Mine Closure Hub

– resources for communities

Developed by the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute

Sphinx lake, Canada. Blue lake in a pit, surrounded by green slopes

Rainbow and bull trout are now thriving in the Sphinx Creek watershed following the successful conversion of a former mining pit into the Sphinx Lake. The pit was part of Teck Resources Limited’s Cardinal River Operations in Alberta, Canada. Photo courtesy of Teck Resources.

Rainbow and bull trout are now thriving in the Sphinx Creek watershed following the successful conversion of a former mining pit into the Sphinx Lake. The pit was part of Teck Resources Limited’s Cardinal River Operations in Alberta, Canada. Photo courtesy of Teck Resources.

Introduction

Through the collection of materials presented here, we aim to:

  1. Enable you to prepare for active participation in mine closure planning and strategies for post-mining transition.
  2. Deepen your understanding of what happens when mines close, including closure processes, responsibilities and future opportunities.
  3. Provide ideas and pathways to help you interpret the often technical information supplied by companies on mine closure.

The Mine Closure Hub has been developed by the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM), as part of the Social Aspects of Mine Closure Research Consortium, a three-year program of research that concluded in late 2021. The consortium was established to conduct research that challenged accepted industry practices and demanded new approaches that put people at the centre of mine closure. It was supported by seven industry partners: Anglo American, BHP, MMG, Newcrest, Newmont, OceanaGold and Rio Tinto.

Click here to download a glossary of terms
Sphinx lake, Canada. Blue lake in a pit, surrounded by green slopes. White fade out background.

Who is CSRM?

CSRM is the largest university-based, industry-engaged group of social researchers concentrated on mining worldwide. The centre is part of the Sustainable Minerals Institute at The University of Queensland. Our focus is on the social, cultural, economic and political challenges that occur when change is brought about by mineral resource extraction. We contribute to industry change through independent research, teaching and participating in multi-stakeholder dialogue processes.

Identifying clan designs, Papua New Guinea. Photo courtesy of Nick Bainton, CSRM.

CSRM has been at the forefront of research on the social aspects of mine closure for almost two decades.

CSRM team member with a community group.

Identifying clan designs, Papua New Guinea. Photo courtesy of Nick Bainton, CSRM.

Identifying clan designs, Papua New Guinea. Photo courtesy of Nick Bainton, CSRM.

CSRM team member with people from Jundee mine 2019. Martu Wiluna Rangers on site at Northern Star Resources’ Jundee mine 2019’.

Martu Wiluna Rangers on site at Northern Star Resources’ Jundee mine, 2019. Photo courtesy of Rodger Barnes, CSRM.

Martu Wiluna Rangers on site at Northern Star Resources’ Jundee mine, 2019. Photo courtesy of Rodger Barnes, CSRM.

In the next video, Professor Deanna Kemp introduces the Mine Closure Hub and explains the impetus for its development.

Download the transcript here. For more information, contact us at csrm@uq.edu.au

Table of contents

Mine Closure Hub – resources for communities covers ten key areas which are listed below.

You can navigate through the material using two methods:

  1. Click on the links in the Hub table of contents below to move from section to section. This table of contents is available at the bottom of each page.
  2. Click on the grey links in the black bar at the top of each page to move from topic to topic within the page. The links change from grey to white to indicate which topic is being viewed. The topic you’re now reading is part of the Hub table of contents, so that link is white.
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