Plenary, Keynote, and Featured Sessions
Sunday Opening Plenary Session
Date: Sunday, August 26
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Location: Provinces 1 & 2 + Confed I, Westin Ottawa
Followed by: Opening Reception in the Exhibit Hall (5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Confederation II–III)
This event is sponsored by Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc.
To set the stage for Extraction 2018 and to help us look at our industry with a broader perspective, the following plenaries have been chosen to give attendees a look at where we have come from and where we are going. This requires speakers that understand the industry and are connected to both history and technological advancements. In this session, we will look at the state of the industry 100 years ago and look at what advancements had come to the forefront, why and how they did, and what their impacts were. An understanding of how technology implementation happened 100 years ago and what led to the boom in advances back then will allow us to consider the present in a different light. Jeremy Mouat will guide us through 1918 to look at how technologies were brought into service and their impact. As we look into the future, the technologies are different but perhaps the mindset of the past would help with the adoption of the technologies of tomorrow. Peter Warrian will open the door on the future of mining and extraction and give us the chance to consider our place in this new frontier. Once we are more aware of the past and future, the Extraction 2018 technical meetings about current work should hopefully take on a new context.
Jeremy Mouat, University of Alberta
Title: "Notes from the Century Before (When Mining Went Global)"
Abstract
This talk with describe metallurgical practice in 1918. Metallurgy was then at an interesting juncture. This was due in part to the impact of the First World War, which in August 1918 was entering its fifth year. That conflict had taught the combatants something of the insatiable appetite of industrialized warfare. This underscored the importance of logistics generally and the heavy demand for munitions in particular. In addition, the latter emphasized the need for considerable stockpiles of base metals, notably zinc, nickel, lead, and copper. The post-1918 world would include much discussion of a new phrase, “strategic minerals.” In the minds of many, metallurgy had become key to a country’s ability to wage war.
Metallurgy in 1918 was also gaining a new maturity. By this point, most mine mills had begun to incorporate two new key innovations, the cyanide and flotation processes. As a consequence, ore could be treated far more efficiently than in the past. This development came at a critical time, since mines were increasingly relying on what were then considered low-grade ore. To do so effectively, mining had to develop economies of scale, a shift that was only possible by the adoption of the new and relatively sophisticated metallurgical processes. Once this shift was made, the mining industry could treat complex ores not only in North America, South Africa and Australia but also in what were then distant and little-known places, as the emergence of such enterprises at Chuquicamata in Chile or the Burma Mines in Myanmar suggests. The history of mining in the mid to late twentieth century was in many ways a product of the industry’s further extension around the globe as well as refinements in metallurgical practice, ones whose genesis dates back to the period around 1918.
About the Speaker
Jeremy Mouat is a professor emeritus with the University of Alberta. He has a longstanding interest in the history of mining and metallurgy, on which he has published numerous articles and two books. He was awarded the Mining History Association’s Rodman W. Paul Award “For Outstanding Contributions to Mining History.” He also served as president of the Mining History Association. Mouat has held visiting fellowships in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, including a Fulbright Visiting Research Chair at Arizona State University in 2011. He is currently planning the 12th meeting of the International Mining History Congress, which will be held at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, June 18–22, 2020.
Peter Warrian, University of Toronto
Title: "Mining 4.0, Metallurgy, and the Future of the Industrial Economy"
Abstract
The past decade experienced an unprecedented metals price super cycle and at the same time a 28% decline in mining productivity. It also witnessed the marginalization and elimination of the classic centers of Canadian metallurgy. Do we think these things are connected?
The mental model for mining executives for turning back the productivity paradox is to use the new digital infrastructures to lift the roof off the mine and run operations like an Industry 4.0 automotive factory. There are serious problems with this model. First, at least in Canada, it is led principally by precious metals producers which are connected to the financial economy and not to the industrial economy. Second, there is very little metallurgy in precious metals mining. Third, there are good reasons to think that the application of Industry 4.0 to mine production will be very different than that which is currently being discussed.
The digital economy absolutely requires mining. It also requires mining to be positively regarded as making a critical contribution to an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable future economy. To successfully revive metallurgy and gain public support for its long term viability, the connection will have to be made between digitalization of ore bodies, metallurgy, materials science and digital manufacturing.
