Blog Layout

Illegal prospecting during rehabilitation works

Illegal prospecting during rehabilitation works

Mine Earth was engaged to provide project management and technical support for the execution of the remedial rehabilitation earthworks for a closed gold mining project in the Goldfields region of WA. The works were undertaken by a local indigenous earthworks contractor and included bulk reprofiling of waste rock dump and ROM pad slopes along with topsoil spreading, contour ripping and seeding.


During the program, the rehabilitation team caught some illegal prospectors excavating and recovering dirt from within one of the works areas. The prospectors were politely asked to leave, which triggered an aggressive reaction and a dangerous getaway in a light vehicle during which they ran over signage and nearly collided with another vehicle.


Fortunately, the Gold Squad were onsite that day attending to another matter. A pursuit by the Gold Squad failed to apprehend the offenders on the day, but evidence collected from the scene led to their apprehension the following week. The offenders were arrested and convicted for gold theft, property destruction and threatening behaviour.


Additional illegal prospecting and excavation in the works area presented a risk to long-term rehabilitation performance including erosion stability, drainage control and vegetation performance. To mitigate this risk the proponent excavated the area of interest and removed the material offsite for processing. A cover of waste rock was applied to the excavated area along with topsoil and the resultant area was ripped and seeded.


By Kaitlyn Hughes January 7, 2025
Mine Earth is an industry-leading, ethically motivated mine closure consultancy, consisting of geologists, engineers, ecologists, soil scientists, geochemists, environmental scientists, and practitioners with unparalleled experience in mine closure and rehabilitation. Mine Earth is based in O’Connor, Western Australia. Mine Earth is seeking a highly motivated Environmental Scientist to complement our existing team of specialists. The role will involve applying your skills to undertake soil surveys, laboratory soil assessments, erosion assessments, undertaking GIS and producing maps, data entry, geoprocessing and report writing. The successful applicant will have: Relevant professional qualifications. Strong communication skills GIS skills Experience in developing written outputs Good attention to detail Ability to undertake fieldwork in remote locations Other desirable skills include: Exposure to mine sites Previous laboratory experience (university or workplace) Knowledge of soil science Previous erosion assessment experience Mine Earth has a robust and exciting forward workload. The successful applicant will be exposed to mine rehabilitation projects at a range of stages from initial concept design to execution. The position will be Perth based but will involve short term site visits and field work. A career at Mine Earth will allow the successful applicant to develop their skills with exposure to a wide range of Australian and international mining projects, with support from an experienced, multidisciplinary team of specialists. Mine Earth offers flexible working arrangements in a supportive team environment. Please only apply if you have the right to work in Australia. If you are interested in applying for this position, please email your resume by 31 January 2025 .
By Samantha Ross September 19, 2024
Mine Earth is pleased to announce that Dr. Véronique Lévy, Senior Principal Geochemist, has co-authored a paper presented at the ICARD conference hosted by the Canadian Institute of Mining in Halifax this week. The paper, titled "The Importance of Quality Control of Alkalinity Data during Pit Lake Modelling," emphasizes the critical role of alkalinity in acid neutralization and its influence on closure strategies. This research highlights Dr. Lévy's commitment to producing reliable water quality predictions essential for effective site closure. Additionally, we would like to recognize Dr. Peter Scott, the principal author of the paper, who presented this important work at the conference. Congratulations to all three co-authors for their significant contribution!  Abstract: The Importance of Quality Control of Alkalinity Data during Pit Lake Modelling.
Share by: