Since 2018, Australian interest in gold has surged, accompanied by a growing investment in mineral exploration. The Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed that the country spent 19% more on both gold and mineral exploration compared to the previous year.*
Jeff McCulloch, the Manager Director of Clean Mining Limited (a part of the Clean Earth Technologies group), hopes this surge of interest will encourage the use of less hazardous reagents than the toxic cyanide and mercury chemicals that have been used to date.
For example, thiosulphate, a key offering of CML, is a non-toxic leaching solution that replaces cyanide in the gold production process. A second “clean mining” solution is being developed by CML to tackle the presence of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mines (ASGM). With both solutions, CML hopes to protect human health and minimise environmental damage.
Tania Constable, the Minerals Council Australia CEO, spoke out in support of the Resource Minister’s recent approval of a productivity commission inquiry. She stated, “The…inquiry into resources sector regulation is a welcome first step in ensuring state and federal governments have the policy settings that continue to support mining and even greater investment in exploration.”* These policies should also pave the way for the adoption of safer and more sustainable mining initiatives.
CML is currently working with Eco Minerals Limited at their gold processing facility in Menzies, West Australia. Its sights are also set on other projects overseas. According to Statista.com, 3,260 metric tonnes of gold were produced worldwide last year. Australia, South Africa, and Russia lead the world in terms of largest estimated gold reserves, and China is currently the world’s leading producer of gold (followed by Australia and Russia).
*Source: Australian Mining
