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By S S. Kanchibotla, E J. Sellers, L Julian, A Musunuri

Fume events in coalmines are typically associated with wet conditions, soft ground and deep holes. An ACARP research project used laboratory and field testing combined with literature reviews, numerical models and field investigations to characterise the influence of these conditions on the propensity for fume. This paper highlights the results for soft ground and wet conditions and proposes a proactive fume mitigation methodology. A simple numerical model is used to show how fume arises in soft rock that yields more under the loading of high-pressure, water-resistant explosive blends than for ANFO. The blends cool more rapidly after detonation into the lower temperature zone favourable for NO2 production. Low-pressure, high detonation temperature explosives are loaded or charged into soft ground. Water resistance must be considered because soft, faulted and fractured ground can lead to fume from degradation by water flow and non-ideal detonation of product in cracks.A suite of tests were developed to quantify ANFO and emulsion blend performance over time that can be carried out in a mobile laboratory on-site. Index tests such as viscosity measurement and water resistance in beakers are proposed to quantify long-term product performance because small components, such as surfactant, prill impurities and prill fines, contribute to inconsistent product performance. Water ingress experiments and detonation tests aligned with field investigations identified and characterised the role of groundwater in damaging ANFO and causing fume.Fume risk management is achieved using a proposed proactive fume mitigation methodology to characterise influences such as seasonal rain variation, groundwater flow hydrogeology, rock mass strength and structure well ahead of blast design. The design of blasts and selection of explosive products to consider expected conditions will reduce fume, improve efficiency in the mine and offer cost advantages.CITATION:Julian, L, Musunuri, A, Sellers, E J and Kanchibotla, S S, 2015. Mitigation of post-blast fume in soft ground and wet conditions, in Proceedings 11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, pp 511–518 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 24, 2015

By S McEachern, J Lowe

An important issue currently facing the mining industry in Australia is the management and cost to the industry and other stakeholders of entry into and exit from towns and their communities. These costs can be environmental, social, economic, political or reputational. The ability of companies to engage the trust of stakeholders, including: communities, governments and investors, is critical, and corporate reputation plays a significant role in this. For the industry to secure a long-term and sustainable future, it must have the technical, business and reputation assets to proceed in a cost-effective, environmentally acceptable and socially supportive way. This research assesses reputation as a critical competitive issue for mining companies, as technology and information make mining more predictable; the physical and human assets of mining companies are less likely to be the critical resource in a Resource Based View model of competitive advantage. The proposition is that in mining today, reputation as it facilitates day-to-day operations, regulatory zeal and access to new mine sites will become the rare, inimitable and valuable resource for mining companies. This paper reports on an ongoing research program to evaluate the impact a mining companyÆs reputation(s), with its various stakeholder groups, has on a companyÆs ability to sustain competitive advantage. Integral to this study is to develop an understanding of the relationships between mining companies and their stakeholders, and the importance of corporate citizenship polices to reputation and hence to corporate sustainability. Through the identification of the drivers of reputation for the various stakeholder groups, a model of reputation formation will be developed and also reputation measures for the mining industry in Australia. The preliminary findings of this research, the results of an industry focus group conducted with representatives from regional mining operations, are reported. The industry focus group was designed to enable a better understanding of who are the main stakeholder groups and how they regard mining companies and to inform the second stage of the research project a Delphi Study of the drivers of reputation by stakeholder groups. The aim of this research is to further the understanding of the relationship between corporate citizenship, reputation and performance in the mining industry, thus assisting companies to strategically manage their corporate citizenship investments.

