The Politics Behind Some Mining Considerations
Opinion
It is interesting to look at some reasons behind the decision to develop a mine. Generally, it stands to reason that a resource deposit’s economic prospect is evaluated using established geological, petrological and geochemical - analytical methods. Decisions to develop the resource are then made based on a thorough evaluation of its economic potential based on the analytical results. However, not always the decisions to mine are based purely on economical rational: Occasionally political reasons may be a determining factor in the development of an otherwise non-profitable resource. I will use coal here as one of a couple of natural ‘resources’ as example to show the push towards developing an uneconomic deposit. The coal considered is situated in the Galilea Basin of Queensland, Australia. Unlike the researched and established qualities of the Bowen Basin coals that have been mined in the past and mined at present, the GB (Galilea Basin) coals have not been mined, because they are uneconomical. This has been shown by research- based assessment carried out by companies over the past 20-30 years. Analyses of the G.B. coal clearly demonstrates the uneconomical prospect of these coals, using modern mining and processing technologies: The coals appear in thin bands rarely over 50cm in thickness, interbedded with silt, clay and sandstone. This translates into excessive washingof the coal, potentially having to use vast amounts of water (precious commodity) to obtain any (minute) quantities of commercially viable coal. The GB coals are within the oil window [1] and some macerals generated oil which is retained within the coal micropores and coal cleats in the form of bitumen which is the source of methane in deeper parts of the basin [2]. The bitumen is also a cause of spontaneous combustion in many coals [3].
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