Latest news with #silica
ABC News
07-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Snowy 2.0 concrete lab at Lobs Hole closed amid silica concerns
A concrete testing lab at the multi-billion-dollar Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro project has been closed for nearly two months amid concerns workers were being exposed to silica. SafeWork NSW said it responded to a request for service at Lobs Hole Test Laboratory on May 15 regarding concerns about respirable crystalline silica (RCS). The inhalation of fine silica dust can result in the lung disease silicosis, causing long-term lung damage that can be fatal. SafeWork NSW documents seen by the ABC revealed the health and safety authority believed workers were exposed to "respirable dust and RCS in [a] lab building at Lobs Hole". In a statement, SafeWork NSW told the ABC the business had "ceased use of the laboratory" while the concerns were being addressed. "SafeWork NSW enquiries remain open as work continues with the business and the health and safety representatives to ensure adequate control measures are implemented," the statement read. Snowy Hydro was directed to take measures to mitigate further risks, including cleaning the lab's walls and floors, and putting in additional ventilation systems to extract dust from all rooms in the building. Concrete testing operations have not been impacted by the lab's closure, as testing has been diverted to another lab. Snowy Hydro confirmed up to 12 employees worked in the Lobs Hole concrete lab. In a statement, Snowy Hydro said it expected "the highest standards of safety, focus and leadership" from its principal contractor on the project Future Generation Joint Venture (FGJV). "We are always clear that the safety and wellbeing of the Snowy 2.0 workforce must always come first," the statement read. The project is located in the NSW Snowy Mountains. In March, the NSW government formed an expert taskforce of government, medical, industry and union representatives to address silica-related health risks to tunnelling project workers across the state. Monash University professor of respiratory pharmacology Jane Bourke said workers in industries like tunnelling, mining and construction, and those working with engineered stone bench tops, could be exposed to silica dust. "If it [silica dust] is ground to very small-sized particles, it can bypass all the body's normal defence mechanisms that we have when we breathe in things that shouldn't be in our body," she said. "The body's not able to cough it out or clear it from the lungs. And this eventually causes inflammation and scarring of the lungs." Professor Bourke said silicosis in the tunnelling industry was "an area of emerging concern", after more than a dozen Sydney tunnel workers were diagnosed with the incurable disease. "It would be naive to think that the disease is absent in other workplaces where there would be a similar level of risk," she said. In a statement, contractor Future Generation Joint Venture (FGJV) said it prioritised "the safety and wellbeing of its workforce as a fundamental aspect of the operation". "FGJV is proactive and works in collaboration with health and safety representatives and SafeWork NSW to ensure the highest standards of wellbeing for those delivering Snowy 2.0," it said. SafeWork NSW told the ABC it had an "active presence in tunnelling projects". The Snowy 2.0 project is expected to provide up to 2.2 gigawatts of electricity to the national grid once completed. The controversial project is expected to start delivering power in late 2027, following a string of setbacks. Work on the $12 billion project stopped in January when concerns were raised about the status of "last resort" chambers, designed to be used in an emergency when workers were unable to evacuate. Underground work was also halted again for three weeks in late February, after a ventilation fan imploded on site and sent metal shrapnel flying through the air.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Worcestershire quarry gets green light amid air pollution fears
Close to half a million tonnes of sand and gravel will be quarried from land next to two Worcestershire villages, despite residents' fears of a risk to health from airborne firm Cemex plans to carry out three years of excavation on farmland close to Ripple and Uckinghall, to supply what it called "critical construction supplies" for the local works, which would extract materials to a depth of up to 5.5m, were approved by Worcestershire County Council's planning committee on the quarrying is complete, it is proposed that the site be restored to a mixture of farmland and wetland. Operator Cemex already has a number of quarries in south Ripple East site sits next to a previous quarry, which since 2015 has been restored as a local residents said the new dig was too close to homes, with the nearest property approximately 40m from the proposed excavation."Cemex have gone one step too far," said Ripple resident Nick Harknett, who spoke at the planning committee hearing on Tuesday morning. While he said he appreciated the benefits of operations at the first site, Mr Harknett stressed residents' fears of the dangers of dust pollution, particularly from silica found within the of the very fine particles has been linked to lung diseases such as silicosis and cancer."Silica is the new asbestos… you're playing with people's lives here," he told the meeting. "This site is too close to the villages."He urged county councillors to reject the plans, despite them being recommended for approval by officers."Airborne silica can be taken directly into the lungs," said Green councillor Martin Allen, who represents the local division and who proposed the application's refusal. Allen argued the project's impact on the local community would fail to meet the objectives of the county's mineral extraction plan."Other countries warn about residents living near quarries' exposure to risk," he said."We used to have a 200-metre exclusion zone under the old mineral extraction plan."In a vote, Allen's motion was defeated. In a subsequent vote, councillors then approved the application. "There's no basis for talking about silicosis in the way that's been put forward today," said Rich Marsden, Cemex's development said no cases of the disease had been associated with the sand and gravel industry and that it was not a risk for the general population."We are the most heavily regulated industry in the country," added Mark Kelly, Cemex's UK planning stressed the site's importance in supplying the local construction sector with building an written submission, the county's public health team raised no objections to the an officer stated they did have some concerns regarding the cumulative effect on air quality of two quarries operating simultaneously, they highlighted a mitigation plan would be put in place to protect residents' health."Silica is one of the most common materials on the planet… this proposed extraction is not considered to represent a high risk," said Steve Aldridge, the county council's development manager. Sand and gravel excavated from the Ripple East site would be transported by barge about two miles up the River Severn to Cemex's Ryall concrete plant, also close to where the firm has submitted another application for on the Ripple East site is also expected to take place at the same time as another firm, Cullimore, begins quarrying on the other side of the M50 motorway."We already have at least seven quarries in our small parish, either completed, active or in the planning stage," said resident Jessica Wardle before the meeting."Our villages may soon be islands in a sea of quarries," she said. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. Reports Results of 2025 Annual General Meeting
