Signals Spring 2014

SIGNALS Genome BC News | Spring 2014

ContentsFeature Story | Message from the President & CEO | Profile | Partnerships In Action | News & Announcements

With the global demand for raw materials showing few signs of slowing, Canada’s mineral resource sector continues to be a mainstay of the economy. As more mineral deposits and gas reserves are found and developed, environmental safety concerns remain paramount.

Extensive research demonstrates that bacteria can influence certain mining processes. We also know that the successful practical applications of technologies exploiting biological processes can be an important contributor to future cost competitiveness, safety and environmental performance in the mining industry. The next step is to further refine these applications.

Living things in and around a mine site, from a tiny microbe to a giant lodgepole pine, each contain a genome that dictates its biological functions. By sequencing these genomes and linking the information to changes in biological traits brought about by responses to the organism’s surroundings, a better understanding of the environment is possible. This means current challenges in mining could be improved through genomics-based technologies by providing a new performance measure of the biology of the environment.

Some examples include mitigating the risks of environmental impact; testing toxicity for fish and wildlife; improving recovery of target minerals; extracting residuals from lower grade ores; identifying new deposits of interest; and increasing the robustness of remediation.

Living things in and around a mine site... each contain a genome that dictates its biological functions. By sequencing these genomes and linking the information... challenges in mining could be improved.

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www.genomebc.ca

MINING WITH MICROBES

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• At Island Copper Mine, the pit lake was flooded with seawater and capped with buoyant freshwater (rainfall) to create a permanently stratified pit lake. This pit lake received copper- and zinc- contaminated acidic drainage from adjacent waste rock piles. Biological activity in the bottom of this pit lake is responsible for removing some of this metal load. In addition, periodic fertilization of the freshwater surface lake creates algal blooms that remove copper and zinc introduced by the uncaptured waste rock drainage.

While bioremediation has been around for years—and is currently being applied right here in BC—we are still learning about the properties of these toxin-digesting microbes, how to best exploit their unique capabilities and how to optimize them to work even better in new environments.

The real benefit of applying genomics to bioremediation lies in the understanding we gain on how complex microbial communities living together in mine wastewater function and, more importantly, what makes them flourish. In order for these microbes to function effectively, we need to know what sort of environment they thrive in—the type of nutrients, food sources, and conditions that maximize the growth and function of the most desirable group of microbes.

Bioremediation of wastewater is an area of growing interest. The use of biological approaches to treat mine waste water began in 1989 with a three-year study of wetlands treating copper-contaminated mine drainage at the Bell Copper Mine (between Smithers and Burns Lake). Bioremediation uses naturally occurring microbes living in and around mine sites to ‘digest’ the toxic compounds and detoxify the contaminated water. In essence, these specialized organisms thrive on toxic chemicals, integrating them into their metabolism while neutralizing toxicity. There are several BC-based examples of biological tools being used to address safety and environmental concerns, including:

• The Nickel Plate mine in Hedley, BC uses a biological treatment process in a water treatment plant for cyanide removal.

• At Tulsequah Chief in northwestern BC, a temporary biological treatment system (based on sulphate-reducing bacteria) has been established to remove cadmium, copper, lead and zinc from mine water.

• A tailings pond at Highland Valley Copper was converted into a biological ecosystem with the specific intent to remove contaminants from overlaying waters and eliminate their mobilization from submerged tailings.

• A wetland has been established in a tailings pond at the now-closed Silver Queen mine near Houston, BC, removing zinc from adit (horizontal entrance to a mine) discharge.

MINING WITH MICROBESCont’d from cover

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO

FACILITATING SOCIAL LICENSES

BC’s robust mining industry has generated over $13 billion in economic value and close to 34,000 jobs according to the BC Mineral Economy Snapshot. Our province’s seven major mineral commodities—copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, gold, silver and metallurgical coal—are mined from 19 sites operating across the province. And, according to the 2013 Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies, the mining industry is only now hitting its stride and poised to boom.

Yet there are challenges. Mining sites occupy less than one per cent of BC’s land, but the implications for cleanup and environmental safety (see cover story) are more far reaching. The challenge of how to remediate toxins from the environment has been percolating for many years, as scientists and the industry search for improved ways to decontaminate mining sites. This challenge is now being tackled with genomics.

UBC’s eminent professor Dr. Julian Davies first suggested applying genomics to improve our understanding of this problem in 2001, through a Genome BC and Genome Canada-funded project, Microbial Envirogenomics. Co-led by UBC colleagues Drs. Lindsay Eltis and Bill Mohn, the project explored the physiology and functioning of environmentally significant bacteria through genomic approaches, starting with Rhodococcus RHA1.

