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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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