Abstract
Conventional mining faces growing challenges. It needs bigger ore bodies to meet return hurdles or attract investment in a time when big discoveries are declining and ore grades are decreasing. Larger mining projects are increasing in risk, economically, socially and environmentally. Deeper mines are driving higher costs because of more development, lower efficiencies and tougher safety compliance. In addition, tightening government regulation and less community acceptance are increasing obstacles in bringing mines into production.
There are globally abundant small-scale targets, particularly narrow, steeply dipping quartz-carbonate gold veins in greenstone belts. However, steeply dipping, narrow vein deposits are frequently unprofitable using conventional mining methods, like underground cut and fill or open pit techniques. To address this problem, Novamera is developing “keyhole surgery” for mining, an innovative clean technology and process that will be able to mine steeply dipping narrow vein mineral deposits more safely, economically and sustainably using commercially available drilling equipment and imaging technology combined with certain patent pending inventions.
With a never-ending need for mineral resources, Novamera’s technology will minimize environmental impact by only extracting ore and leaving the waste in the ground. Mining operations will, therefore, have a smaller footprint, particularly with respect to tailings facilities, while doing so using less energy and water consumption. Mining companies will also benefit by being able to develop known mineral deposits or zones that may not be economic today and extend existing mines beyond their current engineering limits, leveraging existing infrastructure. Novamera expects its technology to have a lasting positive impact on safety, the environment and the economic well being of mining companies and the communities in which they operate.