Jan 1, 2006

By E Widzyk-Capehart, C Hölck Teuber, S Steffen, V Rivero, O Fredes, E Sanchez, I Pedemonte, N Gonzalez

This paper summarises the research, development and initial application of a sensing platform that has the potential to monitor subsurface deformations, pore pressure and other variables simultaneously to gain a better understanding of rock mass behaviour. The platform is based on Networked Smart Markers (NSMs) devices, which, with their ability for wireless communication between individual sensors and the possibility of real-time data acquisition and processing, will assist in the development of predictive tools to better assess rock mass behaviour.A good opportunity to implement this technology is in the specific application of transitioning from an open pit mine to an underground caving operation. One of the key elements to maintaining the mining business during such a transition is having a good understanding of the unique geotechnical conditions of mutual influence created during the open pit to underground interaction. The knowledge acquisition will require the implementation of a robust platform for geotechnical monitoring, which could be enhanced by incorporating the NSMs. The integration of sensors within the NSMs would enable the collection of additional data about rock mass behaviour (ie caving propagation and crown pillar fracturing), which could be used to improve the management of mining operations and, specifically, allow the development of reliable predictive tools based on the data collected.CITATION:Widzyk-Capehart, E, Hölck Teuber, C, Fredes, O, Rivero, V, Sanchez, E, Pedemonte, I, Gonzalez, N and Steffen, S, 2016. Understanding rock mass behaviour through the development of an integrated sensing platform, in Proceedings Seventh International Conference and Exhibition on Mass Mining (MassMin 2016), pp 275–284 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2016

By N Haque, S Northey

Water in mining, mineral processing and metal production on a life cycle basis has been at the top of agendas for various industries, government agencies, research organisations, academic institutions and communities. As a result, a number of water footprint assessment methodologies have been developed. However, their practical applications in mining and mineral processing industries with specific case studies are still rare.A key objective of the Minerals Down Under Flagship is to contribute to the long-term sustainability of the Australian mining and mineral industries. Researchers in the Mineral Futures theme have developed robust assessment methods to evaluate the impact of mining and minerals technology development on the environment. The future of mining and the mineral industry is strongly linked with its sustainability - better water management strategies will need to be implemented.Life cycle assessment (LCA) has been a recognised method for measuring the environmental impacts of products, processes and services. It provides a scientifically sound method of comparing products and processes using a common basis and identifies so called æhot spotsÆ and opportunities for reducing environmental impacts. The water footprint of mining, mineral processing and metal production using an LCA basis is still scarce in the literature. Research methodology is now being applied in detail for copper, gold and nickel. A primary focus has been the relationship between ore grade and water use for which mathematical models are being developed. These types of models provide inputs for LCA of mining and mineral processing plants and can identify water saving opportunities through scenarios and process route analysis.CITATION:Northey, S and Haque, N, 2013. Life cycle based water footprints of selected mineral and metal processing routes, in Proceedings Water in Mining 2013 , pp 35-50 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 26, 2013

By J Jackson, D C. Curry, A C. Keith

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows that since 2006 the balance of capital costs associated with mine development has become weighted greater than 75 per cent to enabling infrastructure and less than 25 per cent on process plant, equipment and machinery. The well-developed mine planning techniques including pit optimisation and scheduling and process plant design and optimisation have typically proceeded in a linear fashion from geology, mine planning, through processing, with some iterations back to the mine. Only then is attention paid to planning and costing of enabling infrastructure in any detail.Optimisation has typically involved developing cut-off grades, mine plans and schedules and ore processing that produces maximum economic ore. Infrastructure has then been sized æto suitÆ the mining and processing core business drivers.What the ABS data, together with global trends, indicates is that infrastructure can no longer be an afterthought if miners wish to achieve robust project value estimates, realistic ore to market costing and resource statements based on achievable economic cut-off grades.In addition, with such a large proportion of the costs originating from non-mining or processing activities, a mining operation can only be truly optimal if these aspects are given due consideration in the mine design stages, based on quality geometallurgical inputs so that the size and cost of enabling infrastructure is optimised to maximise project value.This paper outlines an iterative holistic approach to mining project development, which integrates the geometallurgical approach and enables infrastructure planning into project design and evaluation. It presents case studies showing reduced overall costs, increased net present value (NPV) and reduced project delivery timelines.CITATION:Curry, D C, Keith, A C and Jackson, J, 2013. Is a 2.5 per cent success rate good enough? Traditional mine development methods have the tail wagging the dog, in Proceedings The Second AusIMM International Geometallurgy Conference (GeoMet) 2013 , pp 113-128 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 29, 2013

