From our Ore to Your Door - Episode 6 - Mining Pit Development
With exploration, drilling and planning complete, it’s time to start mining.
First, surveyors stake out the boundary of the area to be mined. A clearing permit verifies that the area to be mined is within the active lease, has
been cleared by the local Land Council, and has the correct government permit to be mined. Now the pit development can begin.
To get our large machinery to the site, trees and vegetation must be cleared. As part of this process, a wildlife expert carefully assesses the area for habitats and attempts to relocate any wildlife or nests that are present. Even after the initial relocation of wildlife, the wildlife expert remains onsite to continue monitoring for animals while the trees and scrub are removed.
With a clear area now available, scrapers remove topsoil and subsoil from the mining area. QMAG’s preference is to return topsoil and subsoil directly to areas previously mined to maximise rehabilitation success. When this is not possible, topsoil is stockpiled next to the pit so it can easily be recovered and spread once mining is complete and the void refilled. Subsoil is sometimes used to create levees around the pit to protect the excavations from flooding.
In the final step of our mining pit development, dozers, scrapers or excavators remove overburden and low-grade magnesite. With one eye always on rehabilitation and sustainability, this material is immediately placed directly into a prior excavation whenever possible. When this is not possible, the overburden is stockpiled temporarily until it can be used to fill in a nearby mining void.
From our Ore to Your Door - Episode 8 - In Pit Screening
QMAG currently mines 4 million tonnes of ore per year, from six to eight different pits.
We choose pits based on their magnesite content and contaminant concentrations. There are always at least two pits mined simultaneously to provide the Parkhurst plant with enough material at suitable quality to support our full suite of products.
Sustainable Thinkers and Actors
Being a company powered by people who value sustainability in thought and action gives us the expertise and brainpower to deliver solutions that make a sustainable difference.
Falcon Update
The peregrine falcons at QMAG’s Parkhurst processing facility are breeding again after an unfortunate setback in September.
From our Ore to Your Door - Episode 7 - Mining Operations
QMAG currently mines 4 million tonnes of ore per year, from six to eight different pits.
We choose pits based on their magnesite content and contaminant concentrations. There are always at least two pits mined simultaneously to provide the Parkhurst plant with enough material at suitable quality to support our full suite of products.
From our Ore to Your Door - Episode 6 - Mining Pit Development
With exploration, drilling and planning complete, it’s time to start mining. First, surveyors stake out the boundary of the area to be mined. A clearing permit verifies that the area to be mined is within the active lease, has
been cleared by the local Land Council, and has the correct government permit to be mined. Now the pit development can begin.
Visitors to Kunwarara
We were thrilled to welcome Matthew Canavan and Michelle Landry to our mine last week! It was an exciting opportunity to give them an in-depth look at our "Ore to Your Door" process and share the remarkable stories of the local businesses that enrich our community.
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