Developing new projects in a mineral rich area of western

Europe- recent experiences in SW England

Charlie MoonConsultant

& Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, Cornwall

The view from western Europe

• Sharp decrease in mining, particularly metallics and coal

• Metallic mining at the periphery of the EU or perhaps better as imports from non-EU countries

• Increased emphasis on importing aggregates and building materials, even dimension stone

0 60 120 180 24030Kilometers

Commodities in SW England

• Metallics- Sn, W, (Cu, Zn, U)• China Clay• Ball Clay• Aggregates• Building Stone• Holes (Waste Disposal)

Economic backgroundDevon and Cornwall

• Historical mineral producer(UNESCO World Heritage Site)• Major tourist area• Low wage region (Cornwall had objective

1 status)• Immigration from Central England and

London region• Regeneration

MINE SITES AND LANDSCAPES

Geevor and Levant mines, west Penwith

Botallack/Wheal Edward,west Penwith

Source: world heritage site

Protected Areas

0 8 16 24 324Kilometers

Devon

Cornwall

Legend

Sites of Special Scientific InterestBuilt up areasAreas of Outstanding Natural BeautyNational ParksDistrict Council Boundaries

Strict Mineral Planning

(county level)

Questions

• To what degree do increased environmental and permitting regulations limit new operations, particularly by Small and Medium- sized Enterprises, creating barriers to entry?

• Does increased consolidation and increasing scale of projects distance operators from local population and thus degrade the social licence to operate?

Metallic Projects

")

#[̀

#

")

#

Geevor

Redmoor

Hemerdon

Wheal JaneSouth Crofty

Wheal Concord

Legend

[̀")

#

Active mine

Development

Mine worked since 1980

Mineralised Vein

Granite

Other geological unit

0 10 20 30 405Kilometers

Wheal Jane Overview

Wheal Jane Cross Section(After Rayment et al., 1971

& www.phdcsm.freeserve.co.uk)

Wheal Jane

Mine water rebound(Younger 2002)

Wheal Jane, Cornwall

Wheal Jane (Younger et al. 2005)

The recommencement of mining in or adjacent to the World Heritage Site –Sustainable development (Policy 7d)[World Heritage Site Management Plan]‘Proposals for the resumption of mining will be supported where they do not adversely affect the outstanding universal value of the Site.’

South Crofty

June 2007

Hemerdontungsten project

Width 5 km, looking NE

granite

0 1 2 3 40.5Kilometers

Production Process

0 0.25 0.5 0.75 10.125Kilometers

China Clay (kaolinite)

• Major employer (c. 3000 direct)• Originally SMEs then amalgamated

(ECLP) now Imerys• Separate planning regime• Significant reduction in 2007 due to energy

and other costs

Aggregates

• Granite, limestone, sandstone, mafics• Some local use (roads, buildings)• Export to rest of England• Secondary aggregates becoming more

important• Transport issues

Agg Ind Uk

Hanson

Tarmac

Atlantic

Glendinning

Others

Agg Ind Uk

Hanson

Tarmac

Atlantic

Others

Goonvean

Crushed Rock Sand & Gravel

South West “local”Market

Agg Ind Uk

Hanson

Tarmac

RMC

Lafarge

Bretts

Others

Agg Ind Uk

Hanson

Lafarge

RMC

Brets

Others

Tarmac/Hanson10ktpa

50ktpa

15ktpa

20ktpa 10ktpa

10ktpa

Southern England & South Wales Market: Sea Borne

Building Stone

Eden project: Source PGWA

Conclusions

• Past problems and new legislation has led to difficult and expensive permitting

• Comprehensive planning tends to make new exploration more difficult and locks production into a few hands

• This consolidation also mitigates against a social licence to operate