[RESOURCE] Geological optimisation for sustainable copper-gold mining

斑岩矿床与火成岩共生，是世界铜、金、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总体分布，但这些带是复杂的，变化很大。当粘土赋存于矿带时，粘土的分布和性质尤为重要，因为它们影响着选矿效率。通过了解粘土分布和化学成分来优化加工可以减少能源消耗。此外，如果废粘土产品具有合适的特性，它可以在尾矿库建设中重复使用--这是一个新的概念--从而有助于实现矿物开采的可持续性。这项研究的主要目的是开发秘鲁Cerro Corona铜金矿粘土矿物分布的预测模型，这将有助于优化矿山寿命内的采矿和加工效率。这项提议是及时的，因为Cerro Corona是一个新矿，因此研究可以直接提供给日常矿山地质、磨矿优化和未来规划。我们预计将产生更广泛适用于大吨位、低品位斑岩矿床的通用成果，特别是潜在的粘土再利用用于尾矿库建设。此外，我们还将调查蚀变样式和分布的下伏地质控制，为研究提供科学的框架。这将涉及使用新的和传统的方法来检验相互竞争的泥质蚀变假说。第二个目标是确定为什么黄金产量比预期高出约20%，以避免矿石流失到废弃场。据推测，这种差异是由于在品位控制钻井中没有取样的低温浅成热液矿脉所致。在这里，潜在的科学问题是，负责这些矿脉的冷热液流体如何与高温斑岩阶段有关。尽管斑岩-浅成热液转变在许多系统中都有记载，流体演化路径和铜-金输运的理论模型也已经存在，但这些模型还没有得到严格的检验。学生将从案例主管、秘鲁的公司现场工作人员、帝国学院的学术主管以及参加内部和外部授课课程和讲习班获得相关研究和可转让技能的培训。此外，学生还将受益于案例合作伙伴组织内部在采矿对社会经济和环境影响方面的内部专业知识。CASE合作伙伴为该项目确定了明确的实际目标，通过支持开发更可持续的采矿实践和减少自身的碳足迹，为公司带来直接经济效益，并为当地人民和整个社会带来社会经济效益。因此，他们同意投入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，以及支撑这种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让技能方面的培训。它将提供一个难得的机会，与一家领先的矿产公司合作，在一个大型现代露天铜金矿工作，该公司倡导对社会和环境负责的采矿，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“使社会能够对日益增加的自然资源压力作出紧急反应”。为了迎接这一挑战，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.