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - June 30, 2025) - Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. (CSE: QIMC) (FSE: 7FJ) ("QI Materials", "QIMC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of its Annual General (the "Meeting"), held on June 30, 2025. At the Meeting, the shareholders of the Company voted on key resolutions, the election of directors, and other corporate matters, all of which received overwhelming support. Furthermore, the Company acknowledges Jakson Inwentash for his service, who has served as a director. QIMC wishes him continued success in his future endeavors. For more information about Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. and its products, please visit About Québec Innovative Materials Corp. Québec Innovative Materials Corp. is a mineral exploration, and development company dedicated to exploring and harnessing the potential of Canada's abundant resources. With properties in Ontario and Québec, QIMC is focused on specializing in the exploration of white (natural) hydrogen and high-grade silica deposits, QIMC is committed to sustainable practices and innovation. With a focus on environmental stewardship and cutting-edge extraction technology, we aim to unlock the full potential of these materials to drive forward clean energy solutions to power the AI and carbon-neutral economy and contribute to a more sustainable future. QUÉBEC INNOVATIVE MATERIALS KaragiannidisChief Executive OfficerTel: +1 438-401-8271 For further information, please contact: Email: info@ Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the CSE policies) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Québec Innovative Materials' actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Although Québec Innovative Materials believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments in the mining sector; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; mining industry and markets in Canada and generally; the ability of Québec Innovative Materials Corp. to implement its business strategies; competition; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CTV News
03-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘Almost intolerable:' Airdrie business concerned over potentially hazardous dust emitted from concrete company
Airdrie's Western R.V. dealership says its neighbour, Tanas Concrete, has not been cleaning up the mess left behind by its plant. Some Airdrie business owners are concerned about the dust blowing over from a neighbouring concrete business, calling it a health and environmental hazard. Western R.V., a dealership for recreational vehicles and campers says their vehicles are consistently coated in dust coming from the business to the southeast. Tanas Concrete, now owned by Lafarge, has been operating on 58 East Lake Crescent since 2016. Bruce Urban says he's noticed more dust and activity within the past five years, and says his staff and customers are worried about inhaling the fine dust. 'It's getting almost intolerable at this point,' he said. He and his son Brandon, tell CTV News they have reached out to the Airdrie mayor's office, every councillor, local MLAs and federally elected officials to address their concerns and complaints. 'I need to try to take action, but what's the action when the politicians don't want to listen? When you're up against a wall like that, my question is what do you do? Do you shut down your business because your employees are being put through this?' said Urban. Concrete and silica Concrete often contains crystalline silica, which can be harmful when inhaled, according to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). It adds, silica particles can have damaging effects on the lungs, and have been known to cause lung cancer. CTV News has reached out to Lafarge, and is waiting for a response to our request for comment. The City of Airdrie sent a statement which reads: 'An investigation is currently underway. We are unable to provide any specific details until the investigation is complete.' The city is also working to determine 'which areas of the expressed concern fall within the municipal areas of responsibility.' According to open data, the land-use for the concrete business is zoned as a heavy industrial employment district, while the adjacent properties to the north are zoned as an industrial park employment district. 'Clean it up' The property owner of a parcel of land to the immediate west of the concrete company says he too has been reaching out to various government organizations with concerns. 'I'd just like to see the City of Airdrie follow what the Alberta government says they should be doing,' said Ken Maines before adding, 'clean it up.' The province sent an Environmental Protection Officer to the Tanas Concrete property on May 14, according to an email obtained by CTV News from the department of Environment and Protected Areas. The officer provided a list of corrective actions for the company. These actions include; daily road sweeping in the yard and public roads, improvements to its street sweeper machinery, regrading land in the yard, installing a mat system to clean mud off the cars, and 'application of calcium chloride on their yard for dust control will be completed by the first week in June 2025.' As for health concerns, the email stated: 'Understanding the potential health impacts that the dust may have, EPA does not address specific health hazards. For concerns related to health and safety, we recommend contacting Alberta Health Services and/or Alberta Occupational Health Safety directly, as they are the appropriate authority to provide guidance and support on these matters.' Brandon Urban says he will be directing further complaints about dust as suggested. His father, Bruce Urban, says he wants to see a more urgent response. 'We need somebody to listen.'
