AM May 2020

DRILL & BLAST AUTOMATION VOLUME 112/4 | MAY 2020

DIAMONDS SPOTLIGHT

THE POWER OF AUTOMATION TAKING YOU MILES FURTHER INTRODUCING SANDVIK AUTOMINE® FOR TRUCKS

AUTOMINE® FOR TRUCKS For years, mining operations have benefitted from Sandvik’s intelligent AutoMine® unmanned mining trucks. They reduce damage and repair work and add the highest levels of efficiency to give you a lower cost per tonne. They are scalable for different mining applications and can be supervised from a remote location.

Sandvik has a history of innovation and world firsts. Now, we are first to enable autonomous underground trucks to operate on the surface, and first to add seamless truck movements through mines with the Access Control System (ACS). We are first to combine fleet automation and mining process optimisation and analytics solutions as one integrated and seamless production system. All to bring greater flexibility, productivity, and safety to your operation.

ROCKTECHNOLOGY.SANDVIK/AUTOMINE-FOR-TRUCKS

AUTOMATION DRILL & BLAST VOLUME 112/4 | MAY 2020

DIAMONDS SPOTLIGHT

UNDERGROUND ADVANCES

TECHNOLOGY DRIVES A NEW ERA

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COMMENT

MINING BRACES FOR RESPONSE TO DRIVE ECONOMY BEN CREAGH

Ben.Creagh@primecreative.com.au

MINING IS WELL PLACED TO BE THE MAJOR INDUSTRY THAT HELPS AUSTRALIA BOUNCE BACK FROM THE CHAOS CAUSED BY COVID-19.

T

his column is usually reserved for all things mining, but what the industry is managing at the moment goes well beyond anything it has previouly faced.

As this issue goes to print, Australia and the world continues to see serious challenges in slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

Otherwise known as COVID-19, the pandemic has brought even the healthiest of industry sectors to their knees as they grapple with how to respond.

Australians working in mining are no strangers to remote work, but the term has generally been used to describe the distance between a site and where workers live.

For many, working remotely now means being isolated in a home office, in a twist to the arrangement previously unthinkable for this generation of miners.

To mining’s credit, the industry in Australia has responded admirably to COVID-19 by putting the health and safety of its workers and the general public first.

The industry has respected the nation’s needs at this unprecedented time, for example, banning the travel of fly-in, flyout (FIFO) workers between states to limit the virus’ spread.

Mining’s role in the response to COVID-19 is far from over and its importance in driving the economy will be pivotal in the coming months, if not years.

As Australians saw during the global financial crisis (GFC) in 2008, mining will play a critical role in helping the country remain afloat economically despite financial concerns across the world.

This is undoubtedly the mining industry’s biggest challenge since the commodities downturn early last decade and the GFC before that. And the industry is well placed to bounce back after entering the upheaval that the coronavirus has caused in great shape.

Australian Mining, alongside publisher Prime Creative Media, also remains committed to keeping the industry connected by supporting our readers through this period.

With the potential for companies and individuals to become isolated we recognise communication within the industry has never been more important.

Australian Mining continues to communicate with the industry on a daily basis. Our regular newsletters, website and printed magazines are still being produced on schedule, with our entire team also working remotely.

We have even offered complimentary threemonth subscriptions to anyone in the industry who would like to stay informed (email me at ben.creagh@primecreative.com.au for more information).

Australian Mining looks forward to supporting the industry through our communication platforms in the coming months so that our economy can push through this period.

Mining’s contribution is set to be as crucial as ever and it will be a time to appreciate what the industry provides to this country.

Ben Creagh Managing Editor

TARA HAMID Email: tara.hamid@primecreative.com.au

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AUSTRALIANMINING

In this issue, we highlight some key developments in underground mining.

In a technology focus, Australian Mining talks to underground miners about how they plan for new technologies and use their workforce.

This edition covers the latest automation release at Sandvik and the impact it will potentially have in Australia in the future.

We showcase Dyno Nobel’s revolutionary EZshot solution and how it blends the best of electronic blasting with the traditional pyrotechnic method in one device.

Australian Mining looks at the country’s highperforming universities and the initiatives that are attracting future generations.

And as usual, we review the latest mining equipment and technology in our regular products section.

Cover image: OZ Minerals.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER JOHN MURPHY

MANAGING EDITOR BEN CREAGH Tel: (03) 9690 8766 Email: ben.creagh@primecreative.com.au

FRONT COVER

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MAY 2020

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CONTENTS INDUSTRY COMMENT

TECHNOLOGY

14-15 THE DRIVE TO ADOPT TECHNOLOGY How mid tiers are advancing their operations

LEADERSHIP DURING DIFFICULT TIMES Austmine’s CEO explains why it’s important

40-41

AUTOMATION

DIGITAL MINING

CREATING SAFER ENVIRONMENTS Sandvik, ifm and others talk up the latest progress

TECHNOLOGY UNDERPINS PROJECTS InEight’s guide to introducing mining technologies

16-20

DRILL & BLAST

42-43

22-23

TECHNOLOGY

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Dyno Nobel’s EZshot surfaces in underground mining

THE LATEST TECH ADVICE Developments at RPM Global, BesTech and Ctrack

DIAMONDS SPOTLIGHT

44-47

24-25

TRAINING & EDUCATION

MAKING AUSTRALIA SPARKLE AGAIN Gibb River’s plan to make Ellendale shine

AUSTRALIA LEADS THE WORLD Why Australian universities stand out

POTASH SPOTLIGHT

26-28

48-49

AUSTRALIA’S NEXT UNTAPPED RESOURCE? The junior race towards producing potash

MINING SERVICES

51 ITM KEEPS MINING ROLLING Innovative undercarriage designs

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BOOSTING INDIGENOUS EMPLOYMENT Western Labour Hire’s vision for Indigenous people

ENVIRONMENT

30-31

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

52 RISING TO THE CHALLENGE Concept saves valuable nickel from waste

FLUSHING OUT INEQUALITY IN MINING AusIMM’s quest for a diverse industry

32-33

MINERALS PROCESSING

SUSTAINABILITY

53 BREATHING LIFE INTO MINE SITES Erizon rehabilitates Queensland coal operation

IMPROVING CRUSHER PERFORMANCE A Weir Minerals expert offers his advice

34-35 MAINTENANCE

PROSPECT AWARDS

54 MINING’S HIGHEST ACHIEVERS The next edition of the Australian Mining event

DRIVING DOWN RAIL COSTS Loram’s solutions for rail infrastructure

36-37 FUTURE OF MINING

PRODUCT FOCUS

55

38-39

DEEPER AND STRONGER Crusader Hose steps up with Flexibore 300

EFFICIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY MINES How FLSmidth helps companies achieve both goals

REGULARS NEWS 9-13

PRODUCTS 56-57 AUSTRALIANMINING

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EVENTS 58

SMART

SOLUTIONS

Leveraging our technology, systems and processes to enable our people to deliver long term project efficiency and value for our clients.

INTEGRATED UNDERGROUND MINING SERVICES Mine development | Production mining | Cable bolting, production drilling and ITH drilling | Raise boring and specialist boxhole boring | Shotcreting

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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. RESOURCES SECTOR TAKES RESPONSIBLE STANCE AMID PANDEMIC

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.

MINING COMPANIES HAVE ADJUSTED THEIR FIFO WORKFORCE ARRANGEMENTS ACCORDING TO GOVERNMENT DIRECTIONS.

BHP has led a group of mining companies that has continued to support the economy through challenging times during the coronavirus pandemic.

The company’s announcement that it would reduce payment terms for small, local and Indigenous businesses was quickly followed by a decision to recruit 1500 people to support its Australian operations during March.

BHP declared plans to reduce payment terms from 30 days to seven days for more than 1100 small Australian businesses.

It also offered the additional jobs as six-month contracts, with the positions including machinery and production operators, truck and ancillary equipment drivers, excavator operators, diesel mechanics boilermakers and trade assistants.

The roles have been spread across BHP’s iron ore, coal and copper operations in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.

“The government has said that

the resources industry is vital in Australia’s response to the global pandemic,” BHP acting Minerals Australia president Edgar Basto said.

“We are stepping up and providing jobs and contracts. Our suppliers, large and small, play a critical role in supporting our operations.”

BHP has also continued to implement stringent measures across its operating assets to reduce the risks of the coronavirus.

They include social distancing at its sites, camps and offices; limited gatherings of people; an international travel ban; and increased roster flexibility.

BHP has limited people at its mine sites to critical employees and contractors only. BHP Mitsubishi Alliance has also restricted interstate fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workers to those who are critical to a project’s operations, in line with the tighter border controls Queensland has put in place.

According to the Minerals Council of Australia, “A safe, healthy and resilient residential, FIFO and drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) resources

workforce, which is able to live in and move in and out of regional and remote areas while observing strict health protocols, will help the sector support all Australians and our national economy during and after the global COVID-19 (coronavirus disease of 2019) pandemic.”

Meanwhile, Rio Tinto also reduced the number of flights to FIFO sites.

The company banned employees and contractors from visiting vulnerable communities without company and community approval.

“COVID-19 is a human tragedy and we all have to play our part as the pandemic spreads,” Rio Tinto chief executive Jean-Sébastian Jacques said.

“For us the focus is to maintain a business as usual approach with many safeguards, at a very unusual time. We are not at all complacent.

Safety and health comes first as we keep delivering for our customers, our host governments and communities.”

According to Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane, the industry is

AUSTRALIANMINING

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committed to putting people first, abiding by advice given from the country’s health authorities.

“We have worked with the industry across the country to develop national protocols to protect our staff, our families, our suppliers, our communities, our state, and our nation,” Macfarlane said.

The Western Australian resources sector contributed nearly $7 million through a COVID-19 community support initiative, which was established by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) of Western Australia to benefit local communities.

The financial support was distributed among Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Operations, Foodbank Western Australia and Lifeline Western Australia.

“The resources sector has come together in solidarity at a time when the West Australian community is being asked to do the same thing,” CME chief executive Paul Everingham said.

“Our member companies are keen to collectively do something to further support our resources sector workforce, as well as the broader Western Australian community, who are becoming increasingly challenged by current events.

“We are all in this together and we will stand with the WA community to overcome this challenge.”

NEWS

NRW WINS OLYMPIC DAM CONTRACT WITH BHP BHP has awarded NRW Contracting with a $48 million airport upgrade contract at the Olympic Dam project in South Australia.

Upgrades were set to commence in March for a 37-week duration.

The contract includes both airside works and landside works, the first of which will involve bulk earthworks, pavement construction and draining works for the runway, along with an extension of the apron areas.

Landside works include concrete works, structural steel and modular structure works, along with a terminal building that is scheduled for an overhaul.

“NRW is delighted to be awarded this contract at Olympic Dam following the successful acquisition of the BGC Contracting business,” NRW chief executive and managing director Jules Pemberton said.

“NRW has a long history with BHP in their iron ore, coal and nickel divisions but this contract marks the first project for the copper operations. I look forward to the safe and successful execution of the works.”

The Olympic Dam project hosts one of the world’s largest deposits of copper and uranium. A peak workforce of 140 is estimated for the upgrade works.

THE OLYMPIC DAM PROJECT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. IMAGE: BHP.

EVOLUTION TAKES OVER RED LAKE GOLD PROJECT Evolution Mining has finalised its acquisition of the Red Lake gold mine in Ontario, Canada from Newmont for $US375 million ($612 million).

The company plans to recapitalise the asset and reduce the cost base of the operation, backing this up with significant investment in capital development and exploration over the next three years.

Red Lake’s workforce

acknowledged that change was required to secure the long-term future of the operation, according to Evolution.

The Australian gold miner commenced its search for a Canadian operation in 2017, chairman Jake Klein commented.

“Following an extensive review and several detailed due diligences, we identified Red Lake as an ideal, deep value opportunity,” he said.

“The driver for our interest was both the outstanding potential for the discovery of new, high grade mineralisation and clear turnaround opportunity to restore it to being a safe, efficient, long life, low cost operation.

“We thank Newmont for the supportive, open and transparent relationship we have developed through the negotiation and the integration phase.”

Evolution plans to rapidly scale up its Red Lake drilling program in the 2021 financial year off the back of a $20–25 million exploration budget.

It also intends to continue accelerating the Red Lake underground development to over 1000 metres a month by the December 2020 half year, a 50 per cent increase on the monthly average (668 metres) achieved in the prior corresponding year.

IRON ORE TO DRIVE RESOURCES EXPORTS Australia’s resource and energy export earnings are forecast to hit a record of $299 billion in 2019– 2020 despite the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

The new estimate, put forth by the Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science in the latest Resources and Energy Quarterly (REQ) indicates an increase of $18

billion in the commodity export value on 2018–2019.

Gold prices have increased substantially as investors seek a safe haven, with Australia likely to benefit with its growing gold production.

Federal Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt said that resource and energy exports continued to support the AUSTRALIANMINING

Australian economy.

“The strength and diversity of Australia’s resource and energy commodities have allowed export earnings to overcome challenging world economic conditions – to the benefit of the Australian economy,” Pitt said.

“Iron ore is expected to be the first commodity to exceed $100 billion in

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export earnings in a single year. This is a result of high prices, as well as decades of investment, innovation and automation, which have placed Australia at the forefront of the global iron ore market.

“Australia is also on track to become the world’s largest gold producer, expected to overtake China in 2021.”

TOWARDS ZERO EMISSIONS IN MINING

MissionZero is aimed at enabling our customers and the mining industry to move towards zero water waste, zero emissions and zero energy waste by 2030.

Demand for minerals combined with declining ore grades is creating new complications for the mining industry, especially when it comes to the environment. The amount of water and energy needed for extraction and processing is increasing, resulting in a growing environmental footprint.

With new sustainability-related challenges, such as increasing costs and risk, tighter regulations and higher societal expectations, you need a partner that can offer you sustainable productivity, so both your business needs and the new environmental demands are met.

With MissionZero, our ambition is to deliver innovative and digital solutions to the mining industry that support zero water waste, zero emissions and zero energy waste by 2030.

Already, we have solutions such as dry-stack tailings that enables our customers to recover up to 95% of their process water and multiple digital solutions that provide greater processing efficiency. But we are also identifying opportunities to significantly improve your productivity and lower environmental impact across the mining flowsheet.

MissionZero is an invitation to you to co-create new solutions with us and to ensure the adoption of innovations and technologies that will transform mining into a more sustainable industry.

We are confident we can deliver significant and quantifiable benefits that will make your operations more productive, cost efficient and, of course, sustainable.

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Copyright © 2020, Weir Minerals Australia Ltd. All rights reserved. The trademarks mentioned in this document are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of companies forming part of The Weir Group PLC.

NEWS

RESOLUTE COMPLETES RAVENSWOOD GOLD MINE SALE Resolute Mining has completed the sale of the Ravenswood gold mine in Queensland to a consortium comprising EMR Capital and Singapore-listed Golden Energy and Resources.

The transaction is valued at $100 million for upfront proceeds, with potential future upside payments of up to $200 million.

Resolute managing director and chief executive John Welborn said the sale allowed the company to focus on its African portfolio.

“Ravenswood has been a strong performer for Resolute for more than 15 years. During this time Resolute has mined and processed over 40 million tonnes of ore and produced almost two million ounces of

gold,” Welborn said.

“We are confident Resolute’s legacy, and the interests of all stakeholders in Ravenswood, will be protected and enhanced by the new owners.”

Resolute subsequently updated its 2020 guidance to 430,000 ounces at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $US980 ($1591.90) an ounce.

Ravenswood is EMR’s third mining operation in Queensland. The company owns the Capricorn copper mine near Mt Isa, and with partners Adaro and Mitsui, the Kestrel coking coal mine in the Bowen Basin.

Golden Energy and Resources holds gold and coking coal investments in Australia via Westgold Resources and Stanmore Coal.

KOMATSU LAUNCHES 830E-5 HAUL TRUCK IN AUSTRALIA

KOMATSU’S TECH ADVANCED, 230-TONNE 830E-5.

Komatsu has released the 830E-5 truck, a 230 metric tonne capacity machine that is powered by a Cummins QSK60 diesel engine.

The machine has a standard rating of 2500-horsepower and a higher powered 2700-horsepower option for greater speed on grade.

Komatsu national product manager – mining, Jason Arthur said the 830E5 delivered improved performance, intelligent parasitic load control on

the engine, up to 80 per cent lower particulate matter emissions and better fuel efficiency.

“Komatsu’s 830E has been a long-standing haulage solution in Australian mining for over 30 years,” Arthur said.

“So when it was time for a model update, it was imperative to preserve these attributes, as well as to offer sustainable improvements and safety enhancements incorporating the

latest Komatsu technology, to ensure our customers can further reduce their costs per tonne.”

The engine enhancements reduce the 830E-5’s fuel consumption by up to 5 per cent in comparison with the previous model.

The truck can also be fitted with on-chassis after-treatment technology, which allows it to comply with Tier 4 final emissions standards.

“These improvements reduce

external noise emissions,” Arthur said.

“With noise levels at the operator’s ear less than 79 decibels and significantly reduced whole-of-body vibration levels due to an improved isolated mounting system, it meets the most demanding ergonomic requirements.

“It’s also designed to be completely gender-neutral, with the operating controls and interface designed for easy and low-effort operation.”

PRIMERO SECURES ADDITIONAL RIO TINTO CONTRACTS IN PILBARA Rio Tinto has awarded new contracts to Primero for the Koodaideri and Mesa K projects in the Pilbara, Western Australia worth a combined $20 million.

This adds to the $115 million contract awarded last year for Koodaideri’s engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), as well as design, fabrication and

supply of the mine infrastructure area.

The latest contract is an extension to the original Koodaideri win, which reflects additional options that have been included for implementation at the iron ore site.

Primero will also perform additional civil works at Rio Tinto’s Mesa J processing plants two (PP2) wet processing facility, which is being AUSTRALIANMINING

developed as part of the Robe Valley sustaining projects.

Both projects have progressed concurrently, with the Mesa K contract expected to be completed this year.

Primero plans to finish additional works at Koodaideri in line with the original time frame of mid-2021.

“Current business activities with

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respect to the company’s recent major project contract awards from Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group are still predominantly focussed on off-site design engineering and procurement work,” Primero stated.

“Major planned site activities for these contracts are only scheduled to ramp up during the second half of calendar 2020.”

TECHNOLOGY

THE ADVANCING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MID-TIER MINERS AND TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS LOOKS LIKE MANY THINGS TO DIFFERENT MINING COMPANIES. VANESSA ZHOU FINDS OUT WHAT IT MEANS TO MID-TIER MINERS OZ MINERALS, NEW CENTURY RESOURCES AND MINERAL RESOURCES.