Dr. Davies theorized that previous large-scale genomics work, as ambitious in scope as it was, did not capture the holistic approach required to fully understand the interaction of microorganisms. In essence, it wouldn’t work unless scientists also examined how microbes interact with the environment. It was this early work in the field now known as metagenomics that jumpstarted Genome BC’s investment into the breakdown of toxins in the environment.

Fast forward a few years to 2005, and Genome BC began discussions with partners Teck Resources and Imperial Metals to address remediation at mine sites, specifically the Mt. Polley mine, an open pit copper and gold mine located in south-central BC.

In addition to their environmental applications, genomic tools also have the potential to help with mineral extraction via microbial action. As an engineer, I find this very interesting: the entire mining operation—from crushing huge amounts of rock into ore to the finesse required to successfully close out a mine— and the ways genomics can be applied to streamline and reduce costs are important. And we are just at the beginning of this journey.

January’s roundtable session at the Mineral Exploration Roundup conference (see the Partnerships in Action section) was stimulating. The microbial applications, from determining which ores are underground to ensuring human and environmental health are paramount in mine cleanup are ready to be capitalized upon. When it comes to our natural resources and the requirement for a social license to operate I am excited by the development of genomics technologies that can play a role in engineering solutions across the lifecycle of mining.

Alan E. WinterPresident & CEO, Genome British Columbia

In his youth, Jean Vavrek’s mind was continually challenged by the endless games of chess he played with his father. The intricacies of chess and the constantly shifting matrix of the chessboard are not dissimilar to the landscape in which Vavrek moves today as the Executive Director of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM).

Jean began his involvement with CIM as a volunteer in 1991 while working as Business Unit Manager Metals and Mining for ABB Inc. where over time he held various positions across Canada and Sweden. Now at the helm of CIM for over a decade, Vavrek has seen significant changes in the mining industry—new technology, changing regulations and economic pressures. Under his leadership, CIM has also changed during this period, evolving with these changes to remain current and competitive.

CIM is emerging from a broad strategic review, and setting the stage for continuation into a future that Vavrek believes is very bright. Some of the technologies now at the nexus of applications are big data, space / extra planetary resource extraction, nanotechnology, miniaturization, 3-D printing, Google Glass—these chess pieces of the future stretch almost to the horizon. And at the forefront stands genomics: Vavrek sees this pillar as a cornerstone to this portfolio of disruption and innovation.

As volunteers for CIM’s upcoming annual conference gather in Vancouver from May 11-14 Vavrek knows that this year’s meeting will be different: technology will still be a major topic but as he spreads CIM’s focus to ‘softer’ subjects, more societal aspects are being woven into the program. Under his leadership CIM for the first time is hosting a session on diversity in the mining industry to examine how women, First Nations people and other groups can bring benefits and new perspectives forward (Diversity & Inclusion 101). The conference will also feature a session on Ethics in Mining in collaboration with the Canadian Business Ethics Research Network exploring the ethical responsibilities of mining, and its potential to contribute to sustainable development.

As a young chess enthusiast Vavrek was captivated by his ability to see many moves ahead on the chessboard. As a leader in Canada’s mining industry he is putting these abilities to work, and enjoying every moment of the game.

PROFILE:JEAN VAVREK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF MINING, METALLURGY AND PETROLEUM

MINING’S NEXT GRANDMASTER

Effective partnerships are critical as we strive to solve many technical and scientific challenges. The word, partnership, implies an alignment of understanding, common effort and the potential for individual and mutual benefit. So in this issue of Signals, I’m pleased to be writing about Partnerships in Action.

On January 28th of this year I was asked to chair a group of invited representatives from industry, academia and government, brought together by Genome BC to gauge the potential for applying biological methods, specifically genomics, to some of the challenges facing the mining and mineral exploration industry. This session took place during the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC)’s annual conference Roundup, one of the mining industry’s biggest annual events.

PARTNERSHIPS IN ACTION BYJOHN THOMPSON, PETRA SCIENCECONSULTANTS

MISSED THE GENOMICS FORUM?

Checkout videos on our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/genomicseducation

The conference has a long history and is renowned for its positive atmosphere and broad exchange of technical ideas related to global mineral exploration. This year was typical with over 6,100 attendees fully engaged, sharing new ideas and exploring opportunities- for me this is the sound of partnerships in action. From students seeking jobs or mentors, to seasoned explorers and dealmakers, the event hums with activity and collaboration. Indeed, it was an ideal backdrop in which to examine a new concept such as the role of genomics in mining.

