Adelaide Branch March 2021 Newsletter
Headlines
• Chair’s Report
• February Technical Lunch with Kathy Ehrig: Critical Metals at Olympic Dam
• Getting to Know Your New Committee Members
• Vale Dr Roy Woodall AO FAusIMM
• Reminder: Adelaide Branch 2021 Photo Competition
• Upcoming Events
• Social Media, Sponsorship & Advertising, Contributions
Hello and welcome to my first Chair’s column, and the first for 2021!
We come out of 2020 (a year many may like to forget) with renewed enthusiasm, positivity and hope that life may be returning to normal. The Adelaide Branch are certainly planning for “normal”, with our usual array of in-person technical talks and social events throughout the year.
I would like to thank all the 2020 Committee Members for making our interrupted year such a great success, in particular Chris Sykes, who after two years at the helm has decided to step down as Chair (but thankfully will stay on as a committee member). And I would like to thank those 2020 Committee Members who sadly have stepped down from the Committee: Johann Van Wijk and Diana Tran. We’ve had an overwhelming retention of the 2020 Branch Committee into 2021, and also welcome three new members: Chaoshui Xu, Azada Rudnicki and Cristiana Ciobanu. The team has assigned roles and are working hard on technical and social events, student interaction and scholarships and a new media strategy among others.
We were thankful to have Dr Kathy Ehrig present the first technical lunch of the year in February, on Critical Minerals at Olympic Dam. This was a very interesting topic, as evidenced by more than 100 people registering to attend.
We have our Joint GSA / Adelaide / Auxiliary Student BBQ at the Adelaide University on 18th March. This time we will also be joined by the AIG as a partner in the event. It’s a great opportunity to hear from recent graduates and their transition to life after University.
I would also like to take this opportunity to announce and thank our Branch Partners for 2021. We have had all existing partner companies sign on again, and we are extremely grateful. We thank OZ Minerals and Bureau Veritas as our esteemed Branch Partners for 2020. We also welcome back, Thermo Fisher as our Technical Lunch Partner and Heathgate Resources as our Media Partner. All our partners provide substantial support to the Branch and assist greatly in delivering low-cost technical and social events. They also allow us to keep giving back and adding value to members. A couple of examples are the loyalty card (come to 5 events, get the 6th free) and free name badges that we are providing for interested members this year.
Finally, I want to congratulate one of our passionate committee members for being awarded a prestigious Professional Excellence Award for New Professionals: Jason Hodge. Jason served as Secretary on the 2020 committee and has this year moved to the role of Treasurer.
Hope to see you at an event soon!
Stuart
February Technical Lunch with Kathy Ehrig: Critical Metals at Olympic Dam
The first AusIMM technical lunch for 2021 was presented by Kathy Ehrig and Jack Walsh at the Adelaide Pavilion on the 18th February. The lunch was fully subscribed with a broad range of attendees and a notably high student and early-career presence.
Jack’s opening presentation was an informative and interesting walk through ways to optimise efficiency at the Nyrstar Port Pirie smelter as part of his student vacation placement. Jack discussed the methods of analysis and testing and how changes in batch size can lead to large improvements in efficiency; a reminder to continually look for ways to improve our processes.
Kathy began her talk with a moving tribute to the late Dr. Roy Woodall; a man whose dedication, passion and drive has influenced and mentored generations of mining industry professionals.
The Olympic Dam Iron Oxide Copper-Gold (IOCG) deposit is well known for its world class endowment of copper, uranium, gold and silver. In addition to these revenue metals, the giant deposit is also enriched in a range of sub-economic critical metals including Bi, Ca, Co, Li, Mo, Nb, W and rare earth elements (REEs).
Kathy gave a compelling and honest presentation with a clear and succinct explanation for what critical elements are and that there is a lot more to critical metals than just geology! She demonstrated that all of the appropriate geometallurgical test work and research has been previously completed at Olympic Dam and the company knows very well the extent and distribution of critical elements in the deposit. While the deposit has a relatively high tonnage of certain critical metals, the grade is low, and the majority of critical metals currently report to the tailings, as they do at other Australian IOCG deposits. Kathy concluded the presentation by re-affirming that only time (and economics) will decide whether these elements are to be extracted into a saleable product in the future.
From L-R: Alex Blood, Kathy Ehrig, Stuart Emery & Jack Walsh
Lastly, congratulations to our lucky door prize winner Yan Li who will receive a $50 voucher redeemable online at the AusIMM bookshop, or at an upcoming AusIMM conference or local event.
Richard Lilly (MAusIMM) and Jo Parks (AusIMM Student Member)
Getting to know your New Committee Members
Find out a little bit more about our newest committee members!
Azada Rudnicki - AAusIMM
What Position do you hold on the Committee?
I have joined the Adelaide branch as a general Committee Member.
Can you tell us a bit about your educational background?
I completed a Bachelor of Engineering, majoring in Chemical/Pharmaceutical.
Can you tell us a bit more about your background of your career?
Since my graduation in 2013, I have been working in different industries. My first job was in laboratory testing transformers’ oil for utility industry. I then moved on into biotech followed by defence. I have been working in the resources industry for the past three years.
What do you enjoy most about your profession?
I love chemistry! I welcome the day to day challenges in production environment and enjoy solving issues. My current role has been very rewarding as I solve day-to-day chemistry challenges.
When did you join the AusIMM?
I joined the AusIMM in 2018 after joining the Uranium conference.
What do you enjoy most about being on the Committee?
I enjoy networking and being around like minded people in the industry. At the same time, I enjoy event planning and working as a team. This is my first time with the Adelaide Branch Committee and looking forward to the upcoming events.
What are you hoping the Committee can achieve this year?
