AM Nov 2020 by Prime Creative Media

GOLD SPOTLIGHT SURFACE MINING VOLUME 112/10 | NOVEMBER 2020

PROSPECT AWARDS

GOLD SPOTLIGHT SURFACE MINING VOLUME 112/10 | NOVEMBER 2020

PROSPECT AWARDS

PUSHING BOUNDARIES

THE NEXT VISION FOR AUTOMATION

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COMMENT

A GOLDEN PLATFORM FOR FUTURE MINING SUCCESS BEN CREAGH

Ben.Creagh@primecreative.com.au

THE RECORDS CONTINUE TO TUMBLE IN THE AUSTRALIAN GOLD SECTOR, WHICH IS RECEIVING A LEVEL OF INTEREST AND ACTIVITY NOT SEEN IN RECENT MEMORY.

nlike most, Australia’s gold industry is having a year to remember. Yes, an industry like iron ore also has a lot to be pleased about, but it is hard to look past the achievements of the gold sector as the leading bright spot for Australian mining in 2020. The industry’s success as a whole culminated with news it had delivered record production of 328 tonnes in the 2019-2020 financial year (source: Surbiton Associates). As you would expect with gold prices also hitting record levels in the local currency this year, Australia’s earnings from exports of the precious metal are also expected to peak. The Resources and Energy Quarterly report for September 2020 forecasts that gold export earnings will hit a record of around $31 billion in the 2020-2021 financial year. General interest in gold mining is reflecting these achievements. Operational activity is obviously high, as is investment, capital raisings and initial public offerings, paving the way for an increase in exploration across several mining regions. After a dip in gold exploration a decade ago, explorers of the precious metal are committed to finding the next discoveries or expanding operations. And as it has turned out, Australian investment in gold exploration also moved into record territory in the June 2020 quarter. Australia’s gold sector has achieved these

milestones as a new titan of the industry is set to be created with the proposed merger between Northern Star Resources and Saracen Mineral Holdings. The two companies ominously became joint venture partners at the Super Pit in Kalgoorlie last year. Now, they plan to combine their operations across Western Australia and in the United States. This edition fittingly has a golden theme; the gold industry has caught our attention too. In this issue, we explore the Pilbara’s precious metals prospects, Australia’s potential to sustain these levels of production and how new technologies are finding unexpected sources of gold. We also welcome the Gold Industry Group to Australian Mining as the publication’s newest association partner. With gold prices at their current heights, the timing of these records may not be a coincidence for the sector in Australia. But that doesn’t take anything away from the exceptional planning and execution of the companies and organisations that have guided the success behind the scenes.

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NOVEMBER 2020

FRONT COVER

In this edition, we include a special feature on surface mining, with in-depth coverage on the latest achievements by mining and METS (mining equipment, technology and services) companies. We put the spotlight on gold, including developments in Western Australia, work being done to unearth future resources and the technologies being used for exploration. This issue highlights the prospects for the battery metals sector, with focus on lithium, nickel and cobalt. Australian Mining looks at the commitment of companies and associations to improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills. And as usual, we review the latest mining equipment and technology in our products section.

Cover image: Sandvik.

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IN INTHIS THISISSUE ISSUE

12 12

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT

Catching the next gold rush Junior trio take on Pilbara Goldfield prospects

14 AUTOMATION

Future of autonomous mining Sandvik launches AutoMine Concept for underground mining

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

Anticipation of a lithium rebound Pilbara Minerals, AVZ and Core Lithium orchestrate a comeback

40 27

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

Australian gold miners plan ahead Overcoming so-called reserve decline

TRAINING & EDUCATION

Investing in the future generation Developing STEM skills with South32, Gold Industry Group and Evolution

INDUSTRY COMMENT

The threat of La Niña FM Global’s strategy against natural hazards

34 EXPLORATION

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

Nickel, cobalt electrifies the future Glencore sees opportunities for commodities

The pursuit of an unlikely discovery CSIRO, Ardea unearth gold in an unexpected place

MINING EQUIPMENT

PR 776 dozer in action Griffin Coal commits to Liebherr machine

WATER MANAGEMENT

Xylem manages forces of water Pumps and equipment make an impact

MINING SERVICES

The necessities of mining Altra Motion, Keech, Wormald at work behind the scenes

42 TECHNOLOGY

Unthinkable ways of working Redmap, Contact Harald and MICROMINE transform mining

SURFACE MINING

Showcasing equipment and services Offerings surface from JSW, Horton and Vermeer

MATERIALS HANDLING

Elevating conveyor systems Martin Engineering, Inenco optimise operations

53 INFRASTRUCTURE

Mine dewatering with Newcrest Crusader Hose supports Lihir expansion

PROSPECT AWARDS

INDUSTRY COMMENT

The cream of the mining crop Finalists of the 17th Australian Mining Prospect Awards

Paving the way to a METS career Austmine guides Australia’s STEM talent

63 EVENT SPOTLIGHT

AusIMM keeps agenda going Looking ahead to hybrid conferences

REGULARS 5 COMMENT 8 NEWS

64 PRODUCTS 66 EVENTS AUSTRALIANMINING AUSTRALIANMINING 66 NOVEMBER OCTOBER 2020 2020

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NEWS

THE LATEST MINING AND SAFETY NEWS AUSTRALIAN MINING PRESENTS THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE BOARDROOM TO THE MINE AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN. VISIT WWW.AUSTRALIANMINING.COM.AU TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING. SUPER MERGER: NORTHERN STAR AND SARACEN TO JOIN FORCES THE JOINT OWNERS OF THE SUPER PIT WILL NOW MERGE AS COMPANIES.

AUSTRALIAN MINING GETS THE LATEST NEWS EVERY DAY, PROVIDING MINING PROFESSIONALS WITH UP-TOTHE-MINUTE INFORMATION ON SAFETY, NEWS AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MINING AND RESOURCES INDUSTRY.

Super Pit joint owners Northern Star and Saracen Mineral Holdings are set to combine, having agreed to a merger-of-equals worth $16 billion. The proposed merger will create a new top 10 global gold major with a world-class portfolio and three largescale production centres in Kalgoorlie and Yandal in Western Australia, as well as in North America. For the first time in its 125-year history, Kalgoorlie’s famous Golden Mile will be consolidated under one owner as a result of the Northern Star and Saracen merger. Northern Star executive chair Bill Beament will chair the merged company, while Saracen managing director Raleigh Finlayson will be managing director. Northern Star chief executive officer Stuart Tonkin will continue his role in the merged company, as will Saracen chief

financial officer Morgan Ball. The merged board will comprise five Northern Star directors, including Beament, and four Saracen directors, including Finlayson. Saracen’s board of directors has unanimously recommended that its shareholders vote in favour of the merger-of-equals. “The benefits which will flow to Saracen shareholders from this merger are significant,” Finlayson said. “This is one of the most logical and strategic merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions the mining industry has seen. “The savings, synergies and growth opportunities it will generate make the transaction extremely compelling. In short, it is a unique opportunity for Saracen shareholders unlikely to be replicated via any other avenue.” Beament also commented on the AUSTRALIANMINING

value of the merger, stating that it would “create an abundance of value for both Northern Star and Saracen shareholders”. “Northern Star has only ever pursued growth when it will create value for shareholders,” he said. “This is significant value-creating M&A.” “Our position as joint venture partners at Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM), the close proximity of the majority of the combined company’s assets and a host of other synergies (make) this a unique opportunity exclusive to Saracen and Northern Star shareholders.” Northern Star operates two concentrated centres in Western Australia, including the Super Pit and the East Kundana joint venture. It also holds the Pogo mine in the Tintina gold province in Alaska,

NOVEMBER 2020

where it produced 159,344 ounces in 2019. Saracen owns three operations within 300 kilometres of Kalgoorlie: Carosue Dam, Thunderbox and its 50 per cent stake in the Super Pit. The two gold miners first joined forces at the Super Pit late last year when they purchased Newmont and Barrick Gold’s stakes in KCGM. Since the acquisition, the Super Pit guided Saracen to record production seven months later, with the company producing 520,414 ounces across its operations in the 2020 financial year. Northern Star has also reaped the rewards of the acquisition, selling 115,825 ounces of gold from the Super Pit during the 2020 financial year, contributing to its record 900,388 ounces of gold sold. Under the proposed deal, Northern Star will acquire 100 per cent of the shares in Saracen, with Saracen shareholders to receive 0.37 Northern Star shares for each share they hold. If approved, Northern Star shareholders would own 64 per cent of the combined entity and Saracen shareholders the remaining 36 per cent. The first court hearing for the merger will take place in December with the implementation date scheduled for February 2021.

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NEWS

GLENCORE TO GIVE QLD COPPER ASSETS LIFE EXTENSION GLENCORE’S MOUNT ISA OPERATION IN QUEENSLAND.

Glencore has been awarded a financial lifeline by the Queensland Government that will fund an extension of its Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville refinery operations beyond 2022. The company was provided a one-off incentive by the Queensland Government as part of the North Queensland recovery plan. Re-bricking and maintenance work will be delivered through the support package at the smelter for the next four years. Glencore and the Queensland Government did not reveal the amount of funding provided

in the incentive. The company will also invest $500 million to continue operations at the copper smelter and refinery. According to Glencore, the investment will help maintain 570 jobs at the smelter and refinery, on top of 1000 indirect jobs. “We recognise these metallurgical assets are an important part of the North Queensland economy and part of a broader supply chain which supports thousands of jobs,” Glencore stated. Glencore plans to continue to support the North Queensland economy by providing taxes and

royalties, along with future studies to examine large scale e-recycling or custom smelting. Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick said the support package would assist with new economy minerals for batteries and renewables, which include copper. “Demand for those critical minerals will climb over the next decade from the renewable and technology sector,” he said. “Queensland needs to maintain minerals processing capability in the North West to keep supply chains open for future critical mineral developments and the

jobs they will create.” Federal Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt welcomed the Queensland Government’s decision to provide financial support to Glencore. However, he believes more can be done for the state’s resources sector, including the approval of New Hope Group’s New Acland coal mine. “It’s time the labor government showed the same common sense in supporting resources jobs in the rest of Queensland, starting with approval of the New Acland mine on the Darling Downs,” he said.

THIESS INTRODUCES SECOND AUTONOMOUS EPIROC DRILL IN BOWEN BASIN Thiess has mobilised a second Epiroc Pit Viper 275 drill fitted with an autonomous system at Bowen Basin Coal’s Lake Vermont project in Queensland. This makes Lake Vermont the first coal mining operation to have two multi-pass fully autonomous drill rigs working side-by-side. Since introducing autonomous drills to the Lake Vermont project, Thiess has drilled more than 90,000 metres across 3000 holes. Thiess Lake Vermont manager and senior site executive Colin Mulligan said his team was delivering profitable returns for Bowen Basin Coal, with the

drill technology enabling one operator to control both rigs simultaneously. “We’re currently operating in auto drill plan execution (fully autonomous) which allows us to efficiently and predictably operate the rig independently of manual operations through the entire drill cycle to complete the drill plan,” Mulligan said. “This enables improvements in utilisation with the Pit Viper 275s capable of working for 11.5 hours of a 12-hour shift, compared with around eight-and-a-half hours with manned operators.” The drills are also providing new training opportunities for Lake AUSTRALIANMINING

Vermont’s workers, according to Mulligan. “Our approach to autonomy is to work closely with our team members and offer opportunities for upskilling,” he said. “Already on site we have a number of drill and dozer operators, communication technicians and maintenance personnel re-trained to work with autonomous technologies. “This is ensuring Thiess remains transformational and leads to higherskilled workers and jobs.” The Epiroc Pit Viper drills use guidance technologies to assist operators in drilling to the exact

NOVEMBER 2020

location and depth specified by the drill plan. Their multi-pass capability enables operators to drill holes up to 59.4 metres deep and 171–270 millimetres in diameter, with future development set to extend this depth capacity. Thiess will continue to provide full-service mining operations at Lake Vermont, including a push for autonomous drilling and dozers as it extends its contract at the site by five years from January 2022. As part of this offering, the company has lined up a third Epiroc Pit Viper 275 to join Lake Vermont this year.

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REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT

GOLDEN FUTURE FOR THE PILBARA WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S PILBARA IS ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S TOP MINING REGIONS, WITH NUMEROUS TIER 1 IRON ORE OPERATIONS BASED IN THE AREA. NOW COMPANIES LIKE GREATLAND GOLD, KALAMAZOO RESOURCES AND THOR MINING ARE HOPING TO BUILD A GOLDEN FUTURE IN THE REGION. SALOMAE HASELGROVE WRITES.

osting Australia’s three largest iron ore producers, BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group, the Pilbara region is one that has already enjoyed the rewards of a successful mining boom on its doorstep. Western Australia was voted as the world’s top mining jurisdiction in the Fraser Institute annual survey of mining company rankings in 2020, a ranking that has not gone unnoticed by exploration companies. While the Pilbara has long been associated with iron ore, the region is also home to the Pilbara Goldfield, which could be the location of Australia’s next gold rush. With the success of Newcrest Mining’s Telfer mine in the Great Sandy Desert within the East Pilbara, gold explorers are flocking to the area in an attempt to discover the next Telfer, due to the region’s prospective geographical features for gold and copper mineralisation. Greatland Gold is one of these companies and it has the advantage of being teamed up with Newcrest in a farm-in joint venture to explore and develop the Havieron gold-

copper project. As chief executive officer Gervaise Heddle explains, the partnership with Newcrest, along with the prior success of mining within the Pilbara region, sets Greatland Gold up to take advantage of a Pilbara gold rush. “The great advantage for Greatland Gold is we have our partnership with Newcrest and Newcrest has the most significant piece of infrastructure in the underexplored East Pilbara with the Telfer mine airport and accommodation,” Heddle tells Australian Mining. The Telfer plant is just 45 kilometres from Greatland Gold’s Havieron project, meaning ore can easily be transported and processed at Telfer. “The benefit of that is we don’t need to build a new plant in that remote region, which is very expensive,” Heddle explains. Newcrest brings more to the partnership than established infrastructure, with Greatland Gold able to use the gold major’s expertise as a guide as it progresses Havieron. “Newcrest brings a lot of other strengths to the table, including their expertise as one of the world’s leaders in bulk underground mining, sub-level

caving,” Heddle says. “Havieron will be an underground mine so this expertise will be very valuable for Greatland Gold.” In addition to Havieron, Greatland Gold’s Paterson province assets comprise two more granted mining licences, Black Hills and Paterson Range East, where the company is completing further exploration with the hope of hitting the jackpot. “For earlier stage explorers it still remains a bit of a challenge out in the Pilbara in terms of remoteness, but it’s certainly not holding people back,” Heddle says. “The gold price certainly provides a supportive backdrop, but the exploration boom in the Pilbara and Paterson Province has been more results-driven than commodity price driven.” Heddle notes Rio Tinto’s recent Winu copper-gold discovery as the kick-starter to a gold exploration boom throughout the Pilbara region, including the Paterson Province. “Explorers are looking for the next Tier 1 copper or gold discovery and Australia, particularly Western Australia is a great jurisdiction for mining and the idea of these significant mineralisation systems is

very exciting for the industry. “Pair this with the gold price, that helps to justify making investment in exploration.” With a dozen high-priority drilling targets set to be tested in coming months, Greatland Gold is progressing its Pilbara gold assets to set the company up for the next year. “We have had 10 consecutive sets of excellent drilling results over the past year, our mine lease application has been granted and the mining proposal submitted for early works,” Heddle says. “We are on schedule for a maiden resource estimate to be delivered before the end of this year, and Newcrest and Greatland Gold anticipate early works will commence late this year or early next year. “It’s very rare to get such consistently strong results and it demonstrates the geological promise of Havieron. We hope it translates to economic results for our shareholders.” Another company that holds high hopes for a Pilbara Goldfield boom is Kalamazoo Resources, which may be named after a small village in the United States, but its history is at home in the Pilbara. Brothers Luke and Matt Reinehr

KALAMAZOO EMPLOYEES EXPLORING FOR THE COMPANY IN THE PILBARA REGION. AUSTRALIANMINING

NOVEMBER 2020

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT

MINERALISED ROCKS UNEARTHED FROM KALAMAZOO’S ASHBURTON GOLD PROJECT.

teamed up with Pilbara prospector Dennis O’Meara, who is best known as the founder of fellow Pilbara-focussed company De Grey Mining, to form Kalamazoo. Named for tiny Michigan village Kalamazoo, which also has connections to mining, the company began exploring for gold around Marble Bar and Port Hedland when it was formed more than 10 years ago. Kalamazoo now has a project, The Sisters, which is along the same strike as De Grey’s major Hemi gold discovery, as well as the 1.65-millionounce Ashburton gold project, which it acquired from Northern Star Resources in June. With this promising project next door, chief executive officer and chairman Luke Reinehr is confident in the region’s future in gold and his company’s place in this golden future. “Ashburton is a transformational project,” Reinehr says. “We have the potential to significantly expand the resource and the infrastructure in the Pilbara is second to none.” Approximately 40 kilometres south of mining town Paraburdoo, Kalamazoo’s Ashburton project is conveniently located near an airport with daily flights to and from Perth, engineering and support service companies and sealed roads that are just an hour and a half from Port Hedland. “Having an experienced workforce in Paraburdoo to update exploration camps, electronics and other infrastructure of that nature just 40 kilometres up the road makes operations much easier,” Reinehr explains. “Because of the amount of iron ore and gold activity in the Pilbara there are lots of drilling and service companies and being a one-and-a-half hour drive on sealed roads from Port

Hedland makes exploration easier. “Kalamazoo is very fortunate that the infrastructure put in throughout the Pilbara over the last 30 to 40 years is available for the gold industry.” Reinehr also notes Kalamazoo’s history and experience in the region as a distinct advantage as it sets out to push Ashburton to further development. “Having spent time up there and understanding not just the logistics, things such as the weather as well gives us knowledge of the region,” he says. “It’s a pretty tough climate at times, it gets very warm and of course over the wet season activities can become very difficult, that’s important knowledge to have when planning exploration projects.” Before the end of 2020, Kalamazoo intends to complete further drilling at Ashburton and The Sisters, with hopes to expand Ashburton’s mineral resource to outward of two million ounces. This would provide opportunities for Kalamazoo to potentially construct its own processing plant and become one of the Pilbara’s next gold producers. “Regions do come in and out of fashion for a reason, the best place to find gold is where it has already been found and it goes in cycles,” Reinehr says. “Having started in the region, it could be back to the future for Kalamazoo in the Pilbara.” Exploration and development company Thor Mining is also digging for gold in the Pilbara in the Ragged Range project, having returned highly anomalously gold along a 13-kilometre target zone. Similar to other companies in the region, what Thor Mining finds most promising about its exploration results is the clusters of mineralisation, according to AUSTRALIANMINING

executive chairman Mick Billing. “Gold has been acknowledged to have been in the Pilbara for a long, long time, but it has been sporadic,” Billing says. “It has been emerging in the past two to three years as a gold province of a lot more substance than people previously thought it might have been.” With consistent results over the 13-kilometre Ragged Range strike, Billing believes the drilling has either uncovered a gold deposit part of the extensive strike or a group of gold deposits over the strike zone. The Ragged Range mineralisation style is the result of erosion washed down through rivers over millions of years of geological evolution. Thor Mining’s tactic is to continue following the zone upstream to identify the source rocks that host the primary gold. “Last year we got some encouragement when we went upstream so we are hoping to get further demonstration of continuity further along,” Billing says. “We will continue doing aeromagnetic surveys and geophysics in the area to identify the

structurally controlled gold. “As we learn more about the style of mineralisation we can define exploration techniques and use a technology better suited to the geology of the area.” In addition to gold, Thor Mining has also uncovered evidence of elevated nickel and chrome in the ultramafic rocks within the Ragged Range tenements, returning 49 rock chip samples that were anomalous for nickel. Chrome is often an indicator metal with nickel discoveries, which gives Billing hope of a nickel deposit of some substance within its Pilbara prospects. With the snowball effect of successful gold discoveries across the region for major and junior companies alike, the future of the Pilbara region is golden. “Early days for new projects are always exciting,” Billing says. “Sometimes they wither and die, but other times you get the discovery of substance you hope for. “We think we’ve got some ingredients for a discovery of substance and we will keep working at it until it is beyond doubt.” AM

GREATLAND GOLD COMPLETING AEROMAGNETIC SURVEYING IN THE PILBARA GOLDFIELD.

NOVEMBER 2020

AUTOMATION

AUTOMINE CONCEPT CAN TRAVEL THROUGHOUT AN UNDERGROUND MINE WITHOUT ANY HUMAN OVERSIGHT.

