ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

1958-2018 60th Anniversary Refinancing for fast release of funds.

Our experts provide tailored funding for new and used machinery or equipment, with flexible terms to match your business’s income patterns. We can also help refinance existing assets to free up capital and enhance cash flow.

Talk to us Visit +44 (0)28 9099 8676 closecommercialfinance.ie

Close Brothers | Modern Merchant Banking Close Brothers Limited (being a UK registered private limited company and its Irish registered branch of the same name having registration number 907899), trading as (and having as registered business names) Close Brothers Asset Finance, Close Brothers Commercial Finance, Close Brothers Premium Finance Ireland, Close Brothers Motor Finance and Braemar Finance, is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom and is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. UK registered address: 10 Crown Place, London, EC2A 4FT, registered at Companies House, Number 00195626. Directors: M. Biggs (UK), O. Corbett (UK), G. Howe (UK), J. Howell (UK), L. Jones (UK), E. Lee (UK), B. Macaskill (UK), M. Morgan (UK), P. Prebensen (UK) and A. Sainsbury (UK). Close Brothers Invoice Finance and Close Brothers Commercial Finance are registered business names of Close Invoice Finance Limited, a UK registered private limited company (and its Irish registered branch of the same name having registration number 908024). UK registered address: 10 Crown Place, London, EC2A 4FT, registered at Companies House, Number 00935949. Directors: J. Brown (UK), C. McAreavey (UK), A. Sainsbury (UK), I. Steward (UK), D. Thomson, (UK).

IMQS Ad A4 + bleed 05-18.indd 1 10/05/2018 11:52 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Notes from the Editors 2018

This year is a momentous one for the new IMQS President Mr. John Francis, We are also honoured to include three Irish Mining and Quarrying Society this Review includes contributions previously unpublished papers from the (IMQS) as we celebrate the 60th from industry organisations such as archives of Mr. Tony Killian R.I.P. (former Anniversary of the association. The ICF, IGI, EFEE, IAEG and QPANI. Details Editor of the Annual Review). 2018 Annual Review celebrates this on relevant educational and training A noteworthy feature focusing on event and features a summary of the courses and upcoming events are a selection of “Industry Leaders” history of the Society since 1958. It presented by Carlow IT, iCRAG, the highlights the variety of roles within the Institute of Quarrying (IQ), the Irish should also be noted that this is the sector and the range of specialisms that Mine Rescue Committee (IMRC) and the 20th edition of the Annual Review have developed in the business over the INQUA 2019 conference committee. publication. last 60 years. Featured papers for 2018 focus As always, we thank our advertisers Papers from contributors from the on case studies from Boliden Tara for their continued support for the four provinces of the island of Ireland Mines, Gypsum Industries (Saint Irish Mining and Quarrying Society; provide the reader with updates on Gobain), Barleystone (O’Reilly Group), all our feature writers and regular developments in the mining and Roadstone, Dalradian Gold Ltd., Irish contributors and our publisher 4 Square quarrying sector. Reflecting the diversity Salt Mining & Exploration Co. Ltd., Media. Without the commitment of the Society since its establishment, LTMS Ltd., McGrath Limestone (Cong), and assistance of these parties, this this Annual Review includes a range of Ecocem and Irish Cement. There is publication would not be possible. industry articles and case studies from also a focus on Diamond Mining and Elizabeth Murphy (TOBIN Consulting operators, industry representatives, a review of the quarry industry in the Engineers/Geoscience Ireland) has suppliers and government regulators. south west of Ireland. In addition, joined the Editorial Committee this year In addition to a special Foreword informative updates from Geoscience and, although she has assisted with from the Minister of State for Natural Ireland, Tellus, PDAC, MinLand and the Review in previous years, we are Resources, Mr. Sean Kyne T.D. and a Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) are delighted to officially welcome her on message to industry members from the included in this Review. board.

the Editorial Team Siobhán Tinnelly (Chairperson) Sean Finlay

Keith McGrath Ronan Griffin Elizabeth Murphy

www.imqs.ie 3 Super Mass Excavation and Fuel Efficient Loading

Liebherr excavators are designed and built from the ground up specifically for tough quarrying operations. The Super Mass Excavation range features the undercarriage from the next size up machine as well as a host of other heavy-duty robust components to ensure reliability, efficiency and productivity.

The XPower wheel loaders provide maximum efficiency in all applications due to automatic adjustment between mechanical and hydrostatic driveline. Significant fuel savings are achieved thanks to Liebherr XPower driveline with Liebherr-Power-Efficiency (LPE). Optimal cab and engine hood design provides exceptional all-round visibility for safe and comfortable operation.

DUBLIN: Call today on: + 353 (0) 14587650 Liebherr - Construction Equipment Ireland Ltd. Unit 23, Greenogue Industrial Estate, Rathcoole, Dublin, D23 P38P. UK: Call today on: 01767 602100 Liebherr-Great Britain Ltd, Normandy Lane, Stratton Business Park, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8QB. www.liebherr.com

liebherr super mass ad ire A4 apr18.indd 1 4/3/18 10:45 AM ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 contents

Notes from the Editors 2018...... 3 Pre-63 Quarries - Far From Safety...... 60 Minister’s Foreword...... 6 by Liam Smyth, C Eng, Senior Manager, Regulatory Compliance, ICF by Minister Sean Kyne T.D., Minister of State for Natural Resources International Quaternary Congress comes to Dublin...... 62 Message from the President...... 8 by Kieran Craven, Marine Geoscientist, Geological Survey by John Francis, Customer Account Manager, Finning Ireland Ltd. Ireland & Maynooth University Activities of the Society - May 2017 to May 2018...... 10 Cementing status by balancing long game and deal-making...... 64 by Alan Dolan, IMQS Honorary Secretary by Joe Brennan, The Irish Times IMQS; 60 Years Review...... 12 Institute of Geologists of Ireland - An overview of activities...... 66 by Sean Finlay, PGeo CEng by Eur Geol., Catherine Buckley, P. Geo, IGI President Industry Highlights of 2018...... 14 Managing Vehicle Movements at Quarry Locations...... 68 Water Safety in Quarries...... 15 by Jim Holmes, C.Eng. MSc. FIM3 CMIOSH, Mines and Quarries Policy Inspector by Siobhán Tinnelly, Associate Director, TOBIN Consulting Engineers – Health and Safety Authority of Ireland Mine Rescue in Ireland - Fifty Years and Going Strong...... 16 Mineral Resources in Sustainable Land-Use Planning...... 70 by Mike Lowther (Chairman IMRC), Aoife Tallon (Secretary IMRC) by Sybil Berne, Jerry Barnes and Gerry Stanley and Richie Cahill (Mine Rescue Officer, Boliden Tara Mines) Tellus Programme - On Target...... 72 View from the North...... 22 by Jim Hodgson, TELLUS programme Manager, Geological Survey Ireland by Gordon Best, Regional Director QPANI Saint Gobain Mining (Ireland) Ltd - Drummond Mine...... 74 Challenges of Recovery...... 24 by Benson Plunkett, Mine Manager, Saint Gobain Mining (Ireland) Limited by Gerry Farrell, Chief Executive of the Irish Concrete Federation Barleystone Expansion...... 76 News from the South West...... 26 by Aoife Gavin, Sales and Marketing Manager, O’Reilly Group by Sarah O’Connell, O’Connell Quarries Recent Activities of the IAEG...... 78 Dalradian Gold Limited - A Golden Opportunity for Businesses by Kieran Parker, Vice-President, Irish Association for Economic Geology Across Northern Ireland...... 28 Recognition of Drilling Skills: A New Apprenticeship...... 80 by Barry Turley, Director of Communications, Dalradian Gold Limited by Brian J Byrne, Programme Director, Civil Engineering, IT Carlow Diamond Mining...... 30 Evolving Survey Methods at Boliden Tara Mines...... 82 by Brendan Morris, C. Eng, Managing Director, LTMS Limited by Thomas Gilleran, Mine Surveyor at Boliden Tara Mines Diamond exploration in northernmost Ireland...... 34 An Aerial Survey of Kilmacow Quarry...... 88 by Barry Long, Scientific Visitor, Geological Survey Ireland by Carl Morris, Director Land and Mineral Surveys Limited Geoscience Ireland - Delivering Irish Expertise Overseas...... 36 Planning & Environmental Law Forum...... 90 by Andrew Gaynor, Business Development Manager, Geoscience Ireland by Stephen Walsh, MIPI, Planning Consultant Irish Cement - 80 years from 1938 to 2018...... 38 Industry Leaders by Brian Gilmore, Marketing & Communications Manager, Irish Cement Orla McKenna, P.Geo, Senior Exploration Geologist, Dalradian Gold Ltd...... 92 IoQ - Getting Age Ready for Quarrying’s Future...... 40 Prof. Murray Hitzman, SFI Research Professor and Director of iCRAG...... 94 by Julian Smallshaw, Head of Educational Development at the IoQ Anne Graham, Chief Executive Officer, National Transport Authority...... 96 Minister Sean Kyne T.D. leads Team Ireland at PDAC 2018...... 42 Moyagh Murdock, Chief Executive Officer, Road Safety Authority...... 98 by Ray Scanlon, Principal Geologist, Geological Survey Ireland The National Development Plan 2018-2027...... 100 Development of the Underground APCr Recovery Facility by Anne Graham, Chief Executive Officer, National Transport Authority. at Kilroot Salt Mine, Co. Antrim...... 44 EFEE (European Federation of Explosives Engineers)...... 102 by Jason Hopps (Irish Salt Mining & Exploration Co. Ltd., Project Manager) by Alan Dolan, Ground Control Engineer, Boliden Tara Mines & Tim Paul (SLR Consulting, Technical Advisor to ISME) Lambay Island - Was this the site of Ireland’s First Quarry?...... 104 iCRAG - 3 Years on...... 46 by Tony Killian, former Editor of the Annual Review (R.I.P.) by Prof. John Walsh, Founding Director, iCRAG The Corinth Canal...... 106 Pat O’Connor; Passionate & Committed To Serving by Tony Killian, former Editor of the Annual Review (R.I.P.) the Industry...... 47 The Shanxi Hanging Temple...... 110 by David Stokes by Tony Killian, former Editor of the Annual Review (R.I.P.) Flotation Development at Tara...... 50 IMQS Annual Dinner Dance 2017 ...... 112 by Colm Rice, Process Engineer, Boliden Tara Mines Roadstone Belgard Quarry - Integrated Constructed Wetland Obituary - Dr. John F. Lawlor, Geologist, Olympian...... 114 (ICW) Case Study 2017...... 52 by Hugh McCullough, B.L., P.Geo by Ciaran Greenan, Belgard Quarry Manager, Roadstone Limited Obituary - Dave Fitzgerald 1928 – 2018...... 116 Ecocem Announce New Production Facility...... 54 by Nicholas Coy, Geologist MHTI by Micheal McKittrick, Managing Director, Ecocem Ireland Limited Obituary - William James Tilson, MIMMM CEng ACSM...... 118 Screeds in UK and Irish marketplace - by Mike Lowther FIMQS and Colleen Cairns (née Tilson) The market and the influence of Specification...... 58 IMQS Happy Colouring...... 120 by Andy Vincent, McGraths Limestone (Cong) Membership Application Form...... 122

IMQS Annual Review 2018 The TEAM: Phil Eaglestone IMQS Publication Manager, Paul Beattie Business Development Manager, is Published by: 4 SM NI Ltd, The Old Coach House, 12 Main Street, Hillsborough BT26 6AE Joel Byers Production Manager, Nick Stokes Graphic Designer, SM Tel: 028 9268 8888 Fax: 028 9268 8866 Eleanor Blane Accounts Manager MEDIA & EVENTS Email: [email protected] Helen Beggs & Garfield Harrison Publishers

This journal is published by ‘4 SM NI Ltd’, at The Old Coach House, 12 Main Street, Hillsborough, N. Ireland BT26 6AE. The publishers cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies supplied by the contributors. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, either in part or in full, including photocopying and recording, without the written consent of the owner. Nor may any part of this publication be stored in a retrieval system of any nature without prior written consent of 4 square media.

www.imqs.ie 5 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Minister’s Foreword by Minister Sean Kyne T.D., Minister of State for Natural Resources

The Irish Mining and Quarrying Society a modern management structure for both at the nearby town of Kingscourt for have a great tradition of producing employees and contract staff for the safe manufacturing plaster and plasterboard. A a professional Annual Review with operation of the mine. smaller tonnage of gypsum is additionally informative articles and I am delighted Two underground mines operated in used in the manufacture of cement. In to contribute to the 2018 Annual Ireland in 2017. Ireland produced 12.8% late 2017, the company received planning Review. of European zinc mine output and 4.0% permission to re-commence extraction of European lead mine output, ranking operations from the Knocknacran open pit, The activities of the exploration and Ireland 3rd and 6th in Europe, respectively. adjacent to the Drummond Mine. extraction industries strengthened According to data published by the While my Department does not have during 2017 reflecting an upturn in the International Lead and Zinc Study Group, responsibility for the quarry sector, I construction sector and improving metal in 2017, Ireland ranked 16th and 22nd in the am aware how important it is for the prices, particularly for zinc. I recognise world for zinc and lead mine production, construction sector. I am pleased to note the importance of the minerals sector to respectively. In recent years, there has been the improvement in the sector during Ireland in terms of commerce, responsible a fall in Ireland’s rankings due to the closure 2017 and the increased production of supply of raw materials and employment. of the Galmoy and Lisheen Mines; however aggregates and concrete products. The The latter is important as it provides well I am confident that new mineral deposits Irish Concrete Federation informs me that paid jobs which are regionally distributed. will be found and developed leading to aggregate production was in the region of This last year was important from a Ireland once again being Europe’s premier 35 million tonnes, over 100 million concrete legislative point of view. On 26th July 2017, producer for zinc. blocks and 4.4million cubic metres of the President, Michael D. Higgins, signed The Navan Mine, operated by Boliden ready mixed concrete. Production and the Minerals Development Act 2017 into Tara Mines, is still the largest zinc mine manufacturing is not confined to the Irish law. The Act provides a modern regulatory in Europe. In 2017, Tara milled 2.3Mt of market and it is estimated that precast € regime for exploration and development of ore grading 5.92% Zn and 1.14% Pb. Since concrete products to the value of 135m minerals. My Department are working on mining operations commenced in 1977, up were exported to the United Kingdom, in the secondary legislation over the course until 31 December 2017, total production 2017. of 2018 in order to implement the various at Navan has amounted to 92.6Mt grading Improving metal prices were reflected elements of new Act. 7.79% Zn and 1.79% Pb. At the end of 2017, in the strong growth of the mineral In addition, my colleague, Minister Pat the mine’s JORC classified ore reserves exploration sector in Ireland during 2017. Breen T.D. enacted the new Safety, Health (proven and probable) stood at 19.5Mt There were 566 active licences and 45 and Welfare at Work (Mines) Regulations grading 5.8% Zn and 1.4% Pb, whilst mineral exploration companies operating in April 2018 after several years of drafting. mineral resources (measured, indicated in Ireland at the end of 2017. The total These Regulations result in the repeal of and inferred) were 22.1Mt at 7.1% Zn and exploration expenditure in 2017 amounted the Mines and Quarries Act of 1965 and 1.9% Pb. to €19.5m which may be attributed revoke 20 sets of regulations made under Irish Gypsum Ltd., a subsidiary of the to the significant increase in drilling, that Act. The regulations allow the mine French multi-national Saint-Gobain, approximately 60,000 metres in total. operator to develop detailed systems, produced approximately 250kt of gypsum My Department continues to publicize schemes and operating procedures in 2017 from its underground mine at Ireland as an attractive country in which specific to the operation of the mine rather Drummond, Co. Monaghan. The gypsum is to explore for and develop mineral than being generic or prescriptive. The crushed and blended on site, before being deposits. Once again the main focus of our regulations allow the operator to develop transported by road to a production facility information dissemination has been the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s (PDAC) Convention and Trade Show held in Toronto. The Exploration and Mining Division along with the Geological Survey of Ireland, the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland and the Department for Economy in Northern Ireland have been attending this convention since 1999 with a joint stand and since 1989 in its own right. The Convention provides an important opportunity to provide information on Ireland’s minerals policy and regulation. In addition, a half day presentation on “Ireland – Open for Business”, organised by Geoscience Ireland, was well attended. In 2018, I attended PDAC in March and was impressed at the size and energy of the convention. Almost 26,000 delegates PDAC 2018: (L-R) Dr. Wayne Cox, Minister Seán Kyne T.D., Dr. Eibhlín Doyle, attended. I had a busy schedule which Mr. Gerard Stanley and Ms Laurena Leacy. included attending and presenting at the

6 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

International Mines Ministers Summit to clients worldwide. The cluster now (IMMS), an event co-hosted by PDAC and consists of a network of 36 companies, the World Economic Forum, the first EU- delivering integrated expertise in Canada Exploration and Mining Day, a water, minerals, environmental and Seminar on opportunities for the minerals infrastructure development to clients in sector created by the recent EU-Canada over 50 countries. The Government of Comprehensive Economic and Trade Ireland continues to support job creation Agreement (CETA) and the Irish afternoon. initiatives, such as Geoscience Ireland, I took the opportunity of meeting with under the Action Plan for Jobs 2017. a number of Ministers who were also The TELLUS Programme, continued attending the event and with stakeholders its coverage of the country and is fast at the Department’s stand. approaching 50% coverage of the Island. The Fraser Institute’s, annual survey ranked Further progress will be made over the Ireland highly, once again. In 2018 Ireland coming years to provide full national ranked 4th for the overall Investment coverage. The data from this programme Attractiveness Index up from 5th in 2017. will be beneficial to a range of end In relation to the Policy Perception Index, users including the mineral exploration, Ireland was again ranked first for the fifth environmental management, agriculture, year in a row. human health and research sectors across Ireland. An Economic review of the Irish Geoscience Sector was published in As Minister of State at the Department PDAC 2018 November 2017. The report was prepared of Communications, Climate Action and by Indecon International Economic Environment, I wish to confirm my support € Consultants on behalf of the Geological indicated an output of 1.656b with 7,822 and commitment to maintain an active Survey of Ireland. Using CSO data on all FTE’s employed in the various sectors mineral exploration and development mining and quarrying activities, Indecon where geoscience plays an important role. industry in Ireland. The Government will estimated a turnover in the sector in 2016 My Department continued to support continue to facilitate the responsible, of €939.9m with a GVA amounting to Geoscience Ireland, a network of Irish environmentally sustainable exploration for €282.9 and employing 3,633 FTEs. The companies collaborating to deliver and extraction of mineral resources. economy-wide impact which includes geoscientific, environmental and I wish the IMQS and the extractive industry direct, indirect and induced impacts, engineering expertise and solutions the very best for 2018.

At the heart of business in Ireland

© 2018 KPMG, an Irish partnership

3910_Island_Ad_Irish_Mining.indd 1 03/05/2018 17:39

www.imqs.ie 7 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Message from the President

by John Francis, Customer Account Manager, Finning Ireland Ltd.

Welcome to this year’s Annual Review which has recently been approved by the A more detailed report is included in the in this the 60th Anniversary of the Irish Apprenticeship Board through SOLAS. The Annual Review. Mining and Quarrying Society. course is set at FETAC Level 6. The course The results of the Fraser Institute’s Survey As I sit down to write this note for the will focus on drilling and related skills in key of Mining Companies 2017 (published areas of Mining/Quarrying, Geotechnical, Annual Review the first thing that comes to in Feb 2018) confirm, once again, the Exploration, Directional and Water. mind is “How did I end up here?” international recognition of Ireland’s value The course length will be either two or Having started out my post school days as a mining destination. For the fifth year three years and will have an allowance to as an apprentice mechanic, I was lucky in a row, the Republic of Ireland had the fast track drillers with significant proven enough to work for a company that always highest Policy Perception Index score and practical experience. It is hoped that it will encouraged their employees to continue Northern Ireland was also in the top ten. start in 2019 and more information can be with their studies and attend courses at The latest report ranks Ireland as 4th overall found on our website. amongst 91 jurisdictions surveyed by the night and look to continually furthering Institute for Investment Attractiveness. their development. Looking back at those Brexit days as a young man covered in oil and As someone who works both sides of Website grease, never did I think I would be one day the border every week I know personally The all new revamped IMQS website and writing as President of the Irish Mining and how much things have changed for LinkedIn page continue to attract much Quarrying Society! the better in Northern Ireland over the attention from both members and non- When I look back at the names of the past last 20 years, but the current political members alike. The jobs section on our Presidents over the last 60 years I am uncertainty surrounding the whole Brexit website is consistently one of the most genuinely humbled. issue continues to cast a shadow over our popular pages on the website and it I would like to express my gratitude to industry, in particular the construction continually receives hits from all over the the members of the IMQS council for their sector. Everyday news reports are globe indicating the willingness of the Irish continued support since I took up the continually dominated by Brexit and as we diaspora to come home and find work in role of President earlier this year. Brendan move ever closer to the deadlines there are the extractive industry. Job advertisements Morris set a very high standard as President still so many questions unanswered. are free for our corporate members and we during his term of office, his positive energy The lack of a functional assembly in are more than happy to facilitate. and willingness to get things done was an Northern Ireland is less than ideal at a We always welcome information or articles inspiration to us all on the council and his time when politicians North and South that may be of interest which can be used support and that of Vice President Mike need to work together for the good of all on either forum so please feel free to bring Lowther have been invaluable. their constituents, but you can be sure anything of note to the attention of any of By 2040 the population of Ireland is your industry and professional bodies will the council members for inclusion. continue to collaborate and come together expected to grow by over 1 million to 5.7 Dinner Dance million people. The recently published to represent our members best interests in National Development Plan sets out the any way we can when called upon. Last year saw a change of date and venue significant level of investment, almost This was demonstrated in February when for our Annual Dinner Dance and proved €116 billion, which will underpin the Brendan Morris of the IMQS, Gordon popular with an increase in attendance and National Planning Framework and drive its Best of the QPANI and Sean Finlay of a great night was had by all with dancing implementation over the next ten years. Geoscience Ireland jointly met with Sinn into the early hours. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our guest speaker The National Planning Framework Féin T.D. and an MLA in Leinster House to on the night Ms Deshnee Naidoo and highlights the employment challenge in discuss minerals policy. congratulate her on her recent appointment terms of enterprise, innovation and skills of We will continue to work together to as CEO of Vedanta’s Africa Base Metals. creating in excess of 660,000 additional represent our members on this issue and The golf competition in the afternoon was jobs in the period up until 2040. regular updates will be posted on our website. well attended and competition was fierce The extractive industries provide so much with Jason Hobbs of the Irish Salt Mining variety and opportunities I strongly believe PDAC and Exploration Company taking home the we must encourage the youth of today to In March of this year Ireland was strongly trophy, even if he did have to gently pry it get involved in the sector, and not only that represented at the Prospectors and from Sean Finlay’s hands! but to support starters at all levels and offer Developers Association of Canada’s We will return to the K-Club this year them the chance to develop their careers Convention held in Toronto which included and build on last year’s success and the through continuous training and education. an “Ireland – Open for Business” day dinner dance committee will make tweaks So much emphasis today is placed on exam opened by Jim Kelly, Irelands Ambassador and changes where needed and the results and building an impressive CV from to Canada and attended by Sean Kyne golf tournament will be run again so get an early age, makes me think we may be TD, Minister of State for Natural Resources practicing. missing out on a chance of building from along with representatives from various I’m glad to report that early bookings are the ground up and I believe the College/ government agencies from both the already in place and I’m looking forward to University route isn’t for everyone. Republic and Northern Ireland. welcoming you all on the night. Working with Carlow IT and Geoscience The convention gives an ideal opportunity Ireland the IMQS has been involved in the to showcase Ireland to investors and by Membership development of a new Geo-Driller course all accounts was a tremendous success. Our membership continues to grow in

8 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

line with the economic recovery over the in partnership with Health and Safety well attended. The idea for the day grew last number of years, and in particular our Executive Northern Ireland and the Irish out of conversations we had been having corporate membership which was recently Concrete Federation to hold the Bi-Annual with our members and the issues some introduced is proving very popular with Extractive Industries Ireland - Health and were having with their own planning, so our members. At the time of writing this, Safety Conference and Exhibition. if there are any topics that you would like our corporate membership numbers 29 This year’s exhibition will be held at Doran’s to see us address in a similar format in the and is growing steadily, we very much Pit, Blessington, Co Wicklow on the 26th future please bring them to our attention. appreciate the support of all our members of September with an excellent line up of This year saw the end of an era at the IMQS for without you there is no society! I would speakers from across the industry to share as Carol Sanderson decided to step down encourage you all to get involved with the how they are using technology to improve from her position as Executive Secretary, as various meetings and events hosted by the productivity and safety. Presidents and Council members come and society or by contributing papers or articles Field trips go over the years Carol has been the face and sharing best practice that may be of of the IMQS for many of our members for interest to your fellow members. This year we will hold two Field trips, the first to Aughey Screens in Monaghan and almost 10 years. Carol was always available Health and Safety the second to Kilkenny Limestone. I’d like at the end of the phone or email and Health and Safety must be the top priority to take this opportunity to thank our hosts nothing was ever too much of a problem for us all and whatever our role in the for taking time out of their production for her. On behalf of current and past industry, we all have a part to play in schedules to show our members around Council members I’d like to wish Carol the ensuring everyone is safe and well in their their facilities. The field trips are an very best for the future. work environment. important part of our year as they give our I am pleased to welcome Andrew Gaynor The HSA conducted over 200 inspections members a chance to get to know each as our new Executive Secretary (he took up other in a relaxed environment and at the in 2017, issuing 14 Prohibition Notices and 14 his position in late June 2018). same time they are always both interesting Improvement Notices. The key issues were In summary, the IMQS is in place to foster and educational. safety management, guarding (particularly the discovery, development, processing conveyors), height of quarry and sandpit Planning Seminar and marketing of the mineral and other faces, absence of FOPS/ Automatic Quick Our Planning and Environmental Law geological natural resources of Ireland. Hitches/Visibility Aids on Excavators. Forum took place in May of this year and We can’t do this alone! We need the There were 20 Quarry Related Reportable the topic of “Where planning meets the continued support of everyone involved Accidents in 2017. public” had an excellent line-up of guest in the sector and working together we This year sees the IMQS team up again speakers, the topic certainly got the can ensure a prosperous industry for the with The Health and Safety Authority attention of our members and was very generations to come.

NEW RANGE. NEW RULES.

Our game-changing new range is nothing short of a quantum leap in excavator development. Designed around you, these Next Generation excavators will totally transform your job sites, with the new 320 GC providing lower cost of ownership and fuel burn, the new 320 achieving higher levels of productivity and the new 323 delivering unrivalled performance in the toughest applications. So get ready to witness the revolution of an entire industry and rewrite the rules of operation.

To find out more call 01543 461410 or visit www.finning.com/newrules #rewritetherules

10384 FinningCat New Range New Rules 180x131mm.indd 1 11/07/2018 16:30 www.imqs.ie 9 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Activities of the Society May 2017 to May 2018

by Alan Dolan, IMQS Honorary Secretary

Current Membership: Mines) and Siobhán Tinnelly (Associate IMQS Annual General Meeting Director at Tobin Consulting Engineers). 271 Ordinary The IMQS Annual General Meeting was held on February 21st 2018 at the Spa 2 Fellows Carol Sanderson has been the IMQS Executive Secretary for over 9 years. Carol Hotel, Lucan. After the AGM, members of 13 Honorary Fellows will be stepping down from this role in Dalradian Resources gave a presentation 7 Honorary Members 2018. I would like to thank Carol for the outlining the discovery, development, 29 Corporate exceptional dedication and commitment planning and future of the Curraghinalt she has given the society over the years. Gold Project. In 2017 we expanded our Corporate For more information visit the Dalradian Membership. The changes make IMQS Website, Resources web site at www.dalradian.com/ it easier for companies to renew Communications & Social curraghinalt-project. memberships for their employees. Media www.imqs.ie Annual Field Trip - Irish Salt Mining As well as the convenience of a The IMQS built a new website which was and Exploration Ltd. single electronic payment, being a launched on November 2017. Corporate Member can also eliminate The annual field trip to the Irish Salt Mining the obligation on employees to pay As in 2017, the Jobs section was our most and Exploration Company in Carrickfergus, BIK. Visit the IMQS website for a full visited page. Posting vacancies is free of Co Antrim took place on September 21st explanation of the advantages of charge so please forward any vacancies 2017. having corporate membership with the you may have. Your advertisement will be viewed by members and followers who Prospectors and Developers IMQS. have a specific interest in the extractive Association of Canada (PDAC) Dates of Council Meetings industries. The annual Prospectors and Developers The IMQS has 332 followers on LinkedIn. Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention 2017 – September 12th, October 17th. Group: ‘Irish Mining & Quarrying Society’. was held in Toronto on March 5th-8th 2018. Over 24,000 people attended. The IMQS 2018 – January 9th, February 20th If you are not already a group member, was represented by Brendan Morris. (AGM), March 15th, April 11th, May 8th. why not join and catch up with colleagues or maybe connect with somebody in your Future meetings – 2018; September Planning and Environmental area of business. All members of the Irish Law Forum 11th & October 9th. 2019; January Mining & Quarrying Society are encouraged On May 22nd 2018, the IMQS held a Forum 9th, February (AGM). to contribute to this active group and join on Planning and Environmental Law titled in the discussions. Council Members: “Where planning meets the public”. At the AGM John Francis was elected Annual Review 2017 Representations IMQS President for 2018. John is Customer The editorial team for 2017 was, Siobhán IMQS Council members represented the Account Manager, Finning Ireland Ltd. Mike Tinnelly (Chairperson), Sean Finlay, Keith IMQS at the following events/committees; Lowther was elected Vice President. Leslie McGrath, and Ronan Griffin. Sadly, Tony Sanderson, Director of Services for ECS Killian passed away in 2017. Tony was a • Quarry Safety Partnership and Quarry Turbowash Ltd., is Honorary Treasurer and member of the editorial team for many Skills Certification Scheme meetings Alan Dolan, Ground Control Engineer at years and was a prolific article writer. The • The European Economic and Social Boliden Tara Mines, is Honorary Secretary. 2017 publication was dedicated to him. Committee. Jennifer Craig joined the council in 2018. Annual Reviews are available to download • Strategic Implementation Plan of the Jennifer is the Centre manager of iCRAG from the IMQS web site. The 2017 review European Innovation Partnership on Raw (Irish Centre for Research in Applied was published by 4 Square Media. Materials Geosciences). The other council members • Extractive Industries All-Island Seminar are; Brendan Morris, (Managing Director Conferences / Seminars / • Irish GeoScience Network at Lisheen Technical & Mining Services Industry Events • European Federation of Explosives Limited). Sean Finlay (Director of Business Engineers (EFEE) Development at Geoscience Ireland), Ciaran (More details at www.imqs.ie) • Prospectors and Developers Conference Greenan (Location Manager at Roadstone (PDAC) Ltd.), Ronan Griffin (Property Manager IoQ-NI Stone Crushers Ball at CRH Estates), Keith McGrath (Director The annual Institute of Quarrying (Northern • Quarry of the year 2018 with McGrath’s Limestone Works Ltd.), Ireland) Stone Crushers Ball took place in In addition to the above, the IMQS Sarah O’Connell (Environmental, Health & the Europa Hotel, Belfast on November continually make representations when Safety Officer at O’Connell Quarries) Nicola 3rd, 2017. The event was attended by John requested by various mining and quarrying Molloy (Planning Engineer, Boliden Tara Francis & Brendan Morris. related bodies.

Paying your subscription could not be easier. Just log onto www.imqs.ie and click ‘Becoming a member’.

10 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Annual Dinner Dance 2017 Geo Driller Technician Course. Annual Dinner Dance 2018 The 2017 annual dinner dance took place on IMQS is supporting Geoscience Ireland This year’s annual dinner dance will be November 11th 2017 at the K-Club, and IT Carlow in the development of the held in the K-Club, Straffan, Co. Kildare on Co. Kildare. The event was attended by 260 course, which now has approval for an November 10th 2018. There will be a golf people. apprenticeship programme from Solas. tournament on the day. Tickets are limited Sean Finlay is leading the development for so please book early. Visit imqs.ie for more Deshnee Naidoo, CEO of Vedanta Zinc Geoscience Ireland and Brendan Morris details. International was the key note speaker. The represents the IMQS. The course is due much coveted IMQS annual golf trophy was to begin in 2019 and will award a level 6 Conclusion won by Jason Hopps of Irish Salt. qualification. For more information and I would like to express my sincere if you are interested in achieving this appreciation to our President John Francis Mine Rescue qualification, see www.imqs.ie. and outgoing President Brendan Morris for IMQS vice president Mike Lowther If you know of other courses you think may their dedication and leadership. is Chairman of the Irish Mine Rescue benefit our members, please let us know or Committee (IMRC). A full summary of the share via social media. I would also to thank our Treasurer Les activities of Mine Rescue can be found Sanderson for maintaining the accounts later in this review. Health and Safety Conference over the past year and to the other current & Exhibition 2018 officers and members of the IMQS Council Future Events The 2018 Health and Safety Conference who often serve on several sub-committees & Exhibition will be held on September to voice and protect the interests of our Annual Field Trip 2018 26th at Doran’s Quarry in Blessington, Co members. I would like to acknowledge the The annual field trip took place on Wiclow. Ciaran Greenan and John Francis work done by Carol Sanderson during her Monday June 18th to Aughey Screens, are involved in organising the conference tenure as executive secretary. Killyconigan, Monaghan. There will also and Brendan Morris will present a paper Finally, I would like to thank you, our be a field trip to Kilkenny Limestone on titled “The effectiveness of Human Factor members, for your patronage. The Society September 6th. Visit the IMQS web site for Safety Initiatives at Lisheen Mine”. cannot exist without your continued more details. See imqs.ie or hsa.ie. support.

Paying your subscription could not be easier. Just log onto www.imqs.ie and click ‘Becoming a member’.

