38 R esearc h and De v elopment A dv ancing our methodologies and ser vices W e actively seek to participate in applied research projects in mining related fields. Examples of recent involvement include: • PCSLC – joint development with Gemcom International of mine planning and scheduling tool for sub-level cave mines. • LOP – large open pit design research project spearheaded by CSIRO in Australia. • W eak Rock Support – internationally industry sponsored project spearheaded by the Itasca Consulting Group, which addresses problems related to underground development in weak rock masses. • MMT – Mass Mining T echnology , formerly known as International Caving Study , is an internationally sponsored project addressing the issues associated mainly with cave mining. • PETT (Paste and thickened tailings) – pilot schemes to assess thickened and depositional characteristics of thickened and paste tailings. • MEND (Mine Environment Neutral Drainage) research program – review of design and construction methods for mine waste covers in cold regions, identifying both current deficiencies and opportunities to better exploit cold regions phenomena. • Collaboration and support of research programs at Universite Laval (geotechnical characterisation, ground freezing), Queen's University (arsenic leaching from tailings) and INRS (heat and gas flow in waste rock piles). • 3D modelling of geology through development of Leapfrog ™ software and integration with other advanced 3D geological modelling packages. • Centre of Excellence in Geochemical Engineering – in partnership with Cardiff University’ s School of Engineering. Research will include: - Extraction of metals and production of sulphuric acid from complex precious and base metal mine and metallurgical waste. T wo patent processes have already resulted from this program - Geometallurgy of uranium deposits - Assessment of ML/ARD through field and laboratory prediction methods and geochemical testwork - Mitigation of ML/ARD, particularly through passive treatment schemes. - Coal bed gasification technology - A successful eight - year research partnership has produced more than 30 publications. • SIMRAC, MHSC (Safety In Mines Research Advisory Committee, Mine Health and Safety Council), South Africa – our research projects include shotcrete monitoring and design, static and dynamic support testing for underground mines and calculating rockfall risk and the cost of rockfalls. • Selenium task force – development of a selenium leaching model for five large coal mines in the drainage basin of Elk V alley .