Mined landform stability for regional benefits
Research Program
Operational Solutions
Project Leader
Professor David Williams
Project ID
3.5
Summary
The key aim of the Project is to assess the geotechnical, erosional and geochemical stability, and acceptability for closure, of past and current mined landforms, to inform suitable future mined landforms for a range of site settings and mineral commodities. The dominant site settings are climate, topography and seismicity, and the range of mineral commodities will include bulk commodities such as coal and iron ore, precious metals, base metals, metals processed from oxide ores, and the associated open pits, overburden dumps, low grade stockpiles, underground workings, and tailings, including fly ash.
The Project will involve a literature search, and input from the experiences of the Project Research and Industry Teams, on the performance of past and current mined landforms globally, covering a range of site settings and mineral commodities. This information will be collated, with published references in an e-library, distilled into a conceptual model of the physical, chemical and biological interactions determining effective mined landform stability post closure in a range of site settings, mining methods, and for a range of mineral commodities, including preliminary recommendations for effective mined landform design, construction and sustainability in the Australian context, and recommendations for further research.
Project Partners
BHP; Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions; Deswik Mining Consultants (Australia); Downer; Energy Australia; Federation University; MMG Australia; Newmont Mining Services; Rio Tinto; University of Queensland; Department for Energy and Mining, South Australian Government; Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Victorian Government; Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Queensland Government; Ecocene P/L (emapper); Landloch; Aurecon Australasia; Golder Associates; Lyonesse Consulting
Duration
6 months