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By P B. Swart, P D. Erskine

Despite an increasing focus by media, communities and activists driving an elevated regulatory focus in Australia and indeed some other mining jurisdictions, the mining industry globally has had limited successful mine lease relinquishments and transfers to support a next land use.Critique from anti-mining lobbyists frequently uses the large estimates from historically abandoned mine sites to influence risk-averse regulatory reforms to improve environmental performance. The mine rehabilitation regulatory processes in Australia, and specifically in the State of Queensland, are thus largely in place to prevent mining operators from abandoning their obligations.Regulatory responses to the lack of mine rehabilitation and closure performance in the last five to ten years have primarily focussed on compliance and enforcement of rehabilitation conditions in environmental approvals. Additionally, financial assurance measures have been tightened to protect against abandonment of rehabilitation obligations by the Industry, including the Chain of Responsibility legislation (Queensland Government, 2016b) in April 2016, to hold to account those who have benefitted from mining and processing/refining projects, and then avoid their environmental obligations.CITATION:Swart, P B and Erskine, P D, 2018. Are our closure planning and regulatory processes adequate to identify, quantify and appropriately transfer residual risks after successful mine rehabilitation?, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2018, pp 155–158 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 25, 2018

By M Player, R Klug, N Schwarz

There are several technologies available for thickening and dewatering of mining process slurries. The most commonly used are thickeners and filters, but technological developments have made solid bowl decanter centrifuges a viable option and their use, as a modern and alternative technology, is being considered more and more. In terms of tailings, the main goal for all mine operations is to minimize operating costs and the environmental impact of the disposed material. The high potential risk of wet tailings storage in tailings dams is causing this technology to become unpopular, and there is a strong drive in many parts of the world, by governments, communities and environmental agencies to limit any further construction and use of such facilities. For the alternative disposal method of dry disposal of tailings, two aspects of the process have to be evaluated, namely the maximum dryness of the separated solids and the maximum liquid recovery. For most mining operations dry disposal is a new concept. Presenting these companies with examples of operations where this processing option has been successfully applied and proven, will help them to adapt to the changing requirements in the future. Focus has been placed on adapting decanter centrifuges to the mining environment. Modern decanters stand out in terms of their small footprint, low water demand, high availability and their high degree of automation, combined with the excellent cost / performance ratio. Decanter centrifuges have started to play a key role in applications such as tailing dewatering, drilling and tunnelling muds processing, hydrometallurgical processes of gold, nickel or zinc and separating crud in solvent extraction plants. This paper will present advantages of decanter centrifuges compared to the traditional technology and corroborate these advantages by case studies.

Jul 1, 2021

By S Coward, J Vann, R Wolff, S Jackson, S Moayer, A Bye

Uncertainty about the future and orebody should significantly impact evaluation of mining projects. Scenario planning, widely used in other industries, for example in the petroleum industry, can provide organisations with an opportunity to explore the consequences of uncertainty on their future plans. By developing plausible scenarios, scenario planning assists decision makers by allowing them to make systematic and possibly effective decisions for the future. This paper reviews existing mine project evaluation in the context of a new framework called scenario-based project evaluation (SBPE) (Vann et al , 2012) that addresses many shortcomings of existing approaches. SBPE uses conditional simulations (CS) models as inputs which are evaluated against future alternative project pathways (æalternativesÆ). These alternatives are evaluated using multiple plausible images of the deposit (CS realisations) which capture realistic variability and as an ensemble, map uncertainty of various orebody attributes at fine scale. The alternatives can involve different mining, stockpiling, blending and processing strategies. The ultimate output is a (stochastic) set of cash flows for each alternative from which financial measures, such as NPV, can be derived. Alternatives can then be explored in the presence of against external scenarios such as changes in prices, costs, and taxation. The obvious problem with such data rich results is knowing which scenarios or group of scenarios are optimal.An innovative approach to robust stochastic optimisation (RSO) suited to the SBPE framework is presented here for the first time. This approach to RSO aims to deal with the large number of alternatives generated from SPBE. The goal of applying the RSO approach to SBPE is to identify robust strategic alternatives (project configurations) which have the flexibility to deal with variability and uncertainty of geological and processing inputs such as density, grade and process performance. By applying the proposed RSO method, it is possible to deal with uncertainty and identify the best project configuration in the face of a large number of envisaged scenarios. A case study is provided, in which we have tested the application of the proposed method and compared the result with conventional methods. An important conclusion from this research is that selecting the value of the penalty coefficients in the RSO approach proposed is (as is all optimisation) an exercise of trade-offs; a higher net present value (NPV) is generally associated with a higher risk and a lower risk is associated with a lower NPV. Indeed, this is a strong argument for considering the RSO approach outlined here over more conventional approaches.CITATION:Moayer, S, Vann, J, Coward, S, Jackson, S, Bye, A and Wolff, R, 2012. An innovative approach to robust optimisation for scenario-based mineral project evaluation, in Proceedings Project Evaluation 2012 , pp 141-148 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 24, 2012

