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Water resources legislation in Brazil is evolving in a number ways. The nature of water resource ownership has changed in the last constitution (1988) so that now all water remains the property of the state and not the individual. There is also an increasing amount of legislation to control water access from the environment and regulation over water quality for water discharged. Finally, in some regions charging for water has been introduced and this is expected to become more wide-spread over the next few years. Increasing government attention to water legislation creates an increased need for mine sites to improve water management. As a fundamental basis for this, it is necessary to make robust estimates of mine site water balances, which also requires knowledge of the regional water balance to provide context for the mine water use. A conceptual model for mine site and environmental water balance is presented. Issues associated with conventional water monitoring are discussed. It is proposed that introduction of automated monitoring to provide comprehensive and consistent data is attractive. However, there remain a number of cultural and practical impediments to purchase, implementation and maintenance of effective monitoring, which are summarised.

Jan 1, 2009

By T A. J Hopper, S Mukkisa, K-O Ott, D Palmer

RIG Technologies has developed new technology that can successfully acquire high quality natural gamma ray (GR) and hole deviations, downhole while drilling, on reverse circulation drills. This technology survives the hostile downhole environment with shocks of between 400–2500 g for 7– 10 days at a time. The Logging While Drilling (LWD) service eliminates the need to run in-rod surveys, either by the driller or by wireline trucks and crews. This time saving is in the middle of the drilling process, thus enabling drills to keep drilling and increase their productivity. Additional to the natural GR and directional survey, the downhole tool is equipped with sensors to measure the downhole dynamic response of the drilling system providing insights into rock hardness, density and potentially clay types. These parameters have never been acquired behind the hammer before and coupled with surface measurements from the drills themselves, form a rich data set for trainable machine learning algorithms shortening the time to receive advanced geophysical answer products from sometimes months, to live feeds directly from drills (Hopper, 2019). Alive, high speed, two-way data link between surface data acquisition systems and downhole geophysics tools has been established and incorporates calibrated surface measurements of dynamic forces directly on the drill string to match up with those measured downhole. Receiving live streams of natural GR and hole deviation surveys as the drill is drilling allows true remote decisionmaking with live data available anywhere in the world. The combined data from surface and downhole dynamics builds a data set that could begin to enable true optimisation of autonomous drilling processes.

Nov 8, 2021

By S Davidge, J Pile, R Schumann, E Kepe, W Stewart, M Ridd, B Rathi

Geographical constraints, including steep terrain and high rainfall, at the Ok Tedi copper-gold mine in PNG’s Western Province present Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) with significant challenges in mine waste management. Waste management includes discharge of tailings into the local river system and storage of waste rock from the mine pit in waste rock dumps which erode into the river system. Copper bearing skarn mineralisation is associated with a massive sulfide (mainly pyrite) deposit. Consequently, waste rock and tailings can contain significant amounts of pyrite. Without appropriate management, these waste streams represent a risk of producing acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD) when discharged to the river system. Throughout the life of the project, OTML have developed evolving strategies to manage mine wastes and mitigate AMD.

Aug 2, 2023

Most internationally traded iron ore resources are derived from multiple mine sites, transported to a port facility where they are blended and possibly further processed prior to shipping. Provided the proportion of contributions varies over a number of shipments an estimate can be made of the bias introduced by mine site sampling, analysis and materials handling systems, using zero-intercept multiple linear regression. Further regression applied to the residuals allows the error variances for the source mines to be estimated. Various sampling strategies are used by the industry. All have shipment-loading sampling on which payment or at least provisional payment is based. In most cases sampling prestockpile is used at mine sites to verify estimated production grades. Train grades are estimated from mine stockpile grades and in some cases train grades are verified by port input sampling. The methodology used is presented in this paper. Simulated data have been used and do not reflect the actual performance of any operator. The merits of the various systems and the implementation and potential limitations of our method are discussed more fully in a companion paper (Ziegelaar and Everett, 2010).