By N Boughen

This paper synthesises the findings of five studies undertaken by the CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship in 2009-10. This research explores the concerns, expectations, and information needs of a range of stakeholders, (ie government, seafloor exploration and mining industry, other marine industries, environmental non-government organisations (NGOs), community members) in relation to the possible exploration and mining of minerals and aggregates from the seafloor, as well as the conditions for meaningful engagement with communities regarding seafloor exploration and mining (SEM) activities. The SEM industry has been described as the ‘next minerals frontier’, as incentives to explore and mine seafloor resources increase because of diminishing reserves of easily accessible onshore mineral and aggregate deposits. However, the conditions (if any) under which SEM would be acceptable to stakeholders (notably the public and regulators) have not been established. This work seeks to address this gap and ascertain the levels at which potential environmental and social impacts become unacceptable to those stakeholders. The research follows an earlier phase of studies undertaken in 2006 - 2008 that: identified the opportunities and barriers to the development of SEM in Australia, took the first step towards understanding the public and political contexts surrounding the industry, and mapped the positions of key stakeholders and captured their major issues and concerns. Together, these two phases of research confirm that environmental concerns dominate stakeholders’ responses to the idea of an expanded industry. However, the most recent phase of research has also found that, similar to current onshore scenarios, reservations due to environmental concerns do not completely outweigh social and economic objectives. This is provided stakeholders feel confident that there are systems in place (regulatory frameworks, watchdogs, independent research, and stakeholder consultation) to ensure that all interests are protected. When making decisions about the social acceptability of potential seafloor mining, stakeholders favour a precautionary approach, supported by rigorous scientific analysis of the potential environmental impacts, transparent and socially responsive management processes, and meaningful stakeholder engagement. This paper outlines the details of these findings, which may also be relevant to understanding the social acceptability or ‘social licence to operate’ for other future mining scenarios featuring a new approach or technology.

Nov 22, 2011

By H Bao, M Nehring, M Kizil, P Knights

The mining sector, a notably energy-intensive industry worldwide, is a major consumer of fossil fuels, leading to significant carbon emissions globally. The move towards electrification, coupled with advancements in battery technology, has redirected focus from traditional diesel-powered solutions to battery-powered alternatives. This paper introduces a novel mining haulage system, termed the Battery Trolley system, and examines its theoretical foundations, configurations, and operational processes. It offers a comprehensive analysis of the system’s characteristics and limitations. Through a hypothetical road simulation, the study analyses various battery mining trucks, calculating energy consumption based on force parameters and tailoring battery sizes to contemporary materials and technology. When assessing various battery truck alternatives—considering aspects such as battery size, effective payload, duty cycle, energy efficiency, productivity, and single-shift production—a range of performance outcomes and characters become apparent within the mining context. The findings indicate that Battery Trolley configurations, requiring smaller battery capacities, entail lesser compromises on effective payload. Consequently, these configurations achieve a higher duty cycle, reduced energy consumption per tonne, heightened productivity, and enhanced singleshift production capabilities compared to Battery-only alternatives. The comparative analysis of Battery Trolley with stationary charging (BT-S) and Battery Trolley – dynamic charging (BT-D) underlines that battery Trolley systems are capable of overcoming the challenges associated with battery size, thus successfully fulfilling the production demands of large truck applications in mining. This positions Battery Trolley systems as a more advantageous option for the decarbonisation of mining fleets, underscoring their potential in contributing to the sector’s sustainable evolution.