By J Franke, C Gonzalez

One of the regular tasks of geotechnical and mining engineers is the measurement and management of deformation in underground excavations. Although several methods are used to do so, the incumbent methodologies for monitoring deformation and ground support serviceability are limited to the use of visual observations or measurements at discrete points, resulting in a qualitative assessment only. The introduction of LiDAR technology allows a quantitative assessment across the entire excavation volume and its rock surface, by collecting a full three-dimensional image of the entirety of an excavation such as an underground drive, decline, or a tunnel. Comparisons between epochs of complete 3D data coverage allows for change detection over time that doesn’t feature otherwise typical omissions. The implementation of regular scanning has shown to be highly advantageous for mines with swelling or squeezing ground, but also at mines with rapid deformation. Despite the LiDAR potential, its adoption has been slow. A key reason for that is that working with point clouds is foreign to most geotechnical engineers. Point clouds have long been the realm of surveyors, but to fully adopt their use in geomechanics requires retraining, upskilling, and devotion by the individuals and the company. Sites are already stretched, so often there are insufficient resources to be applied to bringing the new technology into use. The solution to this hurdle is to partner with subject matter experts to achieve the desired high-quality outcomes without the commitment of time by geotechnical personnel. This paper presents a new solution of fully automated raw LiDAR point cloud data processing that not only enables geotechnical engineers to avoid having to learn unrelated skills by allowing for deformation monitoring without associated training or expertise, but it also provides instant reporting results as well as a sophisticated database with features otherwise not available. All data processing time and effort is completely replaced by an automated process which at the same time opens up the opportunity to monitor many more excavation volumes at a higher frequency than is possible with conventional tools and methodology.

Nov 29, 2022

By S Ellis

In January 2008 Chirano Gold Mines Limited committed to expansion of the Chirano Gold Project from its existing design capacity of 2 Mtpa ROM ore to a new design value of 3.5 Mtpa. In addition to increased throughput, the design had to contend with increasing ore hardness and competency, while at the same time make cost effective use of existing equipment with minimum disruption to existing production. The solution adopted involved some novel approaches including tertiary crushing and operation of the SABC circuit in overflow ball mill mode and parallel elution with a common acid wash column. This paper describes the approach taken to the design of these elements to achieve a cost effective and safe capacity expansion.

Aug 8, 2011

By D Luppnow, H Rourke

Recent disasters such as the failure of the Mount Polley tailings embankment remind us of the risks that tailings facilities pose. It is widely recognised that dam-break assessments are a vital tool in identifying the consequences of the failure of a facility, which in turn can be used to develop emergency action plans. A typical assessment includes an estimation of breach parameters and outflow volume, followed by the preparation of an inundation map to illustrate potential flow extents and downstream impacts. This paper focuses on the estimation of outflow volumes, which is an area that the authors feel can be improved. Presently, many types of analyses assume that the volume of tailings released is only a function of the storage volume and dam height. After a review of several documented tailings failures, it has been found that the extent and depth of the supernatant pond needs to be considered as it is just as important, if not more so, as the storage volume and dam height. Tailings facilities with excess water storage have a higher risk of failure as they are more susceptible to overtopping, piping and liquefaction failures. In addition, they pose greater failure consequences as the saturated conditions will lead to more material being mobilised.This paper has reviewed available information on a number of tailings dam failures and proposes an alternative estimation of potential tailings release volumes as a function of supernatant water stored on the facility for use in dam-break analyses. In a broader sense, the paper seeks to shift the current risk paradigm from tailings dam heights to volumes of water stored and provides a basis for continuing research and discussion.CITATION:Rourke, H and Luppnow, D, 2015. The risks of excess water on tailings facilities and its application to dam-break studies, in Proceedings Tailings and Mine Waste Management for the 21st Century , pp 225–230 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 27, 2015

By C D. Pocock

Maintaining catch berm capacity in open pit mines through controlled blasting prevents production delays associated with managing risks associated with wall instability. A method has been developed to quantify the drill hole deviation of presplit holes at Century Mine. Different controlled blasting techniques are used to control wall quality and decrease the risk. The performance of presplit drilling, in terms of deviation from design has been investigated. A methodology has been developed to quantify the drill hole deviation in three dimensions. This methodology was converted into a series of algorithms capable of handling an extensive range of data. The methodology was applied to a case study at Century Mine to evaluate the performance of drilling on two presplit blasts. Overall, 67 drill holes were investigated in the case study. The drill hole deviation was quantified in terms of three parameters: skewness, linearity and drill hole deviation parameter. Methods for quantifying each parameter were developed. Skewness, a measure of the amount of curvature and linearity, was defined as the measure of the consistency of the gradient of the drill hole. Drill hole deviation parameter is defined as the average measured deviation of the surveyed drill hole position from the design position. Acceptable drill hole deviation tolerances for each of the defined parameters were developed by analysing drill hole deviation parameters with respect to implications to catch berm capacity. Verification of the methodology was confirmed through the comparing of the completed drill hole deviation results using both visual inspection and cross analysis for each of the three methods. Holes with an R squared value of less than 0.97 for skewed deviation were classified as having skewed deviation, while holes with a difference in gradient of 3.5 were classified as having linear deviation. The results show that 76 per cent of the drill holes had deviation. Of this, 19 per cent were skewed, 57 per cent had linearity and 12 per cent contained both skewed and linearity deviation.

Nov 8, 2011

By C Tomlin, C Gimber

Historically, key closure risks have been studied during operations and then further assessed as cessation of mining approaches. Only in the past couple of decades or so has progressive rehabilitation and closure become an integral part of regulatory frameworks, sustainable mine planning and more recently, new project and development planning. It is now broadly accepted that the best closure outcomes occur when rehabilitation and closure are properly considered upfront, during the early stages of a mine development project and well before mining occurs. Increasingly, regulatory processes are requiring more diligence on early closure planning, often as part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and approvals process, rather than later in dedicated closure study phases. There is an opportunity to use the information generated during this phase to make better decisions on project selection, design, mining methodology and all other facets of the mining operation.

Aug 2, 2023

By A Harburg, A Dendys, G Green

Dugald River Mine (DRM) is located approximately 85 km north-east of Mount Isa, and 65 km northwest of Cloncurry, in the north-west Queensland Minerals Province of Australia. DRM is an underground operation and includes an above ground processing area, a 200 ha tailings facility, two waste rock dumps and associated infrastructure. The mining method is conventional underground longhole open stoping and downhole benching of a lead/zinc deposit within a black slate environment. The deposit is estimated to contain ~53 Mt of zinc and lead, which will be mined over a 30-year period. During operations, waste rock is segregated into either Potentially Acid Forming (PAF) or Non-Acid Forming (NAF) based primarily on the sulfide concentration of the rock. In particular, the NAF waste rock is an asset and is used for various small construction projects during operation; however, its primary use is for rehabilitation work at closure. Since beginning operations in 2017, DRM has generated more NAF than was originally anticipated. Whilst this is an excellent asset to DRM, it did pose a logistical problem of where to store the additional NAF for the life-of-mine and how to manage the run-off. DRM experiences distinct wet and dry seasons with hot conditions and periods of rainfall between November to April, and relatively dry and mild conditions between May to October. Majority of rainfall is received between January and February with an annual average rainfall of 501.1 mm. Short and intense rainfall events are common. DRM’s above ground infrastructure is land-locked between two large ephemeral watercourses, making the significant expansion of any assets challenging from a permitting/regulation and cost perspective. MMG is also a member of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) and is committed to adapting to a changing climate through operations and closure. Following extensive studies DRM opted to store the additional NAF material into the adjoining NAF Dam and concurrently upgrade a previously minor sediment basin into a highly engineered sediment basin which relies on automatic flocculant dosing to meet the required discharge quality limits. This basin is climate-resilient in that the dosing system can be adjusted to counter high intensity extended rainfall events which produce highly variable inflow water quality. This abstract broadly describes how DRM designed and implemented an engineering innovation to enable the site to meet the changing climatic challenges. The abstract then describes the process to design the sediment basin and how the dosing rate was established and validated. Finally, the abstract comments on the effectiveness of the sediment basin and how it has revolutionised DRM’s approach to water treatment and management; all whilst minimising the disturbance footprint of the operation

