At least one-quarter of mining projects in Australia encounter some type of groundwater challenge. As a mining hydrogeologist, I’ve seen projects go under as a result of having too much or too little water, or water that is contaminated. In my experience, water often doesn’t seem to be front of mind in the early stages of Australian mining projects. It is common to wait until the bankable phase of the project before investigating the project’s water supply – often, that’s too late.
When millions of dollars are on the line, complacency about groundwater can put the profitability of an entire project at risk. When millions of dollars are on the line, complacency about groundwater can put the profitability of an entire project at risk. Too often, the task begins well into the mining project’s development cycle and the opportunity to collect valuable groundwater data while exploration is underway is overlooked.
This article showcases some examples that demonstrate why it’s both practical and prudent to include a hydrogeological assessment as early as possible – during the exploration phase of a project, ideally prior to the scoping study being commissioned. Given the inherent risk and huge costs associated with developing mining projects, reframing the understanding of the significance and timing related to gathering groundwater data is an essential contributor to a project’s success.
This article was originally published in the February 2018 edition of the AusIMM Bulletin and is able to be viewed here