SANDVIK PUSHES AUTOMATION BOUNDARIES SANDVIK DEVELOPS SOME OF THE WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED AUTONOMOUS MINING SOLUTIONS AT ITS TAMPERE TEST MINE IN FINLAND, INCLUDING AUTOMINE CONCEPT, WHICH THE COMPANY LAUNCHED AT ITS INNOVATION IN MINING VIRTUAL EVENT.

utoMine Concept uses new sensing capabilities and artificial intelligence (AI) to create a fully autonomous underground mining vehicle experience. The AutoMine Concept vehicle showcased at the event can shape its own path throughout a mine in an ever-changing environment with no human oversight, filling and unloading its bucket along the way. The AutoMine capabilities are so advanced that vehicles equipped with it can even perceive their surroundings and environment in 3D and react in real-time, detecting obstacles such as pedestrians, inching underground mines closer to zero harm operations. Sandvik unveiled AutoMine Concept at the Innovation in Mining Virtual Event in September, where attendees were the first in the world to see it in action. Attending virtually from homes and offices around the world, delegates were transported to Sandvik’s test mine in Finland where they watched a vehicle powered by AutoMine Concept shape its own path through the site using 3D online mapping. When an unexpected pedestrian strayed into its path, the obstacle detection and avoidance sensors allowed the vehicle to immediately come to a halt without causing any harm to the worker or equipment.

Sandvik product line manager in automation and digitalisation David Hallett says AutoMine Concept encapsulates the beginning of Sandvik’s vision for autonomous underground mining in the future. “AutoMine Concept is not a manual machine we have adapted for automation, but rather the opposite, in which the machine has been designed specifically for automation in mining,” Hallett explains. “One of the first things you’ll notice about this machine is that it is fully autonomous, cabinless and built with the newest modern industrial design. “Don’t let the good looks fool you though, this machine is built to withstand the harshest mine environments, while having the most advanced automation technologies under the hood.” The design boasts in-built components for high reliability and productivity, such as smaller rear wheels for a lower overall vehicle frame, making it easier to manoeuvre through narrow underground mine tunnels. This underground and automationfriendly design and adaptability makes for higher productivity and ease of use. AutoMine Concept’s intelligence isn’t just limited to finding the best route through the mine, but also for picking up ore with its automated bucket filling that requires no human intervention. AUSTRALIANMINING

“It has been equipped with the latest sensor technology for 3D environment sensing and detection and it’s able to use AI for self-planning and adapting as environment conditions change,” Hallett says. “In addition to automated bucket filling, the machine is also capable of automated path planning for quick setup when moving to new working areas.” With AutoMine Concept, machinery measures more than one million points every second and analyses them to build its mine path using AI based on what it knows about its environment and of its own capabilities. Sandvik research and technology development for digitalisation lead Jussi Puura says AutoMine Concept is designed not only for autonomous vehicles, but also for underground mining. “The cabinless machine is equipped with our next-generation sensing system, seeing its environment in full high-definition 3D and it sees up to 100 metres in pitch black darkness,” Puura says. “It sees the ground, walls, the roof, all the obstacles on the ground or hanging high up and reacts to them and localises based on what it sees in real time and creates a map of the environment as it goes.” This gives operators more precision and control of their vehicles without having to constantly monitor the

NOVEMBER 2020

vehicle themselves. Vehicles using AutoMine Concept can complete tasks without the need for human intervention, from travelling between mine levels, filling the bucket, discarding ore at the dumping location to turn manoeuvres in tight spaces. “There is a new level of precision and control introduced by the electric drive line,” Puura says. “We measure and control the speed and force of the machine and feel the resistance of the rock and are in perfect control of tyre slipping all the time, this means less tyre damage.” AutoMine Concept machines can not only control their route but also the speed at which they travel according to the conditions at the time of operation. “The machine chooses safe speeds for itself based on the traffic rules and the situation,” Puura explains. “If it is approaching a narrow corridor or driving on a very bad road, it will drive slower to match the situation. If the machine senses an imminent collision risk, it will first slow down then safely stop before the collision.” As the machine travels throughout the mine, it creates its own routes without prompting from any fixed tracks or roads in the system. It displays clearly what it is planning to do and the route it plans to travel along, sensing the track in real-time in case of any unexpected obstacles. AM

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COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

IN POSITION FOR A LITHIUM COMEBACK PILBARA MINERALS, AVZ MINERALS AND CORE LITHIUM HAVE ALL ADJUSTED THEIR PLANS DUE TO COVID-19 AND THE CHALLENGING MARKET FOR LITHIUM. VANESSA ZHOU LOOKS AT WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE TRIO. has lasted for more than 12 months, has pushed Pilbara Minerals to take a disciplined approach to managing the challenges. During this period, the company has curtailed its production to prevent excessive stockpiling, but also dedicated attention to improving plant performance. Pilbara Minerals managing director Ken Brinsden describes it as a difficult decision but nonetheless the right one to slow production at the Pilgangoora operation in Western Australia. The company has successfully managed to achieve improved lithium

recovery levels, even when the plant operates at lower capacity, since introducing the strategy. “That’s arguably been helpful because in the period of time the plant has been down, we’ve been able to continuously work on it to improve its performance,” he tells Australian Mining. “There were key changes that contributed to the improvements in our lithium recovery levels and in the time we’ve been running the plant, we’ve learned a lot about how to manage its performance and achieve the design criteria that led to material

improvements in recovery.” This is a tremendous achievement as lithium recovery levels are a key contributor to Pilbara Minerals’ cost of production. With production costs now reduced, the company’s been able to absorb the costs involved in drilling and blasting, excavation, and crushing and screening, which all point to the recovery it is targeting. Pilbara Minerals’ attempt to reduce costs accompanied a $US110 million ($153.3 million) financing agreement that the company secured with BNP Paribas and Clean Energy Finance

CREDIT: AVZ MINERALS.

ownward pressure on lithium prices has not killed the resolve of Australian mining companies to ride out the market conditions in a strong position. Around three years ago, Western Australia was a hot spot for the burgeoning lithium sector. The momentum was, however, slowed by falling lithium prices and then COVID-19’s impact on commodity demand and the electric vehicles (EV) market this year. Weak demand for lithium, which

AN AERIAL VIEW OF AVZ MINERALS’ MANONO LITHIUMTIN PROJECT IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. AUSTRALIANMINING

NOVEMBER 2020

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

INNOVATIVE MINING SOLUTIONS

in Europe, which he says has surpassed China to become the largest EV market. This doesn’t undermine the role of Chinese sales for Pilbara Minerals, with the majority of its spodumene currently consumed in the Asian nation. He anticipates plenty of spodumene from Western Australia to make its way to China as the country retains its dominant position in the chemicals and battery raw materials world. Some of these will ultimately make their way to Europe where many battery material plants are being built, Brinsden says. “This dynamic is supportive of the spodumene demand and ultimately its price. It’s just a matter of time of when prices will respond,” he adds. Hartleys head of research Trent Barnett agrees that the lithium industry is heading towards a recovery. “We do know that current (lithium) prices are too low to stimulate supply, which is a very good sign prices are near the bottom. There is a lot of interest in lithium, so some argue it could have big rallies,” he says. “However, it seems more likely that as the price increases, there will be rolling restarts to mothballed production, which increases supply, and hence we think that prices will rise gradually in the medium term rather than a big spike.

DRILLING AT THE ROCHE DURE PEGMATITE AT THE MANONO PROJECT.

CREDIT: AVZ MINERALS.

Corporation in July. “The good news that comes out of the financing is it materially lowers our cost of financing (and) pushes out the term of the loan for another five years,” Brinsden says. “The cost of funding attached to our (previous) Nordic bond was 12 per cent and now we have an average interest rate of around 5 per cent, so it’s a big, big step down.” Brinsden says this, coupled with the plant optimisation, helped Pilbara Minerals weather the storm raging in the lithium markets. The managing director sees a positive light at the end of the tunnel and believes the industry has potentially seen the worst of the lithium demand conditions. “For the most part, we’ve probably seen the worst of the demand conditions. They’re now behind us. I am expecting demand conditions to continue to improve,” Brinsden says. “What’s happening in lithium raw materials market has the potential to surprise (us more) to the upside than the downside. “We’ve been guiding to more demand and more production, and that helps to lower our costs. We genuinely have a sustainable business in the short to medium term.” Brinsden is confident that new energy vehicle sales will accelerate

“Once the market demands new projects (rather than mothballed restarts), we expect the price will need to increase meaningfully to incentivise new builds.” AVZ Minerals is one such company starting a new operation with the Manono lithium-tin project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The ASX-listed firm is working to start

construction after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. Pre-site works have commenced while the company aims to reach a final investment decision by the end of the year, before starting project construction in early 2021. “The risk that everybody talks about is the political risk of the DRC,” AVZ managing director Nigel Ferguson says.

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COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

CREDIT: PILBARA MINERALS.

PILBARA MINERALS HAS REDUCED ITS PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY TO PREVENT AGAINST EXCESSIVE STOCKPILES.

include 547,000 tonnes a year of 6 per cent lithium product and 45,700 tonnes a year primary lithium sulphate. There will also be additional byproducts of tin, tantalum and niobium. The operation has a projected life of 20 years with a potential to extend, and a steady state throughput of 4.5 million tonnes a year that will be ramped up over 1.5 years. Ferguson is also confident that AVZ has the potential to become one of the lowest-cost lithium producers in the world. “If you take the transport costs out of the cost base scenario, we’re probably one of the lowest cost producers in the world. If you put them back in, we’re still at the bottom quartile,” he says. “Being involved in a world-class project is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for a geologist. “We’ve managed to get to a stage where we’ve got a full-time team working in the project to bring

CORE LITHIUM HAS DOUBLED ITS PROJECTED MINE LIFE AT THE FINNISS PROJECT TO AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS.

CREDIT: CORE LITHIUM.

“We believe the country itself is on the cusp of a turn with regards to being in a much better place for direct foreign investment “You wouldn’t see the likes of First Quantum Minerals or Glencore going into the country and investing so much money in their project if they didn’t have a faith in the country and political system to operate businesses profitably and securely. “Yes, the DRC has a bad reputation from warring tribes, conflict minerals and corruption, but I’d have to say from a geological point of view we’ve got no risk at all because it’s got one of the largest sources for a world-class project over the last 15 years.” The appeal of the Manono project lies in its “unmatchable” product quality. Ferguson says it is only comparable to that of the massive Greenbushes mine in Western Australia. Its saleable products will

AUSTRALIANMINING

it into production.” Ferguson says around 150 people have been employed to get the Manono project up to speed. AVZ also plans to develop a training facility where its workers in the region will receive upskilling opportunities, providing them with long-term career benefits. The company expects project construction to take around 18 months from the final investment decision that it plans to make this year. AVZ is also not alone in having its project timeline impacted by COVID-19 – Core Lithium has also adjusted its project outlook in response to the impact of the pandemic at the Finniss project in the Northern Territory. The project is expected to generate 200 to 250 new jobs in the Northern Territory during the construction stage. Core Lithium managing director Stephen Biggins expects the project to be ready for a final investment decision by early next year. In the meantime, the company is working to optimise the operation, including increasing the Finniss resource, which has already risen by as much as 50 per cent in recent months. “We don’t believe there is a finite resource over the life of mine of the project currently,” Biggins says. “The area was mined for a hundred years so historically there are hundreds more rich lithium pegmatites that make up the Finniss project. “From Core’s perspective, we’re getting the operation ready for the lithium market post-COVID-19. We’ve received approval from, and even been offered a finance facility by the Northern Territory Government, and

NOVEMBER 2020

we’re continuing to work with offtakers in addition to our binding offtakes with Yahua. “Our goal is to present the project to the financing market in the first half of next year and be ready to build the project in 2021.” Although recognising Core Lithium’s need to see an incentive price in starting up the project, Biggins anticipates a significant increase in lithium prices in the near future. He believes this will be accompanied by an increase in strategic investment upstream as car manufacturers ensure there will be enough supply coming into the market to meet their EV sales goals. Government commitment to increase EV targets has also improved the medium-term demand outlook for lithium, according to Hartley’s Barnett. “The stock market valuation of EV manufacturers versus ICE (internal combustion engine) manufacturers suggests more capital should be allocated to building EVs. If this happens, it (will mean) more lithium demand,” he says. Biggins holds big ambitions for the Finniss project and considers the Northern Territory’s “excellent” lithium concentrate conducive in the future to establishing northern Australia’s first lithium chemical manufacturing facility. “Both the Northern Territory and federal governments can see a great opportunity to leverage the state’s critical minerals and grow a new sector in the territory. This is certainly a great growth opportunity for both the Finniss project, as well as the Northern Territory’s economy,” he concludes. AM

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COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

CREDIT: MINARA RESOURCES.

THE MURRIN MURRIN PLANT IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

NICKEL AND COBALT: A CLEAN FUTURE DUO GLENCORE IS AIMING TO SUPPLY THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE INDUSTRY WITH ETHICAL NICKEL AND COBALT, DEMONSTRATING THE MINING INDUSTRY’S COMMITMENT TO HAVING A POSITIVE SOCIAL IMPACT.

lobal nickel producers are struggling with one common issue: the volatility of the commodity. Wood Mackenzie research director Andrew Mitchell says nickel is defying fundamentals and its price continues to rise along with most base metals. But fundamentally, the metal is in oversupply. In spite of this, there is still a lack of project development in Australia. “Capital costs for project development are significant and lenders want to ensure a return on investment – not easy in a volatile market like nickel,” Mitchell tells Australian Mining. “Unlike China where investments are made (seemingly) for the greater good of securing materials for China to forge ahead on its growth and development strategy, in the west there is a need to prove it’s a worthy investment in the near

WE BELIEVE WIDESPREAD ADOPTION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AS A MEANS TO DECARBONISE ENERGY SUPPLY WILL CREATE SIGNIFICANT NEW DEMAND FOR THESE COMMODITIES.” as well as long term. “Any project which gets financed now is likely to take two to three years to construct and then five years to get close to capacity (iron-nickel or high pressure acid leach), so in theory we should be passed the overshoot by that time.” The case might be different to relatively small-scale miners such as Mincor Resources or Panoramic Resources, Mitchell says. Equipped with a skilled workforce and safe operating practices, the companies are able to get their nickel projects going with a relatively modest capital outlay and AUSTRALIANMINING

perceived low technical risk. Then there’s a major player like Glencore, which runs global nickel operations, including in Australia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Glencore states that the DRC is responsible for around 70 per cent of global supply and almost all cobalt in the form of hydroxide. This is a country where Glencore was employing more than 15,000 employees and contractors to support the Kamoto Copper Company and Mutanda Mining operations as of July last year. It addresses the issues surrounding

NOVEMBER 2020

dangerous artisanal and small-scale mining operations in the DRC – an important source of employment for many – by creating local employment head on. “We also work with local NGOs and churches to deliver holiday camps for school children to help discourage their participation in ASM activities. In 2018, over 9000 children participated,” according to Glencore. The company produced 12,500 tonnes of cobalt at its African operations in the first half of the year. At the Murrin Murrin operation in Western Australia, meanwhile, Glencore produced 17,800 tonnes of nickel and 1600 tonnes of cobalt over the same period. “Our Murrin Murrin operation is Australia’s largest cobalt producer and one of the country’s largest producers of nickel,” a Glencore spokesperson tells Australian Mining. “Our Murrin Murrin operation is

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

CREDIT: MINARA RESOURCES.

MURRIN MURRIN IS THE LARGEST COBALT PRODUCER IN AUSTRALIA.

consistently achieving safe, efficient and productive nickel and cobalt production. “Last year, we produced 40,668 tonnes of nickel and 3717 tonnes of cobalt at Murrin Murrin. “We believe widespread adoption

of electric vehicles and renewable energy sources as a means to decarbonise energy supply will create significant new demand for these commodities.” The prospects of cobalt look encouraging to Wood Mackenzie’s

Mitchell, who forecasts higher prices for the commodity in 2021 and 2022. “Near-term concerns over cobalt raw material supply has provided some support for prices, but prices have still declined. However, if disruptions to trucking and shipping

NICKEL, WHICH IS A CRITICAL MINERAL IN AUSTRALIA, IS A KEY INGREDIENT FOR BATTERIES.

AUSTRALIANMINING

NOVEMBER 2020

EXPERTISE IN THE DOWNSTREAM AREAS WILL BE REQUIRED, SO IT WILL TAKE TIME. BUT THIS IS A RECURRING THEME ACROSS THE GLOBE: TO REMOVE DEPENDENCE ON A SINGLE POINT OF POTENTIAL FAILURE.” continue then there is certainly upside potential in the remainder of the year,” he says. Still, changes are needed for Australia to achieve its ambition to be a critical minerals powerhouse. Beyond the desire and political and monetary support, Mitchell believes a decision needs to be made on how far through the chain to progress the objective: whether only chemicals or through to pre-cursors, cathode active materials to even finished batteries. “All the necessary stars (still need) to align for things to progress,” Mitchell says. “Expertise in the downstream areas will be required, so it will take time. But this is a recurring theme across the globe: to remove dependence on a single point of potential failure. Europe is looking to do a similar thing.” AM

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MINING EQUIPMENT

GRIFFIN COAL DRIVES LIEBHERR DOZER DREAM FORWARD THE PR 776 MINING DOZER ENTERED A COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE OF 70-TONNE DOZERS WHEN LIEBHERR LAUNCHED THE MACHINE FOUR YEARS AGO. BEN CREAGH LOOKS AT HOW THE PR 776 HAS ESTABLISHED A PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA. THE PR 776 IS THE WORLD’S FIRST HYDROSTATICALLY POWERED CRAWLER TRACTOR AMONG 70-TONNE MACHINES.

nvesting in new machinery that has recently been released on the market will always carry specific risks for mining companies. Griffin Coal Mining faced this prospect when the company was considering Liebherr’s PR 776 mining dozer for its coal mine near Collie in Western Australia. The company had been scanning the market as it planned a replacement program for the mine’s existing fleet of dozers in the coming years. Liebherr, which entered the 70-tonne category with the PR 776 mining dozer in 2016, emerged as a contender for Griffin Coal with its new machine. The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) unveiled a unique product when its largest-ever dozer was announced and had started to make an impression globally with

the machine by the time Griffin Coal showed an interest. Notably, the PR 776 was the world’s first and remains the only hydrostatically powered crawler tractor among the 70-tonne machines available for mining. The PR 776 is powered by a Liebherr 12-cylinder diesel engine that generates 565kW (768HP). It has a maximum operating weight of 74 tonnes and is equipped with blade capabilities of 18.5 cubic metres or 22 cubic metres. Liebherr also promised a dozer that would deliver significantly lower fuel consumption than the industry standard while maintaining similar pushing performance. The dozer’s advanced features, supported by Griffin Coal’s existing relationship with Liebherr, convinced the mining company to take Western Australia’s first PR 776 on a 12-month trial-to-buy AUSTRALIANMINING

basis in 2019. Griffin Coal commercial fleet manager Warren Hann says the coal miner always looks for a competitive edge and the PR 776 offered the potential to deliver that. “Anything new that comes on the market we do look at,” Hann tells Australian Mining. “There’s also usually good value in a prototype or a new product. “Because we have Liebherr diggers we also knew the systems and how they work. The dozer has similarities to the digger in the way they have designed it.” Griffin Coal’s experience with Liebherr excavators over the past decade, including the two R 996Bs and one R 9200 among its current fleet, increased the company’s confidence to agree to the trial. The excavators also provided Griffin Coal with an understanding of Liebherr’s commitment to

NOVEMBER 2020

aftersales service, as well as the mechanics of the OEM’s machinery and its supply chain via factories in Europe. Together, the two companies set a series of key performance indicators (KPIs) for the trial dozer based around fuel usage, the mean time between failure and availability. Hann says the PR 776 comfortably beat the targets set by the KPIs over the 12 months across each of these areas. “The fuel burn was a lot less than even Liebherr predicted, which was really surprising,” Hann, who has spent 33 years with Griffin Coal, says. “The mean time (between failure) was not that far under triple what was required – it meant the machine had not broken down between planned outages. “Availability was well above the 93 per cent target at around 96 per cent.

MINING EQUIPMENT

It maintained that rate (above the target) in every month apart from one over a year.” Liebherr-Australia provided a fulltime customer support representative on site for Griffin Coal throughout the trial period. The representative, in collaboration with the Griffin Coal team, monitored the operation of the dozer against the KPIs, developing weekly and monthly reports summarising its performance. Griffin Coal experienced no major teething problems with the PR 776 from a performance or maintenance perspective, Hann says. The key challenge the company did face, however, was changing its operators’ mindsets towards a new machine that performed differently in certain ways to the site’s existing dozers. “We have an experienced workforce that can be set in their ways because they have become used to the traditional product at the mine,” Hann says. “Liebherr’s machine being new, we thought we may have an issue getting their buy in. But the feedback from the operators, who we have done surveys with, has been really positive. They say

THE FUEL BURN WAS A LOT LESS THAN EVEN LIEBHERR PREDICTED, WHICH WAS REALLY SURPRISING.” it has good vision and very good pushing power.” For Liebherr, the trial at Griffin Coal strengthened its belief in the PR 776 and the future of the dozer in the Australian market. Liebherr-Australia customer support manager Gerard Fonceca says the OEM supported Griffin Coal from the beginning of the trial and the coal miner quickly committed to a second dozer. “There was high expectation bringing a new piece of equipment into the field, but through the 12-month trial we have proven the potential that this dozer has,” Fonceca says. “The trial was the way to go, particularly in this market and moving forward we have the confidence that others will see how it has performed at Griffin and adopt the machine themselves. “The hardest thing when you are trying to break into a market, and I’ve also had this with other clients,

is when operators are used to another OEM’s equipment. “We don’t object to that, but it was unanimous at every meeting we had with Griffin that they loved the machine.” Griffin Coal’s acceptance of the PR 776 has been a breakthrough for Liebherr-Australia in Western Australia, with the coal miner set to replace its entire fleet with the OEM’s product in the coming years. The dozer is also building a reputation in Australia’s eastern states, having left its mark at coal mines in New South Wales and Queensland. Internationally, Liebherr celebrated the commissioning of its 100th PR 776 at a mine site in September. Liebherr-Australia technical support advisor – mining dozer, Tony Di Prima, says the dozer’s unique features stand out with operators. “The outstanding competitive edge is the hydrostatic drive where

LIEBHERR ANNOUNCED PLANS TO RELEASE THE PR 776 MINING DOZER IN 2016.