I

s digitalisation and technology advancement still reserved for the industry’s biggest players?

For quite some time, stories of automation and digitalisation have won the attention of those who follow the development of the mining and METS (mining, equipment, technology and services) sectors.

While this progress attracts praise from both parts of mining, on the other side of the coin are mine workers who are concerned about competing with machines for jobs.

A shake up of industry workforces is taking place among large mining companies, but without neglecting rigorous plans for employee reskilling and job transfers.

For the mid tier, the considerations have been different to this point, as they advance technology at their operations in different ways.

What the mid-tier mining sector

contributes to the overall industry is, indeed, noticeable.

The 50 largest mining companies in the mid-tier sector grew at a rate not seen in years during 2019, combining for $64 billion in market capitalisation on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) by late last year.

This represented a 9 per cent hike from the previous year, the highest growth in nearly a decade, according to Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC).

OZ Minerals, which ranked sixth in PwC’s 2019 mid-tier 50 (MT50) list, regards modern technology as only one part of the picture.

The Adelaide-based company’s people hold the key to technological advancement across sites, according to OZ Minerals chief transformation officer Tania Davey.

“We won’t install technology for technology’s sake; it has to be something that helps us (be) lean, innovative and agile, and work within

our devolved way of operating,” Davey says.

The company’s focus has always been to ensure its technological and non-technological foundations are in place.

OZ Minerals aims to integrate the benefits of new and emerging technologies with diversity of thought and skills that are presented by the workforce.

Davey claims that this is the company’s way of modernising how mining is done: to have a workforce with the right culture and mindset to drive the desired changes.

“The more significant part (of tech advancement) is the mindset and culture of innovation of the people behind the business,” Davey says.

“As a modern mining company, we want to harness the innovation mindset of our people and use it with technology so mining work can be carried out more

NEW CENTURY HAS REPROCESSED 10 TONNES OF THE TAILINGS WASTE SINCE 2018.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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safely and sustainably.”

OZ Minerals has actively built diversity of thought within its workforce, starting with welcoming people from different backgrounds who don’t always come from the mining industry.

The company invests in creating the right environment for people to think differently and exploit technological opportunities.

Without the right culture, the opportunities of technical innovation can’t be fully exploited, according to Davey.

OZ Minerals has this year reached nameplate mill throughput rate of 500 tonnes an hour at its newest operation, the Carrapateena copper-gold mine in South Australia, shortly after achieving first concentrate.

The company aspires to bring Carrapateena’s run rate to 4.35 million tonnes a year by the end of 2020, before jacking it up to 4.7–5 million

TECHNOLOGY

CHAD AND ALEXIS FROM THE OZ MINERALS TEAM AT CARRAPATEENA.

tonnes a year from 2023. “(At Carrapateena), the automation in itself was not the sole focus, but rather the value-add that can be obtained by prudent and timely application of automation technologies to a well set up and effectively managed underground mining operations,” Davey says.

“Also, collection of information from the beginning of operations allows the site to use insights and answer questions that haven’t been thought of yet.

“This will see the mine be an early adopter of technology and automation where it adds value to the operation as opposed to installing maximum upfront functionality.”

Rob Bryant, Asia Pacific executive vice president at InEight, a technology company that has established a strong presence in Australia, says mid-tier companies are also typically more nimble and better able to adopt digital transformation.

“They face less bureaucracy from a chain of management point of view and often have fewer existing systems and IT infrastructure to compete with as they introduce change,” he says.

“This is true across sectors, where in the past millions of dollars have been spent on bespoke solutions that took years to develop and implement.

Solutions such as InEight are now available to juniors and mid-tier companies.”

Partner companies have held the key to New Century Resources’ technology-driven economic

rehabilitation at the Century zinc mine in Queensland.

The company, which ranked 45th in PwC’s MT50 list last year, partnered with a South African company that specialises in hydraulic mining to restart the historic site.

New Century head of corporate affairs and social responsibility Shane Goodwin says the technique for large scale mining is mostly deployed in Africa and South America, but has little to no penetration in Australia.

“New Century, during its study phase, identified this and engaged the South African company to transfer know-how and the hydraulic mining cannon setups to the Australian industry,” Goodwin says.

“In the 18 months of operation, New Century has taken this base, built on 20 years of experience, and innovated around both the physical designs of cannon and the operational systems.”

This move confirms the clear economic benefits of automation, Goodwin says, as the need to innovate is driven partly by an increased cost of labour in Australia.

“The major innovation in relation to mining has been from new nozzles, designed through extensive fluid flow dynamic modelling, which have delivered increase laminar flow, in turn delivering more efficient transfer for energy from the high pressure water to the cutting face,” he adds.

“This efficiency increase has resulted in streamlined operations through being able to mine from one location for longer and also via AUSTRALIANMINING

increased density of the material being moved down to the sump for subsequent delivery to the processing plant. “(This uses) less energy, (gives) greenhouse gas and operating cost benefits, and (minimises) requirement for increased infrastructure to meet New Century’s ramp up of production.”

Since operations re-commenced at the Century mine in 2018, the company has reprocessed 10 tonnes of the tailings waste stream that had been left behind by its previous owners.

This represents 12 per cent of Century’s total tailings waste, which

will be reprocessed and removed over six and a half years.

“At the Century mine in North West Queensland, the process of economic rehabilitation via tailings reprocessing provides for all of the scheduled mine rehabilitation to be achieved through new cash flow generating site activities,” Goodwin says.

And while New Century is focussed on generating cashflow through economic rehabilitation, eighthranked Mineral Resources (MinRes), according to PwC’s 2019 MT50, aims to generate weight savings.

MinRes has developed an internal fleet of dump trucks that are fitted with carbon fibre trays.

It has created a carbon fibre manufacturing facility to develop trays that weigh 8.5 tonnes to go on 150-tonne dump trucks. Its weight contrasts with trays that weigh 31 tonnes from the original manufacturer.

As of August last year, MinRes had developed five 150-tonne dump trucks using the lightweight trays, two of which were “running around” on site at the Koolyanobbing operation in Western Australia.

“We’ve got an extra 22.5 tonnes that we’re hauling on every load that comes out of the pits,” MinRes managing director Ellison explains in a February announcement. The carbon fibre trays will increase dump truck payloads by 10 to 15 per cent.

MinRes had planned to develop the tray for its 200-tonne dump trucks before COVID-19 hit the markets.

With such a “cleaner slate” to begin with, it is exciting to see what innovations mid-tier mining companies will come up with next.

After all, it is in their best interests to maximise tonnage, improve efficiency and leave the sector in better shape than when they started. AM

AUSTRALIAN MID-TIER MINERS ARE BRINGING TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENT TO THE SITES IN THEIR UNIQUE FASHION.

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AUTOMATION

AUTOMINE FOR TRUCKS SURFACES IN UNDERGROUND MINING SANDVIK HAS RELEASED AUTOMINE FOR TRUCKS, A FIRST FOR AUTONOMOUS RAMP HAULAGE APPLICATIONS IN UNDERGROUND MINING. HOW WILL THE SYSTEM BENEFIT THE INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA? BEN CREAGH FINDS OUT. AUTOMINE FOR TRUCKS GIVES THE MACHINES AUTONOMOUS CAPABILITIES ON THE SURFACE.

S

andvik has taken the next step with the AutoMine system by extending its autonomous truck haulage capabilities from underground mining environments to the surface.

The Swedish original equipment manufacturer (OEM) has offered AutoMine systems for autonomous and unmanned truck fleet haulage for many years.

Safe and efficient transition of underground-to-surface navigation has remained a challenge for the industry – until now.

To make this breakthrough, Sandvik has designed an autonomous ramp haulage application that enables AutoMine to operate the vehicles at the surface, as well as underground.

With AutoMine for Trucks, the OEM has achieved this by developing a smart handover technology that switches from underground to surface navigation mode in real-time.

Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology business line manager, APAC, Ville Svensberg says the

handover technology allows the trucks to continue through a ramp portal seamlessly to the surface to complete the dumping cycle.

“We’ve had the ramp haulage technology for more than 15 years, but technology for surface navigation where the truck automatically switches to GPS without stopping is what required development,” Svensberg tells Australian Mining.

“However, Sandvik has utilised accurate differential GPS on surface drills for many years, so that technology wasn’t that new for us either.

“We just had to adapt that technology to our navigation system and develop the algorithms for a robust production system that is also safe.”

Sandvik introduced AutoMine for Trucks in December 2019 with a sneak peek of the new product at its Digitalization in Mining event in Brisbane.

AutoMine for Trucks bolsters the OEM’s ever-expanding AutoMine platform, which has proven to reduce equipment damage, repair work, and add the highest levels of efficiency and AUSTRALIANMINING

fleet utilisation.

The solution, including the new AutoMine for Trucks system, is scalable for different mining applications and can be supervised from remote locations.

Sandvik’s expectations for AutoMine for Trucks are high, with vice president, BU automation, Riku Pulli saying it has the potential to revolutionise the mining industry, bringing significant productivity and safety improvements.

“At Sandvik, we’ve pioneered and delivered autonomous trucks for many years,” Pulli says.

“Continuously setting the industry standard, we have now developed the industry-first, fully autonomous underground trucks that can operate in mining levels and mine declines including both underground and surface sections.”

But before AutoMine for Trucks can have this impact on underground mining in Australia, operators will need to establish the infrastructure that supports a next generation technology with this capability at their mines.

Svensberg believes Australia’s

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mining industry is rapidly moving in this direction and a technology like AutoMine for Trucks will be a viable opportunity in the years ahead.

“Digitalisation in Australian mining, and in general, is changing and making it easier to adapt to all sorts of technologies,” Svensberg says.

“It will be easier to utilise robotics and autonomous platforms like this when you already have the infrastructure ready on the network side of things.

“The mines (in Australia) haven’t necessarily had wide coverage of broadband networks underground yet, but that’s changing, and I have been happy to see that change quickly.”

Sandvik has made significant progress with its automated loader systems in Australia, particularly through long-term partnerships with the likes of Northparkes Mines in New South Wales.

The equipment manufacturer now has over 40 autonomous loader systems in Australia, according to Svensberg.

He believes there is potential for AutoMine for Trucks to follow in the footsteps of the loader platform in Australia, once the infrastructure at mines reaches the required level.

“We can already operate multiple types of our machines from the one chair. The same operators could also operate trucks, or an entire fleet of trucks, as well as loaders,” Svensberg says.

“We are, of course, looking at larger greenfield projects with a dedicated decline for trucking for a fleet of our trucks – that would be ideal, but it is a bit further down the road.”

AutoMine for Trucks connects directly to the Sandvik OptiMine solution, which enables production planning and automatic dispatching of tasks for production execution.

The progress of production tasks is reported to OptiMine, giving mining companies real-time visibility of their automated and manual operations, and enabling them to make informed decisions.

Sandvik’s launch of AutoMine for Trucks offers an insight into the future of underground mining, and the OEM is looking to join mining companies on this journey. AM

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AUTOMATION

REMOTE CONTROL MINING IN A TIME OF NEED WITH AN INFLUX OF AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY ENTERING THE MINING INDUSTRY, COMPANIES CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LATEST GADGETS. AND AS THE CORONAVIRUS CAUSES RIPPLE-EFFECTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY’S WORKFORCE, AUTOMATION COULD PROVE TO BE A SAVING GRACE. NICKOLAS ZAKHARIA WRITES. NEWMONT AND CATERPILLAR WILL UNVEIL AUTONOMOUS TRUCKS AT BODDINGTON. IMAGE: CATERPILLAR.

I

n the 1984 movie blockbuster, The Terminator, mankind’s ambition to create more advanced technology results in its creations rising and taking over.

But unlike Arnold Schwarzenegger’s evil robot character, automation technology is saving jobs and businesses, allowing mines to continue to operate without site personnel in the case of a total workplace shutdown.

SAP industry advisor Shabir Ahmed believes the length of the coronavirus crisis will determine how necessary automation becomes.

“Depending on how long this crisis lasts, the mining industry could see big moves into autonomous mining technologies in the not-too-

distant future,” he says.

“Whilst it is not possible to predict how COVID-19 will further disrupt the mining industry, what is certain is that the mining industry must reconfigure and prepare itself to operate under a new normal, one in which it can operate and sustain itself under the new constraints and challenges that such pandemics bring with them.”

Australia’s Resolute Mining has led the way in developing a fully automated mining operation at the Syama underground gold mine in Mali, West Africa.

With the help of Swedish engineering company Sandvik, the mine now has the ability to operate 24 hours a day with a fleet of fully automated vehicles and equipment.

AUSTRALIANMINING

All operations are managed and controlled from a remote operations centre.

South Africa’s mining industry is made up of 420,000 workers who often descend into underground mines inside crowded “cages”.

With the highly contagious nature of the coronavirus, mines are in danger of becoming petri dishes for infection.

And while South Africa faces a national lockdown which has shut off mining at the time of writing – Australia has not taken such decisive steps.

Automation potentially holds the key to preventing the spread of coronavirus in the mining industry, while allowing production to keep flowing.

Months before the coronavirus’

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impact, other big name mining companies were ramping up plans to go autonomous.

In February, Newmont’s Boddington gold mine in Western Australia moved towards becoming automated by 2021 after securing a $US150 million ($247 million) investment in a Caterpillar autonomous haulage system with a fleet of autonomous CAT 793F haul trucks.

BHP also decided to add 20 autonomous trucks to its Newman East iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, which will be deployed by the end of the year.

According to a statement from BHP’s Newman operations general manager Marie Bourgoin, the move does not mean jobs will be replaced by machines.

AUTOMATION

THE OPERATING ROOM AT RESOLUTE MINING’S SYAMA GOLD MINE. IMAGE: SANDVIK.

IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF TALKING TO CUSTOMERS, ALL WE TALK ABOUT NOW IS GETTING REMOTE MONITORING SYSTEMS FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY CAN’T ACCESS THE SITE.” “The new roles will plan the truck routes and operate the autonomous systems from a control centre, which will initially be located at the mine,” Bourgoin explains.

These changes are not new, however.

One of the first shifts to automation was Rio Tinto’s Mine of the Future initiative in 2008.

Around a third of Rio Tinto’s Pilbara haul truck fleet is now autonomous, with that number steadily increasing.

And while some may still find driverless trucks to be a product of the future – they aren’t. ifm efector systems & IoT manager Freddie Coertze tells Australian Mining the future of the mining industry has already arrived.

For Coertze, there is no better time than now for companies to take the training wheels off and jump the gun into autonomous technology, given the current state of affairs.

“In the last two weeks of talking to customers, all we talk about now is getting remote monitoring systems on remote critical assets for them because they can’t access the site,” Coertze says.

“I really see a change especially in Australia where customers are starting to be more and more open to certain technologies.” ifm offers a huge portfolio of sensor and control solutions for automation across several industries worldwide.

The company provides a range of mining-related technologies such as pressure sensors, temperature sensors and flow sensors. Its sensors continue to help mining machinery

stay up and running.

“One thing that we provide for users is the ability to control and monitor sensors through smartphones and tablets,” Coertze says.

“We have a universal technology called IO-Link. Basically, it allows us to unlock all of the trapped information inside a sensor.

“For example, if you get a simple inductive Proximity switch, we can now actually read the true inductance of the target coming across and we can then give you the actual distance to a metal

target. We can now detect mechanical wear of the target. That means it becomes a lot more valuable than how it was traditionally used before.”

The ifm suite software can also run on computers or through a smartphone application. Coertze says this allows mine sites to be monitored from anywhere in the world where there is an internet connection.

This gives mine workers the ability to work from home if their mine has adopted specific automation technology.

“If we have 20 IO Blocks in the field, we can actually scan the network and it will read all the sensor data directly to your laptop,” he says.

“That means a user can actually parametrise and get data and diagnostics straight from the sensors.

“Workers can monitor the mine from their home if it has enough of this technology. If you have sensors they become like extra sets of eyes and ears.

“If you don’t have a clear view of what’s happening on site, then you can just jump on your computer and you can scan all the devices and see all your instruments.”

Maintenance sensors are not all that ifm provides. The company also sells a range of automated vehicle equipment that can be controlled off site.

And that might become the norm depending on how long the coronavirus crisis lasts.

“We provide controllers for mobile vehicles and also for drill rigs on sites as well,” Coertze says. “We offer a control-based screen for the truck or the mobile rig which will read all the data provided. From there, we send it to a cloud database through a 4G connection where we perform analytics.

CONTROL ROOMS SUCH AS THIS KEEP WORKERS OUT OF HARM’S WAY.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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MAY 2020

“Basically, all we need is to just call someone to go set-up the rig and then they can basically move away and fully monitor it from their house.”

According to Coertze, automation is “100 per cent” important during the coronavirus pandemic.

“One of the products in our portfolio is vibration monitoring for pumps and motors,” Coertze says. ifm’s vibration monitoring sensors eliminate the need for a person to physically be at the site to check the condition of a machine, such as a pump.

“With our monitoring you are able to schedule maintenance,” Coertze says.

“I think that’s what I’ve been talking to a few customers about for the last couple of days as well, that is really valuable to them.”

“And that also means that you don’t have to have maintenance people on site 24/7. So, they can all be offsite until the system pre-warns that the equipment has a detected problem.

“That means the specific person can go in for one job, do the job then leave again without stopping the machine because if he would have just run natively, he would then run into a breakdown and then have to fix it.”

Coertze predicts that it is only a matter of time before it is necessary for all mining companies to adopt automation technology.

“I think in this day and age you won’t be able to stop it – it will happen eventually. Also, it’s not a matter of will you adopt it, it’s a matter of when,” he says.

“These sort of sensor technologies are almost like purchasing insurance – you don’t really need it until you really need it.” AM

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DRILL & BLAST

DYNO NOBEL BLASTS EZSHOT INTO AUSTRALIAN MINES UNDERGROUND MINERS CAN NOW TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BEST ASPECTS OF ELECTRONIC AND PYROTECHNIC BLASTING SYSTEMS IN THE ONE SOLUTION WITH DYNO NOBEL’S EZSHOT TECHNOLOGY. BEN CREAGH WRITES.

M

aking an electronic blasting system a worthy choice for underground perimeter blasting has been a long time coming for Dyno Nobel.

As one of the world’s leading commercial explosive providers, it is now in a position where it can convince mining companies that an electronic system is just as easy to use as a traditional pyrotechnic system.

After several years of development, Dyno Nobel has begun rolling out the EZshot electronic initiation system for underground perimeter blasting at mines on both sides of Australia in 2020.

