White Paper

Introduction In the mining industry, clarity and consistency are critical to project success. However, MEC identified a gap in its study processes: the absence of a Checklist and Basis of Design (BoD) framework. Without this framework, reconciling different engineering work often became difficult, and assumptions varied between engineers and disciplines. Challenge MEC needed a standardised BoD checklist to ensure all assumptions were aligned and that every engineering decision was well-documented. This was especially important as the company pursued ISO accreditation for its processes. Approach MEC’s technical team tackled this by developing a comprehensive template for the Checklist and [...]

Introduction Early-stage studies for mining projects often struggle to balance cost, speed, and clarity. For a Queensland gold project with a 32koz defined Mineral Resource, the client needed early direction on whether the asset was worth deeper investment—and they needed it quickly. Challenge After releasing the maiden MRE, the client was trying to answer some big questions: What’s the right development path for the asset? What plant size makes economic sense? How big does the resource need to be to meet internal financial metrics? Traditional concept studies can cost $100k+ and still miss the early directional insights the [...]

Introduction For deposits with complex geology and variable metallurgy, traditional modelling methods can struggle to capture grade behaviour with enough confidence for feasibility-level decisions. In this Western Australian PGE and magnetite project, MEC was engaged to assess whether advanced modelling approaches could better represent grade continuity ahead of future development studies. Challenge The resource contains mixed grade populations and complicated geological controls. The client needed a way to improve confidence in grade variability and continuity before committing to mine design, metallurgy planning, and strategic investment decisions. Neural network modelling has potential in this space but is still relatively new [...]

Introduction In Queensland, mining operations must complete independent audits every three years under their Environmental Authority (EA) and Progressive Rehabilitation and Closure Plan (PRCP) Schedule. These audits confirm that rehabilitation progress, environmental controls, monitoring programs, and public reporting all meet regulatory requirements. Many sites struggle to keep up—especially when audits fall during peak operational periods. When documentation is incomplete or outdated, it can slow down approvals, introduce unnecessary risk, and put hard-earned environmental progress at stake. Challenge Several clients approached MEC after recognising gaps in their audit readiness. The issues were common: Rehabilitation progress wasn’t well documented or [...]

Introduction In metals mining, the performance of the processing circuit and final product qualities can be affected by the deleterious elements found within the orebody. At MEC, our team was tasked with solving a critical challenge in a Vanadium mining study. The objective was to maintain a threshold on the deleterious element : V ratio for the first 24 months of mining and annually thereafter. Challenge The client faced a significant issue: the mine schedule could not progress without verifying that the deleterious element : V ratio would meet the required head grade to support the processing plant. The [...]