Au Cu Ag Zn

Motion captured in shiny metal

The wind from the sea plays the Irish harp. Samuel Beckett Bridge in Dublin is located where the Liffey River meets the wind from the sea. Like many of the works by architect Santiago Calatrava, the bridge radiates a sense of motion captured in shiny metal. Beauty and functionality working in harmony on behalf of the thousands of Dubliners who use the bridge every day. Our needs change. Ideas and materials are renewed. This is why we constantly develop and enhance our metals, so that they meet the needs of today and tomorrow. No-one knows what the future holds. But we do know that it will still require metals. Metals for modern life

www.imqs.ie 11 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

IMQS; 1958-2018 60 Years Review 60th Anniversary

by Sean Finlay, PGeo CEng

While the formative meetings launching • First Chain of Office; 1966 presented by The 1960’s saw a number of visits to the IMQS were held in the Autumn of Ballingarry Coal Mines Ireland by prestigious professional bodies 1958, the first formal General Meeting • First Safety Award; 1967 presented by to celebrate the emerging mining sector, took place in February 1959. Armstrong Taylor including the Institution of Mining & Metallurgy, the Canadian Institution of Twelve Council members were present; • Gavel and Stand designed by Edward Mining and Metallurgy in 1966 and the Professor M.A. Hogan (UCD Engineering Delaney, made from Tynagh silver, Commonwealth Mining Congress in 1969. School) along with Messrs O’Brien, Layden, presented to President David Fitzgerald The five day visit by IMM/CIMM in 1966 Blair, Rose, Forristal, McCormack, Wood, by Pat Hughes of Northgate in August was addressed by the then Taoiseach Sean Fleming, Dolan, Tolan and O’Connor. There 1968 Lemass. were two corporate members, Roadstone • First Overseas Visit; 1971 to Yorkshire and Rossmore Collieries. Following the closure of Gortdrum, Avoca • First Student Scholarship; 1971; to, and Silvermines by the early 1980’s, Tara The affiliations of those founding members Athlone Regional Technical College; Mines was the sole base metal mine are interesting. The Geological Survey sponsored by IIE; later by Tara Mines in operation for many years until the of Ireland was represented by Murrough development of the zinc lead mines at Vere O’Brien. The mining companies Galmoy and Lisheen in the late 1990’s. represented were mainly coal mines e.g. Tara is again the only base metal mine in Arigna, Rossmore, Castlecomer, Flemings, production but the company has, in its 40 Ballingarry. years of production, always been a strong Gypsum Industries was represented by supporter of IMQS with many officers and Ciaran Blair. The quarrying industry was Presidents drawn from Tara. comprised mainly of regional operators. The IMQS was, and remains, a forceful Roadstone and John A Wood went on advocate for the sector, supporting the to merge and with Irish Cement Ltd, liberal tax and royalty regime established later became Ireland’s largest indigenous by Fianna Fail in 1967 Finance Act and company, CRH plc. being critical of the changes to fiscal terms In 1958, the emergence of modern during the Fine Gael-Labour government base metal mining in Ireland was at an of 1973-77. embryonic stage. MV O Brien’s seminal The Society has made representations to paper on the future of base metal mining in government on numerous policy issues Ireland was published by the Institution of including support for the creation of the Mining & Metallurgy in late 1959. EPA in 1990; recommending in 1991 that Based on geological reasoning and a Local Authorities procure road building study of Irish mining in the 19th century, he materials only from authorised sites; foresaw vibrant possibilities for the sector. submissions to the National Minerals The discovery of the Tynagh copper-lead- Policy Review in 1994; commentary on the zinc-silver mine by the Irish-Canadian Planning Act in 2000 which introduced Northgate Group in Tynagh, Co Galway registration for quarries; proposals for in 1961 was the beginning of a new era in inclusion in the Mining Act 2017 and Irish mining, resulting in the discovery and interaction with various political parties. development of seven base metal mines in President’s Chain. With the rapid growth of the Irish economy subsequent years. in the 1990’s, quarry and related output Other notable milestones in the early years • First Woman Guest Speaker at Annual increased significantly, from c 50 M tonnes of IMQS were: Dinner; 1990, Minister Mary Harney TD in 1997 to over 110 M tonnes in 2006. • First Field Trip; June 1959; Avoca Copper • First Woman President; a long wait - Demand collapsed after 2009 to under Mines Siobhan Tinnelly in 2014! 20 M tonnes but has since recovered to c 35 M tonnes in 2017. The need to regulate • First AGM; October 1959; 77 members, quarries not covered by planning laws (ie 8 corporate members Evolution As new base metal mines were discovered pre 1964) has led to a series of planning • First Annual Dinner; December 1959; 69 acts since 2000 and several subsequent attended; tickets 1 guinea (= £1/1/0 = and developed at Gortdrum, Silvermines, Avoca and Navan (Tara) in the 1960’s amendments arising from EU directives and €1.32!; Minster for Industry & Commerce case law emerging from judicial reviews. Jack Lynch in attendance and early 1970’s, coal mines closed due to difficult mining conditions and Persistent changes in regulation undermine • First Golf Competition for the ICI Trophy; depleting reserves. Equipment suppliers certainty in the sector at a time when the 1966 at Rosses Point (following a field and manufacturers joined the IMQS in economy is recovering and aggregates trip to Abbeytown zinc mine and Ben increasing numbers. The quarrying sector are needed for the delivery of critical Bulben barytes mine); competition began consolidating and expanding in the infrastructure. revived in 1985 1970’s with the emergence of CRH plc and The growth of the quarrying and • First Annual Dinner Dance 1966; 192 of regional players such as Kilsaran and construction sectors led to a marked attended; price £1/17/6 Readymix. increase in sales of machinery and

12 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

equipment, with major distributors such as Annual Review 1989-1990 Noel O’Dwyer PJ O Donnell, Pat O Connor, McHales and Since 1995, the IMQS has published – 1990-1991 Kevin Honan Finnings expanding their businesses. under various titles - an Annual Review. 1992-1993 Denis Lovell 1993-1994 Tony Flannery Annual Dinner Dance The late Tony Killian was the driving force, assisted by Darryl Magee of 4Square 1994-1995 Declan McCartney As noted above, an Annual Dinner took Media, Les Sanderson and Don Litster. Tony 1995-1996 Martin McCafferty place every year since 1959 followed by a contributed numerous articles each year 1996-1998 Les Sanderson Dinner Dance from 1966. Attendance at the and his archive still provides papers for this 1998-1999 Macarten McGroder Dinner Dance varied from 192 initially to a year’s Review. 1999-2001 John G Kelly peak of 900 (!) in 1978 and is now more 2001-2003 Thomas Cleary typically 200 -250. Collaboration 2003-2005 Eamonn Holton Government Ministers have frequently The IMQS has maintained a close 2005-2006 Gerry Clear attended IMQS Annual Dinners, among relationship with similar bodies in Ireland, 2006-2008 Fergus Gallagher them in the early years were Erskine Northern Ireland and the UK (via the Childers, George Colley, Charles Haughey, Institute of Quarrying NI and the Quarry 2008-2009 Les Sanderson and more recently Mary Harney, Tom Kitt, Products Association NI). IMQS, along 2009-2011 Sean Finlay Fergus O’Dowd, Joe McHugh and with the Irish Association for Economic 2011-2013 P J O’Donnell Sean Kyne. Geology and the Geotechnical Society, 2013-2014 Sean Finlay was a founding sponsor of the Institute of 2014-2016 Siobhan Tinnelly Education & Training; Geologists of Ireland in 1999. 2016-2018 Brendan Morris Safety and Environment Meetings of the Society took place 2018-2020 John Francis The IMQS supported the delivery of for many years in the premises of the Institution of Engineers of Ireland. IMQS Acknowledgements minerals science education at Athlone retains close links with the ICF, the trade regional technical college via scholarships This paper was prepared by Sean Finlay association for the aggregates and and placements since the early 1970’s. based on research of Society archives by quarrying sector. Unfortunately, with the economic downturn, Les Sanderson and Macarten MacGroder. this course is no longer offered. Service and Inclusivity However, many Athlone graduates went One notable feature of the IMQS has been on to qualify in Mining Engineering at the length of voluntary service provided Camborne School of Mines and to develop by so many individuals. Council members outstanding careers internationally and with over 25 years’ service included locally. Dr Piers Gardiner of GSI and Les Sanderson The Society has also supported safety (ex Metso). training via its sponsorship of a Prize for Sadly departed members Vincent McCabe, the Irish Mine Rescue Association (led by Tony Killian, PJ O’Neill, Ciaran Blair and IMQS Vice President Mike Lowther for many George O’Connor all fall into that category years), co-sponsoring a bi-annual Quarry of selfless and enduring service. Safety Conference and is represented on IMQS has the distinction of representing the Quarry Safety Partnership. The IMQS every facet of the extractive industries- is currently supporting the launch of an explorers, miners, quarry developers Apprenticeship for Drillers at IT Carlow and operators, researchers, service and which should commence in 2019. equipment providers- in an inclusive and The annual field trips, lectures and seminars convivial way. presented by IMQS of course provide The Council is structured to provide excellent opportunities for continued representation from each sub-sector of professional development for all those the industry and Presidents tend to rotate involved in the sector. Notable events between these sectors. Belatedly, women have included trips to the UK (Yorkshire, are better represented with four now Glensanda, Cornwall and the Hillhead serving on Council. Equipment Show); Aughinish Alumina, Corrib Gas and Irish Cement. IMQS Presidents 1958-2018 Major seminars include Environment and 1958-1960 Professor M.A. Hogan the Law in 1991 (sponsored by Arthur Cox); 1960-1962 Vincent Layden Environment and Planning issues in 1993 1962-1964 Murrough V O’Brien (jointly with the Royal Institute of Chartered 1964-1966 Ciaran Blair Surveyors); Safety & Health in 1998; Quarry 1966-1969 David Fitzgerald Regulations (jointly with the Health & Safety Authority) in 2006 and a Planning 1969-1971 Michael Layden Forum in May 2018. The IMQS has long 1971-1973 R Anderson had a policy of urging local and national 1973-1975 James Walsh authorities to purchase aggregates from 1975-1977 George Flummerfeld properly authorised quarries only. In 1991, 1977-1979 Robert Aspin IMQS successfully sought Department of 1979-1981 P J O’Neill the Environment support in ensuring this 1981-1983 George O’Connor policy was adhered to by a local authority. 1983-1984 Michael Layden During the 1990’s, in an initiative to raise 1984-1985 Robin Oram awareness of the quarrying sector, IMQS 1985-1986 John Goor sponsored a schools essay competition and 1986-1987 Thomas Weir also supports the Irish Concrete Federation 1987-1988 John Barnett (ICF) Sustainable Quarry Completion. 1988-1989 Professor Vincent McCabe IMQS Gavel and Stand.

www.imqs.ie 13 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Industry Highlights of 2018

Note: See www.imqs.ie and LinkedIn (Irish Mining and Quarrying Society (IMQS)) for all the latest industry news.

Holdings, appointed administrators to four the results underline the high grade nature of its companies. Sale of the Lagan Group of the deposit. may mark a significant departure for Kevin The Stonepark Zinc Project is a joint and his family, but not a complete exit; venture between Connemara and the Kevin and his family are to keep Lagan project operators Group Eleven Dalradian Resources Inc Homes, one of the largest housebuilders Resources. Dalradian Resources Inc has received a in Northern Ireland, with turnover of some cash offer from Orion Mine Finance to £76 million in 2017. acquire the company. It will also retain LF FastHouse, which is Dalradian, which recently submitted majority owned by Kevin. A manufacturer its planning application to develop the of modular closed panel and timber frame Curraghinalt gold deposit, made the systems for the construction industry, it announcement on June 21st 2018. employs about 100 people and is supplying Under the terms of the Arrangement about 470 luxury holiday lodges to Agreement, Dalradian shareholders will Ireland’s first-ever CenterParcs resort in receive C$1.47 per share held, valuing Co Longford. Dalradian’s total equity at approximately C$537 million. Galantas Gold Galantas Gold (TSX, LON:GAL) announced in late June 2018 that it has reached the main gold vein in development works underground at its Omagh gold mine in Northern Ireland. The main tunnel that Galantas has dug descends at a slope with a gradient Connemara Mining of 1-in-7 from near the base of the former open pit, the company said. The Lagan Group Sale In June 2018, Connemara Mining PLC vein intersection, it added, is located A recent rich list put the combined wealth (LON:CON) announced that the first about 15 metres below the base of the of the Belfast-born Lagan brothers, Kevin new hole at the Stonepark Zinc Project Kearney open-pit and reaching it means and Michael, at approximately €1.3 billion. intersected 32.2% combined zinc and lead the company can now begin limited But the sale of Kevin’s Lagan Group in April over 5.4m. production, with increased feed to the mill 2018 for €526 million is likely to propel The AIM-listed firm said G-11-2638-01 anticipated by the end of 2018. them further up the wealth table. intersected 5.40m of 25.0% zinc and 7.2% Kevin (68) joined the Lagan family lead (32.2% Zn+Pb combined) and 12.2g/t The miner also said it planned to develop business in the early 1960s. Founded silver, with true width estimated at 4.9m, a horizontal tunnel, which is expected to by haulier Peter Lagan in 1960 with the verifying one of the high-grade zones provide a “limited feed to the mill”, early in acquisition of the White Mountain Quarry within the Stonepark resource. the third quarter. Galantas will also extend outside Belfast, Kevin took over from his The Irish gold and zinc exploration the existing decline tunnel in late 2018 or father in 1969, working with his brother company said this hole was drilled early 2019. Galantas is Northern Ireland’s Michael on building up the business. into a key area of known high-grade only producing gold mine. The firm, which They moved into asphalt and concrete mineralisation on the presumed eastern kicked off the mine’s expansion last year production and started exporting to the edge of the recently announced maiden after the open-pit site was exhausted, has Britain in 1984, later opening cement plants Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate. said it expects to produce about 8,000 in the Republic and engaging in house Connemara Mining added that robust ounces next year. building in Ireland and the United Kingdom. mineralisation interpreted to be open Northern Ireland holds the world’s seventh In February 2018, the Lagan Construction eastwards toward Glencore’s neighbouring richest undeveloped seam of gold, but Group, controlled by Michael and run by his Pallas Green deposit. political violence kept most investors away son Kevin and unrelated to Lagan Group Patrick Cullen, chief executive officer, said for about three decades.

14 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Water Safety in Quarries

by Siobhán Tinnelly, Associate Director, TOBIN Consulting Engineers

Following three tragic deaths in water and the cold water shock associated Please share these with your colleagues disused quarry lakes within a 7 Day with entering quarry waters. and ask them to share them with their Period in late May 2018, IMQS, the family and friends. Hopefully, a better https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/ Minerals Products Association (MPA) informed community will help prevent and the Quarry Products Association staying-safe-around-quarries others from putting their lives at risk. of Northern Ireland (QPANI) urge members to help raise public awareness Your body’s reaction to jumping into very cold water of the dangers of open water and the If you jump into very cold water, there is a three stage response your body will follow: importance of water safety during periods of good weather. length of time body’s response The recent tragic deaths of two teenage boys in Ennis, Co. Clare and a 28 year 0 – 4 minutes A sudden plunge into cold water initiates a gasp response old father in an MPA member’s site in – cold shock which can cause you to drown within seconds of entering Scotland only reinforces the importance the water. It also affects breathing, heart rate and body’s of maintaining vigilance at all sites and metabolism. supporting campaigns that help to educate the public about ‘Cold Water Shock’ and 4 – 30 Poor circulation causes stiff fingers, reduced coordination the hazards associated with open water minutes and loss of motor skills and power. This makes it nearly such as quarry lakes and reservoirs. - loss of impossible to grasp a rescue line or hoist. Swimming to safety Current campaigns being run by the RNLI performance or climbing out of the water is no longer physically possible. and the RLSS (Royal Life Saving Society) At this stage the cause of death is by drowning. have excellent resources and provide key safety messages that apply to both inland water and coastal waters. https://lnkd.in/ more than Most cold water deaths result from cold shock or loss of dm_PQU7 https://lnkd.in/dzRvyKx MPA 30 minutes – performance. Few people survive to get hypothermia. True has a very informative campaign facebook hypothermia hypothermia only sets in after 30 minutes. However, in a page: “Stay Safe Stay Out of Quarries”. quarry with steep sides, no vegetation or rafts, it is possible The following link from QPANI (Gordon that you could stay in the water for 30 minutes. Best) focuses on the dangers of quarry

www.imqs.ie 15 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Mine Rescue in Ireland Fifty Years and

Irish Mine Rescue Going Strong Committee

by Mike Lowther (Chairman IMRC), Aoife Tallon (Secretary IMRC) and Richie Cahill (Mine Rescue Officer, Boliden Tara Mines)

What is Mine Rescue? Mine Rescue is the practical procedure in mining, in which personnel wear breathing apparatus and use special equipment to save lives, and to recover property in case of an underground emergency (Ontario Mine Rescue Handbook, 2012).

The Basic Principles of Mine Rescue: • Safety of the team • Save lives • Fight Fires • Test for Gases • Return the mine to safe use

Timeline of Mine Rescue in Ireland

Early history The first records of formal mine rescue activity in Ireland come from the Tynagh Mine in the 1960s. There was a strong Canadian influence at Tynagh and techniques introduced at that time from the Ontario Mine Rescue Handbook in Mine Rescue Training and Recovery Operations have since become embedded in the Irish standards.

16 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Tara Mines team competing in South Crofty in 1980’s. Avoca Team in 1976.

Competition the event in 2009, where Maltby Colliery Mining’s Neves Corvo Mine hosted the competed for the first time. 2015 All Ireland and UK Competition. The One of the cornerstones of Irish Mine competition was re-named the European Rescue has been the All Ireland and UK Lisheen held the competition in 2010, Winsford hosted in 2011, Kilroot in 2012, Mine Rescue Competition for that Mine Rescue Competition. particular event, and was a great success Tara in 2013 and Boulby in 2014. The competition has its roots in the (See the IMQS Annual Review 2015). Irish base metal mines of the 1960s and A further competition was held by Boliden 1970s. Famous mines such as Avoca, Tara Mines in October 2015, as several of Tynagh and Silvermines competed for the Ireland/UK group of mines had been the annual trophy. As the Irish mining unable to send teams to Portugal. industry contracted and the old mines This saw Dalradian Gold competing closed, Tara kept the flag flying by holding for the first time, and the arrival of this Celtic competitions with South Crofty and new mine rescue team has instigated Wheal Jane in Cornwall. Neves Corvo from a new phase of co-operation between Portugal competed in 1996. mine rescue organisations and state With a new phase of mining in Ireland in agencies in Northern Ireland and the the 1990s, Galmoy and Lisheen entered Republic. Dalradian Gold’s efforts were the fray. The format of the competition commendable, including Orla McKenna was expanded at Lisheen in 2001, and becoming the first woman to compete in Winsford Mine competed for the first time. Mine Rescue in Ireland. In 2002 British Gypsum entered a team, It was fitting that Vedanta Lisheen’s team and in 2004 the modern competition Lisheen during the fitness test at Boulby won three awards, including the Best was hosted in the UK for the first time, by 2014. Overall Team, in the last months of their Winsford Mine in Cheshire. Kilroot Mine Mine’s operation. Guided by their Mine from Carrickfergus also initially competed Also, in 2013 and 2014, an Iberian Mine Rescue Officer Ian Johnstone, Lisheen Mine that year. Rescue Competition was held in Aljustrel, Rescue were integral in the Irish and UK Kilroot hosted the competition for the first Portugal, and several Irish teams took part mine rescue effort for 15 years, taking part time in 2006. Galmoy were the hosts in in those events. in many real emergencies, practices and 2007, and TARA in 2008. Having initially With this increasing interaction between competitions. competed in 2007, Boulby Mine hosted Ireland, UK, Portugal and Spain, Lundin There has been a lull in the holding of the

Winsford Captain Paul Booth receiving instructions from ISME returning to FAB with casualty at Kilroot in 2012. Michael Durnin at Tara Mines in 2015.

www.imqs.ie 17 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Dalradian’s first competition at Tara Mines in 2015.

Galmoy masking up ahead of Search and Rescue at Kilroot 2006, with Paddy Lisheen treating a casulty at the 2015 McManus and Tony Forster (HM Inspector of Mines) judging. European Competition in Neves Corvo.

Competition since 2015, but the next one mines, and for the teams to practice Mutual Assistance and will be held at ISME’s Kilroot Mine in the working together in simulated emergency Training summer of 2019. conditions. Since 2003 the IMRC have provided The MA Healy trophy awarded to the best The IMRC runs the All Ireland & UK Mine affiliated Irish mines with access to a Irish team remains the most coveted prize. Rescue Competition. The competition mutual assistance programme between Formation of the Irish Mine allows teams to come together and test their respective rescue teams. their skills against each other in a series of In the event of an emergency at an Rescue Committee pre-set tests. Irish mine where additional mine rescue The Irish Mine Rescue Committee (IMRC) The IMRC promotes continuous personnel are required, the Mine Rescue was established as a co-operative body improvement in mine rescue by developing Officer can make contact with another to co-ordinate mine rescue resources standards and establishing links with mine mine to request back up. in Ireland enabling mutual assistance in rescue organisations in other countries. Arrangements for mutual assistance can the event of emergency at one of the participating mines. The members of the IMRC are Boliden Tara Mines, Irish Salt Mining and Exploration, Dalradian Gold, and Gyproc Ireland. The IMRC also acts as a liaison and consultative group to the Health & Safety Authority (HSA) on matters relating to mine rescue in Ireland. The Irish Mine Rescue Standard was published in 2014 with endorsement from the HSA. The purpose of the Irish Mine Rescue Standard is to: • Provide guidance for the establishment, training, maintenance and organisation of Mine Rescue teams in Ireland. • Ensure minimum standards to facilitate inter mine co-operation and assistance. • Assist mine operators meet their statutory obligations. The IMRC co-ordinates a mutual assistance program to allow mine rescue teams to become familiar with the methods of Boliden Tara Mines team preparing to take casualties to safety. operation and layout of the participating

18 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Mutual Training Session hosted at Galmoy Mine in 2004. Mutual training session hosted at Boliden Tara Mines in 2013. be written into each mine’s emergency procedure on approval from the IMRC. To allow other teams to become familiar with the layouts and equipment used at each mine, and for the different teams to integrate and practice working together in simulated emergency conditions, each mine hosts a joint training session once a year. Air Corps Support The IMRC recognised that the rapid transfer by air of rescue teams between the Irish mines would be a great advantage in time of need. Arrangements were agreed in 2008 between the IMRC and the Irish Department of Defence. No.3 Operations Wing of the Irish Air Corps can be tasked Mutual Training session hosted at Gyproc’s Drummond Mine in December 2017. with assisting the IMRC under the aegis of Aid To The Civil Power. Formal procedures • Disruption of the road network must be followed and tasking is through Boliden Tara Mines – Air Corps HQ from the Gardai. Support from the Irish Air Corps has International Mine Rescue greatly enhanced the way we plan for Emergency Situations where assistance emergency incidents, and strengthened Competition 2016 would be required include: the decision making of mine managers In August 2016 Boliden Tara Mine Rescue • Life at risk at any one of the Irish mines and incident controllers in emergencies, were invited to represent Ireland in the • A prolonged emergency at one of the thereby protecting our people and our International Mine Rescue Body’s 10th mines where backup is required operations. International Mine Rescue Competition in

Training Exercise at Boliden Tara Mines in 2012. Tara Mines team arriving at Galmoy mine, 2009.

www.imqs.ie 19 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

BTM Mine Rescue IMRC 2016 (l-r): Richie Cahill, James Connolly, David Harrington, Gary McDonnell, Ruairi Russell, Paul Smith, Kieran Brassil, Aoife Tallon, Ray Bowens

Sudbury, Canada hosted by Workplace result achieved shows the standard of Mine by Almos Gold Young Davidson Mine in Safety North and Ontario Mine Rescue. Rescue on the island today. Matachewan, Ontario. Twenty seven teams representing thirteen The exercise saw eight teams respond to a nations competed in events including an Boliden Tara Mines in series of incidents underground including underground search and rescue scenario, Canada 2018 locating six missing personnel and bringing firefighting, first aid, rope rescue and a This year Boliden Tara Mine Rescue were them to safety, building a bulkhead and theory exam. Boliden Tara Mine Rescue invited to participate in the 69th Ontario using high expansion foam to extinguish finished second overall – winning the First Mine Rescue Provincial Competition hosted a mine fire and using rope rescue rigging Aid event and coming third in the Search to assist an injured and unconscious miner and Rescue Scenario. approximately 80 feet down a mine shaft. The team was captained by Davy As the competition was a Provincial, Harrington, and supported by Richie Boliden Tara Mines were not eligible for Cahill (Mine Rescue Officer at Boliden any awards however, they were highly Tara Mines, and Briefing Officer during commended for their performance the competition), and Aoife Tallon (Mine particularly in the Search and Rescue and Rescue Administrator at Boliden Tara Mines First Aid elements of the competition. and Secretary of the Irish Mine Rescue As mentioned earlier, Canadian influences Committee). BTM’s Mine Rescue Manager have always been strong in the Irish mining Roy Tallon was also invited to judge at the industry. event. The emergency response program at It was a great honour for Boliden Tara Boliden Tara Mines has always been based Mine Rescue to represent Ireland and the Boliden Tara Mines team – Ontario 2018. on Ontario Mine Rescue principles. Roy

20 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Preparing to lift casulty up mine shaft. Checking gas levels.

Tallon, Mine Rescue Manager and Richie among these men is Ireland’s Senior free and healthy workplace there has been Cahill, Mine Rescue Officer are both trained Inspector Pat Griffin, who has been judging a reduction in emergencies underground by Ontario Mine Rescue. at Mine Rescue Competitions longer than that require mine rescue response. As any of us can remember! Well done Pat, a result mine rescue personnel rely Trainers and Judges and thanks. on training and simulated scenarios at competitions to ensure emergency All of the above could not happen without Summary and next steps preparedness. the people who devote many hours to From the first teams at Tynagh Mine way training, coaching and administering The Irish Mine Rescue Committee back in the 1960s, a strong and vibrant continues to coordinate mine rescue our mine rescue teams. Their efforts are Mine Rescue system has been developed incredible and most appreciated. resources in Ireland enabling mutual in Ireland. assistance in the event of an emergency. The system is also strongly supported by Despite there being less mines active in Work continues on developing links with both the Irish Mines Inspectorate (HSA) Ireland than there once was, Mine Rescue other Mine Rescue organisations outside and the UK Mines Inspectorate (HSE). continues to be very active across the of Ireland and also with expert training Often very senior inspectors give up their country and is well supported by mine providers to ensure access to the highest valuable time to adjudicate and supervise management and the Health and Safety standard First Aid training, techniques our competitions. Authority. development and equipment. This is very much appreciated. Chief As we continue to strive towards an injury Close links continue with the Irish Air Corps, and there have also been strong connections established with the Gardai and Police Service of Northern Ireland, and other emergency agencies; work continues in setting up cross-border air and road back-up from the emergency services for Mine Rescue, north and south. It is expected and planned that Mine Rescue will further develop in Ireland as new mines open in the coming years.

Pat Griffin on the left, Ireland’s Senior Inspector of Mines, and Bob Leeming on the right, now HM Chief Inspector of Mines, judging with Paddy McManus at the Galmoy Competition in 2007

www.imqs.ie 21 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 View from the North

by Gordon Best, Regional Director QPANI

The continuing absence of a working Construction Industry in Northern Ireland. with senior officials in the Department of Executive and Assembly in Northern QPANI want to see the UK Government Infrastructure and the Department of the Ireland has and continues to generate and the EU maintain free movement of Economy about the need for a Northern an enormous sense of frustration and people, goods and services between Ireland Minerals Forum. This forum would anger within the business community Northern Ireland and the Republic of be similar to the Minerals Forum set up in and general public. Unfortunately so Ireland. However maintenance of a soft GB under the banner of the CBI Minerals far in 2018 we seem to be taking one border with the Republic of Ireland Group and led by MPA. must not result in any restrictions of step forward and two steps back. There is a real need for a structured and movement within the UK between NI Earlier this year the Department of sensible debate to take place in Northern and GB. Our colleagues in the Mineral Finance published a number of Budget Ireland about the current and potential Products Association have called for the Scenarios in order to make the great economic and social benefits a developing UK to continue to retain influence in Northern Ireland public aware of where and successful Minerals Industry means for European product technical standards their taxes are spent, how vital services the NI economy. We would see the make- development via the British Standards are funded, where the shortfalls are and up of the group being from Department of Institution (BSI), the European Committee Infrastructure, Department of the Economy, where possible savings could be made. for Standardization (CEN) and design The publication of these scenarios was Minerals Industry, Politicians, Strategic codes to maintain world leading standards Planners, Local Authority Planners and widely welcomed by many as a much for the UK industry and its customers in needed wake up call to the people Environmental NGOs. This is very much the UK and the rest of Europe. in its infancy but there is definitely a of Northern Ireland and our much Hopefully, the next 12 months will see commitment to take this Minerals Forum maligned political elite that we have the political rhetoric give way to a forward. I was delighted to accompany to recognise the need to balance the more practical and pragmatic approach Sean Finlay and Brendan Morris of IMQS to books and that we only get the services which not only protects the UK and RoI a meeting with Sinn Féin T.D. Brian Stanley and infrastructure we are prepared to economies, but enables them to thrive. and Cathal Boylan MLA at Leinster House pay for. We, like other key industries, want to help in March to discuss Sinn Féins position There is no doubt that despite the political Governments achieve the best possible on the Mining Industry in Ireland as set in and budget uncertainty parts of our deal for NI and the UK. We hope, therefore Motion 68 passed at their Ard Fheis. economy here in the North are showing that Government will listen and consider As always the top priority for QPANI is signs of growth. Belfast is building positive and well intentioned advice on the health and safety of our Members again and with increased private sector its merits, particularly when it is evidence employees and all those who visit our investment, significant construction growth based. In these challenging times, it is members sites. We have again continued expectations south of the border and very important that all stakeholders work our strong working relationship with the the significant challenge of Brexit WE together to constructively develop a HSENI particularly this year in improving NEED CERTAINTY, WE NEED POLITICAL strategy which will bolster confidence and the management of dust in quarries across LEADERSHIP if we are to achieve the encourage investment Northern Ireland. The strategy is aimed society we all want for ourselves and our Since last years IMQS Journal QPANI have at improving and sharing best practice in children. increased our membership by 10%. I am relation to total inhalable dust, respirable The NI economy has been transformed by delighted to report that we have achieved dust and respirable crystalline silica in the peace through the signing of the Good this with five new affiliate members and NI quarry industry. Our QPANI health and Friday Agreement and peace is secured three new Full Members. We greatly safety committee are fully supportive of by a strong and vibrant economy. QPANI, appreciate the support of our Associate this strategy and will be assisting members along with other Business organisations, and Affiliate Members and I know they in achieving the targets and practices including CBI, are continuing to make recognise the importance of QPANI and outlined in the strategy. This year our the case for Northern Ireland and the the work we do to defend the right to Health and Safety Committee will have a UK to remain within the Single Market operate for the Industry that their business focus on mental health and well being and and Customs Union. We recognise that have a large stake and investment in. we will be advising and directing Member’s to sources of information that will assist imposing restrictions on the movement While the expectations for the next 12 them manage this very important and of people and goods across or between months are more positive than what they these islands for many is an existential very real challenge. In 2018 we will again have been for some years, the Industry hold a number of on site workshops with issue and disrupting this presents a faces a growing threat from a very militant serious risk of politically destabilising HSENI focusing on priority high risk issues. and vociferous environmental lobby who We will again look forward to organising consequences beyond those of trade and are basically “at war” with the Mineral and attending the All Island Safety the economy. Securing a Customs solution and Aggregates Industry and those Conference, this year being hosted by our which matches the current arrangements is Government Departments that regulate it. colleagues south of the border in the HAS, essential for business and will benefit us all. I would warn of the risk of complacency, IMQS and the Irish Concrete Federation. QPANI recently made a submission to both North and South, and a belief that the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee we can operate the way we always have. On the planning front we continue to enquiry into the effect of Brexit on the QPANI have had a number of meetings make submissions to the ongoing local

22 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

councils local development plan process as “Minerals”. We continue to highlight the Initiative” in Northern Ireland. I am consultations. To date we are happy significant economic and social benefit delighted to report that we have 27 Stem that those councils who have consulted that a sustainable minerals industry in the Ambassador volunteers from our Industry on their preferred options papers have Sperrins and its hinterlands could bring to who have been trained by Stem NI and been listening to QPANI and are clearly the local and wider NI economy. MPQC to deliver talks to young people recognising the importance of the minerals across Northern Ireland about the exciting A continuing challenge is still the number and quarry products industry in their local careers that are available in the World of of old quarries being re-opened on the areas. All Councils to date have recognised Construction Materials and Minerals. basis of old planning permissions with no the need to identify and safeguard future environmental conditions. This is totally QPANI have recently published the results aggregate resources. We have been of our 2017/18 “Age Profiling Survey”. encouraging QPANI members to complete unacceptable and needs addressed by the Department of Infrastructure and local Again, like 2015 the report highlights the the resource and production surveys the high age profile of the workforce right Councils have sent to them in order to Councils. We will continue to engage with Strategic Planning and local Councils to across every sector but particularly in assist in developing an accurate supply quarrying and transport. The results of and demand plan for the local aggregates reach a long term sustainable solution to this issue. the survey provide proof that our work on industry. There is also a commitment to skills, diversity within the workforce and develop a mineral plan between Belfast I recently met with “Womenstec”, an improving the image of the industry and City Council and its neighbouring Councils organisation dedicated to increasing conditions within it must be a priority and to ensure an adequate and sustainable women’s roles in key Industry sectors, needs supported by everyone. supply of construction aggregates to meet and we hope to work together over the As always I am honoured to be asked to development demands within Belfast. coming months and years to increase the pen this short article for the IMQS Journal number of women working in our Industry I recently wrote to all Councillors in and may I wish IMQS and all your members Fermanagh Omagh, Derry Strabane, and show that it’s “not just for boys”. The every success in 2018 and the coming Association launched a major news article Mid Ulster and Causeway Coast and years ahead. Glens Councils. In the letter I highlight on Women in Construction Materials my growing concern over what the local featuring 14 women currently working in Mineral and Aggregates Industry believe different roles within the quarry products is a misunderstanding around “mineral sector here in NI. Also MPQC with the exploration” and lack of appreciation that support of the local Institute of Quarrying widely supported local sand and gravel and and QPANI intend to support and roll out quarry Industry is deemed under legislation the new and exciting “Inspiring Futures