Sep 1, 2024

By M J. Gillespie, P D. Erskine

Mine site rehabilitation generally includes the re-shaping of overburden to create a final landform, manipulation of substrates and subsequent revegetation. Due to the wide range of environmental variables that influence rehabilitation progression, having clearly-stated final land-use goals and ongoing significant contributions to the planning process, from prefeasibility through to mine closure, is essential for achieving stable landforms and sustainable rehabilitated communities. Two examples of rehabilitation processes in the phosphate rich region of North West Queensland are used to illustrate some of the possible benefits of early planning and communication of rehabilitation requirements.Approximately 160 km south of Mount Isa, Incitec Pivot Limited operates a 35 year old open cut mine at Phosphate Hill. Monitoring of rehabilitation areas and selected analogue sites is undertaken annually, but the initial landform design, substrate management and species selection has created a difficult environment for revegetated areas to successfully establish. Constant management input (such as weed management, erosion control, supplementary seeding, etc) will, therefore, be required over a long time frame.The second example uses exploratory drilling and historic costean pits at Legend International HoldingÆs Paradise South site, 135 km north of Mount Isa, to determine the success of natural vegetation colonisation on waste rock and compacted soils, and the effects of cattle grazing on recolonisation. This information can be used by planners of the mine life to inform possible end-land use decisions and proposed completion criteria.In a semi-arid environment such as North West Queensland, the creation of a post-mine landscape suitable for nature conservation and/or grazing can be an arduous task. The input from environmental personnel at all stages of the mining process will positively impact upon the quality of the resulting rehabilitation and ensure undesirable legacy issues are minimised.CITATION:Gillespie, M J and Erskine, P D, 2012. Importance of early rehabilitation planning - Case studies from North West Queensland, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2012 , pp 187-196 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 10, 2012

By S Strong, L I. Sanz Vivanco, T Brown

One of the most significant technical and practical challenges facing the tunnel construction team on the Legacy Way road tunnel project in Brisbane, Australia was how to erect the prestressed precast concrete slabs to form the smoke duct in the tunnel boring machine (TBM) tunnels.An essential part of the tunnel ventilation system, the smoke duct extends the full length of the 4.6 km-long twin two-lane tunnels. The vast majority of the tunnels (approximately 4.3 km) were constructed using two 12.4 m diameter double-shield TBMs. The refurbished Herrenknecht machines broke several world records on the way to completing the tunnel excavation works in just over nine months. With the excavation complete the focus turned to solving the complex civil tunnel fit-out challenges. A key component of the civil fit-out of the tunnels was constructing the smoke duct in the TBM tunnels, which was designed as a precast solution.The slabs, which each measure 8.62 m long × 2.0 m wide × 200 mm thick and weigh close to 9?t, need to be erected above cast in situ corbels whilst other tunnel finishing works continue. The space-proofing clearance offered by the design to the support corbels below and the precast segmental lining above was in the order of only 100 mm.This paper tells the story of how the Transcity Joint Venture (JV) tunnel fit-out team comprising some of Europe and Australia’s leading tunnel construction specialists drew upon the global strengths of the existing JV member companies and the global reach of leading TBM manufacturer Herrenknecht to develop an innovative system in solving this challenging problem. This globetrotting story, which starts in Australia, visits Europe and mainland China before returning to Brisbane where it all began.CITATION:Brown, T, Strong, S and Sanz Vivanco, L I, 2014. How the global experience and reach of tunnelling’s true multinationals helped solve a road tunnel fit-out challenge, in Proceedings 15th Australasian Tunnelling Conference 2014 , pp 507–512 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 17, 2014

