Algae and mining: A new frontier in sustainable site rehabilitation

Algae might seem an unlikely candidate to help transform Australia’s post-mining landscapes, but a new CSIRO -led project suggests these tiny aquatic organisms could provide sustainable futures for mine sites, surrounding ecosystems, and local communities. Looking down the microscope at the microalgae Nannochloropsis Australia’s mining sector is approaching a crossroads—where economic legacy and environmental responsibility must find common ground. A new CSIRO -led study, supported by the Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies (CRC TiME), suggests that one of the most promising bridges between these imperatives may come from an unexpected source: algae. Though small in stature, algae are emerging as giants in their potential to transform post-mining landscapes. The study, developed in partnership with the University of Queensland and Murdoch University , proposes that algae-based technologies could reduce mining’s environmental footprint while seeding new...

Field work starts at Cikoleang project, Indonesia

London-listed Central China Goldfields plc has started field work at the 7,981 ha Cikoleang gold project in Indonesia. The property is located approximately 100 km southwest of Jakarta, the national capital, in Banten province within the famous Bayah Dome gold mining area. which hosts the Cikotok, Cirotan and Gunung Pongkor mining operations.

In December the company announced it had signed an exclusive option agreement over the property with a local partner company PT Fino Bersaudara with a view to entering a definitive joint venture agreement within six months.

The initial work program will concentrate on detailed geological mapping with the aim of extending the existing area of mineralization ahead of more detailed analysis which is likely to include drilling later in the year.

Exploration work is being supervised by Mr Iswan Kadir, CCG’s Senior Geologist with over 20 years of experience working mainly on epithermal gold deposits in Indonesia for various major western companies including Barrick and Newcrest. Technical Director, Jun Angeles, recently visited Jakarta and several of the exploration areas to oversee the start of the exploration program.

The detailed geological mapping will focus on both surface and underground exposures of known gold vein areas and will include grid- based soil geochemical surveys. The aim is to extend known gold rich veins as well as identify further enrichment zones and new areas of mineralization outside of the known veins.