EZshot lives up to the wellknown benefits of electronic systems by delivering superior timing, both precision and accuracy, when compared with pyrotechnic alternatives.

But importantly, EZshot also offers what electronic models have previously failed to – the straightforward setup of a pyrotechnic system, known as NONEL in the industry.

Driven by Dyno Nobel’s industry recognised NONEL brand of shock tube, the technology brings the best of both worlds to the Australian and international mining industry.

Silver Lake Resources has been one of the first Australian mining companies to apply the electronic technology at its new underground mine.

The gold miner applied EZshot for the first portal firing at the Santa project at its Mount Monger operations in Western Australia during March.

Dyno Nobel has also rolled out the product with a major base metals miner in the Mt Isa region of Queensland and is building case studies with other operators.

EZshot was initially designed to help solve a major challenge underground mining companies and contractors face during perimeter development – overbreak.

Dyno Nobel vice president, product and applications technology David Gribble says EZshot trials have consistently returned reductions in overbreak, which is caused by unfavourable geological conditions, and inefficient or excessive drilling and blasting.

“We’ve had customers say that the profiles of their blasts are a lot smoother than what they have seen before using EZshot,” Gribble tells Australian Mining.

“When these companies encounter difficult ground, we have seen more uniform results with EZshot.”

Paul Klaric, technical manager at

DynoConsult, Dyno Nobel’s specialist consulting division, reinforces the promise of EZshot, saying there is evidence during early use that overbreak may be reduced by up to 12 per cent.

He adds that feedback from EZshot users in Australia indicates that the product also delivers safer and more stable drive profiles.

“All of the customers that are using the product have indicated increases in visible half barrels, which are a sign of well-controlled blasting in underground development mining,” Klaric says.

“This promotes ground stability and from an overall sense, means we

DYNO NOBEL HAS ROLLED OUT EZSHOT ACROSS AUSTRALIA IN 2020.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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are producing safer drives that will be there for longer as we are doing minimal damage to the surrounding rock mass.

“When some mines have a 20-, 30or even 40-year mine life, if you get it right the first time you will get it right for the long term and hopefully reduce any rehabilitation work later on.”

With underground development blasting, operators don’t always see the half barrels and they’ve assumed that drilling is taking place where it is supposed to.

They now have an opportunity to assess the quality of the drilling post blasting by seeing the half barrels that EZshot leaves behind.

DRILL & BLAST

“You have that opportunity now due to the better, more visual blast result,” Gribble says. “An opportunity to improve the drilling now presents because you know where the perimeter holes have been drilled.”

In addition to EZshot’s potential as a breakthrough solution for underground perimeter blasting, it requires no training.

With NONEL, a product that has existed since the 1970s, EZshot introduces a precise detonator with application that is familiar with all A GRAPHIC OF THE EZSHOT FIRING SYSTEM.

shotfirers in the drill and blast sector.

NONEL has proven to be very robust in its application, is abrasion resistant and has excellent elongation properties.

EZshot also removes the complexity associated with electronic blasting systems in high pressure environments such as development mining.

Klaric says Dyno Nobel focussed on developing a product that’s easy to use and suitable for high intensity underground development.

“It’s no different from what the crews do right now – its beauty is its simplicity – only it uses electronic technology,” Klaric says.

“You do get that reluctance to change, which is a natural thing, but the application of it has been around for more than 40 years.

“Our goal was to do something that doesn’t add another step in the application than what we are already doing today.”

Dyno Nobel may have initially targeted underground perimeter blasting with EZshot, but the company also has other mining disciplines in its sights for the product.

Its use may eventually be expanded further into underground operations or even to surface sites, according to Klaric.

“Underground perimeter blasting

EZSHOT COMBINES THE BEST ASPECTS OF ELECTRONIC AND PYROTECHNIC BLASTING SYSTEMS.

continues to be the main focus for us but there are other opportunities, such as surface applications,” Klaric says.

“I do see a lot of benefit in surface applications in smaller hard rock mines or quarries. In saying that, there are also additional value propositions in underground mining as well, potentially narrow vein operations.”

With EZshot already building a reputation as an underground perimeter blasting solution, operators in these other mining disciplines will await to see how the technology

can benefit them.

In the meantime, however, Dyno Nobel will continue EZshot’s transition from the trial phase into commercial operations as demand for the technology grows.

“It’s a commercial product now and we do have the production capacity to meet market demand. EZshot is early in its lifecycle but we are starting to gain more traction in the market,” Gribble concludes. AM EZshot and NONEL are registered products of Dyno Nobel.

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MAY 2020

3/23/20 12:35 PM

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

AN AERIAL VIEW OF RIO TINTO’S ARGYLE DIAMOND MINE IN EAST KIMBERLEY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

COULD DIAMONDS BE EVERYONE’S BEST FRIEND? GIBB RIVER DIAMONDS IS ON THE VERGE OF BECOMING A DIAMOND PRODUCER IN AUSTRALIA WITH MAJOR AMBITIONS. THIS IS UNSURPRISING TO MANY, AS ITS FANCY YELLOW DIAMONDS ARE GEMS THAT NO OTHER MINER CAN PRODUCE. VANESSA ZHOU WRITES.

D

iamond mining has held a unique charm since its earliest days of activity in the fourth century Before Christ.

As a commodity that is limited in supply compared with other minerals, the rarity of diamonds is reflected in Australia too, where the number of mines can be counted with mere fingers.

With the impending closure of Rio Tinto’s Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia, ambitious diamond miners are rising to the fore.

This includes Gibb River Diamonds, previously known as POZ Minerals, a company led by chief executive Jim Richards, a former geologist with 26 years of experience in exploration.

The man has a knack for finding hidden resources, proven by his leadership of a team that discovered the now BHP-owned Railway iron deposit in the Pilbara, Western Australia more than a decade ago.

At Gibb River, Richards is determined to breathe new life into the Ellendale diamond mine in Western Australia, which has been dormant since production ceased in 2015.

“I personally feel that the

previous operators have made the mistake of going for volume while they should’ve gone for longevity value add,” Richards tells Australian Mining.

The West Kimberley mine previously supplied half of the world’s high value yellow diamonds, including to the world’s most prestigious jeweller Tiffany & Co.

Since Gibb River acquired the keys to the site in December last year, the operation’s restart has gathered momentum “As soon as possible, we’ll get going,” Richards says.

“As soon as we get the money, we will mobilise (to site). We have got all of the Ellendale’s former mining ground, prospects and alluvials

THE FANCY YELLOW DIAMOND THAT IS UNIQUE TO THE ELLENDALE MINE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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in the projects, including the Blina alluvials.”

In fact, the Blina project, one of the exciting targets and just west to the main Ellendale hard rock pipes, is shovel ready, according to Richards.

The Gibb River team can simply “pick up the gear”, with some, if not most of the recovery equipment

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

already owned by the company.

“Our plan is to let the market settle a little bit and then see where we’re at in terms of capital raising,” Richards says.

“Obviously the market is a bit choppy at the moment so we might wait for that to settle down before we try and raise capital directly.”

Despite being constrained by capital, Richards is convinced of the potential that still exists at Ellendale. The chief executive believes that for $2.5 million, Gibb River can set up a trial mining operation at Blina.

Richards adds that establishing Blina as a low capital expenditure project will set the path for a fullscale mining operation. The Blina project is backed by “affirmative” alluvials that are proven with good grades in the past, he says.

With all the required Indigenous, environmental and WA mines department permits in place, the only thing that’s pending is the last bit of capital (at the time of writing).

“There are three different, potential ways of capital raising. We can do a joint venture, we can issue shares or we can sell a phosphate asset that we’ve already received an interest for,” Richards says. “Any of those would do.”

When asked about Gibb River’s ambition for the Ellendale mine, Richards says he envisions an operation with an indefinite life.

“We’re not trying to be the world’s biggest (diamond mine) or achieve the highest production. We try to have some longevity,” he says.

“I would love this business to be around in 40-50 years’ time, growing and adding value. It’s a bespoke product and I think that’s the way to look at it.”

The Ellendale mine produces fancy yellow diamonds that are not available anywhere else in the world, giving it a unique offering.

Richards says precious gems from Ellendale are the “absolute top yellow stones” highly sought after in the world. All other mines produce a slightly different colour to Ellendale’s renowned gem.

Rio Tinto, for example, produces white, champagne, cognac, blue, violet and the highly-coveted Argyle pink and red diamonds at the Argyle mine in the East Kimberley region.

By building a profitable, commercial diamond mining operation at Ellendale, Gibb River plans to market and brand the unique fancy yellow diamonds it recovers.

“This is our medium-term goal, and a reasonable one. We aim to create the world’s major luxury

THE BLINA PROJECT AT THE ELLENDALE MINE IN 2007. IMAGE: GIBB RIVER DIAMONDS.

WE’RE NOT TRYING TO BE THE WORLD’S BIGGEST (DIAMOND MINE) OR ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST PRODUCTION. WE TRY TO HAVE SOME LONGEVITY... I WOULD LOVE THIS BUSINESS TO BE AROUND IN 40-50 YEARS’ TIME, GROWING AND ADDING VALUE. IT’S A BESPOKE PRODUCT AND I THINK THAT’S THE WAY TO LOOK AT IT.” diamond brand,” Richards says.

“We could do a deal with Tiffany’s – that’d be great. Once we’re up and running we’ll be talking to them.

But we’re quite keen to establish our own brand as well.

“You can sell diamonds, don’t you worry about that. That’s easy.

We’ve got arrangements with auction houses, Henig being one of them who will put our diamonds on their auction sites for bids.

“But the hard bit is, can you add value? That’s where marketing comes in. That’s why the value of the brand is in longevity.”

Rio Tinto, which last year staged its 35th tender since Argyle began production, has experienced appreciation of more than 500 per cent in value for the unique pink diamonds sold at its tenders.

Its latest Argyle pink diamonds tender also saw “double digit growth” in the number of bids, with successful bidders coming from nine countries.

AUSTRALIANMINING

With Argyle’s closure scheduled for the end of this year, Ellendale would be Australia’s only diamond mine if it becomes operational again.

“That in itself would have a commercial value,” Richards says.

“Some people want Australian diamonds and some want to market Australian diamonds.”

One thing’s for sure, Gibb River has got the Western Australian Government’s support for the restart.

“With our friends in the government and also local stakeholders, we will get there,” Richards says.

The Western Australian Government’s award of the Ellendale leases to Gibb River and its establishment of the exploration incentive scheme (EIS) in the state are proof of that.

“The EIS program is managed by the department’s Geological Survey of Western Australia to encourage exploration in Western Australia for the long-term sustainability of

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the state’s resources sector,” the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS)’ acting executive director Resource Tenure Clare Ingerman says.

She adds that the Western Australian ad valorem rate of 7.5 per cent (based on sales value) is also broadly aligned with the diamond royalty in other international diamond producing jurisdictions, though they are difficult to compare directly.

“The royalty rate for diamonds is 0.2 per cent of the adjusted revenue value in Brazil; 4.2 per cent of the sales value in India; and 5 per cent of the sales value in Tanzania,” Ingerman says.

“In Canada, each jurisdiction has a different mineral royalty rate system; most provinces have a profit-based royalty system with rates ranging between 10 and 20 per cent.

“The Argyle diamond project currently has a 5 per cent royalty rate applied, which was amended from the 7.5 per cent rate in 2006, the time at which Argyle decided to proceed to underground mining.”

Though the economic shake up due to the coronavirus pandemic and brutal oil price war has been unhelpful in getting Gibb River the capital it requires to restart the Ellendale mine, Richards is confident about its ambitions.

“We’re in this for the long haul,” he concludes. AM

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

AUGER DRILLING AT AGRIMIN’S MACKAY PROJECT.

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ZEAL OF AUSTRALIA’S POTASH INDUSTRY POTASH IS ON TRACK TO BECOME AUSTRALIA’S NEXT UNTAPPED RESOURCE WITH A PROMISING FUTURE THAT COULD TURN THE COUNTRY INTO A GLOBAL FRONTRUNNER FOR PRODUCTION AND EXPORTATION. NICKOLAS ZAKHARIA WRITES.

A

round 10,000 years ago, the world’s first farmers scattered grains across the Fertile Crescent, an area of land spanning from the tip of the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf.

Some 7000 years later, humanity was learning how to mine resources such as copper.

At first, it might not have seemed like these two trades would ever intersect.

But potash mining – which is

primarily used in horticultural products – has shown just how vital the mining industry can be for modern farmers growing crops.

Extracting the foundations

Australia currently has no potash production, but in a decade from now some predict the country will become a major supplier of sulphate of potash (SOP).

Many potash mining projects are in the works across Western Australia’s salt lakes, with the brine providing perfect conditions for SOP

to organically form due to their high sodium and chlorine content.

This gives Australia a clear advantage over the unnatural ways potash is produced overseas.

And as the global demand for crops continues to grow, so does the need for a larger supply of potash.

“I often say to people that this could be something huge. What wouldn’t you give to be a part of the iron ore industry in Western Australia 40 to 50 years ago? This is potentially where we are with potash,” Argonaut director – research Michael Eidne

AGRIMIN HAS BEEN PROGRESSING ITS DEFINITIVE FEASIBILITY STUDY IN WA.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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tells Australian Mining.

Eidne is an expert in Australia’s emerging potash industry and believes the resource holds plenty of promise.

“There’s not a lot of undiscovered resources in an industry of that scale and if people find something new in it to do, they will go and do it,” Eidne says.

“At the end of the day it’s a confluence of markets, availability, environmental concerns and greenfield opportunity.”

For Eidne, potash’s treasure chest is in its export market, which could put Australia on the map for its product.

“We could easily get to a million tonnes in the next five to 10 years,” he says. “From a domestic perspective, it’s not particularly big.

But in terms of an export market it is a very good opportunity.”

With emerging players such as Agrimin, Salt Lake Potash and Kalium Lakes all expecting high production throughput in the next few years, the industry is set to blossom.

“You’re looking at about 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes of potash coming online each year in the next few years if these guys keep up with the schedule or what they’re planning,” Eidne says.

“I think what has to happen for smaller potash companies is these larger companies have to get into production so funders can see this industry is real because no one is producing sulphate of potash in Western Australia yet.”

The global market currently takes

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

around seven million tonnes of potash per year.

In Eidne’s view, Australia’s potash industry has the potential to tap into certain parts of the farming industry, such as fertigation.

“Water stress is happening over large parts of the world and as a result farmers are putting in more drip irrigation solutions and fertigation solutions,” he says.

Fertigation involves using underground pipes to deliver water straight to the root system of a crop.

It is widely considered to be a more sustainable method for crop watering and requires potash with high solubility, which is where SOP has an advantage.

“The problem with using sprinklers or broad acre or any sort of irrigation is that you lose an enormous amount of water that just disappears back up into the atmosphere,” Eidne says.

“Water in the agricultural industry is a pretty contentious issue as it is an increasingly scarce resource – especially in those big agricultural markets around the Mediterranean and southern parts of the US. “If you look at the test work, Salt Lake and Agrimin’s SOP rates very high from a solubility perspective. So one of the big opportunities for the local market is that fertigation niche in my view.

“It’s the entrepreneurial zeal of the Australian mining industry to say ‘Hey, here’s a new resource, let’s go after it, build a project and export it’.”

BRINE BEING PUMPED OUT OF THE GROUND AT AUSTRALIAN POTASH’S LAKE WELLS PROJECT.

Road to becoming a major seaborne supplier

Agrimin is thinking big.

The company expects to initially have an annual production rate of 426,000 tonnes of SOP, which would make it the largest potash producer in Australia, according to production targets up to April.

Agrimin is in the process of developing two projects in Western Australia; the Mackay potash project at Lake Mackay, which is the world’s largest undeveloped SOP-bearing salt lake, and the Percival potash project at Percival Lakes.

Agrimin chief commercial officer Rhys Bradley says the company is about to finish its two-year-long definitive feasibility study (DFS) as it enters its next phase of the projects.

“The key for any bulk project is a logistics chain and having control over that, which is something that we’ve spent 2019 working on,” Bradley tells Australian Mining.

“We’ve got a logistics joint venture agreement with Craig Mitchell, who used to run Mitchell Corp before selling it to Toll – and we’re going to purchase our own piece of land up at Wyndham Port.

AUSTRALIANMINING

“So we’ll have control over our potash from the time it comes out of the plant to being loaded on a ship, which I think is a point of difference between us and other companies.”

According to Bradley, Australia’s salt lakes provide an advantage as the SOP can be extracted in its natural state.

“There’s two main methods of SOP production,” he says. “There’s the primary production method – such as Agrimin’s – where we extract potassium and sulphate rich brine from a salt lake, pump it into

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evaporation ponds to evaporate off the excess water.

“A lot of the work is done by the sun and there’s no carbon in that part of the process.

“The secondary method of production, which is called the Mannheim process, involves converting MOP (muriate of potash) to SOP by mixing the MOP with sulphuric acid and heating it to 600 degrees to create SOP. “But as by-products, you also get 1.2 tonnes of hydrochloric acid for each tonne of SOP. And also heating

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

it to 600 degrees uses a fair bit of fuel.

So in terms of the carbon footprint, salt lake production will be much lower I’d say – at least quarter of that of Mannheim production so there’s definitely environmental and cost benefits.”

The benefits of SOP are bountiful compared to MOP, which is monopolised by Canada and Russia’s potash industry.

Potash primarily comes in the form of lower quality MOP or higher quality SOP. The main difference between the two is MOP is high in chloride and used for low value crops such as beets, corn and celery, while SOP is used for high value crops, including almonds and avocados due to its high potassium and sulphur content.

“I think in five to 10 years, Australia is going to be a real player in the SOP industry – and Agrimin plans to be at the forefront of that as the largest global seaborne supplier of SOP,” Bradley says.

A potash goldmine

Salt Lake Potash’s Goldfields Salt Lakes project is south east of Lake Mackay in Western Australia’s Goldfields region.

The project comprises of 11 lakes that make 5000km² of area ready for extraction, with the company preparing to start production early next year.

“We are going to be producing in Q1 next year and it’s probably somewhere around a 12-month ramp up and at the end of that period we will be producing at a run rate of circa 245,000 tonnes so somewhere in early 2022 we’ll be hitting capacity,” Salt Lake Potash manager for investor relations Richard Knights

INFILTROMETER TESTING AT AGRIMIN’S MACKAY PROJECT.

tells Australian Mining.

Knights says the company’s Lake Way project has specific logistical advantages that he believes are important to any successful potash project.

“I think the advantage for us at Lake Way was just embedded logistical advantages it seems.

There’s an airport nearby, there’s a gas pipeline, you had preconcentrated brine sitting in the Williamson pit so all of these things made the project less capital intensive,” he says.

