Tekes Green Mining Program/GTK

An Overview on Finnish MiningPekka A. Nurmi, Ph.D., Prof.Research DirectorAgnico-Eagle Mines Ltd.Finland’s Green Mining ProgrammePA Nurmi Febr. 6, 20131

Key Challenges for the Mining Industry• Deposits more difficult to discover: deeper, remote, lowergrade, more difficult to process• Skills crisis• Volatility of commodity prices• Critical minerals change with time and tehnologicaldevelopment• Access to land• Social lincense to operatePA Nurmi Febr. 6, 2013 2

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Material and energy efficiency• Material and energy efficiency reduces theenvironmental footprint of product life cycles.• All useful minerals and by-products should berecovered and waste minimized.• Reduction of primary water consumption• Reliable ways of measuring the efficiency and theenvironmental footprint during the life cycle.PA Nurmi Febr. 6, 2013 4

Availability of mineral resourcesfor future needs• Sustainable development requires that our current use ofminerals does not endanger the ability of future generationsto satisfy their needs.• Individual deposits are non-renewable, but mineral resources inthe Earth’s crust are in no danger of running out.• Price increases and technological development make new deposits anddiscoveries viable and promote substitution.• Active exploration and development of exploration and mining techniques isneeded to ensure the availability of mineral resources for future .• Better product design and recycling are also needed for prolonging the lifecycle of raw materials.PA Nurmi Febr. 6, 2013 5

Minimizing Adverse Environmentaland Social Impacts• All mines impact the natural environment, economy andsocial structure of the region.• Adverse environmental and social impacts in all the stagesof the operations should be minimized, and social and local benefitsmaximized.• Better control and measurement methods that take into consideration thespecial characteristics of mining operations and the local conditions.• Sustainable mining requires research, communication and broad-basedcommunity participation.PA Nurmi Febr. 6, 2013 6

Improvement of Work andOrganisational Practices• Mining is based on advanced technology and heavy machinery,which can increase potential safety hazards.• Work must be organized to be safe and meaningful toemployees, and safe to local residents and the environment.• Most operations in future smart mines will be executed usingremote control.• Automation and new technologies help to reduce the need ofworkforce and improve safety.PA Nurmi Febr. 6, 2013 7

Tekes - Green Mining Programme• Tekes Green Mining Programme aims to make Finland aglobal forerunner of responsible mining.• Duration: 2011–2016• Budget: EUR 60 million, of which Tekes will contribute 50%.– Companies: EUR 20 million– Public research institutes: EUR 10 million• All projects should promote the Green Mining Principleshttp://www.tekes.fi/ohjelmat/GreenMiningPA Nurmi Febr. 6, 2013Tekes9

Green Mining R&D ProgrammeMaterial andenergy efficiencyControlling environmentalimpactsWork organisa-tiondevelopmentMine / dressing plantpilot projectsNew mineralResources•Explorationtechnologies• Geomodels and geodatamanagement• Hi-tech metal resources• Beneficiation and use of countryrock and tailingsIntelligent and minimalimpact/invisible mining• Innovative processes(mine, quarry, dressing plant)• Automation and optimisation• Chemical/biological enrichmenttechniques• Management of process watersMining machinery/equipmentService innovations and new business conceptsValue networksPA Nurmi Febr. 6, 2013Tekes10

Summary of Current ProjectsCompany projects:• Number 15– Mining companies 3– Technology providers 6– Instrument providers 3– Material providers 1• Total cost 15 M€Public projects:• Number 31• Private partners 38– Mining companies 15– Service etc. 23• Total costs 24 M€GTK is coordinating 8 projects and involved in 6 other projectsPA Nurmi Febr. 6, 2013Tekes11

Novel Technologies for GreenfieldExplorationmNovTecEx• User need– New mineral discoveries– Mineral exploration is challenged by thick glacialformations, peat bogs and weathered bedrock– Arctic areas typically exhibit a vulnerable environment• Approach– Improve exploration concepts– New sampling techniques– Deep penetrating exploration geophysics• Benefits– Mineral exploration with minimum impact onenvironment• Users– Mining and exploration companies– Drilling companiesNovTecEx/Vesa Nykänen

UltraLIM - Ultra Low-Impact ExplorationMethods in the Subarctic• Needs– New mineral discoveries– Mineral exploration in the subarctic areas covered by thick glacialdeposits, peat bogs and weathered bedrock– Practical knowledge and experimental results of exploration methodsfor environmentally sensitive areas• Approach– Use of upper parts of the mineral soils, organic layers, plants and snowas the sample media for exploration– Comparison of sampling and assay techniques– Find the best practices for sampling and assaying samples in verysensitive subarctic regions• Benefits– New application and knowledge for the mineral exploration withminimum impact on environment• Users– Mining and exploration companies– Scientific communityContact: pertti.sarala@gtk.fi, vesa.nykanen@gtk.fi, vesa.peuraniemi@oulu.fiPA Nurmi Febr. 6, 201313

Developing Deep Mining Camp ExplorationUser needs• More systematic and efficient mineral exploration• Shallow parts being already explored and existing depositsmore rapidly consumed, need to go deeper (< 5 km)Solution• Integrated application of state-of-the-art deep explorationmethods and Common Earth Modeling (CEM) concept withbest available data and compiled new dataBenefits• Deep exploration and modeling methods and skillsdevelopment for Finnish conditions and experts• Resource potential given in 3D• Improved international exploration, research andknowledge dissemination networkUsers• Mining, exploration and consulting companies• Geoscience institutes, universitiesOver hundred years of mineralexploration and mining giveprestigious prominence toOutokumpu ore belt actingas the project target area.PA Nurmi Febr. 6, 201314