AUSTRALIANMINING

NOVEMBER 2020

the power is transferred from hydraulic pumps to hydraulic motors and directly to the traction drive (final drive), applying positive power to the undercarriage,” Di Prima says. “Our customers have also commented on the ergonomics and design for the operators cabin workplace, which is intended to maximise productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort. “From a maintenance perspective, the operator cabin is able to be tilted at 45 degrees and the extra 90 degrees is allowing the ease to access the hydraulic pumps and hoses for serviceability and maintainability.” As Liebherr-Australia continues to build acceptance of the PR 776, it intends to achieve this with the same level of support that is provided to Griffin Coal. And with the coal miner set to establish an entire fleet of PR 776 dozers, Liebherr-Australia has secured an ally on this journey to help grow the machine’s presence further. “If this dozer continues to prove itself and I think it will, it will establish a foothold in the market and challenge the main supplier, because everyone is looking for an advantage,” Hann concludes. AM

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

GOLD EXPLORATION ACTIVITY HAS RISEN IN AUSTRALIA AS PRICES HAVE INCREASED.

AUSTRALIAN GOLD SECTOR DEFIES DECLINE IN RESERVES WHILE THE WORLD’S TOP 10 GOLD PRODUCERS MAY HAVE REPORTEDLY EXPERIENCED A DECLINE IN RESERVES BETWEEN 2010 AND 2019, AUSTRALIA IS WELL POSITIONED TO CONTINUE A SURGE IN GOLD EXPLORATION. NICKOLAS ZAKHARIA EXPLAINS.

ustralia’s gold exploration expenditure increased to $304.4 million in the June quarter of 2020, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The prospect of discovering another project the quality of Fosterville in Victoria is part of what has led to an exploration revival as prices for the commodity have also risen. Australian gold companies have also continued to stay the course in growing their portfolios. Leading Australian gold producer Northern Star Resources spent $288.7 million on its exploration and evaluation assets in the 2020 financial year. Saracen Mineral Holdings invested $273 million on growth projects and exploration in the same period to prepare its business for the future. In October 2020, the joint Super Pit owners agreed to a merger-ofequals worth $16 billion. Bellevue Gold, an emerging gold company, plans to spend $35 million on its exploration projects in the 15 months from October 2020. International companies are also investing in Australia, with South Africa’s Gold Fields spending $US58.3 million ($81.3 million) on exploration during 2019. In September 2020, a S&P Global

Market Intelligence report studied the world’s 20 largest gold miners and calculated changes in their reserves and production. Sixteen of the 20 largest gold producers covered in the report have experienced a decrease in their overall years of remaining expected production compared with 2010. While lower gold reserves also indicate increased production – as demonstrated in Australia – the report states that a ‘lack of new discoveries and a shift away from growth-focussed strategies towards margin preservation’ has contributed to a decline in reserves. “If you were to look back 15-20 years, gold companies were very much focussed on growth. This shifted suddenly following the 2008 global financial crisis to shareholder value creation and production of ‘quality’ ounces over volume,” S&P Global Market Intelligence principal research analyst Kevin Murphy tells Australian Mining. “Will this change? That is a difficult call to make. It will be up to each company to decide which direction is best. “Should gold remain elevated for the foreseeable future, it will definitely be an incentive for increasing production.” Data from the report highlights that many major gold producers have focussed on acquisitions to boost reserves and maintain production AUSTRALIANMINING

rates, rather than exploration projects to discover significant gold resources. A total of 95 per cent of gold production was replaced by major gold producers between 2010 and 2019, while almost three quarters of the group’s total expenditure contributed to acquisitions – the equivalent of $US51.38 billion. This accounted for 53 per cent of the group’s overall reserve growth. “Some of the major acquisitions over the past few years show that major companies are more than willing to turn to acquisitions to replenish their production portfolio and pipelines,” Murphy says. “While this is a viable strategy for individual companies, it isn’t viable for the industry in the long run. Transactions simply shift existing ounces around rather than discover new ones for development.” The report states that the industry’s long-term success will depend on the discovery of new resources, and that while there has been ‘historically high exploration spending’ between 2010-2019, there has also been a ‘substantial decline’ in major gold discoveries. According to Murphy, government programs have supported the increase in exploration activity within Australia. “We are already seeing a rise in grassroots exploration in Australia, although this is thanks to government

NOVEMBER 2020

programs encouraging grassroots exploration and a renewal of interest in Australia’s potential following the initial announcement of the Winu discovery by Rio Tinto a couple years back,” he says. Published by Geoscience Australia in compliance with the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC), gold ore reserves have also remained steady as production increased. By 2018, gold’s proved and probable ore reserves reached 4018 tonnes (a 149-tonne increase from 2017), with Australia producing 315 tonnes. In 2010, the proved and probable gold reserves were 4070 tonnes with 260 tonnes of production. Reserve life decreased to 13 years in 2018 compared with 16 years in 2010. Most of Australia’s ore reserves and mineral resources are reported in compliance with the JORC code. For Murphy, gold miners will have to weigh up the near-term and long-term benefits of greenfields and brownfields exploration. “Greenfields exploration takes time and is high risk, whereas brownfields exploration is more likely to give a near-term benefit to existing mines,” he says. “Of course, brownfields exploration is far less likely to result in major new discoveries. So, it’s a trade-off, reliable resource growth/replacement at/near existing operations at the expense of major new discovery potential.”

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

THE LARGE AMOUNT OF EXPLORATION DRILLING WE’RE SEEING IS TRACKING REALLY WELL – IN PARTICULAR SYSTEMATIC DIAMOND DRILLING THAT WE’VE SEEN FROM SOME OF THE CANADIAN-BACKED EXPLORERS – IS REALLY ENCOURAGING AND IS HAVING A POSITIVE FLOW ON EFFECT TO MANY OF THE OTHER EXPLORERS IN REGIONAL VICTORIA.” Exploring Victoria

Founded in 1852, the Geological Survey of Victoria maps the surface and sub-surface of Victoria for the public. Geological Survey of Victoria Manager Minerals Geoscience Cameron Cairns says Victoria is plentiful in greenfields and brownfields exploration opportunities. “Some communication by mid-tier Australian gold producers indicate that is much better value for ounces discovered from their exploration dollar than ounces acquired,” he tells Australian Mining. “With respect to gold and greenfields, the Geological Survey of Victoria delivered the Gold Undercover Initiative in 2010. “This focussed on new research and applied techniques in northern Victoria where prospective rocks that host Victoria’s known gold deposits are concealed by the younger post mineral cover of the Murray Basin. “The learnings from that program, the culmination of which unfortunately coincided with the global financial crisis, remain relevant today for new and existing gold explorers, and we’re seeing a lot of people tapping into that data and knowledge right now.” Recent discoveries include Catalyst Metals’ 1380 grams per tonne gold assay under cover at the Four Eagles project in north central Victoria, and Stavely Minerals’ high-grade Thursday’s Gossan copper-gold prospect in western Victoria following a large program of pre-competitive geoscience by the Geological Survey of Victoria and Geoscience Australia. “Thursday’s Gossan is probably not too dissimilar to some of the gold exploration that we’re seeing in that we’ve got a decades old prospect given new life through new thinking, new approaches and a commitment to drilling,” Cairns says. Victoria’s gold exploration expenditure reached a record $31.8 million in the June 2020 quarter,

according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Exploration spending in Victoria has continued to rise since the 2015 financial year. “The large amount of exploration

drilling we’re seeing is tracking really well – in particular systematic diamond drilling that we’ve seen from some of the Canadian-backed explorers – is really encouraging and is having a positive flow on effect to many of the other explorers in regional Victoria,” Cairns explains. Kirkland Lake’s Fosterville mine is the centrepiece of Victoria’s gold portfolio. Acquired by Kirkland Lake in 2016, the mine produced 619,366 ounces of gold at a grade of 39.6 grams per tonne and a recovery of 98.8 per cent in the 2019 calendar year, with mineral reserves rising a million ounces to 2.7 million ounces at an average grade of 31 grams per

S&P GLOBAL MARKET INTELLIGENCE EXPECTS A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN GOLD RESERVES.

AUSTRALIANMINING

NOVEMBER 2020

tonne as of December 31, 2018. S&P Global Market Intelligence’s report shows that of the 16 gold producers that have managed to increase their annual production between 2010 and 2019, Kirkland Lake enjoyed the largest increase. “Fosterville has demonstrated the potential size of the prize and that is squarely in the mind of most explorers that are either on the ground right now or are trying to enter Victoria through new licence applications or JV opportunities,” Cairns says. “It’s really shifted the needle in terms of gold exploration activity in Victoria. Things are very buoyant at present.” AM

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TRAINING & EDUCATION

STEM EDUCATION CREATES FAR-REACHING IMPACT STEM SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IS ATTRACTING ATTENTION FROM MINING COMPANIES ACROSS AUSTRALIA. VANESSA ZHOU LOOKS INTO WHAT SOUTH32, GOLD INDUSTRY GROUP AND EVOLUTION MINING ARE DOING IN THIS SPACE.

he development of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills among young learners isn’t just being driven by education institutions. South32, Gold Industry Group (GIG) and Evolution Mining are part of a mining industry community that is looking to enhance the skills of the future generation. Guided by the belief that quality education is the foundation of economic and social prosperity, South32 is running STEM programs in almost every state across Australia. South32’s Cannington operation works with the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) to help more than 150 students at seven schools to develop their STEM skills, increasing female and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation. According to South32, 92 per cent of last year’s participants reported they had learned something new. The teachers involved also say the program raised their awareness of the resources sector or improved how they teach STEM subjects.

In New South Wales, South32’s Illawarra Metallurgical Coal division has partnered with Wollongong’s Science Space to develop the STEM skills of 675 students at eight schools. It is one of the company’s initiatives that has been delivered in 2020 despite COVID-19 restrictions. The pandemic inspired South32 to team up with Science Space to create kits containing STEM equipment, experiments and projects in line with the state’s curriculum. South32 has helped year three and four primary students to learn from home when they couldn’t visit and interact with the educational displays at Science Space. The company has helped hundreds more students in Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Western Australia to build STEM skills through programs. “South32 has been investing in education initiatives since the company was established more than five years ago. Education and leadership are community investment priority areas,” a South32 spokesperson tells Australian Mining. Inclusivity and diversity are AUSTRALIANMINING

CREDIT: GIG.

TOWNSVILLE STUDENTS LEARN STEM SKILLS THROUGH A SOUTH32 PARTNERSHIP WITH QMEA.

community leaders,” South32 chief executive officer Graham Kerr says. “We want South32 to be an employer of choice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and this partnership will help many young people on their future career path.” The gold mining sector has also maintained a strong commitment to STEM programs despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gold Industry Group (GIG) has distributed 300 gold resources kits to primary and secondary schools in every state and territory for free, attracting a high volume of interest in the industry and a demand for further engagement.

CREDIT: SOUTH32.

also a core focus for the company, which is committed to creating opportunities for minority groups in the resources sector. South32 partners with the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) to support Indigenous students throughout their schooling up to year 12. Under the agreement, AIEF scholarship students will include Indigenous children from communities in which South32 operates in across Australia. “Quality education is one of the cornerstones of changing lives and through our partnership with the AIEF we are supporting the development of emerging and future

NOVEMBER 2020

THE GIG EDUCATION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BE ENGAGING AND INTERACTIVE.

The unique gold resources kits include real rock and gold samples, such as shale rock, dolerite rock, gneiss rock, pegmatite rock, basalt rock, as well as a gold leaf vial and a geological hand lens, and form part of the GIG’s national gold education program. The kits also include a teacher’s guide, careers in gold poster and gold specimen map to guide students and teachers through the rock samples and associated interactive activities. “We produced an additional 500 of the gold resources kits this term due to the ongoing positive feedback and demand,” GIG executive officer Rebecca Johnston says. The easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Western Australia has also allowed the GIG to resume delivery of its gold sessions at schools in the state. Through this program, a number of superintendents, metallurgists, environment advisors, exploration geologists and personal assistants to general managers from GIG member companies have been trained and have delivered 37 gold sessions at 15 schools in Perth, Kalgoorlie, Kambalda and Norseman. The facilitators hail from AngloGold Ashanti Australia, Evolution Mining, Gold Fields, Gold Road Resources, Northern Star Resources and Westgold Resources. Johnston says a facilitator doesn’t need to be a geologist or be in a certain role to become a gold class facilitator. All that is needed is a passion for educating the next generation about their role and the wider gold industry. “It’s quite unique and rewarding for employees to go out to classrooms and share their passion and knowledge with the students and teachers,” she says. “They get a lot out of delivering the gold sessions to their local schools, with many eager to present more in the near future. “Students are really engaged with the activities and excited to have people from the gold industry interact with them in a different way.” Primary school students in year four, five and six are taught how to create pulley systems in the classroom and how important safety is within the gold industry. Gold Fields personal assistant to general manager at St Ives, Annika Turnbull, says it is fantastic to watch the students work through different ideas to get the ‘gold bar’ up the incline. “They were creative in their thinking but came up with some

CREDIT: GIG.

TRAINING & EDUCATION

THE GIG WORKS WITH MEMBER COMPANIES TO DELIVER A NATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.

great methods using the pulley systems. We even had one group ask if there was an extra ramp they could use so they could pull their bar up the ramp and then down the other side,” she says. Seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth graders, on the other hand, become geologists in an exploration activity and are tasked to find gold deposits using a map. At the end of the sessions, facilitators share stories about their career and experience in the gold industry. “Our gold education program has evolved over the last three years. It started with the Heart of Gold Discovery Trails in Perth and Kalgoorlie, which invite students to discover the rich history of a city built on gold through a virtual experience, and has since expanded to offer much more on a national scale, enabling GIG members to champion their industry,” Johnston says. The GIG plans to deliver the gold sessions as part of its national gold education program across other states and territories in Australia as the COVID-19 restrictions ease. Evolution Mining, a GIG member company, has partnered with the QMEA since 2018-19 to deliver an educational program. The gold miner has directly engaged with around 250 students

AUSTRALIANMINING

through the program this year. Year nine students at Home Hill and Ayr State High School have been tasked to create gold-plated designs when demonstrating their skills to Evolution’s team at the Mt Carlton operation in Queensland. In a Beakers.Bots.Build workshop run by the QMEA, students used Lego EV3 robots and created an “ore sorting” device from craft materials as they explored the processes of mining. Evolution vice president – sustainability Fiona Murfitt says as one of Australia’s largest gold miners, the company believes it has an important role to play in attracting and supporting the next generation of people in the mining industry. “As part of this we seek to work with industry groups and schools around our operations to educate students about careers in the mining industry,” Murfitt says. “A critical part of this is having people with skills in the STEM subjects and showing how these fields can lead to rewarding and diverse career opportunities.” Evolution has further engaged in STEM skills development by being involved in a hackathon with Unearthed Sydney 2018. The company presented operational challenges such as modeling concealed gold at the Mt

NOVEMBER 2020

Rawdon mine in Queensland and optimising truck payload and cycle speeds at the Cowal gold mine in New South Wales. Hackathon winner Thaum has continued to work with Evolution on several projects as a software development and technical consultancy, such as a seismicity study at the Mungari mine in Western Australia. Evolution’s pipeline of programs include participation in a vacation and graduate program every year. The company welcomes applications from second, third or final year undergraduates for a 12week vacation program, providing them with access to a manager who will supervise their day-today activities and give one-on-one feedback and coaching. Participants are also given the opportunity to join operational and personal development training that focusses on safety and business skills. They are then potentially set up for an enrolment into Evolution’s two-year graduate program. Mining companies and institutions have shown that STEM skills development takes a whole sector approach. With the issues of skills shortage so pertinent in the industry, progress is being made for positive change in the coming decade. AM

INDUSTRY COMMENT

MINER RESILIENCE TO BE TESTED AS LA NIÑA LOOMS FM GLOBAL GROUP MANAGER, ACCOUNT ENGINEERING MICHAEL BEAUMONT EXPLAINS WHAT THE THREAT OF THE LA NIÑA WEATHER SYSTEM MEANS FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY.

s the saying goes, “time and tide wait for no man”, so you should jump at an opportunity when it presents itself because nature continues regardless of our plans and preferences. That phrase seems particularly apt this year. Despite having already thrown a global pandemic our way, 2020 is now forecast to bring with it a potentially dangerous La Niña weather system. This fast approaching reality makes clear just why FM Global has consistently advised clients and other organisations this year not to let the pandemic distract from other serious yet more traditional risks, like natural hazards. In August, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) announced that the chance of a La Niña weather system forming was three times higher than average – around 70 per cent. At the end of September, it confirmed the system is underway. La Niña is forecast to bring an elevated risk of additional rainfall for central, eastern and northern Australia, potential flooding, and a heightened risk of cyclones and damaging winds. The last significant La Niña weather

system to hit Australia spanned 2010 and 2011, leading them to be the third and second wettest calendar years on record, respectively. The BOM reports that flooding was widespread from September 2010 to March 2011. As well as severe flooding in southeast Queensland, large areas of northern and western Victoria, New South Wales, northwestern Western Australia, and eastern Tasmania were subject to significant flooding. Cyclones also featured. During the summers of 2010-11 and 2011-12, several cyclones struck, including severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi – the strongest cyclone to make landfall in Queensland since at least 1918 – another La Niña year. It made landfall as a category five, near Mission Beach, between Cairns and Townsville. While Yasi mostly missed any major mining sites, it did cause enormous damage to a local port, Port Hinchinbrook. Flooding linked to the 2010-11 La Niña nearly brought Australia’s coal industry to a standstill. According to Reuters news agency, around 85 percent of Australia’s coal mines across a “region bigger than Texas” either had to restrict output or close as record rains fell. Thermal and coking coal mines in Queensland were worst hit by flooding

from cyclones and heavy rain. All in all, the disaster was the costliest faced by Australia at the time, with the estimated cost of rebuilding Queensland alone set at $10 billion.

Resilience is a choice

At FM Global, we remind our clients that resilience is a choice. While it is not certain that La Niña will impact Australia as other climate drivers also factor into the ultimate outcome, preparation is key. Given this year’s unprecedented events in light of COVID-19, it’s clear that risk management in other areas could be in danger of falling off the priority list. The announcement of La Niña is a timely reminder of why we must be vigilant at all times and keep emergency response plans up to date. In order to improve resilience in the face of La Niña, we recommend: • R eviewing your protection works. If you have not recently checked all of your flood levees and berms, right now would be a very good time to do that. Engineered floodworks, especially those made of materials like compacted soil, can erode over time. Note that it’s important to make sure your inspections are being done by the right people.

FM GLOBAL HAS WARNED MINING OPERATIONS TO UPDATE THEIR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS FOR A LA NIÑA WEATHER PATTERN. AUSTRALIANMINING

NOVEMBER 2020

FM GLOBAL GROUP MANAGER, ACCOUNT ENGINEERING MICHAEL BEAUMONT.