TECHNICAL SERVICES CONSULTING • Due Diligence, Peer Reviews & Independent Reviews • Resource and Reserve Estimation (JORC and 43-101) • Mine Planning and Design • Mining Method selection and analysis • Geology, Geotechnical and Backfill MINING • Special Projects such as rehabilitation and water management • Contractor selection and management • Preparation of mining documentation and procedures LTMS offer a range of services to the • Provision of short term management and supervision mining and quarrying industries TRAINING OF MINING AND TECHNICAL PERSONNEL • Mine Operators and Supervisors LTMS Limited • Technical personnel – Engineers, Geologists 31 Gleann Na Riogh Court, • Maintenance personnel Naas, Co. Kildare • Safety for operators and management Website: www.ltms.ie • Mines Rescue Email: [email protected] MAINTENANCE Contacts • Fixed and mobile plant consulting Brendan Morris - [email protected] • Due diligence and Independent reviews Kevin Lonergan - [email protected] MINE CLOSURE Padraig Barrett - [email protected] • Planning and design

www.imqs.ie 23 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Challenges of Recovery

by Gerry Farrell, Chief Executive of the Irish Concrete Federation

I would like to thank the Irish the promise of a rewarding career. There dangerous tasks on a daily basis by some Mining and Quarrying Society for are other industries, cleaner and safer, of our employees. A lack of investment in the opportunity to contribute to its available as a career choice to potential plant, machinery and people over the past annual review, a publication which is employees. It is up to us all to promote decade has increased the risk of accidents widely read within the quarrying and our sector in a positive light to all potential and it is up to us all, in conjunction with concrete industry throughout Ireland. In future employees, their parents and friends regulatory safety organisations, to spare no resources to ensure that we keep accidents particular, I would like to congratulate to let them know that a rewarding career exists in their local quarry and concrete and injuries to a minimum. Sometimes the Society on the 60th anniversary of company. ICF recently held an event with the language of health and safety can its formation and to wish its executive the Department of Employment and alienate and be somewhat intimidating and and members the very best for the Social Protection and local Education and challenging to operators and employees coming 60 years. As somebody who Training Boards at which 200 trainees and alike. Without diminishing the message, has represented business over the jobseekers attended. This was ICF’s first there is need for communication on key previous two decades, I recognise the event of this type and it is likely one that areas of safety of which we are all very well incredible amount of hard work that we will be replicating in other locations in aware, to be communicated in an easy to goes into the management of a thriving the coming years. understand and practical manner. ICF has just held a number of workshops with the voluntary body and in this regard I The pivotal role of our industry, both Health and Safety Authority on safety in would like to particularly commend the at national and local level, is rarely block manufacturing. It was notable that Society’s outgoing executive secretary, appreciated by those outside our industry. Ms Carol Sanderson and the current all of the presentations from industry and The Mineral Products Association’s (UK) the Authority at the workshops featured President, Mr John Francis and his initiative on “making the link” between the extensive use of imagery. It is said that predecessors for their stewardship of quarries and all of the built infrastructure “a picture tells a thousand words” and the Association in recent years. that surrounds us every day is certainly certainly the reaction of our members to Similar to recent articles I have written worth replicating on this island. In this the presentations was extremely positive. in recent years for this publication, it is context, some progress was made when, In the context of safety, ICF is also clear that the country is well on the road in February, the Republic’s Government looking forward to Quarry Safety Week to recovery even if that recovery remains produced its National Planning Framework later this year and the All-Island Quarry fragile, haphazard and certainly different to up to the year 2040. Following ICF’s Safety Conference which will be held in previous expansionary times. 2018 will see submission to the draft Plan, the September. increased output in construction in Ireland importance that access to aggregate resources will have in providing the In the coming years, our industry will which should lead to an increase in activity undoubtedly need to continue to for ICF members. However, poor weather buildings, infrastructure and spaces for our people over the next two decades contribute to the ongoing development conditions combined with a frustratingly and improvement in standards for the slow increase in house building and was officially recognised. Despite this welcome and timely acknowledgement, products we produce. During the past constrained Government expenditure on decade, much time and effort has been infrastructure, has meant that the year to we see this access to natural aggregate resources compromised on a regular basis invested by technical experts within date has been disappointing. However, the industry in updating standards for by unsuitable development and delays and the overall trajectory of the industry is aggregates and concrete products and uncertainty in the planning process and ICF positive and the future for our industry is much debt is due to those experts whose will be similarly lobbying Government to certainly brighter than some years ago, work can often go unseen. These standards protect this natural strategic resource, so notwithstanding the many challenges it need to be communicated widely within critical for all future development. Planning faces. the industry but particularly to those will undoubtedly continue to play a key While this article will not allow me to other stakeholders in the architectural, role in protecting Ireland’s environment address all of the important issues faced engineering and construction professions by ensuring that extraction is carried out by our industry in the current time, I and indeed among Government bodies in an environmentally sensitive manner would like to highlight some which are with the overall aim of improving and ICF looks forward to producing a particularly pertinent to the future success standards throughout the entire planning policy paper in the near future of the sector. In this regard it is clear that construction chain. It is also imperative to outline the changes needed to ensure a key measure of this industry’s future that the procurement of these products this objective. Indeed, a critical issue sustainability will be its ability to attract is not solely on the basis of price which will be our industry’s contribution to the and retain our people. The last decade has unfortunately has been the case in both circular economy and ICF looks forward to seen a “brain drain” from all construction the public and private sector for too long. related trades and professions, a fact that making progress with the Environmental The development of standards and the is now impacting severely in the entire Protection Agency to facilitate the resulting improvements in quality should sector’s ability to deliver the many societal recovery and recycling of concrete waste be supported by specifiers, contractors needs faced by the country. Our own and its reuse in today’s built environment. and builders alike, with the lead coming industry needs to educate and upskill our The recovering economy also brings from Government. ICF is engaging with the current employees, while attracting both new safety challenges to our industry. professional bodies and the Department of youth and experience to the sector with Our industry involves the undertaking of Housing, Planning and Local Government

24 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

in order to bring all the other stakeholders in the chain up to date with developments in standards to ensure that it is only operators with the necessary certification and controls in place that prosper in the marketplace. Improvements in standards and quality also underpin the marketing and promotional initiatives for the products produced in our industry. ICF has recently developed a “concrete built” campaign, targeted at the general public, based on reinforcing the product’s inherent or ‘built in’ benefits. As an industry we should not be anything but positive on the many societal benefits which this often taken for granted product has provided for generations and will so for the future. Finally, it would be remiss of me not to mention that all too familiar word “Brexit” in looking at the potential challenges facing our industry. The concrete products sector, both directly through exports to relationship with our nearest neighbour. powers of those negotiating Brexit terms Great Britain, and indirectly through its For this reason, and for other political and arrangements to preserve the political, dependence on the local and national reasons with which we are all familiar, it is societal and trading relationship that has economy, is exposed to the impacts of of paramount importance that the threat prospered in recent years both on this a hard Brexit, as is the case with many island and across the Irish Sea. other sectors. While it is tempting to try of import tariffs, time delays, custom to re-write history or point the finger of checks and border posts are avoided. In conclusion I would like to wish all of the blame, the reality is that this country needs While the vote of the British people has members of the Irish Mining and Quarrying to have an open and seamless trading to be respected, it is surely within the Society a prosperous remainder of 2018.

Multi-disciplinary Geological & Geophysical Consultancy Site Investigation / Quarry Evaluation / SR21 Pyrite Assessment Tel. 059 8641772 / www.brg.ie

www.imqs.ie 25 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 News from the South West

by Sarah O’Connell, O’Connell Quarries

2018 saw a relatively slow start to the year in terms of aggregates and concrete sales. Extreme weather also played havoc on the industry with business closures and jobs delays. Towards the end of quarter one there was a steady improvement in both aggregates and concrete. There was a noticeable rise in development in the agricultural industry for government grant aid concrete for shed’s, silage pits and tanks. For the first time in quite a few years, there has been a rise in the number of one off houses being built in the region and a steadily increasing number of planning huge demand for more housing estates to is estimated that there will be thousands of permissions being granted for one off help improve the homeless crisis in the city. jobs created for the city and county. houses which indicates a positive future for With Limerick’s ideal location, just 20 the region. The Future looks bright minutes from Shannon Airport, motorway There is a small number of housing for Limerick: connections to the Dublin region, the west estates being developed in the Limerick of Ireland and future plans for a Limerick € city area; some previous ghost estates Limerick is investing over 1 Billion in – Cork motorway granted late in 2017, the being finalised and other green field sites enterprise and investment infrastructure as future looks busy for the Limerick Area and breaking ground; however, there is still a part of the Limerick Twenty Thirty vision. It the South West of Ireland.

26 www.imqs.ie Finning P542 Poster A4_Layout 1 14/09/2017 14:22 Page 1

KNOW MORE. DO MORE. EARN MORE.

The quick install Cat® PL542 telematics device delivers the information you need - from hours and location to health and productivity insights. And, you can connect your mixed fleet - not only your Cat equipment. Connect your fleet fast and start earning more!

COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR CAT OR MIXED FLEET

With a 36 month, £16.50/€19 per month subscription you receive: INSTALLS IN MINUTES » A PL542 device » Free 6 months Condition Monitoring » 36 months of fleet benchmark reports

Your Finning experts are ready to show you how Cat Connect Technologies will help you make more money. 0330 123 9211- finning.com/connect

The PL542 may not be compatible with all makes and models of equipment. Please contact your Product Support representative for details. © 2017 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, BUILT FOR IT, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” and the “Power Edge” trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission. ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Dalradian Gold Limited A Golden Opportunity for Businesses Across Northern Ireland

by Barry Turley, Director of Communications, Dalradian Gold Limited

In November 2017 we submitted million to invest in the project and our operating since the 1970s. It currently our regionally significant planning anticipated future investment to build and employs around 600 people directly and application to the Department maintain a mine will come to more than another 300 work as sub-contractors. for Infrastructure (DfI) to build an £330 million, making it one of the largest The underground mine, with a depth of underground gold mine in west Foreign Direct Investments in Northern 1,000 metres, is the major employer in the Tyrone. We believe the mine will have Ireland in recent years. local area and around 2.6 million tonnes of a transformative economic impact in Our planning application was informed ore are mined annually for the production the local area and will provide growth by the extensive public consultations of zinc and lead concentrates. The mine opportunities to businesses and we held with the local community and has the support of all of the Republic of other stakeholders and as a result the Ireland’s main political parties. suppliers across Northern Ireland. majority of the application focuses on Globally, Ireland is ranked 11th and 16th Our planning application was the building on environmentally responsible for zinc and lead output, according to an culmination of almost a decade of mine that meets or exceeds all regulatory official government report in 2017 and is exploration and environmental work by guidelines. We plan to build a state-of-the- ranked 4th globally in the Fraser Institute Dalradian since we took over the project art underground gold mine using best in of Canada’s survey of mining companies in 2009. Since then we have transformed industry practices. investment attractiveness index. the exploration site at Curraghinalt from a We have already built positive and According to the Central Statistics Office of small, early stage gold deposit to one of productive relationships with local Ireland almost 8,000 people are employed the best gold deposits on the planet. businesses and suppliers and schools and as a result of the extractive industry, with Our project is now ranked in the top colleges in west Tyrone and we plan to 3,633 people employed directly and 4,189 10 percent of unmined gold deposits extend this to businesses across Northern people employed indirectly or as a result globally and our latest Mineral Resource Ireland should the mine be granted of induced jobs. The mining and quarrying Statement showed an increase from 4.4 planning permission. sector in the Republic of Ireland is a multi- million ounces to almost 6.1 million ounces. Currently around 100 people work full- billion Euro industry. The report stated that there had been a time on our project, spread between Other mines that have operated in recent 46 percent rise in Measured & Indicated the site at Curraghinalt, our main office times in the Republic of Ireland include the gold ounces and a 32 percent increase in in Omagh and our community office in Lisheen Mine, which ceased operations in Inferred gold ounces. Gortin. Our employees have a range of late 2015 after 17 years of activity. Lead and Northern Ireland’s rich geological resources skills from IT and HR to drillers, welders, zinc were extracted from this underground have long been recognised. In the 1600s surveyors and geologists. mine, which had an average below surface gold was reported in the Moyola River, 20 An independent feasibility study carried depth of 170 metres. The mine is now in its miles east of Curraghinalt, and in more out in 2016 showed that once in operation closure phase. recent times work has been ongoing at our underground gold mine will employ We are therefore building on firm the Curraghinalt site going back over five 350 full-time workers with an average foundations and the vast experience of decades. salary of £40,000, almost double the NI mining and quarrying across the island The Dalradian complex is a series of highly average. This will have a positive impact of Ireland and in the knowledge that the folded and metamorphosed sedimentary on a range of business from clothing and suppliers, businesses and expertise already and volcanic rocks that are approximately hardware suppliers to retailers across the exist in Northern Ireland to enable our 540 million years old. The rocks are found county Tyrone area. proposed mine to flourish. in a 720 kilometre long belt stretching from While gold mining is a relatively new If you would like to support our planning the Scottish Highlands through Northern industry to Northern Ireland, mining and application, submitted in late 2017, you can Ireland and into the west of Ireland. It quarrying are not. The industry in Northern do this via our “Build a Support Letter’’ also stretches to Scandinavia and North Ireland has an annual turnover of around tool at www.dalradian.com/opportunity. America, hence the gold mines in countries £400 million, contributing 1.75% of the Alternatively you may write directly to DfI such as Finland and Sweden. region’s GDP. by email at planning@infrastructure-ni-gov. The geological term takes its name from Indeed across the island of Ireland mining uk, referencing LA 10/2017/1249/F. the geographical region where it is found. is a thriving industry which has sustained Our planning application, one of the It is a Latin derivation of Dál Riata, a thousands of jobs for decades and most extensive ever to be submitted kingdom of Gaels found in the north of provides billions to the economy of the to Northern Ireland can be viewed at DfI Scotland and in Ulster, one of Ireland’s four Republic of Ireland annually. offices in Belfast, or Omagh Library or ancient provinces. Tara Mines in Navan, Co. Meath, is Europe’s alternatively on the NI planning portal So far we have raised more than C$320 largest supplier of zinc and has been at www.planningni.gov.uk.

28 www.imqs.ie United. Inspired.

Discover the innovations Epiroc can provide.

Epiroc was formed to be a stronger partner for you in mining as well as, infrastructure and natural resources, building on 140 years of proven expertise. Our automation and battery technology design features safety and efficiency at their core. Dynamic by design.

[email protected] www.epiroc.com/en-ie www.epirocgroup.com

Mining | Infrastructure | Natural resources

EPIROC-IMQS Full Page June 2018.indd 1 29/06/2018 10:45:58 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Diamond Mining

by Brendan Morris, C. Eng, Managing Director, LTMS Limited

Overview activities subsided and cooling took place, ore values often allow for open pit the diamonds remained encased in the mining in the upper area of the pipe and A diamond is the hardest material solidified rock mass, known as kimberlite underground mining in the lower sections. on Earth and has long-since been pipes. To find diamond deposits, geologists recognised for its beauty as a The name Kimberlite is derived from the search for the indicator minerals and town of Kimberley in South Africa, where a gemstone. More than 100 million carats when found they were often indicative of major open pit diamond mine was located of diamonds have been consistently kimberlite pipes in the area or along the in the late 19th century, following the produced from mines worldwide on an path of the minerals. Kimberlite pipes are discovery of diamonds in 1871. The town annual basis in recent years. often formed in clusters and when one previously named New Rush, was named There are seven countries leading the pipe is found, there are generally more in 1873 after Secretary of State for the world in the production of gem-quality kimberlite pipes discovered in the region. Colonies, Lord Kimberley. diamonds for over a decade. Russia, Kimberlite is an ultramafic rock derived Botswana, Canada, Angola, South Africa, from the mantle and is the host for Synthetic Diamonds the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the diamond as the kimberlitic magma The technology for synthetic diamonds and Namibia have all been consistently rises. Kimberlite is a form of peridotite, was researched in the 1940’s and the producing over one million carats per year. composed mostly of olivine, a type of first synthetically created diamond was Diamond is the hardest natural mineral chrome rich granite. Only 1% of kimberlite produced in the 1950’s. There are several known, which makes it ideal for cutting is economic and these deposits are techniques for producing synthetic tools and precision instruments. Seventy- almost always found above Archean diamonds, these include high-pressure five to eighty percent of diamonds are cratons. Sub Saharan Africa and Russia high-temperature synthesis, chemical used in industry for cutting tools, polishing produce approximately 80% of the world’s vapor deposition and detonation synthesis hard metal, saws for cutting marble, diamonds. (literally blowing up carbon with explosives rock drilling equipment and bearings for Kimberlite minerals can be found in narrow to create extremely small diamond grains). laboratory instruments. The remaining (1–4 meters) dikes and sills, and in pipes The synthesized material known as cubic twenty percent is mostly used for jewellery with diameters that range from about 75 zirconia is a crystalline form of zirconium production. metres to 1.5 kilometres. dioxide (ZrO2). It is at times in competition Natural diamonds account for about Many kimberlite structures are emplaced with diamond because as well as being 12% of all industrial diamonds used, as carrot-shaped, vertical intrusions termed hard, optically flawless and colourless, it is while synthetic diamond accounts for “pipes”. Kimberlite pipes with economic also durable and cheap. the remainder. Synthetic diamonds are Synthetic diamonds make up the largest produced in many countries, including percentage of diamonds used for industrial China, US, Russia, SA, Ireland, Japan and purposes. Common industrial applications Belarus. China, at an annual production include diamond-tipped drill bits and saws, of more than 4 billion carats of synthetic and the use of diamond powder as an diamonds, produces more than 8 times abrasive. the cumulative total of the next five largest producers. Uses of diamonds Diamonds are sourced from two methods. Diamond is the hardest natural material Firstly, the mining of a kimberlite pipe from known and is the world’s most sought-after either open pit or underground mining and gemstone and is also used for industrial secondly, from alluvial mining. cutting and polishing tools. Diamond has Approximately 130,000,000 carats a hardness of 10 on Mohs scale of mineral (26,000 kg) of diamonds are mined hardness, with 1 being the softest (talc) and annually, with a total value of nearly 10 being the hardest. Diamond is the best US$9 billion, while approximately known thermal conductor (heat transfer) 100,000 kg (220,000 lb) are synthesized among naturally occurring substances. annually. Diamonds have often been a source of The word diamond comes from the Greek conflict and controversy with the term word meaning unbreakable. blood diamond referring to a diamond mined in an unstable area and sold to Geology overview finance war. Diamond is a solid form of carbon with Diamond is the world’s most popular a diamond cubic crystal structure, and gemstone and is frequently worn as part A typical diamond mine diamonds were formed when carbon and of jewellery such as rings and necklaces. indicator minerals from below the earth’s Kimberlite Pipe with Open Pit and Diamonds are very well suited to jewellery crust were carried to the surface during Underground Mine because they polish well and can only be volcanic eruptions. Once the volcanic scratched by other diamonds. Diamonds

30 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

are cut with considerable precision to • The Hope Diamond at 45.5 carats determine what is called the clarity of a optimize the lustre and attention gathering appears blue because of boron in its diamond. Diamonds that are clear create shine of each specific diamond and are crystal structure and is famous for more brilliance, and thus are more highly valued according to their cut, colour, carat supposedly being cursed. It is on display prized, and priced. and clarity. in the USA at the Washington National Colour is important in that colourless Museum of Natural History. It is also Natural diamond accounts for about 12% diamonds are the most desirable since they believed to have originated in India. of all industrial diamonds used, while allow the most refraction of light (sparkle). synthetic diamond accounts for the • The Tiffany Yellow Diamond discovered Off white diamonds absorb light, inhibiting remainder. in the Kimberley Mine in South Africa brilliance. weighed 287.42 carats (57.484 g) when discovered. It was later sold to a New Carat is the unit of weight by which a York jeweller named Charles Tiffany who diamond is measured. Because large had it cut into a cushion shape of 128.54 diamonds are found less commonly than carats (25.708 g) with 90 facets to show small diamonds, the price of a diamond off its beauty. rises exponentially according to its size. • The Regent Diamond is a 141-carat (28.2 g) diamond owned by the French state and on display in the Louvre, is estimated to be worth £48,000,000. It is widely considered the most beautiful and the purest diamond in the world. It is rumoured to be found in India in the late 17th century at 410 carats.

Industrial diamonds

Famous Diamonds Over the years there have been many famous and very valuable diamonds. The following are some well-known examples: • The Great Star of Africa Diamond at 530.20 Carats also known as the Cullinan I Diamond is the largest cut diamond in the world. Pear shaped, with 74 facets, it is set in the Royal Sceptre and is located Locations of deposits as part of the Crown Jewel, collection in There are a limited number of commercially the Tower of London. It was cut from the viable diamond mines currently operating 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, the largest in the world, with the 50 large mines diamond crystal ever found. The Cullinan accounting for approximately 90% of The Tiffany Yellow Diamond was discovered in Transvaal, South Africa global supply. in 1905 on an inspection tour of the 4 Cs Of Diamonds The global diamond mining industry Premier Mine. is largely dominated by a hand-full of Characteristics of diamonds are graded • The Koh-i-Noor Diamond originated in companies. The top three companies and categorized by the diamond industry India and once thought to be the largest – Alrosa from Russia, De Beers from to determine the value of the diamond. diamond in the world. It is currently 105.6 Luxembourg, and British-Australian Rio carats and is now part of the British The most important characteristics are the Tinto, account for more than 60 percent of Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. 4 Cs, as listed below: global diamond mine production. • Cut Diamonds increase drastically in value • Clarity through processing from production to • Colour retail. In 2016, for example, mined rough • Carat weight diamonds had a production value of US$15.4 billion. After polishing, this figure There is also a “Fifth C”, a Certificate, which increased to US$25.1 billion. In 2016, the is a grading report, a complete evaluation global diamond jewellery market value of the diamond that has been performed was worth approximately US$80.1 billion. by a qualified professional. In 2016, 47% of the world’s demand for Cut is probably the most important polished diamonds came from the United characteristic and most challenging of States. the four Cs to understand. The brilliance Mined diamonds are mostly processed of a diamond depends heavily on its cut in and sold via the major global diamond and has the greatest effect on a diamonds centres in Antwerp, Dubai, New York, Hong beauty. Kong, Mumbai and Tel-Aviv. In contrast Clarity is determined by an assessment to precious metals, there is no universal of the inner flaws, or inclusions, that occur market price per gram of diamonds. during the formation process. The visibility, Nevertheless, global diamond prices have The Great Star of Africa Diamond number and size of these inclusions increased more than tenfold since 1960.

www.imqs.ie 31 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

The graph below shows the major Some of the largest diamond mines ranked by diamond producing countries. diamond reserves are listed below:

A cluster of open pit diamond mines in Northern Canada Mirny Diamond mine in Yakutia, Russia

Over the past few years, diamond In addition to primary deposits, diamonds Following mining in the open pit or production has remained consistent, at are also found in secondary or alluvial underground, the diamonds are separated around 130 million carats per year. The deposits. Like any other surface feature, from the ore through a series of processes, most recent large mine discoveries have diamond-bearing pipes are subject to including crushing, screening and washing. been in Canada, with the Gahcho Kue natural weathering and erosion and, as the At this stage the ore is concentrated to mine being the largest. This mine is set to weathered and eroded material washes achieve density separation using a variety produce around 5 million carats per year. downhill and downstream, some eventually of techniques, including rotary mixers, Diamonds are generally found in two types ends up in riverbeds or along the ocean agitators, cyclones and heavy media of deposit. The most common is a primary shore near the mouths of a river. separators. Collection of diamonds is then deposit, usually occurring near a kimberlite achieved using grease tables or x-ray pipe, a volcanic pathway connecting separators, followed by visual sorting. the Earth’s deep mantle to its surface. In summary, while diamonds have very Diamonds are carried upward in these significant uses in industry, diamond pipes, amid vast quantities of magma, in jewellery is something which will never go very forceful eruptions. out of fashion and if anything, it may be considered to be the best kind of legacy which you can leave to your descendants or inherit from a family member. Diamonds are and always will be, not just a girl’s best friend, but forever. LTMS, a mining and technical services provider, have provided services at diamond, zinc and gold mines An alluvial diamond dredger in Russia, Canada, India, Kazakhstan, Africa, The most common and productive type UK and Ireland. of diamond mining is open-pit mining, where the economical diamonds are mined using standard open pit mining techniques. At deeper levels of the kimberlite pipes, mining by open pit can become uneconomical and may become economical to mine by underground mining techniques. Some of the large open pit mines can mine up to 10 million tonnes Face shovel loading a 100t truck at an of ore per annum to produce between 6-10 open pit diamond mine in Russia million carats of diamond. Diamond sorting

32 www.imqs.ie W.A.C MCCANDLESS (ENGINEERS LTD) 95-99 Limestone Road, Belfast BT15 3AB Tel: 00 44 28 9035 1811 Email: [email protected] www.wacmccandless.com www.youtube.com/user/XcentricRipper ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Diamond exploration in northernmost Ireland

by Barry Long, Scientific Visitor, Geological Survey Ireland

Exploration results so far source rocks rises and entrains diamonds cratons but distant from their margins. and pieces of rock torn from the wall They are therefore perhaps less likely to are encouraging rocks of the conduits it passes through occur in Inishowen with its more peripheral In Inishowen, NE Co. Donegal, exploration on its way to shallow depths or the relationship to the Archaean craton though for diamonds and other gemstones by surface. Entrained diamonds are older, they cannot be ruled out. Lamproite is Cambridge Mineral Resources (CMR) from sometimes very much older than the generally associated with cratonic margins 1996-2002 ended when gold exploration magma transporting them. Eventually the and adjacent or overlying Proterozoic and became a global fever that attracted magma crystallizes as igneous rocks to younger rocks. Only lamproite containing companies away from other minerals. form dykes, sills and diatremes (i.e. volcanic olivine is potentially diamondiferous, Despite the detailed work and encouraging pipes), the latter usually reaching the though most olivine lamproite has results [1], key questions about Inishowen’s surface. Kimberlite and to a lesser extent no diamonds. The Argyle mine in geology remain unanswered. The licences lamproite are globally the most important northernmost Western Australia is globally formerly held by CMR were eventually diamondiferous rocks that can be mined at the best known for its commercially viable acquired by Grosvenor Exploration and the surface. diamondiferous olivine lamproite. Mining Services Ltd. until late 2016 [2] and the company was dissolved in January The Hebridean craton and Igneous rocks of interest 2017. deep geology of northernmost in Inishowen Stream sediment samples collected in Ireland Camptonite and monchiquite dykes are Inishowen by CMR were analyzed at two both types of alkali lamprophyre that are specialist laboratories (Diatech Heavy Archaean cratonic areas are important exposed in northern Inishowen and eastern Mineral Services, Perth, Western Australia globally because diamonds are associated Fanad. Although undated, they have been and CF Mineral Research, Kelowna, British with them. When CMR began work in interpreted as Permo-Carboniferous (359- Columbia, Canada). Chuck Fipke of CF Inishowen, Archaean rocks (older than 252 million years old). Within them are Mineral Research, who was enthusiastic 2,500 million years) of the Hebridean conspicuous inclusions of spinel lherzolite about the Inishowen results, is renowned Craton were thought to be distributed and some spinel harzburgite that are for his use of detailed geochemistry to offshore north of Ireland and west of varieties of peridotite (olivine-rich mantle develop and improve the use of specific Scotland, with small areas present on the Scottish coast (e.g. at Scourie). rock). Because the inclusions contain pathfinder minerals [3] to find lamproite This view changed following discovery spinel (chrome spinel and chromite) and kimberlite. These are globally the that the southern marginal part of the without garnet, the inclusions themselves main potentially diamondiferous igneous Hebridean Craton continues southwards originated from shallower than c. 85km rocks originating from great depth in the at a depth of c. 40km beneath the below surface which is far too shallow for mantle. Together with Stewart Blusson, northern third of Ireland. The areas of diamonds. Fipke [4] discovered the first of 156 (2016 Neoproterozoic Dalradian schists, quartzite data) kimberlite pipes ranging from 75 to CMR records that buried diatremes, and marble, and the directly underlying 45 million years old, one of which became probably lamproite of unknown age, are Palaeoproterozoic basement gneisses the Ekati Diamond Mine (Canada’s first), suspected in Inishowen based partly on (visible at the surface in Inishtrahull, NE near Lac de Gras, 310km NE of Yellowknife, high resolution, low altitude, regional and of Malin Head, and the Mullet, Co. Mayo) Northwest Territories, Canada. local aeromagnetic data acquired for CMR all overlie a strong seismic reflector by Tesla Exploration Geophysics Ltd, U.K. known as the W-reflector, a major shear Terrestrial diamonds Ground based magnetic studies were also zone marking the top of the craton. The carried out. Detailed modelling of one originate at depth W-reflector was discovered and interpreted shallow sub-surface diatreme revealed by the British Institutions Reflection Diamonds typically formed more than c. a champagne glass shape typical of Profiling Syndicate (BIRPS) during offshore 150km below surface within deep roots of lamproite pipes that are often known to seismic profiling. Archaean gneisses of the the continental lithosphere and underlying lack any surface expression. An attempt to Hebridean cratonic margin underlie mainly uppermost asthenosphere. Their host drill into this diatreme was unsuccessful. Cos. Mayo, Donegal, Fermanagh, Derry and rock is mainly garnet lherzolite with some No outcrops have been found. garnet harzburgite and eclogite. The Tyrone. Dyke or pipe-like intrusions from eclogite derives from deeply subducted great depth are thought to be present in Old shear zones provide oceanic lithosphere that accreted to the Inishowen. In the other counties they seem continental roots. It may contain diamonds to be absent but may be obscured. Before pathways to the surface formed at shallower depth, though more CMR departed from Inishowen, the general Proximity of the old and deep Culdaff than c. 120km. deep sub-surface geological structure Lineament to the former CMR licence looked favourable for possible lamproite areas may have influenced the localization Magma rising through diatremes (volcanic pipes). of intrusions there, and the Omagh diamond source rocks carries It is known from elsewhere that kimberlite Lineament in western Tyrone was probably dykes and diatremes originate more deeply also significant. Both lineaments trend diamonds to the surface than lamproite and are usually found within N12-E and were originally long broad Magma originating below the diamond or directly above ancient stable Archaean shear zones probably several km wide.

34 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Although identified as Palaeoproterozoic across in the areas explored. It is found magnetic studies, and stream sediment in age they are more likely to be older and as larger gem quality crystals in the and soil sampling. Pathfinder minerals were Neoarchaean. Upwards propagation of old Loch Roag monchiquite of Lewis, Outer found and then tracked in the up-flow lineaments such as these into overlying Hebrides. direction, opposite to the glacial transport younger rocks is a normal characteristic. direction, a very long distance to their Old lineaments are known to serve as bedrock source. Individual kimberlite pipes pathways for deep magma to reach the at Ekati have surface areas mostly less than surface. 3 hectares (ha), but ranging up to 20ha, with projected extent below the current Key pathfinder minerals found surface of between 400m and 600m in Inishowen and N. Ireland depth. DI (diamond inclusion and intergrowth) Pathfinder minerals found in Inishowen, chromite grains are uncommon and of Fermanagh and Tyrone indicative of special interest. They were found by possible lamproite and kimberlite, when CMR in a few Inishowen stream sediment considered together with aeromagnetic samples. Their compositions match only The Brookeborough diamond recognition of possible lamproite diatremes in Inishowen, suggest that distances those of chromites found elsewhere Diamondiferous source rock, kimberlite transported by Pleistocene ice and post- as inclusions or intergrowths within or sometimes lamproite, is more usually glacial streams may not have been far and diamonds, implying that they grew where found after discovery of alluvial diamonds that the local area itself is prospective. pressure and temperature conditions (more than 200 years later in Brazil), so Glacial transport directions varied over enable diamond to form. Their presence the prospect for Inishowen and Tyrone time and are therefore complex. If in Inishowen’s streams today is enigmatic. seems poor. However, to predict what A recent article [5] addresses a similar may yet be discovered would be unwise. transport was significant, NW Scotland problem relating to Inishowen’s G9 pyrope The Brookeborough diamond, allegedly and Greenland will remain possible source garnets that like the DI chromites are not from the Colebrook River, Co. Fermanagh, areas until a nearer source is identified. known in any surface outcrops. Were the DI N. Ireland, is perhaps best forgotten [6]. Greenland seems far away but was closer chromites and G9 pyrope garnets eroded Its unauthenticated discovery in 1816 to Ireland before the Atlantic Ocean from diatremes or dykes of unknown age would not on its own justify exploration started opening c. 60 million years ago well perhaps of lamproite or even kimberlite at because it may have been brought from before the Pleistocene glaciation. This may the surface today or recently, or were they Brazil. However, exploration by a Canadian be relevant if mineral grains were recycled recycled into sedimentary cover rocks after company in Cos. Fermanagh and Tyrone since reaching the surface long before reaching the surface long ago? Recent from 1996-2000 yielded pathfinder glaciation (see above). weathering of such cover rocks could minerals for both kimberlite and lamproite explain the presence of those minerals in [7] similar to those from Inishowen, that Conclusions today’s stream sediments. do justify further work. Karelian Diamond Northernmost parts of Ireland are of Inishowen stream sediments yielded Resources is currently seeking prospecting interest for potential diamonds and further other encouraging minerals including licences for parts of Co. Fermanagh exploration is justified perhaps with DI clinopyroxene (chrome diopside and Tyrone. attention to a larger area than hitherto of diamond inclusion and intergrowth addressed. Searching for diamonds in composition) and eclogitic garnets. Glaciation Britain and Ireland is not crazy and is Sapphire, gem-quality corundum of blue The Ekati mine (above) is in a glaciated taken seriously [8]. Shortage of space and pink varieties, is also important and region of Canadian Archaean cratonic necessitates omission of more information found as small crystals less than 2mm rocks. Its discovery came from airborne and references.

