Issue link: http://resourceworld.uberflip.com/i/937377
62 www.resourceworld.com F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 8 BRIMM connects researchers in the mining industry by Kathrine Moore O n November 14, 2017, a new University of British Columbia (UBC) mining research initiative, the Bradshaw Research Initiative for Minerals and Mining (BRIMM) was launched at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver, BC. 2015 Canadian Mining Hall of Fame (CMHF) inductee, Dr. Peter Bradshaw, added to his already impressive legacy with a generous donation to fund the BRIMM initiative which encourages innova- tion and the generation of solutions to challenges in the mining industry. In 1989, Dr. Bradshaw was a founder and first Chairman of the very successful Minerals Deposit Research Unit (MDRU) at UBC. The new BRIMM initiative will build on success and tried- and-true methods employed by MDRU – its sibling organization at the university. Organizers state that BRIMM will "engage experts from all research areas to address industry challenges and make each step of the mining life cycle safer, cleaner, and more efficient". BRIMM is a new collaboration between world-class scientists and engineers focused on the advancement of cross-disciplinary research in the mining industry. The research encompasses the entire life-cycle of mining: exploration, extraction, processing and rehabilitation. At the launch, UBC's Professor Gail Murphy, the Vice-President, Research, and Innovation, said, "BRIMM is a great example of how building collaborative and multidisciplinary teams can tackle major problems that we face today. BRIMM's multidisciplinary approach and integration with industry needs is an exciting example of how university research can contribute to innovation that can impact local, national and global communities." BRIMM describes the program as a joint initiative between the UBC's Faculty of Science and Faculty of Applied Science tapping into the overlapping areas of expertise at UBC. There are several areas of study at UBC relevant to mining, including geology, many disciplines in engineering, geophysics, genomics, botany, math- ematical sciences, zoology, forestry, sustainability just to name a few. The initiative provides researchers with access to UBC resources, labs and specialized research equipment and tools such as sensors, remote sensing, system integration, genomics, and analytical experimental modeling. "BRIMM is designed to accelerate innovation and extract more value from mineral systems data collected over the life of a mine," says UBC Professor, Greg Dipple, the new Director of BRIMM. "We've adopted a 'minerals first' approach that embraces the com- plexity of geological deposits, to improve knowledge, enhance efficiency and manage risk." Once fully established, BRIMM will look to access the research strengths and capabilities at UBC to initially focus on addressing challenges that fit into three broad research areas: the mining microbiome, geometallurgy and tailings and water. Bacteria are among the best geochemists in the world, and occupy niche environments, and mining microbiome research explores the fascinating role bacteria play in ore formation, explo- ration, mining and restoration. Geometallurgy integrates geological, mining, metallurgical, environmental and economic data to create an accurate spatial and geologically-based orebody model to maximize value while minimizing risk throughout the mining value chain. Combining information from exploration, extraction, processing, and waste management leads to a better understanding of key performance issues such as energy consumption, grade, grindability, efficiency of separation, water retention and tailings reactivity. The third potential area of research for BRIMM is likely to be water, which is, according to the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), "…a vital input for all mining and metals operations – required for the health and wellbeing of employees and at every stage of an operation's life cycle including closure. The dependency and impact on a shared resource creates mate- rial risk for the mining and metals sector that requires effective management." UBC already has considerable expertise in water science, including the fields of sedimentology, biometeorology, aquatic geology, hydrogeology, forestry, bioremediation, fluid mechanics, risk, treatment, recovery and reuse, and mining. BRIMM could tap into this expertise to address life-of-mine water issues. Dipple says BRIMM will engage with the minerals industry to identify new and relevant areas of multi-disciplinary research, then provide seed funding for new integrated research projects to address problems, particularly projects that attract direct indus- try financial support. n BRIMM Director, Professor Gregory Dipple, welcomes UBC researchers and members of Vancouver's mining industry to the launch of the Bradshaw Research Initiative for Minerals & Mining at the Pan Pacific Hotel on Nov 14 2017. Photo Dawn Stenzel- photographer. MINING