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Australias 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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Disclaimer
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

1. The Mass Mining Technology (MMT)


2. The Supercaves Scoping Study
3. Geology and Mass Mining (GMM)
4. The Next Generation Cave Mining

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The 1970s Mining Dilemma

Courtesy of Codelco 2010

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THE OUTCOMES
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

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

Technical
Economical
Operational
Productivity
Licence to operate
Human 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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Deep Mass Underground Mining
Cave mining systems
The future for metal production.
Potentially viable methods for extracting low grade, deep and massive
ores profitably (and Safely)

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Specific Future Generic challenges

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)

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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 2012


www.i2mine.eu

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Via Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI)
Canada

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.

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Via the Nordic ROCKTECH Centre Sweden

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.

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Via SMIBRC

An SMIBRC current global initiative This will mark the start of a series of
under final stages of development: 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

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Cave Mining 2040

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)

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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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Status
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

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