LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Denies “killer bugs” statement

I was appalled to see Giant Bay’s microbes described as “killer bugs” and “aggressive” in the Sept 7 issue of The Northern Miner. These characterizations are totally erroneous.

As with all developers of new technologies, Giant Bay has had to overcome a number of hurdles as it seeks to have its bio-oxidation process for refractory gold ores accepted by the mining community. One of the concerns raised has been the environmental acceptability of the process and its tailings products, an area in which we believe our process is superior to existing technology. To characterize various strains of thiobacillus ferroxidans, which lives solely by oxidizing ferrous iron, metallic sulphides and various forms of sulphur as “killer bugs” can do us great harm and has no scientific credibility.

Thiobacillus ferroxidans does occur in the natural environment where it is a non-pathogenic soil bacteria. While Giant Bay’s strains of thiobacillus ferroxidans have been specially adapted to out- perform the natural forms, this has not been done by gene-splicing or by the introduction of foreign dna. Our bacteria are not about to run amuck or create disease and devastation in the environment. To my knowledge, no scientist or metallurgist has ever claimed or hinted that thiobacillus ferroxidans is in any way dangerous.

For The Northern Miner, a staunch supporter of the mining industry in Canada and a champion of new technology that will strengthen Canada’s competitive position, to slander our process in such a way is a great miscarriage of justice. I recognize that your reporter was probably only trying to liven up an otherwise technical report but as the saying goes, “with friends like that, who needs enemies]”

Elsewhere in the story, the implication is that I said Giant Yellowknife was looking for a process to replace roasting at its Yellowknife operations. I believe I said that Giant Yellowknife, as a leader in the treatment of refractory ores, is interested in alternatives to roasting, but for new orebodies, not to replace an existing plant. Robert C. Handfield, Ph.D. Vice-president Giant Bay Resources Burnaby, B.C.