CANMET Mining and Mineral Sciences Laboratories (MMSL)

CANMET Mining and Mineral Sciences Laboratories (MMSL) provide quality research and development services, technical information, and sound scientific advice to Canada's mining and minerals industry, and to provincial and federal government departments involved in promoting or regulating this and related industries. CANMET-MMSL conducts R&D across a wide spectrum of processes and technologies related to extracting ore from the ground and transforming it into a concentrate, mineral product or metal. CANMET-MMSL has a long-standing international reputation for technical excellence in mining, mineral processing and environmental technologies. CANMET-MMSL's reputation is enhanced by its internationally recognized leadership role in developing technological solutions to reduce environmental liabilities and improve worker health and safety in the mining industry.

Eligibility Criteria

The primary market focus for CANMET-MMSL's programs is Canada's mining and minerals industry, and the provincial and federal government departments and agencies involved in promoting and regulating it. This also includes universities, colleges and other research centres.

Summary

CANMET- MMSL is a market-oriented organization that is responsive to industrial and national needs. Success is measured in terms of the strong level of support by the client community, and by the impact of CANMET-MMSL's activities on industrial operations. CANMET-MMSL also provides expertise to mining and metals policy groups at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), and other federal government departments, in order to strengthen the scientific input into policy and regulatory development. All CANMET-MMSL services were registered to ISO-9002 by QMI in October 2000.

Work is conducted under four groups or programs:
The mining group specializes in the areas of:

• ground stability monitoring and control;
• mine mechanization/automation;
• mine air quality and ventilation; and
• coal mining health and safety.

The mineralogy and metallurgical processing group undertakes development in metallurgical processing, and minerals and metals recycling, and also provides support and carries out development in applied mineralogy.

The environment group specializes in the treatment of gaseous and liquid mine and mill effluents (including acidic drainage), mine decommissioning and rehabilitation, and provides scientific input in the development of environmental policies and regulations for metals.

The Canadian Certified Reference Materials Project (CCRMP) prepares and certifies reference materials principally for Canada's mineral metallurgical, earth science, and environmental industries. CCRMP also has a custom reference material preparation service and a lab proficiency testing program.

The following are brief descriptions of MMSL's current programs:
Metallurgical Processing
CANMET-MMSL's metallurgists are a group of experts with the capability to characterize systems, carry out research, improve existing operations and help develop new processes and techniques. Our projects range from solving small, isolated problems to developing whole new processes. Objectives include improving process efficiency by optimizing mineral processing techniques and developing cost-effective treatment processes. Our strength is our ability to integrate characterization studies with our understanding of the process so that we can better define the problem and develop solutions.
Contact Person:
Tesfaye Negeri, Tel.: 613-992-5860; Fax: 613-947-1200
E-Mail: Tesfaye.Negeri@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Mineralogy
CANMET-MMSL's specialists in applied mineralogy are at the forefront of technology development in mineral characterization and quantitative mineralogy. They work with industry to improve process efficiencies, to minimize mineral losses, and to ensure stability of minerals and metals in industrial waste. Our team has access to a complete array of modern mineralogical instrumentation and extensive chemical facilities. We use state-of-the-art techniques to assist our clients, whether during mine development, mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, or to ensure environmental compliance.
Contact Person:
Tesfaye Negeri,  Tel.: 613-992-5860; Fax: 613-947-1200
E-Mail: Tesfaye.Negeri@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Chemical Analysis and Reference Materials
MMSL's Chemical Analysis Program supports other MMSL programs but is also available to provide external support and undertake development in analytical and assaying services. The services provided are certified to the ISO 9002 quality system standard.
Contact Person:
Donna Mingie-Cahill, Telephone: 613-947-0143, Fax: 613-943-0573
E-mail: Donna.Mingie-Cahill@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