Mar 1, 2010

By C Switzer, R Logan, S Konopa, P Stoker, R Lewis

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. The Misima gold mine, located on Misima Island within the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea, was operated by Misima Mines Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Placer Dome Asia Pacific Limited (Placer), between 1988 and 2004. During this period, the mine produced 3.7 Moz of gold and 22.2 Moz of silver. In June 2012, the Special Mining Lease for the property was surrendered and incorporated into an Exploration Licence (EL). WCB Resources Ltd (WCB) entered into an exploration farm-in agreement with Pan Pacific Copper covering this EL.In June 2013, WCB published a new mineral resource of the Umuna deposit at Misima. All the drill hole data used for estimation was historical data collected by the previous owners of the Misima mine between 1977 and 2001. No new drilling was carried out by WCB. Confidence that the data could be relied on was provided by detailed interrogation of the existing data, reconciliation of the new resource model against production data and significant input from individuals who had previously been involved with the data collection, resource estimation and production activities of the Misima mine during its operation.This extended abstract will consider the challenges associated with locating, retrieving and validating historical data to use as inputs to produce an updated Mineral Resource estimate and comment on the material value of appropriate data storage, documentation and record keeping through the life of a project. It will also comment on the value of WCB obtaining access to the intellectual knowledge of many professionals that were former employees of Placer. This knowledge ensured that all the historical data that should have been available was sought out and accessed.CITATION:Konopa, S, Lewis, R, Logan, R, Switzer, C and Stoker, P, 2015. Misima gold mine – a case study in the use of historical data for an updated mineral resource estimate, in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 579–586 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

By P Bartsch

Uranium solvent extraction, USX has been applied commercially for recovery and concentration for over 50 years. Uranium in acidic liquor, which is prepared following ore leaching, solid/liquid separation and clarification, can be treated through a sequence of operations; extraction-scrubbing-stripping, to obtain purified liquor. USX has dominated the primary uranium industry as the preferred technological route to converter grade yellowcake. The practices of design and operation of USX facilities has found renewed interest as new mines are developed following decades of industry dormancy. This article seeks to outline principles of design and operation from the practitioner’s perspective. The discussion also reviews historical developments of USX applications and highlights recent innovations. This review is hoped to provide guidance for technical personnel who wish to learn more about good practices that leads to reliable USX performance.

Aug 8, 2011

By A Horeth, E Duggan, B Versiani, A Gooch

Iron ore screening plant productivity is strongly affected by the performance of the shuttle operation, with the control system robustness and associated strategies having a direct impact on utilisation and throughput rates. A number of aspects intrinsic to the methods and technologies traditionally applied on the motion control of shuttles are often observed to decrease the efficiency of the ore distribution process across multiple screening modules, which ultimately impacts the plant’s production. Those include the number of operational scenarios that are unmanaged by conventional discrete control logics which may intermittently lead to undesired events, such as ‘high level alarms’ and ‘low level interlocks’ in the screening bins. This outcome usually demands excessive manual intervention by Control Room Operators. A Reinforcement Learning (RL) Artificial Intelligence (AI) solution was deployed to control the motion operation of the scalping and products screening shuttles in an iron ore handling plant. The RL algorithm was trained in advance to handle multiple operational scenarios and generate optimised outputs. In nominal operation, the shuttles are moved in a modulating and highly predictive fashion over the whole range of safely reachable bins. When the need occurs, the AI control agent deviates from that modulation behaviour, limiting its travel range or moving to other groups or clusters of available bins by employing ‘bin jumping’ or ‘ore break’ strategies. The RL platform capabilities include the ability to learn in real time to account for and auto-adapt to new operational patterns and process changes whilst applying improved strategies for shuttle dwelling times, target setting and speed control. The deployed Reinforcement Learning AI solution has better managed the existing challenges associated with the shuttle operation and control, and resulted in a more efficient ore delivery process, superior operations stability and increased production rates.

