Letters to the Editor Juniors quick to accept rock mechanic

Until recently, because of the vast number of calculations involved, numerical modelling techniques have been accessible mostly to the larger organizations possessing the mainframes, specialist skills and financial resources required. Smaller organizations have simply not been able to implement the new technology for reasons of cost and lack of the necessary expertise.

Now, however, with much more powerful mini- and micro-computers and recent graduates who are fully conversant with the approach, the technology is penetrating rapidly into even the smallest mining operations. CANMET’s mining research laboratories have been innovators in adapting software to meet the needs and capabilities of small mines. During the past year we have presented three technology transfer workshops on this subject (at Ottawa, Vancouver and Timmins). The attendance, particularly by the small operations which you fault for not implementing the new approach, has been excellent. Other workshops are being organized to meet the growing demand.

Your editorial, then, while being commendable in promoting applications of these valuable new aids to design was a bit out-dated. There is always a need to improve more rapidly than we do. The industry, however, has made and is making progress more rapidly than you portray. John E. Udd Director Mining Research Laboratories CANMET

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