LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10, 2015 /CNW/ - Since 1907, the majority of
US mining disasters were caused by either fire or an explosion.
Despite this pattern, very little has changed in the mining process
since the invention and use of explosives, a method that wreaks
havoc on the environment, hinders productivity, and puts employees
at risk. In 2010, an explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine in
Naoma, West Virginia killed 29
miners. A year later, Governor's Independent Investigation Panel's
report revealed that the explosion was the result of safety system
failures.
The Green Revolution is impacting a number of sectors, from
technology to agriculture to the automotive industry. However,
despite the last century being filled with technological and social
advancements, in terms of the mining process, the mining sector has
gone mostly untouched. Yet, one company, Nippon Dragon Resources
Inc. (TSXV: NIP – OTCQB: RCCMF), is looking to change that.
A Mining Company with a Green Edge
Nippon Dragon
Resources is a hybrid mining and technology company that's active
in the exploration and development of gold resources in
Quebec. The company's flagship
gold property Rocmec 1, a fully permitted project located in
Quebec, includes a 100-meter deep,
two-compartment shaft, and an 844 meters decline, allowing access
to four levels (50, 90, 110 and 130 meters). Over the past years,
in excess of $41 million has been
invested in rehabilitating the property, surface and underground
infrastructure, diamond drilling, equipment, drifting and the
acquisition of a 75 tpd treatment plant, designed for underground
installation. The latest NI43-101 report states gold resources of
125,000 ounces in measured/indicated, and 360,000 gold ounces of
inferred resources. The project is 'shovel ready' and management is
confident production will start in 2016. A portion of the mine will
serve to showcase the thermal fragmentation mining method to
potential clients and distributors.
The company, while an active junior mining company, has shifted
its focus towards technological developments. Nippon Dragon's
latest innovation, The Thermal Fragmentation mining method, has
presented results that will not only save time and money, but t
will also make mining part of the green revolution. "We just reduce
the side effects of mining operations." said Jean-Yves Therien, Nippon's Vice-President of
Business Development. "Our mining is a selective process. Most
mining processes, in our view, are not selective." Recent events
are adding credit to one of Nippon's slogans, 'the way of the
future for mining high-grade narrow vein precious metal
deposits'.
An Industry Breakthrough
The challenge facing
modern miners is the actual retrieving of the precious metals.
Most, if not all the 'easy gold' has already been mined. Remaining
precious metal deposits are found in high-grade ore that's situated
within narrow-vein structures that are difficult to mine
profitably. Drill and blast mining, the conventional mining method,
has been used for centuries. Other methods, such as shrinkage or
long hole, are either labor intensive or present significant
dilution issues.
Thermal fragmentation is a mining method that uses heat to
'spall' high-grade veins, greatly reducing the use of explosives.
This method only extracts the mineralized ore with minimal
dilution. This 'surgical' precision alleviates a number of
stresses, both environmental and financial. Using Nippon's thermal
fragmentation method reduces waste, uses less chemicals, and makes
fewer alterations to the terrain. "We have a huge positive impact
on the environment, because we significantly reduce dilution" said
Therien. With less impact on the environment, the entire mining
process becomes more streamlined. The amount of manpower needed is
reduced, no need for a primary crusher and so on. "Because we
reduce dilution, you truck less, you treat less and you dispose
less," said Therien.
The "Apple" of the Mining Sector
A process that yields
so many positive environmental changes and operational outcomes has
the potential to revolutionize an entire industry. "If we were in
pharmaceutical industry, I would say that we would be worth
billions," said Therien. "It's speculative; but, we have THE
solution to multibillion dollar problems for the mining industry. I
cannot give you a real target. However, I'd like to say that we
could be the Apple of the mining industry". As the company
website states,"Simply put, we mine ounces, not tonnes."
Over the past year, Nippon has garnered international attention.
In March of this year, Nippon successfully conducted three surface
demonstrations in Japan to
showcase their exclusive and patented thermal fragmentation
technology. Representatives from the industrial, mining and
construction sectors, along with representatives from the Japanese
government responsible for major infrastructure projects in the
country, were in attendance.
This past September, the company partnered with IBM to
develop a cloud-based information acquisition system, working along
with the thermal fragmentation technology that would allow Nippon
to collect data from thermal sensors on the thermal fragmentation
units. The concept of an 'Intelligent Mine' minimizes its impact on
the environment while optimizing operations, reducing mining costs,
increasing productivity, and providing safer working conditions
through automation. This collaboration between Nippon and IBM is
positioned to make this concept a reality.
Furthermore, Nippon's thermal fragmentation process can be
utilized in other sectors. Where there's a city in the world that
needs to dig a tunnel, build a bridge, or lay tracks for a subway,
rocks typically block or present difficulties to work around
crucial municipal systems, like water pipes. Thermal Fragmentation,
for the construction industry, could be a game changer. "If there's
a place that you don't want to use explosives," said Therien, "it's
in the city."
Modernizing a Vital Industry
An industry that is
plagued with safety concerns and costly operations is in desperate
need for a solution that offers one key element: precision. Mining
contractors like Don Bourgeois and
Sons Inc. agree, and have ratified their agreement with Nippon for
usage and distribution of Nippon's thermal fragmentation mining
method to include all of Canada.
Also, in March, the company signed an exclusive distribution
agreement with SAFESCAPE for its patented Thermal Fragmentation
mining method in various contracts and mining operations throughout
the Countries of Australia,
New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the Philippines Nippon Dragon's
mission of achieving selective mining with their Thermal
Fragmentation process is the long-awaited green solution that is
aimed to become a necessity to the modern mining sector.
For more information about Nippon Dragon Resources,
www.nippondragon.com.
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