“I think the industry economics and long-term dynamics are very attractive as long as there’s enough capital thrown at the sector to suggest there’ll be more than one successful business to come out of WA, so I

think there’s huge potential.”

Australian Potash is also developing one of its potash projects at Lake Wells in the Goldfields region. The lake is shared with Salt Lake Potash.

The company signed an offtake agreement in March for 20,000 tonnes of SOP per annum to be distributed across Australia and New Zealand.

Australian Potash managing director and chief executive officer Matt Shackleton explains why SOP mining in Australia has only recently gained attention.

“The thing that we never realised was the potash deposits in Australia are mostly brine deposits,” Shackleton says.

“But what we’ve found with the

brine deposits here in Western Australia is not only did they have potassium, they also had sulphate levels that allowed you to create a potassium sulphate.

“It was only in about 2013 when Geoscience Australia released a report for the paleochannel systems and drainage systems across and identified several of those paleochannels or ancient rivers were rich in potassium and sulphate.

“We simply didn’t know we had these deposits, we started finding them in literally the last six or seven years.”

It is this combination of advantages that has Australia well placed to make its mark on the global potash trade over the next decade. AM

AUSTRALIAN POTASH PLANS TO PRODUCE SOP AT LAKE WELLS IN THE COMING YEARS.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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MAY 2020

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WESTERN LABOUR HIRE PAVES THE WAY FOR INDIGENOUS EMPLOYMENT WESTERN LABOUR HIRE IS MUCH MORE THAN A BUSINESS TO OPERATIONS MANAGER ADRIAN CONNOLLY, WHO HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ENGAGE WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE INDIGENOUS EMPLOYMENT AND MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN INDUSTRY, INCLUDING THE MINING SECTOR.

F

ounded by Adrian Connolly and his wife Dionne in 2008, Western Labour Hire prides itself on being a 100 per cent Indigenous owned and operated business, creating opportunities for Indigenous people in the areas in which it operates and delivering genuine solutions for their mining customers.

Western Labour Hire started from humble beginnings when Connolly’s contract position at a remote mine site came to an end, and he decided to branch out and start his own business.

Building on his passion for creating employment opportunities for Indigenous people, Western Labour Hire was born in his backyard in Cloncurry, 120 kilometres east of Mt Isa in north-western Queensland.

“Being a boilermaker by trade, I started out by myself and built a trailer and set up some welding equipment,” Connolly tells Australian Mining.

“I stayed busy, chasing work everywhere I could find it, and as soon as I could, I put on an apprentice, a young local Indigenous person based in Cloncurry.”

From there, Connolly continued to grow the business, evolving to the needs of the industries it served to best benefit the communities in which it operated. A critical way that Western Labour Hire is operated is its engagement with the communities in which it is working, engaging with the Traditional Owners before beginning work on their land.

Connolly learned early that to benefit the Indigenous communities, he needed to use his understanding of the sector and genuinely deliver quality, competent and workready candidates to help his customers’ operations.

This allows Western Labour Hire to build a connection between the Tier 1 contractors it completes work for and the Traditional Owners of the land the work is being completed on.

Helping mining sector clients correctly provide their Indigenous and ethical requirements and aspirations to their local communities in a meaningful and respectful manner has become

WESTERN LABOUR HIRE FOUNDER ADRIAN CONNOLLY WITH GARY ROCKLANDS.

Western Labour Hire’s market niche.

“We have developed a professional service that specialises in working with Traditional Owners groups, in particular, the local Elders before we go out and work on the land,” Connolly explains.

“Being an Indigenous business, we have a real duty here to work with the community, so we have a start-tofinish process from talking with the Traditional Owners to completing the work and showing them the benefits of going out and working on their country.”

Part of Western Labour Hire’s role in this as an Indigenous business is following Indigenous protocols when working on country and with other Indigenous groups.

“We are very aware of working with other Indigenous groups on country,” AUSTRALIANMINING

Connolly says.

“So we don’t just start work without talking to Traditional Owner groups such as the local government’s Native Title group first.

“We introduce ourselves and let them know what we’re doing, that’s the kind of respect we give for each and every job. We explain to the local Elders that we are here to help people and try to find employment for people.”

While getting the job done well is essential to Western Labour Hire, another significant part of the business is mentoring Indigenous people entering the industry and helping them to build long-term careers in mining.

Part of what makes Western Labour Hire so successful in this space is being a 100 per cent Indigenous-owned and run business, meaning the mentors and leaders coaching new workers in

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the program understand the barriers Indigenous people face entering the workforce.

“When you’re talking about closing the employment gap, there are so many things that non-Indigenous people just don’t understand about what Indigenous people have to deal with,” Connolly says.

“Some people need no help, they just need the opportunity, and others need a lot of guidance. We can’t do the work we do without having those relationships.

“It is so important for us that we provide Indigenous mentoring to try and guide workers through the particular circumstances our employees are facing.”

The mentoring goes beyond helping Indigenous people to find jobs, with Western Labour Hire’s staff building relationships with new employees’ supervisors to keep tabs on how they are performing in their role, giving feedback and helping them out as needed.

Western Labour Hire’s mentoring provides the industry with the missing link between mining sector employers who want to meaningfully engage and their Indigenous candidates who wish to deliver and support operations on their land.

Indigenous employment may be Western Labour Hire’s main priority, but the company has also created opportunities for non-Indigenous workers as well.

“Western Labour Hire is certainly not limited to Indigenous employment opportunities, we really want to help all people to find opportunities that benefit themselves,” Connolly says.

“The mining sector is a large and highly specialised one. We seek to offer our customers the skilled team members they require to do what they need doing as soon as possible.

“This is not always available sourcing only Indigenous candidates.

Finding local, already competent and willing candidates can be a challenge, and we know that.

“If there is capacity within the client, we build our clients’ customised traineeship pathways for

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

WESTERN LABOUR HIRE EMPLOYEE ADRIAN CHONG ON THE JOB IN QUEENSLAND.

their local Indigenous candidates and offer them non-Indigenous employees in the interim to meet their production needs.

“The goal is longterm, sustainable, local employment opportunities.”

This support goes beyond work activities, with Western Labour Hire supporting both employees and exemployees personally, from flexible working arrangements to loaning the company bus for personal community purposes such as funerals.

With funerals, particularly in the event of a death of an Elder, being a significant community-wide event for Indigenous communities, the company acts as a support system for communities during this tough time.

“The people where we operate know who we are and what we’re doing, so if someone passes away and there’s a funeral, we always reach out to see how we can help,” Connolly says.

“Generally, we provide our bus and a driver to drive community members to funerals and also help by way of making a donation at the wake to cover food costs.

“We’ve had current or ex-employees ask to use our bus to go and visit sick relatives and if the bus is available we’ll let them do this, it’s all about maintaining those relationships with the communities we work in.”

Western Labour Hire also makes personalised working arrangements for its internal staff, such as flexible working arrangements for mothers.

Connolly says this includes setting up mothers who have just returned to work after having a child on flexible work arrangements.

“They can work half of their shifts at the office and some from home after their parental leave, whatever works for them,” he says.

Connolly’s favourite part of running his business is the success stories, seeing people come into their new jobs with little ambition and leave on track to building long-term careers or starting businesses of their own.

“We see people really getting themselves out of that cycle of living below the poverty line or fighting addiction, to getting a full-time job, buying their own home and becoming a hard-working member amongst their local community,” he says.

“People understand we offer a handup, not of a hand-out.

“One young man we employed was not ambitious at all, he would spend all night roaming the streets, and he’s now a business owner who is married with children and has bought his own house and vehicle.

“We really help them to carve their pathway out of this life and put them in the right direction. It’s a good feeling, it AUSTRALIANMINING

gives you the hunger to keep going.”

As Western Labour Hire continues to grow, Connolly wants to push the business to operate on a national level, but it’s not just his own business he has goals for, but Indigenous employment as a whole.

“What I would like to see is a lower rate of unemployed Indigenous people and more opportunities throughout the industry, with businesses being accountable for deliveries on this,” Connolly says.

“Our strategic plan is to be a national Indigenous-run business, and you can only be that with integrity and respect for the entire Indigenous population.

“I see so much potential for what the industry could be doing and what it’s not yet doing, it drives me harder to try and push to make that change and help our customers in the process.

“We need the mining sector to trust the little guys can deliver and work more with proven Indigenous businesses like ours.” AM

GARY ROCKLANDS AND ADRIAN CHONG WITH WESTERN LABOUR HIRE OWNER AND FOUNDER ADRIAN CONNOLLY (CENTRE).

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DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

AUSIMM FLUSHES OUT INEQUALITY IN THE RESOURCES SECTOR IN THE AUSTRALASIAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY (AUSIMM) 2020 WOMEN IN MINING SURVEY, MORE THAN HALF OF FEMALE RESPONDENTS REPORTED THAT THEY DID NOT PERCEIVE THE INDUSTRY AS DIVERSE. SALOMAE HASELGROVE INVESTIGATES WHY.

D

espite an alarming 62 per cent of female survey respondents not viewing the mining industry as a gender diverse industry, five times as many participants believe their own workplaces are diverse in comparison with the industry as a whole.

If this is the case, what is the gap between individual workplaces and the wider industry?

Sara Prendergast, the AusIMM Council for Diversity and Inclusion Chair, tells Australian Mining that in order for employees to perceive the sector as a diverse one, effective external communication is the first thing that needs to be examined.

“The interesting thing is that female workers perceived the industry as non-diverse in contrast to what their own workforce looks like,” Prendergast tells Australian Mining.

“A lot of this is to do with media representation, you still see a lot of

AUSIMM DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COUNCIL CHAIR SARA PRENDERGAST, TODAY SHOW HOST BROOKE BONEY, AUSIMM PRESIDENT JANINE HERZIG AND AUSIMM CEO STEPHEN DURKIN.

THE THING THAT HASN’T CHANGED IS OUR INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT SPEAK IN THE MEDIA QUITE FREQUENTLY ARE STILL LARGELY THAT TRADITIONAL VISION OF THE INDUSTRY.” imagery that is of fully-abled white males and our industry has progressed considerably from those images.

“The thing that hasn’t changed is our industry representatives. The representatives that speak in the media quite frequently are still largely that traditional image of the industry.”

This is considered by AusIMM to be a key part of their role, to drive conversations and actions to influence positive change within the sector ensuring all mining professionals feel welcome in the industry.

As Prendergast explains, while the external view of the industry is an important issue that needs addressing, there are crucial challenges for AUSTRALIANMINING

females internally that need to be addressed urgently first.

One of the key issues brought up in the survey by female FIFO workers was the availability of toilet facilities for their gender.

About 20 per cent of survey respondents listed toilet access as being an issue for them on site, something generally taken for granted by their counterparts working in a corporate office.

“I think executive management would be horrified to find out that a lot of female workers don’t have access to toilets, but it probably hasn’t occurred to a lot of them as they are mostly men,” Prendergast says.

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In her role as the Council for Diversity and Inclusion chair, Prendergast still receives concerning feedback about women feeling unsafe around camp accommodation sites, particularly for female fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers.

“We still get reports of safety as an issue around camp sites, particularly being mindful about where females, about where they’re situated within a camp,” she explains.

“This includes contract workers, not just direct employees of mining companies.”

During the next year, Prendergast says taking a more detailed approach to industry toilet facilities is going to be a huge focus for the AusIMM Council for Diversity & Inclusion, ensuring that all workers on site have comfortable access to this basic amenity, whether they work for a large or junior mining company.

The other key focus areas identified from the survey responses were equal employment opportunities, flexible workplaces and industry leadership.

With these all intertwining, prioritising these areas can help to change the perception of the industry, both internally for the experiences female employees have at work and externally, for how others view the mining industry.

Things like technology and automation are already making a positive difference to mining in terms of productivity and safety. According to Prendergast, they can also be used to make workplaces more flexible, therefore helping to tackle diversity issues as a ripple effect.

“There needs to be more cooperation between mining companies, contractors and the mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector to collaborate to find solutions,” Prendergast says.

“Contract terms can sometimes mean contractors and mining suppliers are obliged to adhere to terms which can be prohibitive to implementing flexible work for everybody in the industry.”

With remote operations now a reality thanks to technology, more flexible working options within the sector are

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

only set to continue.

The other important area that is becoming more prominent within the sector is to not only create more inclusive facilities for female workers, but also make them more inclusive for every employee.

“Sadly, a lot of people within the LGBTIQ+ community for instance do not always feel safe to bring their whole self to work,” Prendergast says.

“So, we are looking at how we can influence and normalise this so all people feel safe to be themselves and bring their best self to work.”

Part of AusIMM’s plan to promote a more diverse industry is through its events, such as its recent International Women’s Day series.

This event had more than 1500 people attend in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, focussing on both women and people who identify as female.

The event celebrated women and female-identifying people within the industry and used more inclusive language to do so, highlighting what the industry has achieved as a whole.

“We do need to reflect on how far we have come as an industry,” Prendergast says. “When we were an industry that legally prohibited women from working in underground mines until the late 1980s in some states and now BHP has declared its mission for 50/50 representation. That’s a monumental

INNOVATIVE MINING SOLUTIONS

MORE MINE WORKERS ARE STARTING TO THINK THAT THEY WORK FOR DIVERSE COMAPNIES.

shift within a generation.”

The International Women’s Day series also provided a safe and progressive space to discuss what else the resources sector still needs to accomplish to create a truly diverse industry.

With a feeling of unity in the room from attendees reflecting on what has been done and what is still to come, Prendergast is looking forward

to next year’s AusIMM International Women’s Day series.

“The thing I want to see next year is more men attending the events,” Prendergast says. “I think International Women’s Day events are seen as a get together exclusively for women and it’s much bigger than that.

“It’s about celebrating the input and how we’ve contributed to the success of the industry and men showing that

they’re behind that and learning the struggles is essential.

“The event assists male leaders to listen, learn and understand the perspective of female professionals in the industry. It is also so it is important for male leaders to celebrate the contributions women make to the industry and to show support. I really encourage people to be more deliberate about bringing men along in 2021.” AM

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MINERALS PROCESSING

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR CRUSHER AUSTRALIAN MINING SPEAKS TO COMMINUTION EXPERT, PETER ERLYNNE, ABOUT HOW PLANT OPERATORS CAN GET THE BEST RUN FROM THEIR CRUSHERS AND AVOID UNNECESSARY DOWNTIME.

P

eter Erlynne, a comminution consultant with Weir Minerals, has over 40 years of experience in comminution, both in Australia and internationally.

He says one of the challenges that all mineral processing operations face when trying to optimise the efficiency of their crushers is the question of who controls the crusher: production or maintenance?

“The answer is almost always production,” he says. “That’s because throughput pays the bills.”

But it’s not always easy to get the balance right between having production dictate the operation and practicing good maintenance.

Erlynne says processing

plants need to have the right strategy in place and know the implications of their equipment not being operational.

A successful maintenance strategy starts by measuring the equipment availability.

“Measuring the machines’ availability will tell you whether your maintenance and operational practices are appropriate for your machines,” Erlynne says.

“If you are measuring the availability of a single piece of equipment, such as a crusher, you should be targeting a figure that sees the machine operating at least 95 per cent of the time.

“If you measure that and it’s less than 95 per cent, there are operational practices that

could be improved.”

The next step is to check the feed stream of material to the plant to make sure the crusher is being fed correctly.

“Is your plant feeding the crusher correctly? Is the material presented to the crusher appropriately, so it does not all fall on one side of the machine? Are there oversized rocks that block the feed to the machine?”

Erlynne asks.

“All of those things need to be looked at in order to analyse the feed stream and feed direction.

“In addition to that, have a look at the discharge area and the downstream equipment – is the discharge area always clear?

Discharge conveyors and hoppers form part of the system, and when

CRUSHING CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT IN A COPPER ORE MINE. IMAGE: WEIR MINERALS.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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TRIO TC51 CONE CRUSHER.

you’re measuring availability, you need to know downstream equipment is all online too.”

After measuring availability and feed, it comes down to regular maintenance to avoid the risk of unnecessary downtime.

“Many plants have a crusher or a crushing system with a part/ equipment that is difficult to access, and difficult to access areas are generally those that are neglected during regular maintenance,” he says.

“Make sure that access to the equipment is easy and safe, and that there are enough access platforms.

“As an example, Weir Minerals’ Trio TP crushers make a point of easy access to all parts inside the machine that requires maintenance.”

According to Erlynne, using maintenance checklists is the best way of ensuring that the maintenance routine is embedded into the plants’ work practices.

“You want to make sure that you‘ve got something to measure your maintenance by. For example, did you look at the feed plate on your last shutdown? Do you have enough spares?” he says.

Weir Minerals provides readyto-use maintenance checklists in manuals for their Trio range of crushers.

Erlynne says having a maintenance manual might seem like a basic thing, but having a manual available to the maintenance team can avoid bad practices.

“Manuals and checklists remain important on a plant, particularly for machines that have been in operation for years; where the original people trained to use and maintain these machines have moved on, very likely without passing on the knowledge to the new team,” he continues.

And finally, Erlynne suggests to make sure there’s an appropriate stock level of wear and replacement

MINERALS PROCESSING

parts available on the site.

“Take into consideration the supplier’s lead time when planning the appropriate levels of spares stock and do not buy wear parts from unreliable suppliers,” he says.

“Replicated parts can look like genuine parts, but you can never know if they were manufactured appropriately for the operation of your machine.

“Replicators often make small modifications to spare parts, which can adversely affect other parts of the machine. So get the right parts, get them at the right time and know that they were designed for that machine.”

When requested by a customer, specialists from Weir Minerals can carry out site surveys to offer solutions for machine optimisation.

Erlynne says if the efficiency of an existing crusher can be increased by even 1 per cent, a site is effectively increasing its output by 1 per cent for free, every hour of every day, 365 days a year.

“When our team surveys a site, we spend a couple of days there and observe the machine, and then we can report back and suggest the areas that should be looked at,” Erlynne says.

To demonstrate how wellmaintained crushers can improve the overall efficiency of the

comminution process, Erlynne uses an example from Westgold Resources’ Bluebird mine site in Western Australia.

“The customer had concerns regarding production restrictions caused by pebble loads in their mill circuit. Pebble crushing is considered one of the most demanding crushing applications as the pebbles are very hard and the system generally has a high percentage of tramp metal,” says Erlynne.

“To take the pebble load off the mill, a Trio TC51 cone crusher was installed in the mill circuit. This was complemented by a support structure, including isolation frame, drive motor, ancillary lubrication and hydraulic systems and control system.