For those beyond a certain size and technicality, or which defend particularly valuable and critical parts of your operation, having geotechnical engineers come in to do these evaluations of their integrity might be necessary. • W ith cyclones in mind, double check all of your cyclone protection measures, from bracings on doors to lockdown systems for surveyors. • E nsure that you have adequate stockpiles of necessary materials

INDUSTRY COMMENT

should your site be cut off by flooding. Food for on-site staff, chemicals needed for operations, or tools to clear debris. • C heck the resilience of your supply chain. If you are reliant on a particular port either for material out or supplies in, check in on their emergency response measures and develop contingency plans. • R un through a mock of your emergency response plan to ensure all of the necessary procedures are in place and everyone knows their responsibilities. You’d be surprised how often we encounter organisations who discover during these processes that critical response responsibilities are assigned to individuals who are in different roles or maybe no longer work at the company. While it’s certainly the case that the mining sector has so far come out of the pandemic relatively unscathed, it too must be factored into preparations. Border restrictions remain a reality for now – and could continue to be a

DRIVE IS FROM NORD! MY

hindrance to the free flow of people and equipment should case numbers flare up again. Specialists needed to repair or replace equipment in the event of damage caused by flooding or a cyclone may be harder to come by while border closures remain a reality. What this means is simply yet another reason to ensure that you have taken adequate measures to protect your equipment through comprehensive risk mitigation plans. Whether or not La Niña and the excess rainfall and cyclones eventuate this year, preparation is sure to be a worthwhile investment as climate change continues to lead to warmer oceans and increased chance of cyclones and excess rainfall, even outside of a La Niña year. A warmer world is a wetter world and one in which readiness is the key to resilience. Join our flood mitigation session if you would like to learn more about how your organisation can reduce the possibility of damaging flood events. AM

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THE LA NIÑA WEATHER PATTERN BRINGS WITH IT RAIN, POTENTIAL FLOODING AND HEIGHTENED RISK OF CYCLONES. AUSTRALIANMINING

NOVEMBER 2020

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EXPLORATION

FIRST OF ITS KIND PROJECT AS GOOD AS GOLD MINERAL EXPLORER ARDEA RESOURCES TEAMED UP WITH AUSTRALIA’S NATIONAL SCIENCE AGENCY, CSIRO, TO INVESTIGATE THE UNLIKELY DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN ITS NICKEL-COBALT LATERITE DEPOSITS AT THE GOONGARRIE PROJECT IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

he Goldfields of Western Australia has long been the state’s thriving gold region. Just 80 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie in the world-class mineral province is Ardea Resources’ flagship Goongarrie nickelcobalt project. Forming a small part of the company’s larger Kalgoorlie nickel project (773 million tonnes at 0.7 per cent nickel and 0.05 per cent cobalt), Ardea has set its sights on developing the 216 million tonne Goongarrie resource, which comprises 0.71 per cent nickel and 0.06 per cent cobalt. “We focussed on Goongarrie as our main tender because it has highquality, laterally continuous nickelcobalt mineralisation,” Ardea general manager exploration Matt Painter tells Australian Mining. Goongarrie and the broader Kalgoorlie project both have a nickelcobalt resource that covers a sequence of orogenic gold targets. Ardea is already exploring the gold potential within the Kalgoorlie region’s Bardoc tectonic zone (BTZ) with the BTZ gold project, but it’s the company’s nickel prospects that may also be hiding a significant precious metals discovery. “One thing that we noticed when we were pulling the data together for Goongarrie is that there’s a lot of gold anomalism in various parts of the laterite profile,” Painter explains. “A lot of the drilling in Goongarrie doesn’t penetrate the fresh rock. It goes deep enough to fully intercept the nickel laterite mineralisation but not the fresh rock below.” While gold isn’t the key focus of Goongarrie, it has certainly raised some eyebrows at Ardea and CSIRO. In August, Ardea commenced a research project with CSIRO to explore the potential that the traces of gold at Goongarrie may be hinting towards. CSIRO’s Regolith Geosciences team is working with Ardea to study gold behaviour within the Goongarrie project’s critical mineral deposits. “What we strongly suspect is the gold that we see in the laterite profile is related to gold mineralisation in the

fresh rock beneath,” Painter says. Ardea and CSIRO aim to determine whether the gold anomalism in the nickel-cobalt laterite profile is residual or gold migrated by saline groundwater from a different source area in the region. “We also want to get an idea of what’s happening in the laterite profile itself, relative to the nickel and the cobalt,” he says. “The more we understand about how they interact, the better we’ll have an idea of how to go hunting for gold.” CSIRO senior research scientist Walid Salama is leading the team working with Ardea. Salama says the discovery of gold mineralisation in a nickel-cobalt

deposit is uncommon. “It is unusual to find gold enrichment in nickel-cobalt laterite deposits,” he says. According to Salama, the minerology and geochemistry will determine if the gold anomalism in the nickel-cobalt laterite is residual and related to the same ultramafic rock underneath or the anomalism is brought from a different source rock within the Goongarrie project area “At this stage, the goal is to understand the nature of the gold itself and its pathfinders in the weathering profile,” he says. “Our understanding of the mechanism of gold mobility or enrichment during weathering will have significant implications for gold

MATT PAINTER (LEFT) AND WALID SALAMA LOOK AT CHIP TRAYS FROM GOONGARRIE.

AUSTRALIANMINING

NOVEMBER 2020

exploration and targeting. “(We) would also like to understand if the high salinity of the ground water in the project area can affect the mobility of gold because gold is mobile under acidic and highly saline conditions.” CSIRO will adopt its rapid spectroscopic logging and imaging system, HyLogger technology, to study the mineralogy of the Goongarrie nickel-cobalt laterite. This will be followed by a separation of the gold grains from the weathering profile to map out trace element distribution in gold using a number of microanalytical techniques, including laser ablation ICPMS . This will allow the CSIRO Regolith team to determine the chemical composition of the gold grains to work out if gold is forming alloys with other pathfinder elements or if it exists in a pure form. The presence of gold alloys in the weathering profile indicates that gold is residual and possibly exists in the underlying rocks, whereas the pure gold is considered secondary and possibly derived from a different source. Painter believes Ardea will be the first miner to systematically explore for gold underneath the region’s nickel laterite sites if the project reveals gold beneath Goongarrie’s laterite. “It’s a very interesting play for us particularly because we’re on such a major gold-bearing structure and it’s particularly important that we realise the potential that could be down there,” he says. “We’re very proud of our association with CSIRO. Working with them and having that connection is absolutely brilliant. It’s certainly looking very promising so far.” Ardea Resources’ project is supported by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources’ Entrepreneur’s Programme. Its Innovation Connections service unlocks innovation potential in Australian small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by developing a deep understanding of the business’ needs, matching SMEs with relevant experts from across Australia’s research sector and offering grants. AM

Protect your people and operations from vehicle fires. When you combine heat, flammable liquids, turbo chargers, exhaust fumes, electrical components and brakes in the enclosed space of an engine compartment, the risk of a fast and furious fire is significant. Wormald now offers vehicle fire suppression systems using environmentally sensitive 3F fluorine free and solvent free foam. This new environmentally sensitive foam meets the performance requirements of the revised Australian Standard for vehicle fire protection, AS5062 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2016. The latest addition to our in-house portfolio is the new Wormald (WCP01) control panel specifically developed for Wormald vehicle fire suppression systems. Designed for the challenges of rugged and adverse operating conditions that are encountered in mining. Contact us today.

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WATER MANAGEMENT

XYLEM SOLVES WATER FOR MINES, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY XYLEM’S PUMPS, TREATMENT EQUIPMENT AND ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS AND TECHNOLOGIES HELP MINES AT EVERY STAGE IN THE WATER MANAGEMENT CYCLE.

ylem is the name of the tissue in plants that brings water upward from the root. Much like its definition, Xylem the company helps mines to not only bring water to their production facilities, but also through all stages of water boosting, dewatering open pit and underground mines, slurry pumping, water treatment and testing. Xylem’s slogan, ‘Let’s Solve Water’, reflects the company’s vision to be a holistic solution provider for water management and as Paul Gaby, Xylem Oceania product and marketing manager explains, the company relies on its “local experts and quality products” to achieve that. “Our strength as a company lies in having people who are skilled in everything water related and backing that up with a portfolio of leading product brands,” he tells Australian Mining. As a global company with more than 16,000 employees and offices in more than 150 countries, Xylem’s product range is extensive. Brands such as Godwin and Flygt have a manufacturing history of more than 100 years, with 17 other brands, including Lowara, Wedeco,

XYLEM’S WEDECO PDOEVO OZONE SYSTEM.

XYLEM OFFERS A BROAD RANGE OF DEWATERING PUMPS AND TREATMENT EQUIPMENT FOR WATER MANAGEMENT.

Sanitaire, Leopold, Goulds and YSI added to the mix in past decades. Gaby says while water access is a key challenge for many mines, being able to remove water from the operation in an environmentallyfriendly way often poses an even bigger challenge. “Removing water or dewatering a mine site might seem minor, but in reality, it is as big a challenge as supply,” he says. “Xylem’s broad range of dewatering pumps enables us to help mines overcome dewatering challenges within the mines’ space and access constraints.” Water and wastewater treatment is another area where the company offers multiple innovations. “An example of how Xylem is bringing innovation into the mining industry in the area of water and wastewater treatment is highly compact biological treatment utilising an in-situ build up sludge cake layer for bio solid filtration through the in-house brand Sanitaire,” Gaby says. “Another example is the newly developed smart Flygt mixing devices to build autonomous mixing applications. In addition, Xylem supports customers to recover Cyanide in gold mining processes via containerised Ozone systems under the global leading brand Wedeco.” Gaby says Xylem also has a lot to offer for online flow monitoring and water quality monitoring pre- and post-treatment. “Our engineers can help you AUSTRALIANMINING

choose and configure system components that allow you to have a compact footprint, while simplifying operation and reducing lifecycle costs.” Dewatering of open pit and underground mines is another area where Xylem’s products, expertise and solutions come into play, Gaby explains. “In open pit mines, we pump surface water from the pit and lower the water table through active dewatering to prevent disruption of mine production. Underground, we transfer water from sumps, optimise main drainage and dewater shafts.”

XYLEM’S GODWIN NC80 RIG PUMP.

NOVEMBER 2020

Gaby says with open pit mines getting deeper and deeper, pumping high lifts and long distances is becoming a key requirement. “Xylem’s booster pumps can be used underground to maintain system pressure for machinery like drill rigs,” he says. “As an original equipment manufacturer, Xylem has direct access to global teams for support and innovative product development. We have products that can support a mine site’s needs for every step of the water cycle and we can sell or rent equipment to support our customers’ budgeting needs of OPEX or CAPEX investments.” With multiple branches across Australia and New Zealand, Xylem can support mining customers in all locations. “Our highly skilled technicians can service and repair any critical equipment. We also provide large warehousing inventory to make sure products are available to our customers in times of emergency,” Gaby says. “Xylem’s vision is to devote our technology, time and talent to advancing the smarter use of water. That’s the vision that has been driving the development and growth of our products and solutions.” AM

MINING SERVICES

ALTRA OFFERS POWER TRANSMISSION SERVICE SOLUTIONS AUSTRALIAN MINING CATCHES UP WITH ALTRA MOTION AUSTRALIA TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE COMPANY’S SERVICE CAPABILITIES FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY.

ltra Motion Australia is best known in the mining industry as a manufacturer of power transmission and motion control products. The company’s 27 brands of couplings, clutches and brakes include names such as Stieber, Marland and Svendborg. But, in addition to the extensive product portfolio, the company has also built a strong service division over the years to further support customers’ needs. Altra Motion Australia service manager Bernard Trevenar says the service division has been growing rapidly since first being established in 2012. “Our division provides services to mining clients, both on site and off site from our workshops in New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland. From installation and commissioning of new equipment to planned preventative maintenance and overhaul of different products, our technical staff can assist customers 24/7,” Trevenar tells Australian Mining. “Altra Motion service division is extensively trained overseas and

developed with broad experience in installation, commissioning, regular servicing, site audits, troubleshooting and refurbishments. Being able to deal directly with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) enables our customers to gain up-to-date technical information to best support them.” National sales manager Rex Sinclair says the service division complements Altra Motion Australia’s sales activities, providing customers with not only a product, but a complete service package for the life of the product. “After our sales team sells the equipment to a mine, our service division can go in to help with the commissioning and ongoing maintenance. Similarly, when the service technicians visit any mine site to carry out plant maintenance, they assess and report back to the client if their equipment needs to be upgraded to maximise productivity,” Sinclair explains. An example of this collaboration was demonstrated recently when the service division team commissioned smart braking systems and backstops for an underground mine. “As we went in to set up the braking

SVENDBORG BRAKES BSFI 3000 HIGH SPEED BRAKE ON A CONVEYOR DRIVE.

AUSTRALIANMINING

ALTRA MOTION AUSTRALIA’S SERVICE DIVISION OFFERS ON-SITE SUPPORT TO MINES.

system for the client, we identified the need to customise the solution so that it would operate well with all of the other equipment in the plant,” Trevenar says. “We were able to cater to the client’s requirements. We then established a six-monthly service contract to provide ongoing servicing of the braking system.” Preventive maintenance is an area where the Altra Motion Australia service team actively operates, with services such as scheduled oil replacement and filter changes for hydraulic power units. More recently, Trevenar says the team has ventured into remote condition monitoring for brake systems, currently offering the service to a major Western Australian mine. “We are currently in the process of implementing Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for a mining company in Western Australia to help them predict maintenance requirements for their brake system. Once set up, we can alert the customer if there is any abnormal behaviour in the brakes to help them plan for the next shutdown,” Trevenar says. “Our OEM brands such as Marland

NOVEMBER 2020

and Svendborg are all currently working on embedding IoT and condition monitoring on their products. This is driven by the feedback we receive from our customers here in Australia and relaying that back to the factory to adjust our solutions to the customers’ requirements. It’s definitely an area where we see ourselves growing rapidly in the coming years.” When it comes to mining services, Trevenar is a believer in longterm customer relationships and holistic solutions. “Building long-term relationships with our customers is a key strength of our team and something we take great pride in. We strive to build long-term relationships with our customers. And, with our equipment on their site, the performance of the equipment is a massive reflection on us,” Trevenar says. “Our technical staff has broad experience, not just across our own brands of couplings, clutches and brakes, but also with a wide range of other products on the market. With our combined expertise, we can support our products from the initial purchase and throughout the entire product lifecycle.” AM

In the mining world, minutes of downtime means thousands of dollars in costs. The right engine cooling system can keep you and your mine operation functioning at peak performance. Rigorously tested and field-proven in some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s toughest mining conditions, the RCV High-Horsepower Series is designed for precision cooling of large-bore diesel engine applications. The RCV2000 and RCV1000 variablespeed fan drives boast innovations throughout their design to improve reaction time and control of modulation to yield fuel savings, productivity and the reliability required by tough mining equipment. Paired with Hortonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vast portfolio of low-noise fans, a variable-speed drive provides you the most efficient, customised solution for virtually any high-horsepower engine. To learn more, visit hortonww.com/mining.

MINING SERVICES

UNEARTHING NEXT GENERATION HARD ROCK SOLUTIONS KEECH AUSTRALIA HAS SUPPLIED PRODUCTS TO THE MINING INDUSTRY FOR MORE THAN 80 YEARS, WITH THE AUSTRALIAN-MADE KOBRA SERIES OF CAST LIPS MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE MARKET EARLIER THIS YEAR.

s a third-generation family-owned business, Keech has been designing and manufacturing steel castings in Australia for more than 85 years. The company has a clear philosophy of pushing the boundaries with its industrial solutions that cover the mining, agricultural, rail and defence industries to customers locally and globally. “We have a very strong focus on innovation and customer service,” Keech Australia general manager sales & marketing Paul Ferguson tells Australian Mining. “We have heavily invested in not just modernising our operations, but in research and design so we can create and develop new products for the mining industry.” Among its latest offerings for mining is the Keech KOBRA cast lip range for hard rock mining. Featuring a streamlined profile with an improved nose design for enhanced bucket filling and emptying rates and a mechanically attached integrated wear cap for longer lip life, the KOBRA cast lips are a no-nonsense choice for hard rock mining applications. The KOBRA series combines increased productivity, reduced maintenance costs, improved penetration and long wear life into a single, locally designed and

KEECH TEAM WITH THE 680 SERIES KOBRA CAST LIP FITTED WITH KEESHARP GET.

manufactured package. Ferguson says the KOBRA design is the result of benchmarking against previous Keech cast lips that were supplied to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM). “We have benchmarked this design off previous Keech lips and a range of other cast lips in the market,” he says.

“This next generation of cast lip brings a 15 per cent reduction in peak stress combined with a 10 per cent reduction in mass. “It also includes a greater lip coverage and more aggressive spade (attack) angle combined with underlip protection for the lip shrouds during back blading operations.” With the KOBRA series designed, manufactured and tested in Australia, Keech has achieved the optimal suitability for Australia’s hard rock mining conditions with the KOBRA. “Designing and trialling the products initially in the Australian mining landscape allowed us to develop the products for the hard-digging conditions generally experienced in our mining sector,” Ferguson says. “There is also benefit of employing local people and returning the benefits back into the local economy.” A key feature to the KOBRA series is its Keelock retention system, which is designed by Keech for faster changeouts and less downtime.

KEESHARP TEETH AND ADAPTORS FOR THE KOBRA CAST LIP.

AUSTRALIANMINING

NOVEMBER 2020

The patented Keelock system is a completely hammerless, single piece retention system. “There is also the added bonus of Keelock having commonality across a number of lip sizes, resulting in less inventory,” Ferguson says. The KOBRA 660 cast lip, the first product under the Keech KOBRA brand, has this year been supplied to a major coal mine in the Hunter Valley. As the KOBRA series is manufactured locally, Ferguson says parts are readily available for customers, a major factor in their decision to make the purchase. “The fact that it was locally manufactured also meant that the critical consumable parts are readily available for the end user,” he says. “We’ve had a long-term relationship with this mine so their confidence in our product quality, reliability and ongoing high level of customer service aided them in their decision-making process. “We have a local technical representative within the region who will be doing the monitoring and measuring on a regular basis. “At the moment it’s being welded into the bucket so it’s in the initial stage of being installed in preparation for going into operation.” Keech also offers its KEESHARP system for 120- to 350-tonne excavators and 70- to 100-millimetre lips on wheel loaders. “The KEESHARP bucket teeth and bucket edge systems offer an increase in reliability through six platforms,” Ferguson says. “These are new nose design, new superior steel, increased strength, integrated wear cap, new hammerless locking system and dynamic profile.” The KEESHARP system features Keech’s proprietary steel, which makes it tougher, longer lasting and a reliable product manufactured in Australia. This proprietary steel was developed through a collaboration between the Keech technical team and world-class third-party research facilities. Keech’s KOBRA and KEESHARP ranges are available now with fast and local delivery. AM

MINING SERVICES

WORMALD BALANCES FIRE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY WORMALD’S FIRE PROTECTION SPECIALISTS ARE ON A MISSION TO KEEP PEOPLE, PROPERTIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTED FROM FIRE HAZARDS.

ow do you ensure a high level of fire safety at your mine without sacrificing your environmental values? Does purchasing a new autonomous vehicle or battery-operated machinery create new fire hazards for your mine? Does your mine have all the systems in place to meet fire safety requirements? And are your staff trained to use the fire extinguishers on site or evacuate the premises in the event of a fire? These are all questions that fire protection specialist Wormald helps answer for mining clients. Wormald Australia technical director Justin Morris says the company works at the forefront of developing new systems and products to keep up

WORMALD’S FLUORINE FREE FOAM VEHICLE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS.

with the latest developments in mining technologies. “As mining evolves and new technologies come into picture, we need to be able to respond to the change in fire hazard,” Morris tells Australian Mining. “At Wormald, we are constantly developing new products and processes for our mining clients that will not only provide a high level of property and people safety, but that will also protect the environment.”

Environment-conscious firefighting

While fire protection systems may not play a major part in meeting a mine’s environmental safety goals, Morris says it is important they avoid discharging hazardous substances into the environment as much as possible. Transitioning from fluorinated foam products to fluorine-free firefighting foams is one trend that Morris says has gained momentum. “Over the past five years, there has been a move away from using firefighting foams containing fluorine after it was identified that the Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic (PBT) substances in these foams can build up in the environment and have adverse environmental and health impacts,” he says. “Wormald has taken a proactive stance on migrating to more environmentally sustainable firefighting foams that are fluorine free, without sacrificing the fire extinguishing performance of the product. “We have already received great response from our mining clients in Queensland – where the use of fluorinated foam is restricted – as well as from clients in other states who are looking to future-proof their systems.” Another major development has occurred in the area of gaseous agent fire extinguishers. “In previous years, carbon dioxide was the most common agent used in gaseous fire extinguishers, which are used in environments that are sensitive to water. Today, we have a wide range of gaseous fire AUSTRALIANMINING

WORMALD WCP01 CONTROL PANEL IS THE COMPANY’S LATEST INNOVATION FOR IN-VEHICLE FIRE SUPPRESSION.

suppression systems that are more environmentally neutral,” Morris says. “For example, the Wormald Novec 1230 fire extinguisher can be safely used in confined spaces without causing any irritation to people. Wormald Inerex Gaseous System is another environmentally sensitive product that uses only natural substances. It does not contain any ozone depleting substances (ODS) or synthetic greenhouse gases (SGG), making it safe for people, property or the environment.”

In-vehicle fire suppression systems

Wormald is pioneering the design and manufacture of a control panel for in-vehicle fire suppression systems, which the company plans to launch in the first quarter of 2021. “Equipment like large mining haul trucks and excavators always have a fire suppression system fitted to them. The purpose of that system is that if the engine catches fire, the system operates so the operator can get off the machine safely,” Morris says. “Wormald’s control panel enables vehicle operators to control that inbuilt fire suppression system. For example, if you have heat detection sensors in the vehicle and they trigger the controllers, the system will shut down the engine to cut off the fuel supply prior to activating the suppression system. “We are very happy to be able

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to use local design and local manufacturing expertise to develop this new control system. Having a locally manufactured solutions allows us to customise our solution to meet each customer’s specific needs. “We are currently trialling the system on our own products in-house and once launched, it will be available not only to our mining clients, but also suitable for other industries such as quarry and forestry industries.” Wormald’s 36 Australian branches are in all major cities and a few regional areas. With this extensive network, Morris says the company supports customers across a range of industries with fire safety training, as well as inspection services to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations. “We are truly a national company as we develop all of our solutions locally. As one of Australia’s leading fire protection companies, we design, install, certify and maintain fire protection systems across diverse market sectors such as retail, commercial, mining, industrial and healthcare,” he says. “Our dedicated training department regularly conducts evacuation training and fire extinguisher training for our clients. We also have a certification department that can carry out annual inspections to make sure that installed fire suppression systems meet the required standards and all the required equipment are in place and working properly.” AM

TECHNOLOGY

DATA ENTRY AUTOMATION: AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE BEYOND COVID-19

CREDIT: EVOLUTION MINING/REDMAP.

