Brenda illustrates problem of dwindling reserves ..Second in a

Because of the limited remaining life of Brenda’s big, low grade, open pit copper- molybdenum operation in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, Mine Manager Emile Brokx is probably more conscious of the impact of mine closures than most operators.

“Many base metal mines, especially in western Canada, have been closed or will be closed in the next few years due to depleted reserves, and there are no new discoveries to replace them,” he says, pointing out that since the early 1980s most of the exploration activity has been concentrated on precious metals.

“If Canada is to maintain its position as a substantial base metals producer, then a higher priority must be given to base metal exploration,” he states with some concern.

A 1966 graduate in mining engineering from the Technological University of Delft, The Netherlands, he worked for six years in various professional positions with the bauxite mining operation of Alcan Aluminum in Guyana, South America. He came to Canada in 1971, joining the Noranda Group after a 2-year stint with Gibraltar Mines at McLeese Lake, B.C., working in senior posts at both its Granisle and Bell operations before being transferred to Central Canada Potash as mill superintendent. He was transferred to Brenda in 1988 as mine manager.

An efficient low grade operation, that mine is making money and paying dividends from the milling of 30,000 tons per day with a head grade of only 0.17% copper and 0.04% Mo. In fact Brenda was one of the first operations in this country to install a sophisticated computerized process control system in its mill. A computerized mine planning system has also been developed, both of which are now being marketed.