Minetek’s Post

What's changed? Very interesting read for anyone working on #tailings by the Engineering & Mining Journal. It is inspiring to see more and more influential voices, such as Prof. Dr. David Williams, advocating for full reprocessing of the tailings bulk in the context of #mining #circularity : “While there may be some potential for the reprocessing of tailings to yield metals and minerals, this will still leave the bulk of the tailings to be managed,” he said. “They could be dewatered and redeposited to form denser, stronger deposits. However, uses need to be found for the bulk of tailings, such as using sand fractions as a replacement for natural and quarried sand, and the use of tailings in the manufacture of building products such as concrete, bricks and as fill.” https://lnkd.in/dPzYn-Rd

Essential water quality testers play a pivotal role in the mining industry, ensuring sustainability and environmental protection. Discover how GAO Tek's precision-designed solutions are tackling these challenges head-on, from tailings management to emergency response. #WaterQuality #MiningIndustry #Sustainability #GAOTek"

Really underscores the importance of developing #mine #closure plans that are dynamic documents that undergo regular review and are frequently updated with new information. 

I posted this today for enviroMETS Qld to inspire some different thinking about our approach to post-mining land use ahead of three papers that are being presented at ACG Australian Centre for Geomechanics "Mine Closure Conference" in Perth 26-28 Nov. If your head is in the same space, you’ll appreciate the potential of two of the outcomes enviroMETS Qld's LightHouse Project is pursuing. Firstly, our LHP1: Regulatory and Industries Practices identified nine recommendations that can shorten and make more certain the approvals process. Can we rethink the current process, then test it as a regulatory sandbox that leads to establishing our LHP3:PMLU R&D Pilot Sites? Secondly, our LHP2: Multi-criteria Business Case development will identify the best net value making PMLU projects attractive to external investors. How can we change our thinking to enable these to establish, develop and operate concurrently with mining operations? If you believe these ideas will assist our mining resources sector, make contact with me, the discussion might just unlock a more valuable future..

Is this the best we can do with post-mining land? Then it’s time for a rethink. The ‘before and after’ images shared by Glencore deserve to be recognised a state of the art of infilling in mining voids and returning land to past use. Full credit to Glencore’s Newlands mine closure team for delivering the post-mining land use (PMLU) just as required by their mining lease. No argument from us. However, is this the best net value solution for the as mined land? After we reported our LightHouse Project One - “PMLU Regulatory and Industry Practices”, enviroMETS asked three questions; • What is the net carbon footprint of infilling the post mining voids? • Is there a better net value if we took a different approach to PMLU? • Can we implement circular practices to commercially use residual mining materials (‘mine waste’)? enviroMETS Qld is presenting some answers to these questions at the @ACG Mine Closure Conference in Perth 26-28 November. Here’s a Heads Up Many attendees are thinking what we will be saying. Can we change our approach to PMLU? First Q: Burning tens of million of litres of diesel to fill mining voids creates more environmental damage than reshaping for alternate productive land uses. It exceeds most other decarbonisation initiatives. What if we move away from defaulting to expeditious aesthetic solutions to achieve net better environmental outcomes? Tue 26 @ 3:45pm: Sabrina Johnston presents “Evaluating the environmental and economic impacts of mine void infilling: a case study” Second Q: Stop talking “closure” and "returning land to past use”. Filling void and removing mine infrastructure and communities is technically challenging, economically irresponsible, socially disruptive and environmentally destructive. Do not expect mining operators to know how to invest in land uses like property development, future food production, tourism, recreation venues, defence facilities, or hoteliers! How can we prioritise high-value productive PMLU options offered by people who are not at the conference? Thu 28 @ 10:45am: Allan Morton will present “enviroMETS Lighthouse Projects: a strategic pathway to high value sustainable post-mining land use”. Third Q: Over years we have built a web of (well intended) regulation that severely restricts non-mining commercial enterprises to operate concurrently on mining lease land. However there are many higher value commercial enterprises for mining disturbed land that entrepreneurs could develop and grow alongside mining, benefiting from its infrastructure, local community and investment. When mining ceases the next life of that land is likely profitably well established. It didn’t take much to discover many commercial opportunities, one for example is extracting construction sand from overburden. Thu 28 @ 1:45pm: Liam Taniane will present this example as part of “Circular economy strategy for repurposing coal seam overburden as construction sand in the mining industry”.

