Sudbury will have the stage to showcase its deep mine expertise with an industry symposium in 2010.
Laurentian University's mining innovation company, MIRARCO, has been selected to host the 13th U.S./North American Mine Ventilation Symposium.
The Underground Ventilation Committee of Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration and Metallurgical Engineers made the announcement in accepting MIRARCO's proposal at this year's event in Reno, Nevada.
Barring the temporary mineral slump experienced by global markets, the need for mineral commodities is increasing and mining companies are driven to dig deeper, which presents a whole host of technical and safety challenges for production and people.
Compared to other mining camps in South Africa, the United Kingdom and the U.S., organizer Dale McKinnon said Sudbury's integrated mine complex is "certainly up there" in expertise in deep mining and ventilation.
The event running June 13-17, 2010 is expected to attract between 200 and 300 delegates from industry, academia and government with expertise in mine ventilation, occupational health and safety issues, and regulation.
McKinnon is expecting visitors from across North America, South Africa, Australia, Europe and perhaps Russia to attend.
Among the topics on the agenda will include ventilation optimization and design, airborne particulates, coal mine methane combustion, heat/refrigeration mine seals, diesel emissions, monitoring and occupational health. Field tours of various mine sites in Sudbury are on the agenda.
"As you go deeper, the mine environment is hotter," said McKinnon, making heat stress a primary concern. From a health and safety perspective it means incorporating rest periods which becomes a productivity issue.
The symposium will include a trade show component of anywhere from 20 to 30 exhibitors.
Located on the Laurentian University campus, MIRARCO (Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corporation), is a not-for-profit applied research company formed between the university and other public groups and private companies.
The symposium will be co-hosted by Natural Resources Canada which operates its CANMET Mining and Mineral Sciences Laboratories in Sudbury.
Federal Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt said the forum is an opportunity to exchange information and "contribute to the development of innovative solutions to the challenges facing mining countries around the world."
This is the second time the Mine Ventilation Symposium has been held in Canada. Queen's University hosted the 2002 event in Kingston.
For details on go online at www.mirarco.org/minevent
