Queensland
If you think tailings facility monitoring is just about choosing between drones, LiDAR, or satellites, think again – the real power lies in combining them.
In the wake of evolving regulatory expectations and maturing risk management frameworks, mining companies are being urged to reassess how they apply critical controls to tailings storage facilities (TSFs).
When it comes to tailings management, the mining industry is no stranger to technical standards, risk registers, or operational frameworks.
In one of Australia’s wettest mining regions, a carefully engineered soil cover has proven it can keep both water and oxygen out of acid-forming waste rock - even under two metres of rain a year.
In an industry where every unscheduled shutdown translates into lost revenue, wasted resources and mounting frustration, one company is making a compelling case for using artificial intelligence to turn maintenance from a cost centre into a strategic advantage.
At the sharp end of metallurgical decision-making, where feasibility meets financial risk, one recurring theme echoes loudest: if you don’t know your orebody, you don’t know your project.
The Queensland Explosives Inspectorate has identified misfires as the most pressing explosives safety issue in its latest quarterly report, with coal mining operations accounting for the majority of recorded incidents.
Pepe Moreno, principal consultant and director of Tailex, isn’t one to blindly follow the crowd.
Resources Safety & Health Queensland (RSHQ) has issued a formal safety alert following a serious incident involving the unexpected detachment of a gantry crane rope at a mineral mine site, underscoring concerns around inadequate maintenance and inspection practices.
As the mining industry edges closer to a tipping point on tailings management, a panel of global experts at the 2025 Life of Mine | Mine Waste and Tailings Conference in Brisbane issued a clear message: discipline in operations, humility in design, and a more adaptive mindset will be critical to preventing the next tailings disaster.