Aug 2, 2023

By M J. Nugus

The structural models developed by exploration and mining geologists are most commonly concerned with the ‘main structures’ or key constituents that pertain to the associated mineralisation. To this end, it is recognised that the geological and exploration models, which are developed, are essentially ‘fit for task’ and the scale-related variances are not always realised at an early stage. In fact, in many cases anomalous intercepts along different trends and of variable apparent continuity have often been neglected as ‘back scatter’ and not important. Recognition of the importance of subordinate structures as mineralising hosts suggests that additional opportunities exist outside the primary and main structures. History shows that opportunities are often not realised where gold is hosted in orientations not parallel to the predominant trend of the schistosity, main fault or shear zone.Another reason for the importance of subordinate structures can be understood from their roles in a percolation network. Subordinate structures can access the large fluid fluxes provided by backbone elements, but, as dangling elements, they provide greater opportunities for gold precipitation mechanisms and hence may constitute essential parts of the resource. Therefore, the role, understanding and consideration of the smaller-scale and orthogonal structures should be considered during all facets of exploration, resource development, delineation and mining.

Aug 22, 2011

By P J. Fairfield

This paper reflects on the author’s experience working in site-based technical and management roles over a 29 year period, and the past 12 years in internal and external consulting roles. It discusses the author’s experiences and observations of operations management, and the significant value of the technical specialist’s role in providing management with information on what to base tactical decisions, which may or may not be part of a defined strategy.The landscape of mine management changes with the cyclical nature of commodity prices driving operating and capital prudence, as operations change their focus from expansion and growth to staying in the game. The role of the mine manager and management team in navigating through these changing times, attitudes and stages of the project life can influence the success or otherwise of many projects.Technical knowledge is one of the key drivers in realising or destroying the value of a project or operation. As managers focus on people management, management systems and processes, recognising and understanding value in underlying technical knowledge, and getting back to the fundamentals/basics, can be overlooked. In reaction to the fluctuating commodity cycle, managers implement changes through optimisation, fast tracking or parallel streaming, expansion projects and changes in the application of technology. These responses occur against the background of changes in the appetite for risk, acceptance of project uncertainty and changes in personnel which result in a loss of knowledge and experience – often at critical times.This paper shares the author’s experiences and lessons learnt in dealing with and observing these issues. The author questions whether we really understand our projects and are valuing the most important asset, our people and, in particular, the technical specialist and their experience and knowledge.CITATION:Fairfield, P J, 2016. Staying in the game – the importance of engineering-based decisions, in Proceedings International Mine Management Conference, pp 67-74 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jun 22, 2016

By D Luppnow, C Hore

In-pit tailings storage can provide many advantages when compared to typical above-ground tailings storage facilities (TSFs). As regulations become more restrictive and existing mines expand into new pits, the motivation and opportunities for in-pit tailings disposal is increasing.The Langer Heinrich uranium orebody follows a palaeo-river channel and is mined as an open pit operation. The mine pits intersect two main aquifer systems, one at the surface and one at the base of the orebody/pits. The tailings storage methodology is full in-pit disposal in multiple TSFs for the life-of-mine. Continuity of the initial hydrogeological conditions is incorporated in the design by the use of the pervious surround concept and the reinstatement of the lower aquifer (palaeochannel aquifer) at the base of the pit. Containment embankments are required to facilitate the staging of the TSFs development and are constructed using waste rock liberated during the mining of the pits. All of the TSFs are equipped with decant structures and an underdrainage system is included to improve water recovery, enhance consolidation and increase tailings density.This paper presents the design of a unique in-pit tailings storage solution for the Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia owned by Paladin Energy Ltd.CITATION:Hore, C and Luppnow, D, 2015. In-pit tailings disposal at Langer Heinrich – tailings storage facilities in a unique hydrogeological setting, in Proceedings Tailings and Mine Waste Management for the 21st Century , pp 373–380 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 27, 2015

Designing and constructing OxianaÆs Sepon gold and copper operations in one of the most remote areas in Laos has been a great achievement; one which was recognised by the engineering industryÆs highest accolade û the Australian Engineering Excellence Award in 2005. The developing nation of Laos has no previous mining or heavy industrial experience, but the support of the Lao Government and a remarkable Lao workforce has enabled the project to be developed and operate as well as it would anywhere else in the world.When making a decision to invest offshore, several geophysical and jurisdictional criteria need to be considered. Laos offers unparalleled prospectivity, a central location with growing infrastructure, a ready workforce and a developing but supportive regulatory regime. In addition, the Sepon copper project has exceptional characteristics, including its high grades, location near the surface, leachable qualities, access to hydropower and the ability to produce cathodes on site. These attributes and its location in the centre of a region hungry for resources contributes to the projectÆs excellent economics.

