Imperial Metals, Mount Polley handed Fisheries Act charges

Imperial Metals and its Mount Polley Mining arm, which suffered a high-profile tailings storage facility failure in August 2014, has been served a notice of charges alleging violations of the Fisheries Act in Canada. Engineering firm Wood Canada was also named in the allegation notice involving the British Columbia operation. The charges are outlined in an indictment filed with the…

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Voisey’s Bay is now mining underground

Vale has completed construction and commissioning of the Voisey’s Bay mine expansion project, transitioning the Canadian nickel mine from open pit to underground mining.  The project involved the development of two underground mines – Reid Brook and Eastern Deeps – which will deliver ore for processing at the company’s Long Harbour, Newfoundland, refinery. Vale said full ramp-up is expected by…

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MSHA final rule promotes innovative, advanced technologies

On Dec. 10, MSHA published a final rule that allows the use of eight voluntary consensus standards approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for electric mining equipment approvals. This final rule allows product manufacturers and designers seeking MSHA approval to follow either the ANSI-approved voluntary consensus standards or the existing MSHA-specific technical requirements. This final rule updates MSHA’s…

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Ramaco’s Brook mine deemed commercially, technically feasible

A newly released independent interim techno-economic report by Fluor has revealed that Ramaco Resources’ Brook mine in Wyoming – acquired as a coal operation but found to be prolific for rare earth elements – is both commercially and technically feasible. Ramaco is hoping to extract valuable rare earth elements (REEs) and critical minerals from unconventional coal and carbonaceous ore deposits…

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Newmont sells Colorado operation to SSR Mining

Newmont has agreed to sell its Cripple Creek & Victor operation in Colorado to SSR Mining for up to $275 million in cash consideration. The mine is expected to add 170,000 ounces in annual gold production to SSR’s platform. “The acquisition of the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold mine represents a rare opportunity to add a high-quality producing asset in…

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Sleipner dollies ‘significantly’ reduce exposure to whole-body vibration, per vibration measurements

According to a study by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, the exposure of drivers to whole-body vibration and the resulting health risks when moving excavators can be significantly reduced by using Sleipner dollies instead of driving on the excavator’s own tracks. The vibration measurements were conducted at a Finnish mine at the end of May 2023. The aim of…

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MSHA completes October impact inspections

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) completed impact inspections in October 2024 at 15 mines in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wyoming and issued 286 violations. Inspections occurred at plants owned by Arcosa, Holcim and Mid-Michigan Materials, among others. The agency conducts impact inspections at mines that merit increased…

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MSHA warns about stockpile safety

MSHA reported that recent accidents highlight the risks associated with dump points and stockpiles, especially where stockpile stability and visibility are of concern. Fatalities and serious injuries have occurred when heavy equipment operators traveled or dumped material too close to a stockpile edge or worked too close to the toe of an over-steepened stockpile. MSHA recommends the following best practices…

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