About the Speaker
Peter J. Warrian is a senior research fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. He is Canada’s leading academic expert on the steel industry. His current research is on knowledge networks, supply chains, and engineering labor markets. His is co-principal investigator of a current project into artificial intelligence, robotics, and extractive industries. Warrian was formerly research director of the United Steelworkers of America. From 1992 to 1994 he was assistant deputy minister of finance and chief economist of the Province of Ontario. He is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and the Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Hydrometallurgy 2018 Keynote Session
Stephen Grocott
Clean TeQ
About the Speaker
Stephen Grocott is chief technical development officer with Clean TeQ, who are developing the Sunrise nickel, cobalt, and scandium project in NSW. He sits on Clean TeQ’s ExCo and has responsibility for the process development, technical guidance and technology development for Clean TeQ’s Sunrise project and other opportunities. He left Rio Tinto (where he was chief advisor - process development) to take up this exciting opportunity in December 2017. Grocott is also the chair of the board of AMIRA International and is a member of the SME, TMS, and AIChE, and a Fellow of the RACI from which he received the 2011 RK Murphy Award in Industrial Chemistry. Since completing honors and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry, he has spent 35 years in process development, commissioning, operations technical support, environment, research and development, intellectual property and mergers & acquisitions/due diligence functions in the international minerals processing industry for Alcoa, Comalco, Southern Pacific Petroleum, Worsley Alumina, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, and now Clean TeQ.
Larry Seeley
Seeley Group Ltd.
About the Speaker
Larry Seeley spent 24 years with Falconbridge Limited in various roles, including manager metallurgical technology, manager Falconbridge smelter, director metallurgical operations in Sudbury, vice president, environment, and officer of the company. He was president and CEO of Lakefield Research Limited for 12 years, growing the company from about 120 employees to 1,000 employees with operations in Canada, Australia, Chile, Brazil, and South Africa. He was president and CEO of Recapture Metals Limited for five years, producing gallium, indium, and rhenium with operations in Peterborough and Nappanee, Ontario; Blanding, Utah; and Stade, Germany. Seeley has received numerous awards, including the Fold Medal Engineers Canada, Gold Medal Professional Engineers Ontario, President’s Gold Metal of CIM, Entrepreneurship Award Professional Engineers Ontario, Silver Medal Canadian Metallurgical Society, Industrial Practice Award of the Canadian Society of Chemical Engineers, and International Award of the Society of Chemical Industry. Seeley was inducted into the Engineering Hall of Distinction in the University of Toronto and is an honoree life member of science north and governor emeritus of Trent University. He was president of the Canadian Metallurgical Society and also the Canadian Society of Chemical Engineering. He is a Fellow of CIM, Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering, Fellow of Engineering Institute of Canada, and a Fellow of Engineers Canada. Currently, Seeley is chair and CEO at Seeley Group Ltd. The Seeley Group for the past six years facilitates investments and development in commercial real estate, solar energy production, mining exploration, and protein production from canola.
Kathryn C. Sole
Consulting Hydrometallurgist
About the Speaker
Kathryn C. Sole obtained her Ph.D. in metallurgical engineering from the University of Arizona. After working for many years for Mintek and Anglo American in South Africa, she now consults independently and has a client base spanning six continents. Her commodity expertise includes copper, cobalt, uranium, nickel, zinc, titanium, vanadium, PGMs, and gold. Sole has authored or co-authored more than 90 publications and is co-author of Extractive Metallurgy of Copper, the benchmark industry textbook. She has been awarded the Silver Medal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and the Bronze Medal of the South African Association for the Advancement of Science.
More speaker and presentation information to come soon.
Pyrometallurgy 2018 Keynote Session
About the Speaker
Joël Kapusta holds a master of science in mineral processing and a doctorate in process metallurgy, and has more than 25 years of experience in industry with a unique expertise in gas injection phenomena. A key developer of ALSI Technology (high oxygen shrouded injection) in the late 1990s, he continues to develop and promote process intensification and environmental control solutions involving sonic injection in bath smelting, converting and refining, and is currently exploring new injection solutions for slag cleaning and slag fuming. He has authored or co-authored 25 publications in journals and conferences, including four award-winning technical articles in the last five years. Kapusta was a member of the Extraction & Processing Division (EPD) Council of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) in 2006–2007 as chair of the Copper, Nickel, and Cobalt Committee. He was president of the Metallurgy and Materials Society (MetSoc) of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum (CIM) in 2007–2008 and chair of the board in 2008–2009. He currently chairs the Copper 2019 International Conference, to be held in Vancouver, Canada, in August 2019.
More speaker and presentation information to come soon.
Sulfide Flotation 2018 Keynote Session
Wolfgang Baum
Ore & Plant Mineralogy
About the Speaker
Wolfgang Baum has worked for over 42 years in the mining industry, focusing on process mineralogy related to plant optimization. During this time, he was extensively involved with introducing high pressure grinding rolls into metals mining. His career has encompassed assignments with five major mining companies. At Phelps Dodge and Freeport-McMoRan, he initiated the large-scale use of lab automation for the support of mine geology and plant operation. In Peru, his work led to the first modern Mine Site Mineralogy Lab in the copper business. During 2015, he opening a consulting firm for ore characterization, automated lab technology, and process optimization.
Michael J. Mankosa
Eriez Magnetics
About the Speaker
Michael J. Mankosa is a graduate of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia where he received his Doctorate degree in engineering. Dr. Mankosa's graduate work was focused on the design, instrumentation and control of process equipment. He was subsequently employed as a research faculty member working in the area of development and analysis of advanced physical separation processes.