Nov 8, 2021

By J Boshoff

The management and operation of tailings storage facilities (TSFs) are often neglected until the process plant has to shut down as a result of this negligence or as a result of a catastrophic failure as was the case during the recent TSF failure in North America.TSFs are often regarded as non-assets and do not receive the attention they deserve in terms of technical expertise and financial provision. A TSF is not a simple structure but a complex and dynamic structure that changes throughout its operational life. The operational life of a TSF is the period in which there is the greatest opportunity for risks to occur. The failure of a TSF is normally not as a result of a single event but as a result of a consequence of events. These events are often not recognised in time due to a number of factors.Process plants and slurry pumping systems are operated at suboptimal conditions in order to maintain throughput. At the same time, the tailings properties are compromised in terms of slurry density and particle size distribution amongst other things. Tailings deposition cycles and drying cycles are not well understood and the tailings management strategy is not well tuned in terms of maximising consolidation and improving in situ densities. Pond control is also neglected. These are aspects that form the keystone to the effective utilisation of available deposition area as well as the frequency and cost of future embankment raises.Apart from operational issues, forward planning in terms of budget requirements, increases in tailings throughput, embankment raises, pipe replacements, etc are normally put on the back burner. Available deposition space at the time seems to render this planning obsolete.The bottom line is that responsible tailings management and proper forward planning can limit liability and reduce the bottom line in terms of cents per ton if correctly implemented by suitably qualified tailings managers and engineers.The aspects that need to be considered as part of responsible tailings management are highlighted in this paper.CITATION:Boshoff, J, 2015. Responsible tailings management, in Proceedings Tailings and Mine Waste Management for the 21st Century , pp 317–322 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 27, 2015

Many mining companies aim to integrate sustainability principles into their new projects. There is an intention for improvement, but frequently this results in little more than 'business as usual' projects that retrospectively categorise controls for environmental and social risks as sustainability initiatives as part of a public relations exercise. The successful implementation of sustainability requires a change of mind-set and behaviours at an organisational and personal level. In addition, sustainability incorporates a very wide range of interests and technical disciplines. One of the key challenges is in understanding how and when to pull these diverse threads together within a project or organisational process. This paper will explore a number of themes: What does it mean to implement a project in accordance with sustainability principles? How far beyond 'business as usual' is it reasonable to go, and what is the business case for this? Why do the intentions for sustainability sometimes fail and how can we prevent this happening in future? People are instrumental in delivering sustainability; how do we embed sustainability thinking into their behaviours and decision-making? The approaches that have been taken to integrating sustainability in design; what has and has not worked and some of the barriers to integrating sustainability into design? The authors will discuss these themes drawing on case studies from URS' experience in integrating sustainability into large projects. The authors will discuss the need for: a strategic approach which provides a simple framework for tactical decision-making and the consequences of taking tactical decisions in the absence of this framework, alignment of the project team and promotion of a culture of innovation, a shift from a risk/compliance mentality to an opportunity identification mindset, and a systematic approach to integrating sustainability into project design processes.

Jun 1, 2010

By Y M. Wang, W Z. Liu, L F. Li, X L. Zhang

Based on the blasting crater theory, the equation between k under typical cases and burden line, charge height was obtained by open pit bench blasting analysis model. The model was calculated with mine production blasting. The blastability coefficient k and the best range of blasting burden line were specially emphasised on determination of lateral crater tests.CITATION:Wang, Y M, Liu, W Z, Zhang, X L and Li, L F, 2015. Application of lateral crater test in open pit blasting parameters optimisation, in Proceedings 11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, pp 463–468 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 24, 2015

By D Kentwell

A resource model serves two main purposes depending on the stage of a project. The first is to provide an early indication of likely tonnages and grades at certain cut-offs so that decisions can be made on whether continued spending on the project is justified. The second is to provide a basis for mine planning, feasibility studies and reserves. Resource models are not designed for selection of actual blocks in the ground for processing. This is the purpose of a grade control model, which is created at a stage beyond both resources and reserves.Inferred, Indicated and Measured Resources contain different levels of uncertainty with respect to the accuracy of the resulting grade and tonnage curves. These uncertainties arise from three broad areas: quality of information, geological assumptions and estimation technique. This paper focuses on known problems with the ordinary kriging (OK) estimation technique. Resource estimates often produce smoothed block grade distributions with much lower block grade variability than true selective mining unit (SMU) block grade distributions. There are two main factors that are involved in this smoothing. Firstly, where the block size used for estimation is larger than the SMU block size, this will smooth the block grade distribution and move the grade and tonnage curves away from the true SMU block grade and tonnage curves. Secondly, and less well recognised, is that smoothing is inherent in the OK estimator. This also moves the grade and tonnage curves away from the true SMU grade and tonnage curves, even when the estimate is done at the SMU block size. There are a number of techniques, such as simulation, uniform conditioning and degraded search neighbourhoods that can provide a better approximation of the true SMU block grade and tonnage curves at the expense of individual block accuracy.This paper aims to explore the extent to which OK resource estimates designed to maximise individual block accuracy can differ from (an estimate of) the true resource at SMU block size in terms of grade and tonnage curves. The differences at economic cut-offs and above are examined. In some cases these differences are significant. Both the OK estimation technique and block size play a part in the differences observed. To do this we will examine a number of commodities and deposit types using real project data.The conclusion is that the current industry standard default practice of targeting maximum individual block accuracy (conditional unbiasedness) using OK at resource stage, without consideration or evaluation of the extent of associated smoothing at SMU scale, can lead to significant errors in fundamental mine planning decisions. This then has implications for resource classification if the classifications are based heavily on the OK quality without consideration of the true SMU distribution.CITATION:Kentwell, D, 2014. Aligning resource estimates with mine planning, in Proceedings Orebody Modelling and Strategic Mine Planning Symposium 2014 , pp 185–192 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 24, 2014