By G McCullough, J Els, J Bassan

Integrated Remote Operations Centres (IROCs) have a crucial role in optimising a mine’s carbon emissions, especially as industry faces an imperative to achieve net-zero emissions on an accelerated timeline. To meet this time pressure, operations must adopt a comprehensive approach to energy-related carbon management and history has proven that modern technologies cannot be simply bolted into existing operations. An IROC is the most dependable solution to enable a swift transition from strategy to operational tactics that support carbon optimisation. Achieving net-zero emissions requires addressing significant energy management challenges such as fleet electrification, integration of renewable energy sources and large-scale energy storage. These challenges demand a profound change in planning, managing and executing work at large operations. The key to overcoming these challenges is an integrated approach incorporating collaborative decision-making across the value chain and more sophisticated planning approaches. Additionally, closer integration with downstream processing offers opportunities for carbon optimisation across the value chain. This includes the ability to supply tailored products that meet more varied feed-requirements of customers transitioning to less carbon-intensive processes and developing collaborative decision-making across the entire steelmaking value chain (by incorporating steelmakers, transport, coal/natural-gas/hydrogen supply, energy supply and iron-ore supply). However, this requires significant improvement in collaborative maturity and integrated decision-making capability. Finally, the imperative to reduce carbon emission demands the introduction of a range of new technologies into existing operations. The new technologies will increase the operational complexity of the mines and IROCs will need to evolve capabilities to manage the increase complexity and support the effective operationalisation and integration of these new mining technologies. This paper outlines the new capabilities required and the role of IROCs in effective integration across the demand value chain. The focus is on building on the mining industries’ existing IROC experience and augmenting with processes, technologies and lessons from other industries.

Sep 18, 2023

By A Buckley

Many policy issues facing the mining industry and affected communities are at a level of complexity that they can be called ‘wicked’ problems. The term ‘wicked’ in this context is used, not in the sense of iniquity, but rather as social and economic issues highly resistant to resolution. For the resource extraction sector and affected communities there are an array of challenges embedded in the industry’s production and profit paradigm, the remoteness of mineral reserves and affected communities’ expectations of economic benefit and a positive legacy. The mining industry as a whole is dominated by economic, political, legislative and market structures that influence and constrain interactions between mine operations and local communities. For communities, with particular reference to regional Western Australia, intractable problems include the uncertainty of, yet increasing dependence on, a mining economy. Questionable outcomes for local communities include the limited realisation of local employment and business development benefits, and low overall outcomes or low multiplier effects. ‘Wicked’ problems, according to the literature, are best addressed via collaboration. In the mid-west region of WA, with mining and infrastructure construction underway, alliances have formed between mining companies, the major port and rail infrastructure project (Oakajee Port and Rail) and regional and local governance stakeholders. The major impetus for these affiliations is to expedite planning and associated infrastructure development taking into account the lessons from other mineral-led regions. What has resulted is an array of innovative approaches to stubborn problems including planning well in advance of full-scale mining; regionally coordinated procurement; ‘mine ready’ local businesses; and strategic investments in social infrastructure; including community trust funds paid in advance of project delivery. This paper examines these innovative approaches/alliances and assesses their effectiveness in addressing long standing mining/community dilemmas.

Nov 22, 2011

By T Sprague, D Pateman

"The Gosowong Gold Project is owned and operated by PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals (PT NHM), an Indonesian company 75 per cent owned by Newcrest. It is located on Halmahera Island, in the North Maluku Province of the Republic of Indonesia, approximately 2450 km north-east of the national capital, Jakarta (Newcrest, 2017).Kencana is one of two underground gold and silver mines at the Gosowong Operation where ground conditions vary from competent to very poor. Development headings occurring in poor rock mass conditions require high capacity ground support including long tendon cable bolts. Manual installation of cable bolts in these development headings has been a time consuming process due to borehole collapse, blockages requiring subsequent re-drilling and a minimum eight hour grout curing time interval. The installation of cable bolts including the setting, plating and tensioning can impact the critical path for development heading advance resulting in development cycle delays.A review was conducted by PT NHM on current industry practices for alternatives to manual cable bolting. PT NHM subsequently approached Minova to assist with the development and trialling of self drilling anchors (SDAs) installed using jumbos with a rapid setting pumpable resin, CARBOTHIXTM. A series of system development trials were conducted and a reliable bolting system was developed utilising the existing jumbo drilling fleet with minimal required modifications.The system developed was a ‘one pass’ bolting process to install and grout SDAs using a two component resin with a remote, mechanised system. Improvements achieved from the system include: eliminating hole closure issues and more immediate support in poor rock mass effectively reducing personnel exposure to poor ground conditions by removing the requirement to access the drive backs reducing grout set time with full installation times for 6 m SDAs averaging 25 min.The resin grouting system has now been successfully implemented to effectively manage areas of poor ground conditions and to accelerate advance rates in high priority headings.CITATION:Pateman, D and Sprague, T, 2017. Development and implementation of a long tendon bolting system utilising resin grouting technology, in Proceedings 13th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2017, pp 79–84 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Oct 16, 2017