References [1] Cambridge Mineral Resources Moratorium Report 2002, 307 pages. http://gis.dcenr.gov.ie/internetPLArea/doc/ PublicDocumentDownload?documentId=134269986&DOCLINK=null&DOCUMNETTYPE=53941375. [2] Grosvenor Exploration and Mining Services Ltd. http://gis.dcenr.gov.ie/internetPLArea/servlet/internet/ DCMNRInternetMAPSPLAreaDocuments?plareano=3062&showTownlandInfo=N. [3] Fipke, C.E., Gurney, J.J. and Moore, R.O. 1995. Diamond exploration techniques emphasising indicator mineral geochemistry and Canadian examples. Geological Survey of Canada Bulletin 423. [4] How a rogue geologist discovered a diamond trove in the Canadian Arctic. https://www.wired.com>2008/11. Searching Google for Chuck Fipke will get many hits. [5] Long, Barry, 2017. Geological Teaser, Earth Science Ireland Magazine, Issue 21 Spring/Summer, p. 14. http://earthscienceireland.org/backissues/Earth%20Science%20Ireland%20Issue%2021.pdf. [6] Bazley, Tony and Long, Barry, 2003. Irish diamonds, Science Spin, Winter pages 30-31, (with typos). [7] Geological Survey of Northern Ireland. https://www.bgs.ac.uk/gsni/minerals/prospectivity/diamonds/. [8] Leake, R.C., Cornwell, J.D., Rollin, K.E. and Styles, M.T. 1995. The Potential for diamonds in Britain. MRP Report 135, Technical Report WF/95/1. https://www.bgs.ac.uk/downloads/start.cfm?id=1568.

Thanks to Gerry Stanley for helpful comments and questions. In memory of Dr. Robert (Bob) D. Young, a knowledgeable and inspired geologist.

www.imqs.ie 35 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Geoscience Ireland Delivering Irish Expertise Overseas

by Andrew Gaynor, Business Development Manager, Geoscience Ireland

Geoscience Ireland (GI) is the Elizabeth Murphy and Stephen D Walsh milestone for geoscience in Ireland, and geoscience business development are GI Market Advisors and provide the Geological Survey Ireland (GSI), which is cluster which supports its Member platform for Members to target and now recognised in national economic and Companies in winning business in track international opportunities and enterprise policy. This builds on the great overseas markets. The 36 Members tenders. Earlier this year, GI procured an work which has been done in very recent target mineral, water, environmental online platform – delivered by Compass years from a research aspect, notably Informatics - for its members which and infrastructure projects in markets the Irish Centre for Applied Research captures and collates tender requests, including the UK, France, the Nordics, in Geosciences (iCRAG) which has now business intelligence and market reports in secured a further €4.7 million funding from the Balkan States, sub-Saharan Africa, a one-stop-shop: the GI Procurement Hub. Science Foundation Ireland to progress its the Middle East and North America. research programmes. In winning business overseas, GI Members Recent collaboration between Members has led to commercial ventures such as: On behalf of the Geological Survey, GI are supporting and diversifying the Irish led a successful application to SOLAS – geoscience sector which in turn creates • SLR (Ireland) and Lisheen Technical and Ireland’s further education and training highly-skilled domestic jobs; these are Mining Services (LTMS) have combined authority- which established a Geo-Driller pivotal jobs that act as a “gateway” to project and commercial experiences in Apprenticeship. The apprenticeship is to further economic development. Since its environmental and social consultancy provide drillers with a dedicated FETAC inception, GI Member Companies have (SLR) and mining due diligence (LTMS) level 6 qualifications; the need for this created more than 750 net new jobs, to successfully bid for a World Bank- qualification was identified by the drilling employing more than 3,300 people (1,900 funded project which will deliver capacity industry in partnership with GSI and the of which are employed by small - and building in Mozambique. Institute of Technology Carlow. medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)) and • ByrneLooby continues to develop its generating more than €800 million in operation in the Middle East and is In January 2018, GI was delighted turnover. drawing on the geophysical expertise of to announce the commencement of the ‘Geo-Energy for the 21st Century’ GI is supported in its ambition to win APEX Geoservices for a civils project in (GEO-ENERGY EUROPE) project. This business overseas by Geological Survey the Gulf. collaborative project is funded by the Ireland (a division of the Department • Priority Drilling continues to partner with European Commission’s Competitiveness of Commutations, Climate Action and BRG for its geo-expertise with active of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Environment), Enterprise Ireland and the mineral projects in Scotland and Ireland. Enterprises (COSME) programme, and is Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. • Verde Environmental continues to work aimed at supporting SMEs in accessing Collaboration with PW Group in Nigeria. geothermal markets. Pole AVENIA, the The common vision and ambition of GI and • PW Mining and QME recently bid on a French geoscience cluster with which GI its Member Companies is to target and win mining project in West Africa. signed an MoU in 2017, lead the application business overseas through collaborative and was supported by GI and 6 other efforts. Such efforts include the ongoing Geoscience: Booming and European counterparts. The project will be delivery and sharing of market knowledge Blasting delivered over the next two years. and experiences, the communicating Geoscience encompasses an array of Outlook: Cautious Optimism? and peer review of Member activities, science, technology, engineering and establishing networks and access points mathematics (STEM) disciplines and Through its ongoing engagement with in target markets, and joint bidding on applications. The geoscience sector is an Members and stakeholders, GI will continue commercial projects. important one for the Irish economy. The to identify overseas opportunities, and The GI initiative is led by Sean Finlay, overall economic impact of the sector encourage market diversification and Director, and business development is more than €3.2 billion and employs agility in a changing global landscape. activity is supported by Andrew Gaynor, 24,700 people in Ireland (Indecon, The looming impacts of Brexit and Business Development Manager. A key part 2016). Geoscience impacts a number potential trade wars between the super- of GI’s business development is to provide of disciplines which include mineral economies will indeed call for cautious quality networking and networks to exploration, geophysical and geochemical economic outlooks. leverage on behalf of its Members; today, surveying, geotechnical and civil In the UK, the Royal Institution of the established GI network comprises engineering, civil works, drilling, ecological, Chartered Surveyors (RICS) expects the a diverse range of export agencies, environmental and social consulting. rail and energy sectors - sectors to which ministries, trade associations, chambers Government of Ireland, through its Action the geoscience skill set is pertinent - to of commerce, domestic and overseas Plan for Jobs, published Geoscience be the most prominent contributors to business networks, private sector contacts Ireland as a case study in the delivery construction output increases in 2018/ and research agencies and institutions. of a successful cluster. This is a notable 2019. The government’s commitment to

36 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

its high-speed rail infrastructure is evident risk commercial projects in developing for both extractive industries is the area though investment in wider economic and economies and GI Members have a proven of public perception which requires more transport infrastructure varies from track record in winning business in these attention. region-to-region across the UK which is markets. indicative of cautious decision making, Rebounding commodity prices, and Future Ambitions investment constraints and competing growth in oil and gas prices, are positive for • GI will continue to support its Members priorities. In its market survey, RICS noted the exploration and extraction companies in those sectors in which they have that 21% more contributors reported a though challenges remain in both of these sustained themselves while also rise in workloads though Brexit-related natural resources industries. Deloitte’s uncertainties and the “unpredictability” ‘Mining Industry Trends and Challenges’ supporting market diversification whether engendered by recent shocks such (2018) notes overcoming innovation this is geographical regions or sectors. as Carillion’s collapse, as weighing on barriers, sustainable productivity and Its ambition is to: investment decisions. Such long term operational (cost) efficiency, and talent • Support its Members in creating 150 net uncertainty and significant shocks are acquisition as key trends in the sector. new jobs in 2018. compounded by short term impediments The cyclical nature of the mining industry to growth such as financial constraints, means re-stocking depleted global reserves • Support its Members in bidding better planning delays and labour shortages. of gold, silver, copper, and cobalt is a key through the GI Procurement Hub. Shocks to trade agreements and policies objective though budgetary constraints • Establish Ireland as a leader in geoscience could impact the development of the and hesitancy in engaging in acquisitions expertise, and support innovation in the economic infrastructure which is required to feed the exploration pipeline remains a sector. to deliver goods and commodities, though risk (Deloitte). • Deliver balanced regional growth; the likes of France and the Nordics are The demand for cobalt, and other in 2017, 60% of jobs created were outside investing in substantial transport projects battery-related metals, is a relatively new Dublin. at present. Globally, more and more departure for the mining sector though physical routes to market are planned to acts as a headwind for the oil and gas • Deliver on GI’s commitment to its COSME connect Europe with East Asia, while the industry which notes de-carbonisation project. Gulf region continues to advance similar policies as a headwind. The oil and gas • Assist in the delivery of the Geo-Driller projects and strategies. International and sector has weathered the storms of 2015 Apprenticeship. Financial Institutions, such as the World and is witnessing growth in in its prices Bank, European and global development though still faces considerable headwinds • Gain greater traction with International agencies, continue to invest in low- in terms of geopolitical fragility. Critical and Financial Institutions.

home of BKT tyres in Ireland

ALL-STEEL OTR TYRES & WHEELS E3 / L3 / G3 / E4 / L4 / L5 EARTHMOVER TYRE RANGES for dump trucks, loaders, diggers, graders, dozers, excavators, dumpers, & much much more

Tyres available from BKT Agents countrywide

www.imqs.ie 37 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Irish Cement - 80 years from 1938 to 2018

by Brian Gilmore, Marketing & Communications Manager, Irish Cement

Life in Ireland has changed dramatically over the past eighty years. In 1938 the Irish population was less than three million. Just half the population was connected to the electricity network, and less than one in ten households had radio licenses. Cars were still a rare sight on the roads, some people had cars but petrol was often in short supply because of rationing during the war years so cars regularly sat idle. If you speak with people who are in their eighties today, bicycles and horses and carts are what they remember for that time. Along the narrow country roads they were the main methods of transport, apart that is from walking. Back then a new bicycle cost £5 and long cycles to visit relatives, attend funerals or sporting events were not uncommon. 1938 was a significant year for the fledgling ICL Limerick avenue. Irish state too, with Ireland’s first president, Douglas Hyde inaugurated in June and the cement factories opened in Limerick and and adapt both factories to reflect best 20,000 seat Cusack Stand opened in Croke practice and technology to ensure the Park in August. Drogheda in 1938. In December 1978, the name of the long-term sustainability of the operations. It was also a significant year for Irish Among the more recent investments Cement as on 23rd May 1938, Sean Company was changed from ‘Cement Limited’ to ‘Irish Cement Limited’ to reflect was the installation of Kiln 3 in Platin Lemass, then Minister for Industry and one of Europe’s most energy efficient the long history of indigenous cement Commerce, officially opened the cement cement production lines. There has also manufacture at the two factories and more factories in Drogheda and Limerick. been success in reducing dependence appropriately brand the Company and its That event was the culmination of a on imported fossil fuels by establishing products as being 100% Irish. concerted effort to develop an indigenous alternative fuel programmes at both cement industry. In 1933 the Cement Act Irish Cement today has a skilled workforce, factories. Platin has led the way, achieving was established, which provided the legal operating two modern energy-efficient over 50% heat input from alternative fuels. framework for the formation of a cement cement factories in Platin and Limerick The Limerick factory has recently had industry in Ireland. In 1934, the State which manufacture high quality cement success in achieving planning approval for approved the first cement licence and in for the construction sector both in fossil fuel replacement to begin subject to May 1936, Cement Limited was registered Ireland and in European export markets. a positive outcome of the Environmental as a Limited Liability Company and the two The company continues to modernise Protection Agency licence review.

Platin Cement Factory. Inspection of the kiln shell cooling fans, Platin Cement Factory.

38 www.imqs.ie THE CEMENT YOU TRUST

ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 THE CEMENT YOUTHE CEMENTTRUST YOU TRUST

Central Control Room, Limerick Cement Factory. Robot arm in the autolab, Platin Cement Factory.

The development of our modern way If we look 80 years in to the future to the fundamental to our built environment. of life in Ireland is closely linked to the year 2098, the eve of the next millennium Today, concrete is the second most used improvements in housing, transport it is hard to know what life will be like. substance on the planet, after water, and and infrastructure, where cement and Automation of our transport network is it is difficult to foresee an alternative concrete continue to play a vital role. Irish expected, artificial intelligence will be more construction material being developed Cement rightly remains proud of this close integrated into daily life and robots will be over the next 80 years. Utilities like water association over the past eighty years and energy generation will be critical to assigned routine repetitive occupations. with the development of our modern future populations so the challenge for the Healthcare will be more personalised Irish economy, and is well positioned to cement and concrete industry will be to opening up the possibility of longer continue to support our customers with THE CEMENTdeliver resource efficient and technology- high quality cement and technical support healthier lives for children born today. enabled structures for the smart cities of as Ireland builds its future. Cement and concreteYOU will continue to be theTRUST future. THE CEMENT THE THECEMENTYOU CEMENT TRUST THEYOU CEMENTYOU TRUST TRUST YOU TRUST IRISHIRISH CEMENT CEMENT LIMITED LIMITED

PLATINPLATIN WORKS, WORKS, DROGHEDA DROGHEDA Tel Tel 041Irish041 987 987Cement 6000 6000 products ECO-EFFICIENT FaxFax are the fi rst in Ireland BES www.irishcement.ie041041 987 987 6400 6400 CO2 6001 www.irishcement.ieto be awarded the Reduced Made in Responsibly BES 6001 Excellent rating. Carbon Cement Ireland Sourced LIMERICKLIMERICK WORKS, WORKS, CASTLEMUNGRET CASTLEMUNGRET Tel Tel 061For061 48 over 48 720075 years 7200 our customers www.imqs.ie 39 FaxFax have trusted Irish Cement 061061 48 487201 7201 www.irishcement.ie products, manufactured using local raw materials. Email:Email: [email protected] [email protected] www.irishcement.iewww.irishcement.ie

4834 Irish Cement A4 Bag Advert Update F.indd 1 04/09/2015 09:07 Irish Cement products ECO-EFFICIENT are the fi rst in IrelandCUSTOMER CUSTOMER ORDERS ORDERS BES CO2 to be awarded the 6001 Irish Cement products ECO-EFFICIENTReduced Made in Responsibly IrishBES 6001Cement Excellent products rating.BULK BULK CEMENT CEMENT CarbonECO-EFFICIENT Cement Ireland Sourced are the fi rst in Ireland BES are the fi rst in IrelandFreephone COFreephone2 180018006001 946 946 675 675 BES to be awarded the CO2 6001 BulkBulkReduced Tel Tel Made in 048048 Responsibly9055 9055 1357 1357 Forto over be 75 awarded years our customers the Carbon Cement Ireland Sourced BES 6001 Excellent rating. Reduced Made in Responsibly Irish Cement productshave trusted Irish Cement FaxECO-EFFICIENTFax Carbon Cement Ireland Sourced BES 6001 Excellent rating.www.irishcement.ie048048 9061 9061 3518 3518 are the fi rst in Irelandproducts, manufactured using EmailEmail [email protected]@irishcement.ie local raw materials. CO2 6001 to Forbe over awarded 75 years our thecustomers For over 75 years our customers Reduced Made in Responsibly have trusted Irish Cement Carbon Cement Ireland Sourced BES 6001 Excellenthave rating. trustedwww.irishcement.ie Irish Cement BAGGEDBAGGED CEMENT CEMENT products, manufactured using www.irishcement.ie local raw materials. products, manufactured using 4834 Irish Cement A4 Bag Advert Update F.indd 1 04/09/2015 09:07 local raw materials. FreephoneFreephone 18001800 511 511 811 811 For over 75 years our customers BaggedBagged Tel Tel041 041 983 983 6067 6067 have trusted Irish Cement www.irishcement.ie FaxFax 041041 983 983 0169 0169 products,4834 Irish Cement manufactured A4 Bag Advert Update F.indd using 1 04/09/2015 09:07 local raw materials. 4834 Irish Cement A4 Bag Advert Update F.indd 1 EmailEmail [email protected]@irishcement.ie04/09/2015 09:07

4834 Irish Cement A4 Bag Advert Update F.indd 1 CUSTOMERCUSTOMER TECHNICAL TECHNICAL04/09/2015 09:07 SUPPORT SUPPORT TechnicalTechnical Marketing Marketing Dept. Dept. IrishIrish Cement Cement Ltd., Ltd., Platin, Platin, Drogheda Drogheda

Tel Tel 041041 987 987 6000 6000 FaxFax 041041 987 987 6400 6400

Irish Cement products ECO-EFFICIENT are the fi rst in Ireland BES CO2 to be awarded the 6001 Reduced Made in Responsibly BES 6001 Excellent rating. Carbon Cement Ireland Sourced

For over 75 years our customers have trusted Irish Cement www.irishcement.ie products, manufactured using local raw materials.

4834 Irish Cement A4 Bag Advert Update F.indd 1 04/09/2015 09:07 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Institute of Quarrying Getting Age Ready for Quarrying’s Future

by Julian Smallshaw, Head of Educational Development at the Institute of Quarrying

Almost 10 million people in employment in the UK are over the age of 50, equivalent to more than 30% of the workforce1. The age profile of people employed in the mineral extractives sector is even more polarised than the wider national picture, with 55 per cent aged over 45 years and only 17 per cent aged 18-342. In future decades, a high proportion of this group will leave work permanently, taking acquired skills and experiences with them. Long-term demographic change means that there is unlikely to be a burgeoning supply of younger people in the UK who will enter the labour market to replace retiring workers. Future-proofing the sector’s workforce is an imperative that is being addressed across the industry as a priority. New educational pathways such as T Levels, alongside initiatives including MP Futures ‘Inspiring Futures’, as well as a raft of activities initiated by operators large University of Derby. Amongst these is the the industry but ‘Inspiring Futures’ is about and small, all share the common goal of Higher Apprenticeship in Mineral Products bringing all stakeholders together - from attracting young people into the industry. Technology, which combines practical the professional institutions, trade bodies, James Thorne is chief executive officer skill development with higher education employers to operators large and small - to at the Institute of Quarrying (IQ): “There qualifications. The course develops promote the great things we do. We need is an urgent need to understand how the competence in the workplace and prepares to get out into the community and engage sector will replace a vast proportion of its apprentices for a supervisory position and with young people.” workforce in the short to medium term due is designed in partnership with industry “An integral part of ‘Inspiring Futures’ is to retirement. and leading professional bodies. the Industry STEM Ambassadors. These This is an industry-wide issue. As you’d Other organisations with a stake in the are passionate people working in quarrying expect, IQ is playing its part. We have Centre for Mineral Products include the and minerals extraction tasked with developed a compelling partnership with Institute of Asphalt Technology (IAT), promoting what we do to young people the University of Derby Centre for Mineral Concrete Society, International Clay with an aim to capture the imagination Products that is delivering tailored learning Technology Association, Road Surface of a new generation. Our ambassador for young people interested in developing Treatment Association and the Mineral programme is just one touchpoint - we’re a career in our sector, as well as for those Products Qualifications Council (MPQC). also producing resources designed to already working in mineral extraction. connect with young people on their level, The Centre for Mineral Products delivers Inspiring futures so innovative video and social media will industry standard and globally recognised MP Futures, part of MPQC, is the lead also play a big part in how we reach out.” qualifications to the mineral products player in the ‘Inspiring Futures’ initiative, Inspiring Futures feeds into the UK’s sector. That’s about developing the which promotes careers in the mineral existing STEM (Science Technology industry leaders of the future. extractives industry to the next generation. Engineering Maths) Learning Network. Qualifications are delivered using blended Anthony Elgey is General Manager at This network has over 30,000 voluntary learning, minimising the time spent away MP Futures. He says: “I’ve worked in the ambassadors from more than 2,500 from work and learners complete work- quarrying industry for over 20 years and employers, operating through a web of 19 based projects, meaning learning is applied this is an issue that we’ve been talking regional hubs. in the workplace straight away.” about for as long as I can remember. That’s Anthony continues: “By encouraging and Industry relevant qualifications - from why ‘Inspiring Futures’ is so important helping our staff to engage we can present higher apprenticeships to honours level and why the industry’s employers are a unified and coherent front, empower degrees - with content and materials collaborating with this project. and develop our employees, engage our developed by IQ, are delivered through the “There’s a lot of great work going on across local communities, dispel the myths and

40 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

preconceptions about our sector thereby improving its social standing, and finally, plug the terminal skills gap that has loomed over our sector for decades and is set to grow into a full blown crisis.” Higher apprenticeships Daniel James is Quarry Manager at Hanson UK’s Penderyn quarry located eight miles north of Aberdare in South Wales. He was among the first intake on Hanson UK’s LEAD Higher Apprenticeship programme. “When I finished school back in 2012, I went to work as a trainee in dentistry, but I quite quickly realised it wasn’t the career for me. While searching through the job ads and checking out courses, I spotted Hanson UK’s LEAD Higher Apprenticeship programme. I knew quite a few people who already worked within the industry as Hanson UK had a quarry in my local town, Builth Wells. Talking to them really captured my interest, so I decided to apply for a position and I was lucky enough to be successful. I was very excited by the career opportunities available to me, whilst at the same time being able to complete a higher education qualification. I hadn’t any interest in going to university, so this provided the perfect pathway for me in that I could get real work experience, further my education and earn a wage. That was over five years ago and I’ve now worked my way up to the role of Quarry Manager, responsible for a site that has been worked continuously since 1890. I have completed the MPQC Level 6 Diploma in Health, Safety & Environmental Management and I am currently coming to the end of my Honours Degree in Minerals Management at the University of Derby. IQ’s James Thorne concludes: “What we’re the time to work together to secure our I have also completed a wide range of seeing is a groundswell of activity, with the future.” internal and external training courses, whole minerals extractive sector pulling including IOSH Managing Safely, Confined together with the shared objective of 1 Avoiding the demographic crunch: Space Entry, Management of CDM projects, securing our future. As an industry we are Labour supply and the ageing workforce First Aid at Work and Geotechnical jointly stimulating interest and awareness - Chartered Institute of Professional Supervision, to name a few. This extensive among young people, creating new Development June 2015 training has given me the knowledge and educational pathways to explore career 2 Labour Market Intelligence Study: confidence required to fulfil my job role opportunities in our sector that map to Quarrying, mineral products and mining effectively.” real jobs. The momentum is there, now is - MP Futures October 2016

www.imqs.ie 41 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Minister Sean Kyne T.D. leads Team Ireland at PDAC 2018

by Ray Scanlon, Principal Geologist, Geological Survey Ireland

The Prospectors and Developers the Fraser Institute rankings in terms of Association of Canada (PDAC) ‘policy perception’ (ranked 1st) and ‘overall hosted its annual International attractiveness’ (4th), and noted the signing Convention, Trade Show and Investors of the Minerals Development Act 2017 which provides Ireland with a modern and Exchange in Toronto last March. robust regulatory regime for exploration The PDAC Convention, the world’s and development. Minister Kyne focussed largest annual mining convention, on the successful and ongoing delivery of welcomed over 25,600 delegates from Ireland’s data acquisition programmes 125 countries - the highest attendance including GSI’s Tellus programme which since 2013. The growing attendance is Ireland’s geophysical airborne survey reflects improved investor sentiment in and geochemical survey, and the EMD’s the sector and recovering prices in zinc, new Exploration Data Discovery database copper and battery-related metals. which captures raw exploration data in a single database. Team Ireland Domestic and Export Markets ‘Team Ireland’ has been present at Minister Kyne was encouraged by the PDAC for over 25 years and fielded one buoyancy of domestic and export markets. of its largest and strongest teams at Gold and Base Metals Strong export demand has witnessed GI PDAC 2018. Sean Kyne TD, Minister of The forum provided a platform for Member Companies create over 750 jobs State for Natural Resources, travelled both gold and base metals exploration since its inception in 2012, and generating with the Irish delegation and delivered the companies on the island of Ireland to over €800 million in turnover for the keynote address at the “Ireland – Open for provide overviews of recent activates Irish economy - the overall impact of Business” forum, opened the department- and developments. The gold exploration geoscience activity on the economy is in hosted ‘business breakfast’, attended the companies included Dalradian Gold the region of €3.2 billion (Indecon, 2016) International Mines Ministers’ Summit, and which has submitted its Minerals Planning with the output of lead and zinc extraction Application and Environmental Statement met with a number of private and public being valued at €60m and €490m to develop a gold mine at Curraghinalt, sector companies and agencies. respectively. He was also delighted to Northern Ireland, and Conroy Gold which announce the appointment of Prof Murray The Ireland Booth at the Trade Show – detailed its targets on the Longford-Down Hitzman as the new director of iCRAG as co-hosted by Government Departments gold trend. the research centre moves in to its second from the Republic of Ireland and from The base metals session included updates phase as supported by Science Foundation Northern Ireland – was the focus for from Glencore’s zinc-lead (Zn-Pb) deposit Ireland. promoting the minerals industry across at Pallas Green, Co Limerick; Group 11 The Ireland presentation attracted some the island of Ireland. Participants at the Resources and its Zn exploration projects robust comments from a small number Ireland Booth were the Exploration & at Ballinalack, Stonepark and Silvermines; of activists opposed to gold mining in Mining Division (EMD) of the Department Adventus and its Zn-Pb projects in the Northern Ireland. At the subsequent of Communications, Climate Action and Limerick Basin area; Hannan Metals Zn-Pb- networking reception, several members Environment (DCCAE), the Geological Ag (silver) project at Kilbricken; Unicorn of Ireland’s delegations, including Minister Surveys of Ireland (GSI) and Northern Mineral Resources projects in the Midlands, Kyne, engaged constructively with the Ireland (GSNI), Geoscience Ireland (GI) and Clare and Waterford; and Zinc of Ireland’s objectors. the Irish Centre for Research in Applied (ZMI) Zn-Pb projects in Kildare. Geosciences (iCRAG). Geoscience Ireland Member Companies Post Script The ‘Ireland – Open for Business’ forum, presented their service offerings and Team Ireland’s sustained approach to export capabilities during the export now in its 3rd year, attracted over 100 accessing Canadian markets witnessed 13 session of Ireland day; the GI companies attendees - 57% of whom were from Irish Ministers visit Canada in 12 months. included Priority Drilling, Lisheen outside of Ireland - and was opened by During its visit to PDAC, Geoscience Ireland Technical and Mining Services, SLR also met with Ontario government to gain HE Jim Kelly, Ireland’s Ambassador to (Ireland), Irish Drilling and ERM (Ireland). Canada. insights of projected expenditure plans Other GI Members which attended the and public procurement opportunities for The GSI and GSNI delivered updates on its PDAC Convention included QME, Mincon, the region. The number of opportunities respective programmes, recent initiatives BRG, PW Mining International and PW for Irish consultancies and contracting and cross-border collaboration. Enterprise Group. Brendan Morris, outgoing president companies to expand their offering to the Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland of the IMQS, provided an overview of the Canadian market has been enhanced by provided overviews of doing business in society. way of the EU-Canada Comprehensive their respective jurisdictions and Ireland’s Minister Kyne, in delivering his keynote Economic Trade Agreement (CETA). GI export capabilities. address to the delegation, noted Ireland’s continues to work closely with Enterprise strong and consistent performance in Ireland on the matter.

42 www.imqs.ie

Geoscience | The science and engineering of breaking ground. Geoscience Ireland | The collaborative network connecting Irish experts to projects in over 50 countries.

Scotland | QME drilling at Glensanda Quarry Nigeria | PW Group operating at its quarry in Plateau State

England | Priority Drilling drilling boreholes in West Cumbria Kazakhstan & Siberia | LTMS delivering mine safety training

The Geoscience Ireland (GI) network comprises over 35 Irish companies that deliver the science and engineering needed for minerals, environmental, water and infrastructure developments in over 50 countries: the UK, the Nordics, France, the Bal- kans, the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa and North America.

Its Member Companies have capabilities ranging from civil engineering, geotechnical and environmental consultancy and geophysical / geological surveying, to drilling and contracting. GI, supported by the Department of Communications, Cli- mate Action & Environment, Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, provides unique access to international markets through its partners and Member Companies.

For further information, and to see our Case Studies, please visit www.geoscience.ie Geoscience Ireland Sean Finlay | Director Geoscience Ireland | e: [email protected] | ph: 353 (0) 1 678 2842

@GeoscienceIre Andrew Gaynor | Business Development | e: [email protected] | ph: 353 (0) 1 678 2673 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Development of the Underground APCr Recovery Facility at Kilroot Salt Mine, Co. Antrim

by Jason Hopps (Irish Salt Mining & Exploration Co. Ltd., Project Manager) Tim Paul (SLR Consulting, Technical Advisor to ISME)

Irish Salt Mining & Exploration Co. APCr Strength Testing Ltd. (ISME) own and operate the Programme underground salt mine at Kilroot, northeast of Carrickfergus, Co. A programme of testing was undertaken Antrim. The company commenced salt on pre-treated specimens of APCr material. extraction at the mine in 1965 and it The pre-treatment process comprises of adding water to the APCr material, has been in continuous operation to the and following the pozzolanic reaction, present day. it solidifies into a cemented mass. This The mine produces approximately 500,000 testing programme was undertaken tonnes of processed rock salt annually for independently at Queen’s University, de-icing of roads during the winter period. Belfast. Kilroot Mine is the only salt mine in Ireland, The purpose of the testing programme and one of only three rock salt producers was to determine the strength properties in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The of the pre-treated APCr material. Tests mine has extensive proven and permitted were carried out on various APCr (flue salt reserves which are expected to last gas treatment residue (FGR) & boiler for the next 25 years at current production ash) mixes to determine the unconfined levels. compressive strength by subjecting the ISME has 56 full-time employees at the samples to axial compression tests – see Kilroot Salt Mine. In addition to the full- Plate 1. time employees the mine also employs 50 Based on the testing programme to 60 sub-contractors through haulage, undertaken the test results confirm that maintenance and those involved in the the pre-treated APCr material provides supply of plant and machinery. Photograph of core of Pre-Treated a stronger support than the existing pfa The mine is operated under planning APCr from the Duleek EFW plant / cement infill mix used for mine infilling. permissions granted by the Planning undergoing unconfined compressive The recovery of pre-treated APCr placed Service and Mid & East Antrim Borough strength testing (UCS) at Queens within worked out areas of the existing Council (MEA) and also under mining University Belfast – August mine will maintain permanent support to leases issued by the Department for salt mines in Germany. These salt mines these areas. the Economy Northern Ireland (DfE). have provided a recovery outlet for a large SLR Consulting (SLR) is the geological, Long Term Risk Assessment number of EfW facilities across Europe planning / permitting; environmental and The assessment dealt with three time which rely on them for managing their technical advisor to ISME. periods T0, T1 and T2 and assessed the APCr materials. In 2017 ISME was granted a permit risk of water ingress to the mine for these under the Pollution Prevention & Control Why Kilroot Salt Mine? time periods and the resultant potential (Industrial Emissions) Regulations (NI) 2013 contamination of the surrounding surface In addition to the statutory obligations receptors. from the Northern Ireland Environment under mining legislation, ISME also Agency (NIEA) and full planning operates the mine under legally binding T0 is the operational period of mining, T1 permission from MEA for an Underground obligations set out in mining leases which is 0-500 years post-mining and T2 is 500 APCr Recovery Facility to provide to 50,000 years post-mining. In T0 the require the company to maintain the long- permanent support to the underground mine will be operational and no pathway term stability of the underground mine workings at Kilroot Salt Mine. will exist from the underground recovery workings. facility to the external biosphere. T1 is a What is APCr? APCr has pozzolanic (cement like) period of ‘institutional control’ where no Energy from Waste (EfW) plants produce properties which means that it is an ideal pathway will exist from the underground Air Pollution Control residues (APCr). APCr substitute to the raw materials historically recovery facility to the external biosphere. is categorised as a hazardous waste owing used to stabilise the salt mine voids. Salt T2 calculated the dilution of contaminants to a high free lime content and elevated mines are highly suitable environments for of concern in the event of inundation of levels of certain heavy metals. There is no containing APCr materials. The impervious groundwater to the mine workings and the hazardous landfill capacity available nor nature of salt rock and surrounding strata resulting rate of flow to the surrounding are there any licensed facilities to accept offers an ideal long-term geological receptors - coastal waters, lakes and and recover or dispose of APCr on the and hydrogeological barrier and a agricultural land. The predicted resultant island of Ireland. geo-technically stable environment concentrations at these receptor locations For over 20 years, APCr has been used to to guarantee that the residues are were below UK drinking water standards stabilise the void spaces of underground permanently isolated from the biosphere. and therefore acceptable.

