Alex Pritchard, Ph.D.’s Post

On July 24, 2024, Big Island Mining Pty Ltd was ordered to pay $125,000 towards a community project following two separate wastewater overflow incidents at Dargues Gold Mine in the NSW Southern Tablelands. Key Highlights: - Incidents: On July 13, 2023, a valve malfunction caused by scale buildup led to an overflow of tailings wastewater into a sediment dam. Days later, another overflow occurred due to a manual valve being left open, spilling over 190,000 liters of wastewater, some reaching Spring Creek. - Environmental Impact: Tailings wastewater contains pollutants like salts and metals, posing a risk to nearby waterways. - Regulatory Response: The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issued a clean-up notice and mandated changes to prevent future overflows. Company Actions: - Community Project Funding: Big Island Mining will fund a project for the long-term remediation of Araluen Creek and its tributaries, including Spring Creek. - Industry Forums: The company will present its findings on water management and rehabilitation progress at three industry forums to improve environmental performance across the mining sector. Statements from Officials: Jason Gordon, NSW EPA Executive Director of Operations: "Dargues Gold Mine is near waterways used for drinking water, and it’s not the first time Big Island Mining has polluted Spring Creek. Wastewater must be controlled on the premises to prevent environmental harm." Follow Global Regulatory Insights for more updates! #EnvironmentalProtection #MiningIndustry #WastewaterManagement #BigIslandMining #NSWEPA #Compliance #CommunityProject #GRI #RegulatoryInsights

Sustainable sinks To hoist, or to load: that is the question in the mine development space. Daniel Gleeson, in IM September 2024, speaks to the shaft sinking market to find out if there is yet a unanimous industry answer. If sustainability and emission reduction aims become overriding factors in mine project development, as expected, it is inevitable more shafts will be sunk in the future. These aims – when quantified in an emissions intensity equation – favour shaft-supported underground operations where typical financialonly metrics would point towards declinesupported ones. This is thanks to the ability to ‘green’ the electricity required, the potential to regenerate energy when using an energy storage component and the ability to leverage existing material handling technology as opposed to emerging battery-electric innovations. With this context in mind, IM heard from the leaders in this space - including REDPATH DEILMANN GmbH, Redpath Group, RUC Mining, DMC Mining Services, Murray & Roberts Cementation, Cementation Americas, UMS United Mining Services Group and Master Drilling Group Ltd - about the latest developments going down. We also feature technologies and solutions from Herrenknecht AG and Timberland Equipment Limited, plus project updates from UK - Anglo American, Alamos Gold Inc., Partenariat Canadian Malartic, #Appin coal mine, the #Victoria project, #Platreef and more... #shaftsinking #minedevelopment #mechanisedsinking Jochen Greinacher, Kevin Melong, Sean Henley, Patrick Hudd, Murray Macnab Koos Jordaan

In the ever-evolving mining industry, the ability to adapt and grow is crucial. At Redpath Australia - Mining Contractors and Engineers, we recognised that the RUC Mining business was not only aligned with our services and goals but also presented a unique opportunity to build on our existing capabilities. RUC Mining's expertise in #RaiseDrilling, #MechanisedMining and #ShaftSinking perfectly complemented Redpath Australia - Mining Contractors and Engineers’s leadership in mine development. We saw this acquisition as a chance to integrate RUC Mining's strengths with our own, broadening our market reach and enhancing our ability to deliver comprehensive mining solutions across Australia and beyond. The acquisition was not just a strategic move; it was a calculated step towards uniting two powerhouses in the mining industry, each with a shared vision of innovation, safety, and excellence. We'd like to extend our gratitude to Daniel Gleeson from International Mining for the write-up and reinforcing what is and will be an exciting future, together. #SafetyFirstLastAndAlways #UndergroundMining #RedpathMining #ThisIsMining #RedpathAustralia #RUCMining #MiningIndustry #MiningContractor #MiningAustralia #MineDevelopment #ShaftSinking

One early example is the Blackwater lease for BHP Mitsubishi Alliance in 1978, where six welded RoadTrains spanned 40 km of land. Over the years, Hydroflux has continually enhanced these systems with additional equipment and technologies to ensure they meet modern compliance standards. Compliance requirements have evolved significantly since those early days. Moreover, these systems are designed to be relocatable as mining operations shift along the coal seam, offering considerable economic advantages through asset reuse. Scalability is another economic benefit. For instance, a RoadTrain package initially set up in the Bowen Basin coal mine in central Queensland in the 1970s had a capacity for 400 people. Through a series of relocations and upgrades, it was capable of accommodating up to 800 people by 2012. Today, pre-fabricated sewage treatment systems are available and can be easily installed on concrete slabs. These systems are delivered to the site in a flat-pack format, alleviating logistical challenges for sites with limited road access or the absence of cranes. This approach was successfully employed for a bolted RoadTrain® installation at Moro village within the Oilsearch mining lease in Papua New Guinea’s southern highlands in 2015.

