Mining

Propex Geosynthetics has released a new website in support of its ArmorMax™ Anchor Reinforced Vegetation System product line. The site features a wealth of information about ArmorMax, including features and benefits, case studies, a downloadable product brochure, and how the product is used as a permanent solution for structural and non-structural applications. Read more in and link to the site from the release.

The 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics (9ICG) has extended its Call for Papers to 15 January 2009. Abstracts are sought on key topics such as drainage, mining, durability and long-term performance, transportation, hydraulic applications, new products and much more. The 9ICG will be held 23-27 May 2010 in Guaruja, São Paulo, Brazil, under the auspices of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). Learn more here.;

Canada's wealth of oil is considered the world's second largest supply by many measurements, but the lionshare of it is trapped in sand and rock. Oil sands extraction and conversion is energy intensive and, especially in the suddenly affordable oil market, costly. But oil will remain a high demand item, and oil sands are a major extraction point for the future--and that means significantly better environmental controls are needed. A report released by the Canadian non-profit group Environment Defense indicates that 11 million liters leaks from oil sands tailings pits and processing cycles each day. If the major planned sites go online, that daily rate could rise to 72 million liters per day. Learn more here.;

The organizers of GeoAfrica 2009 have opened the registration section of the conference website. The event has received tremendous support in abstract submissions--more than double the expected and from 26 countries--and exhibitors (all space nearly sold out). This is shaping up to be a can't-miss event. Visit the conference website's new registration page. Learn more here.;

Well, this is interesting. Geosynthetics are rarely introduced to students in early education; but Andrew Harris, a high school junior in Riviera Beach, Florida, will compete in the Palm Beach County Science and Engineering Fair with his study "Geosynthetics: Creating a Stronger Soil." Harris did tests with soil samples for his project research. Read about it in the Sun-Sentinel. Learn more here.;

Donner Metals and Xstrata Zinc Canada have been awarded Mining Journal's Outstanding Achievement Award for exploration work. The award was presented at the Sixth Annual Mines and Money London conference by the publishers of Mining Journal and organizers of the Mines and Money series of events, Mining Communications Ltd. More information on the award will be made available at the Mines and Money website. Learn more here.;

The Associated Press reports that Idaho-based Hecla Mining Co. pay $102,000 in penalties following a spill of mine tailings at a zinc and lead facility near Mullan, Idaho. More than 22,000 gallons of hazardous material was released. Of greatest concern in the incident is the roughly 900 gallons of liquid mill tailings that spilled into the South Fork Coeur d'Alene River during a heavy storm in 2006. That accident occurred at the ironically named Lucky Friday Mine. The company has taken numerous steps to correct these matters and prevent them from being repeated. Learn more here.;

Geomembrane and fabrication specialist firm BTL has issued its annual letter regarding holiday closure dates. The company and its staff will close for a holiday mid-day on December 23 and will reopen on January 5. Read general manager Ron MacKenzie's letter here.

We have a number of stories were following in the global press that may interest users of geosynthetics. A handful of them are highlighted on our Press Brief page along with news of events we've added to our database. More updates will be available as stories are produced and events announced throughout the day. Visit the Press Brief page.

As recession confirmations spread around the world and commodity markets decline, the mining industry, which saw so much significant growth in recent years, is beginning to forecast layoffs. The Associated Press reports that 10,000 layoffs are expected in South Africa. In particular, the platinum mining industry is suffering, for it feeds into automotive manufacturing markets. Until personal vehicles and new shipping trucks are needed, those platinum mines may remain on hold; while other metals operate at a diminshed capacity as well. Learn more here.;

The latest updates from ASTM International are available. This week's new standards and work items include three entries from the always-active Committee D18 on Soil and Rock. The lone standard revision deals with terminology, while the two work items pertain to abadoned mine sites. Visit the ASTM Update page for details.

Jessica Barran's piece at the University for Peace website is firmly against the mining of gold in Costa Rica's northern Crusitas mine, but it may be worth reading for understanding the ways in which communities where resources lay do not see their presence as welcomed. The environmental concerns are real and should be heard--but so should decent science and technology. The right containment materials, facility design, operations and environmental remediation plan can be done responsible. Just as a failure in one country can be cited, so too can a great many successfully managed sites. Learn more here.;

CETCO Oilfield Services’ director of business development, Will Fortenberry, is moving from Aberdeen to Kuala Lumpur to support the company’s unprecedented growth in Asia. Earlier this year, Aberdeen-based CETCO Oilfield Services announced it had opened two operational bases in Kemaman and Labuan in Malaysia, and expanded its existing facilities in Kuala Lumpur. Learn more here.;

