About us

About ICaRN

The International Caving Research Network (ICaRN) is a multidisciplinary research network formed at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada) with the collaboration of the Faculty of Applied Science, the Faculty of Science, Department of Mining Engineering, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, Department of Geological Engineering, and the Mineral Deposit Research Unit. ICaRN consists of a multi‐disciplinary group from industry and academia, covering the fields of operations, geology, cave mining, geomechanics, and mineral processing.

The objective of ICaRN is to leverage value from multi‐disciplinary research to address key knowledge gaps identified by industry to develop and verify new technologies and numerical tools that promotes an end-to-end approach to improve the productivity of block and panel cave mines and aimed at maintaining Canada’s competitiveness in the international mining industry.

Background

Recent numbers from the International Copper Study Group (ICSG 2017) show that the global demand and production of copper has more than tripled in the last 50 years. This has been in response to increasing populations and economic growth. Demand is expected to increase even further in response to the shift towards electric cars and renewable energy sources, which are heavily reliant on copper. However, the ICSG (2017) also identified several constraints on copper supply, which includes declining ore grades, especially as near surface resources are exhausted and mining is pushed deeper.

Research Focus

The research at ICaRN is focused on the concept that value can be realized by an integrated approach to orebody knowledge, mine design and operation.

This is done in three stages. The first is better characterization of the material reporting to the drawpoints. Secondly, measurement of the variation in the metal content that is delivered from drawpoints through the use of scanners and sensors at various points in the ore flow system. Finally, bulk ore sorting systems offer flexibility and control by allowing classification of waste, low grade and mill grade streams in real time.

The overall objective of the research is to enhance value of caving mine projects/operations. All research projects are required to demonstrate their potential for ‘healthier mine’ with improved safety and productivity.

CAVE-TO-MILL

Cave‐to‐Mill involving the integration of processes to enhance mine and mill performance and bulk sorting to provide selectivity options and reliable feed to the process plant.

CAVE MINE DESIGN

Cave Mine Design to facilitate effective and efficient underground sorting systems and improved footprint reliability.

MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGIES

New Measurement Technologies through implementation of advanced instrumentation to monitor drawpoint muck grade, cave loads, and excavation displacements and pillar bulking.

HAZARD MANAGEMENT

Strategies to more effectively monitor, forecast and mitigate undercut and extraction‐level hazards such as rock bursting and mud rush, to improve safety and production reliability by reducing interruptions.

Governance

Participation is through membership in the ICaRN consortium and is open to mining companies that are actively engaged from early stage orebody definition through project design and planning to mine operations. Members will have access to the outcomes of the various research projects and will have the opportunity of strongly influencing the selection of specific projects within the overall objectives of the cave to mill concept.