Kapunda ISR research underway
The old pit at Kapunda. Image: Environmental Copper Recovery. BY ELIZABETH FABRI A GROUP of researchers and miners have joined forces in a two and a half year study that aims to identify and resolve key challenges with in-situ recovery (ISR) mineral extraction in mining. The research program, led by Mining3 and ISR specialists Environmental Copper Recovery (ECR), will be undertaken at Terramin’s Kapunda copper mine in South Australia with Thor Mining, the University of Adelaide and CSIRO. The program would involve a “tangible demonstration of ISR mining” at Kapunda, providing examples to industry of how to unlock value in stranded assets. Kapunda – Australia’s first commercial copper mine – has been mothballed since the early 1900s, and been examined…