PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has given junior BC Iron the go-ahead to mine below the water table at its Iron Valley project, in the Pilbara, subject to seven conditions.
“The conditions we have recommended include preparation of an outcome-based environmental management plan to minimise the long-term impacts from groundwater abstraction and surplus dewater discharge run-off, and alterations to surface water flows to Weeli Wolli Creek,” said EPA chairperson Dr Tom Hatton.
“Conditions also require the proponent to minimise hydrological impacts to Aboriginal heritage values linked to the creek and to contribute to an approved conservation offsets fund.”
The Iron Valley project was granted approval for above water table mining in 2012, and the mine is currently being operated as a direct shipping ore operation.
The revised proposal includes the development of a new mine pit, with mining operations to extend below the water table, and the dewatering of the underlying aquifer.
The ore will be mined from multiple pits, in multiple stages, and sent to the run-of-mine pad where the ore may be blended. The ore will then be crushed and screened, and sent to the beneficiation plant before being transported to market.
BC Iron will mine the expected reserve of 140-million tonnes lying below the water table, over an anticipated ten-year mine life. Some 350-million tonnes of waste rock/low-grade ore will be generated and stored, which will be allocated to surface ex-pit and backfill pit locations.
The EPA’s decision is open for a two-week public appeals process.