Mining Magazine July 2017 | Page 16

TECHNOLOGY

SOSO ( switch on , switch off mining )

THE IMP @ CT PROJECT ’ S ( SOSO ) ‘ SWITCH ON-SWITCH OFF ’ METHOD TO MINE MANY CRITICAL METAL AND OTHER SMALL COMPLEX DEPOSITS WILL LOOK TO DEVELOP TARGETED , TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS IN MINING EQUIPMENT DESIGN , AS WELL AS MINE PLANNING . THE INNOVATIONS WILL NOT ONLY REDUCE THE FEASIBILITY STUDIES REQUIRED , BUT ALSO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE EXTRACTED MATERIAL , INFRASTRUCTURE , LAND USE , RESOURCE CONSUMPTION AND WASTE . THE TEAM BELIEVE THAT THIS MODEL CAN BE ADOPTED BY EUROPEAN AND NATIONAL POLICY MAKERS , AS WELL AS THE WIDER MINING INDUSTRY IN GENERAL .