Reno Pressacco
Associate Principal Geologist, SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd.

Talk Abstract

Preparation of a mineral resource estimate is an essential component in the mining cycle, as errors that occur in an MRE will affect all following steps that rely upon its accuracy. Over the course of many decades, SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. and predecessor Roscoe Postle Associates have observed a number of common errors that occur at all stages of the workflow. The purpose of this paper is to share some of SLR’s experiences relating to the errors encountered during the preparation of MRE’s and to present some solutions for avoiding these errors. SLR observes that the source of many of the flaws is the result of the level of knowledge, experience, judgement, or expertise by the practitioner of the fundamental principles of mineral resource estimation and with the software package used in preparing the MRE. Attention to detail and adherence to high quality standards throughout the estimation process is the first step in avoiding many of the errors. A critical item for all practitioners to bear in mind is that they are accountable and bear the ultimate responsibility for all aspects of their work.

Speaker Bio

Reno has enjoyed a productive career as a geologist in the Canadian mining industry, working on a wide variety of commodities and deposit types in many locations across the world. A notable achievement during his career was to play a key role in identifying the economic potential of the Matachewan (Young-Davidson) gold deposit (Ontario) at the exploration stage. He was also involved in the early stages of the Cerro Negro mine (Argentina) where he participated in the discovery phase and prepared some of the initial Mineral Resource estimates for the Eureka Vein.

More recently Reno has participated in the crafting of the CIM Mineral Exploration Best Practices Guidelines (2018), the CIM Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Best Practices Guidelines (2019) and the CIM Industrial Minerals Leading Practices Guidelines (2023). He received the CIM Robert Elver award in 2020 and was accepted as a Fellow to Geoscientists Canada in 2024. He is a member of the CIM Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Committee, the United Nations Minerals Working Group, and is one of the Canadian representatives to CRISCO. In 2023 Reno established the Pressacco scholarship which is administered by the CIM Foundation.

Reno Pressacco | LinkedIn