PROSU – Process Scale-up for Sulphide Poor PGE OresNEEDS• The demand of platinum group metals – platinum and palladium havebeen increased• There’s needs for development of ecological and cost-effectivebeneficiation process for PGE ores with low sulphur contentAPPROACH• Mineralogical investigation of feed and concentrates at variousstages, including phases, occurrence, grain size, liberation andassociation• Mineral processing studies from laboratory to pilot scale andoptimizing of process conditionsBENEFITS• Better knowledge and processing possibilities of sulphide-poor PGEore deposits• Utilization of massive Finnish PGE ore bodies which are not yet inuseUSERS&MARKETS• Mining companies• Machine- and process control device suppliers• Reagent manufacturers• Research institutes

ARSENAL – Arsenic Control in MiningProcesses and Extractive IndustryNEEDS• Arsenic is a world-wide challenge• Arsenic is commonly associated with ores containing metals such as gold• It is easily solubilized in water phaseControl of arsenic in all mining operations is a necessityAPPROACH• New mineral processing and water treatment solutions for arsenic removal• Novel bio-based treatment processes for arsenic containing wastes and streams• Monitoring and environmental risk assessment toolsBENEFITS• Better knowledge and new management tools on arsenic in the mining area• Eco-efficient solutions for mining industry to control and remove arsenic• Minimization of health and environmental risks related to arsenicUSERS & COMPETITION• Technology companies, mines, consults, authorities, other stakeholders• Arsenic behavior is highly depend on prevailing conditions and processesSpecial, tailor-made and global approaches are a challenge and a possibilityPA Nurmi Febr. 6, 201316

PA Nurmi Febr. 6, 2013Solutions for Control of Nitrogen Discharges atMines and Quarries (Miniman)Need• Better understanding of the behaviour ofnitrogen compounds• Minimizing of nitrogen transport• Removal of N-compounds from mine waters,especially in cold conditionsApproach• Analysis of sources, behaviour and managementopportunities of nitrogen compounds• Biological reactor process and electrochemical/adsorption process for nitrogen removalBenefits• Knowledge, tools and technological solutionsfor nitrogen control at mines• Users:Technology companies, mines, consults,authorities, other stakeholdersCompetition• Nitrogen containing explosives used at all the mines and quarries• Mining is one of the fastest growing markets for water treatment• Market growth of treatment technologies for nitrogen containing mine wateris expected due to the tightening regulationRisks• Non-nitrogen explosives/explosion techniques (not in near future)• Use of membrane solutions for water treatment17

SEEWAY - Smart Mine Water Treatment SystemNEEDS– Mines have too much water in their systems– Mines are searching potential mine water treatment processes– Smarter treatment is needed: different seasons, metals, system products…APPROACH– Piloting cost-effective mine water treatment processes– Using new chemical and material innovations– Developing metal selective water purification processes– Tailoring new pilot-systems regarding metals and watersBENEFITS– Effective water treatment of heavy metals in hard pH conditions too– Water treatment processes are tested and assured beforehand– Optimized use of chemicals with soft-sensor systemsUSERS & COMPETITION– Mines, chemical and material companies, process and system producers– Global markets of smart water treatment systems are growing fast because ofthe need of water recycling and mine water safety procedures– Mine Water Safety Planning conceptPA Nurmi Febr. 6, 201318

Mines as Renewable Energy Sources - MINERESNeeds• Energy efficiency is needed to reduce costs and emissions and raise thegreen image of the mining industry• New ways for utilization of closed mine sitesApproach• Active and closed mines host significant geothermal resources whichcan be utilized using modern heat pump technology in e.g. heating ofthe inlet air of the mines or for heating of residential areas. This isstudied in several case studies.Benefits• Geothermal energy is a renewable and cost efficient alternative forfossil fuels• Mining sites can provide energy for industrial and residential needs alsoafter their closureChallenges and opportunities• Distant locations of Finnish mines limit the use for residential needs• Results of successful pilot projects can be utilized in mining industry allover the worldContact:asmo.huusko@gtk.firiikka.holopainen@vtt.fi

SAM – Sustainable Acceptable MiningNeed – Sustainability drivers for mining industry,with focus on social acceptanceApproach – a multiscience approach thatincludes the three elements of sustainability(environmental, social, economic) in regionallevel. Foresight and technology aspects included.Benefits – Tools for water efficiency and waterrisk assessment. Concept for ‘social licence tooperate’ and improved dialogue betweencompanies and stakeholders. Potential businessmodels and service concepts will promote theoverall sustainability of the industrial sector andwill enhance eco-efficiency along the value chain.Users & Competition –Actors along themining value chain (e.g technology developers,mines and other service providers), authorities,consults and local inhabitants. Sustainabletechnologies and assessment tools create addedvalue to the companies and increase knowledge onmining operation in general and regional level .In co-operationwith:PA Nurmi Febr. 6, 2013FOCUS ON THE WHOLE LIFE-CYCLE OF MINIPRE-OPERATIONALPHASEEco-efficiency,environmentOPERATIONALPHASESocially acceptable andSustainable mining industrySocial licence to operate,planning processKaivannaisteollisuus ryMetsähallitusMustavaaran kaivosPyhäsalmi MinesPOST-OPERATIONALPHASENew business andservice conceptsSandvik Oy AbAgnico-Eagle MinesNorthland MinesSakatti Mining 20

Thank You for your Attention!May 201121