Raven Industries released strong third quarter results on Wednesday. The Flow Controls Division continues to perform well while the Engineered Films Division (which includes Raven's geomembrane lines) saw 23 percent growth in third quarter sales. Raw material costs (including the often volatile resin market) pinched some profit, but overall volume was good and high demand in the oil and gas industry for pit and pond liners continued to be one of the company's signature successes. Learn more here.;

SKZ's Irina Bender has written a short report on the recent "Lifetime of Geosynthetics" conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The two-day event in late October marked the first time this conference took place outside of Germany. Dr. Helmut Zanzinger chaired the sessions and was joined by experts such as Dr. John Greenwood (ERA Technologies), Hartmut Schröder and Peter Trubiroha (BAM). Mrs. Bender's report indicates that attendees (from 13 countries) reponded favorably to the discussions and showed a particular interest in geosynthetic performance with ponds and in tunnel linings.

Joel Sprague of TRI/Environmental has authored a piece about the International Erosion Control Association's (IECA) Southeast Chapter Training and Field Days. The two-day October event included a full day at TRI's Denver Downs Research Facility, a large-scale testing facility for erosion and sediment control products and systems. Read the report and see photos from the event at ErosionControl.com. Learn more here.;

Erosion Control magazine editor Janice Kasperson writes about the eighth annual StormCon event, which will take place in Anaheim, California, 16-20 August 2009. Six conference tracks are being offered: BMP Case Studies; Low-Impact Development (LID); Stormwater Program Management; Water-Quality Monitoring; Advanced Research Topics; and Source Control. Read more about the event in Kasperson's write-up. Learn more here.;

Firestone Specialty Products produces geomembranes that are the durable, dependable solution for nearly any application. Whether for decorative commercial water features or critical containment applications such as agriculture, aquaculture, mining and other water containment, Firestone’s geomembrane systems are easy to install and built to last. The company has retooled the design and layout of its website. We encourage readers to give the new site, with its clean look and organization, a spin. Learn more here.;

Boom times in the developing world, particularly in the BRIC nations--Brazil, Russia, India and China--have led to a number of serious environmental challenges as industrialization has outpaced pollution controls. This is particularly true in India. In the 13 November 2008 issue of the Financial Times, reporter James Lamont takes an analytical view of pollution challenges in India and how the next generation is being asked to find the solutions both for future production and growth and for correcting the ill legacy being left to them. Learn more here.;

The latest conference update from the Asia Mining Congress (23-27 March 2009, Singapore) is available. Registrations placed before 30 November 2008 qualify for 10% discount. Read the latest on the event in the online newsletter. Learn more here.;

Tensar has released a short brochure on the performance of geogrids in cold climates--and how geogrids can be installed quickly without the curing time or cold weather issues related to the use of lime, cement and fly ash. Read more in the PDF brochure. Learn more here.;

Tensar offers roof and rib control matting for mining and tunnel installations. The geogrid is white and reflective for safety, and its polymeric formulation is corrosion and flame-resistant. Read the latest flyer from the company on this innovation alternative to welded wire. Learn more here.;

Waterproof Membranes 2008 is underway. It's the second in what is anticipated to be a longer-term series organized by Applied Market Information (AMI). And there was something about the program for Waterproof Membranes 2008 that really caught our eye. Key subjects this year include green roofing, sustainability, membrane durability and geotechnical applications. Others in the geosynthetics industry and related construction industries have seen this too, as our first night at the event revealed. Read the report from the opening night's reception. Learn more here.;

The second day of Waterproof Membranes 2008 proved to be crowded with activity. We ventured into deeper (waterproofed) waters with a long but welcomed day of presentations; afterwhich we were treated to a fine, friendly dinner across from Cologne's iconic cathedral. Read the report on Day 2's papers and happenings. Learn more here.;

TenCate Geosynthetics has taken home the top prize in the Geosynthetic Projects category of the 2008 International Achievement Awards (IAA). The winning entries in the IAAs were announced in late October during the Industrial Fabrics Association International's (IFAI) annual conference, which was held this year in Charlotte, North Carolina. IFAI conducts the IAAs each year. TenCate's winning project comes from British Columbia, Canada, where an 85m stretch of road passed between two lakes over some rather swampy terrain. Over a 30-year period the road had settled nearly 2m. TenCate's geotextile reinforced soil (GRS) expertised helped stabilize the situation and preserve a fish passageway between the waters. Read more about the project at TenCate's IAA entry page. Learn more here.;