The purpose of the Lower Lea Valley Cable Tunnel project is to relocate the overhead power lines circuits, which currently cross the proposed site for the 2012 London Olympics in East London. This was the first contract to be awarded as an Olympic project and is on the critical path for the proposed Olympic Park as the construction of the Olympic village, stadium and other venues cannot begin until the tunnels are complete, the cables installed and the overhead power lines removed. The tunnelling works for the scheme include two parallel tunnels between Hackney and West Ham. Each tunnel is approximately 6 km in length. One tunnel is 4.15 m ID and connects the National Grid substations. The other is 2.82 m ID and connects the EDF Energy substations. The tunnels were constructed through mixed ground using four earth pressure balance tunnel boring machines. These were driven simultaneously from two drive shafts within a single site. The 12 km of main tunnels were constructed within a year from start to finish, with completion in June 2007. The shafts range between 6 m and 15 m ID. These were constructed using a combination of caisson sinking and underpinning techniques. Dewatering was adopted to suit the groundwater conditions.Other works include the design and construction of the head house buildings, cable and ventilation culverts, mechanical and electrical (M&E) installations and all associated works. In addition to the above, a further 1 km of tunnel and two shafts were added to the project scope connecting the EDF Energy tunnel to the substation at Bow. These additional works provided further challenges to the project to ensure that these works were constructed within the program constraints for the 2012 London Olympics. This involved refurbishing one of the tunnel boring machines from the main EDF Energy tunnel drives and relaunching the machine to construct the Bow tunnel. The Bow tunnel was constructed within two and a half months, with the tunnel boring machine breaking through in August, ahead of schedule. The main challenge presented by this project is the program constraints. This project outlines the requirement for team work between the client, stakeholders, contractor and designer in order to provide program certainty. A close working relationship between the contractor and the designer is required to provide value engineered, time-saving solutions to mitigate the risks associated with the design and construction program.

Jan 1, 2008

By D Shuen, R Sales, D La Rosa

Semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill control is complex and depends on many dynamic process variables. Good control strategies ensure that a mill is operating as close to optimal as possible, resulting in significant economic benefits to an operation. Pueblo Viejo, a gold mine in the Dominican Republic, has been actively improving their control strategies since start-up in 2012, and one of these initiatives was to install an acoustic monitoring system on the SAG mill. The data from the system is used to optimise the mill’s performance by limiting the time the mill is either running too quiet or too loud. The lower limit is an indication that the charge in the mill is too high for efficient breakage or that the mill speed is too low and grinding media are not striking the toe of the charge. Conversely, when the acoustic emissions from the mill are too high, this can indicate that the balls are striking above the toe of the charge, resulting in inefficient grinding and excessive liner and lifter wear. Adjusting mill operating conditions to keep acoustic emissions in the ‘sweet spot’ between these limits results in more efficient grinding.Pueblo Viejo installed a Metso SmartEar™ to monitor the acoustic emissions of their SAG mill in January 2013. This system has been installed on many mills around the world and is specifically designed for optimising SAG mill control. One system output is the impact counter which measures steel-on-steel impacts on the mill shell. The impact counter uses both frequency and time domain analysis to approximate the number of ball impacts per minute. This method of analysis excludes parts of the sound signal not associated with steel-on-steel impacts and gives an accurate measure of this critical control parameter. After the acoustic system was installed, Pueblo Viejo collected data to determine the upper and lower limits for the impact count variable. The live data is available to the mill operators and it is used as one of the key operating variables to control the mill.Through continuous improvement and the use of advanced technologies like SmartEar™, Pueblo Viejo are improving the control and operation of their SAG mill, resulting in reduced liner wear, more efficient mill performance and optimised energy consumption. This paper discusses the installation of the system, and the measureable benefits obtained by using acoustic monitoring to control their SAG mill.CITATION:Shuen, D, Sales, R, Wortley, M and La Rosa, D, 2014. The benefits of using SmartEar™at Pueblo Viejo, in Proceedings 12th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference 2014 , pp 297–304 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 1, 2014