44 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Project Timelines Key stages in the overall timeline for the project are summarised below: 2012 – 2015 ISME/SLR visited APCr recovery facilities in German salt mines; met with Indaver Ireland which operates a successful EFW facility at Duleek in Ireland; discussed principles with NIEA; and developed the facility concept best suited for ISME requirements at the mine. June 2015 ISME/SLR met with MEA to introduce the proposal and notify them of the intention to submit a planning application. Local councillors visited the underground mine and the project concept was presented. July 2015 A Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) was submitted to MEA. Oct 2015 A Pre-application Discussion Document (PAD) was submitted to MEA. July 2015 SLR Ireland commenced an Environmental Impact Assessment. Dec 2015 ISME held public events at a local community hall which were attended by local community members, local councillors, an MLA and the local press. Press articles were published in local newspapers. Feb 2016 A Pre-application Community Consultation (PACC) Report submitted to MEA. March 2016 The planning application was submitted to MEA with full Environmental Statement and Habitats Regulations Stage 1 Screening. July 2016 In response to a further information request Addendum1 to planning application was submitted to MEA. August 2016 The Pollution Prevention Control (PPC) permit application was submitted to NIEA accompanied by Waste Management Policy & Regulatory Report, Site Condition Report, Environmental Risk Assessment, Hydrogeological Risk Assessment, Operational Plan and Management System, Closure Plan, Expenditure Plan & Financial Provisions. March 2017 In response to a further information request Addendum2 to planning application was submitted to MEA. March 2017 Long Term Risk Assessment submitted to NIEA and MEA. June 2017 Planning Permission LA02/2016/0196/F was granted by MEA for the Underground APCr Recovery Facility. Sept 2017 PPC Permit P0547/16A granted by NIEA for the Underground APCr Recovery Facility.

type of facility. Acceptance, handling & placement procedures are in place and comply with the requirements of the PPC permit and planning permission. There is considerable void space within the mine and the life of the facility is expected to be in excess of 50 years. The facility has been developed after 6 years of careful consideration and planning, and with input from SLR Consulting (ISME’s technical consultants), the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, and Indaver Ireland. Photograph of ISME Surface Transfer Area – showing site office, reception area The objective of the facility is to provide and No.2 Drift entrance – May 2018 permanent stabilisation of the Kilroot Salt Mine workings through the recovery of pre- Facility Operation 07.00 to 17.00 Monday to Saturday. It treated APCr materials. This approach is will provide direct employment for an The APCr is pre-treated before arriving consistent with and supports the principle at the mine by mixing it with water and additional 4 to 10 people depending on of self-sufficiency and proximity, the proper placing it in 1 tonne flexible intermediate the APCr intake volumes. The facility is application of the waste hierarchy and bulk container (FIBC) bags. Mixing with managed by qualified ISME personnel with circular economy whereby the maximum water causes a pozzolanic reaction which the appropriate Operator Competence value is being extracted from all waste solidifies the APCr into a block within the Certificate (OCC) awarded by the Waste through reuse, recovery or recycling. bag of sufficient strength to permanently Management Industry Training and (Source: Prognos, RSP, Schulte, J. (2012), Outlook support the mine workings. Advisory Board (WAMITAB) for this for underground waste management in Germany) The pre-treated and bagged APCr is then transported by heavy goods vehicle to the specifically installed Surface Transfer Area (STA) with drainage system, site office and security barrier and fencing. The FIBC bags are transferred to mine vehicles at the STA and transported deep underground using the recently installed No.2 Access Drift. They are then placed as required to form support structures and finally sprayed with rock salt to seal gaps and stabilise the structure, refer to Plate 3. The natural convergence of the caverns closes around these structures therefore permanently encapsulating them. The recovery facility is currently permitted to receive 50,000 tonnes of pre-treated German Salt Mine – Solidified & Bagged APCr Structure at an APCr per annum and is operational Underground APCr Recovery Facility

www.imqs.ie 45 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

iCRAG 3 Years on...

by Prof. John Walsh, Founding Director, iCRAG

Throughout 2017, iCRAG’s raw materials research has been progressing across the Centre’s four main minerals aims. Here we describe some of the key research developments and highlights. The first major aim of iCRAG’s materials research programme is to develop improved models for the origin, geometry and evolution of Irish Zn-Pb ores and define better geological, geochemical and geophysical methods for their discovery. So far, the Centre’s investigation of 3D metal distributions has established a model for fluid flow and geochemical vectoring at deposit scale which is linked to a refined 3D structural model for mineral deposit evolution. The scaling of different fault particularly concentrating on well exposed fingerprinting of pyrite-bearing quarry zone components and examining the links systems like those of the Allihies Deposit. products and predicting aggregate between displacement and structural and behaviour with accelerated aging in flow connectivity are topics which are also This study has led to redefinition of the laboratory tests. being explored. geometry and timing of these structures, with our work suggesting a post-Variscan Additionally, a goal is to quantify the These studies provide a basis for defining age and extensional origin. attributes that make certain quarry the structural controls on fluid flow products high value and thus of export from feeders into the hanging walls of A related study is investigating the extent interest. In the last year, the Centre bounding faults. Our research has also to which Cu mineralisation in the South has developed a new methodology for progressed on the regional scale with the of Ireland is linked to accentuated Cu ‘fingerprinting’ road aggregates with construction of 2D and 3D models from mineralisation of the Zn-Pb Orefield, and Raman Microscopy assisted petrographic seismic, borehole and map data, providing therefore the potential role of the ORS as a methodologies. improved definition of basin evolution source of Cu. and architecture, as a prerequisite for These exciting projects could have very This is already being used by Transport lithospheric and thermal modelling. significant implications for the genesis of Infrastructure Ireland, Cork National Roads We have also begun investigating potential ore deposits in Ireland. Office and Westmeath County Council sedimentary exhalative deposits in the and under trial for inclusion in a new Irish Other studies are concentrating on the Standard for aggregate traceability. sequences overlying North Midlands genesis of Lithium pegmatites associated mineral deposits, in particular Navan and with the Leinster granite and vein hosted Industry engagement remains a key Ballinalack, including examination of the gold deposits in Northern Ireland. priority for iCRAG and in April, iCRAG origin and geochemistry of sulphides 2017: A Research Showcase was held in the within the UDL sequence directly overlying Our third aim is to address the urgent Aviva Stadium. This large event showcased the newly discovered Tara Deep deposit. global need to increase the recovery of the full range of iCRAG’s research mainly This work should provide an improved ECEs from Zn and Cu ores in support of through poster presentations and understanding of Zn-Pb mineralisation the energy transition, the reduction of demonstrations, with 54 industry people and has the potential of underpinning new energy used to process ore to mitigate attending. Discussions centred around exploration models. greenhouse gas emissions and to develop current iCRAG projects, and also key offshore exploration methods for rare and The second major aim of iCRAG’s materials emerging trends in the applied geoscience base metals. iCRAG is developing world research programme is to develop sector with particular relevance to iCRAG class in situ analytical techniques for the improved models for the origin, geometry materials research. characterisation of trace and ultra-trace and evolution of several prospective 2018 promises to be an exciting year for metal distribution within minerals. mineral deposit types in Ireland that are the Centre, with the arrival of Prof. Murray not currently exploited, and define new, A key highlight in 2017 has been the Hitzman as Science Foundation Ireland primarily geochemical and mineralogical, development and publication of a software Research Professor and iCRAG Director. methods for their discovery. tool that extracts quantitative data from Prof. Hitzman is one of the world’s leading In this regard, an investigation of Cu vein semi-quantitative 2D arrays with a variety economic geologists and within iCRAG systems in the Old Red Sandstones of the of algorithms. his research efforts will be focused on Munster Basin is progressing well, with iCRAG’s final aim for materials is to studying the geology, geochemistry and an improved definition of the origin and develop a new, multi-disciplinary geophysical signature of mineral deposits geometry of the veins developed within approach to characterising aggregate in the Irish zinc-lead orefield and other Devonian rocks of the Munster Basin, sources, including chemical and Raman mineral systems across Europe and Africa.

46 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Pat O’Connor; Passionate & Committed To Serving the Industry by David Stokes (4SM)

There are few in the industry who busiest I have ever been as the economy agency for Kraiburg hot jointing products haven’t heard of Pat O’Connor; he has continues to grow in the wake of the which has put him in touch with vulcanisers been supplying all types of conveyor recession,” adds Pat, whose very first throughout the country. A German belting and associated products to customer back in 1989 was Roadstone; company, Kraiburg has been developing, quarries and mines across the island of today, his client base reads like a ‘whose producing and selling high quality rubber compounds since 1947. Ireland for almost three decades. who’ of the quarrying and mining sectors. Pat became an IMQS member nearly A member of the Irish Mining & Quarrying “When I began I hadn’t two coins to rub 30 years ago, primarily to increase his Association since 1990, Pat is passionate together,” recalls Pat, “and there were knowledge of the industry. “I wanted to about everything he does both inside and many challenges in those early days, learn all about the quarry business without outside his highly successful business but taking the view that ‘every good having to go back to College; the Society’s which he runs single-handedly from a businessman runs a well calculated risk’ I not only survived, but thrived.” regular talks and presentations back six acre site just off the N7 Dublin to then were invaluable to me, as were the Naas motorway. As his broad range of Pat is most definitely a ‘people’ person, opportunities to network with like-minded customers will readily tell you, his friendly, putting the interests of others before his people.” accessible and professional approach to own, which is why he often finds himself So what of the future? “I don’t plan to slow business is just one of the secrets of his on the road criss-crossing Ireland for down,” says Pat, who would be widely success. 24 or even 48 hours without a break, known among motor rally enthusiasts “The needs of my customers come first, providing his customers with that really having raced his way to no less than seven no matter the time of day or night; I am is an unrivalled service – a service that is Circuit of Ireland Rally titles in his younger 100% committed to providing a quality backed up with quality belting, sourced days. “I have a keen interest in race horses service 24/7,” says Pat who, although past from GB Conveyors in Doncaster, and other and aim to have a legend winner sometime retirement age, has no intention of taking products that include fasteners, rollers and in the future,” adds Pat, who is also life easy just yet. skirting rubber. planning to open a riverbank restaurant in “The last three years have been among the He recently acquired the 32 Counties a little Westmeath village near Mullingar.

IRISH SALT MINING & EXPLORATION CO.LTD PRODUCERS OF DEICING ROCK SALT FOR HIGHWAY WINTER MAINTENANCE FORT ROAD, CARRICKFERGUS, CO. ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND BT38 9BT TEL: +44(0)28 93351151 FAX: +44(0)28 93364849 Email: [email protected]

www.imqs.ie 47 PAT O’CONNOR

Importer-Distributor of all types of ● Conveyor Belting ● Fasteners ● Rollers ● Rubber Cladding

Castlewarden, Straffan, Co. Kildare, Republic of Ireland

Mobile: 087 254 4623 Fax: (01) 458 8060 Email: [email protected]

The House of Conveyor Belt Specialists!! 500/3 5+1.5 Full Range 630/4 6+2 Full Range

We are extremely pleased to announce we have expanded and acquired the 32 counties agency for hot joint vulcanising products, keeping us in daily touch with all the vulcanisers throughout Ireland. We also serve the tyre remoulding trade with various products essential for perfection. proven products have for decades been used in the vast majority of conveyor belt jointing in all static and mobile plant. Hot joints have always proven best for Irish climate conditions and the torture some belts ‘accidentally’ receive.

We also are renowned stockists of Screenmax and GB Conveyors universal type rollers, even beating manufacturers when down on stock and not able to meet demand. Field Conveyer 400 + Metres Long 762mm wide belt as new Fixed trough rollers Palletised – ready for shipping Euro €98,000 (Plus carriage – negotiable)

• Top class equipment • Drive, loop & tail units • 30 KW, 400/690 V 50Hz New all galvanised • One central greasing point • Ceramic drive drum FTPC • Fluid coupling New ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Flotation Development at Tara

by Colm Rice, Process Engineer, Boliden Tara Mines

Boliden Tara Mines is Europe’s largest zinc mine. Production began in 1977 and to date over 90 million tonnes of ore have been processed. Today the mine is owned by the Swedish metals company Boliden which is a world class metals company with a focus on sustainable mining and metal production. The company has operations within exploration, mining, smelting and recycling in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Ireland. Target production in Tara is in the order of 2.6 million tonnes of ore mined annually, for the production of zinc (sphalerite) and lead (galena) mineral concentrates. Processing Overview There are three stages in the production of lead and zinc concentrate at Tara; Grinding, Flotation and Dewatering. Processing Overview Grinding form, is then put into tanks where it is transported offsite on trains. Grinding, also referred to as liberation, is given air and agitation. The chemicals the first stage of the concentration process. added allow the mineral being collected Flash Flotation The objective of grinding is to break down to attach to the bubbles in the slurry and Flash flotation is a new addition to the Tara the ore down to a size where the lead and concentrator process. It is currently being zinc minerals are no longer surrounded by rise, then overflow, the tank. The overflow trialled in pilot plant scale tests. Flash gangue, or waste, minerals and rock. At is collected as the product of the flotation Tara, we aim to produce a grinding product process. flotation uses the same principle as regular of 85-90% of the particles less than 75mm. flotation of attaching minerals to bubbles Dewatering and collection of the overflowing froth. Flotation The products from flotation need to first Where it differs from regular flotation is in This is where the mineral separation be dried before they can be transported to the increased velocity that the particles are happens. The grinding product is first Dublin for shipping to smelters overseas. moving in the tank. This increased velocity treated with chemicals, which either For this, hydraulic batch pressure/air filters is due to the decreased size of the flash aid collection of the minerals or stop are used. These filters dry the zinc and flotation tank (80% less approximately). unwanted gangue material from being lead concentrates to safe transportable Why velocity is important is because collected. This treated material, in slurry moistures. Once dried the concentrates are mineral attachment to bubbles is a function of momentum and momentum is a function of velocity and mass. There is a threshold value of momentum in flotation where, if it is not exceeded, a particle will be unable to attach to a bubble. So, in flash flotation, the increasing of the velocity of the minerals going through the tank should result in an increase of recovery of minerals that would normally be too light (small or over-ground) in regular flotation to be collected. Flash flotation is being used in Tara as a means to increase the overall recovery of lead mineral. It has been observed over years of analysis, that in the product from our grinding circuit the lead mineral particles are proportionally very small. The test flash flotation unit has been installed in a strategic location in our grinding circuit. It is still too soon to say whether flash flotation will be adopted in full-scale Flash Flotation production at Tara, but initial indications are very promising.

50 www.imqs.ie THE LEADING MANUFACTURER AND SUPPLIER OF BUILDING MATERIALS

• Concrete • Mortars • Blocks • Paving • Stonefill • Walling • Blacktop • Roof Tiles

www.roadstone.ie T: 01 4041200 E: [email protected] ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Roadstone Belgard Quarry Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) Case Study 2017

by Ciaran Greenan, Belgard Quarry Manager, Roadstone Limited

BACKGROUND In 2017 Roadstone retained VESI Environmental Ltd. to design and oversee the development of an Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW). SITE SUITABILITY The quality and quantity of the quarry’s drainage, as well as its location, landscape, geology, soils and hydrology, along with necessary economic, social and biodiversity considerations were essential to the ICW’s design and construction. Land survey showed an area to the southwest of the quarry to be most suitable for the ICW. Desk-studies and field investi- gation to determine ground conditions (lithology and hydrogeology) were made. These showed the proposed site to be Roadstone Integrated Constructed Wetland - Recently established suitable, affording natural protection of ground water and soils suitable for the 1. Flows from all pumped quarry drainage 10,700m2 was considered optimum. ICW’s construction and operation. to the proposed ICW, Two treatment cells, 3,950m2 and ICW DESIGN 2. Physical, chemical, and biological 6,750m2 respectively, were designed. properties of the pumped inflow, Inter-connecting pipework and channels Critical considerations for the ICW’s design was the need to address all sustainable 3. Local climate including average annual allow inflowing water to flow in sequence functional and aesthetic requirements, with rainfall. through each cell, minimising priority flow, regard to site specific inflows and their Taking into account these factors and with a final discharge to the Kingswood vectored constituents, including: the land area available, a functional area Stream tributary.

Fig 1. Photo taken from Southern bank overlooking the ICW site prior to earthworks (February 2017).

52 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Fig 2. Photo taken from Southern bank overlooking the ICW site Fig 3. Both ICW cells completed and topsoil in place during prior to earthworks (February 2017). initial planting. Note the channel along the Southwest boundary, directing through-flow from Cell 1 to Cell 2 (May 2017).

CONSTRUCTION Ltd. upon completion of earthworks in ICW’s vegetation is fully established. All May 2017. Plants were supplied by VESI water flows, including peak rainfall events, Construction of the ICW at the Roadstone Environmental Ltd. from its nursery facilities are intercepted and flow through the ICW. Belgard Quarry commenced in March and were delivered on site for each wetland Treatment performance will continue to and was completed in May 2017. The time cell as suitable planting conditions allowed. improve as the vegetation becomes more scale set for the works was 11 weeks and The ICW design focusses on the use of established. included: native plants in order to enhance the The ICW has been operational since the 1. Construction of two shallow treatment biodiversity of any given site and does not start of August 2017. It now treats all cells with a combined surface area of attempt to introduce non-native species for water from the site before discharging to 10,700m2 with an operational water vegetation cover. The primary species list the stream. The ICW is closely monitored depth of less than 150mm and a base for planting was as follows: during commissioning to ensure treatment level set at 1 meter below the top of the • Glyceria maxima, Sweet water grass performance reaches design performance. retaining embankment. • Typha latifolia , Common bullrush 2. An open water channel to carry water • Typha angustifolia, Narrow leaved bullrush CONCLUSION from the first receiving cell to the second • Iris pseudacorus, Common iris The ICW at Roadstone’s Belgard Quarry cell along the south-western boundary of • Schoenoplectus lacustris, Clubrush and associated lands was constructed in the site. • Carex riparia, Common river sedge 2017 to handle the quarry’s drainage waters 3. Construction of access roadways to all before their discharge to an adjacent sections of the wetlands Additional marginal native plant species stream. The available land at the facility 4. Installation of 3 parallel 300mm diameter were planted along the margins of each has been transformed from a disused state interconnecting pipes between ponds. cell in keeping with the establishment of to a highly aesthetic and diverse natural complementary biodiversity and aesthetics. 5. Installation of 3 parallel 300mm diameter habitat. It demonstrates how effective Small quantities of aquatic vegetation were treatment with optimum outcomes for pipes at the inlet and outlet with planted along the channel between Cell 1 the wider environment can be achieved in manholes and sampling chambers. and Cell 2. The southern boundary of the an economical manner. This ecologically 6. Installation of a manhole and sampling site was planted with native tree and shrub engineered approach to water treatment chamber between the cells. species to further increase the biodiversity is not only cost effective, but provides 7. Planting of a range of tall-emergent plant and aesthetic value. potential habitat for local wildlife within (helophyte) species of known performance These additional plantings were undertaken the conurbation of Dublin. Designed to for treating through-flowing water. directly by VESI Environmental Ltd. yield optimum outcomes intercepting and 8. Landscape works that included tree, treating water through the reanimation of shrub and grass-seeding. COMMISSIONING a wetland ecosystem, its social, economic The ICW was commissioned immediately and environmental impacts deliver new VEGETATION ESTABLISHMENT after construction and planting was perspectives for the comprehensive Planting was carried out by the complete. As the works were completed management of water and Roadstone’s contractor Killeen Civil Engineering mid-year, it will be mid-2018 before the sustainable environmental commitments.

Fig 4. Cell1 fully flooded and through-flow Fig 5. Aerial photo facing Southeast after Fig 6. Aerial photo from Southern boundary entering Cell 2 (May 2017) completed wetland planting and flooding overlooking ICW (November 2017) of ICW (July 2017).

www.imqs.ie 53 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Ecocem Announce New Production Facility

by Micheal McKittrick, Managing Director, Ecocem Ireland Limited

In September 2016, Ecocem France plant’s activities will also generate indirect The proposed product line is similar to the announced plans to build a new employment, particularly in the maritime Fos-sur-Mer plant in the South of France production plant in Dunkirk, Northern and road logistics sectors. where Ecocem France invested in the France. This plant, which started construction of new silos and a mixer on The Dunkirk site has an initial production production in May 2018, was officially the local ArcelorMittal site in 2016. The capacity of 750,000 tonnes, which has opened on the 14th June 2018. two French plants comprise state of the the potential to increase to 1,400,000 art facilities and equipment, which enables This new production plant is located tonnes. The new Ecocem site is in excess of Ecocem supply the region of France as well adjacent to ArcelorMittal’s blast furnaces 2 5,200m and equipped with a vertical mill, as other countries through exports. in Dunkirk. Preliminary works began in mixer and storage facilities on a 4-hectare September, 2016 with the foundation plot in the port of Dunkirk. Dunkirk, a door to stone being laid at the beginning of 2017. Northern France, the UK Works completed over an 18 month period, Both Ecocem and ArcelorMittal share the following an investment amounting to €37 same strategic objectives of adding value and Northern Europe. million by Ecocem France, which is a joint to blast furnace slag. Their willingness to With this new production plant in Dunkirk, venture between ArcelorMittal and Ecocem pursue this strategy together was recently Ecocem France has access to the markets Materials Ltd. The initiative will create 26 strengthened with ArcelorMittal’s share of in the North of France and the Ile-de- direct jobs by the end of 2018, expanding Ecocem France’s capital increasing from France region which includes the Paris to 35 direct jobs in the longer term. The 30% to 49%. region. From Dunkirk, Ecocem will supply

The opening ceremony, Donal O’Rian (in the yellow hat) standing beside Conor O’Riain watch on with members of the Ecocem and AcelorMittal management as the Irish Ambassador to France, Ms Patricia O’Brien cuts the ribbon at the opening ceremony in Dunkirk.

54 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

the markets in the United Kingdom and our slag in relation to a circular economy.” About Ecocem Northern Europe. The plant has already The company Ecocem France was created planned exports of 250,000 tonnes of The production of GGBS, in 2007, as a joint venture between Ecocem GGBS (Ground Granulated Blast Furnace a green and worthy industry Materials Ltd. and ArcelorMittal to develop Slag) to England via existing terminals GGBS is an environmentally-friendly ground granulated blast furnace slag from in London and Manchester/Liverpool. material approved by new industry the production of iron. The plant will also export 50,000 tonnes standards and leaders in the construction of GGBS from Dunkirk to the Ecocem sector (Building and Public Works). It Production sites are closely located to two terminal in Sweden. is used as a substitute for traditional ArcelorMittal blast furnaces in Fos-sur-Mer cement in concrete production with its “With this new facility, we are doubling our and three ArcelorMittal blast furnaces in technical and environmental qualities production capacity on French soil and Dunkirk. They produce GGBS under the making this material an indispensable asset strengthening our links with our partner, brand Ecocem, which is primarily used as a for construction Northern France and partial substitute for traditional cement in ArcelorMittal. Thanks to our network of Northern Europe. sites in Europe and the strategic location of the manufacture of concrete. Dunkirk, Ecocem is in a position to supply The production of GGBS enables the Ecocem France has been a rapidly recycling of blast furnace slag, a by- major infrastructure projects, such as those expanding business since its creation with product of iron and steel-making which in Greater Paris in the Ile-de-France region, a turnover of €30 million in 2015 and €36.4 in turn adds value to the European the Seine-North canal and even those million in 2017, doubling in 5 years, and Circular Economy by create a secondary in Northern Europe”, said Donal O’Riain, with an annual production of more than Managing Director of Ecocem Materials. raw material. GGBS facilitates significant reductions of the environmental impacts 500,000 tonnes, which it aims to double “We are delighted about this new stage in of concrete by significantly reducing CO2 in 2019. our partnership with Ecocem”, underlines emissions up to 34 times that associated Ecocem France is a subsidiary of Eric Niedziela, CEO of ArcelorMittal with the production of traditional CEM II Ecocem Materials LTD, founded in 2000 Atlantique et Lorraine. cement. in Ireland. Today there are two other “In 2016 and 2017, ArcelorMittal invested One year of production at the Ecocem subsidiary companies located in Ireland €18.5 million purchasing two granulators in Dunkirk plant will negate 492,000 tonnes (Ecocem Ireland) and in the Netherlands Dunkirk so that Ecocem could set up there. of CO2 emissions, which is the equivalent (Ecocem Benelux), with the Dunkirk Today we are seeing the culmination of this of what 200,000 cars would produce in plant being the company’s fourth effort, which will enable us to add value to one year. production site.

With Arthur Cox you can expect a leading Irish law fi rm with a global outlook. You can expect in-depth sectoral expertise that will find new solutions to secure EXPECT your success. You can expect a total commitment to your business – a genuine partnership that gives you the confidence EXCELLENCE to move forward and embrace new opportunities. With Arthur Cox you can always expect excellence.

To learn more, contact:

Kenneth Egan, Head of Commercial Property +353 1 920 1130 [email protected]

Deborah Spence, Head of Environment and Planning +353 1 920 1150 [email protected] www.arthurcox.com

www.imqs.ie 55 Naas Road, Dublin 12 Tel: 01-4194500 J.HARRIS ASSEMBLERS

Produced in Ireland ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Screeds in UK and Irish marketplace The market and the influence of Specification

by Andy Vincent, McGraths Limestone (Cong)

A floor screed would, to the un- initiated, appear to be a very simple thing. All that we ask of it is for it to overlay the structural slab of a building and to provide a flat surface capable of receiving a floor finish. Why then are screeds such a notorious cause of expensive problems both during construction of and in the later usage of buildings? Many things complicate the specification and application of floor screeds. Many types of “substrate” floor will need to be accommodated, there will be a large variation in the required floor finishes and an even larger variation in the potential loadings and uses of the floor. The screed makeup will often have to incorporate other elements such as heating, damp proof membranes and acoustic or thermal insulation. With such diversity of requirement there are huge variations in type of specification. Usually the most important thing to establish will be the required thickness, which will be influenced by many factors selection and use of screed materials dependent on the “talents” of the screed but particularly by whether the screed provides physical and performance layer. The degree of compaction achieved is applied directly to a solid slab or over requirements and definitions for factory is extremely important in ensuring the some compressible materials (insulation). produced materials. It is referenced in this quality of the finished floor. Needless to Once the thickness is decided the choice of context by BS8204. say, quality is not always of the highest screed materials will be narrowed to those standard. that are appropriate for this thickness Traditional Screeds but there will usually still be a large The term “Traditional Screed” refers to the Calcium Sulphate Screeds range of options. Factors such as drying method of laying by hand but since almost There were products in the 1960s that time, suitability for floor finishes, thermal all such screeds are composed of suitable were hand applied but that were based conductivity and many more will then need sand with cement (OPC) and water, the on calcium sulphate. These were not to be considered. terms “Traditional” and “Sand and Cement” successful because they showed no real In UK the clearest guide to specification have become almost interchangeable. advantage over sand and cement and and installation of floor screeds is BS8204. Still accounting for about 80% of the were more expensive. Now when we say This is a multi-part standard with Parts 1 market, sand / cement screeds have “calcium sulphate screed” (or Gypsum and 7 applying to “cementitious levelling the advantage that they are made from screed or Anhydrite screed) what we are screeds” and “pumpable self-smoothing only easily available and relatively cheap referring to is a liquid applied or pumpable screeds” respectively. Other parts consider materials. Cement is used with sand at screed. more specialist screeds. a ratio of 3 or 4 parts sand to one-part Calcium Sulphate has one fundamental The main “performance” requirement is cement. Water is added and thoroughly advantage over cement as a basis of a defined by BS 8204 as the “ISCR” (In Situ mixed such that the final consistency is liquid screed. As it sets and “hardens”, Crushing Resistance) as tested by the “semi dry”. This semi dry material must which is a process of crystallisation “BRE Screed tester”. In essence the depth then be levelled and physically compacted rather than hydration, it doesn’t exhibit of indentation made by repeated blows of on the floor. Sand and cement screeds can the same shrinkage as would a normal the hammer defines the category of screed be produced off site and delivered ready cementitious material. Since shrinkage from “A” to “C” with A being suitable for to use or can be mixed on site in mixers or causes cracking and curling and is a major the heaviest and C the lightest usage. combined mixer / pumps. cause of problems with screeds this is a Standards are also defined for deviation The combination of the skill required, big advantage. from datum and surface regularity. and the great physical effort means that Pumpable Screeds are almost always BS EN 13813, whilst less concerned with the quality of the finished floor is very manufactured offsite and delivered ready

58 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

to use: combined with lack of need for reputation. It is more expensive but this physical compaction on site this means higher cost is offset by the lower cost that the quality of the finished floor is of preparing the surface ready for floor much more controlled. finishes (most other pumpables require Despite the obvious advantages of these mechanical preparation). It must also be screeds the usage of them in UK, whilst said that the industry just seems more having grown considerably in recent years, “comfortable” with cement in that they has been very slow to grow compared know that primers, adhesives, finishes etc with other European Countries. There are compatible with it. persists what might best be described All three of the above Materials will, as a “distrust” of the materials by some without doubt, be present in the UK floor layers and specifiers. For the most marketplace for a very long time and yet part, this can be at least partly attributed it will be interesting to see the “winners to lack of understanding but criticisms and losers” in the race for market share. regarding drying times and compatibility cement will tend to shrink as it hardens The biggest disadvantage that traditional with adhesives etc seem to persist and this and dries. Superplasticisers can be used screeds have may not be to do with the has certainly hampered the uptake of these to help to provide a fluid mix but it will still quality of the product at all but rather materials in UK. be necessary for there to be a high-water the health and safety concerns over the content and this will tend to dramatically physical demands on the installer. In some Pumpable Cement Based increase the shrinkage of the material as it countries, there are already constraints Screeds hardens and dries. on its use because of this. As for the two Technology moves on. The latest types of flowing screed? Since liquid Very recently in UK & Ireland (though over generation of pumpable screeds are screeds have over 60% of the market in ten years ago in other countries) there has based on cement. Careful selection of the some other countries we seem to have a been a development that may combine the admixtures, fillers and aggregates used lot of catching up to do. best of both types of screed. with the OPC produces a very fluid mix VHS or Betamax? It has always been an attractive proposition that can be laid in a very similar fashion to Place your bets now. to produce a screed that flows like a any other pumpable screeds but with very calcium Sulphate one but has other minimal shrinkage. This “next generation” Further reading: properties as a traditional. The problem technology has only recently become BS 8204. BS EN 13813. BS EN 13892 has always been that anything based on available in UK but is already is gaining in (Defines sampling and test methods)

“Best wishes and conti nued success to IMQS from”

McGraths Limestone (Cong) Ltd Cregaree Quarries, Cong, Co Mayo F31 W425

High Purity Calcium Carbonate Powders & Granules | Tarmac and Asphalt Manufactured and laid | All types of aggregates

Readymix concrete | Concrete Blocks | Agri Lime Building Stone | Civil’s and groundwork contracts

Head Office Cong: 094 9553900 Newbrook Claremorris: 094 9540940 UK Office: 01315 162419 www.mcgraths.ie / www.congcal.com

www.imqs.ie 59 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Pre-63 Quarries - Far From Safety

by Liam Smyth, C Eng, Senior Manager, Regulatory Compliance, Irish Concrete Federation

Regulatory certainty in the extractive industry seems an elusive concept. Changes to planning legislation and ever expanding environmental legislation and case law continue to move the goalposts, making certainty of status imprecise and even precarious for the legacy quarries which owe their origins to before the appointed day, 1st October 1964, and remain legitimate pipeline projects to this day. Section 261A showed up the Section 261 Registration Process as something of a farce, which meant nothing unless you weren’t registered, and offered no degree of acceptance of status when registered, without any legitimate expectation available to pre-63 registered quarries. Even after a gruelling Section 261A process, the position of pre-63 sites which received No Further Action (NFA) outcomes remains uncertain and far from safe, with many significant concerns for operators just as market conditions improve and the demand for aggregates increases towards the necessary levels for sustainability. Intensification Many quarries of pre-63 origin which received conditions under Section 261(6)(a)(i) found themselves with determinations and decisions under McGrath Limestone Ltd., Cong, the subject of the landmark case on foot of Section 261A. Section 261A which required substitute consent applications and prospective leaves most to be desired. Yes of course, rendering the judicial review process of development applications thereafter the anticipation of a quarry operator in very little value to quarries, other than (Section 34 or 37L as became available 1964 might include half the county but breathing room after the shock of being late in the day). Many others successfully might more reasonably have included land labelled as intensified. And of course, the avoided this long and fraught process but bounded by roads and rivers, including planner may well be correct anyway! are hardly in the clear forever more. contiguous parcels in separate ownership. The doctrine of intensification is a much As anyone who has dealt with a farmer The Future abused jurisprudence applied somewhat knows, giving up grass a minute before Both quarry operators and planners must haphazardly across the country and necessary is taboo, and much quarry land act responsibly, and know the reasonable occasionally even within counties. Would was bought in tranches, with an agreement limits of development (and reasonable fresh eyes in 2020 come to a different that the land was going to the quarry anticipation). Perhaps planners and conclusion to those which reviewed NFA operator at some point but not before operators who are concerned about files in 2012, notwithstanding limited necessary (quarry future needs or the aspects of pipeline authorisations might development thereafter? farmer’s future impecuniosity – whichever engage with each other pro-actively If so, then the road back is likely five years hit first!). so that matters are dealt with prior to of applications and waiting, all things going However, try telling this and similar tales of retention/intensification issues arising in well!; first the Leave to Apply application phased development to a recently minted the future. to prove exceptional circumstances, then planner whose decision is accepted unless This is common sense, and will result in Substitute Consent, and finally a Section truly irrational, noting that the O’Keeffe 34 application after substitute consent is sustainable uninterrupted development, threshold is generally beyond attainment without the unnecessary endangerment granted (no parallel Section 37L currently in such cases. The mere mention, correctly of long established businesses and rural available through Section 177(C)). applied or otherwise, of Waterford County employment which serves neither party. Council v John A Wood Ltd. in a planner’s Reasonable Anticipation report seems enough to convince every Post Section 261A and subsequent case In my experience, it is the application of High Court that fair consideration has been law, there is little room for getting this the Reasonable Anticipation test that applied, with curial deference thereafter wrong!

60 www.imqs.ie CONGRATULATIONS IMQS ON 60 YEARS OF FOSTERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF IRELAND’S NATURAL RESOURCES

EUROPEAN OFFICE McCloskey IntInternationalernational Ltd. 47 Moor Road, Coalisland, Co. Tyrone, BT714QB Northern Ireland McCloskTel: (+44) 28 8774 0926 McCloske e McCloskFax: (+44) 28 8774 7242 McCloskee Email: [email protected] www.mccloskeyinternational.com ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 International Quaternary Congress comes to Dublin

by Kieran Craven, Marine Geoscientist, Geological Survey Ireland & Maynooth University

The International Quaternary glacial conditions in mid- to high-latitudes landscape evolution, there are proposed Association (INQUA) congress is interspersed with the warmer ‘inter-glacial’ sessions on topics such as “Engineering in coming to Ireland and will be hosted in periods in which we live today. It is the the Quaternary” and “Recent Advances in the Convention Centre Dublin between period during which humans evolved and Data Collection and Mapping Approaches”. 25th and 31st July 2019. Occurring only includes the whole history of our species. In Fieldtrips will occur before, during once every four years, with an expected Ireland, our Quaternary history of repeated and after the Congress. These cover a international attendance of 3,000 glaciations has resulted in sculpted large range of geological topics, from people the Congress will be the largest landforms and thick sedimentary deposits Quaternary sediment and coastal process Geoscience event held in Ireland. overlying bedrock across much of the in SW Ireland, to landscape evolution in country. These deposits present challenges the north of Ireland, and stones in urban It will comprise delegates with interests and opportunities for prospectors and an Dublin. More details on all these trips can in (among others) geology, engineering, understanding of Quaternary geology is be found at the Congress website (www. agriculture and hydrology. INQUA’s essential for geotechnical assessment of inqua2019.org). basic aim is to promote improved construction projects and to fully evaluate communication and international the suitability of different exploration, Sponsorship and Exhibition collaboration in experimental and applied mining and processing methods. aspects of Quaternary research, and The Congress provides a unique opportunity to businesses to reach an this will be facilitated by the hosts of Congress Sessions the conference: the Irish Quaternary international audience and sponsors are Association (IQUA – visit www.iqua.ie and Fieldtrips invited to participate in the Congress. for more information). In its current 20th The theme of the Congress is “Life on There is a full range of opportunities iteration, the congress will consist of a the Edge” and will include sessions varying from headline status on all lecture programme from world experts, on all aspects of Quaternary research, Congress marketing materials, press releases and media coverage to sponsoring field trips to Irish sites of interest, space for consisting of (but not limited to): specific social events and individual industry exhibitors, and organised social Terrestrial Processes, Deposits and speakers. Additionally, space is available for events. History; Palaeoclimate; Stratigraphy and exhibitors to present their brand. Chronology; Humans and Biosphere; The Quaternary and Coastal and Marine Processes. This For more information about the The Quaternary is the geological period year, dedicated Applied Quaternary Congress, becoming a sponsor or which began 2.6 million years ago and is sessions were included for the first time availing of exhibition space, please characterised by ice-ages: cycles of colder, and alongside other relevant sessions on contact [email protected].