“With the new arrangement, the pebble load on the mill was decreased, thus increasing plant production. The return on investment for the Bluebird site was realised in only 35 days from the date of commissioning and increased production by 20-30 tonnes per hour.”

There’s no limit to what you can do to get better performance from your crushers, Erlynne says.

“There’s always room for improvement. If you’ve got 95 per cent availability, why wouldn’t you have 96 per cent?” he concludes. AM

AUSTRALIANMINING

WEIR MINERALS INSTALLED A TRIO TC51 CONE CRUSHER AT WESTGOLD’S BLUEBIRD MINE.

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MAY 2020

MAINTENANCE

LORAM IS BEST KNOWN FOR ITS RAIL GRINDING SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT.

ON TRACK: HELPING MINERS DRIVE DOWN RAIL COSTS IN A VAST COUNTRY LIKE AUSTRALIA, RAILWAYS ARE CRUCIAL TO ALMOST EVERY HEAVY-HAUL MINING OPERATION. LORAM OFFERS A RANGE OF SOLUTIONS TO HELP MINERS GET THE MOST LIFE OUT OF THEIR RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE. AUSTRALIAN MINING REPORTS.

R

ail is a vital link in the supply chain for mining operations.

Elevating the rail operation while driving down the costs is a consistent target of mining companies to assist in maximising the transport efficiency and its economic viability.

Railway maintenance specialist, Loram Maintenance of Way has serviced Australian railways for over 50 years. The global company recently expanded its Brisbane-headquartered Australian subsidiary, Loram.

This organisation offers solutions with a comprehensive range of rail maintenance equipment and services to the likes of BHP, ARTC, Aurizon and Fortescue Metals Group.

A global company with a range of specialised rail maintenance equipment, Loram is best known as the world leader for rail grinding services and equipment.

Rail grinding is an activity to facilitate the restoration of target rail profiles, removal of fatigued

metal, and the control or removal of rail defects. Rail grinding is the cornerstone of most railway maintenance programs with the purpose to significantly extend the rail life and improve the wheel rail interaction.

Loram increased the scale of its rail grinding operations in Australia after acquiring Aurizon’s rail grinding business and its fleet of Loram rail grinders in late 2019.

Thomas Smith, Loram’s director of business development, says mining companies can financially benefit from implementing best practices in railway maintenance, including rail grinding and friction management programs.

“When the trains have high tonnage axle loads, the rail can incur significant damage, making frequent rail and wheel replacements a costly business,” Smith says.

“With proper rail grinding, the rail head profiles can be maintained or restored, resulting in extended rail life and improved wheel-rail interaction. This in turn prevents premature rail failures and improves AUSTRALIANMINING

fuel efficiency.”

Smith elaborates on the benefits of rail grinding by citing an example from one of Loram’s recent projects.

“The Fortescue railway in Western Australia runs 42-tonne axle loads, which is amongst the highest axle loads of any railway in the world,” he explains.

“Carrying such high axle-loads can cause serious fatigue and damage to the rail. Using Loram’s rail grinders on a tonnage-based preventative cycle to maintain the target profile and remove the fatigued steel, we were able to extend the life of the rails by up to three times in tangent tracks and up to 10 times in curves.

“This gave the customer a huge return on their investment by helping to reduce rail defects and the frequency of rail replacement.”

A firm foundation for railroad performance

For railroads to meet their revenue and growth objectives, it’s increasingly vital to maintain highperforming infrastructure.

Ensuring a firm foundation across

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MAY 2020

the railroad system is paramount to protecting the performance of the track and the operational effectiveness of the railroad itself.

Strategic solutions for proper ballast maintenance and reliable drainage are key to maintaining this important structural foundation.

Another product line Loram is offering for its Australian operations is its ballast and drainage maintenance solutions that help maintain, clean and promote welldrained ballast foundation.

This includes its shoulder ballast cleaner, full section undercutter, high production ditching and specialty excavating with its high-powered rail bound vacuum excavation equipment (LRV).

Although a ballast has many functions, there are two main applications in its interaction with track work structures.

First, ballast provides resistance against rail movements while distributing the applied load with diminished unit pressure to the subgrade beneath. The second important function of the ballast is to

MAINTENANCE

provide drainage.

“Infrastructure integrity is critical to the routine and growth objectives of the railways. Poor ballast conditions will jeopardise the safety and reliability of the rail system” Smith explains.

“Over time the ballast wears down under heavy loads from the trains, as well as from tamping and other maintenance activity.

“The ballast section becomes contaminated or fouled with these ballast fines, as well as infiltration of coal and iron ore from the wagons, mud pumping from the subgrade and wind-blown sand and dirt.

“As moisture and the fine aggregates combine, the drainage is impacted, and the ballast begins to lose its ability to provide stability to the track.”

Brazilian iron ore and freight rail company, MRS Logistica, had years of contamination build up in its bridges and tunnels, with speed restrictions on the trains.

“The tunnels had become full of mud as a result of ballast degradation and iron ore fines from the wagons.

After comparing multiple options against one another, and with the clearance restrictions eliminating traditional equipment as an option, MRS chose Loram’s LRV specialty excavator with Loram’s material handling wagons to solve the problem,” says Smith.

Loram’s LRV is a powerful rail mounted specialty excavation machine that removes material through mechanical agitation and airflow.

The combination of a strong manipulator arm and powerful vacuum pumps makes the LRV capable of excavating compacted ballast, clay, mud, water,

LORAM’S LRV IS A POWERFUL RAIL MOUNTED SPECIALTY EXCAVATION MACHINE.

sand and soil.

“The Loram LRV is designed to travel at high track speeds, while towing fully loaded material handling wagons. This means the LRV can travel quickly to the work zone and continuously off-load the excavated material into the material handling wagons,” Smith says.

The latest contract that MRS awarded Loram follows the successful completion of a similar project in 2012, when MRS had sought Loram’s help for rehabilitating special track works.

Using Loram’s LRV, MRS was able to completely clean out and rehab multi-kilometres of tunnels and bridges that had previously only been manually maintained or improvised with temporary measures to keep trains running.

Using the LRV also meant that

MRS would require far fewer people sent into the tunnels, thus improving safety. The end result found water rushing from the tunnel and speed restrictions removed.

According to Smith, the adaptability of LRV vacuum nozzle enables it to reach otherwise hard-to-reach areas for traditional equipment.

Excavating in areas without damaging buried cables and yard cleanup of ore, coal and grain adds to the types of work where this powerful machine is applied.

“The LRV is also very versatile in handling the waste material,” Smith continues.

“It can store the material onboard, dispose of the material onto the right of way on either side of track centre or transfer the material directly to a material handling wagon.”

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Through all of its rail maintenance equipment and services, be it in rail grinding, ballast maintenance or material handling services, Smith says Loram brings a partnership approach to optimise the track performance and reduce the overall cost of rail ownership for customers.

“Just like our rail grinding services that are aimed at improving the rail’s life, our ballast maintenance services are also aimed at creating better drainage to help stabilise the track so that the track performs more efficiently,” he says.

“In all of the equipment that we utilise and all of the services that we provide we only aim at one thing – and that is to rationalise our customers’ return and manage their infrastructure at the highest level.” AM

MINERALS PROCESSING

ENVISIONING A MORE EFFICIENT, MORE RESPONSIBLE MINING FUTURE MINING COMPANIES HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN REDUCING THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT. BUT THIS SHOULDN’T MEAN LESS EFFICIENCY FOR THEM. FLSMIDTH HAS SOLUTIONS THAT OFFER BOTH BENEFITS.

F

LSmidth is on a mission.

The company has set an ambitious goal to offer its global mining customers zero-emission mining processes by 2030 and already has a range of digital and processing solutions in place to support that target.

Mark Mulligan, FLSmidth’s vice president for process line management says two of the key aspects of the company’s Mission Zero goals are to help miners with sustainable tailings management and to increase digitalisation.

“As a solution provider to the global mining industry for several decades, we are seeing a shift in the industry towards being more sustainable and implementing new ways of doing things that minimise the risk for the industry, by reducing water consumption, emissions, and energy waste,” Mulligan

ECOTAILS IS AN INNOVATIVE FILTRATION AND STACKING TECHNOLOGY FOR TAILINGS MANAGEMENT.

tells Australian Mining.

One of the ways that miners can make their entire process more sustainable and efficient, according to Mulligan, is by adopting new tailings management technologies.

“The traditional processes of tailings management often require large amounts of fresh water. In a

country like Australia where most mines are located in remote areas with limited access to water sources, these solutions are not sustainable,” Mulligan says.

In 2018, FLSmidth collaborated with GoldCorp to jointly develop an innovative filtration and stacking technology for tailings management –

FLSMIDTH HAS DEVELOPED A PILOT FILTER PRESS UNIT AT ITS TUCSON FACILITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

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a process named EcoTails.

“EcoTails is essentially a process technology that blends fast filtering tailings with waste rock while they are being transported on a conveyor to create what we refer to as GeoWaste, which is a lot more stable than the traditional filter cake tailings,” says Mulligan.

The EcoTails process is based on the dry stacked tailings technology, which is itself seen as a more sustainable alternative to conventional slurry tailings dams in terms of water consumption and land usage.

Mulligan says EcoTails improves the efficiency of that technique and makes it feasible for larger mines.

“While traditionally stacked tailing was adopted by small tonnage mines of less than 10,000 tonnes per day, EcoTails make it feasible for mines of up to 150,000 tonnes per day to use the technology,” he says.

“Another advantage of EcoTails is the higher water efficiency. With EcoTails, as much as 90 per cent of the process water can be re-circulated to the plant, eliminating the need for fresh water usage.”

According to Mulligan, many large mining companies are beginning to see the sustainability benefits in moving from traditional tailings dam designs towards solutions such as filtered tailings, paste backfill and EcoTails.

For those miners which are still wary of adopting the filtered technology – because of the previous limitations of the traditional filter technology – FLSmidth has developed a five metre by three metre filter press as a pilot demonstration unit at its Tucson facility in the United States, where potential clients can see the filtering technology in action.

“This filter technology can dewater high tonnages to the scale of more than 150,000 tonnes of tailings a day. We can run material from any given mine through that unit to demonstrate the scale-up of the technology. We can also use data from this test to design the full-scale unit for the client’s particular site,” Mulligan explains.

MINERALS PROCESSING

Towards more digitalisation in mining

To help miners improve the efficiency of their operations, FLSmidth also offers a range of digitalisation solutions.

“The first step in digitalisation is to become digitally connected. We have an international customer base and over the years we have installed thousands of equipment across the globe,” Mulligan says.

“By ensuring that our clients’ technologies are digitally connected into the cloud, we can assist them in analysing that data to help them optimise their processes.”

With more mines implementing modern sensors and control systems on their equipment for real-time monitoring of their machinery assets health, Mulligan says FLSmidth has been able to assist more clients with online condition monitoring and predictive maintenance.

“We have a 24/7 remote support centre where our global service team can troubleshoot and assist our clients by doing diagnosis and helping the clients by remotely analysing the situation on their site to help them predict where maintenance will be required,” he adds.

As miners look for ways to enhance efficiency of their operations, asset optimisation is another key term that often

SAGWISE TECHNOLOGY USES ACOUSTIC SENSORS TO ADJUST THE SAG MILL OPERATION.

comes up.

But what does asset optimisation mean in practice? Mulligan demonstrates this with the help of an example.

“SAG mills are often one of the largest energy users in a mineral processing plant. They are also critical machines as the unexpected shutdown of one SAG mill can cost the plant’s operators thousands of dollars,” Mulligan explains.

“FLSmidth has developed

AUSTRALIANMINING

SAGwise technology, which uses acoustic sensors and proprietary process control software to predict and adjust the SAG mill operation according to impacts in the mill.

“Test results show that these adjustments reduce damage to the mill’s liners by up to 40 per cent.

They also lower the grinding media consumption and further reduce energy consumption by up to 6 per cent.”

Solutions like EcoTails and

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SAGwise, and many other such solutions by FLSmidth, help miners get more out of their running plants, while also contributing to the industry’s move towards higher sustainability.

“We have a goal to achieve the highest level of sustainability in mining to minimise the environmental impacts of the sector. We believe this is possible and we can help miners achieve this through reduced water consumption, lower emissions and optimised energy consumptions,” Mulligan concludes. AM

INDUSTRY COMMENT

AUSTMINE’S CEO DISCUSSES LEADERSHIP DURING DIFFICULT TIMES CHRIS GIBBS STEWART REINFORCES HOW STRONG LEADERSHIP CAN BE THE VITAL INGREDIENT THAT STEERS ORGANISATIONS THROUGH CHALLENGES SUCH AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

CHRIS GIBBS STEWART ON STAGE AT THE 2019 AUSTMINE CONFERENCE.

A

ustmine chief executive officer Chris Gibbs Stewart has been with the company for nearly a decade and has held the position of CEO for more than five years.

During this time, she has helped develop and shape Austmine to become the leading industry body for the Australian mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector.

As COVID-19 disrupts business as usual, strong leadership is more important than ever to guide businesses through disruption.

Austmine sat down with Gibbs Stewart to find out what leadership qualities she sees as essential, how to ensure your employees feel valued and her key advice for fellow and aspiring leaders.

Leadership qualities

While different leadership styles lend themselves to your own individual disposition, there are some universal key traits that all great leaders possess.

“Great leaders are inspirational,

humble and great listeners,” says Gibbs Stewart.

“To be a great leader you don’t necessarily have to talk a lot because the real key is listening, quickly sifting through the noise and being able to action what is important. I also think that great leaders are great collaborators as well.”

Leading by example with exemplary behaviours is crucial, but leaders don’t need to have the same skillsets as those they lead.

“For me it’s important to be able to teach and instil in others the things that I know, but also to empower others to do more than I, myself, can do,” says Gibbs Stewart.

In addition to leading your own employees, Gibbs Stewart urges METS leaders to assist in the growth of the sector as a whole.

“In addition to championing your own people, advocate for the sector as well,” she says.

“As a leader in the METS sector, we need to be involved in important conversations in the mining industry and beyond.

“It’s important to get a seat at the table and make sure your voice is heard. This happens through AUSTRALIANMINING

networking, volunteering for committees and reaching outside of your business. You need to be hyperconnected. As a leader, this is vital.”

Communication is key

All leaders have a direct impact on their employees. Good leaders create a deep and lasting impact by providing their team with the necessary tools and support to become leaders of tomorrow.

“I’ve worked for and with a lot of good people who championed me through my career. I’m incredibly grateful for their support – for believing in me and helping me believe in my abilities,” says Gibbs Stewart.

“I still remember my very first boss in New York. George encouraged me to speak with everyone in the company, no matter how senior or how junior – from the company president to the store front manager.

“This simple task gave me confidence and set me up to be the leader I am today, because if you can’t see the whole picture and appreciate everyone’s place in it, you will not be able to effectively lead an entire organisation.”

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During this volatile time, it is especially important to ensure you have time during the week to check in with your team.

Pairing your ability to communicate with active listening is essential to ensuring all team members feel seen, heard and valued.

Embracing change

We are in the midst of an extreme disruption with every sector being impacted by COVID-19.

While we may not know how long this unpredictability will last, it is a great opportunity to turn to past lessons as we weather this storm together.

“Over the course of my career, I have benefitted from taking on newly created roles brought about through business disruption,” says Gibbs Stewart.

“When there hasn’t been someone before you, you are forced to create your own blueprint. This allowed me to be challenged but also gave me the freedom of trying new things.

“Naturally I have developed a more entrepreneurial approach; I look for different ways of doing things and feel comfortable with

INDUSTRY COMMENT

questioning processes.”

COVID-19 is disrupting business as usual, so it is a great time to embrace a pioneering spirit – be brave going into the unknown but chart a path, using your experience, that will get you safely to where you are going.

Being open to new perspectives will allow you to adapt your approach to changing circumstances.

“Now more than ever, it is vital to be flexible and adaptable. Flexibility to pivot how you operate and approach your goals is key,” says Gibbs Stewart.

“Also, I encourage the METS community to look for opportunities to assist one another.

“In a recent virtual meet-up one of our members was discussing a challenge as their company strives to adopt more digital practices. Another member offered to discuss with them offline how they may be able to assist as they already have similar digital practices in place.

“It is heartening to see those who are able offering a helping hand to others during this time.”

Empowering the leaders of tomorrow

During Gibbs Stewart’s time as CEO, Austmine has overseen new initiatives to both encourage new talent to join the sector and provide leaders of tomorrow with the skills they require.

towards technology, so leaders should naturally be focussed on the future and creating those ideas, opportunities and ways that we can be sustainable in the future.”

While initiatives play a big part in assisting emerging talent, it is equally important for those looking to lead to seize all opportunities.

“My advice is to volunteer for everything. When something comes up at work, put your hand up,” says Gibbs Stewart.

“Get involved in committees and task forces, because that is where you can develop the necessary leadership skills to help progress your career forward.

“This time of disruption is the perfect time to show your versatility and assist your company as they need to change.”

Final thoughts

“Austmine is committed to supporting our members wherever possible and to offer assistance through challenging business conditions,” Gibbs Stewart concludes.

“At a time like this it is even more important to advocate for the sector and ensure we can fully embrace what the recovery brings. As always, we will continue to promote the Australian METS sector and boost its profile around the world.” AM

AUSTMINE CEO CHRIS GIBBS STEWART.

innovators in today’s fluid market environment.

“Opening up the METS sector to STEM students is a great way of making sure the sector has the skills needed as we move forwards,” says Gibbs Stewart.

“The METS sector is oriented

Austmine’s STEM METS Career Pathway Program is designed to raise awareness of the METS sector within the next generation of employees.

Meanwhile, the Innovation Mentoring Program guides up-andcoming METS sector leaders to gain the numerous skills required for

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TECHNOLOGY

WHAT TAKES PLACE BEFORE LAYING A BRICK THE BRICK LAYING PROCESS STARTS WITH PLACING A BRICK FROM THE CONCRETE SLAB UP ONE AT A TIME. BUT WHAT’S KEY FOR MINE OPERATORS IS THE TECHNOLOGY UNDERPINNING THE CONCRETE PROJECTS. A MAXIMUM LEVEL OF MINE PRODUCTIVITY DEPENDS ON THE GROUNDWORK LAID BEFORE AN OPERATION BEGINS.

I

f there is one thing that makes the resources sector different from its construction counterpart, it is the former’s lack of fear in pursuing digital transformation.

InEight executive vice president of Asia Pacific, Rob Bryant, notes that the mining sector has an appreciation for the application of data in areas where there is a lack of information.

While many businesses operate on a relatively predictable landscape, this isn’t the case for the mining sector.

