INVESTMENT: Ontario pledges $5M to mining R&D effort

SUDBURY, ON – The Ontario government will pour $5 million into mining research and development at Laurentian University. A consortium at the school is investigating new methods of improving mineral targeting. The official award was made June 29 by Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravell and Sudbury MPP and Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault. The money, from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp., goes to Metal Earth, a seven-year R&D initiative run through Laurentian’s geoscience department. Metal Earth needs $107.7 million for the program. With the Ontario government’s contribution, funding has reached $55.2 million. The balance will be sought from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (www.CFREF-apogee.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx).