Posted in British Columbia, Geotechnical, Hydrology and hydraulics, People, tagged bc guidelines, dutch portal, edumine, eileen poeter, groundwater. modeling, international hydrology on April 7, 2013 | 2 Comments »
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Why pay if you can get it free? A simple and profound question in today’s e-world where there is so much that is free and so much that is expensive. I ask this question because I have just been alerted to a free course on groundwater modeling. It is on the Dutch Portal for International Hydrology. This is what they say of their course: (more…)
Posted in British Columbia, consulting, Hydrology and hydraulics, tagged British Columbia, groundwater, modeling, rgc, srk on April 26, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Posted in Hydrology and hydraulics, Investing & Finance, Mining history, North America, tagged nickle, piepline, red dog mine. pebble mine. alaska on June 18, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
I have been entertaining my son and his family in Vancouver this week, so I resort for a blog topic to another of the fascinating e-mails that arrive from various people. The one I write about came from a fellow who introduces himself thus in his first e-mail to me: (more…)
Posted in Heap leach, Hydrology and hydraulics, tagged design, Heap leach, mining on October 28, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Design is the art of applying the principles of science in formulating practical solutions to real-life problems. Design is the act of coming up with a cost-effective way to build and operate a physical structure, whether it be a bridge, a building, a tailings impoundment, a heap leach pad, or an access road to the new mine. Design is an act of creation; a good design comes seemingly out of nowhere; yet a good design comes from everywhere, being a reflection of past practice, knowledge, understanding, calculation, perspiration, inspiration, and judgment. (more…)
Posted in Hydrology and hydraulics, tagged best management practice, BMP, mining on October 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
We have just posted an extended review of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in mining on InfoMine, the site that sponsors this blog. This review started out as a discussion with a professor of mining at a local university who told me that the four pillars of mining are:
Posted in Hydrology and hydraulics, Oil sands, Uranium, tagged groundwater, in situ mining, NRC, Oil sands, SAGD, Uranium on July 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Critics of mining harp on two impacts:
Both are real issues. Trying to avoid these impacts, legislator and miners have resorted to backfilling pits, backfilling underground mine workings, turning the tailings impoundment into an apple orchard, and, most interestingly in situ mining.
In the oil sands Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) promises profit and reduced footprints.
In uranium mining, in situ leaching is all the rage.
Posted in About the news, Community relations, Hydrology and hydraulics, North America, Tailings on January 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Sweeney Todd is modern grand opera. It won Golden Globe Best Actor and Best Picture in the category musical comedy. It is neither a musical nor a comedy. It is grand opera. The little old couple behind me who came expecting warbling tones and frilly dancing left in disgust. I revelled in every note and nuance. Forget the genius approbation on some blogs–this is the essence of opera: music, emotion, story, and spectacle.
I know they dare not market the movie as modern opera, for that would be the kiss, or should we say cut, of death. Who wants to see a move opera on a week night? So they create the illusion of a dramatic musical comedy. Afterall we all love musical comedies, don’t we?
This foray into the divide between movie/opera marketing and reality is prompted by reflections on the divide between marketing and reality that in mining is called variously a press release, a feasibility study, or an Annual Report.
Posted in About the news, Community relations, Environment, Heap leach, Hydrology and hydraulics, Investing & Finance on January 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
A number of times last year, at mines all over the globe, there was an failure: something happened on the mine and somebody died; something happened on the mine and there was an environmental impact; something happened and somebody was blamed, excoriated, or fired.
I suspect that deep in human nature is the belief that every accident has a culprit. I suspect that deep in human nature is the instinct to find the culprit, convict him (or her), and sacrifice them on the altar of blame and blood.
But in thinking about some of 2007′s spectacular mine-related failures, I wonder if maybe many of them have no culprit. Maybe many of them are the result of mere lapses by nice people. Maybe many of them are what may be called “system failures.” Maybe even where people died or we now can predict a 1,000 years of negative geomorphological impact, there is nobody so silly, negligent, or culpable that they should be marched to the altar of blame.
Posted in About the news, Environment, Hydrology and hydraulics on December 4, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
On a positive note, I disclose here and announce the posting on EduMine of the most recent “course” I have prepared on the topic of mine water balance evaluation. This third course joins two others I have previously prepared: one on surface water at mines; and one on underground water at mines. Take at look at these more “serious” of the writings I indulge in, and enjoy. To prove that such writings are not entirely theoretical, I post this news from Cameco re mining, groundwater, and mine water balances:
Posted in About the news, Hydrology and hydraulics, Investing & Finance on November 2, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Two recommendations for weekend reading. I assume you will have time on a potentially chilly, wet weekend. For what it is worth try these two sites:
The Center for Watershed Protection. They have here a magnificent new e-publication called Manual 3 Urban Stormwater Retrofit Practices. The nearly 300 page volume and appendices are available for free download at the website. All you have to do to get a free e-copy is register and tell them you are downloading a copy-seems a fair bargain to me. I suspect there will be something of interest for you if you are even remotely connected with control of surface water at your mine. Plus take a look at the site of the International Erosion Control Association for more publications relevant to mine surface water management.
The Yellowhead Mining site. I have previously written about first encounters with the folk from this new BC venture. They called me this week to update me on happenings, so I went across ot their site to read up on their summer work and finds. It makes for interestingweekend reading to follow a junior blazing a new path.
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