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...

Prophecy's Mongolian coal projects progressing

Prophecy Coal Corporation's Ulaan Ovoo coal mine in Mongolia, near the Russian border, has produced nearly 230,000 t of thermal coal, removing over 1.5 million bank-cubic-metres of waste in the process. The Canadian-based company has also added 20,000 tonnes of coal, ready for export, to its stock yard.

Similarly, the Chandgana Power Plant, Prophecy’s flagship operation, which is located on the company's Chandgana coal project in southeast central Mongolia, is progressing.

Prophecy received a mining license for 141 Mt of coal, and submitted a feasibility study to the Mongolian Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy for approval, which it hopes to receive in the third quarter. John Lee, Prophecy`s chairman, said the company is pleased with both the Ulaan Ovoo and Chandgana mines' progress.