CIM DISTINGUISHED LECTURERS - Description

CIM Distinguished Lecturers are chosen on the basis of their accomplishments in scientific, technical, management or educational activities related to the minerals industry, and speak at CIM Branch meetings across the country. Click here to request a lecturer.

Sponsored by Atlas Copco and the Canadian Mining and Metallurgical Foundation.

Distinguished Lecturers 2007-2008 (Click name for quick navigation)

David W. Butler  ||  David R. Lentz  ||  Douglas M. Morrison  ||  Glenn K. Nolan

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Click here to download the Distinguished Lecturers pamphlet in PDF format...

David W. Butler
Thunderbay, ON

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the mining industry, particularly in promoting headframe and hoist plant design.

David Butler received his degree in civil engineering in 1970 from Nova Scotia Technical College in Halifax, NS. His career began with Inco as an engineer in training at the Sudbury area mines. He moved into Inco's central design office in 1974 and was assigned as a structural design engineer on a major mine expansion program. In 1978, David moved to Thunder Bay to join Cook Engineering as shaft design engineer for a shale oil project in Colorado for Occidental Petroleum. This project boasted the highest capacity hoisting system in North America at the time.

During his 29 years with Cook, David has been involved in the design of over two dozen shafts and hoisting plants. His projects ranged from a 1,000-ft shaft in Wyoming, to a 7,800-ft Agnico shaft in Quebec. His most recent was as project manager for the design and installation of the world's largest AC drive friction hoist for Mosaic Potash in Esterhazy, SK. His design work has taken him to various mines across North America.

He is a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario, the Association of Professional Engineers of Saskatchewan, the Consulting Engineers of Ontario, CIM, and has held project licenses in Quebec and New York State.

As Distinguished Lecturer David W. Butler will present:
Design and Installation of the World's Largest Friction Hoist

In 1995, Mosaic Potash made the decisionto increase production at their potash mine in Esterhazy, SK. The increase would come in the way of installing what would be the world’s largest AC drive friction hoist. The challenges in installing this hoist centred around designing a structure to support the tremendous loads that would be produced by the hoist ropes, in combination with high wind loads on a tall structure. The further challenge was to install this hoist without disrupting production from the existing hoist system.

The design of the installation was further complicated by the lack of structural capacity of the existing headframe to allow the hoist to be mounted on a new floor above the existing hoist, which was the initial concept. The hoist to be installed was designed by ABB and would be a 6 m (20 ft) diameter Koepe fitted with 4 x 63.5 mm (2.25 in.) ropes with a breaking strength of 9,800 kn (1,100 tons). The skips are to carry 50 tons at 18 mps (3,600 fpm). This presentation will concentrate on the structural design of the tower to carry this hoist.

David R. Lentz
Fredericton, NB

In recognition of exceptional service to CIM and for his significant accomplishments in scientific activities, promotion of education, and publications related to the study of mineral deposits.

David R. Lentz received his B.Sc. (1983) and M.Sc (1986) degrees in geology from the University of New Brunswick (UNB). He completed a PhD (1992) at the University of Ottawa, and then worked with the Geological Survey of Canada for three years. In 1994, Dave joined the New Brunswick Geological Survey as their mineral deposits geologist. In 1999, he won the Harvey Gross Young Scientist Medal from the Geological Association of Canada (GAC). Since 2000, he has held the economic geology chair at UNB (ORE Group), with a research focus on the petrogenesis of ore deposits. Recently, Dave was awarded GAC's Distinguished Service Award; most notably, he has edited three best-selling ore deposits-related books for GAC. He has published well over 100 journal articles and government publications, but is particularly well known for his short courses, workshops, and field trips. Presently, Dave is associate editor for Mineralium Deposita, Canadian Mineralogist, and Geoscience Canada, and special volumes liaison for CIM's Exploration and Mining Geology journal.

As Distinguished Lecturer David R. Lentz will present:
Developing the Orogenic Gold Deposit Model: Insights from R&D for Exploration Success

Our understanding of gold deposit-forming systems has changed dramatically over the past 30 years, mainly due to the recognition of the role that accretionary complexes and associated Wilson-style plate tectonics had in forming large metamorphic derived fluid systems, as well as specialized reduced magmatic hydrothermal systems in associated intrusion-related gold deposits. Detailed research has built on these considerably to the point where predictive metallogeny and applied aspects of geology, geochemistry, and geophysics can be quite effective in exploration. Many of these developments have come from R&D on NSERC-supported funding to researchers in both academe and governments in Canada, as well as fundamental support from industry.

