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“Australia’s Response To The Chile Technological Roadmap In Mining”:
The University of Queensland Experience
CHALLENGE 1: “Underground mining: Development of large-scale deep
mining”
Professor and Chair In Minerals Industry Engagement (UQ 2014 - 2019)
Program Leader Mass Underground Mining SMIBRC
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• This presentation shows the outcomes of a series of international collaborative
studies managed by the author in collaboration with senior technical
representatives from a number of the international major mining companies
since 2009. The presentation presents generic challenges and how different
countries are preparing themselves for the future deep mining challenges
Disclaimer
1. The Mass Mining Technology (MMT)2. The Supercaves Scoping Study3. Geology and Mass Mining (GMM)4. The Next Generation Cave Mining
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Courtesy of Codelco 2010
The 1970s Mining Dilemma
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– LHD equipment introduced to handle big rocks from caving of Primary Ore
– New mining layout (panel) introduced including support systems to suit
– Underground primary ore crushers introduced
THE OUTCOMES
This became the basis or platform for
CONTEMPORARY block and panel cave
mining: 1980s to Current
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THE EMERGING DILEMMA
The changing mining environment
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Mining rapidly moving into new and uncertain
scenarios
– Depletion of near surface deposits
– Increasing discoveries of Deeper Deposits, very large porphyry systems and
generally with Lower average Grades
– Increasing demand for production from Mass underground mining sources to
supplement Mass surface mining sources (e.g. copper, gold, molybdenum)
– Deposits in conditions with potentially higher Geo-Risks (complex geology, very
high geothermal conditions, high stresses)
– Environmental constraints (License to Operate) and associated legislations
– Stricter demands for better Energy and Water management or utilisation
– Developing new mining projects under Capital Constraint
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A 2014 Keynote Address
TechnicalEconomicalOperationalProductivityLicence to operateHuman capital
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FUTURE “DEED MASS MINING” OPTIONS
• Deep pits (beyond a 1000 m to 1800m)
• Transition from large open pits to cave
mining
• Deep Cave Mining Systems (down to
2000m)
• In-Situ Recovery (Hard Copper ores)
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Depth of Cave Mining (The Vision)
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The future for metal production. Potentially viable methods for extracting low grade, deep and massive
ores profitably (and Safely)
Deep Mass Underground Mining
“Cave mining systems”
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1. Cave mining at depths of 1000m – 2000m (stresses and temperatures)
2. Cost and time for acquiring dependable deposit knowledge for mine design
3. Time to access deep orebodies (access development) and to establish cave
mines (large footprint development)
4. Escalating and unsustainable mining costs (CAPEX and OPEX)
5. Access to mining investments (constrained capital)
6. Geo-Hazards: cave mining in complex geological, geotechnical,
hydrogeological and high geothermal settings outside current experience
(sever damage, collapses and rock bursts)
7. License to operate
8. Human capital (shortage of young people with interest in mining)
The mass mining industry (cave mining) must change (Flores 2014 & Chitombo 2014)
Specific Future Generic challenges
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THE GLOBAL INDUSTRY RESPONSE TO ENVISAGED CHALLENGES
Via EU Countries
Via Canada (CEMI)
Via Nordic Countries
Via Australia (UQ SMIBRC)
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Via EU Countries 2012 - 2016
The Project is an initiative focused on the Technological Challenges the mining industry is currently facing including the exploitation of ever deeper deposits and the aspiration of an invisible, safe, zero impact mine
PRESS RELEASE 2012www.i2mine.eu
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• CEMI aims to solve one of the most critical challenges facing the deep underground mining industry: how to manage the impacts of rock-related stress issues in mining ultra-deep ore bodies (ultra-deep is mining below 8000ft).
• How to optimize frack treatments (using fluids under high pressure to create cracks in rocks & exploit hydrocarbon reserves more effectively and economically), and potentially lower significant capital and operating costs of resource extraction.
Via Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI)
Canada
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• The Nordic Rock Tech Centre AB (RTC) is seeking to identify and
solve rock technology problems for the mining industry through
collaborative projects. A significant emphasis is placed upon the
transfer of solutions to practical, hard rock applications for the
benefit of the project consortia members.
Via the Nordic ROCKTECH Centre Sweden
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Via SMIBRC
This will mark the start of a series of research and development activities needed to transform the cave mining industry focusing on Block (conventional and macro), Panel, Inclined, Front and Sublevel caving.
First Project (Horizon 1): 2016 - 2020
An SMIBRC current global initiative under final stages of development:
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• This consortium amalgamates all previous international
collaborative cave mining research carried out via the University
of Queensland (SMIBRC) through projects and studies such as:
– The Mass Mining Technology (MMT)
– The Supercaves Scoping Study (2011 – 2013)
– Geology and Mass Mining (2013 – 2015)
– The Next Generation Cave Mining study (2014 – 2015)
– Cave Mining 2040 (Horizon 1 project 2016 - 2020)
Cave Mining 2040
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Cave Mining 2040 Goals and Grand Challenge
Objectively determine the current state of caving knowledge and continue to develop new knowledge for improved: Utilisation of various forms of cave mining automation systems, total deposit knowledge; cave performance prediction; planning, design, construction, production and operation
Acceleration of the development of disruptive innovations through industry collaboration to help lower total mining costs and increase production
Ensure business sustainability regardless of mining conditions through the delivery of “zero harm operations” with acceptable social and environmental consequences
The development of methods to extract massively increased tonnages or optimal tonnages of deep deposits safely, economically and predictably with acceptable social and environmental consequences.
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• Tentative priority R&D areas identified at the May 6 2016 workshop
• Discussions with prospective member companies including Mine or Portfolio Owners, OEMs, SMEs and International Research Groups from Australia, Europe, Japan, Scandinavia, South Africa and Chile
• Prospective participants and sponsors (currently under discussions):
– Newcrest Mining
– Codelco Operations
– BHPB (Minera Escondida)
– Anglo American/De Beers
– CMOC (Northparkes)
– Atlas Copco
– Sandvik
– Komatsu
– Joy Global
• University based and Commercial researchers: University of Queensland (SMI), Curtin University, University of Chile, Itasca, Polymathian
Status
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