By S Bouzalakos, W Timms, H Malli

Combining ultramafic mine tailings and acidic mine drainage via mineral carbonation to sequester carbon dioxide, presents an opportunity to minimise waste on mine sites. Low pH mine water with trace element concentrations can be effectively treated by high magnesium mine tailings, a useful source of finely ground reactive matrix. By using milled tailings for mineral carbonation, there are negligible energy requirements for communition of ore rocks to reduce particle size. This study aimed to assess the technical applicability of reacting ultramafic tailings and acidic mine water through mineral carbonation technology in the mining industry. Dissolution has been identified as the rate limiting stage in mineral carbonation; hence the study focused on identifying optimal dissolution conditions. Ultramafic tailings (particle size <100 µm) derived from serpentinite ore, were reacted with a typical mine water that was synthesised in the laboratory. Through variances in the solid to liquid ratios and temperature of dissolution, a maximum five per cent magnesium dissolution efficiency was reached at 50 g/L and 100°C. The acidic mine water was neutralised (from pH <2 to pH ~6) and iron, copper and zinc ion concentrations reduced significantly during the formation of solid precipitates. Carbonation was undertaken by injecting carbon dioxide into the magnesium-rich solution to form stable carbonates. The experimental work demonstrated proof of concept; however, dissolution efficiency and carbon dioxide sequestration was low, indicating that further research would be required before larger scale implementation.CITATION:Malli, H, Bouzalakos, S and Timms, W, 2015. Ultramafic mine tailings to treat acidic mine water and lock away carbon through mineral carbonation, in Proceedings Tailings and Mine Waste Management for the 21st Century , pp 133–136 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 27, 2015

By I Mason, M van de Werken, B Zhou, J Hargreaves, W Stasinowsky

A critical step in open cut coal mining is clean removal of the overburden. This is usually achieved by drilling, blasting and digging. A key part of this process being successful is to stop drilling at the correct blast ‘stand-off distance’. The stand-off distance is the distance between the base of the drilled blasthole and the top of the coal horizon to be mined. Having this correct provides a protective cap of rock above the coal horizon so that the blast will fracture all the overburden without damaging the coal horizon or mixing it with the overburden. Drilling beyond the correct stand-off distance causes the blast to continue into the coal horizon, damaging it and mixing it with the overburden, leading to significant losses of coal product. Conversely, drilling short of the correct stand-off distance results in additional work to remove the intact overburden.