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Argyle Announces Completion of Satellite Analysis at Saint Gabriel Silica Project
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2025) - Argyle Resources Corp. (CSE: ARGL) (OTCQB: ARLYF) (FSE: ME0) ("Argyle" or the "Company ") is pleased to announce that it has received the results of remote sensing studies comprising Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) and Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) analysis over its St. Gabriel silica claim block and its environs including gas mapping for hydrogen, helium, radon, methane and carbon dioxide. The remote sensing studies aimed to provide highly detailed mineral mapping and actionable exploration targets on the claim block and its environs (press release March 20th, 2025). Unmixing the hyperspectral Sentinel 2-A satellite data enables identifying, differentiating, and mapping sixteen distinct endmembers or minerals, at 10m resolution, including opaline silica and chert from surface reflectance. Unmixing the ASTER thermal data identified sixteen endmember minerals, including quartz abundances, by detecting the thermal radiation emitted by materials from outcrops through vegetation and overburden at a coarser 90 m resolution. Satellite data was from two time periods, September 20th, 2024, and January 28th, 2025, which coincided with minimal to no vegetation cover and reduced the amount of non-geological generated gases. Mineral Mapping: Hyperspectral mineral mapping using opaline silica minerals outlined three distinct target areas ranging from 1.5km to 2km in length. The shortwave infrared (SWIR) Silica target areas incorporate the four high silica drill holes drilled in 1991 and between 15% and 56% of the Sigeom-denoted outcrops reported on the claims. Though not as extensive as the hyperspectral opaline silica, the long-wave infrared endmember (LWIR) mineral quartz abundance corresponds spatially to the three opaline SWIR targets. Fingerprint Target Mapping: Utilizing the georeferenced high silica drill holes, the fifteen spatially associated outcrops on the St. Gabriel claims, and the sampled quartzite outcrops from the Matapedia claims, as trainers for AI learning. For the SWIR and LWIR data, algorithms analyzed the hyperspectral/spectral data, applying quadratic discriminant function classifiers (QDFC) to each pixel within the survey area. It involved fitting the spectral signature of each pixel to the known fingerprints of target minerals, and by quantitatively assessing the spectral similarities, the AI learning system generates QDFC Predictive Fingerprint Target Maps, highlighting areas likely to contain the desired mineral deposits. Individual SWIR and LWIR QDFC predictive Fingerprint target maps were produced for both the St. Gabriel and Matapedia trainers to outline potential quartz/silica target areas. All the SWIR Fingerprint mapping data showed near identical target areas. The Fingerprint mapping data was outlined and contoured to produce the SWIR quartz/silica Fingerprint Target map. The three Fingerprint target areas correspond to the opaline silica target areas. The coarser resolution LWIR QDFC Fingerprinting delineated four target areas, three corresponding to the SWIR targets, plus a target at the eastern border of the claims. In addition to the quartz/silica targets on the claim block, three large quartz/silica target areas trending some 40 km were identified outside the St. Gabriel claims. Five historic copper showings/mines in the area were also used as trainers to search for potential copper targets on the claims and in the vicinity. Several copper target areas were identified outside the claims associated with specific regional faults, showing the absence of major copper targets on the claim block. Gas Abundance Mapping: Sentinel 2-A SWIR and VNIR data for September 2024 and January 2025, selected to minimize non-geologic gas interference, five gases were unmixed: hydrogen, helium, radon (at 10m resolution), and methane, carbon dioxide (at 20m resolution). Statistical analysis shows a strong correlation between quartz outcrops and hydrogen gas, with a minor correlation to helium, indicating hydrogen as a reliable exploration vector for quartz deposits. Hydrogen abundance, independent of the SWIR opaline minerals, reveals three distinct moderate hydrogen zones on the claims. At the same time, helium and radon distributions suggest radioactive mineral presence and potential organic sedimentary sources, with low to no abundances correlating to quartz-rich zones. Methane and carbon dioxide abundances are sparse and show no spatial correlation with quartz outcrops. Hydrogen abundance correlates well with the quartz/silica previously identified by SWIR minerals and Fingerprint target mapping. Due to the hydrogen/quartz correlation, the five gas abundance data over the known silica outcrops and high silica drill holes were used as trainers to generate a gas QDFC fingerprint Target map. The map outlined and highlighted numerous precise and discrete target areas for silica