Arianne Phosphate, Saguenay, Quebec,a development-stage phosphate mining company advancing the Lac à Paul project in Quebec’s Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, said on April 8 it has made significant advancements in the design of its future tailings facility.
Arianne partnered with the Quebec Center of Geomatics (CGQ), a group within the College of Chicoutimi in the Province of Quebec, to advance research and development on a new method for the design and future monitoring of the company’s tailings operations. This work will use geomatic and remote sensing tools combined with artificial intelligence that should greatly improve the safety aspects of Arianne’s operations.
“The Lac à Paul mine is projected to be one of the most environmentally friendly phosphate mines in the world,” said Jean-Sébastien David, Arianne COO. “From the project’s onset, Arianne’s design process had the goal of constructing a mine using best environmental practices and, the integration of technology was vital in this regard. Further, our reliance on renewable hydro-electricity will allow us to greatly diminish our production of greenhouse gases (GHG) with the goal of ultimately being GHG neutral. Our most recent endeavors have also added to the safety and structural integrity of our tailings facility.”
Arianne said during the construction process sensors will be built in throughout the tailings dam that will measure, in real-time, data points such as moisture and pressure, and make adjustments as necessary to allow for smooth and safe operations, allowing for greater safety.
This research project was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through its Partnership Engage Grants.