SMI Webinars

This webinar will elaborate on how to relate different analytical and data types to solve pressing issues facing the mining industry.

The last decade has seen intensifying pressure on the mining industry to demonstrate its contribution to development. In this seminar Dr Anthony Kung presents research on how companies can organise for effective social performance. The research design comprises 11 elements that together constitute a strategic review of a company's social performance function.

There is increasing debate about the ‘circular economy’ and the role that mining could play in such a scenario, especially linked to the world’s efforts such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As always, when it comes to mining and its current status and future prospects, it’s still, and will always be about the physical and social environment.

Assoc Prof Paul Gow discusses four new publications (DIP023-026) recently released in the Warramunga Province mineral deposit series focussing on the Rover field to the southwest of Tennant Creek, NT.

Taking research out of the lab and into a live environment is always an extensive learning process yet, what if your lab is a live environment? Community based living labs are not new although only starting to emerge in Australia now with some importance. What if Australia had region based living lab that encompasses the traditional community aspects but also the surrounding industry and support business?

This webinar will present how mining companies can prepare for, and accelerate, the industry transformation to a more sustainable future.

In this webinar Prof Daniel Franks introduces the concept of Development Minerals, i.e. minerals and materials that are mined, processed, manufactured and used domestically in industries such as construction, manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture, and interrogates the relationship between minerals, development, livelihoods and poverty reduction.

When CWiMI was created in 2005, companies were under increasing pressure to disclose their environmental, economic and social impacts in corporate reports. CWiMI was asked to assist with achieving consistency in water reporting and in collaboration with the Minerals Council of Australia, developed the mining industry's Water Accounting Framework, which has now been adopted as international guideline. In this webinar, Asso Prof Claire Côte reflects on its benefits.

The presentation deals with the question from which condition onwards soil starts to show soil-like properties and how they relate to potential failure mechanisms for Tailings Storage Facilities. Special attention will be given to an emerging monitoring technology based on the electromagnetic measurement method dielectric spectroscopy.

The current global tensions between China and the West have the potential for leading to major disruptions in metal supply. This presentation will consider the latest data on supply security based on recent research conducted on resource efficiency, recycling, remanufacturing and frontier sources of metals. The presentation will also explore what role technical mineral processing research can play in relieving some of the stresses created by such geopolitics.

Dr Antony van der Ent discusses his research into Hyperaccumulators - these are plants that have the ability to accumulate extremely high concentrations of metals in their shoots. Hyperaccumulator plants are known for elements such as cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, selenium, thallium and zinc.

Dr Ben Seligmann outlines how to generate more useful lessons from accident investigations.

Professor Rick Valenta presents the results of an analysis of the R&D priorities for minerals (excluding coal) in Queensland - a collaboration between SMI, DNRME, QRC and QEC

This seminar will highlight awareness of environmental commitments in all mining-related work or projects.

Associate Professor Mansour Edraki will use examples of SMI projects to discuss basic geochemical processes that we need to understand in order to predict and reduce residual risk at mine closure, with a focus on acid and metalliferous drainage, including neutral and saline drainage.

‘New economy minerals’ is an umbrella term for a range of metals and mineral elements used in many emerging technologies including electric vehicles, renewable energy products, low-emission power sources, consumer devices, and products for the medical, defence and scientific research sectors. As Queensland is potentially rich in these minerals, it is well-placed to meet rapidly expanding domestic and international demand. This presentation will introduce the importance of New Economy minerals to Queensland, and the steps being taken by Government to support and boost exploration for these commodities in the state.

Dr Sarah Holcombe will discuss what cultural heritage is, and the ways in which methods for defining a cultural ‘site’ often determine the types of protections that are afforded.What constitutes a good practice cultural heritage management plan (CHMP), and CHM system, will also be outlined.

Associate Professor Mohsen Yahyaei discusses opportunities for enhancing the performance of process control from 5 to 10% by actively involving plant metallurgists and plant managers in designing and evaluating different levels of process control systems.

A successful geomet project requires planning and experimental design. Consistent and methodical test work allows for amazing data analysis. The magic is in the data relationship between the various technical areas. This seminar will discuss the design and implementation of a geometallurgical program.

Subtitle: How do we rehabilitate colossal volumes of mine wastes more cheaply and with long-lasting outcomes?
Mining sectors and communities face ever-increasing environmental and health risks from mine wastes as a result of mining and processing precious and base metal ores. But ecological engineering of mine wastes aims to harness bio-chemical weathering and transformation of tailings minerals to alter tailings in situ, for cost-effective and sustainable outcomes.

There is always potential to innovate and improve a gadget or process, no matter how mature the technology may seem to be.