Sep 1, 2024

The implementation of robust, reliable and accurate sampling systems is the key to the successful management of any mineral processing plant. The representative sampling of a mineral processing plant is the only way to determine what is coming into the plant, what is going out as fi nal product and what is going to tails. In plants with high gravity gold components, where high recovery effort gravity circuits are installed, the use of a gravity recoverable gold (GRG) sampling system can assist in the online monitoring of the performance of the circuit. The typical installation location would be in CIP or fl otation feed (ie cyclone overfl ow), downstream of the gravity circuit. A GRG sampling system generally consists of the following equipment: true proportional, continuous drive, linear cross cut sampler, secondary vezin sampler operated on a timer, a batch centrifugal concentrator, and sample dewatering module. The operating philosophy of the GRG sampling system is that the primary sampler operates on a continuous basis, generating a constant stream of truly representative sample. Consep's H&S drive system is unique in its ability to be able to operate in a continuous mode, therefore enabling a continuous stream of representative sample to be generated. The primary sample stream reports to the secondary sampler. The secondary sampler operates on an intermittent basis (nominally ten minute interval), resulting in a relatively small sample volume per shift. Normally the sample volume would be ten to 15 L per shift. The secondary sample rejects stream reports back to the batch centrifugal concentrator. The sample generated from the secondary sampler can be dewatered using a Consep H&S dewatering module. This device produces a final sample that consists of separate filter cake and filtrate. These are suitable for taking directly to the laboratory. The continuous stream of truly representative secondary sampler rejects is passed through an appropriately sized Knelson Concentrator, typically a KCMD7, KCCD10 or KCCD12 sized unit. This unit recovers any available GRG from the stream. The Knelson Concentrator is also purged of its gravity concentrate at the end of the shift. This sample, which is nominally around 1 - 2.5 kg of concentrate, is also taken to the laboratory. At the end of the shift the client will have a measure of the gravity recoverable gold content of the target slurry stream, as well as a true representative sample of the complete stream. Through the addition of a Knelson Concentrator to an otherwise typical sample station, it is possible to generate a true measure of the performance of your gravity circuit. This will take the guess work out of the daily variation in gravity circuit gold recovery, as the site knows whether the changes are due to gravity circuit equipment performance, or due to the natural variation of ore GRG contents. Maintenance planning can also be designed around the system, as the site will have a composite sample to measure the performance of the circuit, therefore indicating where performance has dropped and maintenance is needed. This is an ABSTRACT ONLY. No paper was prepared for this presentation.

Aug 1, 2010

By C Vejrazka

Northparkes is located 27 km north of the township of Parkes in central New South Wales, Australia. The operations consist of underground block cave mines and an ore processing plant that produces high-grade copper and gold concentrate. Production is currently sourced from the E48 Lift 1 block cave mine and open cut stockpiles. Mining commenced at Northparkes in 1994 as an open cut operation. Underground block cave mining began in 1997. Northparkes was the first mine in Australia to use the highly efficient block cave mining method, which relies on gravity and natural rock stresses to fragment the ore.The occurrence of air blasts is one of the principal mining hazards in block caving operations between the time of first undercutting and breakthrough of the cave to surface. As such, it needs to be managed continuously, and risk assessments need to be reviewed on a regular basis for applicability to changing conditions. Unfortunately, there is little literature on how to practically approach air blast risk assessments in a way that can be incorporated in the day-to-day operation of a mine. Previous methods of assessing air blast risk were tedious and results were often unrepeatable.With the extension of the E48 Lift 1 extraction level, it was necessary to assess the air blast risk for the extension drives and develop operational guidelines for production from the extension. A review of the methodology for assessing air blast risks revealed substantial improvement opportunities.This paper outlines the principles used for air blast risk assessments at Northparkes Mines and the methodology employed to achieve efficient, repeatable and auditable results.CITATION:Vejrazka, C, 2016. Northparkes Mines’ current air blast risk assessment practices for block caving operations, in Proceedings Seventh International Conference and Exhibition on Mass Mining (MassMin 2016), pp 257–264 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2016

