There are basically two types of waste in the mining production chain. The first is environmental. This includes tailings, waste rock, and waste water. The toxicity of environmental waste depends on its chemical composition, the sensitivity of local biosystems, and the waste management practices of mining companies and governments.
The second type of waste is operational. This includes any part of the production chain, from human resources to excavation, where higher levels of efficiency are possible but not achieved. An oversight in the design of a mining site can lead to higher transport costs. An outdated maintenance plan can lead to costly downtime. A toxic company culture can drive away much-needed talent. There are many examples of operational waste, and the list grows longer as new insights illuminate pain points we couldn’t see before.
If a mine generates unacceptable amounts of environmental waste, the ecosystem suffers and social license erodes. Operational waste has the same effect. It reduces the operator’s ability to navigate difficult external circumstances, which in turn affects employees and communities. Operational waste can also expand the operator’s carbon footprint, which has a negative effect on social license.
However we choose to break it down, waste isn’t good. It damages the environment, depletes good will, and affects the bottom line. In 2020 and beyond, the industry’s most basic imperative is finding meaningful ways to reduce waste – and to recognise the connection between operational, environmental, and social success.
Digital blasting
Early blasting operations were a bit like pulling the lever on a dangerous slot machine. You couldn’t predict how powerful the blast would be, or whether the force would be applied in the right direction. This was compounded by extremely limited knowledge of the orebody itself, and what the blast was meant to accomplish.
Technology improved drastically in the 1900s, but there was still a lot guesswork. Today’s digital blasting solutions look less like gambling and more like surgery. They’ve opened up entirely new ways to reduce waste and be more efficient. Here are two examples:
Many blast operations still rely on single shots, but this takes time and labour. Modern digital blast systems like the DaveyTronic® SP allow operators to fire several blasts in a single event from a central location. The Synchroblast (TM) mode further allows for very large blasts, incorporating up to three remote blasters on a single shot. The possibilities for configuration are endless, depending on the orebody and immediate goals. Reduced downtime, increased vibration control, and greater precision are effective ways cut down on waste.
The limitations inherent to outdated blasting systems often result in poor fragmentation, a lack of material uniformity, and a bigger muck pile. This translates to more tailings, more rock waste, and more difficulty during the excavation process. Because of their power and flexibility, 21st century digital blasting solutions generate far better outcomes in these areas – improved fragmentation, better uniformity, better control over muck piles, and faster excavation – thereby reducing waste.
Sifting through the past
It bears mentioning that new methods and new technology are accelerating our ability to harvest valuable minerals from tailings. The Mine Waste and Tailings Conference, to be held in Brisbane in July 2021, will be an important intersection of facts and voices around this topic.
Designing new ways to harvest ore from legacy mines and further protect the environment is an important and necessary step for the industry. In the meantime, for those operations that require a blast to reach deposits on the surface or underground, digital blasting can serve as a catalyst for better waste management.
