Kapunda mine in situ recovery project

Mining3 partnered with in situ recovery (ISR) exploration/mining specialists, EnviroCopper (ECL), on a Commonwealth Government CRC-P (Cooperative Research Centre – Project) grant, which funded a 3-year research program from 2018 to 2021 to better understand and resolve key ISR mining challenges— particularly in relation to environmental, social and economic impacts. 

Recent technological improvements and the use of environmentally benign lixiviants (leaching agents) are broadening the potential application of ISR mining to metals other than uranium. The successful development of an ISR process to extract copper and other metals from diverse geological environments will be a step change in Australian mining. However, industry and communities want to know more about its value and environmental impact. 

Mining3 joined other industry and research partners, the University of Adelaide (Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Resources) and CSIRO (Minerals and Land & Water Divisions)—to participate in the ECL-led research, which gave the industry a tangible demonstration of ISR mining at the Kapunda Copper ISR Project in South Australia. The successful outcome was the creation of a template for ways to unlock value that currently resides in stranded assets. 

The EnviroCopper was formed by a group of mining executives in 2017, to investigate the possibility of ISR to extract stranded assets, like copper and gold. Desk top geological analysis of over 900 sites resulted in the choice of a prime site at Kapunda in mid north of South Australia. 

Kapunda has a rich mining history, growing from Australia’s first-ever commercial copper mine in the 1840s. Even though the mine ceased production in the early 1900s, successive mining companies have looked at recovering the remaining copper over time. However, due to the town’s proximity, conventional mining is not possible. However, in situ recovery mining is a possible solution to extract the remaining copper in an environmentally and community-sensitive manner. 

The research focused on several areas, including community acceptance of ISR as a mining technique, mineral characterisation, lixiviant system design and optimisation, and accurate geological and fluid flow modelling. All of these support the establishment of environmental risk mitigation strategies. The University of Adelaide applied geophysical techniques that modelled and tracked porosity/permeability. With the fracture network modelling techniques and coupled hydro-thermal-chemical flow within the ISR reservoir resource and reserve, we now have improved estimation techniques to predict recoverable tonnes and grade. 

ECL worked closely with Mining3 and CSIRO to coordinate and supervise the following research areas: 

• Orebody characterisation and hydrometallurgical leaching test work were undertaken to optimise the lixiviant system and give estimates of probable recovery and recovery rates. 

• Establishing a pre-ISR baseline Groundwater Monitoring and Management Plan (GMMP) during project development and ISR operation. 

• Development of stakeholder communication strategies and social-licence-to-operate 

• Establishment of a regulatory framework for undertaking initial economic studies into Copper ISR resource estimation under an Exploration License (similar to metallurgical studies) rather than under an erroneous Mining Lease. 

• Demonstrable site allowing research organisations to validate – in a real-world scenario – the economic value of ISR
• Greater understanding of the impact and opportunities that ISR  presents
• Advancement of the ISR technique to extend life of mine and or unlock stranded assets for project owners
• Improved community acceptance of ISR as an environmentally acceptable form of mining
• Potential to be a safe, low-impact mining option to suit regulators, industry and communities alike

The Grant was completed in July 2021 with the following publications; 

1. Mining Heritage & Community Identity in SLTO of proposed ISR mining; Measham et al; Elsevier March 2021​ 

1. Constraining regional-scale groundwater transport predictions with geophysics, Chris Li et al; Elsevier June 2021​ 

1. Geosciences-Modelling of Coupled Hydro-Thermo-Chemical Fluid Flow; Assoc. Prof Chaoshui Xu et al; GeoSciences March 2021​ 

1. Literature review of groundwater baseline assessments and monitoring guidelines for in situ Cu and U recovery – Implications and recommendations for the Kapunda in situ Cu recovery project Sébastien Lamontagne et al. April 2019 – A CSIRO Report for Environmental Copper Recovery​ 

1. Groundwater – surface water connectivity in a chain-of-ponds semiarid river – Sébastien Lamontagne, Jason Kirby & Caroline Johnston – CSIRO Land & Water, Hydrological Processes March 2021​ 

1. Modelling in-situ recovery (ISR) of copper at the Kapunda mine, Australia. Dr Hang Wang et al; Elsevier Minerals Engineering July 2022 

Since then, EnviroCopper continue to lead the way in Copper ISR development. They are making steady progress towards feasibility studies for a Mining Lease application at Kapunda funded by a research agreement with BHP (formerly OZ Minerals) Think and Act Differently team, since 2022. 

EnviroCopper has continued to partner with a number of mining research initiatives namely;  MinEX CRC to utilise a test site at Kapunda for the Coiled Tube (CT) Drill Rig, MRIWA with further studies into lixiviants and CSIRO for commercialisation trials of their continuous in ground environmental monitoring Vesi™ Sensors. 

For further information:

Philippa Faulkner
Business Manager & Project Manager CRC-P
Environmental Copper Recovery Pty Ltd
M: + 448 795 762
E: pfaulkner@envirocopper.com.au
W: www.envirocopper.com.au
T: @EnviroCopper