This issue’s cover story, along with Alan Winter’s column, illustrate the value that mining brings to BC and Canada but also outlines the challenges faced by the industry. We also see that new technologies are revolutionizing the biological methods that may have applications in exploration, enhanced metal recovery and remediation.

6,100 attendees fully engaged, sharing new ideas and exploring opportunities- for me this is the sound of partnerships in action.

John Thompson

The logical next step, and soon to be undertaken, is to target meetings such as the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM)’s annual convention being held this May in Vancouver to keep dialogue going and develop partnerships. Through robust discussion among scientists, industry and government, we can continue to explore the exciting contributions that genomics can make to one of our province’s most vibrant, profitable sectors.

PARTNERSHIPS IN ACTION BY JOHN THOMPSON Cont’d from previous

At the Genome BC-hosted event held on-site at Roundup, a group of several scientists shared concrete examples about discoveries that could be used to improve processes for treating wastes and recovering metals. Some of these concepts have been tried previously but genomic research offers ways to improve and optimize specific methods. Some examples include gold and copper extraction, bioremediation of wastewater using specific microbial communities and the application of organisms that bind to minerals to better separate them.

Industry participants in the Roundtable were intrigued by the opportunity to take a much deeper look at current biological methods and apply new knowledge in a measured and consistent way. There is clearly an opening to apply biological tools to help meet environmental and economic challenges.

Some of these concepts have been tried previously but genomic research offers ways to improve and optimize specific methods.

Rock sample from Mt. Polley Mine

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

ROUNDUP 2014

Genome BC hosted a roundtable discussion at the Association for Mineral Exploration BC’s annual Roundup conference. Reps from mining, academia and government were brought together to better understand how applying biological methods, specifically genomics, can improve operational and cost performance in the mining industry.

BRINGING GENOMICS HOME OUTREACH

Genome BC’s Bringing Genomics Home outreach program brought in more than 250 audience members through talks in March. Dr. Robin Coope spoke about the role of technology and engineering in life sciences at College of the Rockies in Cranbrook. Dr. Brian Riddell updated members of Gibsons about the ongoing role of genomics and the health of salmon. The program returned to Kamloops with Drs. Brad Popovich and Martin Dawes who presented the opportunities, applications and potential impacts of personalized medicine. All presentations were well received with lengthy Q&A sessions with the audience.

GENOME BC CEO HONOURED

Dr. Alan Winter was honoured as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) at their 2014 Annual Meeting in Chicago in February. This international honour recognizes Dr. Winter’s distinguished contribution to the development of satellite-aided search and rescue systems and to the administration of a wide range of science and technology organizations.development of a

MLA LUNCH AND LEARN IN VICTORIA

Genome BC met with BC MLAs in Victoria to highlight some of the important outcomes and impacts of genomics research in BC. MLA guests interacted and discussed genomics with representatives from three BC companies and four research scientists.

Images courtesy of AME BC

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Genome British ColumbiaSuite 400575 West 8th AvenueVancouver, BC V5Z 0C4Tel: 604 738 8072

[email protected]

Alan PelmanChair

lan de la RocheVice Chair

Alan WinterGenome BC

Neena L. ChappellUniversity of Victoria

Jock Finlayson BC Business Council

Ken GalbraithVentures West Capital Ltd.

Joseph Garcia Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Ida GoodreauUniversity of British Columbia

Janet HalliwellJ.E. Halliwell Associates Inc.

Victor LingTerry Fox Research Institute

Peter O’CallaghanBlake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Edward SafarikOcean Fisheries Ltd.

John ShepherdUniversity of British Columbia

John F.H. ThompsonPetraScience Consultants Inc.

BOARD MEMBERS

We welcome your comments and input.Please send comments to: [email protected]

Genome BC is supported by the Province of British Columbia, the Government of Canada through Genome Canada and Western Economic Diversification Canada and more than 300 international public and private co-funding partners.

Printed on 100% recyclable paper.

NEW WEBSITE!

Be sure to check out Genome BC’s updated website. New features include “genomics in action” stories, a section dedicated to the impacts of genomics research and examples of how solutions to industry challenges are being tackled using genomics.

www.genomebc.ca/impacts.

GENESKOOL EDUCATION OUTREACH

Geneskool workshops were presented in three high schools in Sechelt, Pender Harbour and Powell River earlier this year. The workshops were attended by 305 students where they interacted with practicing scientists and conducted fun and educational science activities.