THE COWAL GOLD MINE IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

AUTOMATION IS NOT LIMITED TO OPERATIONS ON MINE SITES, BUT ALSO WHAT OCCURS BEHIND THE SCENES. AUSTRALIAN MINING SPEAKS WITH SOFTWARE COMPANY REDMAP ABOUT THE INTEGRATION OF AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY IN THE WORLD OF ACCOUNTING AND COMPLIANCE.

he need to work smarter has become even more important since COVID-19 presented new challenges that question the core operation of many companies. To start with, the mining sector operates in a unique manner that sets itself apart from the majority of other industries. Mining headquarters, which are commonly located in metropolitan cities, often remotely control operations thousands of kilometres away in different regions. This presents many challenges in managing invoice processing, with these invoices typically being received at headquarters, but requiring authorisation from resources in the field. Some organisations have attempted to manage such challenges via a host of homegrown band-aid solutions to route the invoices to the people that

need to see them. While many of these solutions meant that invoices are no longer printed out and put in the mail, they are still manual and require human intervention to ensure that they are operating effectively. Ernst & Young (EY) global mining and metals leader Paul Mitchell also encourages miners to prepare their organisations and workforces for a new environment. He says rather than simply transitioning back to how things were before COVID-19, mining companies will need to embrace transformative change. Although COVID-19 did not stimulate the origination of Redmap technologies, it speeds up the company’s adoption as its mining customer base has doubled in the last eight months. “The pandemic has created the opportunity for sustainable transformation because it has fuelled AUSTRALIANMINING

an increased openness to change,” Mitchell says. Although a digital transformation has already progressed, this change will accelerate in a post-pandemic world. It will be driven by a focus on technological innovation and investment in digital capabilities, including robotics and data literacy, Mitchell says. Ben Woolley, chief executive of Redmap, a business that focusses on document automation, has observed a similar trend during his two decades in the space. “Four years ago, half of my sales engagement would be to convince companies that enterprise resource planning (ERP) automation was a feasible solution. But that doesn’t happen anymore now,” he tells Australian Mining. “Now they are semi-educated and have a reasonable understanding about what they want, because they

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are already searching for automation solutions so employees can do more with less.” Redmap was founded more than 20 years ago as a provider of document management platforms. While Redmap’s core offering is still part of its service today, the company now also provides accounts payable automation. Redmap integrated its automation technology with Pronto Software’s popular ERP software, Pronto Xi, eight years ago. The technology automatically identifies and extracts valuable data from the invoice, then sends it to the right person where it requires authorisation, or uploads accounts payable invoices into the ERP. Woolley, an instrumental part of developing Redmap’s automation strategy, says the company first started working with Pronto Software eight years ago before he and his business partners decided to

TECHNOLOGY

and Australia. The people who manage the payments and accounting entries are at the head office, but the people who ordered the goods to which the invoices relate to are often on site. The genius of Redmap’s automation is even more valuable for a company like Evolution. Chris Prescott, senior financial accountant of Evolution, says chasing invoice authorisation with a team that is not at the office for a week at a time was a significant burden to the shared service. “Our goal was not to replace employees as part of the Redmap project. Evolution’s growth trajectory has meant the business has continued to expand and the team needed to become more productive than simply keying invoices or chasing authorisation. We wanted to redeploy our people to more valuable work and Redmap has allowed us to do that,” he says. “Pre-Redmap we had six fulltime equivalent (FTE) working in the shared service exclusively on AP invoices. “Post-Redmap we have 2.4 FTEs. Those efficiencies enabled the investment to be paid back in under 12 months, so financially it was a fantastic investment.” Woolley recognises many benefits in the automation function, ranging

REDMAP CHIEF EXECUTIVE BEN WOOLLEY.

specialise in document automation into Pronto Xi. “At that stage, the business made a sizeable investment in learning everything there is to learn about Pronto Xi, including contracting them to build connectivity for us so that we can use the data in the ERP to more effectively determine the status of the invoice and what we need to do with it,” Woolley says. The automation technology uses Amazon Web Services’ robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) function to make the data extraction process more intelligent in identifying valuable

data in the invoice (such as the date, invoice number and amount payable) and what needs to be done with the invoice. “This improves efficiency because the manual work the accounts payable (AP) team used to do to determine if the invoice matched the purchase order or not and what to do with it are now fully automated. Those invoices that do not meet the requirement for automatic and immediate processing are sent to a resource for authorisation,” Woolley says. “Evolution Mining, for example, is operating mine sites across Canada

from preventing a document loss and missing a payment, to allowing for disciplined capital control. By automating this laborious process, Redmap has helped overcome one of the biggest challenges faced by many finance departments, which is now intensified by COVID-19. “It was already difficult before, but is even more so now,” Woolley says. In an article titled ‘The next wave of digital trust has arrived’, Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) states that the need for accurate, complete, consistent and timely data has never been greater than it is right now. “We’re facing an extremely unpredictable environment, and organisations need to be able to access the right data, of the right quality, and get it into the right hands at the right time,” PwC states. “Looking to the future, technology resilience is less about crisis management, and more about preventing problems before they occur.” Redmap has already helped Evolution achieve this outcome across its diverse gold operations and is equipped with the technology to do the same for others moving in the same direction. The best practice Redmap has performed may just be the beginning of an accounting process evolution. AM

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FORGING THE FUTURE OF DRILLING DRILLING & BLASTING | GRADE CONTROL & RESOURCE DEFINITION DRILLING SPECIALIST DRILLING | PROJECT MANAGEMENT

AUSTRALIANMINING

+61 8 9494 1352

NOVEMBER 2020

info@jswaustralia.com

jswaustralia.com

TECHNOLOGY

WEARABLE CONTACT TRACING SOLUTION ON THE CARDS CONTACT HARALD BLUETOOTH CARD IS A SMART CONTACT TRACING SOLUTION FOR WORKERS IN HIGH-RISK WORK ENVIRONMENTS.

he stark and swift arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged Australian workforces to take a number of necessary precautions to stop the spread of the virus. While some international mining operations have suffered, Australia’s resources industry has remained vigilant by introducing necessary control measures to ensure workplaces are COVIDSafe. Since the first Australian case of COVID-19 was confirmed in January, states and territories have focussed on tracing the origins of each infection. Australian-based company Safedome incorporated its proven Bluetooth technology into developing Contact Harald, a contact tracing system that was introduced to the market in June 2020. No larger than a credit card, Contact

Harald is a wearable device that provides proximity tracing without the need for Wi-Fi, GPS or a smartphone. The card only records proximity information when there is more than one Contact Harald card within 1.5 metres for more than two minutes – removing the need for geolocation driven tracking and providing a simple solution to trace any cases of COVID-19. “The team at Contact Harald developed this product as we saw how traditional, manual methods of contact tracing can be flawed, time consuming, reliant on memory recall,” Contact Harald director, health & product Elissa Reid tells Australian Mining. “A key benefit of Contact Harald is the speed at which contact tracing is actioned, which can be highly effective in the effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.”

CONTACT HARALD PROVIDES CONTACT TRACING THROUGH A WEARABLE DEVICE THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE AN INTERNET CONNECTION.

Reid says Contact Harald offers a major advantage for mining operations that operate in rural areas without WiFi or other IT-related infrastructure. “Contact Harald is a perfect fit for mining operations because the cards interact with each other,” Reid explains. “There is no requirement for Wi-Fi or any other IT infrastructure; ideal for large sites where working conditions are such that one or more workers are within 1.5 metres and for prolonged periods of time in order to fulfil the requirements of their job.” While protecting workers from transmitting COVID-19, Contact Harald also protects the privacy of staff who use the contact tracing cards. Contact Harald’s HIPAA and GDPR compliant software is a secure and

THE CONTACT HARALD CARDS RECORD PROXIMITY INFORMATION WHEN TWO CARDS ARE WITHIN 1.5 METRES FOR MORE THAN TWO MINUTES.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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private platform that allows data stored on the card to be securely uploaded. “Contact Harald is not an app,” Reid says. “It does not require downloading anything onto personal or work phones where there is a risk to accessing personal/confidential information via hacking or access to metadata. “Our product deidentifies each participant, no personal information is stored on the wearable card.” By implementing Contact Harald in your workplace, it is demonstrating a clear message that keeping staff safe is the priority. “Staff are the most valuable asset in an organisation and making decisions that reflect the importance of a team member’s safety, and the impacts on their lives outside of the workplace, the return is in loyalty and engagement; your business benefits,” Reid says. With the world continuing to operate under the guise of a ‘COVID Normal’, Contact Harald’s solution provides a safe and simple solution to manage the health risks of the pandemic. “Unfortunately, COVID-19related challenges are going to be ‘the new normal’ for the foreseeable future,” Reid says. “A smart contact tracing solution is vital for organisations navigating the new workplace health and safety challenges and obligations that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about.” The company is looking forward to opportunities where it can provide its tried-and-tested solution that can stop the spread of COVID-19. “Contact Harald was launched in June 2020 after concentrated development, testing, production and scale-up processes, we are a new offering in this market,” Reid says. “We are receptive and excited to see what opportunities and applications come about as we continue to establish our brand and product in the Australian and global market.” AM

TECHNOLOGY

MICROMINE RE-IMAGINES DIGITAL MINING SOLUTIONS MICROMINE IS SET TO UNVEIL THE LATEST ADVANCEMENTS IN ITS PRODUCT SUITE BY THE END OF 2020, ADDING TO ITS AWARD-WINNING SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE KEPT MINING AT THE FOREFRONT OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

MICROMINE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ANDREW BIRCH.

he use of mining software has arguably become one of the ‘bare essentials’ for any modern mining operation. Australia’s MICROMINE has always pushed the boundaries of innovative and intuitive mining software solutions. Its three leading products – Micromine, Geobank and Pitram – are designed to service every stage of a mining operation. The new Micromine 2021 software functionality makes mine design easier than ever. With updates to softwarebased tools, including modelling, estimation, design, optimisation and scheduling, Micromine 2021 delivers an incredible experience at a time when mining engineers need a simplified and faster way to work. Geobank enables streamlined and comprehensive geological data management, while Pitram is a leading mine control platform that specialises in fleet management. “For the first time in the company’s history we are releasing a suite of new updates across all products simultaneously. At a time where we are seeing exponential growth across the industry and a busy time being had by our users, we’re excited to introduce these new features designed to make mining easier and more productive,” MICROMINE chief executive officer

Andrew Birch tells Australian Mining. MICROMINE’s software is on a journey to transform the world’s progression into digital mining. In November, the company is planning to reveal a number of new advancements to its technology, harnessing more of the data available and using it efficiently to broaden the capabilities that its customers can achieve. “In the mining sector there’s a lot of data and it’s becoming more of a requirement to use it efficiently, mine owners and their people really want to know and gain a deeper understanding of what resources are below the surface,” Birch says. An updated user interface has been developed by the company for its Micromine software, with a focus on usability and a simple design language. “We’ve got a few things there we’re excited about,” Birch says. “We’ve listened to our customers and made the user interface simpler and easier for users to perform actions like dragging out ribbon groups to personalise their own workspaces. Because we know as time goes by, there’s so many features and functionality that can cause people to lose track of where everything is.”

The new ribbon-based user interface has been beta-tested by a select number of MICROMINE’s clients, which have exhibited positive feedback to the design evolution. “The user interface counts for a lot,” Birch adds. “The new menu ribbon and personalised toolbars consolidate functionality into a single place, making them more useful than ever and the feedback has reflected this.” MICROMINE will also launch peer-to-peer data communications between assets connected to its Pitram software, reducing the need for on-site Wi-Fi infrastructure. “We think this will be exciting for clients and hopefully will be more efficient than having to rely on the Wi-Fi availability throughout the mine,” Birch says. The process is known as automatic data collection, with peer-to-peer communications increasing the data transmissions between the fleet and the control centre, compared with Wi-Fi interfaces. More specific enhancements to MICROMINE’s software suite will also be revealed at its November event. For Birch, the mining industry

MICROMINE’S SOFTWARE CAN PROVIDE GEOLOGICAL 3D DATA MODELLING.

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has accelerated its switch to digital solutions in 2020. “It’s been progressing steadily prior to COVID-19 and you can see that especially after the 2012 downturn a lot of people became interested in efficiency and productivity,” he says. “MICROMINE’s rich history spanning more than 30 years and operating in 90 countries and 17 offices continues to ensure our software applications excel at supporting this ever-increasing focus and as such we have seen sustainable operational growth. “I think COVID-19 has put a focus back on that again and in the real tactical sense people are figuring out how to work better remotely and also do things in a more automated fashion, as they can’t move around as much as they used to.” Birch believes the secret to success is going to be the data integration between different vertical processes within the sector, which are currently isolated. “If you can bridge over the top of them and provide good data feedback and good data sharing that will lead to more productivity,” he concludes. AM

SURFACE MINING

JSW PIONEERS APPLICATION OF ADVANCED DRILLING TECHNOLOGY JSW AUSTRALIA HAS JOINED FORCES WITH TECHNOLOGY INNOVATOR INTELLIGENT DRILLING APPLICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY, AND GERMAN MANUFACTURERS BAUER AND BBURG TO EMERGE AS A CONTENDER IN THE DRILLING TECHNOLOGY REALM. HD2500RC IN OPERATION USING IDAT WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL.

s the mining industry continues to focus on automation and the Internet of Things (IoT) in its ongoing pursuit of optimised productivity and better safety, drilling contractor JSW Australia has been quietly building on its capabilities in the drilling technology space. With a goal to make the latest technological advancements available to clients, JSW has been steadily upgrading its fleet with fully customised solutions and automation. Behind this enhanced capability is its strategic partnership with sister company and technology innovator IDAT (Intelligent Drilling Applications & Technology). Through strategic alliances with large German manufacturers Bauer and BBURG, IDAT has been working to solve problems faced by

Australian miners when drilling in challenging local conditions. IDAT’s solutions bring together the latest advances in automation, IoT and engineering to develop fully customised, intelligent and high performance rigs, designed specifically for the local terrains and operating environments. “The technology partnership between IDAT and JSW is part of our overarching goal to bring cutting edge, customised and superior drilling solutions to Australian mines to support their objectives to improve productivity,” JSW chief executive Warren Fair says. “Through IDAT, we can provide a customer-driven approach, tailoring rigs to specific applications.”

Technology partnership proving productive at Solomon

One of JSW’s most recent applications AUSTRALIANMINING

of IDAT technology is its new HD2500RC drill rig, developed by BBURG and customised in conjunction with IDAT, which is currently operating at Fortescue Metals Group’s Solomon iron ore mine in the Pilbara. The rig underwent site commissioning in July and its initial production performance to date has been impressive. The high-powered, small-footprint HD2500RC was designed especially for the challenging terrain at Solomon where the preparation of drill pads is difficult and expensive. “With JSW’s years of experience on site and first hand knowledge of the challenges, along with IDAT’s technology expertise and BBURG’s engineering capability, we had a powerful collaboration for the development of the new rig,” Fair says.

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The HD2500RC has a low footprint with a width of 3.5 metres; high power with capacity to push 32.3 cubic metres per minute of air at 500 psi down the hole; rod handler to increase productivity and improve safety; 330 metres of rod capacity on board; and full wireless remote control. Fair says overall the rig is proving to be more productive, safer and quieter than the existing technology on site. The HD2500RC joins other new technologies in JSW’s fleet, including the Equus green drills developed specifically for bauxite mines, and a new drilling technology for magnetite mines being developed by IDAT in partnership with Bauer. “IDAT brings the technology, JSW brings the operational know-how. So far, it’s proving to be a winning formula,” Fair says. AM

SURFACE MINING

KEEPING AUSTRALIA’S MINING DUMP TRUCKS COOL WITH PRECISION KOMATSU HAS SELECTED HORTON’S RCV2000 VARIABLE-SPEED FAN DRIVE AND HTEC FAN FOR ITS 830E-5 AND 930E-5 MINING TRUCKS. AUSTRALIAN MINING SPEAKS WITH HORTON SALES MANAGER FOR THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION, RIKI TARAU, TO FIND OUT WHY.

he demands of a mining operation don’t faze engine-cooling specialist Horton, Inc. Miners are constantly challenged to improve their productivity and, at the same time, are under continuous pressure to meet sustainability goals. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) must always innovate to provide solutions so their customers can hit these moving targets. That’s where a supplier like Horton comes in. Founded in the United States in 1951, the cooling systems manufacturer got its start in on-highway trucks. It has recently delved into serving off-highway applications of all shapes and sizes, including large-bore mine haul equipment. Its customers include Komatsu, Caterpillar and Liebherr. “In 2015, Horton launched its fan drives for the heavy construction and mining applications,” Horton’s sales manager for the Asia Pacific region, Riki Tarau, says. “From there, many innovations came about from developing smaller fan drives for the on-highway market. Our fan drives redefined themselves and went to the next level with mining equipment. “We have tested our clutches in the field and pushed

them to their limits to see what they needed for improved durability and control. Expectations of component durability in mining is crucial and will ultimately define the success of any product.” The latest example is the Komatsu 830E-5 and 930E-5 dump trucks, which come equipped with Horton’s HTEC fan paired with an RCV2000 variable-speed fan drive, or fan clutch. Comprised of a Horton-exclusive thermoset material, the fan is extremely rugged and optimised for the system restrictions and air flow requirements typically found in mining equipment. These fans have been used in Australian mining applications for the past five years and are designed to provide high airflow with fewer blades and less horsepower. The clutch, meanwhile, only turns the fan when required and at the lowest speed needed to achieve the cooling goal, minimising noise, fuel consumption and horsepower loss to turn the fan. “The RCV2000 clutch will disengage the engine fan via the engine

ECM (engine control module), only allowing the engine fan to engage when required,” Tarau says. “If you can reduce the parasitic load on the truck engine, while creating more power, less noise and improved fuel efficiency, that’s a big bonus.” Reduced fuel consumption and parasitic horsepower loss helps miners reach their productivity and sustainability goals. In some areas, such as the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, minimising noise is a requirement to continue mine operations. It also improves driver comfort. The RCV2000 is the first ever e-viscous fan clutch solution for mining. It uses high-viscosity silicone oil to transfer torque between the engine and the fan. A closed-loop control system integrates seamlessly with the vehicle controller area network (CAN) and ECM systems to turn the fan only when it is required for engine cooling and other systems and at the lowest possible speeds. Horton tested the clutch at a laboratory specifically built for the trial. The results were validated by Komatsu’s own in-house trials and field testing. In addition to its facilities in North America and Europe, Horton has a licensee and distributor in Australia,

HORTON’S FAN IS EXTREMELY RUGGED AND OPTIMISED TO SUIT THE DEMANDS OF MINING EQUIPMENT.

