Geotechnical News • September 2019
21
WASTE GEOTECHNICS
Applications of Mining Geotechnique Research:
From the Laboratory to the Real World
Vivian Giang and G. Ward Wilson
The mining industry and academia
have a special relationship when it
comes to research and disseminat-
ing knowledge in the field of mining
geotechnique. The two sectors often
collaborate to investigate novel ideas,
test innovative technologies, and most
importantly, train the next generation
of technical experts who will lead
the industry. Further, they work with
industry regulators to solve some of
the most challenging issues regarding
the environmental impact and sustain-
ability of mining. Over the summer,
two significant events highlighted this
special relationship.
From June 17 to 20, the NSERC
Strategic Partnership Grants for
Networks “NSERC Toward Envi-
ronmentally Responsible Resource
Extraction” (TERRE-NET) held
its Annual General Meeting at the
University of Alberta campus. Led by
Dr. David Blowes and his team at the
University of Waterloo TERRE-NET
brings together leading researchers
from eight universities across Canada
(University of Waterloo, University
of British Columbia, University of
Alberta, University of Saskatchewan,
University of Toronto, University
of Ottawa, Université du Québec en
Abitibi-Témiscamingue, and Memo-
rial University of Newfoundland) and
numerous partner organizations and
end-users, including provincial, terri-
torial and federal government agen-
cies, mining companies, and industry
associations.
TERRE-NET researchers have exten-
sive expertise in all areas of mine-
waste management and remediation,
as well as in interaction with First
Nations, Métis, and Inuit communi-
ties. The network’s collaboration with
key industry partners, industry associ-
ations, government organizations and
regulatory agencies in Canada, as well
as with international partners, ensures
that this network provides real-world
solutions for mine-waste management
and remediation technologies both
in Canada and around the world. In a
thoroughly integrated approach, the
team aims to develop improved, cost-
effective, socially acceptable strate-
gies for managing mine wastes and
mitigating contamination.
During the Annual General Meet-
ing, 80 participants gathered to listen
to presentations from the fields of
geochemistry, hydrogeology, mineral-
ogy, biogeochemistry, waste-water
processing, geotechnical engineering,
nanotechnology, environmental micro-
biology, resource economics, envi-
ronmental sociology, and Indigenous
interactions. This year’s meeting fea-
tured a special plenary presentation on
“Canada’s Northern Abandoned Mines
Program: Status and Challenges” by
Michael Nahir, Director of the Project
Technical Office of the Contaminated
Sites Program for the federal depart-
Graduate student researchers presenting their thesis work at TERRE-NET’s
Annual General Meeting. Photo courtesy of Jen Stogowski.
