uranium tailings at Olympic Dam
Mega-everything: the world’s biggest open cut mine
OnLine opinion By Sandra Kanck – 24 August 2009
Tailings storage facility
Fauna mortalities associated with exposure to the acid liquor of the existing tailings dam were 895 in 2005-06, 311 in 2006-07 and 282 in 2007-08. As well as birds, seven species of mammal and eight species of reptiles have been killed.BHP Billiton recognises these figures underplay the impact because of the removal of carcasses by scavengers or the sinking of dead birds before detection. They state “If the habitat is modified or increases in area, the number and diversity of species increases accordingly”. So still more birds and animals will be attracted to the world’s largest tailings dam, and still more of them will die as a consequence.
Undertakings are given to put netting in place to deter birds and for further research into methodologies to reduce the number of fauna deaths. The EIS acknowledges that methodologies used to date have had varied success. Despite this, the EIS appears to be leading the public to accept an increase in deaths as being an inevitable cost we will have to bear.
Mega-everything: the world’s biggest open cut mine – On Line Opinion – 24/8/2009
Huge size of Olympic Dam uranium mine
Mega-everything: the world’s biggest open cut mine
OnLine opinion By Sandra Kanck - 24 August 2009
Rock storage facility
The EIS envisages that, 40 years after digging has begun, the pit will be 1km deep. However, ore has been found at a depth of 2.5km, which begs the question of what happens after 40 years. If mining continues, obviously there will be still more rock to add to the RSF, yet this has not been taken into account in figures about its size.When below-surface rock is removed its volume expands as a consequence of the removal of pressure and being broken-up. This can be given a mathematical value known as the expansion factor. The fine print of the EIS does not reveal any recognition of an expansion factor – it may not have been taken into account at all. Yet BHP Billiton previously informed the Natural Resources Committee of the SA Parliament that the expansion factor would be 1.7 – important information in calculating the size of the RSF.
The pit will be 4.1km x 3.5km x 1km deep, i.e. 14.35 cubic kilometres. If we very generously assume only 90 per cent of what will be taken out of the pit will go into the RSF, it will have a volume of almost 13 cubic kilometres. But with an expansion factor of 1.7 this becomes roughly 22 cubic kilometres.
So the RSF, if 1km high, would have a base of 22 sq km. In turn, if the RSF was to have a base three times that (66 sq km) the height could be reduced to 1/3 of a kilometre, i.e. 333 metres. This is still more than twice the 67 sq km by 150m size envisaged in the EIS.
This strongly suggests the proponents have not included an expansion factor in their calculations. With a 1.7 expansion factor, the RSF would have to be more than twice the ground size stated in the EIS to obtain a height of no more than 150m. But if the intention is to maintain the stated 6270 hectare base, then the height of the rock storage facility will be at least doubled. Which will it be?
Knowledge of the expansion factor will be particularly important in enabling the Native Vegetation Council to accurately determine the amount of vegetation to be cleared and the SEB and/or financial outlay that will be required of BHP Billiton.
Mega-everything: the world’s biggest open cut mine – On Line Opinion – 24/8/2009
Olympic Dam uranium mine and climate impact
Mega-everything: the world’s biggest open cut mine
OnLine opinion By Sandra Kanck - 24 August 2009
Energy use and associated climate change impact
The use of fossil fuels and associated climate change impact will be immense. While BHP Billiton claims the expansion will account for a not inconsiderable 9.8 per cent of South Australia’s CO2 emissions within just 11 years, the real figures may be closer to 14 per cent. Read more »
Impacts of world’s biggest uranium mine
Mega-everything: the world’s biggest open cut mine
OnLine opinion By Sandra Kanck - 24 August 2009
The expansion of the Olympic Dam mine at Roxby Downs will see environment as the biggest loser. The draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), for which public comment closed early in August 2009, has serious deficiencies. Read more »
BHP ‘buried $1m equipment at mine’
BHP ‘buried $1m equipment at mine’ ABC News 9 July 09
A former BHP Billiton contractor says he helped the company bury vast quantities of equipment at its mothballed Ravensthorpe nickel mine. Read more »
Half-truths and evasions: BHP Billiton attacked for human rights, environmental record
Report of the BHP Billiton plc AGM, 23 October, London Report by Richard Solly, Co-ordinator, London Mining Network. Opinions expressed or implied in this report do not necessarily reflect those of all member groups of London Mining Network.
Summary At its AGM (annual shareholders’ meeting) in London on 23 October, BHP Billiton was attacked over its record in the Philippines, Indonesia,Guatemala and Colombia, its failure to endorse the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and its role in worsening climate change and producing a radioactive legacy for future generations. Read more »
Massive uranium contamination – Roxby Downs
Massive uranium contamination – Roxby Downs Coober Pedy Regional Times by David Bradbury 6 Feb 09
“………………………..The level of contamination of 70 million tonnes per year of radioactive tailings finely pulverised into dust size particles brought to the surface and just dumped there by BHPB every year for the life of the mine – up to l00 years – will be one of the, if not THE most environmentally criminal act of any mining company in the history of Australia Read more »
Marathon rescue mission for OZ fails
Marathon rescue mission for OZ fails
the Age Barry FitzgeraldDecember 19, 2008OZ MINERALS’ suspension from trade appears set to continue well into the new year after marathon refinancing negotiations with its bankers failed to produce a quick fix……… Read more »
economics
Good times wane for BHP
Herald Sun Felicity Williams 28 Nov 08
Two days after BHP dumped its $102 billion bid for Rio Tinto in the face of the global financial crisis, chief executive Marius Kloppers warned the climate made it difficult to predict customer demand.”The world has changed significantly in the past three months and,in our world of mining and resources, that rate of change has accelerated rapidly within the last month,”Mr Kloppers told the 800-odd shareholders attending the company’s annual meeting in Melbourne.He added: “These challenges are impacting every part of the economy and, as a major global supplier of many key commodities, we will not be immune from the effects.”…………………….The abandoned Rio bid was the subject of surprisingly few shareholder questions.Investors appeared more concerned about plans to mine the world’s largest uranium resource at Olympic Dam in South Australia.
BHP delays date for Olympic Dam expansion
BHP delays opening of world’s biggest pit
THE AUSTRALIAN Matt Chambers | November 01, 2008BHP Billiton has pushed back the start date for its giant Olympic Dam copper and uranium expansion until at least 2015. Read more »
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