Jan 1, 2006

By R L. Grogan

Regulators of deep-sea mining projects are becoming increasingly hesitant about the concept of adaptive management as a tool to facilitate compliance and continuous improvement. Adaptive management is a relevant and useful instrument to ensure that the mine plan is successfully implemented throughout the life of mine, in parallel with optimum environmental performance and compliance.CITATION:Grogan, R L, 2018. Adaptive management in deep sea mining – looking like you know what you’re doing when it’s never been done before, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2018, pp 20–22 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 25, 2018

By B Ghahreman‐Nejad, M Munro

Design of embankment dams often requires seismic analyses, or an assessment of earthquakeinduced ground and dam movements. There are a large number of cases where earthquakes have triggered sliding and lateral spreading of embankments, resulting in excessive crest settlements. In some instances, liquefaction and embankment failure has occurred resulting in loss of containment. Hence, evaluation of the effects of earthquakes on embankment dams is a critical design aspect. This paper discusses the methods and the results of a seismic liquefaction assessment and deformation analyses of a tailings dam. The tailings dam consists of a perimeter earth core rockfill starter dam which has been raised using upstream construction methods. The embankment raises (formed by an upstream clay blanket and an all-in rockfill body) are constructed over the impounded tailings, which are potentially liquefiable. Extensive field and laboratory tests were undertaken to assess the liquefaction potential of the tailings, and also determine the material properties required for seismic stability and deformation analyses. Numerical modelling of seismic liquefaction and deformation was carried out using FLAC (Itasca 2016) to predict the magnitude and spatial variation of deformations that may lead to an uncontrolled release of tailings. Primarily based on a parametric assessment of UBCSand and Finn-Byrne constitutive models, the results of the analyses are presented and compared for evaluation.

Jul 1, 2021

By S Sullivan

A recent review of resource reports lodged to statutory bodies found geological models with oversmoothed or unrealistic lithological boundaries, many of which do not represent geological appearance in the field, pit or underground drive. The underlying data is often too complex or messy to be incorporated into the resource model and is thus a simplification of reality, to the detriment of the mining operation and its shareholders. Volumes can be over- or underestimated and subsequent grade predictions can be misplaced, combining to cause over- or understatement in resource reporting to stakeholders and statutory authorities. Domain models can be improved with new modelling techniques such as machine learning. However, with poor data or improper use of machine learning techniques, the conclusions can be just as misleading as with current techniques. Machine learning rarely offers a single ‘right’ outcome, rather a range of possible outcomes from the data provided. But importantly it can take advantage of the full richness of data for more informed models. Machine learning also provides confidence in its predictions so that uncertainty in the resultant models can be quantified and passed through for risk assessment during mine planning and operation. This paper will discuss the factors accentuating complexity in deposit modelling: data diversity, structural controls, chemistry, data volumes, process workflows and external non-geological constraints. A case study illustrates the risk of reducing or ignoring complexity, which can result in an overly simplified geological model.

Mar 22, 2022

IN preparing a sample of refined lead for analysis, it is necessary to exercise great care to avoid contaminatien, as the amounts of the various impurities present in market lead are very small. The lead is cut into convenient-sized pieces, which are flattened out with a hammer, so that, on putting tbe lead through the rolls, strips of about one inch in width and Ij32iu. in thickness are obtained. The hammer, anvil, and rolls should be carefully cleaned before use. The strips oflead are cut up into pieces of about one inch square. If the lead is roIled out very thin and cut up into small pieces there is considerable risk of the acid acting too violently and causing loss through frothing over. A blank assay on all the reagents used should becarried right through, along with the actual analysis of the lead. This is of the greatest importance, particularly with regard to the determination of such impurities as iron, sulphur, arsenic, and antimony.METHOD OF ANALYSISThe method of analysis is as follows: Take two lots of 600 gIm. each, place in a large beaker, add 2000 cc. distilled water and 750 cc. concentrated HNOs. Cover with a clock glass and warm on a hot asbestos plate until all action ceases. (If any white precipitate forms, filter off and examine for Sn and Sb.) Add 420 cc. H2S04 (1-1), and stir well while adding the acid: Allow PbS04 to settle, pour off the clear liquid into a 12-in. porcelain evaporating dish, and start evaporating down, the dish being placed directly on an 8-in. ring gas burner. Wash the precipitate three times by decantation using approximately 1200 cc. hot water for each washing, and stir well...