62 www.imqs.ie 01 678 2000 [email protected] gsi.ie

GROUNDWATER

The Groundwater Programme collects data from landowners across the country to create many useful maps that describe how much water can be found underground and where, and how much natural protection it has. We can also advis e home owners and farmers on the best way to drill and site a well.

Understanding Underground TELLUS

Geological Survey Ireland is your project partner in all A national programme to things subsurface. gather geochemical and geophysical data across We are the public science organisation responsible for Ireland involving two types mapping and studying the underground makeup of Ireland, of surveying - airborne including its seabed. geophysical using a low-lying aircraft and ground-based Geological Survey Ireland is a leader in open, accessible data geochemical sampling of soil, supporting public safety, infrastructure, public health, and a stream water and sediment. variety of economic sectors including agriculture and ecotourism. Acivities up to autumn 2018 include airborne surveys in We provide accurate, impartial information about a variety of Tipperary, Limerick & West Cork geoscience topics, from minerals to groundwater, to natural and geochemical survey across hazards - all free of charge. the west central midlands.

Facebook “f ” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f ” Logo CMYK / .eps

@GeolSurvIE GeolSurvIE geological-survey-ireland

242511_1C_Geological Survey_V2_AMA_ETTG.indd 1 04/08/2018 10:23 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Cementing status by balancing long game and deal-making

by Joe Brennan, The Irish Times (as published in The Irish Times, April 20th 2018).

Albert Manifold wasn’t given time to find a desk when he turned up for his first day at CRH in its headquarters in Dublin in 1998. “I arrived on a Monday morning and they asked for my passport,” Manifold (55), chief executive of the group for the past four years, recalls. “They came back to me on the Tuesday with a Ukrainian visa. By Wednesday I was in Kiev.” Armed with a Russian language book (he didn’t realise at the time that the locals spoke Ukrainian), the young executive hired a man to drive him around for $10 a day before ultimately tracking down a concrete facility on the outskirts of the city owned by Kovalska Industrial-Construction Group. After spending a few weeks on a plastic chair in the bitter November cold observing comings and goings at the plant, Manifold finally made contact with the main man, CRH chief executive Albert Manifold in a Roadstone Quarry in Dublin. Oleksandr Pylypenko, and – with the words Photograph: Cyril Byrne of his hardware store-owning father ringing in his ears about never leaving without an likes to rattle out the maxim that “we turn expansion in 1973 under the late Tom Roche order – secured a job to supply 150 bags big rocks into small rocks”. But with up to snr by buying a Dutch builders’ merchant. of cement. It had to be supplied by CRH’s 28 business development teams scattered CRH ventured across the Atlantic five years’ Polish business as it didn’t have a Ukrainian across the globe scouting for deals at any later to buy a concrete products company cement factory at the time. given time, he places far more weight on in Utah. “Outside of the federal US government, he’s building relationships. North America accounted for more than 60 our single biggest customer in all of CRH For example, Manifold makes it his business per cent of group earnings last year, though today,” says Manifold, who now spends to go and see a Chinese executive that Manifold is hopeful that Europe, which has 90 per cent of his time on the road. “To he met in 2002 when he was sent out to lagged an economic rebound in the US by this day I still go and see him and his wife research that market – five years before half a decade, is on the road to sustainable one weekend a year with my wife. We’ve CRH made an initial investment there – recovery. never had a contract with the man, and three or four times a year. price negotiations are done with me that When Manifold, a qualified accountant, Contraction weekend every year.” agreed last year to buy the fifth largest US The extent of contraction in Europe can be seen in Roadstone’s backyard in Belgard. Balancing the long game and nimble deal- cement group, Ash Grove, for $3.5 billion making have turned CRH, formed out of the (€2.8bn), he called a now-retired former Limestone extraction at the site, which 1970 merger of Cement Ltd and Roadstone CRH business development official who had opened in 1972 and is currently more than Ltd, into the world’s second largest building first tested the waters on a takeover with 100m below ground, is currently running at materials company. the Kansas-based group in 1979 to tell him half the volumes of the go-go days of more the good news. than a decade ago. While continuing to crank out about 1.5 million tonnes of stone from its landmark The deal, which is due to close imminently, Meanwhile, Manifold says the recovering Belgard quarry on the outskirts of Tallaght, along with the purchase in January of European business still has not seen the Ireland’s biggest publicly-quoted company Florida’s Suwannee American Cement, are full benefit of the group’s largest ever € employs 89,000 people across 32 countries expected to fuel further growth this year acquisition, sealed three years’ ago, of 6.5 and had sales last year of €27.6 billion – after CRH’s earnings before interest, tax, billion of assets spun out from European equating to almost 10 per cent of Ireland’s depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) hit a rivals Lafarge and Holcim as they sought to € gross domestic product (GDP). It has about record 3.3 billion in 2017. appease competition authorities to deliver 1,700 workers in Ireland. “Historically, two-thirds of our profit has on their own merger. come either directly or indirectly through “The minute it was announced, I knew Relationships the acquisitions process,” says Manifold of it was game on,” said Manifold, who Manifold, who speaks at a rapid-fire pace, the group, which started its international immediately concluded that there were

64 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

very few players that could gobble up when initial reaction in Asia signalled that if I deliver the results. If the shareholders the assets in one bite. “I did a quick pull- financial markets were set for turmoil after get the benefit, I get the benefit,” he says, together of the senior development team Donald Trump clinched the presidency. in what appears to be a well-rehearsed and we worked on the deal probably for However, CRH shares jumped 9.2 per cent answer. “I work in a global business. seven or eight months.” the next morning as investors piled into It’s a challenging business, and it’s got Pitched in the final stages against two hopes that the biggest materials company demanding targets – and I’m remunerated consortia led by private equity buyers, – and biggest road-builder – operating based on performance.” Manifold headed out to Paris in January in the US would be a key beneficiary 2015 with a spare shirt for what was from Trump’s then-mooted $1 trillion CRH was criticised by analysts for being supposed to be an overnight trip to catch infrastructure plan. more reticent than rivals in expanding across emerging markets before the up with his team working on the deal However, the much-hyped plan to codenamed Project Cities. “I was there build new roads, bridges, highways and global financial crisis a decade ago. But its for 43 days and never came home. It was motorways – which Trump clarified in inheritance of a business in the Philippines very important to stay close to where the February should amount to $200 billion of as part of the LafargeHolcim deal in 2015 Holcim and Lafarge boards were meeting federal funding, supported by more than serves as a cautionary tale about the and to stay close to the main action in $1.5 trillion of private investment – is now volatility of developing regions. Paris.” on hold until after the country’s mid-term The loss-making business there has been Manifold’s prior experience in private equity elections in seven months’ time. buffeted in recent times by a temporary – working for Dublin-based buyout firm Shares have subsequently dropped by decline in infrastructure spending, rising Allen McGuire – gave him a competitive more than one-fifth from all-time highs local competition, a flood of cheap cement advantage as he knew how his rivals would reached last May, which valued the group imports and rising fuel costs. Still, Manifold value parts of the business. “I knew when to at that time at more than €29 billion, as has no intention of walking away from push and when to pull. It wasn’t just about investors have taken a more circumspect the Philippines’ second largest cement valuation – it was about certainty.” view of Trump’s plan and the value of the producer. “It’s a cyclical industry. The thing Balance Sheet dollar dropped against the euro, denting group profits. is not to make any quick decisions at any The deal, according to Manifold, was down point in the cycle. The fundamentals of that to his predecessor Myles Lee’s careful Manifold, in fairness, played down the prospect of any “Trump bump” to country are very good, and it has significant management of the group’s balance sheet construction needs going forward.” as more heavily-indebted peers faltered earnings, telling investors in February last during the crisis. The group had been year to look more at the US’s existing Next generation helped by an almost €1.3 billion share sale $300 million-plus Fast Act highway Meanwhile, Manifold said it will most likely to existing stockholders in early 2009. spending programme as well as additional infrastructure spending approved by voters fall to the “next generation” who lead CRH Any notion among investors that Lee’s across a number of states at the same time to decide on whether to invest further in inherent caution would be replaced by as the presidential election. China and India, markets where it acquired a roll-up merchant in Manifold was put paid to early in his tenure. Months into The weakness in the share price has initial stakes in local businesses about a the job in 2014, CRH unveiled a major prompted analysts at Deutsche Bank to decade ago. sales programme for underperforming speculate that CRH might want to look at A low-profile chief executive who lives in Co a partial or full listing of the US business in businesses or assets that no longer had a Wicklow, he doesn’t often get recognised New York to unlock value, as the group’s future in the group. at home. “It happens about twice a year.” stock, mainly traded in London and Dublin, Lieutenants across CRH’s business have trades at a discount to US peers. However, he recalls being in Thurles, Co learned not to get too comfortable under Tipperary, two years ago when a man came “In my 20 years in CRH we’ve certainly this boss. Initially targeting about €1.5 up to him and shook his hand. billion of disposals, the programme was looked at it a number of times, but every The man recalled how he had lost his shirt accelerated as the Lafarge-Holcim deal time we’ve looked at it it’s never made was digested and the company spat out sense,” said Manifold. “But we keep an open during the financial crash, but was able unwanted units. While the group has spent mind, and it’s something we keep under to keep his head above water as a CRH €13 billion on deals in the past five years, it review with our advisers.” shareholder. The company continued to has earned almost €5 billion from disposals. Careful review pay a dividend, and the businessman was able to raise some additional cash by “I’m employed and paid very well to deliver When asked if he may take advantage selling some stock. “And that’s who I work shareholder returns. This is not an employee of a perceived undervaluation of the for. I don’t work for [investment firms like] benefit programme. You can’t have dead group’s stock and launch a share buyback capital sitting there not making money for programme, the CEO said: “Again it’s BlackRock or Wellington. I work for him. you – and that’s really an embedded part of something we keep under careful review. That’s what keeps me going.” our business now.” We’ve done it in the past, and I suspect CV Most recently, CRH sold its US distribution we’ll do it again at some stage.” Name: Albert Manifold. business Allied Building Products to Beacon The highest-paid Iseq executive in 2016, Roofing Supply at the start of the year for when his remuneration hit €10 million, Job: Chief executive, CRH. $2.6 billion. The logic was simple, according Manifold’s package fell to €8.66 million last Age: 55. to Manifold. CRH could not find any more year as the group’s first share price drop in Lives: South Co Wicklow. deals to add further scale to the business five years dented shareholder returns. and it was being offered a price of 16 times Family: Married, three children. earnings. That compared to the price of CRH also encountered a degree of Something we might expect: A follower of shareholder dissent two years ago when 10 times earnings it was negotiating on Leinster Rugby having played prop forward some 40 per cent of investors polled at purchasing the higher-margin Ash Grove. at Templeogue College in Dublin, Manifold Ash Grove and Suwannee will push CRH’s an agm voted against a plan to increase Manifold’s maximum annual cash bonus keeps fit through gym work, cycling, business further into the fast-growing running and walking. southern US states. and allocation under a share plan. The chief executive, a native of Dublin’s Something that might surprise: He’s an avid Hotel room Templeogue whose parents ran a hardware beekeeper stemming from his childhood Manifold was in his hotel room in Virginia store in nearby Kimmage, has no doubt he’s years in Templeogue when he helped a on US election night in November 2016, worth it. “I’m very well paid for what I do local priest with his beehive.

www.imqs.ie 65 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Institute of Geologists of Ireland (IGI) An overview of activities

by Eur Geol., Catherine Buckley, P. Geo, IGI President

The Institute of Geologists of Ireland • European Federation of Geologists well attended. These have included a 2-day (IGI) was established in 1999 with (EFG): The IGI also continues to be an soil and rock logging course run in late the mission of promoting and active National Association Member, November, a 2-day course on ‘Economic advancing the science of geology as well as a National Licensed Body Evaluation for Mineral Exploration Projects’ and its professional application in all Member, of the European Federation and a one day mentoring workshop. disciplines, especially the geosciences of Geologists (EFG). A significant The Board will continue to organise some and to facilitate the exchange of milestone during 2014 was the decision key training courses and workshops. taken by the EFG to lead and participate information and ideas in relation Currently being considered or in the in the European Commission’s Horizon thereto. IGI Members are required pipeline are a 1-day statistics course to be 2020 (H2020) research programme; run in Autumn 2018 and a field trip. Further to uphold, develop and maintain the and the IGI have been participating information will be provided closer to the highest professional standards in the in H2020 research projects since this date. practise of their profession. To this time with projects including KINDRA, end all members must undertake CPD INTRAW and CHPM2030. The EFG were The Board would be interested in hearing recording for approval on an annual subsequently involved in a number of from members about other topics which basis. winning consortia. may be of interest for courses in the future. Suggestions for courses should be sent to Professional membership of the IGI is open The IGI acknowledges the continued the office: [email protected]. to all practising geoscientists who meet support of our sponsoring bodies, the the required standards of qualification and Irish Mining & Quarrying Society (IMQS), Current and Future Direction experience. For information on how to Geophysical Association of Ireland (GAI), The Board of the IGI have established a apply, please visit www.igi.ie. Geotechnical Society of Working Group to update the Strategy Relationships with other Ireland (GSI), Irish Association for of the IGI and will shortly be circulating a Economic Geology (IAEG) and organisations questionnaire to members to input into the the International Association of updated strategy document. The IGI continues to represent our Hydrogeologists (Irish Group, IAH). The Board is keen to establish greater members on national and international contact with geoscience students. To this committees. Recent and future training end options for funding awards, grants or These include: courses other support are being considered either • Pan-European Reserves & Resources The IGI have hosted a number of training through interaction with academic staff or Reporting Committee (PERC): events in the past year which have been with student societies. The IGI has been a professional accreditation organisation of PERC since its inception. EurGeol David Dingemans PGeo of the IGI has prepared a summary guide to the PERC Reporting Standard (IGI Summary Guide to the PERC Reporting Standard). • Irish Geoscience Network (IGN): The Irish Geoscience Network (IGN), convened by the IGI, was formed in early 2012 to provide a forum for communication and sharing of ideas and resources for all bodies, organizations and departments involved in the Geosciences. The body has now grown to circa 32 such bodies and meets once a year. Along with access to an exclusive Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance scheme for the IGI Members and affiliated organisations, the Geo-Calendar of Events http://www.igi.ie/events_calendar.htm is available to assist all members of the Network to plan and where Delegates at the 2-day course on Economic Evaluation possible to avoid conflicting dates in for Mineral Exploration Projects their events.

66 www.imqs.ie Find the information and data you need at the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland

Mines Quarries

Resources

Data and Services GSNI provides geological data, research and advice to central and local government, industry, academia, NGOs, schools and the public. GSNI maintains extensive digital databases and paper archives that are accessible online and through our enquiry service.

The data held by GSNI include: Online data access:

• Modern and historical geological maps • GeoIndex & GeoRecords including 1:10k vector map data • Historical maps archive • Borehole and site reports • Digital photo archive • Tellus geochemical and • Ground Source Heat Pump reports geophysical datasets • Mine abandonment plans • Mineral and hydrocarbon exploration • Open Data NI & Spatial NI licence database and open-fi le reports • Mineral occurrence database A new geological report writer service is • Abandoned mines database also now available. • Quarries database • Groundwater data repository www.bgs.ac.uk/gsni/data • Mineral resource maps www.geologicalmaps.net

Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps

Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3SB Tel: +44 (0) 28 9038 8462 | E-mail: [email protected]

www.bgs.ac.uk/gsni

2018IMQS.indd 2 18/5/18 15:29:21 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Managing Vehicle Movements at Quarry Locations

by Jim Holmes, C.Eng. MSc. FIM3 CMIOSH, Mines and Quarries Policy Inspector – Health and Safety Authority of Ireland

Vehicles and their movements pose a bucket, with the fatality occurring in Planning Issues view of other family members. Quarry significant, and possibly the greatest, One of the biggest issues I and my fellow Operators must also realise that their duty safety risk at quarry operations and inspectors find at quarry locations is a extends beyond the quarry boundary and need to be effectively managed; in failure to have a long or mid-term plan in that there have been numerous serious addition to this, the control of all place as to how they operate the quarry incidents where vehicles inadequately pedestrian movements is essential in and they are focused on a day-to-day or loaded at a quarry have caused injury. developing a site traffic plan. next-blast mentality. Quarry Operators I investigated a dreadful fatality where need to look at their overall site map and The Health and Safety Authority ran a blocks fell from the rear of a block truck, consider how best to plan operations so two week nationwide inspection and travelled through the windscreen of a that vehicles can operate safely. I have awareness campaign in April 2018 focusing vehicle travelling behind and decapitated already identified the need to segregate on the management of vehicle risks in the the driver. workplace such as driving for work, vehicle domestic vehicles and visitors from the operations and load securing. During How can we Control quarry route but using the overall site the month of May, the Health and Safety the Risks? plan the Quarry Operator should design Authority delivered regional ‘Transport traffic routes that will minimise reversing and Logistics Safety’ seminars which were Let’s start at the very entrance to the manoeuvers and where possible eliminate free to attend. Another safety event is Quarry. The Quarry Operator needs to vehicles travelling towards each other from scheduled to take place in November 2018, deliver the message that they are serious opposite directions. Whilst this may take as detailed at www.hsa.ie/eng/News_ about managing health and safety and time to develop most operations should be Events_Media/Events/HSA_Events/. what better place to make this statement able to put a transport circuit in place. than at the entry to the quarry. Large Over the last six years, just under half As part of overall planning, the quarry signposts clearly stating what is expected (45%) of all reported work related fatalities operator should consider the design of the gives the right message before people involved vehicles and in 2017 twenty- haulage roads and should ensure that they enter the quarry. There should be clear two people were killed in vehicle related are wide enough for the vehicles that are signage and directions to areas such as accidents at work. Accident statistics show operating. If these roads are permanent or the employees and visitors’ car parks, that the majority of vehicle related deaths semi-permanent then adequate drainage offices and weighbridge, and these should at work occurred during the manoeuvring, and surfacing of the road is necessary. be placed so that there is a safe route for reversing or coupling and uncoupling of Too often Inspectors come across steeply pedestrians to offices or wherever they vehicles. inclined roadways to the quarry floor need to travel to. that are not wide enough for vehicles to Approximately 20% of all non-fatal injuries If you allow the collection of small loads pass safely, have inadequate berms/edge reported to the HSA every year involve then a ‘quarantine area’ is necessary to protection for the vehicles operating, have vehicles, resulting in substantial losses either bring the load to visiting vehicles poorly drained and pot holed surfaces and to businesses. These injuries generally or to organise safe travel for the vehicle often have a tight turn at the bottom to the occurred during delivery and collection to collect their load. Remember that quarry floor. operations and particularly during the most visitors are unfamiliar with quarry handling of loads or as the result of falls Also in relation to planning we still have operations and should never be allowed from vehicles. operators working quarry faces well in to travel in a vehicle or on foot around excess of 20 metres and sand and gravel Quarry Operators have to recognise the quarry as they are probably oblivious pits which are clearly too high for the “vehicle accidents” as a real threat to their to the risks. Once inside the quarry, equipment in use. If a working face is in business and must put in place a vehicle pedestrians must wear appropriate excess of 15 metres then there are very few risk management policy that covers all protective equipment including high excavators that can safely scale the face to vehicle related activities in the workplace. visibility clothing. Light vehicles should remove loose or overhanging rocks. Even This includes not only vehicles operated by not enter the quarry traffic routes and though we have had a number of fatalities employees but also vehicles visiting their if this becomes necessary for essential where an excavator or a loading shovel premises including those of customers and work such as breakdown repairs, then has been engulfed following a collapse vehicles operated by contractors. the vehicle must have a flashing beacon. most Operators seem to think that this will During my 23 years with the Health These are quite inexpensive and connect not happen at their location and carry on and Safety Authority, I have witnessed to the vehicles cigarette lighter if not regardless. In the UK most stone quarry at first hand the devastating effects of wired in permanently. Where pedestrian faces are around 12 metres high and sand failing to control vehicle and pedestrian routes are necessary within the quarry and gravel faces are considerably lower movements. With the size of equipment then they should be clearly marked and and the UK operators have average cost in use at quarries, it is highly probable used by pedestrians, speed limits should per tonne values which are lower than that any collision between a vehicle be in place and strictly enforced. With those in the Republic of Ireland. and a pedestrian will result in a fatality. I good planning ancillary operations such remember one particularly tragic accident as block-making, ready mix, asphalt and Mobile Crushing at a quarry where the Quarry Manager’s other manufacturing operations should be Mobile Crushing has become increasingly son was killed when he was struck by a located away from the main quarry traffic prevalent and is generally safer, more loading shovel carrying sand in a raised circuit. productive and requires less maintenance.

68 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

However, it does require frequent This inspection should be recorded and loads of aggregates leaving quarries should manoeuvring and reversing of loading any defects logged. Drivers should not be covered, however that issue is under the shovels so it is essential in these areas be required to use any vehicle that has jurisdiction of the Road Traffic Act and An that pedestrian travel is avoided and that a serious defect that makes it unsafe to Garda Siochana. trucks awaiting loading are positioned operate or puts anyone else at risk. I recall the resistance within the quarry so that they do not interfere with the All vehicles should be maintained in industry when we were insisting on loading shovel movements and the drivers accordance with the recommendations of side rails on block trucks and sadly that remain in their vehicles. Loading shovels the vehicle manufacturer. resistance only dissipated following a should only be operated by competent Every year at least one person is killed in fatality. I hope the industry moves to drivers holding the appropriate Quarry Ireland as a result of an exploding tyre. covered loads before another fatality Skills Certification Card. The loading Operators should ensure that they have focuses their minds. shovels should be fitted with flashing safe procedures for the changing of tyres beacons, adequate mirrors, ambient noise Pre-cast and pre-stressed concrete and preferably this should be carried out reversing sirens and reversing lights and loads, pipes and other concrete products offsite or if carried out on site, a suitable good quality reversing cameras. Where an should all be adequately secured and there tyre cage should be used during inflation. excavator is involved in the process to load is freely available guidance and resources the crusher then it should also be operated Inflation of any tyre should be carried out on managing priority vehicle risks available by a competent driver with a QSCS card from a position of safety, some modern at www.vehiclesatwork.ie and www. and in addition to mirrors should have a systems allow the driver to attach the loadsafe.ie . rear camera and/or movement/proximity tyre hose to the wheel valve and then Conclusion sensors/radar systems. walk to the control unit where they set the pressure and inflate the tyre from a In 23 years with the Health and Manufacturing position of safety. Safety Authority, I have investigated a Operations If such systems are unavailable then there considerable number of serious accidents should be at least two metres of hose involving vehicles. If the control measures A number of manufacturing operations I have identified above had been at quarries involve substantial vehicle from the tyre valve clip to the inflating implemented, many of them would not movements. Asphalt plants generally gun so that the person does not stand in have happened. If you have been fortunate involve the operation of several trucks in the danger zone in front of the tyre being and have avoided an incident to date, I the circuit and again there is a need to inflated. strongly suggest you review your traffic manage operations and restrict pedestrian Wheels/bodies or other parts that might management and implement safe traffic access with the need for exclusion zones collapse during maintenance operations management systems. during delivery of bitumen. The same must be adequately applies to ready-mix plant operations and supported, cement deliveries. With block-making numerous fatalities and pre-cast operations we have the have occurred when additional hazards associated with forklift jacks, axle stands or or teleporter movements for the loading of makeshift supports vehicles and traffic management needs to fail. Morgan Industrial Ltd be in place. In a well-designed quarry these Electronic brake traffic movements should, where possible, testing of loading be outside of the main quarry traffic circuit shovels and but this is not always the case. In 2017, the excavators should Authority carried out a detailed number be carried out of inspections of Asphalt plants and at at least every VERSATILE most locations the exclusion procedures three months and for bitumen deliveries were poor and at action taken if the FIXED & MOBILE one location the loading shovel feeding braking efficiency the storage bins was constantly reversing falls below that into the main traffic vehicle route. In 2018, recommended by WHEEL WASH we are carrying out detailed inspections the equipment of block-making operations following a manufacturer and/ number of fatalities involving block-makers or is inadequate for SYSTEMS and strapping machines and already we the conditions in have had to take action when the stop bar which the vehicle on these machines was defective or had is expected to WITH been defeated. operate. OPTIONAL Vehicle Checks and Load OVERHEAD Maintenance Safety SPRAY Workers who operate a vehicle should Hauliers and Quarry carry out a daily check of that vehicle Operators need BAR before use. to look at the way This check should include: they operate, badly • tyres, loaded vehicles leaving a quarry • reversing and visibility aids, can have fatal Offi ce 1, Business Centre, 62 Scarva Rd, • lights, consequences. Banbridge, Co Down BT32 3QD Overloaded trucks T: M: • access steps, carrying stone can +44 (0) 28 4066 2663 +44 (0) 77852 33363 • fuel, oil and water levels, easily lose part of W: morganindustrial.com the load on bends, • cab, and hills or roundabouts. E: [email protected] • testing brakes. In my opinion, all

www.imqs.ie 69 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Mineral Resources in Sustainable Land-Use Planning

by Sybil Berne1, Jerry Barnes1 and Gerry Stanley2

The Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) and storage, electric car batteries, the zinc mining sector. Together, they will and MacCabe Durney Barnes (MDB) are development of cities and access to metals also organise a workshop in September pleased to announce their participation for European industries. 2018 to gather Irish stakeholder input and in MINLAND, a project funded under determine what constitutes best practice The MINLAND project will pursue four main in the integration of minerals in land use Topic SC5-15d – Linking land use objectives: planning policies to national mineral planning. This will be an essential step policies, in Horizon 2020. MINLAND is • to develop a database of existing policies, towards the publication in 2019 of the best practice guidelines on how to link land use a pan-European consortium led by the • to provide guidelines on how to link land and mineral policies. Geological Survey of Sweden. use and mineral policies, The project is designed to meet the • to analyse land use case studies of If you are interested in participating to this workshop, or in receiving updates challenges of competing land uses. mineral exploration and extraction with on the project, please contact us via Securing access to land for exploration and respect to mineral- and land-use policies, email at [email protected]. extraction of minerals, including critical and raw materials is of great importance and • to support a more efficient and MINLAND is funded from the European the European Commission recognises the sustainable permitting process by Union’s Horizon 2020 research and importance of safeguarding the supply of providing best practice examples and innovation programme under Grant metallic and other mineral raw materials to to ensure knowledge exchange among Agreement No 776679. The project meet European needs for industry. relevant stakeholders. officially started on the 1st December 2017 and will last for two years. Mineral raw materials are instrumental As part of the project, GSI and MDB are in the development of new green building a case study reflecting current 1 McCabe, Durney Barnes technologies for both electricity generation planning practices in the Irish lead and 2 Geological Survey Ireland

70 www.imqs.ie Manufacturer & Maintenance to the Quarry & Recycling Industry

• WE DO SPARE PARTS FOR BATCHIHNG PLANTS

• WAM DISTRIBUTOR

• SPECIALIST IN TEKA MIXERS REPAIRS

DEREK MAHER 087 8180970 Duleek, Co.Meath Tullamore, Co.Offaly email: [email protected] ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Tellus Programme On Target

by Jim Hodgson, TELLUS programme Manager, Geological Survey Ireland

The Tellus Programme is Ireland’s development is undertaken under five distributed in the environment. ground and airborne geoscience data main themes: Mineral prospectivity, smart The latest findings from the 2017 airborne acquisition programme, collecting agriculture, environment and health, survey over counties Mayo and North-West geochemical and geophysical data to climate action and education. Donegal, released earlier this year, have inform the management of Ireland’s Tellus’ airborne geophysical survey given Geological Survey Ireland scientists a natural resources and environment. comprises measurements of magnetic field, fresh look at how Ireland is assembled from gamma-ray spectrometry and time-domain blocks of ancient continents over hundreds The programme, run by Geological Survey electromagnetic data. The high resolution of millions of years. Ireland, a Division of the Department data collected is an invaluable tool for of Communications Climate Action and Patterns produced by differences in effectively ‘seeing through’ Ireland’s often Environment (DCCAE), involves two magnetic properties of rocks, and imaged deep glacial deposits and extensive peat types of surveying – airborne geophysical from the aircraft, are identified and can cover. Allowing geological features not surveying using a low-flying aircraft, and be mapped in areas covered by layers of apparent from conventional mapping sediment, bog or water. The data collected ground-based geochemical surveying of techniques at the surface to be resolved. provide important information to the soil, stream water and stream sediment. To mineral, agricultural and environmental date over 50% of the Republic of Ireland The data collected is being used to revise sectors and also feed into the daily work and all of Northern Ireland has been the Geological Survey’s quaternary and of Geological Survey Ireland, including surveyed and plans are underway to survey surface bedrock geology maps, assist in mineral exploration, identify potential areas carrying out Geological Heritage Audits of the remaining 50% of the country. of contamination and map areas of radon County Geological Sites. These geological The data collected by Tellus is used by a risk. The Tellus geochemical surveying is heritage audits contribute to effective wide range of stakeholder groups across characterizing the baseline chemistry of planning and to the development and Ireland, particularly mineral exploration, soils, stream water and stream sediments promotion of tourism in the regions. The environmental management, agriculture, across Ireland, taking samples at a density Tellus data provide a new level of detail human health and third level researchers in of approximately one every 4km2. Multi- that allows us to understand Ireland’s these areas. Tellus has recently established element laboratory analysis of these geological formation and natural resources. a Product Development work stream in samples allows a suite of some 55 maps to Plans for this summer see the Tellus order to produce more focused, user- be produced, which are important for both airborne survey moving southwards, into centric data products, the need for which agricultural productivity and environmental counties Limerick, north Tipperary and has been identified through stakeholder management, particularly for improving west Cork. Details for the Tellus ground consultation, independent reviews of our understanding of how trace elements, survey will be announced on www.tellus.ie Tellus and government policy. Product essential for animal and crop health, are in due course.

72 www.imqs.ie CLOSE TO OUR CUSTOMERS

All bases covered! www.wirtgen-group.com/technologies

ROAD AND MINERAL TECHNOLOGIES. With leading technologies from the WIRTGEN GROUP, you can handle all jobs in the road construction cycle optimally and economically: processing, mixing, paving, compact- ing and then rehabilitation. Put your trust in the WIRTGEN GROUP team with the strong product brands WIRTGEN, VÖGELE, HAMM, KLEEMANN and BENNINGHOVEN. www.wirtgen-group.com/ireland WIRTGEN IRELAND . T: +353 46 / 95 49 414 . E-Mail: [email protected]

WIRTGEN Ireland_WG_G_02_B_DIN A4.indd 1 18.06.18 10:45 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Saint Gobain Mining (Ireland) Ltd Drummond Mine

by Benson Plunkett, Mine Manager, Saint Gobain Mining (Ireland) Limited

Drummond Mine is an underground Kingscourt, Co Cavan - making plaster and meshing is carried out in locations where Gypsum mine, situated near plaster board products for the Irish and ground control is necessary. UK construction market. The mine also Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan. Geologically, the deposit dips 20o to 25o Employing over 30 people, it produces supplies Gypsum rock for the manufacture in a Westerly direction. The main joint over 250,000t of Gypsum rock per of cement. set is NE – SW, however on a micro scale year. Situated on the Mine site, is The underground mine was reactivated at this can vary. The deposit is made up of 2 Knocknacran, an Open Pit Mine, the end of 2013 and has been gradually Gypsum Seams - an Upper Seam 6m to 8m which has been in operation since increasing production of Gypsum over the thick, and a Lower Seam 12m to 20m thick 1989. Currently, Gypsum rock is last 4 years. It is a Room and Pillar mine, – Drummond Mine operates in the Lower mined from the underground mine using traditional drill and blast methods. Gypsum Seam. and Knocknacran Open Pit mine will The mining cycle – Drill - Charge & Blast reopen by mid-2018 following an €8m The Lower Gypsum Seam is made up – Muck – Mechanical Scale – Check scale investment. from 4 sections: A, B, C, D, which vary in (manually) – is an intensive cycle and thickness and purity. Gypsum is mined Drummond Mine supplies Gypsum rock one that requires skill and experience. mainly from the B section, and provides (CaSO4.2H20) to its parent company Geotechnically, the Gypsum rock varies 70% - 80% Gypsum. Saint-Gobain Construction Products in strength, hence ground support (Ireland) Ltd - at its factory near procedures are necessary and bolting & Environment, Health and Safety are

Ongoing Stripping Project Knocknacran Open Pit Mine May 2018

74 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Supervisor inspection Drummond Mine the forefronts of any underground mine from both the underground Drummond Building Distribution and Packaging. and Saint-Gobain Mining (Ireland) Ltd., Mine and the Knocknacran Open Pit Mine Operating in Ireland since 1936, Saint- Drummond Mine, is no different. Currently, as market demand for Gypsum increases Gobain has become a major contributor to the mine has operated for over 3400 days nationally and internationally. the Irish construction industry, employing without a Lost Time Injury (9.5 years), and ca. 400 people. Saint-Gobain Mining (Ireland) Limited 2400 days without a medical intervention (SGMI) is a wholly owned subsidiary injury (6.6 years). of Saint-Gobain. Established in 1665, This record is maintained by a vibrant Saint-Gobain is a world leader in design, safety culture which incorporates all levels production and distribution of construction of the company using safety tools such materials, delivering innovative products as the 5 point safety system, Near Miss and services. reporting, SMAT’s (Safety Management Today, Saint-Gobain operates in 64 Auditing Tool), unsafe acts and countries, employing ca. 191,500 people Saint-Gobain Construction Products unsatisfactory conditions reporting. across four sectors: Construction Products (Ireland) Limited Saint-Gobain Mining (Ireland) Limited (including plaster, plasterboard and www.gyproc.ie www.isover.ie looks forward to many years of production dry-lining systems), Innovative Materials,

Charging face, Drummond Mine Drilling of 6m x 5.5m (w x h), Drummond Mine

www.imqs.ie 75 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Barleystone Expansion

by Aoife Gavin, Sales and Marketing Manager, O’Reilly Group

Investment The fully Irish owned Barleystone Paving factory at Taghart, near Kingscourt, Co. Cavan, part of the O’Reilly Group, has recently almost doubled its production capacity by building a purpose built new Paving Flagstone factory at their factory – introducing a new range of patio flags to the market. Barleystone continues to expand and develop due to home grown demand as well as demand from the UK market. They have invested €1.5 million into a state of the art Flagstone Factory which is in addition to the existing Barleystone Paving manufacturing facility. This new flag factory has created approx 10 new jobs for the local area and is now fully operational. Those jobs are in addition to a further 60 new jobs already filled across the O’Reilly Group’s local facilities in the past year. It follows the granting of permission by Cavan County Council to the O’Reilly Concrete Group, Ireland’s largest manufacturer of precast concrete products, for the construction of the new facility at the 15-acre site in east Cavan. The new factory is built adjacent to the existing plant and three existing batching plants on the site, two of which will feed the new factory with the third providing Aerial Photo of the new Paving Flagstone factory. the block mix for the company’s trademark flags. Market,” says O’Reilly Group Sales & the plant for production. “We are feeding the new factory from the Marketing Manager, Aoife Gavin, “It is equipped with state-of-the-art two batching plants. That new factory who explains that of the full investment, German block making machinery, so it is is producing flags for the Irish and UK one third was spent in kitting out fairly labour efficient.”

