until next year before jumping to any conclusions. AUTOMATING VENTILATION SYSTEMS An innovative remote sensing system will be in stalled to continuously monitor methane gas levels in Domtar Chemicals Group’s Goderich, Ont., salt mine.
This is a new, 3-year joint project between Domtar and the Mining Research Laboratories of CANMET (Canada Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology).
The central processing unit of the system, along with the video terminal and printers, will be in the mine office on the surface. Several methane and other environmental sensors will be installed at strategic locations underground. If methane concentrations rise above predefined levels, the sensor will transmit the data to the surface in seconds. Visual and audio signals will alert mine management to take quick action.
Ultimately, the project should lead to an automated ventilation system that reduces down-time, routine ventilation measurements and heating requirements. The monitoring system will also determine the performance characteristics of other sensors already in use to measure gases and soot produced by diesel engines. FLASH SMELTING STUDY
A small-scale test facility at the University of British Columbia (UBC) will be undertaking a study on flash smelting as applied to copper/nickel concentrates. The study’s findings will provide Inco Ltd., one of the participants, with a fundamental database for the optimum design and operating parameters for its new flash smelting facility in Sudbury, Ont.
Flash smelting drives sulphur out of sulphide concentrates. The dry concentrate is sprayed under high pressure through a nozzle with oxygen.
The oxygen and sulphide unite to form sulphur dioxide gas, and a molten product results from the heat of the reaction. Inco, the Canada Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology (CANMET), UBC and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council will all play a part in the study.
The ultimate aim is to reduce sulphur dixoide emissions at Inco’s Sudbury operation. GOLDEN GOLFERS IN SNOW LAKE Some golfers in Snow Lake, Man., had no problem making a hole-in-one this summer on their new 9-hole course. Problem is they couldn’t keep the ball out of a hole — one 3 ft across on the side of one of the fairways. The hole is actually a ventilation raise from the original Snow Lake gold mine workings, the mine that started the town.
Local prospector and mining promoter Al Parres says he caught two young golfers one day shovelling soil into the raise, trying to fill it. To them, it was just a nuisance.
“What do you guys think you’re doin’?” he asked them. “We’re tryin’ to run a golf course here,” they replied. “Well, we’re tryin’ to build a gold mine, so git out of there]”
High River Resources and Inco Gold hope to eventually re-open the old mine.
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