[RESOURCE] Geological optimisation for sustainable copper-gold mining

与火成岩共同形成的斑岩矿床是世界上铜、金和钼的主要来源。粘土矿物是这些系统中常见的蚀变产物，尽管传统的地质模型描述了粘土的一般分布，但这些带的细节是复杂和高度变化的。当粘土出现在矿带时，它们的分布和性质尤为重要，因为它们影响矿物加工的效率。通过了解粘土分布和化学性质来优化加工可以减少能源消耗。此外，如果它具有合适的特性，废粘土产品可以在尾矿坝建设中重复使用-这是一个新的概念-从而有助于实现矿物提取的可持续性。这项研究的主要目的是为秘鲁Cerro Corona铜金矿的粘土矿物分布开发一个预测模型，这将有助于优化矿山生命周期内的采矿和加工效率。该建议非常及时，因为Cerro Corona是一个新矿山，因此研究可以直接用于日常矿山地质，工厂优化和未来规划。我们希望能够产生更广泛适用于大吨位、低品位斑岩矿床的通用结果，特别是尾矿坝建设中粘土的潜在再利用。此外，我们还将研究蚀变样式和分布的潜在地质控制因素，以提供科学的框架。这将涉及使用新的和传统的方法来测试相互竞争的粘土变化假设。第二个目标是确定为什么黄金的产量比预期高出约20%，以避免矿石流失到垃圾场。人们怀疑这种差异是由于在品位控制钻井中未取样的低温低温热液脉造成的。在这里，潜在的科学问题是，造成这些脉的低温热液流体如何与高温斑岩阶段联系起来。尽管在许多系统中都记录了斑岩-浅热液转变，并且存在流体演化路径和铜-金输运的理论模型，但这些模型尚未经过严格的测试。学生将接受CASE主管、秘鲁公司员工、帝国理工学院学术主管的相关研究和可转移技能培训，并参加内部和外部授课课程和研讨会。此外，该学生将受益于CASE伙伴组织内部关于采矿的社会经济和环境影响的专业知识。CASE合作伙伴为该项目制定了明确的实际目标，通过支持更可持续的采矿实践的发展和减少自身的碳足迹，将为公司带来直接的经济效益，并为当地居民和整个社会带来社会经济效益。因此，它们同意承诺提供大量现金和实物资源。学生将通过深入了解主要矿石系统的地质和地球化学，以及支撑此类资源可持续发展的实际问题而受益。学生还将接受尖端分析技术和可转移技能的培训。它将提供一个难得的机会，与一家领先的矿业公司合作，在一个主要的现代露天铜金矿工作，该公司率先对社会和环境负责任的采矿，并且是国际采矿和金属理事会的成员，致力于联合国全球契约及其支持原则。NERC 2007-2012战略的一个主要内容是“使社会能够紧急应对日益增加的自然资源压力”。为了应对这一挑战，社会必须以可持续的方式开发资源，我们的建议旨在为这一重要目标做出贡献。

Porphyry deposits, formed in association with igneous rocks, are major sources of the world's copper, gold and molybdenum. Clay minerals are a common alteration product in these systems and although conventional geological models describe the general distribution of clays, in detail these zones are complex and highly varied. The distribution and character of clays is particularly important when they occur in ore zones because they impact on the efficiency of mineral processing. Optimising processing by understanding clay distributions and chemistry can reduce energy use. Furthermore, if it has suitable properties, the waste clay product could be reused in tailings dam construction - a novel concept - thereby helping to achieve sustainability of mineral extraction. The principal aim of the research is to develop a predictive model for the distribution of clay minerals at the Cerro Corona copper-gold mine, Peru, that will help to optimise mining and processing efficiency for the life of mine. The proposal is timely as Cerro Corona is a new mine so that research can feed directly into daily mine geology, mill optimisation, and future planning. We expect to produce generic outcomes that will be more widely applicable in large tonnage, low grade porphyry deposits, in particular the potential reuse of clay for tailings dam construction. In addition, we will investigate the underlying geological controls of alteration style and distribution to provide a scientific framework. This will involve testing of competing hypotheses of argillic alteration using both novel and conventional methods. A secondary aim is to determine why approximately 20% more gold is being produced than expected, to avoid loss of ore to the waste dump. It is suspected that the difference is due to low temperature epithermal veins that are not sampled in the grade control drilling. Here, the underlying scientific question is how the cool hydrothermal fluids responsible for these veins relate to the high temperature porphyry stage. Although porphyry-epithermal transitions are documented in many systems and theoretical models exist for fluid evolution pathways and copper-gold transport, these have yet to be rigorously tested. The student will receive training in relevant research and transferable skills from the CASE supervisor, company staff on site in Peru, the academic supervisors at Imperial College and by attendance at internal and external taught courses and workshops. In addition, the student will benefit from the in-house expertise in socio-economic and environmental impacts of mining within the CASE partner organization. The CASE partner has defined clear practical objectives for the project that will deliver direct economic benefits to the company, and socio-economic benefits to the local population and society at large, both by supporting the development of more sustainable mining practices and by reducing its own carbon footprint. As a consequence, they have agreed to commit significant cash and in-kind resources. The student will benefit by developing an in-depth understanding of the geology and geochemistry of a major ore system, and the practical issues underpinning the sustainable development of such resources. The student will also be trained in cutting-edge analytical techniques and transferable skills. It will provide a rare opportunity to work in a major modern open pit copper-gold mine in collaboration with a leading minerals company that pioneers socially and environmentally responsible mining and that is a member of the International Council on Mining and Metals, committed to the United Nations Global Compact and its supporting principles. A major element in the NERC 2007-2012 Strategy is 'enabling society to respond urgently to the increasing pressures on natural resources'. To meet this challenge, society must develop resources in a sustainable way and our proposal aims to make a contribution to this important goal.