Instead, every mining operation is teeming with various challenges that are brought on by a highly dynamic environment.

“Data is much more valued in mining and resources, where there is a greater understanding and appreciation for things to be done in the best possible way,” Bryant

IN OUR EXPERIENCE, THE MINING AND RESOURCES SECTORS ARE ACTUALLY VERY GOOD ADOPTERS OF TECHNOLOGY. AS THEY ARE TYPICALLY VERY ORGANISED, THEY UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF DATA AND INFORMATION.”

tells Australian Mining.

“In our experience, the mining and resources sectors are actually very good adopters of technology.

As they are typically very organised, they understand the value of data and information.

“They really crave (technology), because costs are so extreme for them. Getting visibility and insight into the operation is something the mining sector puts a great deal of value on.”

From an exploration point of view, it is within a company’s best interests AUSTRALIANMINING

to get the maximum value out of an asset over a long lifespan.

Yet, companies begin a project with no absolute knowledge of what the future holds.

This lack of predictability motivates mining companies to ensure that things are being done in the best possible way, according to Bryant.

“This is a way of working for the resources sector, and in particular for mine sites, where they gather and monitor information in real time and get that feedback into their planning

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cycles and next piece of work.”

Bryant says there is a desire for continuous improvement, and an appreciation of using data and performance in real time to achieve those goals.

“What we’re seeing is our solutions being put into action across different phases of a project,” he says.

“It starts in end of mine.

Operators go into planning and exploration phases ultimately wanting to see an asset live out more than 30 years of life cycle of return.

“Getting the estimates and schedules right is very important to them so they know how to plan and put resources in place, how to look at their budgets and take changes as they come into the schedule and the next project.”

This is one of the many strengths of the mining industry — its ability to bounce back from years of a false

TECHNOLOGY

sense of well-being.

Management consulting firm McKinsey & Company has investigated mine productivity, and reported in 2015 that it had been trending in the wrong direction for much of the previous decade.

Mining companies of the time were satisfied with the return on their assets, while their actual productivity paled in comparison to other industries, “Based on our benchmarking, we observe a global average overall equipment effectiveness performance of 27 per cent for underground mining, 39 per cent for open-pit mining, and 69 per cent for crushing and grinding — compared with 88 per cent for upstream oil and gas, 90 per cent for steel and 92 per cent for oil refining,” the McKinsey article states.

With mine productivity ebbing away, McKinsey flagged that digital technologies have the potential to unlock new ways of managing variability. This was long before digitalisation started to take over mining headlines.

Further, Bryant says the collection of data needs to start early in a project or asset life cycle.

“It’s a bit like putting wiring in the house. You’ve got to think about where you want your switches and your power points,” he says.

ONE ASSET LINKS TO ANOTHER AND OPERATORS NEED DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE AN EFFICIENT AND PRODUCTIVE INTEROPERABILITY.

“These need to be planned out before the building phase because doing it retrospectively is very difficult.”

And likewise, mine operators need to think about the data points they want available in five to 10 years’ time – when they’ve reached the operational phase – while they start construction of the site.

Putting the underlying structure

in place using solutions such as InEight Schedule enables operators to connect estimates, schedules and documents, and collect a vast pool of data they can analyse and draw from while moving along a project life cycle.

“You’ve got thousands and thousands of data points flowing in every day in a large mine site. They could be measuring

materials, output, consumption of power and resource management,” Bryant concludes.

“Before you pour the concrete, you have to think about where the drains and cables are – everything that needs to go underneath.

“Once a mine is up and running, there are so many moving parts, which makes laying it all out in the beginning a necessity.” AM

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TECHNOLOGY

RPMGLOBAL HELPS COMPANIES MOVE INTO THE DIGITAL ERA WITH THE MINING INDUSTRY TRANSITIONING TO A DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT FOCUSSED ON SAFETY, OPTIMISATION AND EFFICIENCY, RPMGLOBAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER RICHARD MATHEWS EXPLAINS HOW HIS COMPANY’S TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP MINING COMPANIES ACCELERATE THEIR PROGRESS.

T

he mining industry is often shown at the bottom of technology adoption diagrams and commentators often refer to mining companies as extremely conservative rather than “early adopters”.

In the current world climate, it is now more important than ever for mining companies to review their existing technology to provide their staff with a connected and remoteenabled environment that enables them to work from anywhere.

Mathews explains that excluding specific endeavours like the push to autonomous vehicles, the slow uptake of technology across the mining value chain is not necessarily the industry’s fault given the lack of software vendor innovation over the last 20 years.

The difficulty comes from the fact “miners are not doing the same thing every day; they work in an ever-changing environment which is variable dependent on what they are extracting out of the ground,” Mathews tells Australian Mining.

“Miners are a little bit different to other consumers of technology in that they generally come from an engineering background, so they like to see things actually working before they are convinced.

They don’t just want to understand how it works, they want to see it working.”

Because of this approach and the variability in mining, Mathews says software products need to be both wide and deep in applicability.

They also need to be spatially aware given miners must think in three dimensions. It is for these primary reasons that the industry has been dominated by desktop products which have little, or no integration.

Most of the desktop technical mining tools have the same 30year underlying architecture that are based on fundamentally the same algorithms, code base and solution approach.

At the end of the commodity super cycle in 2013, RPMGlobal identified the need for a dedicated enterprise planning platform for the

mining industry which was flexible enough to accommodate the spatial variability inherent in the mining process, while catering for different commodities and mining methods.

Mathews says, “with this platform now complete, RPMGlobal’s customers are now able to work in a completely integrated and cloudbased environment. It’s rewarding seeing the industry adopting standards which enable data to be shared across users and divisions, both internally and externally, if required.”

Accelerating the digital transition

Transitioning to a digital based mine requires two things: enterprise software applications and a commitment by management to manage their mine differently.

“We have been building enterprise software for the mining industry for seven years now. We have been fortunate in that we were able to start development with a clean sheet of paper enabling us to use the most advanced technology

ACCORDING TO RPMGLOBAL, REMOTE MANAGEMENT IS IMPERATIVE TO THE SECTOR’S FUTURE.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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and architecture,” Mathews says.

According to Mathews, most technical mining software products are still stuck on the desktop which means progress will continue to be slow given their lack of scalability and interoperable capabilities.

Most of the company’s products now have a 4D user interface which makes the product is very visual, intuitive and easy to use. A big benefit of an enterprise product is it can be installed once, but deployed many times.

In a digital mining environment, it’s important to harness a product that adopts a parametric modelling approach.

If a user changes a design and/or scheduling parameter, the software will rebuild the model accurately in seconds rather than the user having to manually flow the changes back through the model which can take weeks.

This way, engineers can add real economic value through the timely analysis of options rather than spending their time changing data strings.

TECHNOLOGY

AS IT HAS TRANSPIRED, REMOTE MANAGEMENT HAS BECOME AN IMPERATIVE RATHER THAN A NICE TO HAVE.”

RPMGLOBAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER RICHARD MATHEWS.

Rapid simulation uptake

Mining is an ever-changing environment where no one day is the same. This makes simulating a mining environment much more difficult than say a constant state manufacturing environment.

As there are many discrete events happening in a mine simultaneously, Mathews says it’s important that the software can accommodate all of these events accurately.

Mining is capital-intensive, and because miners spend heavily on mobile mining equipment for extraction purposes (drills, loaders, trucks, dozers etc), there are considerable operational and therefore financial benefits available if organisations can accurately simulate different alternatives.

Six years ago, RPMGlobal started working with Volvo on building a comprehensive and accurate simulation product for mining.

The first version of the product took many years and considerable investment.

However, a shift is now occurring and the world’s three largest OEMs have all decommissioned their internal products and adopted software with discreet event simulation capability.

The software can also be tailored for miners so they can simulate their own mines which may be using mixed fleets from different OEMs. Not only do these companies have a digital twin of their equipment and material movements, but they can feed this information in and out of their planning, maintenance and production systems if they want to.

As a result, there is no need

to do physical trials that cost millions of dollars.

“The software is fully fourdimensional and highly visual which makes it both easy to use and easy to communicate with,” Mathews says.

Collaboration and safety are key in digitisation

Short-term scheduling solutions need to enable miners to maximise

value by creating a live planning environment. This should utilise intelligent integration to connect planning with other teams within a mining operation.

“RPMGlobal’s short-term scheduling solution, XECUTE, takes the data from on-site devices and equipment and other software products and displays it in a visual environment in much the same way as a computer game does,” Mathews explains.

“All of the planning and production data can be displayed in one place so that everyone knows what the plan is and how progress in the mine is tracking against that plan.”

The scheduling solution is a key component of the connected mine whereby users can view activities in real-time so that they can make informed, timely decisions to maximise their mine operations inside a shift and planning window.

This can be done on-site or remotely, 1000 kilometres away.

A cutting-edge short-term scheduling solution is grounded in the ability to improve productivity

and predictability through collaboration across the business, naturally leading to improved safety for workers on-site.

This is not only due to the accuracy and constantly clear communication of the information, but also because technology can assist operations staff to make decisions that remove people from potentially dangerous environments.

Enterprise products, by their very definition, are remotely connected systems, which means people can use them and communicate from afar.

“While we are talking at the moment, there is obvious concern around the globe about the current environment,” Mathews says.

“Whereas we never thought about how our software could be used in the event of a pandemic to assist in social distancing and remote working endeavours, we always believed people would want to be able to operate remotely.

“As it has transpired, remote management has become an imperative rather than a nice to have.” AM

RPMGLOBAL’S SCHEDULING SOLUTION XECUTE.

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TECHNOLOGY

LASER PROFILE SCANNING TECHNOLOGY FOR A NEW MINING ERA BESTECH PROVES THAT A SMOOTH MINING JOURNEY REQUIRES AN ACCURATE MEASUREMENT OF MATERIALS OR ORE, WHETHER THAT BE IN A LABORATORY FOR TESTING OR ON A CONVEYOR BELT READY FOR SHIPMENT.

I

f there is one thing all mining operators can agree on, it’s the integral role that conveyor belts play in getting materials into the hands of users.

The longest conveyor belt in the world spans 98.1 kilometres in the Western Sahara, stretching from the Bou Craa open pit mine in Morocco to the coast where phosphate is transported to international markets.

Coincidentally, the automated belt is also one of the few signifiers of human patterns visible from space, according to NASA Earth Observatory.

In a region with limited human presence, the 2000-tonne an hour belt structure “is so long and straight that it has often attracted astronaut attention in this otherwise almost featureless landscape,” the publication arm notes.

Maintenance of these complex systems is therefore an ongoing focus for mining companies.

In an industry-wide transition to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), a local sensor and instrumentation supplier, BesTech Australia, has developed and supplied a wide range of compact, miniaturised, high precision sensors that are compatible and versatile for test and measurement applications across various industries, including the mining sector.

One example of a sensor is the scanCONTROL laser profile scanner from Micro-Epsilon. The compact scanCONTROL offers high precision scanning and requires no external controller to operate. The scanner can be easily mounted on a machinery, a robot, or a mobile and remote-controlled vehicle.

“With rubber or steel boards generally installed at either side of the belts as a guarding mechanism against material loss or spillage during transportation, it is not feasible for operators to manually check the space between the boards and the conveyor system,” BesTech marketing engineer Wirhan Prationo says.

“This is particularly so when the conveyor systems run a few kilometres long.

“Mining employees need to ensure that there is no gap between the boards and the conveyor systems

SCANCONTROL THRIVES IN TESTING AND MEASUREMENT APPLICATIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES.

during regular maintenance. So this type of application suits the use of scanCONTROL laser profile scanner to provide an efficient and timesaving solution.”

The scanCONTROL can scan the gap across the full length of the conveyor belt while being mounted on a remote-controlled vehicle at a suitable height.

It can also be integrated with GPS navigation by connecting both systems to a suitable mobile data acquisition system, pinpointing a fault location accurately. This functionality assists workers to perform their maintenance procedure efficiently, according to Prationo.

“The scanCONTROL profile scanners have also been used in a rail track monitoring application in a mine site to record the profile of the rails and effectively measure the wear and tear in the rail tracks,” he says.

“This non-contact measurement technique creates a cross-section profile of the rail for comparison with the reference data. And when used together with a navigation system, scanCONTROL creates a map and marks locations where maintenance is required.”

AUSTRALIANMINING

Though widely popular for maintenance applications, scanCONTROL is so technologically advanced that it was thought to be applicable in a conveyor belt scanning application. scanCONTROL boasts a high measuring rate of up to 10 kilohertz and high-resolution reading to accurately profile difficult surfaces. This application, although technologically feasible, will require multiple scanCONTROL scanners to cover the full width of the belt.

The scanCONTROL profile scanners are also available in SMART version, which equips the sensor head with an integrated intelligent algorithm. The SMART laser profile scanners are commonly used for more challenging measuring requirements, such as to determine the type of the measured profiles automatically, including their gap, width, depth, groove, angle, roundness and edge.

The scanCONTROL scanner is also available with class 2 and class 3B laser options for versatile measurement applications.

Thanks to the high-powered laser, scanCONTROL can measure dense

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rock of up to 100 millimetres in size under direct sunlight. This capability lends to the measurement of ore and rocks ahead of sample testing in the laboratory.

“Rocks from mining and excavation activities are subject to strict dimension tolerance. The rock samples have to be in correct dimensions before testing can take place,” Prationo says.

“The scanCONTROL can accurately measure dense rocks in broad daylight so as not to mislead engineers with lower compressive strength results that are typical of these tests.

“This informs mining operators on the mining equipment that is appropriate for the type of raw materials.”

As automation makes its way into the mining industry, Prationo believes there will be a greater demand for high precision sensors with advanced connectivity as a monitoring and measuring tool.

The scanCONTROL has been developed with this idea in mind. The transition into the era of mining 4.0 is nigh, and its arrival helps operators face new mining challenges head on. AM

TECHNOLOGY

ON TRACK TO IMPROVE MINE SAFETY CTRACK MANAGING DIRECTOR JIM MCKINLAY EXPLAINS HOW TELEMATICS AND DATA CAN INCREASE VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS.

B

etween 2012 and 2016, 369 workers were killed by vehicle collisions across all industry sectors in Australia.

Seventy-six people died in 2016 alone, accounting for 42 per cent of all fatalities that year, according to Safe Work Australia.

Prevention of vehicle collisions is an issue constantly put under the spotlight by the Australian and global mining sector to improve safety in the industry.

According to analysis of patterns in mining haul truck accidents by the United States National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the key causes that lead to fatalities include driver error from loss of control or inadequate performance.

A standout way to prevent these risks is through the use of telematics solutions, which have been shown to improve the safety and fuelefficiency of drivers after they received feedback, coaching and rewards, according to the US-based professional association for the mobility industry, SAE International.

The study by SAE revealed a 55 per cent reduction in unsafe events, a 60 per cent decrease in severe unsafe events and a 42 per cent decrease in speeding by applying telematics.

Telematics and data are evidencebacked methods of increasing safety by improving driver behaviour, Ctrack managing director Jim McKinlay tells Australian Mining.

Data alone, however, is not sufficient in creating safer workplaces, McKinlay adds. The data needs to be analysed for patterns that can be used to provide feedback to drivers.

“The problem is that mining companies have too much data and it’s hard to analyse,” McKinlay says.

WHERE THE CAMERAS AND SENSORS ARE LOCATED ON A TYPICAL TRUCK.

Future accidents can be predicted by analysing data to find patterns that can limit dangerous situations that drivers encounter.

“If there’s a place that is particularly dangerous with high incidents of accidents, we can warn drivers that they’re entering a dangerous zone or divert them altogether,” McKinlay says.

Ctrack’s technologies track driver behaviour to reduce dangerous driving, such as harsh braking and accelerating, providing actionable analytics for companies to be proactive in avoiding accidents.

Immediate feedback is also provided to drivers through Ctrack’s dashboard and analytics system.

“All of the data collected from

THE CAMERA ANALYSES DATA INCLUDING FACIAL RECOGNITION AND DRIVER BEHAVIOUR.

AUSTRALIANMINING

drivers provides meaningful data that companies can use to decrease accident costs, along with maintenance and fuel costs,” McKinlay says.

Ctrack’s solutions provide full fleet visibility through its fleet management software. It is communicated simply through its analytic and dashboards, allowing information to be easily understandable.

These tools are key in providing actionable insights to clients who then use it to coach and improve their drivers, increasing the safety of its fleet.

The technology also increases efficiency by 30 per cent, according to Ctrack, because of its route optimisation and job scheduling capabilities.

Ctrack’s latest Iris camera solution delivers a 360-degree view of trucks and mining equipment, especially important in mining as hazards can come from any direction.

Iris provides a live video recording of the cabin, as well as road-facing and additional external cameras.

Ctrack’s new camera capabilities and telematics solutions enable a company to keep track of its drivers and determine if drivers are suffering from fatigue, using a phone and more.

“Iris is our high-end solution, there can be multiple cameras analysing data including facial recognition and driver

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behaviour data,” McKinlay says.

“The data is communicated back to the companies in real time, giving them information about driver behaviour and flagging anything unsafe which can be used to train the driver later on.”

The technology also includes a safe hands-free communication system where the control room can communicate with drivers. In the event an accident does occur, the control room is notified immediately, allowing rescue staff to help as soon as possible.

Iris is the culmination of three decades of expertise and experience, with its technologies proven in other industries. Its applications range across industries from yellow equipment to airports.

“When you look at airports, there are nonpowered assets, powered assets solutions, yellow equipment and more that all utilise our technology,” McKinlay says. “All of this technology and knowledge is transferable to the mining industry.”

One death is too many in mining and technology and data are the way forward in improving safety, McKinlay stresses.

“We’re providing new and innovative technology through our analytics and dashboard systems to increase driver safety and reduce costs. We get people home safe and that’s the ultimate goal,” McKinlay concludes. AM

TRAINING & EDUCATION

AUSTRALIA LEADS THE WORLD OF MINING EDUCATION AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES CONTINUE TO HEAD THE PACK IN THE QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS FOR MINERAL AND MINING ENGINEERING COURSES, WITH FIVE APPEARING IN THE TOP 10. SALOMAE HASELGROVE INVESTIGATES WHAT SETS AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES APART. UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND STUDENTS LEARNING ABOUT MINE SAFETY USING VIRTUAL REALITY TO INTERACT IN A VIRTUAL MINE.

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urtin University’s Kalgoorlie outpost, the Western Australian School of Mines (WASM), has again guided the school to the top ranking in Australia and second in the world for mineral and mining engineering courses.

While Colorado School of Mines was awarded the No.1 QS ranking, the rest of the top five universities in 2020 are Australian – Curtin University, University of Western Australia, University of New South Wales and University of Queensland.

