Queen’s University to administer mining research organization of

The Mining Research Organization of Canada (MIROC) and Queen’s University have entered into an agreement whereby, effective immediately, the administration of MIROC will be performed by the department of mining engineering at Queen’s. MIROC, which was founded in 1976, has carried out a wide range of mining research projects and most notably developed the Northern Light, a high intensity, nickel-cadmium powered miner’s lamp.

Dr Peter Calder, head of mining engineering, will become the new research director of MIROC and Charles Hews, former president of Inco’s Manitoba division and current instructor in management for the mineral industry, will serve as associate research director, working closely with the MIROC advisory committee and board of directors. Calder succeeds Dr Ron Lord, who retired at the end of 1988, and who will continue as honorary research director.

The advisory committee comprises technical representatives from each of MIROC’s member companies, Falconbridge, Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting, Inco, Kidd Creek Mines, and Noranda.

Projects will continue to address practical mining needs and problems and opportunities identified at various mine sites by the advisory committee. Projects will be formulated by the university and the advisory committee and presented to the MIROC board of directors for approval. Wherever appropriate, research networks involving other universities and other organizations will be brought into particular projects to ensure the strongest possible team for a given project.