Queensland Takes the Lead in Mine Rehabilitation 🌱 Queensland is solidifying its commitment to sustainable mining practices with a renewed focus on coal mine rehabilitation. The state continues to set the standard, encouraging mining companies to go beyond regulatory compliance and invest in long-term environmental restoration. This proactive approach not only benefits the environment but also strengthens the social licence of the mining industry. With major stakeholders onboard, Queensland’s framework could serve as a model for other regions, ensuring that mined land is returned to stable and productive use. It’s inspiring to see steps being taken towards responsible resource management. Read more about Queensland’s leadership in mine rehabilitation: #Mining #Sustainability #EnvironmentalStewardship #Queensland #MineRehabilitation #QLDJobs #QLDCoalMiningJobs

Balancing Extraction and Sustainability: A Call for Mining Innovation The recent environmental settlement involving Minera Escondida, Albemarle, and Minera Zaldívar over the damage to the Monturaqui-Negrillar-Tilopozo aquifer underscores a crucial truth: mining and environmental stewardship are no longer opposing forces but complementary elements of modern industry. While the $47 million agreement to restore the aquifer and implement socio-environmental measures is significant, it highlights a broader issue—the need to shift from reactive reparations to proactive preservation in resource extraction. Mining companies operate in a delicate space where they must satisfy global demand for essential materials while preserving ecosystems and respecting communities that have long depended on them. The Chilean mining sector, particularly in water-scarce regions like the Atacama, exemplifies this challenge. The timeline for aquifer recovery—stretching to 2200—raises unsettling questions about whether industry commitments are truly addressing the root causes of environmental damage or simply mitigating its visibility. This case presents an opportunity to rethink the role of mining in the Anthropocene. The industry’s future lies not in extracting resources at all costs but in innovating extraction methods that respect planetary boundaries. Companies must embrace technologies such as closed-loop water systems, renewable energy integration, and AI for environmental monitoring. They must also foster genuine partnerships with local communities, ensuring that compensation is not a transactional bandage but a pathway to shared prosperity and resilience. The settlement should be a wake-up call for the global mining sector: meeting the needs of today’s economy cannot come at the expense of tomorrow’s environment. Stakeholders—from governments to corporations and indigenous groups—must collectively push for a mining model that values sustainability as much as production. Only through this approach can we ensure that mineral wealth enriches humanity without impoverishing the planet. This is not just a legal or technical issue; it’s a moral imperative. The industries that rise to this challenge will not only endure but lead in the years to come.

"Embracing Sustainable Practices in Limestone Mining " In the evolving landscape of mining, the shift toward sustainable practices is more crucial than ever. Limestone, a key mineral for construction and industrial applications, plays a significant role in this transformation. 🌍 Why Sustainable Mining Matters: Limestone mining impacts ecosystems, air quality, and water resources. By adopting sustainable methods, we mitigate these effects and contribute to environmental stewardship. Innovative Approaches: 1.Precision Mining: Utilizing advanced technology to minimize waste and reduce energy consumption. 2.Rehabilitation: Restoring mined areas through reforestation and habitat creation. 3.Water Management: Implementing systems to reduce water use and prevent contamination. By integrating these practices, we not only protect our environment but also set new industry standards. It’s time for the mining sector to lead by example and invest in a sustainable future. 🌱🔍 #SustainableMining #Limestone #GreenTech #EnvironmentalImpact #MiningInnovation#Adanicement#jkcement#dalmiacement#ultratechcement#kjscement#prismjohnsoncement#jpcement#twigacement#reliancecement#jswcement#tatasteel#jswsteel#jspl#birlawhitecement#jkwhitecement

Increasing demand for the metals and minerals used in #RenewableEnergy technologies is driving expansion of the mining industry. This doesn't have to be a bad thing. But it will be if the industry doesn't learn from past mistakes. These include a historically lax approach to the management of often toxic mining waste, aka tailings. As geotechnical engineer David Williams argues in a new opinion for The Intelligent Miner, the industry response to high-profile tailings disasters, such as the #Brumadinho and #Mariana tailings dam collapses in Brazil, has fallen short, and government regulators have not stepped in to fill the gap. Case in point: the Dairi Prima Mineral mine in N. Sumatra, which the project developer and the Indonesian government are pushing forward despite tailings management plans that Williams describes as "worst case scenarios in every respect." Inclusive Development International has for years been working with local communities threatened by the mine, including supporting their Supreme Court case challenging the environmental permit granted for the mine. Williams's characterization is no exaggeration. Other experts have also called this mine a "disaster waiting to happen," and described it as a litmus test for whether the Indonesian government is willing and able to hold mining companies accountable for their environmental and human rights impacts, as the country seeks to position itself as a future hub of responsible mineral mining. "Mining companies have a need and a responsibility to better manage the risk of tailings dam failure," Williams writes, or they will "lose their social license to operate." The mining industry—and the myriad other industries that depend on it, from healthcare to renewable energy—should heed this warning. https://lnkd.in/g9giV9R9

The cleanup cost for British Columbia’s Elk Valley river, polluted by toxic materials from Teck Resources Limited’ coal mining activities, could amount to at least C$6.4 billion ($4.7 billion), as indicated by a report from the not-for-profit group Wildsight. The report commissioned by the Kootenay-based environmental organization underscores a substantial disparity between the $1.9 billion required by the province for Teck to reserve for emergency shutdowns and mine reclamation, and the projected expenses of the company’s initiatives to combat selenium pollution resulting from coal mining in B.C.’s Elk Valley. Selenium, a naturally occurring element toxic to fish in high concentrations, has been seeping for decades from waste rock piles surrounding Canadian miner Teck’s coal mines. #mining #coal #Canada