Monthly Archives: October 2017

WASMA Alumni > Resources > News > 2017 > October
25Oct

Mining Innovation Hub For kalgoorlie

Author WASMA Posted on

Ground-breaking Mining Innovation Hub set to accelerate regional growth and innovation in Australia’s minerals industry 

Kal Hub announced web

A major new mining innovation Hub has been announced for the Australian minerals industry to ensure it remains at the cutting edge of profitable, productive and sustainable minerals production. To be based in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, this new initiative developed by the Cooperative Research Centre for Optimising Resource Extraction (CRC ORE) will bring together some of Australia’s best scientists, engineers and mining experts on co-collaboration projects to innovate and add significant value to our burgeoning minerals industry.
Launched today in Kalgoorlie-Boulder where the Hub will be headquartered, the initiative is set to translate leading Australian mining research into real economic outcomes for the region and the country.

Driven by the leaders in Australia’s minerals industry, the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mining Innovation Hub will nurture and progress new mining technologies to revolutionise the way gold and other mineral deposits are exploited for maximum profitability and minimum environmental impact.a

The collaborative approach being taken by the Hub will see a solid pipeline of projects developed and deployed to deliver real value to current operations.

For an initial establishment period (an estimated two years), the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mining Innovation Hub will run as a node of CRC ORE. CRC ORE will provide close oversight and an existing governance structure while allowing time for the development of a sustainable long term operating entity. The development of the Hub and the bringing together of collaborators to progress innovative technology fits soundly into CRC ORE’s remit.

“The Hub will develop and test novel ways to optimise the extraction of precious minerals,” explains Dr Luke Keeney, a key driver of the Hub’s development.

“It will boost the industry and regions economic prosperity, as well as its environmental sustainability. This work is essential in ensuring Australia retains its credentials and remains competitive as a world leader in the production of minerals and associated technology,” he says.

The location of the Hub was carefully selected for its proximity to several operating mine sites. The area is home to a range of geological and mineralisation styles. Access to this diversity is a real plus for technology development and application tailored to Australian conditions. It allows for the direct linkage of the innovative technologies being developed to operating sites in Australia.
There has been good support for establishment of the Hub from industry. Early priorities will be the appointment of a Hub Director and the establishment of an Advisory Committee with strong industry representation. The Hub will be housed in the Western Australian Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) office in Kalgoorlie.

Importantly, the Hub also provides a vehicle to train professionals to further grow capability and capacity within Western Australia and Australia. With foundation partners in Curtin University’s Western Australian School of Mines (WASM) and the Central Regional TAFE, it is envisaged that the Hub will become a centre of excellence for technical knowledge transfer.

There is a strong team of inaugural partners, including WASM, the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA), METS Ignited, an Industry Growth Centre funded by the Australian Government, CME, the Central Regional TAFE and the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

“The strong support from the resource sector and government illustrates its importance for the future of the industry,” Rowena Olsen, CME’s Manager – Eastern Region says.

“This sets up a strong platform for finding better ways of extracting minerals from rock and processing them efficiently. We are looking to ensure Australia produces the highest quality product at the lowest cost with minimal environmental impact.

10Oct

Curtin researchers ‘muddy’ current thinking on Earth’s mantle

Author WASMA Posted on
Media release

Curtin University researchers have for the first time discovered the melting of mud in the Earth’s mantle, providing insights into the nature and history of the continental crust.

The paper in GEOLOGY published by Geological Society of America has significant bearing on the understanding of how the Earth’s rock cycle operates.

After several research expeditions to Oman and the United Arab Emirates, researchers found that the geochemical signature in the mineral zircon conclusively shows that mud from the ocean floor subducts deep into the mantle, where it then melts to form granite.

Lead researcher Dr Christopher Spencer from the Department of Applied Geology in the WA School of Mines Curtin said the findings provide new insights into how materials are recycled at the boundaries between continents and oceans, also known as subduction zones.

“The results from our research provide new information into the nature and history of the continental crust and mineral resources found within it,” Dr Spencer said.

“This discovery is crucial as it is the first time we have directly observed sedimentary material that melted in the mantle, as previous research has only speculated on this process.

“Our research discovered the highest oxygen isotope signature ever reported for zircon. Finding the zircon and the granite within the mantle rocks was extremely unexpected.

“Identifying the presence and determining the extent of mud melting in the mantle has important implications for understanding the effects on the composition of the mantle over time.”

