RESEARCH: The value behind CEMI’s Rio Tinto centre for underground mining

SUDBURY, ON – CEMI (Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation) and Rio Tinto are celebrating the completion of the Rio Tinto Centre for Underground Mine Construction (RTC-UMC) at CEMI. This $10-million investment in Canada’s mining innovation was created to undertake research in support of Rio Tinto’s Mine of the Future™ program with a focus on underground mining infrastructure and footprint reliability. This state-of-the-art research and knowledge centre played a role in the development and implementation of innovative step change research and technology development for underground mines, designed to minimize delays and create value through speed and geo-risk mitigation. The results of this collaborative centre have set the stage for large scale mining operations, now and in the future. (CEMI 2016 Annual Report) Since being established in December 2010, the RTC-UMC interacts and collaborates with academics, consultants and representatives from a consortium of Rio Tinto operations worldwide. The centre has engaged an outstanding, globally networked solution team The centre has been focused on three core areas essential to the success of large scale mining operations: 1. Ground control in mechanized excavations; 2. Characterization of rock mass quality and strength in deep, massive, veined orebodies; and 3. Development of innovative, efficient and effective support systems for increased footprint reliability. Please visit www.CEMI.ca.