Norman G. Clark (A/Asia), which distributes Horton products from its facility in Victoria. This ensures Australia’s mining operators will receive ground support on all of Horton’s products within Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. The strength of Horton’s suite of products has since attracted another major mining OEM, with plans to add more in the future. “It is exciting for us because it confirms what Komatsu has already seen,” Tarau says. “OEMs will go through their own validation process with engine and machine trials to verify the benefits of optimising engine fan control with our clutch. “We understand the mining operators are wanting products that offer more efficiency in fuel, noise and cooling from their machines. Horton provides this technology with a clutch that is designed to offer tighter control of the fan drive system.” AM

HORTON’S RCV2000 VARIABLE-SPEED FAN DRIVE AND HTEC FAN ARE CHOSEN BY MANY LARGE OEMS. AUSTRALIANMINING

NOVEMBER 2020

SURFACE MINING

PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES WITH VERMEER EQUIPMENT INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST VERMEER WA & NT IS SCRATCHING MORE THAN JUST THE SURFACE WITH ITS PRECISION MINING EQUIPMENT.

ermeer has supplied equipment for major industries, including mining, civil construction and forestry since 1948. The company has branched out from its American roots and enjoyed a long-time Australian presence. Vermeer Equipment of WA & NT is one of two individual Vermeer dealerships that cover different states and territories in Australia. The locally-owned dealership has been supplying Vermeer mining equipment since 1993, and has a track-record with some of the nation’s major mining companies. Based in Western Australia, the lifeblood of Australia’s mining industry, Vermeer WA & NT offers a vast range of products, such as surface mining and excavation equipment, open cut trenching and pipeline construction trenchers, horizontal boring equipment, forestry and the popular non-destructive digging, vacuum excavators. Vermeer has retained a globallyrenowned presence for its surface miners, with the 185-tonne T1655III and the 100-tonne T1255III Terrain Levelers being used in surface mining applications across the globe. The crux of these machines is in their ability to provide a viable alternative to drill and blast applications when required, while still working within the drill and blast model. With its counter rotating 5.5-metre

long tracks, low centre of gravity and excellent manoeuvrability, the T1655 is capable of working in small areas, especially when close to existing infrastructure. The top down cutting action on the 4.6-metre wide drum of the T1655 does not move the material and leaves it free of dust in-situ. Waste and lower grades can be easily identified and removed, improving chemistry and reducing the dilution of ore. The T1655 and T1255 have also been successful in historical and environmentally sensitive areas. They both deliver considerably less ground disturbance while also eliminating any fly rock contamination and preserving voids on mesa edges in the process. Operator safety is enhanced with the remote control option that both machines can be fitted with. This option also sees benefits when cutting up against highwalls in surface mining applications. “Vermeer’s philosophy is to sell a piece of equipment that can be more versatile and be more productive than the standard status quo way of doing things,” Vermeer managing director Wes McCartney tells Australian Mining. “These machines, once they’re on site they’re always kept busy, they’ll always find something to do. They are a very versatile product.” Examples of their versatility include drill

pad preparation on contours, road maintenance applications, involving the return of fines back into the matrix for stronger pavement and a reduction in deformation and dust. McCartney says the smaller T1255 has helped revolutionise second over burden removal applications both locally and globally. “The T1655‘s 100-tonne brother, the T1255, is a real performer,” he says. “Available in chain drive and direct drive configuration, these machines revolutionised the second over burden removal procedures on bauxite mines here in WA and around the world.” With the ability to operate on steep terrains, the T1255 can cut both vertical and 85-degree walls. It also enables drills and ANFO trucks to access steeper terrains with improved safety. Vermeer’s vacuum excavator range has also proven to be a valuable option within drill and blast applications.

THE VERMEER T1655III SURFACE EXCAVATION MACHINE IS AN EFFICIENT SURFACE MINING SOLUTION. AUSTRALIANMINING

NOVEMBER 2020

“Even our Vacuum excavators have played a significant role on drill pads (by) reclaiming drill holes after rain events, releasing the drills from rectification work alleviating disruption and bottlenecks with the short- and long-term planning,” McCartney explains. “(They can be) utilised for other duties such as non-destructive excavation when pot holing for electrical, gas and water services. Utilisation of Vermeer vacs on site is phenomenal. “When it comes down to it, Vermeer WA & NT have 15 years’ experience with these tried and proven machines in the mining industry. “To take the onus off the customer’s shoulders, our track specialist is available for site visits to assess suitability and can provide production rates and cost per cube estimates from rock samples tested in our rock lab.” AM

THE MINING INDUSTRY HAS MOVED TO A NEW PHASE FOLLOWING THE MINING BOOM, ONE WHERE PRODUCTIVITY, INNOVATION AND SAFETY HAVE EMERGED AS ITS KEY PRIORITIES GOLD SPOTLIGHT SURFACE MINING VOLUME 112/10 | NOVEMBER 2020

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PUSHING BOUNDARIES

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MATERIALS HANDLING

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF BELT CLEANERS ADDS PRODUCTIVITY MARTIN ENGINEERING’S SOLUTIONS HELP REDUCE MAINTENANCE TIME FOR BELT CLEANERS THROUGH REMOTE MONITORING AND AUTOMATIC BLADE TENSIONING.

hen Martin Engineering hired a team of electronic engineers at the company’s Centre for Innovation in Illinois in the United States a couple of years ago, the team was asked to come up with solutions that could automatically service belt cleaners. “We wanted to optimise the technicians’ time in the field so that they wouldn’t have to regularly go up and down the conveyor to inspect the belt cleaners,” explains Paul Harrison, Martin Engineering’s chief technology officer. “We knew there would be huge benefits for operators if they could not only know when a cleaner needed tensioning, but also to be able to tension the cleaner remotely.” The result of the team’s efforts was the N2 Twist Tensioner, an intuitive smart technology platform that can maintain proper blade-to-belt pressure without any human intervention. In the N2 Twist Tensioner, onboard sensors inform and drive the motorised tensioner while providing performance data, allowing operators to get a clear understanding of belt cleaner performance. This data can be used to accurately estimate blade wear life and schedule replacements. Billy Tarver, national business development manager at Martin Engineering, says the solution is

a game-changer in the industry. “As a salesperson with over 25 years of experience in the mining industry, it’s the first time that I can go to a customer and say ‘we can maximise your belt cleaner’s blade life and performance at the same time’,” Tarver says. “In underground coal mines and other mining applications where wider belts are commonly used, we can still offer solutions to apply the correct tension across the entire life of the blade.” The benefits of using an automatic blade tensioner, according to Harrison, include significant reduction in maintenance time, lower risk of human error (over/under tensioning) and reduced risks for the personnel. “Belt cleaners are always at the end of the conveyor, so getting people to walk up and down to see what’s going on with the cleaner, under hot sun or in the cold winter, poses a lot of safetyrelated risks. By using an automated tensioner, you are bringing the amount of personal contact with the belt down by at least three to four times,” Harrison says. “Before launching the N2 Twist Tensioner, we tested it in the field for a full year, which would mean roughly two blade changes during the period. With temperature varying drastically here in Illinois throughout the year, this test gave us fair confidence in the performance of the electronic and mechanical parts.”

MARTIN ENGINEER’S N2 TWIST TENSIONER MAINTAINS OPTIMAL BLADE-TO-BELT PRESSURE FOR MAXIMUM CLEANING.

AUSTRALIANMINING

THE N2 POSITION INDICATORS COMMUNICATE TO THE N2 GATEWAY VIA RADIO FREQUENCY.

Remote monitoring for belt cleaners

More recently, Martin Engineering has also introduced the N2 Position Indicator, an intuitive sensor that can be mounted on the blade to monitor and report critical data to plant managers. As Harrison explains, the device eliminates the need for manual inspections and simplifies maintenance operations by alerting operators when a blade change is required, when retensioning is needed, when a cleaner has been backed off the belt or when there is an abnormal condition in the cleaning system. Martin Engineering’s Position Indicators (PIs) can be mounted anywhere from three to 800 metres from the cellular gateway. The system does not require a cellular line for each PI, instead communicating via radio frequency from each sensor to the gateway. Another advantage for mines is that the system can operate independently of any plant communications infrastructure, requiring only a 220-volt power point for the cellular gateway. “We developed the self-contained model to minimise dependency on in-plant resources,” Harrison explains. “Up to 50 units can be monitored by a single gateway connecting to the Internet, usually located at the highest point in the plant where the cell signal is strongest.” To enable customers to better interact with the data collected from

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the sensors, Martin Engineering offers multiple tiers of notification and communication to customers. “After installing either the N2 Twist Tensioner or the N2 Position Indicators, all customers can monitor the belt cleaners on their mine site using a user-friendly phone application,” Harrison elaborates. “Further, we have also developed a web-based platform through which we can push email notifications to the customer when an upset condition occurs on their site and the customer can access more extensive data. Using this platform, information from multiple plants can be aggregated to help higher levels of management gain the insight they need.” Both the N2 Twist Tensioner and Position Indicator are expected to become available in Australia in 2021. Harrison says Martin Engineering customers can receive support from the head office in Gold Coast, as well from the global engineering team located across 19 countries. “We have put a lot of efforts into making our products userfriendly and easy to set-up. Where necessary, our US-based engineering team or the teams located in other countries can support customers remotely during the COVID-19 travel restrictions,” he says. “What we guarantee with our solutions is maximum cleaning efficiency and the longest efficient blade life, at reduced labour cost and reduced labour exposure to danger.” AM

MATERIALS HANDLING

CONVEYOR SOLUTION DRIVES RELIABILITY AND UPTIME CBC MINING MANAGER OF NORTH QUEENSLAND SAM WILKINSON EXPLAINS HOW A CUSTOM-DESIGNED SOLUTION HAS SOLVED A KEY PROBLEM ON A CRITICAL CONVEYOR SYSTEM AT A LARGE MINING OPERATION.

here is no contingency circuit, meaning if there is a breakdown of these conveyors, the site will stop producing, Sam Wilkinson explains when asked about the conveyor. This is why the site – which relies on a number of these conveyors to transport crushed concentrate – consulted with the CBC Townsville branch about a shaft mounted gearbox replacement. “This site had a breakdown, and as downtime costs can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars per hour, the time it took to replace the existing unit was deemed unacceptable,” Wilkinson says. “The 24 hours plus downtime and lost production period resulted from a combination of factors, but was mainly due to the gearbox being jammed on the conveyor head drum shaft.” As the CBC mining manager for North Queensland, Wilkinson worked with a team of CBC engineers to custom design a solution that would meet the site requirements and resolve the critical conveyor issue. “There are many different configurations available for a head drum drive such as this, so we presented a few options and they chose the rigid coupling type,” Wilkinson continues. “As the conveyor head drum shaft needed to be modified to fit the rigid coupling, engineering was required to prove the assembly was capable of not only transmitting the required power but accepting the overhung load. “CBC designed the system using existing components and added the coupling, then we manufactured the complete package and assembled it in our workshop.” A key component was the gearbox itself – the Fenner SMSR PowerPLUS. According to Wilkinson, the customer had previously used the Fenner gearbox and wanted to continue using this particular gearbox in the newlydesigned assembly. “The Fenner brand is synonymous with quality in heavy industry. The gearboxes in this application have been in service for many years and are extremely reliable,” he says.

CONVEYOR ISSUES CAN COST MINES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOST PRODUCTION.

“The decision to maintain the Fenner brand driving these critical conveyors shows the trust in the reliability of the name.” Steve Hittmann, who is the national product manager for mechanical drive systems and belt drives for CBC Australia’s holding company, Motion Asia Pacific, concurs that the Fenner brand is highly reputed for its quality. In fact, Motion Asia Pacific holds the Fenner Power Transmission (FPT) licence within the Asia-Pacific region. “We are proud to have an association with such an esteemed name in the mechanical power transmission industry. For many years, the Fenner name has been associated with the FPT Quality Assurance Initiative, which forms the foundation on which our complete power transmission range is constructed,” Hittmann says. “The simple objective of the FPT Quality Assurance Initiative is to ensure that Fenner power transmission products perform cost effectively, from product selection, through to purchase, installation, operation, maintenance, and ultimately decommissioning, to deliver superb customer value AUSTRALIANMINING

underpinned by engineering excellence born of many decades’ experience.” In relation to the gearbox used in this particular North Queensland mining application, Hittmann says the Fenner SMSR PowerPLUS is a good fit. “The Fenner SMSR PowerPLUS offers a rugged design and a 50 per cent increase in power to weight ratio compared with older versions. It’s also more compact for easier handling and features an increased range of bore sizes from 20 millimetres to 190 millimetres,” he expands. “With a torque capacity up to 45,000Nm and the optional TaperGrip Bush for easy on and off, it’s the perfect choice for this type of mining application.” However, the solution provided to the mining customer, came as a direct result of the combined in-house capabilities of CBC – which includes the supply of the Fenner gearbox – as well as the relationship between the CBC Townsville branch and customer. “We’ve been working with this site for decades. As we’re on site a lot,

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we have regular conversations about how we can improve the reliability of the plant,” Hittmann explains. “This particular issue surfaced from us being out on site with the customer.” The benefits to the customer have been manifold, but uptime and reliability improvements are foremost in the advantages. “This engineered solution has had many benefits to the customer, with cost savings extending across the project. Initially, CBC saved the site expenditure by utilising existing assets which also reduced the time spent by site engineers on change management processes and in conducting risk assessments,” Hittmann says. “There are multiple conveyors with this assembly which means the spares required are minimal, all the parts are interchangeable, and that means reduced inventory holdings. However, the largest cost savings will be realised upon fittings in an urgent change out. “Although in-situ installation has not been timed as yet, it is estimated the change out will be a fraction of the time. And less downtime means more uptime and machine availability.” AM

THE FIRST PRIORITY FOR AUSTRALIA’S MINING INDUSTRY

ISSUE 8 - JULY-AUGUST 2020

Remote revolution

Safety from a distance

Technology

Dust suppression

Virtual reality

Respiratory protection

Throughout the cycles of the mining industry there is one constant for everyone involved in the industry – safety. A safe workplace is critical to the continued success of your business. Launched in 2018, Safe To Work provides a high-quality, multi-platform publication for the Australian mining sector, with safety as its key focus.

Safe To Work’s promotional features deliver a forum for organisations to showcase the role each aspect of safety plays in helping the industry achieve the industry’s No. 1 priority.

TO BOOK IN SAFE TO WORK CONTACT JONATHAN DUCKETT NOW JONATHAN.DUCKETT@PRIMECREATIVE.COM.AU | 0498 091 027

MINING INFRASTRUCTURE

FLEXIBORE BEING INSTALLED OVER A GUIDE ROLLER.

CRUSADER HOSE DEWATERS LIHIR GOLD MINE IN PNG A PROJECT TO EXPAND NEWCREST MINING’S LIHIR GOLD MINE IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA PROVED CHALLENGING DUE TO A HIGH WATER TABLE. TO REDUCE THE WATER LEVEL IN THE PIT, CRUSADER HOSE WAS BROUGHT IN TO PROVIDE A DEWATERING SOLUTION.

he Lihir gold mine is an open pit mine located within one of the Papua New Guinean island’s large volcanic calderas, the Luise Caldera, which borders the sea. While the volcano is considered extinct, it is still geothermally active, evidenced by fumaroles or smoke emanating from the rocks within the pit. Due to the pooling of rainfall and regular seepage of seawater through the crater rim into the pit, the pit needed to be pumped out in order for Newcrest’s mine expansion plans to go ahead.

Designing the dewatering system

The prime contractor for the project was a large New South Wales pumping company, which is an expert in designing mine dewatering systems. The company was brought in to provide a solution to lower the water table so that mining could be expanded. The final design included a dewatering system that used three 350kW submersible bore pumps suspended from flexible hose, inside an angled poly-pipe casing. Each pump was driven by a separate generator

and connected to a platform, which cantilevered over the pit wall. The bore casing used 900-millimetre diameter poly-pipe that was welded together to form an insulation sleeve. This rested at an angle along the pit slope and the length of poly-pipe into the pit was 175 metres long. The bore casing was then securely anchored from the headworks, which incorporated a concrete-padded, steelframed platform, and was surrounded with safety rails. Once the bore casing had been secured, installation of the submersible pumps commenced. Each 350kW stainless steel submersible pump was mounted on a skate that slid within the casing, allowing the pumps to be let down inside the poly-pipe, plus acting as a centraliser. The pumps were connected to Flexibore, the flexible layflat hose supplied by Crusader Hose, which had the pressure rating for pumping from the water table that was at 45 metres in the pit.

woven fabric that acts like a lifting sling, a high tensile load of up to 16 tonnes can be suspended from it,” Crusader Hose managing director Francois Steverlynck says. “The hose is also supplied in one continuous length. The new eight-inch Flexibore has a burst pressure of 700 metres, which gives a high safety pressure margin for this type of project.”

A successful installation

With the submersible pumps safely lowered inside the poly-pipe casing, they were then connected to the diesel generators via the

The hose of choice for the system

Flexibore was chosen for the project as it allowed for easy installation of the pumps over a roller while being clamped from a crane. “As the hose is manufactured from AUSTRALIANMINING

DEWATERING SYSTEM INSIDE THE LIHIR PIT.

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power cables attached to the Flexibore hose. Settings and flow rates were controlled until each pump attained a flow rate of 168 litres per second. The CAT diesel generators were supplied by Taranis Power of Western Australia. Gabriel Hoascar, the Taranis engineer who connected the pump cables and fired up the generators, says, “I was impressed at how efficiently the system worked. Our company will look for more opportunities to partner with Australian manufacturers such as Crusader Hose.” AM

PROSPECT AWARDS

FINALISTS EMERGE FOR 2020 PROSPECT AWARDS AUSTRALIAN MINING IS THRILLED TO PRESENT A STAR-STUDDED LIST OF FINALISTS FOR THIS YEAR’S PROSPECT AWARDS.

he Australian Mining Prospect Awards have arrived for the 17th consecutive year, recognising the best of the best in the industry. A major driver of the Australian economy, the mining industry has hardly missed a beat in 2020 despite the ongoing impacts

THE PROSPECT AWARDS CONTINUE FOR A 17TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR.

of the COVID-19 pandemic around the world. Individuals and companies continue to pursue an even greater level of safety, sustainability and productivity, demonstrating mining’s leadership in the global landscape. The Prospect Awards have moved to a print campaign this year but continue to reward the outstanding contribution of mining individuals through to excellence in environmental management and everything in between. The winner of this year’s National Group Australian Mine of the Year title will be selected from the sites that win the Epiroc Hard Rock Mine of the Year and SEW-Eurodrive Coal Mine of the Year. Winners of the CRC Mine Manager of the Year and Liebherr Lifetime Achievement Award will be selected by the Prospect Awards judging panel. In addition, this spread will showcase the finalists that are competing for the following honours: • C DE Minerals Processing of the Year. • The Epiroc Contract Miner of the Year • A ustmine Innovative Mining Solution • S chenck Process Excellence in AUSTRALIANMINING

A MAJOR DRIVER OF THE AUSTRALIAN ECONOMY, THE MINING INDUSTRY HAS HARDLY MISSED A BEAT IN 2020 DESPITE THE ONGOING IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AROUND THE WORLD.”

FOURTEEN PROSPECT AWARDS ARE UP FOR GRABS IN 2020.

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Mine Safety, OH&S • F lexco Safety Advocate of the Year • Indigenous Engagement Award • M etso Outotec Excellence in Environmental Management • Contribution to Mining • i fm efector Excellence in IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) Application. The achievements of the mining sector are set to be highlighted once more. AM

PROSPECT AWARDS

EPIROC HARD ROCK MINE OF THE YEAR MINERAL RESOURCES

KOOLYANOBBING IRON ORE MINE Mineral Resources’ strong progress towards its operational goals at the Koolyanobbing mine since acquiring the project from Cleveland-Cliffs has been a Western Australian mining success story. The company has guided a major turnaround in the performance of the operation, rapidly increasing production and shipments since the 2018 acquisition. Originally targeting 6-6.25Mtpa at the time of acquisition, by June 2020, Mineral Resources had hit a production rate of 12.5Mtpa coordinating people, assets and fleet spanning over 200 kilometres. The ramp-up demonstrates the high standard and creativity of project services, planning and efficient execution, delivering the more than two-fold increase in the

project’s economic inventory. With such significant extensions, Mineral Resources has increased the number of jobs in the region while expanding the regional footprint to create further opportunities. The mining services company uses its own rail fleet to transport product to the Port of Esperance for export. OCEANAGOLD

HAILE GOLD MINE

Based in South Carolina mining town Kershaw, the historic Haile operation has become the largest gold mine on the United States’ east coast under OceanaGold’s stewardship. Since pouring first gold in January 2017 and starting commercial production later that year, the company has increased its open pit mining fleet to 25 vehicles. This year, the company aims to produce between 135,000 to 175,000 ounces of gold.

WHO WILL WIN THE HARD ROCK MINE OF THE YEAR IN 2020?

OceanaGold has mined four open pits, constructed a world-class CIL/ flotation/ultra-fine grind process circuit, and expanded the surface infrastructure since acquiring the site from Romarco Minerals in 2015. The company continues to explore the area to identify new resource

targets and to grow an underground mine operation, which is in the final stages of engineering, pending approval. Through Haile, the company has created a neighbourhood of communities which it supports with employment opportunities and the purchase of goods and services.

SEW EURODRIVE COAL MINE OF THE YEAR NEW HOPE GROUP

JEEBROPILLY MINE

As New Hope Group was heading into an inevitable closure of the Jeebropilly mine in Queensland, it initiated the Finishing Well program to address risks in staff retention and culture. The program was designed to ensure employees and contractors were ready for closure and change. It included a financial wellness program, redundancy education and recruitment expo. During the two-year period of the program, the Jeebropilly team was aware of the mine closure date, maintained a total recordable injury rate below the Queensland industry average and delivered a retention rate of 98.9 per cent. New Hope also generated the greatest operating profit in the history of the mine in the 2018 financial year, which again grew in the mine’s last full year of operations the following period.

the highest producing, lowest cost thermal coal mining operation in Australia since its $800 million expansion in late 2015. The development of an existing open cut and new greenfield underground operations were delivered on time and under budget, achieving payback in just under three years. The joint venture, comprising

Yancoal, Moolarben Coal Mines and a consortium of Korean power companies, delivered 17.9 million tonnes last year following year-onyear growth since 2015. It has maintained the best health and safety performance across the Yancoal group, developed a solution against drought and introduced underground equipment automation, including autonomous Cat longwall.

MOOLARBEN JOINT VENTURE

MOOLARBEN COAL OPERATIONS

AUSTRALIA IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S LEADING EXPORTERS OF COAL.