Dr. Mankosa was later employed as Director of Research & Development for Carpco, Inc. located in Jacksonville, Florida. During his tenure at Carpco, he was responsible for research efforts which led to several new process and equipment patents. Dr. Mankosa subsequently joined Eriez Magnetics as Technical Director in 1997 and was promoted to Vice President of Operations in 2003. In this position, he was responsible for Research & Engineering, Information Systems and Manufacturing Operations for Eriez’ North American operations as well as President of Eriez Flotation Division, Canada. He has recently been promoted to Executive Vice President - Global Technology. Responsibilities include all technical aspects of Eriez’ global operations as well as evaluation of new business opportunities.
Dr. Mankosa is a member of several professional societies including the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society and the Coal Prep Society of North America. He has received several recognitions during his career including the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical & Petroleum Engineers Outstanding Young Engineer award and the Frank Aplan award for scientific contributions which further the technology of mineral engineering. In 2012 he was recognized by the Mining & Minerals Engineering Department as the Virginia Tech Alumni of the Year. Most recently he was elected to the National Academy of Engineers for pioneering new developments in the field of minerals processing.
Dr. Mankosa has produced over 100 articles in scientific and technical journals, has obtained 30 equipment and process patents, and has received over $2 million in research funding from various state and federal agencies. Additionally, he has organized and/or participated as a guest lecturer in dozens of short courses and technical workshops throughout the world. He is a member of the Board of Visitors for the Penn State Behrend Department of Engineering as well as the Advisory Board for the Virginia Tech Mining & Minerals Engineering Department. In addition to his professional service, Dr. Mankosa also contributes his time to local not-for-profit charities as a board member for Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania and the Greater Erie Area Habitat for Humanity
Markets and Economics Session
Date: Sunday, August 26
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Confederation I
This event is sponsored by Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc.
Mark Selby, RNC Minerals
Title: TBD
Luisa Moreno, Tahuti Global
Title: "Project Financing – A Capital Markets Perspective"
View Abstract
There are numerous mining companies listed in stock exchanges around the world, and most are looking for capital to advance their projects. Investors and investment banks review hundreds of projects every year but only a few are regularly covered by analysts. What are they key investment criteria of money managers and their mining analysts? How do investment banks determine the mining companies to raise money for? And how do mining analysts select the companies’ stocks to buy or sell? We will offer insight on the decision-making process of money managers, buy and sell side analysts, and investment bankers that are in the business of researching and helping to finance mining companies.
Michael Samis, Ernst & Young LLP
Title: "The Value of Information Gathering – Justifying Pilot Programs and Innovation Projects in the Mining Industry"
View Abstract
There is currently much talk in the mining industry about the need for innovation and the start of transformative corporate innovation projects, but little discussion about how to value this effort. The focus on innovation is part of a larger category of valuation problems involving information-gathering, which also includes exploration and technical pilot programs. While these problems arise in many different parts of the industry and at different times during a project life cycle, they all share the common issues of how to estimate their value and also how to manage these projects so that they create value. This presentation discusses the value of information-gathering in the mining industry and how to properly structure the value calculation for these projects. A case study involving a pilot plant is used to show that value creation is not just dependent upon the probability of achieving the benefits of a successful project, but also on how an information-gathering project is structured and the quality of information gathered during each project stage. Without understanding how these additional considerations impact value, it is difficult to put failures into context and to manage an overall corporate program of information-gathering that creates value.
Yao Suping, China NERIN
Title: "The Impact Factors on Chinese Copper Smelter Profitability"
View Abstract
China has been the biggest copper producer and consumer in the world for many years, with the annual production of cathode copper over 7 million tons and annual consumption over 10 million tons in 2017. The copper industry is playing a significant role in the economic development in China. Currently, there are around 30 copper smelters with production over 100kt/a, which are distributed in many provinces over China. As you know, Chinese copper smelters outsources significant amount of concentrates from overseas markets, however, many of them are not located along the coast, but far away inland with long road and/or rail transportation. There is a question on how these copper smelter are to make money and what are the impact factors to a copper smelter’s profitability? This speech will indicate certain considerations on the smelter profitability while a project is planned with a couple of real cases.
Jay Hemenway, Ocean Partners
Title: "An Extractive Metallurgist in the World of Concentrate and By-Product Sales"
View Abstract
Have you even wondered how the value associated with a metal bearing concentrate is calculated? In this session, the speaker will explain how and why concentrate contracts are structured the way they are and what the various terms and acronyms mean. Specific topics will include how to calculate payable metals, treatment, and refining charges, penalties, and what “Quotational Period” means and its impact on the final value a miner will receive. Real life examples and sample calculations will be an integral part of the presentation. In addition to calculating value, the speaker will take a brief look into the actual sales process from the time the concentrate is produced until the final payment is made.
More speaker and presentation information to come soon.