quartz. Eighty percent (80%) of the numerous gas/quartz targets occur within the three quartz/silica Fingerprint target areas. The gas mapping confirmed the presence of hydrogen, probably "geological" hydrogen. To ascertain whether the hydrogen abundance mapped is from a shallow or deep source, the Duplex Wave Migration (DWM) seismic imaging technique to visualize near-vertical structures in the Earth's subsurface was adapted to produce a deep hydrogen anomaly map at 50m resolution for the claims and the 11,000 sq. km survey region using satellite high-resolution hydrogen estimates for September 2024 at 10 m spatial resolution. A moving window of 5x5 pixels to migrate the gas response down into the earth, so the resolution is roughly 50m. Deep-sourced hydrogen on the claims was confirmed, and numerous moderate to high deep hydrogen abundances were identified correlating closely, though more defined, with the quartz/silica target areas outlined by the other remote sensing mapping. Regional areas of deep-sourced hydrogen in the 11,000 sq km area were identified as being closely associated with regional faults, deep-seated crustal faults, and a deep gravity "worm" transecting the St. Gabriel claim block. These are important features related to the movement of gases and mineral fluids in the area. LWIR Metallic TVM Overlap Mapping: Three iron minerals were identified, outlined, and contoured to delineate areas of metallic minerals and exclude contaminant zones that could degrade quartz quality. The three target zones are outside the main areas of metallics. Priority Quartz/Silica Targets The targeting process was refined by incorporating the remote sensing results from the SWIR hyperspectral, LWIR thermal, and gases to delineate quartz/silica priority target zones. Sixty (60) small, discreet priority targets were outlined in three clusters corresponding to the broad quartz/silica target areas. These targets align with known high-silica drill holes and outcrops, providing focused areas for future exploration. Metallic mineral contamination mapping further refines these targets to enhance silica quality. Satellite data integration, including multispectral imaging, gas surveys, and gravity data, has effectively delineated priority quartz target areas on the St. Gabriel claim block. The strong correlation between hydrogen gas and high-purity quartzite supports using hydrogen as an exploration vector. Structural features such as deep crustal faults and gravity worms are significant for fluid migration and mineralization. These insights provide a robust foundation for the upcoming field program. Jeff Stevens, CEO of Argyle Resources Corp., commented: "The integration of advanced remote sensing and AI-driven mineral mapping has delivered a robust foundation for our upcoming field program at St. Gabriel. The strong correlation between hydrogen gas and high-purity quartzite supports our approach of using hydrogen as an exploration vector, and the identification of discrete, high-potential targets will allow us to focus our resources efficiently for maximum impact." The Company will leverage these insights to prioritize fieldwork and further evaluate the economic potential of the St. Gabriel silica project. The results also reinforce Argyle's broader strategy of deploying cutting-edge remote sensing technologies across its Québec silica portfolio About Argyle Resources Corp. Argyle Resources Corp. is a junior mineral exploration company engaged in the business of acquiring, exploring, staking and evaluating natural resource properties in North America. In addition to the Saint Gabriel project, the Company currently holds an option to acquire up to 100% of the Frenchvale Graphite Property located in Nova Scotia, Canada and owns 100% interest in the Pilgrim Islands, Matapédia and Lac Comporté quartzite silica projects in Québec, Canada. Argyle is engaged in a research partnership with the National Institute of Scientific Research (INRS), a high-level research and training institute funded by the Québec government to conduct exploration programs on the Company's silica projects. The Company was incorporated in 2023 and its head office is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Qualified Person John Ryder a "Qualified Person" as that term is defined under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Ryder is also a consultant of the Company. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 'Jeffrey Stevens' President & CEO For all other inquiries: Email: info@ Phone: (825) 724-0033 Website: Forward-Looking Statements All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Argyle expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such statements may involve, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the exploration and development of the Company's mineral properties. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by Argyle based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond Argyle's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Argyle does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