The Moolarben coal operation in New South Wales has grown into AUSTRALIANMINING

NOVEMBER 2020

GLENCORE’S MANGOOLA COAL OPERATIONS

MANGOOLA COAL MINE

A multi-award winner of the Mine of the Year, Coal Mine of the Year and Excellence in Mine Safety, OH&S at the 2019 Prospect Awards, Glencore’s Mangoola coal mine in New South Wales is back to contend for this year’s Coal Mine of the Year title. Mangoola is an open cut thermal coal operation that has been developed to extract run of mine coal at a rate of up to 13.5 million tonnes a year over a 21-year mine life. Operations are undertaken at the site using truck and shovel mining methods to handle overburden and coal. The company has implemented its progressive bestpractice rehabilitation at Mangoola via a full natural landform ecosystem restoration approach, proven to deliver regular cycles of flowering and seed production from the oldest rehabilitated site. The rehabilitation also displays greater resilience to drought impacts and fluctuations in environmental conditions.

PROSPECT AWARDS

CDE MINING MINERALS PROCESSING OF THE YEAR ROY HILL HOLDINGS

TRONOX

Iron ore miner Roy Hill Holdings built a wet high intensity magnetic separator (WHIMS) plant to capture high-grade ultrafine iron ore units that would otherwise end up as tailings waste. First ore from the WHIMS plant was achieved in December 2019 and production commenced in January, before hitting one million tonnes produced by May. The plant filters tailings through a series of electromagnets that extract the iron, which is recovered and placed onto stockpiles. It also has significant environmental benefits, decreasing the amount of tailings waste by up to five million tonnes per annum. The WHIMS plant was painted pink, honouring Roy Hill executive chairman Gina Rinehart’s longterm commitment to breast cancer research.

Tronox was looking for an innovative way to improve ageing assets for its dredging pumps, which are used for its heavy mineral concentration mining at Cooljarloo mine in WA. Weir Minerals presented a total asset management (TAM) agreement, which enabled Tronox to increase its production and reduce downtime, with an improved value proposition. TAM is an exclusive two-year service contract for maintenance planning, condition monitoring, reliability engineering and slurry pump optimisation. Within a year, Tronox achieved a reduction in downtime of 75 per cent and increased shut intervals by 33 per cent from six months to eight months. Tronox saved 10 per cent on maintenance costs and more than 30 per cent when achieving downtime reductions.

WET HIGH INTENSITY MAGNETIC SEPARATOR PLANT

MINERALS PROCESSING EFFICIENCY IS KEY TO OPERATIONAL SUCCESS.

TRONOX TOTAL ASSET MANAGEMENT BY WEIR MINERALS

OCEANAGOLD

HAILE GOLD MINE

OceanaGold has launched three projects across its minerals processing operations at the Haile gold mine in South Carolina in the United States. This includes using CIL ACE and Destruct ACE for continuous monitoring of reagents, Carbon Scout to monitor carbon management readings and Derrick’s G-Vault screens to reduce operational risks. The three projects have allowed

OceanGold’s Haile gold mine to monitor its circuits in real-time without an operator interface. The Derrick G-Vault screens also provide more consistent run times without an operator needing to clean or handle the screens. The Carbon Scout allows for real-time carbon density monitoring on tanks, while the Derrick screens mean reduced circuit interruptions for continued operations on site at Haile.

EPIROC CONTRACT MINER OF THE YEAR MACA

THREE WA-BASED CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN NAMED AS FINALISTS.

MACA has strengthened its portfolio of mining contracts in 2020, with $2.7 billion work in hand in August after winning a $410 million contract at Capricorn Metals’ Karlawinda gold project in Western Australia. The ASX-listed company is a respected mining services provider across the load and haul, drill and blast, materials handling and crushing disciplines. MACA’s key contract wins have included a $230 million agreement with Atlas Iron at the Corunna Downs project and a $130 million extension with Ramelius Resources at the Mt Magnet gold project. The contractor has also continued operations for Regis Resources at the Duketon South and Duketon North sites, with Blackham Resources at the Matilda gold project, and Pilbara Minerals at the Pilgangoora lithium project. AUSTRALIANMINING

MACMAHON HOLDINGS

Macmahon Holdings continues to thrive as a contractor with capabilities across surface mining, underground mining, civil and rehabilitation, equipment maintenance and management, and performance enhancement. In 2020, Macmahon has strengthened its order book with key contract wins, including a $700 million extension and expansion of the Byerwen coal contract in Queensland. The Perth-based company also secured $200 million of additional work with gold miner, Silver Lake Resources, in Western Australia. Operationally, Macmahon ramped up the Boston Shaker underground project at the Tropicana gold operation in Western Australia and achieved record volumes at Batu Hijau (Indonesia) and Byerwen. The contractor’s expansion was solidified in the 2020 financial year with the completion of its acquisition of GBF Underground Mining.

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MADER GROUP

Mader Group has grown from a one-man business in 2005 to an ASX-listed firm that had a market capitalisation of around $160 million in October. Today, Mader is recognised as Roy Hill’s preferred maintenance supplier and is tasked with keeping the iron ore miner’s equipment running 24/7. Mader’s Australian team is armed with field support, fabrication and line boring, shutdown, rail maintenance, project support, rapid response and training and mentoring capabilities. The company has branched out and now provides its services internationally, including in Asia, Africa and the United States. Perth-based Mader delivered more than 70,000 hours of specialised contract labour in the United States during the 2020 financial year. Mader’s company culture has also been recognised, with it selected as The Australian HR Awards 2020 finalist as an employer of choice.

PROSPECT AWARDS

AUSTMINE INNOVATIVE MINING SOLUTION CPC ENGINEERING

TRAC SKIRT SYSTEM

The trac skirt system (TSS) improves vital elements of skirt refit and repair with a smart design to save costs and time, while increasing safety for mine operators and maintenance personnel. The trolley guide rail allows for trouble-free removal and refitting of the skirt and can be fitted onto a current structure along any length of the conveyor. CPC has developed a locking mechanism that will match up to the first offset washer to lock individual wear liners and prevent them from moving up, which stops the liner from dropping even if the bolts loosen. Displaced skirts can result in extra wear on the conveyor line, dust particles becoming airborne and material spillage, which the TSS negates to improve maintenance efficiency and dust suppression. EMESENT

HOVERMAP

Avoiding inaccessible areas in underground mines is critical to safe operations as they can endanger personnel, infrastructure and equipment. Mining engineers and surveyors are required to regularly inspect and map these areas but the traditional cavity monitoring system (CMS) mapping method is time consuming and produces low quality point cloud data.

To overcome these issues, Emesent has designed the drone payload Hovermap, which combines advanced simultaneous localisation and mapped-based (SLAM) collision avoidance and autonomous flight technologies to enable accurate mapping of any GPS-denied environment. Hovermap can fly into inaccessible areas like stopes, drawpoints, orepasses and drives to capture high quality, shadowless cloud data while handheld, mounted on a drone or attached to a vehicle, keeping personnel away from these areas. THE INNOVATIVE MINING SOLUTION IS AGAIN A HOTLY CONTESTED AWARD.

IMDEX

IMDEX BLAST DOG

IMDEX BLAST DOG is a semiautonomously deployed system for logging material properties and blast hole characteristics at high spatial density. As a commodity agnostic system, BLAST DOG is unique, with no other technology having the capacity to produce the same data and affect mine-to-mill efficiency. The blast holes are logged while sensors measure properties to provide ore body knowledge, data from which is transferred via IMDEXHUB-IQ to optimise blast design and take the guesswork out of drilling and blasting. BLAST DOG improves productivity, efficiency and safety, part of IMDEX’s Internet of

Geosensing initiative to significantly increase mine-to-mill efficiency. Other benefits include reduced fumes, adverse vibrations, improved fragmentation, improved material control, indication of reactive ground and reduced flyrock. JWA OILFIELD SUPPLIES

DURA-BASE COMPOSITE MATTING SYSTEM

DURA-BASE composite maps are interlocking modular panels made of recyclable HDPE, with UV stabilisers used for urgent reliable access and ground improvement for heavy equipment. The maps can be installed with little

or no ground preparation and can be used over waterlogged sites without waiting for the ground to dry. They can be relocated across multiple sites, are reusable and recyclable, do not require crush rock top-ups after rain and do not absorb or retain water. This saves cost and improves productivity, as rail service crews do not need to wait for a site to dry out before having access to it, allowing for more uptime at mining operations. The maps also improve safety, removing the necessity for a high-risk manoeuvre of using a multi-crane lift of the locomotive section, which weighs more than 90 tonnes.

SCHENCK PROCESS EXCELLENCE IN MINE SAFETY, OH&S BHP

DASH – LIVE WORK, ELIMINATED

BHP has thousands of mining vehicles across its global operations and the workers that maintain this machinery make up half of the company’s frontline. Much of this equipment needs to be powered to diagnose faults, which is some of the highest risk work across BHP. To minimise the risk, BHP developed Dash Maintainer Tools to enable technicians to complete diagnostic testing of pressure,

temperature and other readings on surface mine equipment outside the line of fire. Technicians can even read gauges from the comfort of their service truck or light vehicle so long as it is within an 80-metre radius of the equipment. Using Dash, BHP has eliminated 80 per cent of live work across all surface mining equipment at its South Flank project in Western Australia. ME SAFE

LONG HOLE PLUG PROJECT Lost drill rods in production up holes are a common problem in

AUSTRALIANMINING

underground mining. They can also be a serious hazard to workers and equipment if they fall out of the hole without warning. Conventional practices to alleviate the hazard are to grout or plate over the hole, which delays production and creates a false sense of security. ME SAFE has developed a cheaper and less time-consuming solution, the long hole plug (LHP), to safely secure lost rods in the hole. The LHP transfers axial forces from the falling drill rods horizontally into the rock mass, allowing work to safely continue with

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little interruption. It removes people from being exposed as the plug is inserted into the hole remotely, keeping workers away from the line of fire. AUSTAR COAL MINE

AUSTAR LONGWALL REMOTE OPERATION In April 2014, the Austar underground coal mine operated by Yancoal experienced the first recorded coal burst in Australian mining history. To counter the unforeseen event, Austar developed a fully

PROSPECT AWARDS

comprehensive coal burst management system for development and longwall operations, the first of its kind in Australia. Some of the key aspects of this system include significantly upgraded engineered rib shield guarding, adaptation of overseas probe hole drilling and comprehensive microseismic monitoring. By April 2019, Austar applied remote automated mining to an area of longwall panel that had been assessed as being high risk for a coal burst, enabling workers to keep clear of this zone. Following the introduction of remote automated longwall mining, Austar experienced nil lost time injuries during the course of this method of mining.

end of 2019, New Hope had to transition more than 100 employees into new positions, the majority of which had only worked in coal mining. Due to the broad demographic of the group, no single program would fit every employee, so New Hope identified three categories: workers retiring, those staying in mining but open to relocation or FIFO, and those transitioning to alternative careers in the local area. Fit for Change was developed to ensure people were given the support and skills they needed, with monthly talks, regular health checks, a focus on mental and physical health and upskilling of workers. This has led to an overall better understanding of mental health triggers, the importance of seeking support and direction in a time of uncertainty.

MINE DEVELOPMENT IS GEARED TOWARDS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT.

NEW HOPE GROUP JEEBROPILLY MINE

FIT FOR CHANGE

When the Jeebropilly mine in Queensland closed at the

FLEXCO SAFETY ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR TERESE WITHINGTON

REGIONAL MANAGING DIRECTOR ASIA PACIFIC, WEIR MINERALS

Terese Withington is responsible for improving Weir Minerals’ safety across Australia, the Pacific, South East Asia, China and India. In her role, Withington is personally involved in reviewing and learning from any lost time incidents (LTIs) that occur. Withington was integral in the introduction of mill system lifting points to reduce the risks for production staff. She also identified hand and finger injuries as the largest proportion of Weir’s incidents and introduced guards and lining to prevent such injuries. Under her leadership, Weir Minerals APC has halved total recordable injuries in the past year and led many of its facilities to significant LTIfree milestones. NATALIA TREWIN

HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGER, WESTRAC

Leading WesTrac’s culture and safety team, Natalia Trewin led campaigns to reduce hand and finger injuries and musculoskeletal strains with the Body Torque strategy. Trewin is responsible for an 18 per cent increase in employee engagement, smashing the 5 per cent target. She

reduced lost time injury frequency rate to zero and the total recorded injury frequency rate to under its target. As well as preventing physical injuries, Trewin has prioritised the mental health of WesTrac’s workforce, providing yoga classes and boot camps for employees. Trewin also led the health and safety focus for 1458 employees across 20 sites during the COVID-19 pandemic, moving from 14 systems to one for transformed risk and safety management. MADELEINE HOLLOWAY

HEALTH AND SAFETY SPECIALIST, CITIC PACIFIC MINING

businesses to identify, manage, monitor and report EHS and risk management obligations in real time. MELISSA CEDELLAND

DRAGLINE, DRILL AND BLAST OFFICER, YANCOAL MOUNT THORLEY WARKWORTH MINE

Yancoal dragline, drill and blast officer Melissa Cedelland has applied her knowledge of the Mount Thorley Warkworth mine to develop a dedicated safety focus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cedelland implemented the controls required to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by drawing

Madeleine Holloway has spent 16 years of her career committed to improving safety performances and processes. Holloway developed CITIC Pacific Mining’s (CPM’s) fatality risk management program to ensure staff and contractors understand potential risks in their roles and the critical controls they require to make sure the risks are managed correctly. Since implementation of this program, CPM’s significant injuries have decreased, as have the reportable injury rate and high potential incidents. Holloway and her team are also credited to creating Cintellate, an environmental, health and safety (EHS) software program enabling AUSTRALIANMINING

on her experience as a signwriter to convey safety messages via new signage on site. She also created a sticker system to allow workers to quickly identify anyone who had been in proximity of an individual showing symptoms, should there be a confirmed COVID-19 case on site. Cedelland dedicated time outside of her work hours to ensure the safety of herself and others, personally placing signage around the operation. In her role, Cedelland has been instrumental in the effective management of the spending and safe usage of explosives.

THE PROSPECT AWARDS SEEK TO RECOGNISE SAFETY CHAMPIONS.

NOVEMBER 2020

PROSPECT AWARDS

INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT AWARD IRONMERGE

NRW AND IRONMERGE: PARTNERS FOR FMG

NRW was awarded a bulk earthworks package for Fortescue Metals Group’s Iron Bridge project in the Pilbara and delivered a subcontract to IronMerge. IronMerge is a supply nation Indigenous business and the Iron Bridge project sits alongside the Nyamal traditional lands. Company chairman and Nyamal traditional owner Ian Taylor launched a vision to establish an Indigenous mining services company to service the projects on and around Nyamal lands. IronMerge has maintained a 60 per cent Indigenous workforce on the project, including two Indigenous women operating heavy earthwork machinery. The company also formed a joint venture with fellow Aboriginal contractor Carey Mining to leverage one another’s capabilities, delivering ongoing employment in the Pilbara. MONADELPHOUS GROUP

MONADELPHOUS MECHANICAL MOB

When Monadelphous was awarded a major long-term contract with BHP across several Pilbara sites, it saw this as an opportunity to strengthen ties with the local Indigenous community. One of these opportunities was with the Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation’s Follow the Dream program in Newman, which supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island students into post-school pathways. The program includes the Monadelphous Mechanical Mob, which showcases local employment opportunities within trades and engineering to local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Monadelphous offers mentoring, training and upskilling in the mechanical field and exposure to the mining industry supporting graduates as they enter the workforce.

increasing its employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from 2 per cent to 4 per cent by the end of August 2022, through its Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The company aims to increase its partnerships with Indigenous-owned businesses and strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities. Sandvik has set up a steering committee of Indigenous and nonIndigenous employees to keep the company on track to meet the 100 deliverables to achieve the RAP. Once these are achieved, Sandvik aims to progress the next stage of the RAP to continue its reconciliation journey. Sandvik also educates its employees on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures to extend its support to these communities.

SANDVIK MINING AND ROCK TECHNOLOGY

INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COLLABORATION

BOOM LOGISTICS

SANDVIK INNOVATE RECONCILIATION PLAN

Sandvik Australia has committed to

Boom Logistics has formed a relationship with the Ghungalou people in Queensland to connect with

INDIGENOUS RELATIONSHIPS ARE CRITICAL FOR MINING COMPANIES.

the traditional owners of the land the company works on. This included unveiling a new 300-tonne crane named Ghungalou to honour this connection and connect with Indigenous employees to understand the history and traditions of their people. Boom Logistics painted a rock wallaby as a totem on the crane, representing the men of the tribe who traditionally travelled to hunt. This underlines Boom’s acknowledgement of the importance of community investment and employment to build deeper and more understanding relationships with the Ghungalou people.

METSO OUTOTEC EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT NEW CENTURY RESOURCES

DECIPHER

New Century’s tailings storage facility (TSF) cover trials at the Century zinc mine in Queensland have involved the testing of three covers. The designs were influenced by a 2012 investigation on a failed cover on the bulk sample tailings dam at the mine. The covers were built as large trials (75 metres by 75 metres) on a section of the tailings in 2013 and have been monitored for the past seven years – one of the longest of its kind in Australia. They are monitored for their infiltration into the cover, storage of rainfall, percolation through the base of the cover and in-situ soil water characteristic curves for predictive modelling. Approaching 10 years of monitoring, cover one has been selected as the preferred option due to its balance between performance and constructability, with the trial providing valuable performance data of all the designs.

Wesfarmers-owned software-asa-service company, Decipher, has designed a TSF cloud solution to help companies improve compliance, monitoring, reporting and disclosure of tailings data. This follows the call for a new independent international standard on tailings and detailed disclosure information on TSFs by an investors group. The process took around six weeks for some mining operators, many of which had well over 50 sites. To overcome the issue, Decipher designed a cloud platform – a tailings governance, disclosure and monitoring solution that is built with Microsoft Azure and Google Earth Engine at its core. This allows a variety of tailings monitoring data from IoT devices, LiDAR, radar, CCTV, drones, inspections and remote sensing to be captured and securely accessed by industry, regulators, engineers of record and operators involved.

SITE-SPECIFIC REHABILITATION DESIGN

TAILINGS GOVERNANCE AND DISCLOSURE

AUSTRALIANMINING

GLENCORE’S MANGOOLA COAL OPERATIONS

MANGOOLA COAL MINE REHABILITATION

Glencore has approached progressive mine rehabilitation by undertaking a full natural landform ecosystem restoration at the Mangoola open cut mine in New South Wales, making it the first Australian site to adopt such approach to mine site rehabilitation. The company employed a restoration ecologist and used a GeoFluv natural landform evolution model to design the final rehabilitation landform. This is executed by GPS-guided dozers that shaped overburden dumps, while reestablishing vegetation communities on the shaped post mine landform. It also performed seeding by hand, rather than machines, to ensure the accurate placement of the vegetation communities. The team has rehabilitated over 670 hectares of mined land using the natural landform design, translocated endangered terrestrial orchids and recorded over 70 native fauna species in the rehabilitation.

NOVEMBER 2020

OLEOLOGY

PFAS WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM

Oleology has developed an economical and robust method to remove perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water. PFAS are colourless, odourless and tasteless chemicals that are complicated to remove, but is harmful to the environment and humanity at very low levels. It impairs fertility and is linked to cancers. PFAS is extensively used in fast moving consumer goods items and in industrial applications, resulting in the contamination of groundwater. The Oleology has introduced a small footprint, low capital and installation cost PFAS water treatment plant that treats all contaminants through the same filtering sequence. It produces water at less than detectable levels of PFAS across analytes and only a small volume of dry waste, meeting compliance with industry regulators.

PROSPECT AWARDS

CONTRIBUTION TO MINING TEAGAN DOWLER

SIMON LOVELL

Starting as one of the youngest leadership coaches in the heavy industry, Teagan Dowler has coached more than 500 supervisors and superintendents across the mining and resources industries since 2012. The Diversity Practitioners Association co-founder is praised for her ability to quickly form relationships of trust, with her legacy remembered years after delivering her coaching service. She also launched an online community called The Blue Collared Women to support women in the mining industry, with the community growing to more than 3500 people today. Since then, the platform has grown to offer pro-bono and professional services in support of diversity and inclusion. Dowler is the author of Rules of the Game: Women in the Masculine Industries.

Simon Lovell’s expertise in cavity filling and strata consolidation allows him to manage and execute specialised projects in underground coal and hard rock mining. He was involved in remote sealing operations in New South Wales, Queensland and New Zealand as part of a mines re-entry effort following an explosion and underground heating incidents. These include the Pike River re-entry in October 2019, a project that was completed under extreme conditions. Lovell led a team that successfully executed a Rocsil ventilation plug and allowed the recovery team to step further than they had since the mine exploded in 2010. He was also instrumental in the development and installation of emergency sealing systems in multiple underground coal mines following a series of heating events in the sector.

