SASKATOON—Trade and Export Minister Warren Kaeding said the Saskatchewan Research Council’s decision to add a full-scale laser sorter to its wide range of mining services would further showcase its research capabilities, as well as other institutions in the province.
Kaeding, who is also the Minister Responsible for SRC and Innovation, said that the equipment is the only one of its kind in North America and would increase business and trade in Saskatchewan, which is beneficial for the provincial economy.
“It certainly is going to set SRC apart from really any other entity out there. So, it's going to certainly showcase the skills and abilities that we have in the research side, certainly in the critical mineral space,” said Kaeding.
“Both parties [the exploration and established groups] are going to benefit because those that are doing the exploration are going to need to understand the ore body and ultimately what the percentage content is, the efficient way to get it processed.”
He added that the mineral processing industry would also benefit from the facility, as even a three per cent improvement in their processing of the minerals would be a significant difference in the products.
“The ability of this machine to ultimately assess almost all of the critical minerals that we have, certainly in the solid form, is going to be a huge benefit to anybody working in the critical mineral space,” Kaeding said.
“I would say Saskatchewan, having 27 of the 34 critical minerals, I think, on Canada's critical minerals list, certainly bodes well for production and probably for increased development here in the province.”
The full scale and size of the laser sorter sets Saskatchewan apart from other countries in the rare earths mining industry, as there is no other facility that has the services the SRC offers, which shortens the processing of mineral ores.
“As part of our growth plan going forward, we want to increase the value-added component of all sectors here in the province. This will definitely enhance the ability and opportunity to increase value-added in the critical mineral space,” said Kaeding.
“This one-of-a-kind facility in Saskatoon provides solutions for every phase of the mining cycle. SRC's sensor-based sorting technology is revolutionizing the mining industry. Saskatchewan has long been a leader in mining, from potash, uranium and rare earth elements.”
SRC President Mike Crabtree said their sorting centre is the only third-party, independent testing centre that offers bench pilot scale, with the addition of their new full-scale laser sorter, which will provide much more comprehensive services to the mining sector.
“The sensor-based sorting technology uses sensors to distinguish between valuable ore and waste rock based on their mineralogical differences. Sensor-based sorting has been widely used in the recycling and food production industries for decades,” said Crabtree.