Rounding out Australia’s top 50 representation are Monash University (7th), University of Melbourne (16th), University of Wollongong (24th), University of Adelaide and University of Newcastle (equal 30th).

With notable alumni including Saracen Mineral Holdings managing

director Raleigh Finlayson, IGO chief executive Peter Bradford and Northern Star Resources chairman Bill Beament, it is no surprise that Curtin’s WASM is regarded as a leading producer of industry professionals.

With the Goldfields region on its doorstep, WASM gives students the opportunity to learn not only the academic requirements for a career in mining, but also the practical skills required for jobs at a mine.

Curtin University vice chancellor professor Deborah Terry says the rankings success is credit to its dedication to high-quality research and teaching, a high level of industry collaboration and a commitment to being an international leader across all study fields.

“The WASM provides graduates and researchers with a range of important opportunities,” Terry tells Australian Mining.

AUSTRALIANMINING

“As the majority of this course is taught at Curtin’s Kalgoorlie campus, students have a unique opportunity to study in the heart of Western Australia’s most notable mining town and maximise their exposure to industries that operate there.”

This opens up opportunities such as part-time work with mining companies and suppliers while studying, which can lead to meeting key contacts for later life, full-time work during university breaks, thesis projects and graduate roles.

“Students are also exposed to industry speakers from a variety of operations and aspects of the mining supply chain during their courses,” Terry says.

“Small groups are able to visit mining operations and see first-hand the mining techniques and situations that they are learning about in class.”

Real-life experiences aren’t just limited to Kalgoorlie mines,

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with Curtin supporting camps for students to visit Pilbara iron ore mines, as well as other Australian regions.

To keep up with the ever-evolving industry, Curtin has revised its mining engineering curriculum to incorporate the technical skills required for a modern mining professional.

“The future employability of Curtin’s graduates will depend on our ability to respond to digital disruption,” Terry says.

“We need to ensure our students are equipped to handle the changing landscape of mining, particularly when it comes to the increasing use of autonomous mining, robotics technology, blockchain as well as artificial and additive manufacturing.

“The new curriculum will ensure the school capitalises on the opportunities presented by the rapid technological transformations

TRAINING & EDUCATION

impacting the sector.”

How Curtin University prepares its students clearly pays off, with an employment rate of up to 93 per cent for its mining engineering students.

It isn’t just the universities that understand the importance of providing the Australian mining industry with skilled graduates to contribute to the future.

Contracting companies, such as PYBAR Mining Services are jumping on board, providing sponsorship and support to education institutions within mining schools.

PYBAR has recognised Curtin’s excellence in education and has been a sponsor of the WASM graduates’ association for four years.

The Australian contractor strengthened this partnership in March, announcing that it would offer the PYBAR Scholarship for Engineering Excellence to one fulltime student studying a resources related undergraduate degree for the first time in 2020.

PYBAR chief executive officer Brendan Rouse says there has been a drop in engineering students and graduates entering the mining field, so the scholarship is another way for the company to contribute to the industry’s future.

“WASM has a strong reputation for excellence with many of its graduates employed in the Australian mining sector,” Rouse says. “We would like to give a deserving student a similar opportunity.

“We believe we have a responsibility to nurture future generations of mining professionals and we take this very seriously.”

UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND FIRSTYEAR ENGINEERING STUDENTS DEVELOP AN AUTONOMOUS MINE VEHICLE ON A PROJECT DAY.

UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND HEAD OF MINING AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCHOOL PROFESSOR ROSS MCAREE.

With Queensland home to some of Australia’s top mining regions, including the Bowen Basin, Surat Basin and Gaililee Basin, University of Queensland students have an opportunity to complete placements, work experience and site visits at some of the country’s busiest mine sites.

Professor Ross McAree, Head of School for the School of Mining and Mechanical Engineering, says it is essential to attract Australia’s best young minds to the mining sector to ensure the industry has the workforce it needs.

Like Curtin, the University of Queensland has also reviewed its mining programs to determine how best the institution can prepare its graduates for successful careers in the sector.

“The challenge in educating the contemporary resources engineering professional is the staggering breadth of knowledge that our graduates are now expected to have,” McAree says.

“Not only do they require a detailed knowledge of geology, mining practices and methods, geotechnical engineering, mine design and mineral economics, but they are expected to have knowledge in areas of emerging importance to the sector such as data analysis, artificial intelligence (AI) and equipment and process automation.”

To equip students with this wide AUSTRALIANMINING

range of knowledge, University of Queensland students studying a Bachelor of Engineering from 2021 onwards will complete a common first year exposing them to the fundamentals of engineering, before those interested in a career in resources take a mining engineering major to build their knowledge.

The university has another dimension to its new curriculum, the option of graduating with both a Bachelor and Master of Engineering, with students applying the practical elements of the course at mines being the focus of the additional year of study.

“We think these graduates are going to be very highly sought after for the comprehensiveness of their knowledge, spanning mining engineering and their base engineering discipline,” McAree says. “We anticipate they will be the archetype of the modern resources engineer.”

University of Queensland isn’t just preparing mining’s future minds academically, with the new degree programs including up to one year of placement at a mine, refining their skills in a real-life situation.

“Everything that our students do in their studies is directed towards the practical application of knowledge,” McAree says.

“Engineering students need to spend 12 weeks in industry as part of their program and many work during their summer breaks in Queensland

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mines and benefit enormously from the experience.

Attracting more graduates is essential for the future, as the number of students studying mining engineering across Australia is “unsustainably low,” due to the “wrongly held but vocally expressed” view that mining is a duty industry, according to McAree.

With demand for graduates greater than supply, the University of Queensland’s employment rate in the mining industry is in the 90 per cent band.

Mining isn’t the only career option for graduates, with their niche knowledge and skills making them attractive for other areas related to the industry such as finance.

University of Queensland also aims to keep up with the ever-growing sector, as the implementation of technology and automation grows, ensuring students are prepared with knowledge such as data analytics.

With five universities ranked in the top 10 and nine in the top 50, Australia is clearly a world leader in educating future mining professionals, due to the relevance of the sector within Australia.

“Teaching and researching are inseparable. When you have good, industry-relevant research, you get excellence in teaching and together the two have ensured the high global rankings we enjoy,” McAree concludes. AM

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MINING SERVICES

ITM KEEPS MINING OPERATIONS ROLLING ITM IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S LEADING SUPPLIERS FOR UNDERCARRIAGE SOLUTIONS. THE INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING GROUP PROVIDES THE MINING INDUSTRY WITH INNOVATIVE DESIGNS AND SOLUTIONS TO KEEP UNDERCARRIAGES UP AND RUNNING.

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o matter how small or large a mining operation may be, they are all affected by equipment reliability.

And no matter how advanced a vehicle may be, it will eventually require maintenance.

Mining is one of the most arduous environments for earthmoving vehicles to work in, and ITM aims to ensure operations keep rolling on by providing high quality mining equipment solutions.

With a global team of 1500-plus professionals, ITM’s solutions are located across the world; from Australia, Europe, the Americas through to Africa. ITM also backs its customers with more than 22 million in stock held in Australia, and that’s a lot of undercarriage.

The company’s undercarriage components are lab proven and field tested to ensure they can handle the toughest situations.

ITM global product manager Ben Slaughter believes the brand’s evolution into providing aftermarket equipment solutions has given it a firm footing in the industry.

“For mining in particular, we’ve

been providing industry solutions for over 60 years,” he tells Australian Mining. “We provide undercarriage solutions from small dozers up to the largest bucket wheel – we do the whole show.”

“The brand has come a long way in the last 60 years. It’s now recognised as a player in the aftermarket game. And I think moving forward that’s only going to get more aggressive as we start focusing more on that space.”

ITM started as a supplier for OEM (original equipment manufacturer) products and has grown into a global supplier of OE (original equipment) undercarriage solutions.

“I would say moving into the aftermarket products space has been what has made us evolve as we were previously an OEM company only,” Slaughter says.

“We now merge customers’ expectations and ideas with the reality of ITM and then provide a new range which we’ve taken to the aftermarket space.”

With the company’s sights set on the future, smart technology is expected to pave the way for future undercarriage upgrades.

“I think the thing we would say is

ITM HAS PROVIDED INDUSTRY SOLUTIONS FOR MORE THAN SIX DECADES.

AUSTRALIANMINING

ITM’S UNDERCARRIAGE COMPONENTS ARE LAB PROVEN AND FIELD TESTED.

next for ITM is smart technology,” Slaughter says.

“We want to utilise digital technology and tie the big data drive that our customers have into smart management of undercarriages and how we produce products as well.”

Mining companies have already harnessed smart technology for many pieces of equipment and components for various tasks.

“There are very different trends in solutions across the globe and that can be driven from materials, operation and maintenance – all sorts of things. It’s a very broad range in how you can assist the customer in all those aspects,” Slaughter says.

According to Slaughter, a lack of proper vehicle maintenance is the root of most undercarriage issues in Australia.

“Poor maintenance would be the main thing we solve,” he says. “Particularly a lack of understanding around the direct impact of undercarriage maintenance to customers costs. This also impacts physical downtime and unrealised production when not managed correctly.

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“It’s mainly metallurgical, design and research. A lot of it is around extending life and providing the solutions that are actually required versus a package only made one way.

It’s a bit more of an encompassed full circle approach with the customer.”

ITM’s global network is a vital part of its position as a leading global brand in undercarriage components and solutions.

The company works with many global OEMs and aftermarket customers on research and development to stay at the forefront of industry demands by listening to client feedback.

“When we’re looking at product development or anything like that it’s very much a global strategy,” Slaughter says.

“It’s important for us to be a global network as we can draw on different experiences and we can utilise the full capabilities of our business. We have a lot of smart people in different pockets and we draw them in as content experts in certain sections.”

ITM continues to grow an already wide range of undercarriage products in the aftermarket field. AM

ENVIRONMENT

CONCEPT SAVES VALUABLE NICKEL FROM WASTE WHEN CONCEPT ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES WAS APPROACHED BY A MAJOR MINING COMPANY FOR A TAILINGS SOLUTION THAT WOULD ALLOW IT TO NOT ONLY STORE WASTE APPROPRIATELY, BUT ALSO USE THE PRODUCT IN THE PROCESS AT A LATER DATE, IT ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE.

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rior to installing a Concept Environmental Services nickel recovery plant, this Western Australian site was sending large quantities of nickel rich fluid to a tailings storage facility during processing plant shutdowns.

In addition to throwing away valuable metal among the waste and being a loss of potential income, this was a threat to the local environment.

The mining company approached Concept Environmental Services for a solution to counter both issues, allowing it to capitalise on the nickel rich liquor being lost during the shutdown process, while safely disposing of the waste.

As Concept chief executive officer Paul Avey explains, despite some initial hurdles, the company identified a solution that not only solved the waste issue and environmental threat, but also provided benefits for the reduction of water usage.

“What the company looked at initially was building a tailings dam in an area they already had available,” Avey tells Australian Mining.

“What they found though is the groundwater was about a metre below the surface, so they would not be able to build a dam below ground level.”

After this setback, the mining

company proposed constructing walls around a block of land to build a ‘turkey nest’ style of dam that way, however, this was going to be extremely invasive to the site’s operations.

“That option was going to require one truckload of soil every seven minutes for two weeks for construction, so they were going to require a lot of truck movement and it would effectively shut down the site and reduce site safety,” Avey says.

Building a tailings dam this way also requires a lengthy approvals process by the Western Australian Government and local council, meaning valuable nickel rich liquor the storage facility was not going to be commissioned before a major site shutdown.

To counter this, Concept proposed a patented pre-engineered storage solution, which included an integral lining system to prevent liquid from seeping out onto the earth and into the local environment.

“They had a look at what we were proposing and agreed that this was going to be the best solution for the company,” Avery says.

“Our pre-engineered structures sit above ground, they’re financially viable, you don’t need to dig into the ground for installation and it meant there was going to be a quicker approval turnaround.”

Concept installed the tanks in August 2019, allowing for a swift turnaround time prior to the plant having a major shutdown during November.

Although this was a very short turnaround time for installing a major upgrade to part of the site, Concept was able to get the tanks installed, approved, signed off and even in operation within this time frame.

“There was a very short lead time, but we met the customer milestones,” Avey says. “They were able to capture all of the nickel rich liquor coming out of the plant before the shutdown, rather than sending it to the tailings dam, then reprocessed it through the nickel plant.”

“Obviously it’s highly acidic liquid and full of dissolved metals, so the linings system we used was really important to get right.”

According to Avey, significant quantities of nickel rich liquor was being sent with the waste products into the tailings dam before switching to the Concept tanks.

As well as helping to recover more nickel for profit and preventing adverse materials from entering the environment, Concept Environmental Services’ solution also provides the ability for mining companies to minimise their water usage through

CONCEPT’S TANKS SIT ABOVE GROUND, MEANING LIQUID CANNOT SPILL OUT INTO THE SOIL AND DAMAGE THE ENVIRONMENT.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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CONCEPT INSTALLED ITS TANKS ON A BLOCK OF LAND AT THE MINE SITE.

storm water recovery.

Avey says one of the key waste management processes mining companies are starting to look at is how to reuse water, particularly in Australia where drought conditions can be common.

“We’re also capturing stormwater mining companies can use for processing,” Avey says. “So that’s reducing the load on the tailings storage facility.

“By capturing the stormwater, mining companies can use the stormwater in their ponds so they are using less town water.”

In addition to the significant environmental benefits, Concept’s tailings solutions also improve the safety of a mine site.

By putting less liquids into tailings ponds, this reduces the risk of tailings dam failures such as the Brumadhino tailings dam disaster in Brazil in 2019, which claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed local communities.

“The less liquid you put into the tailings pond, the lower the risk is of a failure,” Avey says.

Once the tailings solutions are installed, Concept Environmental Services runs preventative maintenance inspections every six months, to ensure they are operating as required.

“Once we’ve installed our storage solution, we look after our clients forever. The solutions are high quality, do the job, are quick to install and are easy to have approvals processed for by the authorities,” Avey concludes. AM

SUSTAINABILITY

ERIZON BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO QUEENSLAND COAL SITE ERIZON HAS WORKED ALONGSIDE RIO TINTO TO REHABILITATE PART OF A HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE COAL MINE INTO A THRIVING LAND OF VEGETATION. ERIZON ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT GLENN SULLIVAN EXPLAINS HOW.

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ajor mining companies generally have stringent selection criteria for the mining equipment, technology and services (METS) partners they engage to deliver a diverse range of projects.

When Rio Tinto decided to rehabilitate the Hail Creek coal mine in central Queensland, prior to selling its 82 per cent interest to Glencore in 2018, the job was thrust upon Erizon.

Using its environmental expertise, Erizon has turned a section of the site, which produced 9.4 million tonnes of saleable coal the previous year, into a land of vegetation fit for new purposes.

Erizon was selected for its extensive understanding of soil analysis and environmental conditioning, as well as its ability to quickly respond to large-scale requirements, according to Erizon environmental consultant Glenn Sullivan.

“The client wanted the job to be done as soon as possible, and we were there to deliver a solution within a short turnaround,” Sullivan, who had a leading role in the project, tells Australian Mining.

“Our in-house soil scientist and I were heavily involved in the planning, while a team of five that was trained

by Erizon was in charge of the implementation.”

Erizon, which has more than 20 years’ experience rehabilitating mine sites, took just 12 days to execute the solution. The company transformed parts of the coal mine into areas where healthy vegetation could be grown in accordance with industry best practice.

The project covered 32.8 hectares of revegetation works for early

rehabilitation and soil stabilisation, a term used to describe the restoration of weak and disturbed soil.

Erizon only used mine certified equipment on the project, including a 3D drone survey to map the area with high accuracy.

“By using 3D mapping and photogrammetry, which is the art of making measurements from photographs, it allows us to get a real understanding of the site,” Sullivan says.

“Though you do a site assessment, you can’t walk every metre of the ground, so we use modern technology to do that in a virtual form.

“When you take that photogrammetry survey of the area, you get an understanding of where the access points are and the range of parameters we’ve got from those access points to deliver our solutions.”

Erizon opted for a seed mixture of pasture grasses and native trees, which required amendments to help boost both the organic and microbial activity of the soil.

Sullivan says the amendment strategy played a big role in the successful result by providing optimal nutrients, growth and development of vegetation.

The team also hydraulically added a combination of water, seed and organic matter onto the surface substrate to ensure it achieved the maximum soilto-seed contact.

Erizon incorporated hydromulching bonded fibre matrix (BFM), which provided extensive coverage and acted as a safeguard for the seed, helping it to retain moisture for faster germination and growth.

BFM also protects the soil and seed placement from erosion caused by wind and rain.

ERIZON’S PURPOSE-BUILT HYDROTRUCKS CAN HYDRAULICALLY DISPERSE PRODUCT ONTO MORE THAN 50,000 SQUARE METRES OF LAND A DAY.

“We overcame the challenges that were presented by heavy rain events with the hydromulching mix,” Sullivan says.

“The mix was able to withstand the rainfall velocities and stabilise the soil, while waiting for the seeds to germinate and establish a biodiverse root system.”

Erizon delivered the solution using its mine compliant HydroTrucks, which had the ability to maintain and distribute an even application at a distance of 100 metres, covering more than 50,000 square metres of land a day.

Sullivan says Erizon’s mine compliant equipment sets the company apart from others in the marketplace.

“We also used drones to provide us with live imagery as the work was being conducted, giving us a bird’s view of the accuracy and uniform application of the product. And the implementation was very successful,” Sullivan says.

“We were able to stabilise the substrate and achieved a total ground cover while improving soil quality. We delivered the solution efficiently under high heat, high humidity conditions while prioritising personnel safety.

“Everyone was properly trained

THE OUTCOME OF ERIZON’S 32.8 HECTARES OF REVEGETATION WORKS AT THE HAIL CREEK MINE. AUSTRALIANMINING

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for the project and fit to execute the solution. We ensured there were adequate resources on site to help them manage their fatigue and stay hydrated.”

Under Erizon’s Vision Zero strategy, the company provides systems and operating procedures to support safe conduct.

Erizon is also equipped with the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) health, safety, environment and quality certification to conduct work on site.

The company established vegetation at the coal site after just two weeks of safe delivery of its activities.

Thanks to the superior erosion resistance delivered by the hydromulching solution, the site also withstood severe storms and 183.4 millimetres of rainfall in the area.

Erizon examined the area around four months later with drone monitoring, confirming that the project outcome was aligned with the agreed specifications.

