Mineral sands, as with other mineral ores, mineral products and soils, contain natural occurring radioactive material (NORM). This is associated with low levels of naturally occurring uranium and thorium contained within the grains of the minerals we recover and return to the mine void.
While the level of NORM in most natural substances is low, any operation in which material containing radiation is extracted from the earth and processed can concentrate NORM in the mineral sands products, by-products and residue materials. For this reason, stringent, internationally-accepted radiation management standards are adopted to minimise the risk to human health and the environment.
A recent example of this is our Eneabba mineral sands recovery project, which involves the extraction, process and sale of a stockpile of historical monazite-rich material that is currently stored in a mining void at Eneabba, Western Australia. Approvals have been granted and the project is on track for commissioning during 2020. This has required the development of a viable processing methodology and the selection of a channel to market with satisfies product stewardship protocols – including the safe handling of naturally occurring radioactive material. We aim to continually identify where further circulatory possibilities may exist for our NORM by-product streams.
We apply radiation management practices that are aligned with international best practice according to the publications of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as the relevant jurisdiction’s legislation. We identify, assess and control risks associated with NORM, radon gas and man-made sources through all phases of our activities – exploration, project development, operations, rehabilitation and closure. Our Group Radiation Management Standard and site-specific radiation management plans ensure exposure to radiation meets the prescribed statutory limits and is as low as is reasonably achievable.