Gold projects link miners and scientists

Northern Star Resources and St Barbara have led mining industry support for research projects that link CSIRO and university scientists seeking ways to  extend the life of existing gold mines, reveal new deposits and improve processing efficiency.

The state government announced today that it was partnering with the Commonwealth government, the CSIRO and industry to launch the Pathways to High-Grade Ore: 3D Gradient Mapping of Mineral Systems project.

The 12 month-long project will analyse the earth’s crust to develop 3D modelling of gold-bearing systems centred on Eastern Goldfields geological faults, which host major existing and potential mine sites.

The state government’s Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia is contributing $395,000 in cash to the project, with Northern Star Resources, La Mancha, Saracen Mineral Holdings, Excelsior Gold and Ramelius Resources are sponsoring the project for a combined $185,000, with Northern Star the biggest contributor.

The CSIRO is providing $1.1 million in in-kind funding.

“Researchers will start this intensive project immediately, linking sampling on the WA Goldfields with high-tech analysis in the CSIRO’s Perth laboratories,” Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion said.

“Mining companies are helping sponsor the project because prolonging the life of proven operations is very cost-effective, especially when it comes to job security.”

Mr Marmion said the research would help point the way to new discoveries in promising greenfields areas such as the Yamarna greenstone belt east of Laverton.

Industry and Science Minister Ian Macfarlane said the project held significant promise for mining industry jobs.

“It holds great promise for the WA mining sector but it will have implications for gold and copper discovery across Australia,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“The information gained will augment other major national mineral research programs, such as the Uncover project, and help underpin national exploration.”

Meanwhile, an ongoing gold technology research program, backed by St Barbara and initiated in 1994 under the banner of AMIRA International, has delivered outcomes including lower minerals processing costs, improved recovery of valuable metal and significant advances in environmental management.

Project 420, now in its sixth iteration, focuses on a collaborative approach to software modelling and at a cost to date of just under $18 million, is estimated to have improved efficiencies and gold processing modelling to save more than $200 million in operational costs over the past two decades, and has identified opportunities for recovery increases and lowering of losses to the tune of $20 million a year.

The project, which spent its early years under the guidance of the Perth-based Parker Centre until it closed in 2012, has made its home at Curtin University.

AMIRA managing director Joe Cucuzza said the breakthroughs of the project have included a suite of software models to simulate and optimise carbon management within carbon-in-pulp and carbon-in-leach circuits, optimisation of grind size for gravity and leach recovery, and a better understanding of ore characterisation.

Iteration seven of Project 420 is due to commence soon.