Internationally respected mining leader Kerry Turnock will explore resource estimation challenges being intensified by the evolution of mining and processing methods in response to deeper and more complex orebodies in her keynote address at this year’s AusIMM Mineral Resource Estimation Conference in Perth, Western Australia.
BHP’s head of geoscience excellence, Turnock says as demand for resource extraction grows, companies must adapt to stricter requirements for product quality, impurity quantification and sustainability.
“The need for selective mining and optimised processing becomes paramount as we face productivity headwinds from lower-grade deposits and the complexities of planning for deeper operations,” she says.
“It is important that we think about the nature of the orebodies that need to be defined in the future. Not only may the nature of the orebodies vary to today but so might the data that we use to quantify them. As we see an increase in the introduction of more sensing and sensor technology combined with growth in AI data, we need to understand how to use this effectively in mineral resource estimation.”
Turnock, who has worked in the industry for more than 30 years, is optimistic that the industry can position itself to meet changing demands and expectations of stakeholders, including accelerated timelines for resource characterisation and capital projects and rising emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations.
MREC 2025 will be held in Perth from May 6-7.
For more information on attending MREC 2025, go to https://www.ausimm.com/conferences-and-events/mineral-resource-estimation/attend/why-attend/
