Open Cut » Environment
The objective of this project was to determine particulate emission rates for the PM2.5 dust fraction for a range of open cut mining activities.
The project methodology was based on previous research completed in the Hunter Valley. This methodology was modified to utilise up to date sampling techniques that provide for improved data resolution.
Particulate sampling was completed in two open cut coal mines: Hunter Valley Operations in New South Wales and Goonyella Riverside Mine in Queensland.
The project has demonstrated that the sampling methodology is appropriate for determining PM2.5 emissions from a range of mine activities.
The PM2.5 emission rates determined in the study have been compared to the default emission rates currently adopted in Australia for total suspended particulates and PM10. This comparison indicates that, based on the available data from this study, PM2.5 emissions form a small fraction (less than 11 %) of total particulate emissions from Australian Coal Mines. This is consistent with other published data that highlights that coarse particulates (>PM10) typically dominate particulate emissions where mechanical processes (as opposed to combustion processes) are the source of emissions.
The sampling programme was affected at times by prevailing weather conditions, site access and safety issues. These issues resulted in limited data availability for some of the mining activities that had been identified for testing in the project scope. Given the limited data available from this study, the results are considered to be based on insufficient data points to provide definitive PM2.5 emission rates for the activities considered in the sampling program.