The study was carried out with researchers at the John de Laeter Centre at Curtin University, as well as the Universities of St Andrews, Derby, Oxford, and Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and The University of Western Australia.

Co-author Dr Aaron Cavosie also from the WA School of Mines said the research gives us fresh insight into how the zircon records large-scale tectonic plate processes.

“The mineral zircon records many geological processes, from the creation of the Earth’s earliest oceans, glacial process, metamorphism, and recycling of the Earth’s crust,” Dr Cavosie said.

“The zircon we analysed are off-the-charts in terms of oxygen isotope ratios which can only result from melting mud and finding these in the exposed the mantle is incredibly exciting.”

The research was carried out as part of the Early Career Curtin Research Fellowship awarded to Dr Christopher Spencer.

The full research paper, Evidence for melting mud in Earth’s mantle from extreme oxygen isotope signatures in zircon, can be found at: https://bit.ly/2xcMspu

09Oct

Gold Rally

Author WASMA Posted on

Gold workers to rally at Parliament

We invite you to join us as we rally at Parliament House  to send a clear message to local politicians to put jobs first.

Please gather with us from 9am, Tuesday 10 October outside the main entrance. This is the day that Parliament resumes

04Oct

BHP Delivers Gender Diversity

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BHP adds 1000 women to workforce

News Ben Creagh

BHP’s workforce has grown to be more than 20 per cent female.

The company, which set an ambitious target of making half of its workforce women by 2025, increased its female representation by 2.9 per cent in the 2017 financial year, just below a 3 per cent goal.

BHP chief executive Andrew McKenzie said the company hired 1000 more women in fiscal 2017, lifting its female presence to more than 20 per cent.

The company also halved its female turnover rate during the financial year, from 8.4 per cent higher than men the previous year to 4.7 per cent.

“These numbers are important. If we achieve balance in and balance out then we can move towards our goal more quickly,” McKenzie said.

“This year the number of female leaders rose to 18 per cent. There are 100 more female leaders in our company today than a year ago. It makes a noticeable difference to how we make decisions and how it feels to work in our teams.”

McKenzie reinforced the strong commercial reasons for targeting diversity, including a safer, more innovative and productive workforce.

He said BHP’s most diverse sites outperform the company average on many measures, such as lower injury rates, and greater adherence to work plans and production targets.

“There’s also a moral imperative for diversity. As a father, I believe my children should be able to succeed because of their skills and achievements – the fact that they are women should not make a difference,” McKenzie said.

“An increase in the participation of women will also make a difference that benefits the communities in which we operate.”

While BHP’s target is to have 50 per cent of its workforce women in less than a decade, it has exceeded this proportion at its new Brisbane logistics control centre.

At the centre, which is made up of 53 per cent women, BHP recruited people based on matched skills rather than mining experience.

03Oct

Gold Plant Operators Course

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Gold Plant Operators Course 2017

WASM logo

Western Australian School of Mines (WASM) and CRC ORE are pleased to announce the special two-day “Gold Plant Operators Course” on the extraction and recovery of gold will be available 17-18 October 2017.

The course cost is $990.00 GST inclusive. Courses will be scheduled around Australia, based on demand. Please register using the online form. The form can also be used to  request a course at a location near you.

UPCOMING COURSE

Gold Plant Operators Course
17-18 October 2017

Proposed location:
Western Australian School of Mines
Department of Mining Engineering and Metallurgical Engineering
95 Egan Street, Kalgoorlie WA

 

Adjunct Professor Jeff Vaughan BSc(Hon), PhD(UNE), MAusIMM
Former Academic Head of the Mining Geology Programme at the WA School of Mines. Consultant on process mineralogy.

Dr Denis Yan MSc, PhD(NSW), MAIME, MAusIMM
Adjunct Associate Professor, Western Australian School of Mines.
Dr Richard Browner BSc(Hon), PhD(WA)
Associate Professor in hydrometallurgy and metallurgical chemistry at the WA School of Mines. Consultant on gold hydrometallurgy.
Professor Steve Hall PhD
Professor/ Executive Director MEA. Former Director Western Australian School of Mines.
Dr Laurence Dyer PhD Teaching and Research lecturer, refractory ores. Western Australian School of Mines.
Dr Bogale Tadesse Teaching and Research Lecturer, mineralogy, Western Australian School of Mines.
Dr Boris Albigenic Teaching and Research Lecturer, flotation. Western Australian School of Mines.
Dr Luke Keeney Mining technical specialist with experience in global integrated mining. General Manager – Implementation, CRC ORE.