The lecturer will review these scientific developments converging on a robust unified model that has the potential for enhancing exploration strategies at all scales. The question is whether further R&D enhances exploration success for gold (or other related metals). If there is a future for R&D in this field, then further support from industry is needed to help drive all sectors involved in R&D worldwide.

Douglas M. Morrison
Mississauga, ON

In recognition of his dedication to the global community and the promotion of holistic mining throughout the world.

Doug Morrison was born in Scotland in 1956 and graduated from Edinburgh University in geology and received a Master's degree in rock mechanics from University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He immigrated to Canada in 1981 and has 14 years of operating experience in ground control and rock mechanics in the deep underground mines of the Sudbury Basin, working for both Falconbridge Ltd. and Inco Ltd. Since joining Golder Associates in 1994 in Sudbury, ON, Doug has worked on mine design and ground control projects in Canada and the US and has travelled extensively, principally to Australia, South America and Europe. From 1999 to 2001, he was based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, serving mining clients locally while continuing to travel internationally. He has regularly presented papers at the CIM Conference and Exhibition and the Mine Operators Conference, as well as at other mining conferences in North America and internationally. Doug is presently based in the Mississauga office of Golder Associates, and since October 2005 has been responsible for the coordination of Golder's mining personnel globally to meet the needs of the international mining industry.

As Distinguished Lecturer Douglas M. Morrison will present:
Holistic and Sustainable Mining Technology

In the early 1980s, the Canadian mining industry went through a major transition from using mining methods that were manpowerintensive, using relatively small equipment to create small excavations, to methods that used much larger, more complex and expensive equipment, creating much larger excavations. But not all of these changes were positive and many aspects of the old ways of mining have been lost. The most important change was not technological, it was organizational—the change from holistic to prescriptive processes.

Today, mines are facing new challenges—commodity prices are high and likely to remain so for the foreseeable future—but the demographic challenges are significant, and the Canadian industry will see a dramatic change in the profile of the personnel employed.

This presentation is a slightly humorous look at the major changes the underground mining industry has gone through in the last 25 years. Despite the progress that has been made, the ways mines used to manage people and equipment may still have something to teach us about human nature. Perhaps a slightly different look at the changes we have experienced might help the industry to cope with the very serious challenges that lie ahead

Glenn K. Nolan
Missanabie, ON

In recognition of his leadership and devotion to promoting understanding between Aboriginal and mining communities by engaging companies, communities and governments.

Glenn is a strong advocate for sharing information between the mining industry and First Nation communities. He has worked hard at building bridges and links for greater information sharing between industry, government, and First Nations. Glenn has been a member of the National Orphaned/Abandoned Mines Initiative for the past four years, where he continues to speak on behalf of the First Nation communities who are directly impacted by closed mines on or near their traditional territories. He is a director of PDAC and is a member of the Aboriginal Affairs committee, which promotes greater involvement and inclusion in the mining industry for First Nation communities. Glenn founded the Learning Together mining conference, with the purpose of building greater awareness of First Nation issues and expectations relating to the mining industry.

Besides his advocacy work in mining, Glenn is the Chief of the Missanabie Cree First Nation, located in northern Ontario, and through his business experience has grown a number of community-owned businesses operated by the community development corporation. When not traveling and promoting First Nation issues, you might find Glenn paddling remote northern rivers and lakes, filming and photographing nature.

As Distinguished Lecturer Glenn K. Nolan will present:
Engaging First Nations Communities

Today, more than any other time in recent history, aboriginal communities are looking for ways to be understood as more resource development companies continue to explore and develop Canada's vast resource potential.

Recent Supreme Court rulings have affirmed the need to engage aboriginal communities early on in resource development projects. There are many conflicting ideas on how, who, and when to engage. Given the large number of communities and varied cultures, each resource development company must equip itself with a better understanding of the people they are planning to work with.

The lecture will begin with a basic historical perspective on treaties and the various societies across Canada. We will also explore the current situation many communities find themselves in today. Building a meaningful relationship with a community is the foundation for a lasting partnership. Every community is unique and every approach to engage communities must be just as unique. The lecture will outline some basic steps that can lead to a better relationship building process between the communities and companies.