The main focus of MMSL's Canadian Certified Reference Materials Program (CCRMP), which is ISO 9002 registered, is the preparation of certified and custom reference materials for use by chemical analysts in the mining industry, nationally and internationally. Additionally, 50 mainly Canadian laboratories have continued to participate in the operation of the Proficiency Testing Program for Mineral Analysis Laboratories (PTP-MAL).
Contact Person:
Maureen Leaver, Telephone: 613-992-1055, Fax: 613-943-0573
E-mail: Maureen.Leaver@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Mine Effluents
CANMET-MMSL's Mine Effluents Program works directly with the Canadian minerals industry to develop prediction, prevention and remediation technologies. Major program components are: developing inhibitors for acid mine drainage; removal of thiosalts and ammonia from mill effluents; water management practices, and the Mine Environment Neutral Drainage project (MEND 2000).  
Contact Person:
David Koren, Telephone: 613-992-7286, Fax: 613-996-9041
E-mail: David.Koren@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Innovations in Mine Waste Management
The objective of the Innovations in Mine Waste Management is to develop and test technologies or apply existing technologies to reduce the potential environmental liabilities of mine waste and waste management areas, in a cost effective manner. Major program components are subaqueous disposal of sulphidic waste rock and tailings; characterization and management of reactive or radioactive waste, including lime treatment sludge, tailings and waste rock; production and characterization of dense stable sludges; case studies and site assessments of long term prevention and control measures.
Contact Person:
Janice Zinck, Telephone 613-995-4221, Fax: 613-996-9041
E-mail: Janice.Zinck@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Metals and the Environment
CANMET-MMSL's Metals and the Environment Program aims at improving understanding of how metals behave and mobilize in the environment. The program emphasizes close links with policy development activities on environmental issues and addresses the need to base environmental policies and regulations on sound scientific principles. CANMET-MMSL has a wide range of chemical, mineralogical, and physical techniques and equipment for characterizing metal-bearing ores, concentrates, particulates and releases; this includes expertise on toxicity, life cycle assessment and metals transformation.
Contact Person:
Bernard Vigneault, Telephone: 613-947-8763, Fax: 613-947-5284
E-mail: Bernard.Vigneault@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Mine Mechanization/Automation
CANMET-MMSL has established a team of specialists in mechanical mining, electrical, computer applications and electronic engineering. They work with the mining industry to enhance health and safety in underground mining operations, facilitate mechanization and automation, improve mine profitability, and provide sound science to Canadian regulatory agencies. Of particular importance are mechanization and automation in narrow-vein mines, and addressing the needs of deep mining operations. The CANMET-MMSL Experimental Mine in Val-d'Or, Quebec, provides unique underground and surface industrial-scale facilities to develop and improve underground mining equipment and systems.
Contact Person:
Marcel Laflamme, Telephone: 819-736-4331, ext. 230, Fax: 819-736-7251
E-mail: Marcel.Laflamme@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Ground Control
CANMET-MMSL has established a team of specialists in geomechanics, numerical modelling and induced seismicity. They work with the mining industry to increase productivity and extend mine lives, as well as to improve the safety of miners. Our leading-edge science and interdisciplinary approach to group control ensure that the best knowledge and expertise are applied to the complex ground control challenges facing the industry.
Contact Person:
Jean-Marie Fecteau, Telephone: 613-947-1585, Fax: 613-995-3456
E-mail: Jean-Marie.Fecteau@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Underground Mine Environment
CANMET-MMSL has established a group of specialists in mine ventilation, ventilation automation, diesel-engine emissions control and certification, as well as underground contaminants monitoring and control. The goal for this area of research is to improve air quality and safety in the underground mine environment, and to evaluate approaches that may provide savings in both capital and operating expenses. CANMET-MMSL collaborates with mine operators, workers, suppliers and regulators to provide cost-effective underground environment technology solutions.
Contact Person:
Michel Grenier, Telephone: 705-677-7815, Fax: 705-670-6556
E-mail: Michel.Grenier@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

New Brunswick Contact(s):
See National Contact.

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National Contact(s):
Mr. John Macmillan
Natural Resources Canada
1st Floor
555 Booth Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0G1
Telephone: 613-947-0798
Fax: 613-947-0983
E-mail: jomacmil@NRCan.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/index-eng.php