🇦🇺 RARE EARTHS: "Radiation fears, contentious business practices at the heart of proposed mineral sands mine hearing" 🔹 In short: Farmers in northern Victoria are concerned dust and contaminated runoff from a proposed mine could contaminate their crops and rainwater in one of Victoria's prime agricultural regions. 🔹 Mining company VHM wants to mine 1,500 hectares of agricultural land and build a rare earths processing plant at Lalbert. 🔹 What's next? The Victorian government has appointed an advisory committee to hear evidence from experts and local residents on the proposed mine and will report back to the planning minister by July. A proposed mineral sands miner promising to inject hundreds of millions of dollars into Victoria's economy has been accused by farmers of using questionable tactics to secure land and putting their crops at risk. Mining company VHM says it has discovered one of the world's largest rare earth deposits in the small farming town of Lalbert, northern Victoria, where it is proposing to mine 1,500 hectares of agricultural land and build a rare-earths processing plant. The Victorian government has appointed an independent panel to conduct an inquiry into the proposal, with hearings underway this month. The proposed mine is one of eight potential mineral sands projects in..... 👉 Article: https://lnkd.in/d7Bhc27H 🌍 TA RawMaterials: https://lnkd.in/d_Np2KpZ (supported by EIT RawMaterials, funded by Krixos & the EU) #rareearths #uranium #electricvehicles #criticalminerals #windturbines #thorium #renewableenergy #renewables #mining #evs #energytransition

Bob Kinnell, manager of water strategy and sustainability at GHD, argues it is time to take a more strategic approach to water management in the Pilbara region of Western Australia (WA). Mining in the Pilbara has now entered a sustaining phase where closure studies are as prevalent as development studies. This more balanced state raises the question of practices, focus and outcomes being at a tipping point in the Pilbara’s water management story. Is this now a point of transition from the legacy of a tactical approach to a more strategic one? Read the full article below in the current edition of MINE Australia: #globaldata #MINEAustralia #australianmining #miningindustry #watermanagement #miningfeature https://lnkd.in/gAVZtGua

Inside Osino’s mine water supply dilemma Requiring about 1.1 million m3 of water per annum for its mining operations, Osino Resources Corp. which operates Twin Hills Gold mine in Namibia and is in the process of being sold to Chinese miner, Yintai has said that it continues to investigate sustainable and diverse water supply options to ensure that the mine’s needs, neighbouring and downstream water users’ needs and the environment’s needs are met. Although detailed water specialist studies indicate that the bulk of the mine’s annual water requirements will be met through the responsible use of groundwater on the mine property and from the Kranzberg Aquifer, near Usakos - without affecting the water supply of neighbouring landowners - the company has now said that a variety of alternative water supply options, such as domestic wastewater treatment, recycling, managed aquifer recharge and surface and sand storage of water, are being investigated as additional supply diversification strategies. https://lnkd.in/d7ig5buV

#Canada - #British_Columbia - #Tailings - Discussion and reporting of Tailings and Impoundments status and at-risk profile are best managed with current, historical data, and as a part of an ongoing #monitoring scenario. The #Narwahl report by Shannon Waters highlights several important, and large #TSF that support mining operations across British Columbia. #RRM #TIRI #data_alignment #geomatics #slopstability Have a Look - #MyTSF - https://lnkd.in/gFZWSbRp

Desalination is increasingly common around the world for a variety of industrial uses, particularly mining 🌎⛏ In Chile, the world’s #1 copper source, desalination has saved the industry as ongoing extreme drought has literally dried up traditional water sources. But desalination plants involve expensive, complex systems that need protection. Learn how a clear-span tension fabric building can quickly meet desalination needs-https://hubs.ly/Q02kMXPR0 #Desalination #LegacyNation #FabricBuildings

Save the Water In the realm of mining and mineral processing, the management of tailings is a critical facet that demands our unwavering attention. As stewards of the environment, industry leaders, and advocates for sustainable practices, it is paramount that we delve into the significance of dewatering in tailings management. Dewatering, the process of removing water from tailings, emerges as a linchpin in our commitment to responsible and eco-conscious mining practices. Here are a few reasons why dewatering deserves the spotlight: Environmental Stewardship: Dewatering significantly reduces the volume of water retained in tailings storage facilities, mitigating the risk of potential spills and leaks. By minimizing the water content, we diminish the environmental footprint and fortify our efforts to safeguard surrounding ecosystems. ✔ Risk Mitigation: Waterlogged tailings pose a considerable risk in terms of stability and integrity. Dewatering not only enhances the structural stability of tailings storage but also diminishes the likelihood of catastrophic failures, contributing to safer and more secure mining operations. ✔ Resource Recovery: The water extracted during the dewatering process can often be recycled and reused within the processing plant, reducing the demand on freshwater resources. This not only aligns with sustainability goals but also bolsters operational efficiency. ✔ Regulatory Compliance: Governments and regulatory bodies worldwide are tightening the reins on tailings management practices. Dewatering aligns with these evolving regulations, positioning mining operations to meet and exceed compliance standards, fostering trust with stakeholders and communities. ✔ Economic Efficiency: Efficient dewatering translates into cost savings. The reduction in water volume streamlines transportation and storage requirements, minimizing operational costs and maximizing the overall economic viability of mining projects. ✔ Community Relations: By prioritizing responsible tailings management through dewatering, mining companies can build stronger relationships with local communities. Transparent and sustainable practices enhance community trust, paving the way for collaborative partnerships that benefit all stakeholders. The importance of dewatering in tailings management cannot be overstated. It is not merely a technical process but a strategic imperative that underscores our commitment to sustainable mining practices. As we navigate the challenges of the mining industry, let us champion dewatering as a cornerstone in our collective journey toward responsible resource extraction and environmental stewardship. #Mining #TailingsManagement #Sustainability #Dewatering #EnvironmentallyResponsibleMining