“Rio Tinto was very pleased with the growth that had established in the stipulated timeframe. It was a big success,” Sullivan concludes. AM

PROSPECT AWARDS

THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE PROSPECT AWARDS FOR 16 YEARS, THE PROSPECT AWARDS HAVE SIGNIFIED WHY AUSTRALIA IS HOME TO SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DRIVING THE MINING INDUSTRY FORWARD. THE PROSPECT AWARDS WERE HELD IN BRISBANE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2019.

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he boundaries of human endeavour have shown how far we can evolve and innovate – and the Australian Mining Prospect Awards show just how far the envelope can be pushed in mining.

Launched in 2004, the Prospect Awards highlight and acknowledge the industry’s top performers on the grounds of innovation, production and evolution.

Now in its 17th year, the awards ceremony highlights a smorgasbord of different areas in the mining industry.

With nominations now open, the next edition of Australian Mining’s Prospect Awards will be staged in Brisbane on October 8 and held in conjunction with Austmine’s roadshow.

This year’s awards night is sponsored by many well-known industry brands, including National Group, Liebherr, Epiroc, Metso, ifm and Austmine.

As the industry introduces more technology, the Prospect Awards showcase how the mining world is moving into this new era.

“What we are seeing in the postboom era is companies putting a stronger emphasis on technology,”

Australian Mining managing editor Ben Creagh says.

“It’s very important for mining companies to come together and recognise why it is that the industry has remained so successful.

“Contributing to such a large portion of Australia’s economy, the mining industry deserves to be recognised for its world-class achievements.”

Two new awards will feature at this year’s Prospect Awards, including the Excellence in IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) Application award, which will be presented by ifm.

The company, which specialises in sensor technology applications, hopes the award brings further attention to an area that’s set to push the industry forward.

Previous award winners have been adopting IIoT technology. Glencore took the crown for the 2019 Australian Mine of the Year award and has started implementing sensor technology in its mineral processing plants.

The Indigenous Engagement Award, which recognises collaboration between Aboriginal-owned businesses and mining and minerals processing companies operating within Australia, AUSTRALIANMINING

is another new addition in 2020.

Many major mining companies have continued their support for Aboriginalowned businesses, including Australian iron ore giant, Fortescue Metals Group.

The company is one of the nation’s largest employers of Aboriginal people. Its Billion Opportunities program has been helping Indigenous Australians find jobs for almost a decade.

Prospect Awards events manager Lauren Winterbottom says these new awards shine light on the positive ways in which the industry is changing and moving forward.

“The mining industry has a critical part to play in Australian diversity,” Winterbottom says. “It is also up to us as an event to showcase that.”

“The industry has found value in the Australian Mining Prospect Awards for more than a decade. The platform the awards provide for these industry-leading companies to meet with one another and recognise future opportunities is key to growing the industry.

“We have seen tremendous growth since our first gala event in 2004, with more and more companies and

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individuals nominating themselves each year.”

With over 300 attendees visiting the Prospect Awards each year, the 2020 edition of the event is expected to once again be a full house.

Nominations are now open for the 2020 Prospect Awards. All categories are listed below: • I ndigenous Engagement Award • E xcellence in IIoT Application (sponsored by ifm) • C ontract Miner of the Year (sponsored by Epiroc) • Contribution to Mining • H ard Rock Mine of the Year (sponsored by Epiroc) • C oal Mine of the Year (sponsored

by SEW Eurodrive) • E xcellence in Environmental Management (sponsored by Metso) • E xcellence in Mine Safety, OH&S (sponsored by Schenck Process) • M inerals Processing of the Year (sponsored by CDE Meta) • I nnovative Mining Solution (sponsored by Austmine) • M ine Manager of the Year (sponsored by CRC) • S afety Advocate of the Year (sponsored by Flexco) • L ifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by Liebherr) • A ustralian Mine of the Year (sponsored by National Group) Nominations will close Friday September 4. AM For more information and to nominate, visit: www.prospectawards.com.au GLENCORE’S MANGOOLA SITE WAS LAST YEAR’S MINE OF THE YEAR.

PRODUCT FOCUS

CRUSADER HOSE GOES DEEPER AND STRONGER WITH FLEXIBORE 300 DEPTH IS NOT A CONCERN FOR CRUSADER HOSE WHEN IT ASSISTS MINING OPERATORS WITH GOING DEEPER FOR WATER. AUSTRALIAN MINING REPORTS ON THE ARRIVAL OF FLEXIBORE 300.

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ining practices and demands have evolved over time, and orebodies are not the only element of an operation that are going deeper and posing greater challenges for operators.

These days a mining operation must also maintain productivity and efficiency when it comes to dewatering, especially when bores are getting deeper and requiring a higher pressure to pump the water up.

In a commitment to research and development, Crusader Hose has tested and trialled materials with innovative manufacturing techniques to develop a new range of flexible risers.

Team members who are highly skilled in the layflat hose industry have supported the company’s commitment to developing solutions in this area.

“Developing a product is not easy,” Crusader Hose general manager Daniel Seow tells Australian Mining.

“It takes the engineering department to figure out what kind of manufacturing process needs to be put in place, what kind of tooling needs to be designed to suit the hose jacket that will be supporting the working head.

“These efforts have allowed us to

produce a truly world-class tier of hose that meets and satisfies end users’ requirements for stronger, deeper, flexible bore hose.”

Crusader Hose production and industrial design manager Jack Harrison adds: “As the demands of bores are going deeper and higher in pressure, our overall aim was to create a series of products which will significantly improve our maximum working head.”

Crusader Hose has therefore released the Flexibore 300 flexible riser used for ground water pumping, which can go 300 metres below ground.

Flexibore 300 offers a significant upgrade in both tensile tenacity and burst pressure over its current Flexibore 250 range, which has a maximum operating head of 200 metres.

Seow says the right hose jacket design and chemistry mix of polyester yarn and thermoplastic polyurethane lend the tensile strength and working pressure for Flexibore 300 to go 300 metres below ground.

This high tensile feature enables Flexibore 300 to sustain the overall weight of the power cables and a submersible pump, he adds.

“Our customers have the right to know our products will stand the test

FLEXIBORE 300’S HIGH TENSILE FEATURE ENABLES IT TO SUSTAIN THE OVERALL WEIGHT OF POWER CABLES AND A SUBMERSIBLE PUMP.

of time, even at the most extreme depths,” Seow says.

Crusader Hose has also developed a new complete set of couplings to secure and suit this 300 series hose.

Flexibore 300, which ranges from three to six inches in diameter, has a peak tensile load of between 10 and 25 tonnes.

Crusader Hose goes as far as equipping Flexibore 300 with the ability to withstand intense temperatures more than what is normally required.

While aquifer temperatures could

FLEXIBORE 300 BEING USED AT A MINE SITE. AUSTRALIANMINING

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rise to around 40 to 50 degrees Celsius at a depth of 300 metres below ground, Flexibore 300 is designed to withstand temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius.

Apart from the Flexibore range, Crusader Hose also supplies a wide range of fire hoses for use in mining operations and fire brigades. They include Rapier and Centurion, which meet the Australian Standards 2792 Class H certifications.

In the next five years, the company is expanding its presence outside of Australia and the Asia Pacific region into major international markets. AM

PRODUCTS

STEER IDLER ATTACHMENT FOR NIVEK’S TED

EPIROC RELEASES DM30II DRILL FOR MINING

Specifically designed to remove and replace heavy steer idlers on ultraclass trucks, the TED steer idler attachment features a pivot adjustment to support the steer idler at precisely the right angle for effective removal and replacement, along with a bar to secure the steer idler in place, protecting against unplanned moves.

With a safe working limit of 400 kilograms, this attachment allows you to further harness TED’s remote-control capabilities for taking the weight out of what is traditionally a heavy, awkward, potentially dangerous maintenance task.

Initially designed as a remote controlled, all-terrain belly plate jack, TED is found in mining workshops all over the world, making countless maintenance tasks safer and easier. The range of smart attachments continues to grow, driven by demand from industry.

Nivek Industries is committed to providing safer solutions for mining maintenance. To find out more, or if you have an attachment design request, contact Nivek Industries online.

Epiroc’s DM30II drill gives operators heavy-duty performance in a small package, in every mining application from hard rock to coal.

Suited for 140 millimetre to 200 millimetre holes, the DM30II features a spacious falling object protective structure (FOPS) cab and electric over hydraulic controls for easy and comfortable operation.

Designed specifically for mining, the DM30II’s structural components will hold up against the toughest heavy duty cycles required by a mining drill.

For a single pass application, the DM30II can achieve a clean hole depth of 7.9 metres and for a multi-pass it can manage depths of up to 44.5 metres.

With a compact design, the DM30II can easily be transported between benches or even between mine properties.

• epiroc.com

• nivekindustries.com.au

THYSSENKRUPP BARRACUDA BUCKET WHEEL EXCAVATORS thyssenkrupp’s barracuda bucket wheel excavator extends the application range of bucket wheel excavators.

The barracuda is able to dig and cut materials with average uniaxial compressive strengths of up to 50 megapascals.

The teeth arrangement has been adapted to usual bucket wheel configurations, to meet the demands of harder materials.

It can also be tailored to the operator’s needs, with a basic version, the barracuda Flexo, equipped with a short discharge conveyor, barracuda System. This is a combination of the Flexo and a shiftable bench conveyor and barracuda C, which has been upgraded with bucket wheel technology for digging harder material.

The barracuda offers the benefit of being a nonblasting operation, no primary crushing required, high safety, low costs, environmentally friendly and flexible excavator.

WEIR SAVES MONEY AND INCREASES EFFICIENCY Weir Minerals’ 400CVX10 hydrocyclone improves separation efficiency with its spigot liner diameter, along with the added benefits of strength and corrosion resistance provided by its cast housing. The Cavex hydrocyclone delivers a reduction to circulating load drops from 620 per cent to 374 per cent. The device also boasts savings of more than $US815,000 ($1.35 million) per annum in power consumption, ball consumption and cyclone and pump maintenance costs. The performance gains from Cavex’s hydrocyclones are due to its intelligently designed, 360-degree laminar spiral inlet geometry development. This provides a natural flow path into the hydrocyclone, allowing the feed to blend smoothly with rotating slurry inside the chamber.

• global.weir

• thyssenkrupp-industrial-

solutions.com/en

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PRODUCTS

SANDVIK LAUNCHES RAISING APPLICATIONS

CATERPILLAR ROLLS OUT D11 DOZERS

Sandvik has released the automation-ready DU412i underground ITH longhole drill for production drilling, service support and mechanised slot raising.

Its mechanised pipe handling in V-30 slot raising applications has been released for the first time in the global market. Its V-30 head gives mechanised reaming of 30-inch diameter slot raises.

Available with high capacity onboard boosters and hammer pressure up to 28 bar, the drill is ready for high penetration rates, drilling capacity and supports hammers up to eight inches at 24 bar pressure. Sandvik also ensures the DU412i’s automation packages can be used for repeated drilling cycles with speed and precision. The use of unmanned drilling can increase fleet utilisation, allowing one operator to supervise several units which boost productivity and safety.

Sandvik has equipped the drill with a new user interface and updated cabin for improved comfort, ergonomics and usability.

Caterpillar has launched its next-generation Cat D11 dozer, which features all of the components operators loved about the previous model, with many of them now better.

The D11 features load sensing hydraulics to reduce fuel burn, better efficiency and lower maintenance requirements than its predecessor.

Caterpillar has developed this machine to ensure faster cycle times, enabling it to produce more dirt at a lower cost per tonne. The new case and frame design also delivers a 5 per cent reduction in maintenance costs, with a new case and frame design, improved bearings, redesigned pin points and a 30 per cent larger oil pan.

• cat.com

• rocktechnology.sandvik

MINERUNNER BOOSTS SAFETY AND RELIABILITY Astec Australia has released a new version of its hardworking Minerunner vehicle.

The new Minerunner EWB retains all of the features that have made the machine a popular choice for underground transportation: a tough hydrostatic four-wheel drive system that reduces costs associated with brake wear and mechanical transmissions, traction control, electronic speed limiting, and the enhanced passenger safety of roll over protection (ROPS) and falling object protection (FOPS).

Released globally in mid-2019, updates to the new Minerunner EWB include extending the rear wheelbase by 1500 millimetres and increasing the payload capacity to 3295 kilograms. This has been achieved without impacting the machine’s overall proportions of 2060 millimetres in width and 2100 millimetres in height.

The increase in deck space and payload has enabled the personnel carrier module to be reconfigured to include two entry points, and forward and rear-facing seating. Each module can seat six miners and the Minerunner EWB can accommodate two modules, taking its total carrying capacity to 15.

IFM’S O3M SENSOR TECHNOLOGY FOR BETTER VISIBILITY ifm’s latest O3M generation of 3D smart sensors detects objects to provide a higher level of vision to help mine vehicle operators avoid collisions.

The O3M has a smart sensor which measures the distance between the sensor and the nearest surface point of the mine or quarry. If an object is too close or in a blind spot, the sensor activates an alarm.

These sensors can detect reflective objects up to 30 metres away using technology that prevents sunlight from distorting the sensor.

It is also able to detect objects with reflective material, such as a worker’s reflective vest in dusty environments.

• ifm.com

• astecaustralia.com.au

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EVENTS

CONFERENCES, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS EVENT SUBMISSIONS CAN BE EMAILED TO EDITOR@AUSTRALIANMINING.COM.AU International Uranium Digital Conference 2020, June 30 - July 1; July 7-8 AusIMM’s International Uranium Conference is returning for its 15th consecutive year in 2020, this time in a digital format. The conference will provide delegates with unparalleled opportunities to network with some of the world’s top uranium experts.

Delegates will learn about the current state of the global uranium industry with experts presenting on the turnaround in the uranium and nuclear market.

Presentations will discuss the growing global demand for more new uranium production and the opportunities to re-commence standby projects and explore new projects.

The conference will showcase the latest innovations in the uranium industry and discuss how to prepare and position ourselves for a market upturn.

• uranium.ausimm.com Women in Industry Awards, Melbourne, August 13 The Women in Industry Awards acknowledges the exceptional women who have achieved success through their invaluable leadership, innovation and commitment to their sector.

The awards recognise and reward the achievements of women working within the resources, engineering, manufacturing, process control industries and commercial road transport industries, and aims to raise the profile of women within industry, as well as promote and encourage excellence.

Australian Mining, PACE, Manufacturers’ Monthly, MHD Supply Chain Solutions, Prime Mover, Trailer, Waste

Management Review, Rail Express, Roads & Infrastructure Australia and Australian Bulk Handling Review have partnered to bring the event to life.

• womeninindustry.com.au Queensland Mining and Engineering Exhibition, Mackay, September 22-24 Having been staged for more than 25 years, the Queensland Mining and Engineering Exhibition (QME) is recognised as the largest mining expo in the Sunshine State.

Held in Mackay, the gateway to the Bowen Basin region, the event is right on the doorstep of some of the country’s largest coal mines.

QME will feature over 250 suppliers showcasing leading products and solutions and will host a free-to-attend seminar series that will provide a unique opportunity to hear from industry professionals who will address the current needs of the industry.

Sessions will cover mine management and maintenance, health and safety, coal processing strategies and automation, future skills, policy outlook, engineering excellence and more.

QME will be held from September 22 to 24 at the Mackay Showground.

The event was delayed from July due to COVID-19.

• queenslandminingexpo.com.au

new technologies, meet face-toface with vendors and make valuable new connections.

The expo showcases all of the latest cutting-edge equipment, innovations, services and technologies to take your operations to a new level and fuel long term growth.

MINExpo attendees have the buying power and influence to purchase the equipment, products and services that are brought to the show. In just three days, meet thousands of mine operators from all over the world – all in one place.

• minexpo.com

Australian Mining Prospect Awards 2020, Brisbane, October 8 The Australian mining industry’s biggest awards celebration returns to the Sunshine State for the second straight year. Since 2004, the Australian Mining Prospect Awards have been the only national awards program to stop, take a look at what the mining industry is doing, and reward those who are excelling and going above and beyond, recognising and rewarding innovation. That trend is set to continue this year, with 14 awards on offer for mining’s highest achievers, including two new awards. Visit the Prospect Awards website for information about nominating for the 2020 awards.

• prospectawards.com.au

MINExpo International, Las Vegas, September 28-30

Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum, Kalgoorlie, October 12-14

MINExpo International is the world’s largest and most comprehensive global mining event.

Held every four years, MINExpo brings together worldwide industry leaders who are ready to purchase the latest equipment and services, see innovative

This annual conference brings mining and exploration companies, brokers, bankers, investors, financiers and mining services companies together in Australia’s unofficial gold mining capital, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

The event, which has been moved

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from August to October following the impact of the coronavirus, combines presentations by listed companies with a large display area, housing a range of exhibitors from within the sector.

Diggers and Dealers also features a world-class entertainment program, including a keynote address from a world-class speaker, Oxford University professor, Ian Goldin.

Previous keynote speakers have included former Prime Minister John Howard and British economist and public servant Mervyn King.

It is also possible to visit sites within the Kalgoorlie-Goldfields region during the conference by contacting companies directly.

• diggersndealers.com.au IMARC, Melbourne, October 27-29 The seventh International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) will connect over 7000 decision makers, mining leaders, policy makers, technical experts, innovators and educators from over 100 countries to Melbourne.

The four-day conference will give plenty of opportunities for learning, deal making and unparalleled networking, while also facilitating exhibitions and workshops.

As Australia’s largest mining conference, the IMARC program will cover the entire mining supply chain and explore numerous topics such as exploration, plant and processing, social licence, workforce attraction and retention and mine optimisation.

More than 400 global mining companies participated in IMARC 2019, setting off a strong momentum for the 2020 conference.

• imarcmelbourne.com

FLEXIBORE THE SYSTEM OF CHOICE FOR

GROUND WATER PUMPING Flexibore Coupling

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PUMPING EFFICIENCY & COST SAVING EASY STORAGE, HANDLING & TRANSPORT QUICK AND EASY INSTALLATION & RETRIEVAL

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Crusader Hose Pty Ltd Customised Layflat Hose Systems

AUSTRALIAN MADE

22 Industry Place, Bayswater, VIC 3153 Australia Telephone: +61 3 9720 1100 www.crusaderhose.com.au For any enquiries, email sales@crusaderhose.com.au

Still working with you

At ifm we have taken various steps to keep our employees and customers safe. However, we are maintaining our work schedules and are available for all our customers during this time. We’re 100% committed to being your sensor and automation systems partner. We will continue to provide a high level of service for processing orders, shipping product and responding to any billing needs you may have, whilst offering technical support. Call us – we’re available and here to support you in any way we can.

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