Archives: Sustainable mining

Researchers from the Sustainable Minerals Institute’s Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) say they are developing a soft sensor to overcome previously-accepted performance challenges facing SAG mills. SAG mills are a key asset for mineral processing operations as one of the critical stages of extracting mineral out of ore, and their continued stable operation is[…]

Solar power is energising Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology’s facility in Zimbabwe, with the mining OEM saving around 400 t/y of carbon dioxide emissions, it says. The Harare-based operation, which focuses mainly on the remanufacture of Sandvik trucks, loaders, drills and bolters, kicked off its solar power journey in 2017 with an 18-month Phase One[…]

Itronics says test work on two separate precious metals closed heap leach materials pads has provided positive results in recovering metals and minerals using its proprietary “Zero Waste” technologies. Rock Kleen Tailings Processing Technology neutralises the residual cyanide and removes nitrogen produced by blasting rocks in the mining process, making the materials available for use[…]

Metals Consulting International Ltd (MCI), the independent iron and steel sector management consulting firm, has announced the merger of its advisory business with that of Saint Barbara, advisors to the world’s metals, minerals and mining industries. MCI mostly undertakes iron and steel sector due diligence and feasibility study work for clients in Western, Central and[…]

Barrick Gold’s automation and electrification efforts look to be gaining pace, with the leading gold miner revealing it has been testing out new technology at some of its operations in the US and Canada. In its recently released annual report, Barrick said the first stage of a project designed to retrofit an autonomous system at[…]

Antofagasta has signed a new power purchase agreement (PPA) with ENGIE Energía Chile SA that will see 100% of the power supplied to its Centinela copper operation, in Chile, come from renewable sources. The contract, from 2022 until 2033, will replace two existing PPAs Antofagasta had in place that expire in 2026 and 2027. It[…]

Vale says it is evaluating short-term alternatives to the wet processing of tailings at its Brucutu iron ore mine, in Brazil, as it looks to step up processing activities at the Minas Gerais operation. The Brucutu plant, which used to dispose of tailings in the Norte/Laranjeiras dam – that has been at “emergency level 1”[…]

Engineering, design and advisory company Aurecon is part of a national consortium to support regional Australian communities facing mine closure which has secured A$30 million in funding from the Australian Government. Led jointly by the University of Western Australia and the University of Queensland, the consortium will now form a Cooperative Research Centre on Transformations[…]

Bis, FLSmidth and Karara Mining have developed a “unique mobile stacking conveyor” solution that has cut water use, costs and the environmental footprint at the iron ore miner’s operation in Western Australia. If Karara’s iron ore mine had chosen a wet tailings storage facility, the tailings pond would have been roughly 8 sq.km based on[…]

BHP and Vale have invested in measures to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Chile and Brazil, respectively. While BHP has already announced COVID-19-related plans to hire more people and provide preventative measures in Australia, on top of freeing up money for to support local suppliers, it has now tabled its $8[…]