An Assessment of the Sustainability of the Mining Industry in Australia

Abstract

The mining industry has a long tradition in Australia, but the question of its “sustainability” still remains a vexed and diffi cult issue. In recent decades, there has been signifi cant improvement in environmental management during operation as well as better efforts at rehabilitation after closure. However, the industry continues to expand signifi cantly as continually growing demand drives the need for new supply. Over time, this has led the mining industry towards lower grade ores and increasingly large scale open cut mining, with subsequent increases in the solid wastes produced. A further issue related to this is known economic resources. This paper will review the history of mineral production in Australia, focusing on the extent of ore grade changes for many key mineral commodities, the known extent of solid wastes produced, the sustainability of reserves versus expanding production rates and the issues of post-mining land use or rehabilitation. For all commodities there is a clear trend of long-term decline in ore grades, even rapid for some (eg. gold), as well as increasing open cut mining and associated waste rock (overburden). In terms of resources, there appears to be increases in resources over time, though some appear to have stabilised while others conversely are increasing signifi cantly. A major challenge in assessing the life span of resources is that of exponentially increasing production. These trends will affect, to some degree, future energy, water and emissions effi ciency per unit mineral production – or sustainability. This paper presents a unique case study in the sustainability debate on Australian mining.