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Young Persons’ Lecture Competition (MinSouth Heat)
March 9, 2023 @ 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
MINSOUTH Heat of the IOM3 Young Persons’ Lecture Competition
The MinSouth Heat of the IOM3 Young Persons’ Lecture Competition is being held on Thursday 9th March 2023 at the Royal School of Mines, Room G41, Prince Consort Road, SW7, 5:30 p.m. for 6:00 p.m. and virtually. Here is a link to register to attend this event either actually or virtually through Eventbrite: LINK
We have selected the following three candidates from abstracts submitted to Council, giving us a broad range of topics from across the mining industry:
Marek Zastapilo, Imperial
Iron oxide impurities in ore concentrates from the Moma titanium mine, Mozambique – their origin and implications for processing.
The ore processing plant in Moma, Mozambique is responsible for the manufacturing of various iron-titanium products, which involves separation of the major ore minerals into different fractions. In this work, the mineralogy of concentrates from the fraction supposed to undergo the final processing step is investigated, in order to determine the source of iron oxide impurities in a monomineralic ilmenite fraction. Scanning electron microscopy of the concentrates reveals that most samples contain significant numbers of composite iron oxide mineral grains, in addition to a minor hematite component within the ilmenite population. This goes against previous theories, which attributed the lowered titanium content solely to a supposed high degree of hematite within the ilmenite grain population The results allow for the introduction of an improved separation method.
Lara Tritton, Leicester
Sourcing critical metals Te, Bi and W as by-products from Björkdal Gold Mine, Sweden
Te, W and Bi are on many critical metals lists, and my work aims to source these metals as by-products from gold mining using environmentally-benign, low-cost Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs), with Björkdal as a feasibility study.
Gold deposits are often enriched in other rare metals, and Björkdal produces gold concentrates and waste (tailings) variably rich in Te, Bi and W-bearing minerals. Currently, there are few economical options by which to extract these additional metals. Developing a method for their recovery on site would be ideal for meeting demand without opening new mines.
Tracing the flows of Te, Bi and W through the processing plant, and mineralogically characterising feed, tailings and concentrates reveals some promisingly high enrichments. The next steps are to test the feasibility of inserting DES leaching stages and/or altering the processing procedures.
Oscar Ryans, WSP
Tailings Storage Dam Break Assessment – Triple Cascade Failure
Breaches from Tailings Storage Dams can have catastrophic impacts. It is therefore imperative to understand the potential impacts before constructing any tailings storage facility (TSF). This is especially true when dealing with the impact of cumulative breaches from more than one TSF. This presentation will focus on a mine site in which a potential triple cascade failure could take place, with a breach from one TSF leading to a breach of two further dams downstream. The analysis required the evaluation of credible failure modes, and the estimation of outflow volumes and breach parameters for each facility. Due to the material deposited in TSFs, it was necessary to undertake rheological analysis to understand whether the material would demonstrate non-Newtonian flow characteristics during the breach. The final simulation used 2D modelling in HEC-RAS software, with the results carried forward to inform the consequence classification of the mine’s proposed new facility.
Each candidate will be presenting a fifteen minute talk which our panel of judges will score for us and decide on the winner.
For those of you able to join us physically, there will be beer and pizza in Room G35 following the competition, giving MinSouth members the opportunity to meet students, presenters and their supporters who are able to attend.
One can register to attend this event physically or virtually at this LINK.