Chino Archives - International Mining

During a Technical Session at the SME MineXchange Conference and Expo, in Phoenix, Arizona, today, a speaker from Freeport-McMoRan highlighted the value case for using MineSense’s X-ray Fluorescence-based ShovelSense® system at its Chino copper mine in New Mexico, USA.

In a presentation titled, ‘ShovelSense Bulk Ore Sorting Use Cases and Value at Freeport-McMoRan Chino Mine, New Mexico, USA,’ Maurice Sunkpal, Senior Ore Control, Freeport-McMoRan, showcased how the company’s use of ShovelSense had resulted in multiple benefits.

The company has been employing ShovelSense alongside other solutions such as Orica’s OREPro™ 3D as part of a five-year, ore control focused strategy at Chino. Chino is a highly heterogeneous copper porphyry skarn deposit where ore control is especially challenging due to the natural variability of the deposit, sparse blasthole sampling and blast movement, causing inevitable ore loss and dilution.

Chino has retrofitted its main production Komatsu P&H4100 electric rope shovel with ShovelSense to predict grades at the mine face for the purpose of bulk ore sorting, diverting mis-classified trucks to their correct destination.

Sunkpal was able to showcase the difference in the waste and ore definitions from a standard block model and that of one based on XRF data from ShovelSense (see below). This data – and the resultant diversions – in the mining of high contrast ore-waste contacts resulted in more than 10% truck diversions, yielding significant economic benefits by reducing dilution and ore loss, he said.

*Block model differences: the original on the left and the ShovelSense-aided block model on the right*

He also said the integraion of ShovelSense was enhancing the self-audit capabilities of ore control tools at the mine via real-time tracking of the ore control process. He added that this process had identified opportunities for further process optimisation.

Further, Chino has seen a reduction in variance from mine to mill with ShovelSense, while allowing the company to carry out selective mining with increased accuracy and confidence.

The Copper Mark, the assurance framework to promote responsible practices and demonstrate the copper industry’s contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, has added six new participating sites to its pending list of mining operations to have achieved its Assurance Process.

Five of the six operations are US mines majority owned by Freeport-McMoRan, namely Bagdad, Chino, Tyrone, Safford (pictured, the Lone Star project) and Sierrita. The sixth is Compañía Minera Condestable SA in Peru, owned by Southern Peaks Mining.

These sites are now beginning the process of assessment based on the Copper Mark’s Assurance Process, The Copper Mark said, adding that the total number of participating sites is set to grow to 23 with these new additions.

To receive the Copper Mark, copper producers must be assessed independently against a comprehensive set of environmental, social and governance criteria on a site-by-site basis. The Copper Mark was originally founded and developed by the International Copper Association, in conjunction with various stakeholders including financial institutions, commodities exchanges, non-governmental organisations, original equipment manufacturers and copper fabricators. The Copper Mark now is an independent entity and builds on the advice of its multi-stakeholder advisory council.

The Copper Mark also added two new fabricator partners to its list of industry partners, with Nexans and Halcor both joining as partner organisations that use or rely on copper in their businesses and have made a public commitment to the Copper Mark’s vision and objectives of promoting responsible copper production.

Michèle Brülhart, Executive Director of the Copper Mark, said: “We are delighted to secure new partners in Nexans and Halcor, both of which recognise the vital importance of the sustainable production of copper, both for the local communities within which the copper industry operates and for the wider green transition.

“The addition of six new participating sites from our long-standing partner Freeport-McMoRan and our new participant Southern Peaks Mining will enable us to build further on the momentum and progress made by the Copper Mark last year in working to embed responsible production practices within the copper industry.”

Kathleen Quirk, President and Chief Financial Officer of Freeport-McMoRan, said: “We are proudly committed to the Copper Mark. Responsible production is central to Freeport’s strategy of being foremost in the global copper industry. The Copper Mark helps to demonstrate our responsible production practices to all of our stakeholders. Copper plays an essential role in the technologies necessary to develop and deliver clean energy. As one of the world’s largest copper producers, we understand we play a critical role in the global energy transition, and we are dedicated to supplying the global economy with responsibly produced copper.”

Adolfo Vera, President of Southern Peaks Mining, said: “We are very proud to be part of the Copper Mark, as it emphasises our commitment to modern mining, relying on innovation, striving for social and environmental responsibility, and focused on the sustainable development of the industry for the benefit of our country. We believe that the Copper Mark is the new standard for world-class mining and would be thrilled to see more Peruvian companies adopting this standard. At SPM, we work hard in following a path to becoming a mining company recognised by our high standards. A mining company that generates an excess of well-being while aiming to cause little to no negative impact to the world.”

Freeport-McMoRan Chino feels the ‘value add’ from MineSense ShovelSense installation

Another six mining operations apply for ‘The Copper Mark’