By D Tanzil, H Jones

Every mine will close! Charting a profitable course through mine operations to acceptable mine completion requires that risk and opportunity management planning of the mine life begin as early as possible in the life cycle. Management targets and metrics are required to identify and navigate the course to successful mine completion based on economic, social and environmental criteria. This paper outlines the application of The Metrics NavigatorÖ principles to the life cycle of a mine site. In general, metrics are required to make key strategic ideas apparent, transforming those ideas into a manageable set of quantitative measures that guide communication and decision making. For example, the chemical industry has established metrics that focus on the life cycle impacts of its products and eco-efficiency of their processes. Other industry sectors have focused attention on workplace and community well-being outcomes. These management metrics are necessarily organisation-specific, aligned to stakeholdersÆ expectations and the strategic outcomes sought, as well as the cause-and-effect relationships underlying key issues. Recently, the Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI), a consortium of multi-national companies, developed The Metrics NavigatorÖ. The guidance document provides a structured process for assessing and developing metrics for key environmental, social, and economic issues based on business and stakeholder perspectives. It incorporates best practices learned from the chemical and other industry sectors and has since been applied to develop metrics that guide life cycle strategies. The paper examines how the life cycle of a mine site could benefit from experiences in other industry sectors where sustainability metrics have guided strategy. It considers the potential application of The Metrics NavigatorÖ process to the life cycle of a hypothetical Australian mine site using the processes that have been successful in other industry sectors.

Jan 1, 2009

In todayÆs evolving and globalised world, mining companies are being pressured to move beyond compliance towards long-term sustainability and sustainable development. Companies are expected to æengageÆ communities and measure the success of these engagements without a clear understanding of æhowÆ to do this. This move, away from compliance, develops more of a focus on sustainability and æcommunityÆ social responsibility rather than corporate social responsibility. This shift leads to the development of world-class projects that provide sustainable development for people, reduce the incidence of costly delays, and promote good global citizenship for companies. The process of æengagingÆ communities in mining project design and development leads to sustainable development, a stronger license to operate, and a reduction in social and political risk. To create this mutually beneficial relationship between communities and companies, communities must be æengagedÆ in the project development and risk assessment processes as early as possible, preferably during the exploration or the concept phases. How to create this æengagementÆ and manage this risk will be discussed.

Jan 1, 2007

By D Kent, D Eisner

A lot of talk has been generated about the so called ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) and its potential to transform the way we interact with our homes and devices. But the true potential and value of IoT is not going to be realised by the general consumer but by businesses.This paper outlines the application of IoT in mining and how it is a natural extension to the base networks becoming commonplace in both surface and underground mines. The potential for ubiquitous monitoring throughout a mining operation at low capital and support costs will transform the ability to monitor, analyse, report and manage all of the key processes involved in a mining operation.Importantly, the paper will discuss the practical applications that the IoT offers mining and explain how this really is transformative technology, not just the latest buzz words from the information technology (IT) world. If leveraged correctly the impact on mining, its cost base and efficiencies, is enormous.CITATION:Kent, D and Eisner, D, 2015. What the internet of things means to mining, in Proceedings Third International Future Mining Conference, pp 65–70 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 4, 2015