CAPABILITY MANAGER AND PROJECT MANAGER, STS CONSULTING AUSTRALIA

PRODUCT APPLICATION SPECIALIST, WILSON MINING SERVICES

LIAM O’CONNOR

DAVID BENNETT

Liam O’Connor’s contribution to the mining sector has come from his influence as a board member of Directions Disability Support Services, working at heights committee member with Fortescue Metals Group, global change agent committee member with BHP, and vice-chair of Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS) Western Australia, to name a few. A member of the IRATA International Health and Safety Committee, O’Connor is responsible for a social impact program that provides a training and long-term employment pathway into the mining and fly-in, flyout sectors. The program earned him a Diversity and Inclusion Champion award from the Safety Institute of Australia (now AIHS) in 2018. O’Connor is passionate about mental health, environmental protection and providing employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians.

With a 23-year career at the Mount Thorley Warkworth operation in New South Wales, David Bennett today leads the largest team on site since Yancoal acquired the operation in September 2017. He guided a team of more than 700 employees through a journey of cultural and operational change. This includes challenging deepseeded beliefs, historical norms and long-standing processes. Bennett’s work is evidenced in the improvement of employees’ likeliness to recommend Yancoal as a workplace of choice, from a score of -45.2 to 21.5 within 12 months. He’s also instrumental in improving the safety culture of the mining team, which experienced a decrease in the average number of safety incidents from 19 per month to just nine in 2018.

NATIONAL SAFETY, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND QUALITY MANAGER, POWERLINES PLUS

MINE MANAGER AT MOUNT THORLEY WARKWORTH, YANCOAL

IFM EXCELLENCE IN INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS APPLICATION BHP

PIAGO

GO! SITE APPROVED

DASH – LIVE WORK, ELIMINATED

BHP uses Dash Maintainer Tools to complete diagnostic tasks on mining equipment and read pressure, temperature and other sensors on their mobile or tablet device, from anywhere within an 80-metre radius. This helps to eliminate the dangers of live work, reduce time to diagnose faults, give frontline workers the tools they need to work safely and makes maintenance work more accessible to people with different physical abilities. Dash has helped BHP to achieve its priority to eliminate 80 per cent of live work across surface mining equipment at the South Flank project in Western Australia, minimising the fatality risks associated with mobile equipment maintenance. ORESIGHT

MPC KINETIC

OreSight enables MPC Kinetic’s mining team to gather assay

THE INTERNET OF THINGS HAS BROUGHT NEW CAPABILITIES TO MINING.

data to the mine planning team between drilling and blasting in near real-time. With OreSight, MPC Kinetic can log up to 60 bore holes in a 12-hour shift, which is transmitted to its real-time operations centre via 4G and automatically on to the mining company in their preferred method. The operator directs the truck to AUSTRALIANMINING

each bore hole. The system then takes over to automatically lower the assay probe to the bottom of the hole, then it is raised to provide timely and accurate readings of the ground chemistry. The system removes personnel from handling physical samples, taking them out of harm’s way in the pit.

NOVEMBER 2020

PIAGO has developed an agile, customisable Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) application GO! Site Approved (GSA) to improve efficiency and data security within mining companies with large workforces. GSA improves efficiency and data securities and enhances communication with contractors and employees, replacing outdated onboarding methods like multiple spreadsheets and data entry systems, which are unreliable, time consuming and at risk of human error. Recognising the gap in the industry, PIAGO developed GSA to allow workers to enter data, send and receive communications with contractors, suppliers and employees, and receive alerts on expiring tickets, training and safety requirements all in one system. GSA is 100 per cent cloud based and mobile ready, making it accessible for workers both in the field or the office.

, D E E N U T. O Y E R R E ER N. V E F O T N A O H IS H W D IT RC A N I E F ES TH

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INDUSTRY COMMENT

AUSTMINE LAUNCHED THE STEM METS CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAM TO PREPARE FUTURE WORKFORCES.

CONNECTING METS WITH WORKFORCES OF TOMORROW AUSTMINE’S STEM METS CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAM HELPS TO CHALLENGE THE OLD PERCEPTION OF THE MINING SECTOR AS PARTICIPANTS EXPLORE THE SECTOR’S PROSPECTS AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FIRST-HAND.

s the mining industry continues to go through digital transformation, the need for a technologically skilled workforce is becoming more apparent. Now more than ever, it is crucial the mining, equipment, technology and services (METS) sector increases its visibility and desirability with the workforce of tomorrow. To help tackle the industry’s skills shortage, Austmine developed the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) METS career pathway program in 2017.

Career pathway program

The program provides a connection point for Australian METS companies and emerging STEM talent from leading universities across the country. It works to increase the number of students seeking a career in the METS sector with support from METS Ignited, the federal government’s Industry Growth Centre dedicated to the METS sector. At the core of the program is the opportunity for students to gain firsthand experience of the METS sector through a paid 10-week internship with a METS company.

This allows the students to see up close the innovation at the heart of our sector and encourages them to consider METS for their career of choice. Through this initiative, Austmine helps raise the profile of the METS sector within the next generation of employees and works to change the perception of a mining industry career from “old world” to one that is filled with technology-driven, entrepreneurial opportunities.

METS discovering STEM

The program is actively promoted internally through partner universities, and for some students this is their first point of contact with the METS sector. Initially, Joel Christie, a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering student, approached the program from a point of curiosity. “I happened to come across an advertisement for the Austmine STEM program via my university,” Christie says. “I had no previous exposure to the mining or resources industry and as such, my view towards the industry was quite naïve. “Now, I have a far broader and varied understanding of the work performed within the industry.” AUSTRALIANMINING

This was a similar story for Ahmad Amount, a Masters of Engineering (Mechanical) student, who was previously unaware of the opportunities available for STEM students in the industry. Amount says, “I didn’t know a lot about the mining sector or career opportunities and development that I might get as a mechanical engineer. “However, after completing two mining-related work placements and internships, I am excited to take a career in the METS sector after graduation.”

industry cope with large amounts of data, which indeed increases the productivity and efficiency. “My co-workers were very hardworking people who do their best for the company. They support each other to solve problems and concerns. I received a lot of support as well, which helped me learn and grow faster.” For companies participating in the program, it will help boost their brand with the brightest emerging minds, and strengthen connections with universities for both research and educational links.

Attracting talent

Untapping potential

While the program helps students open their eyes to the possibility of a career in METS, it is also a great chance for METS companies to develop their relationship with the newest STEM talent before they enter the workforce Each student can also learn firsthand how they could use their skills as a future employee. Demi Li, a Bachelor of Engineering student, says, “I was very interested to see how Intov8 (host company) uses technology to simplify the processing of data and how data can help us make decisions. “It turned out that they are doing something wonderful to help the

NOVEMBER 2020

Austmine works with leading METS companies to help close the skills gap. Major companies who have previously been involved include Assetivity, AMC Consultants, Komatsu, Endress+Hauser, Engenium, Bluefield, Hastings Deering, Intov8, CRC ORE, Russell Mineral Equipment and many more. AM Austmine’s STEM METS career pathway program will open in May 2021 for business applications. If you would like to find out more about the program, please visit: http://www.austmine.com. au/Programs/austmine-stem-mets-careerpathway-program-2/ and https://www. hotrubble.com.au/

EVENT SPOTLIGHT

AUSIMM LAUNCHES HYBRID CONFERENCES TO HELP PROFESSIONALS STAY CONNECTED WITH COVID-19 IMPACTING EVENTS THROUGHOUT 2020, THE AUSTRALASIAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY (AUSIMM) HAS CREATED A HYBRID FORMAT FOR ITS CONFERENCES, ALLOWING DELEGATES TO ATTEND IN PERSON OR ONLINE DURING 2021. AUSIMM LOOKS FORWARD TO WELCOMING DELEGATES TO CONFERENCES IN 2021, PRIORITISING HEALTH AND SAFETY.

n 2021, eight AusIMM conferences will move to a hybrid format, including Underground Operators, Life of Mine, AusRock, Mill Operators, Mine Waste and Tailings, Open Pit Operators, Iron Ore and Future Mining. The conferences will be held across various Australian capital cities and staged online, allowing industry professionals to digitally access world-class conference content, including keynote addresses, technical presentations, virtual exhibitions and networking functions. AusIMM has adopted the Events OnAir platform for virtual delegates to explore live and on-demand conference insights, participate in live-streamed Q&A sessions and engage virtually with industry professionals from the safety of their own home or office. With many travel restrictions still in place during the final months of 2020, AusIMM’s early decision to go hybrid ensures the health and safety of delegates, sponsors and exhibitors, without missing out on valuable discussions and information. AusIMM chief executive officer Stephen Durkin says at a time of uncertainty and change, it is important to offer a stable and accessible approach

for building networks and careers in the mining industry. “AusIMM’s new hybrid conference model offers first class professional development in an inclusive, globally accessible format,” Durkin says. “International travel restrictions will likely continue for some time, and this new model provides a responsive solution to deliver meaningful professional development now and into the future.” For those attending in person, health and safety will be top priority, with AusIMM and conference venues working closely to monitor COVID-19 regulations in line with advice from the Australian Government and local health authorities. This includes new measures around physical distancing, increased hygiene practices, safe food service, sanitisation and cleaning protocols. Besides the new hygiene measures, in-person attendees can expect the same exciting benefits they have enjoyed at previous AusIMM conferences, including industry-leading keynote speakers, the latest technical insights and a full trade exhibition showcasing the latest products and technology. For those unable to attend in person, the virtual events platform provides AUSTRALIANMINING

a range of benefits to keep delegates connected to each event. “The hybrid model offers enduring value for delegates in remote and overseas locations to attend from their own home, office or site location,” Durkin says. “We have already had a glimpse into the future with our recent digital conferences with high levels of engagement through the online platform. “We look forward to hosting outstanding conference experiences for all delegates wherever they are in the world to learn, connect and network at AusIMM hybrid conferences in 2021.” There will be more opportunities for delegates to attend an AusIMM hybrid event with a selection of registration rates. This includes a hybrid rate, which allows attendees to access conferences in person and the content and networking opportunities available via the online platform and an online-only rate for those attending purely online. Following the success of the International Uranium Digital Conference, Lithium and Battery Metals Digital Conference, Minesafe International Digital Conference and identifying the advantages to the hybrid format, AusIMM is looking to adopt it over the long term.

“The new model will open new opportunities for the global resources community and build upon the success of AusIMM’s digital conferences already delivered in 2020,” Durkin says. AM The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy hybrid conferences for 2021 are: • Underground Operators Conference 2021, March 1517, Perth and online • Life of Mine Conference 2021, April 28-30, Brisbane and online • AusRock Conference 2021, May 25-27, Sydney and online • Mill Operators Conference 2021, June 23-25, Brisbane and online • Mine Waste and Tailings Conference 2021, July 1-2, Brisbane and online • Open Pit Operators Conference 2021, July 26-27, Perth and online • Iron Ore Conferences 2021, November 8-10, Perth and online • Future Mining Conference 2021, December 6-8, Perth and online.

DELEGATES CAN ATTEND AUSIMM 2021 CONFERENCES ONLINE OR IN PERSON WITH THE NEW HYBRID FORMAT.

NOVEMBER 2020

PRODUCTS

MAXXDRIVE XT GEAR UNITS DRIVE CONVEYOR BELTS

SANDVIK PRESENTS WORLD-FIRST 18-TONNE BATTERY LOADER

Nord Drivesystems has released a two-stage MAXXDRIVE XT rightangle gear unit for belt conveyor systems in the bulk material handling industry, which requires low speed ratios in combination with high powers. It is available in seven sizes for powers from 50–1500kW, with output torques ranging between 15 and 75kNm. The units have a high thermal load capacity without external cooling, keeping conveyor systems running even under the harshest conditions. MAXXDRIVE also features a strong ribbed design, optimised axial fans and air guide covers. Its large roller bearings and centre distances increase the load capacity and service life of the components. MAXXDRIVE industrial gear units achieve high output torques and have proven themselves with a track record in heavy-duty applications that spans for more than a decade.

Sandvik has introduced the battery-electric loader LH518B, which was designed around the Artisan battery system and electric driveline. It can fit in a 4.5-metre by 4.5-metre tunnel and carry 18-tonne loads, with independent front and rear drivetrains that allow for high payload capacity while keeping a low height. The LH518B is also equipped with three 2000 Nm permanent magnet motors. It can move fast without no torque converter, transmission or engine to rev up. Battery swapping is also made fast and easy, taking about six minutes thanks to a patented self-swapping system for the Artisan battery pack, AutoSwap. The battery-powered loader also helps to reduce heat and emissions underground, helping miners reach their sustainability targets and reduce ventilation costs.

• nord.com

• rocktechnology.sandvik

BAC SYSTEMS SIMPLIFIES TOOL HANGING

ABB CONNECTS WORKERS, EQUIPMENT AND ACTIVITIES

BAC wall rack, part of the BAC panel range of tool hanging solutions, is the premier way to hang tools on any solid wall. The wall panel is mounted on modular brackets, allowing users to easily add additional panels in any direction, with panels coming in four different lengths. BAC offers a comprehensive range of hooks, pins, posts and toolbars that can handle all generic tools, and most of the unique ones as well. The wall rack can be purchased through the BAC technical sales team, or can be purchased online.

ABB Ability Operations Management System (OMS) for mining performs predictive production scheduling and automates execution by integrating mine operations, workforce and equipment in real time. This addresses mining’s top challenge to coordinate between the weekly production schedule and production execution. ABB Ability OMS enables high-level planning and low-level control to allow mine operators to monitor and review activities based on targets, metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs). ABB is working with Enterprise Transformation Partners (ETP) at Gold Fields’ Granny Smith mine in Western Australia to further enhance the ABB Ability OMS platform – Fleet Management Software module. This will enable the mine to connect and coordinate mine operators, workforce, equipment and all mining activities in real time, from face preparation to crusher.

• bacsales.com.au

• abb.com

AUSTRALIANMINING

NOVEMBER 2020

PRODUCTS

CR INTRODUCES NINE-STATION CAST LIP

CAT D9 DOZER LOWERS MINING COSTS

CR has launched the DE2553, a nine-station DecaEdge cast lip for large mining wheel loader buckets with capacities between 14 and 20 cubic metres. Individual lips of the DecaEdge range have been proven to achieve more than 25,000 operating hours with no major rebuilds, lowering the total cost of ownership of lip and ground engaging tools (GET) systems by more than 33 per cent. The DE2553 was introduced following the popularity of CR’s DecaEdge 10 and 11 station cast lips. According to CR chief executive John Barbagallo, the range extension demonstrates the strong market appetite for this offering. “CR is the only manufacturer to offer a range of cast lips for mining class wheel loaders in the world,” he said. “The company prides itself on developing innovative, market leading products to help develop and shape the future of mining.”

Caterpillar has replaced the D9T dozer with the D9 model, which is capable of lowering overall costs per unit of material moved by up to 3 per cent. The D9 dozer features a new torque converter with stator clutch that reduces fuel consumption by as much as 5 per cent, and reduces maintenance and repair costs by as much as 4 per cent. It is built on the Cat C18 engine, which has a range of exhaust aftertreatment solutions available, including configurations to meet US EPA Tier 4 final/EU stage five regulations and those equivalent to US EPA Tier 2 and Tier 3. The D9 has differential steering for a tight turning radius and the ability to maintain ground speed, while turning to keep productivity high. The suspended undercarriage delivers more track contact with the ground for less slippage and greater productivity. • cat.com

• crmining.com

DRONEDEPLOY PROVIDES AERIAL DATA SERVICES

NIVEK INDUSTRIES’ TED HELPS KEEP FITTERS SAFE

DroneDeploy’s platform-as-a-service automatically measures and records stockpile inventory, quickly conducts critical inspections and creates elevation maps and 3D models. It helps mining operators manage safety and maintenance issues, while complying with government regulations. DroneDeploy’s stockpile inventory management also makes planning and fulfilment decisions with more accurate, timely information. It also assists with mine planning and excavation thanks to its ability to visualise and compare site conditions and track progress of excavations. DroneDeploy ensures employees, sites and equipment are held to the highest safety standards through regular equipment and infrastructure inspections.

Tracked Elevating Device (TED) is a self-propelled and remotecontrolled machine that removes fitters from the deadly crush zone. It takes the weight out of belly plate removal and replacement, and can be used in very tight spaces under machinery. This removes the need for human employees to push, pull or carry heavy loads in awkward situations, thus protecting against back, shoulder, neck and muscular skeletal injuries. In addition to TED’s wide array of attachments, Nivek Industries has also introduced the jib attachment to move heavy components of varying shapes in confined spaces; front belly plate cradle to safely remove the sloping front belly plate on D11 dozers; and strut spindle cap tool to safely replace strut spindle cap on haul trucks.

• dronedeploy.com

• nivekindustries.com.au

AUSTRALIANMINING

NOVEMBER 2020

EVENTS

CONFERENCES, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS EVENT SUBMISSIONS CAN BE EMAILED TO EDITOR@AUSTRALIANMINING.COM.AU Smart Mining Networking Event Perth | November 10 Austmine is joining forces with CITIC Pacific Mining general manager of digital technology and innovation Mark O’Brien for the Perth Smart Mining Network Event. O’Brien will explore the role innovation has played in the mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector as the industry faces significant disruption and a push towards remote working this year. Smart Mining Networking will cover topics including the way digital transformation is changing the way mining companies operate, and provide an opportunity to develop relationships with local industry contacts such as METS businesses, mining companies and research and education institutes. O’Brien will also provide an overview of CITIC Pacific Mining’s innovation strategy and the technologies the company is prioritising for the future of its operations. • austmine.com.au The Preconcentration Digital Conference online | November 10-11 and 17-18 Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM)’s Preconcentration Digital Conference will explore the value of preconcentration, or the early rejection of non-valuable material prior

to mineral processing. The concept has a significant amount of value, which will be explored at the conference while focussing on the operational, environmental and corporate social responsibility (CSR) challenges surrounding preconcentration. The event will allow various industry experts and stakeholders to discuss new developments in the preconcentration space, and will feature keynote speakers, some of whom have written case studies on preconcentration in mining practices. The event will be presented digitally enabling audience from around the globe to tune in and expand their knowledge, with the four live keynote sessions set to be recorded and placed on demand for six months after the event. • precon.ausimm.com IMARC Online | November 23-27 The International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) 2020 event has been postponed due to COVID-19 and transitioned into an online event starting November 24. IMARC Online will offer a global platform for industry leaders to come together and discuss hot topics that shape the future of the mining industry, which will stand centre stage in reshaping the global economy postCOVID-19.

AUSTRALIANMINING

The interactive program includes all the components attendees would expect of the IMARC in-person event, including workshops, keynote presentations, networking, meetings and a virtual expo hall showcasing the latest mining projects, technology and innovations. Additionally, IMARC Online is welcoming a series of co-located events, such as IMARC METS Arena #LIVE, Mines and Money 5@5 and Mines and Money Online Connect. Attendees will be able to create their own personalised program of content, meetings and networking events based on their interests, both on demand and within longer opening hours. • imarconline.com Underground Operators Conference 2021 | Perth | March 15-17 2021 The AusIMM Underground Operators Conference 2021 will bring together mining engineers, operators, technical service managers and consultants to share their underground operational experience and practices. Underground Operators 2021 will feature internationally recognised keynote speakers, including BHP asset president, Olympic Dam and chief geoscientist Laura Tyler, CommChain executive chairman Gary Zamel and rock engineering consultant, Sweden Knut Garshol. The program will cover key discussion topics on process transformation,

NOVEMBER 2020

innovative mining methods and practices, health and safety, revolutionising the traditional mine and more. Underground Operators 2021 will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. • undergroundoperators.ausimm.com Austmine 2021: Harnessing Intelligence | Perth | May 25-27 2021 Austmine’s world-renowned mining innovation conference will return in 2021, creating a key gathering point for industry leaders, change-makers and innovative thinkers. The 2021 theme, Harnessing Intelligence, will provide the opportunity to reflect, discuss and consider the future of the mining industry following a period of significant disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Austmine 2021 will explore the importance of interaction among people, processes and technology over two days of keynote speeches, interactive sessions and panel discussions. The event has also welcomed BHP onboard as its principal sponsor for 2021, highlighting BHP’s continued commitment to technological excellence in the Australian METS sector. • austmineconference.com.au

RESILIENCE MEANS NOT WORRYING ABOUT “WHAT NOW?” AND INSTEAD, FOCUSING ON “WHAT’S NEXT?” The choice to be resilient has never been more important for a business to make. Today, resilience means choosing a different approach to insuring your commercial property. Above all, it’s choosing to navigate the business, personal and risk complexities you face to ensure you move your business forward. Which is why Resilience is a Choice.

RESILIENCE IS A CHOICE.

Choose the most reliable and safe option to dewater your mine. The compact high-performance Godwin NC80 rig pump. The Godwin NC80 rig pump from Xylem, is an exceptionally powerful yet small-sized package – and fitted with Dri-Prime automatic selfpriming technology, it’s ideal for underground mining. The offering includes proven N-Pump technology, for the highest total efficiency and reduced unplanned maintenance, and a continuously-operated Venturi air-ejector priming device that is set-and-forget. The NC80 rig pump has flow capacity to 38 L/S, discharge heads to 64 metres, and fully-automatic priming from dry to 8.5 metres suction lift. It’s highly effective for all underground dirty mine water applications and delivers superior performance with shotcrete fibre.

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13 19 14 | xylem.com/au