Jan 1, 1922

Introduction.History of Stope Filling at Mount Isa.The Need for a Systematic Fill Programme.Reasons for Filling.Fill Materials and Tonnages.Rough Mullock Fill.Quantities Readily Available.Fill Pass Development.Stope Preparation.Drainage.Hydraulic Sand Fill.Initial Experiments with Mill Tailings.Surface Layout.Operation Procedure.Underground Pipe Lines.Life of Sand Pipes and Cones.Drainage.Old Tailings Dam Sands.Quantity of Fill Placed.Pillar Tonnages.Conclusion and Acknowledgment.INTRODUCTIONFilling practice outlined in this paper refers exclusively to the Black Star section of the mine. The stope filling necessary early in the life of the Black Rock and portions of the Rio Grande sections is not to be confused with the current filling programme.

Jan 1, 1953

By P Cooper

Continuous improvement using six sigma methodologies commonly follows the DMAIC methodology of define, measure, analyse, improve and control. A key requirement in the use of this approach is to ensure that data is trusted, validated and contextual. In today’s production environments it is common to find disparate technology comprising the system architecture and highly customised interfaces between the various technology layers. This complexity often leads to inaccurate data presented at the operations management layer or worse, data that is not trusted. Identifying defects and making corrective actions cannot be efficiently carried out unless trusteddata can be easily obtained with a production context. It is also common to find that disparate systems of this nature present information in multiple ways and through multiple presentation systems. This paper discusses how the use of web-based technologies in an integrated technology stack can aid the accessibility, accuracy and trust of data used in decision-making and also how a unified visualisation environment can lead to greater operator efficiency.

Jul 11, 2011

By C Paoletti

About 15 years ago the debate on the reliability of sampling procedures for agricultural food and feed commodities was initiated by a few brave scientists who questioned the representativeness of what, at the time, were routine sampling procedures established exclusively on the basis of tradition and practical feasibility. Over time several national and international organisations contributed to the discussion, developing standards and publishing papers either to underline the fact that sampling is always a source of error, in itself, which cannot be overlooked, or to minimise the relevance of sampling on the basis of argumentations linked to time and money limitations. The latter dominated, but is nevertheless impossible to accept from both a scientific and a responsible management perspective. Here the author presents an historical overview of these past 15 years, illustrating the most controversial issues, reporting major achievements in food/feed sampling, highlighting milestones, as well as unresolved problems that still need the attention and contribution from the sampling community. The need to incorporate Theory of Sampling (TOS) into food/feed safety assessment (pre-market), as well as into food/feed safety monitoring (post-market) has recently been highlighted, and the practical applicability of TOS to base food/feed safety decisions on representative sampling, has been explored and documented via concrete examples of risk analysis in different areas of food/feed industrial production chains. Now it is time to move forward and ensure that TOS is fully integrated into the well-established Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) / World Health Organization (WHO) risk assessment approach, in order to guarantee a transparent and correct universal frame for risk assessment and the subsequent management decision-making process. WCSB8 offers the ideal platform to explore the best way to do so, switching from a theoretical discussion of correct sampling principles for food and feed agricultural commodities to practical recommendations in the interest of consumers, worldwide. These 15 years have also been a personal journey of interesting dimensions, indeed a veritable roller-coaster ride in-and-out of the scientific, technological, industrial and (last but not least) regulatory worlds. The start was WCSB2 in 2004, when I flew to Australia to discover if in other areas sampling had been identified as an unavoidable issue and, if so, what the solution was. There, I found a good travel companion who today is still on my side, to assemble the puzzle and explore how to shape the future, to concretely answer to the 15 years’ quest for proper sampling in the assessment and monitoring of food/feed safety.CITATION:Paoletti, C, 2017. Assessing and monitoring food and feed safety – a 15 year quest for proper sampling, in Proceedings Eighth World Conference on Sampling and Blending , pp 39–44 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2017