By J B. Pateiro-Fernßndez, M Fuchsschwanz, G Deissmann, S Ahmad

Quang Ninh province is the most significant coal producing region in the north of Vietnam. The Nui Beo Coal Company (NBCC) operates open pit mines in Quang Ninh province and the waste overburden produced is dumped as sidehill fill in the Chinh Bac waste dump site. In the past, no special consideration has been given to the environmental impacts during the dumping operations. The mine waste is transported in trucks from the mine site to the dumping site and the loading, hauling and dumping operations are the main sources of dust emission. Rain events, especially during the rainy season, cause the generation of contaminated surface water as well as seepage of water through the dump at a number of locations. The existence of cracks at the top of the dump can pose serious stability problems with heavy rain events leading to failure of slopes which can potentially disturb vast areas of land currently used for agricultural purposes and human settlement. For sustainable development at the Chinh Bac waste dump site in the future, apart from the social and economic considerations to be assessed, there is an absolute necessity for environmental protection measures to be in place both during and after the dumping of the mine waste overburden. Research Association Mining and Environment in Vietnam (RAME) is working to develop and implement concepts for the mitigation of environmental problems emerging from dust, contaminated water and lacking slope stability to ensure successful rehabilitation of the coal mine waste dumps in the north of Vietnam. Within the framework of RAME, the Institute of Mining Engineering I (RWTH Aachen University) is managing and working to develop the stabilisation concepts for the solid mine waste dump in collaboration with the Chair of Geotechnical Engineering (RWTH Aachen University), Brenk Systemplanung and the Vietnamese group of companies VINACOMIN (Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Group). The most economical and environmentally sound operations, as well as locally adaptable environmental protection measures, are essential for the sustainable development of the dumping operations at Chinh Bac dump. This paper describes the dump site and the sustainable development possibilities with an emphasis on the environmental protection and stability problems at the Chinh Bac waste dump.

Jan 1, 2009

By E Coffison, M Gibbs, C Bennett

The sustainable management of surface water associated with coal mining and coal seam gas projects is a considerable factor affecting the global competitiveness of these resource companies operating in Australia. Management of surface water can be costly, but effective water management and hence environmental stewardship enhances corporate social responsibility and the social license to operate. The surface water issues for the two industries are comparable, yet there is currently a lack of alignment between how Queensland, where the majority of AustraliaÆs coal seam gas projects are located, manages and regulates water on coal mine projects and coal seam gas projects.This paper provides a high level comparison of Queensland legislation and highlights the lack of alignment of this legislation regarding surface water management in these two industries. Through a case study, it looks at the surface water management process at a coal mine site based on the current legislation and principals of surface water management. QueenslandÆs lack of alignment in legislation regarding surface water management in these industries is understandable given the different development paths and time scales of the two industries. The coal mining industry has developed over a long period of time and the legislation has progressed in parallel, whereas, the coal seam gas industry is relatively new in Australia and the legislation has had to advance quickly. The lack of alignment between management of surface water for the two industries creates confusion among stakeholders and this adds complexity and additional transaction costs during the exploration, permitting and operational phases of projects, including landowners who may be affected.CITATION:Bennett, C, Coffison, E and Gibbs, M, 2013. Lack of alignment between regulation of surface water management in coal mining and coal seam gas, in Proceedings Water in Mining 2013 , pp 157-162 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 26, 2013