Hollowcore Bary. Heathrow Progress.

76 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Market growth The investment of late by O’Reilly Group is spurred by significant growth, especially in the UK market, and the businesses have ramped up production capacity accordingly to meet demand. At present, just over a third of what the company produces is exported to the UK. But, while the shadow of Brexit looms, the company continues to look to the Irish market as a source of confident recovery, especially where high-quality precast is in high demand particularly with regard the construction of new schools. 80 Years in Business The tough time experienced by all throughout the bust and the subsequent Silver Grey Flags 2. difficult years have now thankfully passed and the O’Reilly family are looking and have secured the contract with Lidl UK confidently to the future. to build a number of new stores throughout They have built longstanding relationships the UK. It is an exciting time and the with contractors, merchants and developers O’Reilly Group and family are very excited across the UK and Ireland. Among the about the future. broad product offering is Precast Frame, The O’Reilly Group will celebrate 80 years this product secured a very prestigious in business in 2019 and are confident their contract for the O’Reilly Group in Heathrow varied product offering and continued airport, London. investment and advancement in technology They are currently (May 2018) building a will ensure a bright future for the next Hilton Hotel at Terminal 2 Heathrow airport O’Reilly generation. Irish Industrial Explosives Ltd

Manufacturers of Commercial Explosives for the Irish Mining, Quarrying and Civil Engineering Industries

Irish Industrial Explosives Limited Clonagh, Enfield, Co. Meath A83 DY62 Tel: +353 (0) 46 954 1086 Fax: +353 (0) 46 954 1383 www.iie-online.com

www.imqs.ie 77 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Recent Activities of the IAEG

by Kieran Parker, Vice-President, Irish Association for Economic Geology (IAEG)

It is a pleasure to contribute to the current understanding of Irish Zn-Pb employed in Irish and global companies to IMQS special 60th anniversary edition mineralisation. discover mineral deposits at depth. of the annual review. The IAEG and IMQS have had a long standing IAEG Courses relationship and we are confident that IAEG ran three courses in 2017. Starting this relationship will be maintained and the year off was the biennial practical strengthened in the future. IAEG would Applied Geophysics weekend course like to congratulate IMQS in this special held in Galway and attended by students, anniversary and acknowledge all the early career geoscientists and those with good work they have done over the limited experience of using geophysical years supporting and promoting the instrumentation. extractive industry. In May Mike Dentith (University of Western Australia) presented two courses on 2017 geophysics for the mineral exploration As always, it was a busy year for the IAEG geoscientist. The first was presented with lecture series held throughout the in Sligo as part of the IAEG Annual year, three courses, a fieldtrip, and the Conference weekend and a second two AGM. The highlight of the year was the day course was hosted in Dublin. Annual Conference. Both courses were jointly hosted with Geological Survey Ireland and Exploration Presenters and IAEG Council at the Lecture series & Mining Division. 2017 Annual Conference in Sligo. IAEG hosted five talks through the year which were very well attended. To start the series off, Mike de Wit took members IAEG Fieldltrip through diamond exploration and mining from an African perspective. In November the IAEG was hosted by Dalradian Gold at their Curraghinalt Gold This was later followed by Leigh Rankin discussing how more value can be Project in Co. Tyrone. achieved by appropriate (and targeted) The fully subscribed trip started with a light data processing. The use of geophysical lunch before an overview presentation on magnetic data carefully integrated with the gold quartz vein mineralisation hosted geological data in the Amadeus Basin within the Dalradian metasediments. in Central Australia was used as a case study where the techniques have been This was followed with an underground successfully used. tour of the development and a viewing of In the autumn members were presented the rock core. with an overview of the Drakelands Mine by James McFarlane. The mine, located near the village of Hemerdon, Devon is operated by Wolf Minerals and is currently extracting tungsten and tin in an area long associated with tin mines. Students getting a briefing during Several weeks later Lluis Fontobe the Geophysics weekend course in presented an overview and discussion on Clonbur, Co. Galway. the future supply of mineral resources, previous flawed estimates, changing 2017 Annual Conference demands and how improved technologies, economies of scale and increased The IAEG 2017 Annual Conference efficiency have combined over the past was held over the weekend of 12th May century to reduce costs allowing lower at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Rosses Point, grade ore to become economic. Co. Sligo. To finish off the year Colin Andrew The theme of ‘Exploration Under Deep presented prior to the IAEG AGM in Cover’ was discussed by a variety of December. Colin reviewed the Silvermines local and international speakers who IAEG members attending the Zn-Pb deposit and provided new and provided insight into exploration underground fieldtrip to the recent research with great relevance to techniques and research currently being Curraghinalt Gold Project.

78 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

2018 procedures. The talk series started with associations in Ireland for their continuing Matt Grimshaw providing a summary of work in their respective areas to increase 2018 has continued to be a busy year for gold mineralisation in the Klondike gold knowledge, and support industry while the IAEG with the year starting with the district of north-west Canada – the location also promoting the communication of biennial Student Logging Course, this of the famous gold rush at the end of the the extractive sector for better public year kindly hosted by Boliden Tara Mines 19th century. understanding of the socioeconomic in Navan. The course has been running In May the 2018 Annual Conference benefits. now for a number of years and aims to took place at the Shearwater Hotel in A summary of all IAEG events and introduce students to practical ‘hands on’ Ballinsloe, Co. Galway with the topic experience of logging core with guidance articles form industry, government and of Geochemistry applications and from industry professionals. academia are provided in the IAEG 2017 techniques. The weekend conference Annual Review. The students are also provided with also included a one day course on industry best practise quality control geochemical interpretation tools for exploration and Mining and a fieldtrip to the ALS Global Laboratories where a guided tour was provided by ALS on their laboratory facilities and practices. The remainder of the year and beyond is looking busy for the IAEG. As well as the lecture series and short courses, work is progressing on a publication of an updated Mineral Exploration Handbook and an update to the IAEG Carboniferous stratigraphy of the Irish Midlands publication, more widely known as the blue book, in joint association with Mike Philcox and Irish Centre for Reasearch in Applied To keep up to date with all IAEG Geosciences. events and view past annual reviews Discussions during the Applied The IAEG would like to congratulate the visit www.iaeg.org Geophysics weekend course. IMQS and the many other geoscience

Irish Drilling Limited (IDL) is the leading Irish Geotechnical Investigation and Mineral Exploration Drilling Company that was established in 1968. Based in Loughrea, County Galway it currently employs over fi fty people ranging from Engineers, Geologists, Drillers, Mechanics and Laboratory Technicians.

IDL has carried out major site investigation and mineral exploration drilling contracts in Ireland, Britain, France and The Isle of Man. As a well resourced and experienced Geotechnical Investigation and Mineral Exploration Drilling Company we always aim to provide a comprehensive and quality product to our clients on schedule and on budget.

Old Galway Road Loughrea Co. Galway Ireland Fieldwork Operations: Laboratory Test Facilities: Tel : 353 91 841274 All fi eldwork operations are carried Our extensive storage depot ensures Fax : 353 91 880861 out in accordance with BS5930 that all soil and rock core samples are Email: [email protected] stored, logged and photographed in accordance with BS 5930. www.irishdrilling.ie

www.imqs.ie 79 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Recognition of Drilling Skills: A New Apprenticeship

by Brian J Byrne MSCE, CEng, FIEI, CMIOSH, Programme Director, Civil Engineering, IT Carlow

It is always good to be able to pass Survey of Ireland, SIPTU, The Institute of in considerable work to advance the on some good news. There has been Geologists of Ireland, Geoscience Ireland apprenticeship. significant progress in moving the new and IT Carlow with a common aim to Geological exploration by drilling has develop a new Geo-Drilling Apprenticeship Geo-Drilling Apprenticeship through a long history in Ireland starting out as to train and certify drillers. the SOLAS approval process. a coal prospecting tool in the 1800’s The geoscience sector contributes The purpose of the employment initiative and diversifying into areas such as approximately €2 billion to the Irish introduced by SOLAS in 2016, called ground investigation, water well drilling, economy with more than 80 companies Underground mining and quarry Drilling Generation Apprenticeship, was to operating in a variety of sectors including and more recently geothermal drilling and encourage greater participation in trades. mining and quarrying, directional drilling, horizontal directional drilling. Our consortium representing the geo- water and well drilling, exploration drilling sector included members from and geotechnical and environmental The person who operates heavy Irish Mining and Quarrying Society (IMQS), engineering. Members of the consortium mechanical plant, called drill rigs to Engineers Ireland (EI), The Geological represent these sectors and have put advance holes into the earth is called a

Underground Drill Rig

80 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

IGSL Rotary Rig 3 Comacchio 205

Geo-Driller and this person is a skilled and the quality of work across the various a recognised drilling qualification for worker who applies their skill and training sectors has been and continues to be drillers working in Ireland and abroad. This to investigate subsurface strata (soil and highly varied. programme will be set at Level 6 to allow bedrock), extract samples for analysis, Irish Drilling companies seeking work academic progression. install monitoring equipment, undertake in the UK are facing competition by UK Drillers completing the programme, will in-situ testing, and to construct conduits competitors who are members of the be certified to be competent in the areas for the passage of services under sensitive British Drilling Association. Other countries relevant to their specified field in areas of structures like roads, railways, canals and also have qualifications or accreditations. drilling, sampling, health and safety, first environmentally sensitive features. In Ireland, professional bodies such as aid, soil and rock descriptions, transporting The information gathered by drillers Engineers Ireland, and companies such rigs and equipment, rig set up, borehole/ provides detailed information in the as Irish Water have called for a more well installation. Drillers will gain skills in evaluation of economic potential for professional approach, and have started report writing, mathematics, surveying, sectors such as aggregates and minerals to prepare specifications for drilling works, computer skills, geology, sampling and and, in the planning, design and building of that are expected to insist on drillers laboratory and field testing. key infrastructure. having some accreditation. The programme shall consist of: Soil and rock are naturally, highly variable Historically drilling skills were passed from • In-house training undertaken under the and competent drilling requires care, father to son, but as qualifications have supervision of the Employer attention to detail and an ability to record become the norm for career advancement, • Laboratory and classroom work provided accurately the variations encountered this system no longer supplies new workers at IT Carlow. below ground either by observation, and is not fit for purpose. sampling, written documentation or a The Employers Certifying Person will Consultation with stakeholders including combination of both. be a competent Chartered Engineer or Employers, Professional Bodies, similar, with appropriate training, skills and The driller also needs the technical skills Government Bodies and the drillers training. to adapt quickly to changing underground themselves has highlighted this lack of conditions, and to complete the task in a formal training, deficit in new entrants and The next stage of the process will involve safe and environmentally sensitive manner. variable quality of drilling. programme development and coordination Typically, they are highly trained individuals If drilling can be made a recognised of the work of the many volunteers. It with highly transferrable skills, but at qualification it will become an attractive is envisaged that the apprenticeship present in Ireland, there is no recognised prospect for school-leavers. This is will begin in 2019 with the first cohort documented training for these drillers why a group of like-minded individuals of students being a combination of which limits progression pathways for from across the drilling fields have experienced drillers and new entrants. them to further education and does not come together to develop a geo-driller Successful implementation of this recognise their skill base. Outside of their apprenticeship, under the auspices of programme will improve quality, attract own sector, drillers are considered by the Geoscience Ireland, which to date has new staff to the drilling occupation, give wider public as semi-skilled, at best making passed 5 stages of approval by SOLAS drillers the opportunities to progress it an unattractive career option for school- and is currently in the preparation of within the industry and increase safety. leavers. teaching syllabi. When a driller successfully At the same time we would hope that the The lack of drilling qualification, means completes the Geo-Driller course they will certification of Irish drillers would allow that there is also a lack of standards for be able to progress to further education. easier access to international work and acceptable quality within the industry The aim of this programme is to provide reduce insurance costs.

www.imqs.ie 81 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Evolving Survey Methods at Boliden Tara Mines

by Thomas Gilleran, Mine Surveyor at Boliden Tara Mines.

When Tara Mines was established in the 1970’s, little did the surveyors of the time know that talk in today’s office would be of Terrestrial Laser Scanning, Total Stations, GPS, Drones, Slam Technology and Point Clouds. These terms would have been completely unrecognisable to the men who pioneered the early days of surveying in Europe’s largest Zinc mine. Those early surveyors would perhaps be surprised to learn that today’s survey department is made up of just 5 full time employees in comparison to the early days when the department consisted of 17 at its peak. An extraordinary statistic given that today’s surveyors travel further to increasing depths, capture more data, provide greater survey support and produce far more deliverables than their predecessors, indicative of just how much the surveying and mining industries have been revolutionised through advances in technology & IT within the last 40 years at Tara. Figure 1: Leica TS16 Total Station mounted onto sidewall station. Today most of the surveyors’ time is spent surveying As-Built 3D development known Coupled with servicing the underground frequently alongside an extensive annual as pickups, installing new survey control, environment the department has numerous precise levelling network to monitor for any issuing survey layouts for drill rigs, laser possible deformation due to mining. scanning of stopes, drifts and infrastructure, surface responsibilities as well. The sheer undertaking production mark-ups, setting size of the Tara site means topographical Each year two interns are employed as out as well as all the associated processing, surveys, measured building surveys and part of a work placement programme in drafting and modelling of collected data. stockpile volume surveys are undertaken conjunction with the Dublin Institute of

Figure 2: Point cloud data of Tara Mines site with the development shaft, old entrance portal and waste stockpile visible.

82 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Technology Bolton Street. They are third year students of a BSc in Geography Science and the mine provides excellent experience for them, as one of the modules of their course is mine surveying. This is indeed a symbiotic arrangement as Bolton Street is the alma mater to 4 members of the survey department at present. The Development of Survey Technology & Workflows Throughout its 40 years lifespan Tara’s survey department has always embraced new technologies and its workflows have constantly evolved, utilising new hardware, software and best practise. Many milestones have been met along the way including the introduction of electronic distance measurement by way of a Hewlett Packard 3810. The Geodimeter 420 and the Geodat 400 introduced ‘Total Stations’ and the ability to capture data electronically and at the same time sounded the ‘Death Knell’ for the Wild T16 and T2 previously in operation. In its day, the best instrument introduced into Tara was the Geodimeter 468DR. This instrument was a reflectorless Total Station with an inbuilt red laser pointer, with a capability to measure over 100 metres directly off a rock surface. Tara was one, if not the first to purchase a 468DR in Ireland and it gave us the ability to delineate our stopes. The ‘Total Station’ constantly evolved from this period onwards and remains the main workhorse of the department. Unrecognizable from the instruments of the 70’s, today’s tool of choice is the Leica TS16, fully robotic, working in real time coordinates with the ability to take rounds of angles automatically. This instrument gives us an instantaneous indication of the accuracy of setup positions and allows intricate designs to be easily set-out from a touch screen. It also has the memory capacity to hold the entire mine station database of over 30,000 control points, together with any design files required for that day’s work. Figure 3: Laser Scanning of stope using remotely operated vehicle with In the mid-80s Eagle software was spherical targets visible. introduced to Tara, a somewhat basic package in its infancy but now a of tunnels. Line and grade for development phased out and today’s drillers set up comprehensive and bespoke piece of drill rigs were made possible through the a total station on a designated sidewall well-tailored software. The introduction use of “chains” hung from these hooks to station, turn a horizontal and vertical angle of computers, software and development provide gradient and direction. Advancing as posted on the Survey Layout for the of modern survey instruments signalled control required surveyors to setup tunnel in question. This is the ‘laser line’ the start of a survey revolution and with it instruments directly beneath these stations and is used in conjunction with the design the process of transitioning from a paper using elevated working platforms to attach centreline of the tunnel. The drill rig’s on- based mine planning and technical services a plumb bob and measuring tape. The board navigation system is able to relate department to a digital one. Log tables and problems that accompany this method are the laser line with the design thus enabling manual calculations were gradually phased numerous, with a build-up of errors due to the rig to drill the next blast on azimuth, out as the maths and science of surveying the centering technique involved and the gradient and with the appropriate tunnel was written into the Eagle scripting. Along effects of ventilation interference on the profile. with performing calculations a system of plumb bob. Tara purchased its first Terrestrial Laser checks and balances were also built into Sidewalls consist of a threaded brass sleeve Scanner in 2007 signalling the beginning Eagle to flag errors and inconsistencies in cemented into the tunnel sidewall through of the point-cloud era. To those not familiar survey data. a 30mm diameter drilled hole. These with the technology a laser scanner The introduction of Side Wall Stations sleeves allow a special forced centering measures three-dimensional coordinates in 2006 brought about another era of bracket to be inserted and secured thus across an object’s surface automatically, in change. Up until then the sole method of eliminating centering error. The working a systematic high-speed manner. Rather establishing survey control and driving from height element is also eradicated as than the surveyor dictating what points tunnels was to install survey stations in the they are located at an accessible height. are to be observed the scanner is setup in form of “spads” located in the backs or roof The system of “Chains” was gradually a suitable position and a scan resolution is

www.imqs.ie 83 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Figure 4: Laser scanning the Zinc concentrates stockpile for end of year accounting figures. set. These systems output a “Cloud” a 3D The Future of Surveying at We can confidently do this due to the picture consisting typically of millions of quality of work and meticulous nature points. The data can be manipulated and Tara & Challenges Ahead of the generation of surveyors that modelled in a multitude of ways perhaps Whilst the amount of time spent went before us. Despite the difference coloured by the intensity of the returned underground has certainly been reduced, in technologies the principles and signal, or elevation. High-resolution imagery increasing time is spent behind the screens fundamentals of best practice have not can also be acquired and draped over the processing survey data, performing quality changed and the quality of their work is still cloud to produce photo realistic results. assurance on survey control, cleaning point present, a glowing tribute to their time and clouds, drafting sections, creating set out diligence. The scanner was initially purchased to files and issuing survey instructions. provide a safer method of surveying stope The big challenge for the survey blasts. This was achieved by deploying The quality and integrity of the survey department today is the transition from the scanner on a remote-control Toyota network is in excellent condition, frequently Eagle into Deswik Mine Planning software. Hilux. By mounting the laser scanner on the long loops of re-observations known as This ongoing process has changed the roof of the Toyota and placing spherical check surveys are undertaken. These occur methods by which we undertake our daily typically before breakthroughs, before targets around the light vehicle the system tasks and workflows are very much at an initiating new mining blocks, before vertical can be set up under supported ground on-going developmental stage. Deswik shaft connections are made, or when the and then driven remotely to the most allows us to survey, create and draft much survey control has advanced a substantial optimum position within the stope. The more detailed models than before, as it is distance from the primary control. In the spherical targets form part of the scan better equipped to deal with large point early 2000s a first order check survey was and they are surveyed from a safe area by clouds and heavy 3D models in a much undertaken from surface down to the lower Total Station. During post processing, the more customisable CAD environment regions of the mine in conjunction with than its predecessor. The downside is spherical targets are identified within the gyro-theodolite observed bearings. This scan and given their mine grid coordinates, that we are losing a very survey friendly survey provided primary control for the package which was heavily tailored to suit thus geo-referencing the scan. Tara’s South West Extension (“SWEX”) deposit our needs. Eagle interrogated captured method of deployment of the scanner and ensures that we are tunnelling towards survey data and highlighted errors for into stopes offers greater flexibility than the new Tara Deep deposit with confidence. editing. Deswik on the other hand accepts other industry standards such as Cavity Best practice and good equipment have the data captured by the instrument at Monitoring Systems (CMS), mounted on a allowed raise connections of 900 metres, the time of the survey, discrepancies may boom, placed at the brow position of the the deepest in Europe, to be achieved with be flagged but not prevented from being stope. Another upside is that the survey a breakthrough accuracy of centimetres. accepted and imported. The very nature department have full use of the vehicle This adherence to accuracy is certainly of the mining environment means that as which operates as per normal when not in required when you consider the 14 Km’s of surveyors we are not always afforded the remote control mode. survey observations undertaken to connect time or geometrically friendly conditions Initially scanning was used for stope the top and bottom of the raises. to complete our tasks and must have a surveys, however, it quickly became a tool The nature of the orebody and industry means to assess and correct issues. As to scan drifts, stockpiles as well as a means means that we often find ourselves a compromise a comprehensive survey of providing detailed drawings and sections revisiting older areas of the mine, adjustment software “Leica Infinity” was for the designing of fixed plant and other transitioning from back stations installed introduced as a means of performing mining infrastructure. decades ago onto new sidewall stations. quality assurance on survey jobs, with the

84 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

workflows being developed to work in conjunction with these two packages. The future of surveying at Tara will almost certainly be based around acquiring and creating even more detailed 3D models. To address the increased appetite for this type of data the survey department has recently taken ownership of Zeb Revo handheld scanners. These differ to traditional terrestrial laser scanners in that they use a technology termed SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) which can acquire over 40,000 points per second at walking pace with the device creating a map of its environment and orientating itself correctly in real time. Although in preliminary stages of use at Tara the 3D models generated and volumes calculated are encouraging. Though, not as Figure 5: Deswik 3D view of stope scans (blue), survey development pickups accurate as traditional methods its uses are (purple) and design solids (green) for hanging and footwall levels. apparent and will become a useful addition to the survey toolkit. The downside to this means that were at a stage where it is navigate or perhaps to setup and drill off increasing level of detail manifests itself in quite possible to acquire real time survey autonomously? It is difficult to imagine a sizeable file sizes and the time required to point cloud data. The difficulties lie with clean the point cloud data. future where the need for underground the sheer volume of data being generated, surveyors is completely removed, rather We live in the era of big data where our ability to use it, as well as the reliability a future where this technology and the machines and mobile equipment are and accuracy of the data. Yes, we can monitored in real time and relay this produce quality volume calculations but surveyor work hand in hand, producing information back to central hubs. This how does real time big data sets tie into incredibly detailed models and deliverables combined with SLAM technologies and traditional high-end survey control and tied to traditionally established survey software to process large point clouds can this be used by mobile equipment to control. quarry owners-advert 2018.qxp_Layout 1 28/02/2018 11:56 Page 1

The Complete Insurance Solution for Quarry Owners, Quarry Operators and Plant Hire Contractors

At a time when Quarry Owners, Quarry Operators and Plant Hire Contractors are experiencing an increase in costs, it makes sense to review your day-to-day outgoings. Arachas are now offering you an opportunity to secure a second opinion on your Liability, Engineering and Motor Insurances. The Policy which is unique to Quarry Owners, Quarry Operators and Plant Hire Contractors delivers the following covers as standard: - €6.5 Million Limit of Indemnity under the - Ingress cover on machinery included as Public Liability Section standard - €13 Million Limit of Indemnity under the - The Policy complies with the Employers Liability Section requirements of your local council - Accidental Damage cover on unspecified - The Policy is Underwritten by an “A” plant including plant hired in Rated Insurer - €6.5 Million Third Party Property - A flexible Premium Payment Plan Damage Limit (monthly instalments) Our experience shows that we can deliver substantial savings on your insurance costs whilst delivering a high level of cover.

Should you wish to seek a quotation or obtain more information please contact Gearoid Fitzgerald. Call Gearoid: 086 8969234 / 0818 307030 Email: [email protected] Click: www.arachas.ie

Dublin Cork South East Arachas Arachas Arachas The Courtyard, Carmanhall Road, 9 Eastgate Avenue, Marine Point, Sandyford Business Estate, Eastgate Business Park, Little Island, Belview, Dublin 18. Cork. Waterford.

Arachas Corporate Brokers Limited, trading as Arachas is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. The above benefits and options are subject to the standard policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions and a copy of these are available on request

www.imqs.ie 85 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 advertorial Home-Grown Global Firm CDE on Stellar Trajectory When it comes to excellence in engineering and manufacturing, CDE has over 25 years of experience in the field of materials wet processing.

The company has recently risen to the return on investment, which are determined installed and commissioned over 1,000 cream of the crop as one of only 25 through detailed consultation and product turnkey systems globally, including the companies in Northern Ireland to make testing. largest wet processing plant in the world it on to “The UK’s 1000 Companies to Sean Kerr, Engineering Director at CDE said: in the Middle East. The company’s recent Inspire Britain” report, compiled by The “Our strength lies in the level of excellence brand overhaul sees a new look for the London Stock Exchange Group. of our teams, that keeps us ahead of the company and a new strapline “A New World of Resource”, representing the futuristic Add to this the recent accolades of Deloitte innovation curve, but also in the absolute and innovative outlook the company is Best Managed Company for the 10th care we put in everything we do. taking in the industry, continually seeking to consecutive year and the highly coveted “From the first contact with a customer, we provide high tech, user- friendly and bespoke Manufacturer of the Year £25m+ Award at ensure that we provide a world-class service wet processing solutions to construction the Insider’s Made in Northern Ireland Awards through all milestones of their plant’s journey. companies as well as mine and quarry on 11 May 2018, and it is clear that CDE CDE’s project management expertise is operators. has continued on a growth trajectory that is extensive and the company takes charge second to none. of all aspects of each project from initial The company has also brought to life the five sectors in which it operates with new A CLASS OF ITS OWN discussions through to the installation phase and beyond.” branding and sectoral names including: As a manufacturer, CDE takes each of CDE Primo (Sand & Aggregates), CDE its customer’s vision to turn it into reality. NEW YEAR, NEW IMAGE Meta (Mining), CDE Reco (Construction, Every plant is tailor-made to their exact Celebrating 25 years in business, CDE has Demolition & Excavation Waste Recycling), specifications for optimal efficiency and gone from strength to strength and sold, CDE Solv (Industrial Sands) and CDEnviro

Creagh Concrete, Toomebridge, CDE customer for the past 20 years which incorporates many modular components engineered and manufactured by CDE

86 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

advertorial

The new CDE headquarters in Cookstown will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2018

(Environmental). The dedication and 2017, we increased the volume of machines commitment to developing these sectors dispatched by 27% without the need to on a global basis is further supported with increase the footprint of the production the recruitment of over 150 people in the space”. business in 2017. AN EXPANDING REACH A STELLAR GROWTH To support its ambitious long-term growth Commenting on CDE’s extraordinary growth, projections CDE has recently invested in a Brendan McGurgan, MD comments: “Our 300,000 square foot world-class fabrication recent performance is testimony to the facility in Monkstown, which will complement strength, determination, culture and resilience its current supply base and ensure that of our team, who has skillfully navigated a its fabrication resource meets future path through the recession since 2008. requirements. “A commitment to our strategic goals With demand anticipated to double by underpinned by a strong focus on Innovation the end of 2020, this additional facility has delivered value to our customers across complements the existing Northern Ireland five industry sectors on a global basis and we supply base and enhances employment in are delighted that the outlook remains the Monkstown area where a tradition of positive as we concentrate our collective engineering has existed for many years. efforts towards the delivery of our 2020 Vision.” With new CDE headquarters being completed in the fourth quarter of 2018, CDE’s experience includes classification and this is going to be an exciting time for the beneficiation of minerals and value addition company as it will produce high quality job across these five sectors globally. The opportunities across the company’s various continuous focus on innovation and product Sean Kerr, Engineering Director development in the business saw a major divisions. development in 2017 with the launch of the At CDE, the future is bright and the company company’s most sophisticated M-Series wet international market leader in its field. looks forward to turning new challenges processing model to date, alongside five Sean Kerr adds: “CDE is also securing its into new opportunities and to continuing to new patents, with eight more in the pipeline, long-term sustainability and competitiveness improve and provide the best expertise and CDE has consolidated its position as an through improvements in efficiency. During customer service in the field.

www.imqs.ie 87 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 An Aerial Survey of Kilmacow Quarry

by Carl Morris, Director Land and Mineral Surveys Limited

In March 2018, Land & Mineral Surveys were contracted to survey Kilmacow quarry for the purpose of redesigning road networks, relocating overburden stockpiles and to gather information to create a year by year plan for the quarry to see it through the next 15 years. In order to do this, a 3D model along with a high resolution Orthomosaic and detailed Topographical plan would be required. The chosen method to obtain the data was by Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA). The main reason for this was safety. The management at Kilmacow take a lot of pride in their safety record and when given the option to eliminate people walking around in a potentially dangerous environment, whilst obtaining the accuracy needed, they were delighted to go that route. By using an SUA, production of the quarry would not be affected in any way. Another reason for using the SUA was to accurately survey the top of the quarry Kilmacow Quarry and the Phantom 4 Pro face, ridges and toes. This can be quiet difficult, time consuming and sometimes be, in surveying terms, “tied down”. To do 7 randomly located check points were unsafe using the traditional surveying this, Land & Mineral Surveys established also surveyed to confirm the accuracy of methods of GPS and Robotic Total 13 highly accurate GCP’s (Ground Control the SUA survey and the photogrammetry Stations. Points) by using a Trimble R10 GPS software. After going through the For a drone survey to be precise, it must receiver. Along with the 13 GCP’s, a further processing software, these check points

Orthomosaic and the corresponding Digital Surface Model (DSM) of Kilmacow quarry.

88 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Example of 2d drawing with high resolution Orthomosiac of Kilmacow quarry.

where all within 0.041m in elevation and was completed in pix4d pro software. every SUA survey conducted. 0.048m in horizontal of the original GPS Once the 3d model is created in pix4d, A cloudy day is an ideal day for SUA values. These results were more than a point cloud densification is generated. surveying, generally morning or evening acceptable for the purpose of this project. From this point cloud the team at Land when the sun is not directly above the After finding a safe place to take off and and Mineral Surveys started to extract SUA. We did encounter a few problems land, a safety risk assessment was then information and create plans and sections with light reflection. At the beginning of completed. The main issue which arose for the client and consultants to work with. the flight we had the perfect weather from the safety assessment was the This was the most time consuming part of conditions until the sun unexpectedly high voltage power lines running directly the whole project and is generally the final came out in short bursts and gave us some through the quarry. We used a robotic total deliverable for the client. unusable aerial photographs. station to find the precise height of the The most common question we get asked We had to cancel some flight missions pylons and lines using direct reflex (DR). by clients is “Do we need to purchase and restart them later in the day when Resulting from this, a respectful height of expensive software to view the information conditions got better. 80 meters was chosen as this gave plenty from the SUA survey”. The answer to this is We have recently purchased special filters of clearance from the lines and eradicate “NO”. Once the photogrammetry software for the camera which has removed this any issues. The flight plan and SUA were creates a densified point cloud, the Land & problem on projects since. Another issue then double checked and the survey was Mineral Surveying team then get to work we had was that a quantity report was put into operation. It took 5 separate digitising and extracting all the relevant needed for a large overburden stockpile. missions to fly the boundaries of the information requested by the client. The stockpile was completely overgrown quarry. A total flying time of one hour 25 At Kilmacow, it was important for every and we could not give an accurate volume minutes. toe, crest, conveyor belt, stockpile, building, from the survey due to the SUA not been In total, 1093 georeferenced images hard and soft track etc. to be extracted able to see any of the surface of the area were taken and calibrated and a GSD from the point cloud and drawn in dwg. in question. In this case, we went back (Ground Sampling Distance) of 2.17cm (AutoCAD) format for quarry management to traditional methods of cutting lines was obtained. The GSD is the difference and consultants to be able to view and through the shrubbery and surveying between two pixel centres measured on design from. It is also possible to export spot levels by GPS and then adding this the ground. In general, the bigger the the 3d model in a pdf format which can information to the SUA survey. GSD value, the lower the spatial resolution be rotated, zoomed in and out and clearly We were then able to give an accurate of the image and the less visible detail visualised by anyone with the file. Land volume calculation of the overburden that becomes. All photogrammetry processing and Mineral surveys deliver this 3d pdf with needed to be relocated.