By D Head

IonicRE acknowledges within our mining industry, there is a common belief that workplace health and safety, often referred to as safety, is just a matter of ‘common sense’ – something obvious and easy. However, at IonicRE, we hold a different perspective. We understand that safety is far from easy. We recognise the need to emphasise the importance of understanding and conveying the inherent difficulties of working safely. We are committed to implementing processes that support individuals in achieving our safety objective of eliminating fatalities and permanently disabling injuries. To build resilience and sustainability into safety performance, we draw parallels with the principles underpinning sustainable and exceptional production performance. Achieving sustainable safety performance demands effective leadership, meticulous planning, adept management, genuine care and unwavering commitment. We’ve leveraged various tools and techniques, such as DISC theory, Maslow’s hierarchy, process control, Kaizen, Six Sigma and Kirkpatrick’s 4 levels, among others, to facilitate this improvement. There methods play a pivotal role in developing a Safety Blueprint for enhanced safety performance. This paper provides an overview of IonicRE’s Safety Blueprint, a strategic framework for developing our safety capability. Our capability is underpinned by three key pillars. Firstly, a comprehensive risk management approach is imperative, encompassing the understanding of hazards, the identification of threats to our people and the associated risks. Secondly, it entails providing and enforcing accountability to sustain our safety capability. Lastly, it involves constructing an effective defence system against threats and harm. Implementing these pillars requires a meticulously devised change process. Anticipating resistance and potential setbacks, we underscore the importance of having the right people and a wellcommunicated vision for safety at IonicRE. A Safety Blueprint serves as a detailed plan outlining the path toward a future goal. At IonicRE, we contend that safety in the mining industry has generally lacked a coherent and effective Safety Blueprint – a comprehensive plan to navigate the journey toward a destination. Drawing parallels with NASA’s detailed plan for landing a man on the moon safely, we question why, as an industry, we cannot similarly eliminate fatalities. While progress has been made in the last century, we must not wait another 50 years to eradicate fatalities from our industry. Examining Safe Work Australia data from 2008 reveals that 47 per cent of mining fatalities result from vehicle activity and 40 per cent stem from individuals being struck by an object. As of December 7, 2023, seven lives have been lost in the mining industry in Australia this year, indicating a stubborn trend mirroring 2022, with limited improvement over the past 25 years. These incidents are not isolated or unexpected. We understand the hazards and controls, yet fatalities persist. IonicRE considers that the mining industry stands at a critical juncture – do we accept a plateau in mining safety performance, or do we rethink our approach? At IonicRE, we are thoroughly reassessing the hazards that threaten our people, systematically redefining effective risk control measures and establishing a robust framework to hold individuals accountable for the effective implementation of the control measure.

Apr 16, 2024

By G Hill, D Grant, M Tyler

Located approximately 570km NNW of Adelaide in South Australia, the Olympic Dam mine (OD) is the world’s fourth largest remaining copper and gold resource and the largest uranium resource. Discovered in 1975 and going into production in 1988, the operation consists of a fully vertically integrated underground mine, mineral processing plant, copper smelter and refinery, as well as associated infrastructure. BHP achieved production of 203,000 tonnes of copper cathode plus associated by-products in financial year 2016. The immense size and high-grades of the Olympic Dam resource offer a range of growth pathways, making closure timing estimation and planning a challenge. Current estimates put the OD resource at approximately 79 million tonnes of copper. Major factors influencing the closure timing estimation, as a result of the large resource and grade tonnage profile, include the mining method that may be used and the downstream processing method, ultimately influencing such things as the total disturbance area and the extent of infrastructure to be demolished at the end of mine life. In addition, factors such as the mining and processing method and production rate have a direct impact on larger rehabilitation items such as the total number of tailings cells required.CITATION:Grant, D, Tyler, M and Hill, G, 2018. Olympic Dam mine closure planning process, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2018, pp 43–45 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 25, 2018

This paper summarises the results of a study carried out for the Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, aimed at identifying the major water-related issues facing the minerals industry internationally and the research required to support the development of practicable solutions. An overview is given of the sources and uses of the worldÆs water resources and of the regional and global sustainability of water supply and management. Agriculture is the worldÆs major user of water; it wastes more water than the minerals industry uses. Water reform and its potential impact on the minerals industry are discussed with particular reference to Australia and South Africa. The sources, uses and management of water on mine and processing sites are outlined. Particular attention is paid to the importance of groundwater as a source of often saline water that can be used in mineral processing and for other purposes. Aquifer storage and recovery has the potential to help conserve water resources. Generally, the major uses of water on mining and processing sites are for mineral processing and refining and for the associated tailings disposal. Water consumption for these purposes may be reduced by recycling process water, using saline water, paying close attention to water management, thickening tailings and using techniques such as dry stacking and paste. A change in the minerals processing paradigm in respect of water use could come through research into new, improved and less costly dry processing techniques. The treatment of mine and processing water will be required increasingly before water is reused, stored, discharged or sold, and before sites are decommissioned. Research and development are required to reduce costs and develop new treatment methods. Mine closure and decommissioning raise a number of long-term water issues requiring continuing generic and site-specific research and development.

Jan 1, 2003