By A Golsby

Although much talked about, social licence to operate (SLTO) is a relatively new concept that has been deemed as one of the four biggest business risks to a mining project over the life-of-mine. There is no accepted single definition of SLTO and this author understands SLTO to be stakeholder perception of the legitimacy of a project, a company or an industry. At a specific site, and across different sites within the same organisation, SLTO ranges through different levels according to stakeholders’ degrees of acceptance in time and space. Management of SLTO is vital for the mining sector but is difficult as it is informal and intangible. Although there are no key performance indicators, there are certain indicators that enable relative measurement of the ‘level’ of the SLTO. Because of the importance of the SLTO, information management during the entire life-of-mine, from exploration to rehabilitation, becomes crucial for the continued operation of a project. This paper identifies ten basic principles for the management of information to support the SLTO.CITATION:Golsby, A, 2014. Managing information to support a social licence to operate, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2014 , pp 389–398 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 16, 2014

By J P. Sykes, A Trench

"World-class mine projects are increasingly failing to become world-class mines. Non-technical, socio-political and environmental problems seem, in part, to be the cause. However, the intangible and qualitative nature of these problems means overcoming them will require a greater systemic understanding of how the various technical and non-technical factors interact. This is particularly important as the concept of sustainable development has changed the industry paradigm sufficiently that it is no longer clear what world-class means. Finally, this better systemic understanding of mine projects needs communicating back to the exploration sector to improve exploration targeting.However, a disconnect between the exploration and mining sectors and between geologists and mining’s other professional disciplines means this is currently not possible. The use of economic evaluation techniques to assess the risk and value presented by the various technical and non-technical factors can assist with this by giving the varied professions a common language and including inputs from all disciplines. This paper therefore suggests a theoretical framework for analysing the various technical and non-technical factors, particularly the most challenging intangible and qualitative ones, and incorporating them into the typical economic evaluation techniques used in the mining industry.Understanding the risk and value relating to both technical and non-technical risks, however, places a greater emphasis on mining geologists to be conversant with a wide range of disciplines. Mining geologists will have to develop three types of knowledge:focusedinter-disciplinarybroad. In addition, they will have to become systemic thinkers to connect these types of knowledge. This multidisciplinary approach will require the use of fundamental critical thinking skills, common sense, intuition, experience and quantitative modelling techniques, dependent on the situation. As a result, both companies and professional societies, such as the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, will have to develop ways of improving mining geologists’ inter-disciplinary and broad knowledge.CITATION:Sykes, J P and Trench, A, 2014. Resources versus reserves – towards a systems-based understanding of exploration and mine project development and the role of the mining geologist, in Proceedings Ninth International Mining Geology Conference 2014 , pp 243–270 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Aug 18, 2014

By A P. Wilkinson

This paper reports on the implementation of the critical control concept to manage material risks in the mining and metals industries. The critical control management (CCM) approach assumes it is better to identify weaknesses in risk controls before an incident happens as opposed to discovering weaknesses from an investigation after an incident occurs. The first is sometimes referred to as active monitoring and the second as reactive monitoring (Health and Safety Executive and Chemical Industries Association, 2006). Both are needed. However, whilst methods for both active and reactive monitoring of risk controls are well established in many high hazard industries, such as oil and gas, petroleum and chemical industries, until the publication in 2015 of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) guides, (Good Practice Guide and the subsequent Implementation Guide) (ICMM, 2015), there was no specific mining and metals industry guidance on critical control management. This paper reports on progress in implementing the ICMM guidance drawing on two main sources. First, a benchmarking survey of a representative sample of coal and metalliferous mines, both underground and open cut/pit), sponsored jointly by the Queensland Resources Council and the Queensland Commissioner for Resources Safety and Health in the context of a recommendation that the Queensland mining industry adopts high reliability organisation (HRO) principals (Queensland Resources Council and Commissioner for Resources Safety and Health, 2022). Second, it draws on Noetic’s experience of implementing critical control management in mining and other high hazard industries in Australia, Africa, China and North America (Wilkinson, 2018). The paper describes good practices found and where significant improvements can be made, providing specific and actionable examples of both. From this it also identifies how future guidance on this topic could be improved.

Apr 16, 2024