Last year was one of a kind and has been a very challenging year for in-person networking. I am hoping this year the Committee will be able to host more in person networking events.
Chaoshui Xu - MAusIMM
What Position do you hold on the Committee?
I will be serving as a General Committee Member of the Technical and Social Sub-Committee.
Can you tell us a bit about your educational background?
My degrees are all in Mining Engineering. My Bachelor and Master degrees are from Northeast University, China and my PhD degree is from University of Leeds, UK.
Can you tell us a bit more about your background of your career?
I have worked in academic institutions for most of my career over the past 35 years, with only a few short spells working for engineering firms in China and UK.
What do you enjoy most about your profession?
I am passionate about teaching and research. Helping young professionals to fulfil their career dreams, solving research problems and generating publications bring me enormous enjoyment in my work.
When did you join the AusIMM?
In 2008, after I moved to Adelaide from the UK to take up an academic position for the newly established mining engineering program at the University.
What do you enjoy most about being on the Committee?
I am new to the Committee but I am sure I will enjoy being on the Committee, working alongside a group of very dedicated volunteers for various branch activities.
What are you hoping the Committee can achieve this year?
To continue to provide great services to our members in SA, particularly our student members – the future of our industry.
Vale Dr Roy Woodall AO FAusIMM
The AusIMM Adelaide Branch expresses its sincere condolences to the family, friends and many colleagues of Dr Roy Woodall AO FAusIMM, who passed away on February 14 2021, aged 90.
A full obituary for Dr Woodall is available on the AusIMM Bulletin website.
Reminder: Adelaide Branch 2021 Photo Competition
The AusIMM Adelaide Branch Committee is running a photo competition for 2020 / 2021 and is inviting all AusIMM members to enter for your chance to win a $200 voucher to spend at the AusIMM online store or conference!
The Branch wants to update its Facebook & Community of Interest website cover photo with your best mineral industry photo. Entries close 29 March 2021 and the winner will be announced shortly thereafter.
The best entries will be posted on our Facebook page and in our regular newsletter. Entry is free, however only one photo per person. We look forward to seeing your photos. Happy snapping!
To enter:
Send your mineral related photos with your name and a description of your photo to adelaide@ausimm.com.au.
Upcoming Events
2021 Photo Competition
The AusIMM Adelaide Branch 2021 Photo Competition is creeping up on us so dust off those old lenses, snap a picture and send us your best minerals industry photo. There is a prize for the winner! For more information click here.
GSA / AusIMM March Student BBQ
Join us at the GSA / AusIMM March Student BBQ. This is an annual event where students get the chance to listen to graduate geologists, metallurgists and mining engineers who have just started their mining industry careers.
Date: Thursday 18 March 2021
5:45pm - 8:00pm ACDT
Venue: The University of Adelaide, Room 134, Mawson Building, North Terrace Campus, Adelaide SA 5005
Technical & Social Calendar
***Please note due to the current COVID-19 restrictions events could be subject to change.
Adelaide Branch Technical & Social Calendar 2021 (as of 27/02/21)
|
DATE |
VENUE |
EVENT |
TOPIC |
SPEAKER/s |
|
18 Mar |
TBA |
“Students’ Night” Joint GSA/AusIMM/Aux |
TBA |
TBA |
|
22 Apr |
TBA |
Technical Lunch |
TBA |
TBA |
|
20 May |
TBA |
Technical Lunch |
TBA |
TBA |
|
17 Jun |
TBA |
Technical Lunch |
TBA |
TBA |
|
16 Jul |
Pavilion |
Annual Dinner |
TBA |
TBA |
|
19 Aug |
TBA |
Technical Lunch |
TBA |
TBA |
|
23 Sep |
TBA |
Technical Lunch |
TBA |
TBA |
|
21 Oct |
TBA |
Technical Lunch |
TBA |
TBA |
|
25 Nov |
TBA |
Special Lecture & BBQ, AGM |
TBA |
TBA |
AusIMM Conference and Functions 2021
*** Please see links to to the AusIMM website for official details relating to conferences
|
DATE |
VENUE |
EVENT |
|
9 Mar 2021 |
Various |
|
|
15 – 17 Mar 2021 |
Perth |
|
|
28 – 30 Apr 2021 |
Brisbane |
|
|
25 – 27 May 2021 |
Sydney |
|
|
23 – 25 Jun 2021 |
Brisbane |
|
|
1 – 2 Jul 2021 |
Brisbane |
|
|
26 – 27 Jul 2021 |
Perth |
|
|
8 – 10 Nov 2021 |
Perth |
Social Media
Remember to follow the Adelaide Branch on Facebook for all the latest local events:
Connect with The AusIMM across our various social media pages:
Sponsorship & Advertising
The Adelaide Branch is looking to partner with the industry in 2021 to sponsor our Technical & Social events. We have a range of various sponsorship packages available to suit your needs, including our Monthly Technical Lunches, AGM and sponsoring the Adelaide Student Chapter.
For a sponsorship pack with further details please contact us at adelaide@ausimm.com.au.
Contributions
Contribute to the Adelaide Branch Online Newsletter!
If you have any feedback, would like to make a suggestion or contribute with an article or comment piece, please email the Branch via: adelaide@ausimm.com.au.
Please submit articles as unformatted text files, and photographs as separate images. If photographs are of individuals, please supply names for figure captions.
Contributions for our next newsletter are required by 1st April.
DISCLAIMER: The AusIMM is not responsible for statements made or opinions advanced by authors in this publication and accepts no liability (including liability in negligence) for and gives no undertaking concerning the accuracy, completeness or fitness for purpose of the information provided.
Sponsors
Media Partner 2021
