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A Brief Guide to Mining Support Services

Author: Sonja Mitchell
by Sonja Mitchell
Posted: Jul 22, 2015

When most people consider mining, they think of established sites with a bustling area built up around it. However, modern mining operations are often located in more remote areas, which creates a number of challenges for the personnel. While mining is still a very profitable industry in Australia, the need for mining support services has grown exponentially. From the need for mining charter flights to explore potential sites and conduct geological research through to moving equipment and carrying personnel to and from the site, support services have become a vital component of a successful mining operation.

Exploration:

The initial need for mining support services is in exploration. Most natural resources left to be mined are in inconvenient or remote areas. This means that a great deal of time is spent on exploring potential sites. The team is likely to need geological surveys and other data tests to be performed before the viability of an operation can be ascertained. Since time is money, most of these cases require mining charter flights to allow the team to quickly and effectively assess potential sites.

This exploration stage will also require mapping, geophysical testing and analysis of subsurface minerals to determine whether the resource is available in sufficient quantity to ensure that a mining operation is viable.

Site Support:

Another aspect of mining support is physical site support. Many sites will require castings to be secured to the well before drilling can occur. Since environmental concerns are a top priority, the company needs to ensure that any mining or drilling has minimal impact on the local ecosystem. This may mean that cement casings, dewatering solutions or underpinning is required before and during the mining operations to ensure that the site is both safe and environmentally conscious.

Transportation:

One aspect of mining support services which is often overlooked is transportation. However, when mining in a remote location, there will need to be a provision to transport personnel to and from the site. This could mean regular transportation routes for shifts of miners or chartered transportation for site visitors.

Emergency Assistance:

A very important aspect of support services is emergency assistance. Despite the developments of technology, mining is still a dangerous industry and there needs to be provision for emergency assistance in the event of an accident or incident. While a hospital is likely to be available if you are working in an urban area, in a remote location quick and efficient transportation is needed to make the difference between serious injuries and fatal accidents. For this reason, many mining companies have helicopter emergency assistance on standby. This means that with one call, a helicopter can be in the air and ready to take any injured personnel to medical help.

If you would like to know more about mining support services, contact us. We have an experienced flight team and a fleet of craft available for mining charter flights. Our team would be happy to discuss your particular requirements and assist with a solution tailored to your specific needs.

About the Author

Dylan Luke is a writer across several reputed industrial web posts. He writes for many online journals and portals that are related to travel and aviation.

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Author: Sonja Mitchell

Sonja Mitchell

Member since: Jul 13, 2015
Published articles: 14

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