Mining, environment and society
Research based mainly on environmental or social aspects of mining, such as environmental mineralogy, health and safety, mining-related policy, and social license to operate is grouped together here. Many of the large technical projects at Camborne School of Mines also contain environmental and social work packages.
Group members
Projects
INTRAW project website »
Please contact Prof Kip Jeffrey or Aveen Hameed for more information
Please contact Prof Pat Foster for more information
The REMIX project encourages resource efficient and environmentally and socially acceptable production of raw materials.
It brings together partners and stakeholders across 9 regions of Europe, at different stages of the mining cycle, to share knowledge and develop best practice guidelines.
In Cornwall we are bringing together stakeholders to help create a ‘Georesources Cornwall’ document for Cornwall Council, advising on what mining related opportunities Cornwall has and how best to encourage them.
Please contact Alexandra Sweeney, Prof Frances Wall or Prof Kip Jeffrey for more information.
REMIX project page »
Despite international efforts to limit worker exposure, coal mine dusts continue to impact the health of thousands of miners across Europe. Modern, practicable assessment tools and devices are urgently needed to improve risk models, control dusts and protect workers, particularly from the fine fraction (PM2.5) which is increasingly implicated in human disease.
This study addresses three critical issues relating to dusts in underground mine workings:
- The urgent need to develop ATEX certifiable, well calibrated continuous dust concentration monitoring systems, quantitative physicochemical assessment protocols for coal mine dusts, including PM2.5, and predictive tools to assess dust hazards in different coal mines and mining scenarios. The predictive tools will improve risk management and targeting of mitigation measures;
- The need for more efficient ATEX certifiable dust suppression systems, with reduced energy and water consumption, to increase operational efficiency and reduce the risk of costly and potentially hazardous over-wetting or flooding of underground mine workings.
- Whether suppression technologies and RPE adequately mitigate PM2.5.
Please contact Dr Diane Johnson, Dr Ben Williamson, Prof Pat Foster or Prof Kip Jeffrey for more information.
ROCD project website »
MIREU aims to ensure a sustained and sustainable supply of mineral raw materials to the EU, by establishing a network of mining and metallurgy regions across Europe to facillitate the sharing of knowledge and experience.