Kilmacow 3d model screenshots.

www.imqs.ie 89 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Planning & Environmental Law Forum Where planning meets the public

by Stephen Walsh, MIPI, Planning Consultant

On the 22nd of May 2018, the IMQS facing the extractive industry in Ireland the definition of what constitutes a mineral held a Planning and Environmental the forum commenced with an update of within the enacted legislation. The status Law forum in the Louis Fitzgerald the status of the quarrying sector provided of water in terms of rights and ownership Hotel in West Dublin. The event was by Liam Smyth of the Irish Concrete and other matters effecting regulatory well attended, with over 70 attendees Federation (ICF). The ICF has 74 members certainty will need to be addressed within present on the day. and associate members operating at the mooted Geothermal Bill. approximately 300 locations throughout The speakers were drawn from both the A central theme of Professor Scannell’s the country, representing an estimated extractive industry and legal profession, contribution was the need for a 80% of industry output. Liam’s contribution with the event being lucky enough to draw consolidation of ‘competent authorities’ related the issues which the ICF and the on the views and expertise of eminent for the purposes of environmental impact wider sector have encountered as a result senior and junior counsel who are integrally assessment. of the Section 261 (of the Planning and involved in the cases which shape the Development Act 2000 [as amended]) regulatory and legal landscape in which the European Legal Issues registration process and applications for mining and quarrying industry operate. Rory Mulcahy SC outlined precedents substitute consent through Section 177. In addition to the legal element, the emerging from Europe in terms of forum also included a panel discussion on Mining directives of the European Parliament as the implications of ‘Brexit’ – the United well as decisions of the European Court Professor Yvonne Scannell followed Liam Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European of Justice. The new Environmental Impact with an overview of forthcoming legislative Union and the potential implications of this Assessment Directive is in the process of framework with particular reference to the decision on the Irish aggregate and mining being transposed into operation. Mining Act 2017. The Minerals Development industry. Act 2017 was enacted on 26 July 2017. The Department of Housing, Planning The overarching theme of the event and Local Government has given some The Minerals Development Act 2017 focused in on the absence of certainty effect to updated EIA Directive through will provide for: in relation to the ongoing legal and Circular PL1/2017 – 15 May 2017. In terms of environmental challenges which bedevil • the regulation of prospecting for the recent case law, Mr Mulcahy explored the the sustainable production of vital raw development of mineral resources; implications of European Court of Justice materials for the Irish domestic and export • a statutory vesting of the exclusive ‘Case C-196/16, Comune di Corridonia’ economy. right to work minerals in the Minister for which found that The EIA Directive does not prohibit post-development At a time when demand for the materials Communications, Climate Action and regularisation provided that: that the sector produces is increasing, there Environment, subject to the payment of is a clear need for policy makers and the compensation; • national rules allowing for regularisation extractive industry to collaborate in order • compulsory acquisition of other rights do not provide the party concerned with to devise a fair and equitable system for necessary for efficient development an opportunity to circumvent the rules the management of Ireland’s quarrying of minerals, subject to payment of of EU law or to dispense with applying infrastructure. compensation; them; The ad-hoc nature of policy maker’s • the payment to the State of rents and • must remain the exception; reaction of European environmental royalties from the extraction of minerals; • any assessment must consider both legislation and onerous interpretations of and future environmental impacts and the same in the architecture of Ireland’s • preparation and implementation of impacts since time of completion. quarrying registration process has created rehabilitation plans for abandoned mine In addition, Mr Mulcahy also explored the a perfect storm in terms of the removal of sites. implications of ECJ cases which relate certainty when coupled with a strategically In contrast to the preceding legislation to the Habitats Directive, ‘Case C-323/17, organised coterie of professional objectors covering the operation of the mining sector People Over Wind v Coillte Teo’ and ‘Case awaiting every instance to stymy proper in Ireland, the 2017 Act succeeds in clearly C-164/17, Grace and Sweetman v An planning and sustainable development in setting out a coherent legislative framework Bord Pleanala’ which found, that it wasn’t the case of quarrying infrastructure through for the industry, particularly in the area of appropriate at appropriate assessment the weaponisation of judicial review the acquisition of ancillary rights, subject to screening stage to take account of the proceedings. negotiation and compensation. measures intended to avoid or reduce Quarrying Sector Professor Scannell’s contribution also the harmful effects of the project on the Following on from an overview by touched on the area of geothermal energy, protected site in question. Siobhán Tinnelly (IMQS/Tobin Consulting in terms of exploring the implications of The latter case outlined that measures Engineers) of the current challenges the Mining Act’s exclusion of water from designed to manage the habitat relied on

90 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

by a protected species (hen harrier) within There was also of course the possibility of amendments where necessary and an SPA could not be regarded as mitigation a refusal of substitute consent. All of this consideration of a future “one-stop shop” measures for the purpose of Article 6(3) of gave rise to the expectation that there EIAR for both retrospective regularisation the Habitats Directive. would be significant enforcement action and future authorisation of quarry In terms of the mining sector, Mr Mulcahy before the Courts. This has not materialised development. explored the implications of ‘Case C-147/15, to the extent expected. This is mostly down Edilizia Mastrodonato’ as it established that to the very large numbers of challenges to Public Engagement Article 10(2) of the Mining Waste Directive the section itself and, to the determinations Following on from the exploration of the doesn’t have the effect of making an made pursuant to its terms, most especially legal issues facing the mining and quarrying operation involving backfilling of a quarry to determination under section 261A(4). sectors, the forum was addressed by Joe using waste other than extractive waste A large number of enforcement notices Heron of Murray Consultants who explored subject to the requirements of the Landfill were served pursuant to this section, the area of stakeholder engagement. Directive where that operation amounts to and, a large number of challenges were This aspect of project development is the recovery of waste. It is for the national brought to these determinations, all of a key phase in developing any type of courts to decide whether it amounts to which remain pending before the Courts. infrastructure project. Mr Herron gave an recovery. In addition to those challenges, there were overview of the process which Murray many quarries (especially those that had Enforcement Consultants utilise in order to identify ceased operations during the recession) key stakeholders and engage with them Oisin Collins BL delivered a paper focusing that simply locked their gates. Others in a meaningful fashion. In the renewable on planning enforcement issues facing the complied with the notices. However, of energy sector, pre-application consultation quarrying sector. course, there were also those that kept has been found to reduce the volume of Mr Collin’s paper dealt with matters operating and were subject to prosecution formal objections therefore it is certainly pertaining to Section 261A of the Planning in the District Court. Many of these worth further exploration in the context of and Development Act 2000 as well as prosecutions were also stalled pending the mining and quarrying sector. recent decisions relating to costs. Key the resolution of the challenges in the excerpts from this paper are provided High Court. As a result of the foregoing, Brexit below. there is a large volume of enforcement The forum concluded with a Brexit focus, proceedings that are pending before the Recent legislation, and in particular the drawing on the insights of Gordon Best Courts, but which are not progressing in continuing uncertainty arising from section (Quarry Products Association Northern any particular hurry. There also remains the 261 and 261A are having a profound effect Ireland), Paul Lynam (British Irish Chamber possibility that the provisions of section on enforcement proceedings nationally. of Commerce), and Gerry Farrell (Irish 261A itself may be successfully challenged, Perhaps the most striking feature of Concrete Federation). and the process may yet start all over enforcement nationally is how much less again. Notwithstanding, the above there The central message from the panel was is occurring than was expected. This has the need for certainty for the aggregates two causes. Firstly, there was a dramatic have been two recent cases that are of significance in the context of enforcement sector as the nature of the ‘Brexit Deal’ reduction in quarrying operations during takes shape. The impact of negative the recession with many operations in respect of quarries. These are that of An Taisce –v- McTigue Quarries 2016 IEHC 620 investor sentiment and the potential dropping production significantly or, implication of this on infrastructure on closing their gates completely. This has and that of Hayes –v- An Bord Pleanala 2016 499 JR. both the island of Ireland and in the United resulted in a reduction of complaints by Kingdom were also identified as a threat the public and/or investigations by local Legal Costs to the sector. Forward planning and the and national authorities. Secondly, there identification of new potential markets were In relation to the costs, Mr Collin’s paper is the hiatus in the operation of section highlighted as a potential measure that may 261A caused by the dozens of judicial explored the precedent arising from the mitigate the impacts of Brexit. Review of review proceedings that have been taken North East Pylons Case C-470/16, which the day by S. Walsh. The organisers of the by quarries and environmentalists alike established that members of the public event would like to thank the attendees. against the determinations made under will have costs protection in enforcement Through the contributions from the floor the section. These proceedings have been proceedings taken to ensure compliance and the insights from the speakers, the mostly adjourned awaiting the outcome of with national law even in circumstances event proved to be highly successful. the case of McGrath Limestone Quarries where they fail to establish any damage –v- An Bord Pleanala 2014 [IEHC] 382. The or harm to the environment and/or even The level of interest from a broad cross McGrath case has recently been resolved where they have been found to be acting section of the mining and quarrying before the hearing of the appeal, and, it is frivolously and/or vexatiously. industry along with consultants from a unclear as yet what the effect of this will large variety of disciplines indicates the be. It is presumed however that another Legal Trends focus which all stakeholders are paying to one of the challenges to section 261A will The penultimate contribution in the developments in legal and environmental emerge and proceed to hearing. mid-morning session on legal matters matters facing the sector. Section 261A required each local authority came from Jarlath Fitzsimons SC whose Stephen Walsh closed the meeting, to consider again all of the quarries in their contribution focused on the wider trends commenting on the challenging times functional areas and consider a number in planning and environmental law which facing the sector in respect of the legal of matters, and reach certain conclusions. echoed the contributions of the other and environmental parameters which they Broadly, there were three outcomes, no counsel present on the day and posited a are operating under. further action, a direction to apply for number of potential solutions to the issues As a result, it is incumbent on the IMQS and substitute consent, or, the service of an arising from the confluence of precedents its members to drive potential solutions enforcement notice. arising from case law in quarrying (and which ensure that the mining and quarrying The latter of these is of concern here. In non-quarrying) related court decisions and sector, which is integral to the day to day addition, there were provisions in certain continuing refinements to environmental operation and development of the Irish events (such as failure to comply with regulation arising from Europe. economy, is capable of delivering the vital directions) that had the effect of deeming The solutions posited by Mr Fitzsimons raw materials in the most efficient and quarry operations to be unauthorised. related to a mixture of minor legislative sustainable way possible.

www.imqs.ie 91 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Industry Leader

Orla McKenna, P.Geo, Senior Exploration Geologist, Dalradian Gold Limited

Orla graduated from Trinity College without fences. Helicopters were cheaper the Dalradian team in the Mine Rescue Dublin in 2007 with a BA (Mod) to come by than quad bikes in the Arctic Competition hosted by the IMRC at Tara. in Natural Sciences (Geology). Circle so many kilometres were covered by Having been a member of the IAEG since She completed an MSc in Geochemistry foot collecting soil and stream sediment 2007, Orla joined the IAEG council as at the University of Leeds, graduating samples. The sense of adventure sold the Secretary in January 2014. She served in 2008. idea of staying in exploration longer term. in that role for two years before being In October 2009, she started work Upon returning to Northern Ireland, Orla nominated as Vice President for 2016. experience with Conroy Gold and Natural spent another year as a member of the In 2017, she was only the fourth female Resources prior to a three-month contract resource team before moving to the President of the association in its 44 year at Omagh Minerals from late November regional exploration team in October history. 2009. The short-term contract segued into 2013. Initially her primary role was field In December 2015, Orla became a the role of Mine Geologist in the open pit at sampling and internal reporting. This Professional Geologist with the Institute the gold mine, where she stayed for close changed over time to include planning of Geologists of Ireland. In a quest to to two years. The chance to explore for field programmes and external reporting stay constantly busy, when stepping gold came up in the summer of 2011 and and having been running the team for back from IAEG duties, Orla decided Orla moved to Dalradian Gold in August of over a year, she officially took on the role further study was the way forward and that year. of Senior Exploration Geologist in January recently completed a diploma in Project Orla joined the company in the role of 2017. In addition to planning and executing Management with the Institute of Project Project Geologist just as an intense round sampling and drilling programmes, Orla Management Ireland. of resource drilling got underway. She also monitors licence tenure. However, none of this would have very carefully (but not so quickly) made In June 2014, Orla became the third happened without the influence of the her way through thousands of metres of woman in the UK to complete Mine Rescue female geologists who went before her in drill core just in time for spring and a full training with MRS Training & Rescue (then exploration and mining in Ireland and the field season. She went on secondment Mines Rescue Service) and in April 2016 guiding hand of the teachers in Loreto to Norwegian Minerals Group and spent was the first woman to complete the Mine Balbriggan. Particularly Sister Bernadette the field season carrying out greenfields Rescue NVQ. She attended her first IMRC who took it upon herself to switch Orla exploration in Norway. mutual training at the Irish Salt mine in from a Home Economics class to a Science The secondment was a sudden Carrickfergus in June 2015 and in October class in 1997 with the words “Your mother introduction to life with mosquitoes and of the same year went on to compete with will teach you to cook…”

92 www.imqs.ie Quality and diversity in road surfacing products combined with reliability of supply

PLEASE CONTACT SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR KEN HOOD, M: +0044 77 68728183

Republic of Ireland: Northern Ireland: Dublin Terminal, Alexandra Road, East Wall, Dublin 1 Belfast Terminal, Airport Road West, Belfast BT3 9DY T: +353 1 819 7030 F: +353 1 808 8250 T: +0044 28 90731949 F: +0044 28 90732320 E:[email protected] E: [email protected] ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Industry Leader

Prof. Murray Hitzman, SFI Research Professor and Director of iCRAG

In March 2018 iCRAG and UCD were Prof. Hitzman has a proven record as an and in facilitating societal understanding. delighted to welcome Prof. Murray ore-finder and mine developer, primarily Most recently his leadership on the Hitzman as an SFI Research Professor for copper, lead, zinc, gold, and rare issue of induced seismicity from energy and as Director of iCRAG. The award earth minerals, and has successfully technologies has resulted in significant includes funding of €5 million to discovered and worked on deposits in redirection of U.S. federal government support a body of research critical Europe, North America, southern Africa, research spending and policy changes in to the development of the minerals Australia/Oceania and South America. His energy development in a number of U.S. industry in Ireland. particular success in Africa has been in his states. vital contribution to the discovery of the Prof. Murray Hitzmann, who moved to Prof. Murray Hitzman has a long history world-class Kamoa copper deposit in the Ireland following his position of Associate with Ireland. With Chevron Corporation he Democratic Republic of Congo, alongside Director for Energy and Minerals at the US was jointly responsible for the discovery of the development of three high-value mines Geological Survey, is one of the world’s the Lisheen zinc-lead deposit from 1990- in Zambia. leading economic geologists. With several 1993. Prof. Hitzman will introduce top-level decades of global experience, Prof. In academia Prof. Hitzman built and expertise in economic geology to UCD and Hitzman’s key research achievements directed the largest economic geology iCRAG creating extensive synergies with have centered on the development of research group in the United States at the Centre’s established work programme new genetic models for both established the Colorado School of Mines. Prof. in raw materials and 3D modelling. His and poorly understood classes of metallic Hitzman has extensive leadership research programme will complement, mineral deposits. experience in national policy formulation build upon and significantly extend the raw materials research of iCRAG, and will develop advanced techniques and technologies in the search for new deposits in Ireland, Africa and elsewhere. His research programme will study the geology, geochemistry and geophysical signature of mineral deposits in the Irish zinc-lead orefield and other mineral systems in Europe and Africa. In Ireland, a 4D model (3D + time) of the structural/ stratigraphic architecture of the Carboniferous basin, and more detailed models of individual mineral deposits and prospects, will be constructed utilising existing geological, geophysical and geochemical data, and new seismic datasets. Taken together these research initiatives will provide an improved basis for future mineral exploration in Ireland. In the Central African Copperbelt he will advance his groundbreaking fundamental scientific work utilizing new isotopic, thermobarometric, and geochronological data. Prof. Hitzman’s extensive industry and academic contacts will enable him to catalyse a new phase of investment, by deepening industry collaborations and leveraging increases in EU funding under Horizon 2020. His research programme will greatly support the development of skilled graduates for both academia and industry, and he will work to improve public understanding of the critical role of minerals to support a sustainable society. Prof. Hitzman’s work programme will attract leading researchers to UCD and iCRAG, and will develop the country’s native talent pool to position Ireland at the vanguard of international minerals research.

94 www.imqs.ie Lokotrack® mobile plants Often copied, never equaled

At Metso & McHale, we know that the real measure of our worth is in the results we deliver to our customers.

Each Metso Lokotrack® is built to last for decades. In fact, the first Lokotrack built in 1985 is still in everyday use. Its high level of engineering and strict quality controls ensure that each Lokotrack can operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

By choosing the original Lokotrack, you guarantee that your operations - and profit – stay up and running. Uninterrupted.

More information about Metso mobile plants on www.metso.com/product-finder/

Birdhill, Co. Tipperary Rathcoole, Co. Dublin Tel: +353 (0)61-379112 +353 (0)1-4018540 Email: [email protected] www.mchaleplantsales.com

LT_ad_A4_McHale.indd 1 13/07/2018 15:14:02 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Industry Leader

Anne Graham, BE MEn Sc MBA CEng FIEI FIAE, Chief Executive Officer, National Transport Authority

Anne is Chief Executive Officer with Prior to joining the NTA, she worked the National Transport Authority (NTA). in the Dublin local authorities as a civil The Authority is responsible for the engineer, including the drainage and roads provision, regulation and integration departments. In roads, she was involved of public transport services, the in the design of the Dublin Port Tunnel. provision of supporting infrastructure In 2000, she moved into a managerial for sustainable transport and for driving role in the city council and worked in the the greater use of sustainable transport department responsible for corporate as a mode of choice. The Authority policy and business planning. has a broad remit which is outlined on Anne was then appointed project manager www.nationaltransport.ie. for redeveloping Dublin’s O’Connell Street Ann holds a Bachelor’s degree in area. That role included the management Engineering and a Master of Engineering and provision of public transport services of construction of the Spire and the new street design, as well as the promotion of Science Degree - Transportation nationally. She was also responsible for development in tax-designated sites. She Engineering from University College Dublin the integration of public transport through also worked as an Area Manager in the and a MBA Local Government from Dublin the provision of Real Time Passenger South West area of the city bringing local City University. Information signs and the Leap Card and authority services closer to consumers in Anne has previously worked for the integrated transport information available four local offices. Housing regeneration and Authority as Director of Public Transport on the TransportforIreland website and community development were key parts of Services responsible for the regulation apps. her functions.

96 www.imqs.ie

DONNELL & ELLIS HEAVY HAULAGE LTD 4646 BeltanyBeltany Road Omagh,Omagh, Co. Tyrone NorthernNorthern Ireland BT78 5NF5NF Tel: (028) 8224 7015 Fax: (028) 8225 0545 Email:Email: info@[email protected]

ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 Industry Leader

Moyagh Murdock, Chief Executive Officer, Road Safety Authority

Moyagh has been in the transport sector for over 20 years in various capacities. In her early career she spent 10 years in the airline industry having worked first in Bombardier in Belfast as an aircraft systems engineer and subsequently at TEAM Aer Lingus. She spent 8 years with TEAM as Manager Demand Management and as International Line Maintenance Manager. She then moved into the heavy plant, construction and marine industry working for the safest country in Europe when it comes to that employees face and create when they Caterpillar dealership in Ireland as Group road safety. drive for work. Product and Customer Support manager Moyagh believes that robust action in This educational activity is complimented for seven years. terms of education, engineering and by an enforcement strategy that operates Prior to joining the Road Safety Authority enforcement have contributed to the on a targeted risk based approach with (RSA), Moyagh was the Chief Operating reduction in the number of fatalities. These efforts focused on those presenting as Officer for Bus Éireann after having joined developments are a consequence of and a higher risk and allowing complaint the Company in 2007 as the Deputy Chief have contributed to a huge shift in both operators go about their business with Mechanical Engineer with responsibility the behaviour of road users and attitudes minimum disruption. This is achieved using for the fleet maintenance and garage to road safety. the Commercial Vehicle Operator Risk Indicator (CVORI) during both roadside operations. As Chief Operating Officer, The RSA works on the premise of the and premises inspections. she had responsibility for Road Passenger education / enforcement model in which Operations, Schools Transport as well as awareness is supported by other activity Recent progress and experience from the Information Technology and Business helps to shape the climate of public other best practice countries proves Systems for the Company. opinion and build community support for beyond doubt that Ireland has the capacity Moyagh took up the role as CEO of the road safety. to become one of the safest in Europe. By working together we can ensure that RSA on the 17th February 2014. Since her For example the Driving for Work mission is achieved. appointment as Chief Executive of the programme recognises that driving for RSA, Moyagh has spearheaded the drive to work is a high risk activity, people who Moyagh comes from Newry and graduated make Irelands roads the safest in the world. drive for work are 40% more likely than from Queen’s University Belfast with a She is committed to working closely with other drivers to be involved in a collision. B.Eng. Mechanical Engineering. In 2012 all partners, stakeholders and the public In addition to the human cost driving for she was awarded an MBA from Dublin to save lives and prevent injuries on our work incidents create a financial burden City University (DCU) and also holds a roads. Ireland had the safest year on record for industry. Employers, managers and Certificate of Professional Competence in in 2017 with 157 deaths and is now the 5th supervisors by law must manage the risks Road Transport Operations Management.

98 www.imqs.ie Offering a comprehensive range of services: SLR is one of • access & highway studies • noise vibration assessments Ireland’s leading • air quality assessments • planning & permitting environmental • archaeology • quarry planning & design and advisory • civil & structural engineering • resource assessments consultancies • ecological surveys • restoration/afteruse schemes • environmental impact assessment • review of NI minerals permissions (ROMPS) • extractive waste management plans • substitute consents required by • geology & geotechnical assessment the planning & development • hydrology & hydrogeology (amendment act 2010 ) • landscape & visual assessments • topographic surveys • masterplanning/strategic planning • waste management strategy • mineral valuation & rating • wind energy & hydro power

www.slrconsulting.com

We work with clients across six sectors across a network of offices in Africa, Australia, Europe & North America. BUILT MINING & ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY INFRASTRUCTURE MINERALS OIL & GAS POWER

Contact us today: Belfast Office - Peter O’Connor: e: [email protected] t: +44 (0)28 907 32493 Dublin Office - Tim Paul: e: [email protected] t: +353 (0)1 296 4667

PRECISION ENGINEERED - HEAVY DUTY - LONG LIFE - PERFORMANCE

*ALL ROLLERS MANUFACTURED USING CAST IRON END COVERS* *UNIQUE DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION*

MANUFACTURERS OF:

· HEAVY DUTY CONVEYOR ROLLERS · VARIABLE ANGLE TROUGHING SETS · FIXED ANGLE TROUGHING SETS · STEERING SETS · DISC RETURN ROLLERS · STEEL RETURN ROLLERS · RUBBER COVERED ROLLERS · GARLAND SETS

BROAD RANGE OF STANDARD PRODUCTS EX STOCK ALSO MANUFACTURED TO CUSTOMERS SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

RELIABLE - ROBUST - REAL VALUE FOR MONEY WWW.ABBEYROLLERS.IE TEL: 021-4962745 EMAIL:[email protected]

Congratulations to The Irish Mining & Quarrying Society on your 60th Anniversary

www.imqs.ie 99 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 The National Development Plan 2018-2027

by Anne Graham, Chief Executive Officer, National Transport Authority.

The National Development Plan 2018-2027 was published recently, and there’s no doubt that it contains some very good news for those who have been calling for significant investment in public transport. With funding earmarked for projects such as MetroLink, BusConnects and Dart Expansion we can begin to look forward to a public transport system that meets the needs of a dynamic, vibrant and competitive economy and that delivers for the people of Ireland, writes Anne Graham. THE RECENT publication of the National Development Plan (NDP) marked the first time in a number of years, certainly since the economic crash – that funding for major infrastructural improvements in our public transport network was to be made available. The Luas Green Line extension (or Luas Cross City) was completed in December of last year, but other than that, plans to build or extend our public transport infrastructure were largely put on hold as the country tried to weather the economic storm in the last decade. Now as the economy continues to recover, and as more and more people are at work, there is at last, scope to address the infrastructural deficiencies that have accumulated in recent years and to tackle the bottlenecks and the congestion that are impeding progress. Under the NDP three major public transport projects are to become a reality: • MetroLink • Dart Expansion • Bus Connects The completion of these projects over MetroLink operations in tunnel, on viaducts and on the surface with segregation and carry the next ten years or so will be good A metro for Dublin has long been mooted news for the travelling public, good news higher number of passengers than a as piece of transport infrastructure that for communities that will be served by a standard light rail system. needs to be delivered. When we refer vastly-improved public transport network, A metro project connecting Swords and and good news for the country. It will also to a metro, we’re talking about a high be good news for the construction sector capacity urban railway system which is Dublin City Centre has been proposed and for the various industries and sectors fully segregated from all other traffic. and suggested for many years. A detailed that feed into that, and with €8.6bn Because of its segregation it provides proposal was developed for a scheme earmarked, the level of activity from that a high frequency of service with a high extending from St. Stephen’s Green to point of view will be significant. level of reliability. Metros are designed for Swords and the planning go-ahead was

100 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

given when a Railway Order was issued The route for the remaining element of 2010, although the project was postponed the overall Dart Expansion Programme, the following year. the Dart Underground Tunnel, will be In 2015, the National Transport Authority established and protected to allow for its (NTA) published the report of the Fingal/ future delivery. North Dublin Transport Study, which Bus Connects assessed the need for a metro solution against various alternatives that had At the heart of the BusConnects project been identified. It concluded that a metro is our proposal to develop continuous scheme was the appropriate solution to bus lanes, as far as practicable, along the meet the public transport needs of the busiest bus corridors in Dublin and the Swords – Airport –City Centre corridor. regional cities. This was then included in the Transport Overall, the proposal envisages the Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area which provision of about 230 kilometres of was approved by the Minister for Transport bus lanes on sixteen of the busiest bus Tourism & Sport in 2016. In fact a full north- corridors in Dublin, which we refer to as south metro spine connecting Swords to “Radial Core Bus Corridors”. Sandyford through the city centre was At present, these busy corridors only have identified as a key project to meet the dedicated bus lanes along less than one growing transport demand in the region. third of their lengths. This means that for The Luas Green Line opened for operation most of the journey, buses are competing in 2004, and when it was designed, it for space with general traffic and so was future proofed so that it could be are affected by the increasing levels of upgraded to metro standard relatively congestion. This delays services causing easily. When NTA and TII were looking a Railway Order in Q3, 2019. A decision in real frustration for people looking for again at Metro in the context of the NDP, 2020 by ABP would mean construction consistent and predictable journey times. a Green Line Metro Upgrade study was could get under way in 2021. This makes the overall system less efficient, carried out to determine the extent of The construction will take an estimated less reliable and less punctual. the infrastructure works required to six years to complete, with MetroLink These new bus corridors will deliver a upgrade the current Luas Green Line to a becoming operational in 2027. transformation in the performance of these fully segregated Metro standard, and the routes, making it easier and quicker for benefits that such investment would bring. Dart expansion passengers to come and go by bus. On foot of that study, we recommended The Dart Expansion Programme is a We want to remove the current delays and that such an upgrade should take place as series of projects that will create a full uncertainties, so that in the future, bus part of a single MetroLink project. metropolitan area Dart network for Dublin journeys will be faster, more punctual and So now, MetroLink is a north-south railway with all of the lines linked and connected. more reliable. That’s what we mean when service that will run between Swords and The initial sequencing of investment will we talk about a vastly improved service for Sandyford, connecting key destinations focus on delivery of non-underground passengers. along the route, including Dublin Airport tunnel elements of the programme using and the City Centre. Large sections of the recently opened rail link and existing In addition, we also want to provide a the route will be underground, including connector tunnel under the Phoenix Park. dedicated cycle track on each side of through the important city centre area. This includes buying additional fleet for the road, providing safe cycling facilities, segregated from other vehicular traffic. The tunnelled section will be some 12km in the Dart network and measures such as length and we are still considering whether re-signalling, junction and station changes The standard layout also includes the tunnel will be twin bore or single bore. to provide expanded services. The next footpaths for pedestrians and supporting step will be to provide fast, high-frequency elements such as pedestrian crossings There will be a total of 25 stations, electrified services to Drogheda on the at all key road crossing points, and bus (including 15 new stations), 3,000 park- Northern Line, Celbridge/Hazelhatch shelters for waiting passengers. and-ride spaces, with a journey time on the Kildare Line, Maynooth and M3 of about 50 minutes from Swords to Parkway on the Maynooth/Sligo Line, In conclusion Sandyford. while continuing to provide services on So without doubt, there are exciting times The emerging preferred route identified the South-Eastern Line as far south as ahead for all of us who are involved in by NTA and TII was published in March, Greystones. planning, delivering and operating public followed by a period of non-statutory It will also include new stations to provide transport. public consultation which concluded interchange with bus, Luas and Metro More importantly perhaps, there are in May. Members of the public took the networks. The significant benefit to using exciting times ahead for those who will opportunity to draw attention to concerns the recently opened rail link and existing ultimately enjoy the benefits of the top- around matters such as the siting of connector tunnel under the Phoenix Park excavation sites, continued permeability quality transport service that we have and the proposed sequence of investment, in residential areas, and existing public been asked to provide. That includes is that it will enable additional passenger transport services. They also took the people living along the MetroLink route services to be put in place much earlier opportunity to let us know important they in places like Swords who will be able to using existing infrastructure with some get to the city centre in 20 minutes or so; feel the project is for the future of Dublin enhancements. and for their communities. people in places like Drogheda, Balbriggan, This integrated rail network will provide a Maynooth and Celbridge who will now be TII and NTA will consider the all core, high-capacity transit system for the served by the Dart; and people in all parts submissions made and will publish a report region and will deliver a very substantial of the Dublin area who will be able to move on the consultation process later this year. increase in peak-hour capacity on all lines around with ease, on a bus network that is We hope to be in a position to make an from Drogheda, Maynooth, Celbridge/ among the most punctual and reliable in application to An Bórd Pleanála (ABP) for Hazelhatch and Greystones. the world.

www.imqs.ie 101 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 EFEE (European Federation of Explosives Engineers)

by Alan Dolan, Ground Control Engineer, Boliden Tara Mines

EFEE was founded in 1988 and has 25 One of EFEE’s primary on-going projects of a minimum standard of competency National Associations representing is PECCS (Pan-European Competency and allow a shotfirer/blast designer to 25 countries. Its purpose is to provide Certificate for Shot Firers/Blast Designers). work in any European country. It will be a European forum for professionals Currently in Europe there is no minimum supplementary to the training already working in the field of commercial training standard to become a shotfirer/ existing in respective European countries. explosives. blast designer. Each country has its own Two PECCS test courses have been held so The IMQS represents Ireland as a National training requirement and standards far with the next course to take place on which makes working in more than one Association at EFEE council meetings. 10th to 14th September 2018 in Dresden. European country difficult and quite The EFEE have many committees Participants are individuals with teaching often prohibitive. representing the interests of explosives backgrounds relating to shotfiring, as well users and manufacturers in Europe (see To help alleviate this issue, EFEE has as practical shotfirers. www.efee.eu). The association holds a created PECCS, the Pan-European bi-annual world conference. The 10th EFEE Competency Certificate for Shot Firers/ Feedback from the test courses is used to World Conference will take place from Blast Designers which aims to aid the refine the course structure. For more about 15th September to 17th September 2019 transfer of shotfiring and Blast design the project’s progress, learning material in Helsinki, Finland. More details at skills within European member states. This used or to take part in the course, visit the www.efee2019.com. accreditation will signify the achievement official web site; www.shotfirer.eu.

Serving the Mining Industry for over 30 years

Underground Contracting Services • Mine Development • Production Drilling & Blasting • Underground Services Installation • Underground Construction QME Limited • Shotcreting Services Coolfore Road, • Underground Equipment Ardbraccan, Navan, • Equipment Rental / Repair Co. Meath • Equipment Rebuild and Supply Tel: + 353 46 9073709 Fax: +353 46 9079423 • Provision of Miners and Onsite Training Email: [email protected]

102 www.imqs.ie GIANTS OF BELTING

E: [email protected] ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Lambay Island Was this the site of Ireland’s First Quarry?

by Tony Killian, former Editor of the Annual Review (R.I.P.)

Lambay Island. In this view, looking for the arrival of a small group of refugees east from Malahide, the harbour with from Brigantia, fleeing the Romans from 71 white buildings is in front of the trees to 74 AD. to the right of the large green pasture St. Colmcille is said to have established a area. The castle is hidden from view monastic settlement on Lambay c.530 A.D. among the trees. Remains of an enclosure have been found Lambay Island (Reachra - “place of many to the south of the present early C20th shipwrecks”) (pop. 10) lies off the coast of church. north Co. Dublin, east of Portrane and north Ireland’s Viking period began with a raid on of Ireland’s Eye. It is the largest island off Lambay in 795.AD. Dublin’s greatest Norse the east coast and the easternmost point in ruler, King Sitric, granted the island to the Republic of Ireland. Christ Church Cathedral, and in 1181 Prince Lambay is about 2.5 square kilometers in John granted it to the Archbishops of Dublin. This was confirmed by King Edward size, and rises to 127 metres over sea level. quarrying to final polishing There are steep cliffs on the northern, III in 1337 and by King Richard II in 1394. eastern and southern sides of the island, History A later Archbishop gave the rents of the island to the nuns of Grace Dieu, including with a more low-lying western shore. The ancient Greek writers Pliny and the tithes of the Lambay rabbits, at that Ptolemy knew about the island and referred The geology is dominated by igneous time worth 100 shillings a year. rocks, with shales and limestones, with to it as Limnus or Limni. The modern name During the Reformation, Archbishop Brown two outcrops of porphyritic andesite, or probably originated with the practice of granted the Island to John Challoner for a Lambay porphyry, as it is more commonly sending over ewes to the island in spring to rent of £6.13.4, on conditions that he inhabit known. lamb in a predator-free environment, and is Lambay “with a colony of honest men” and a combination of the word “lamb” and “ey”, Lambay was important in that in the within 6 years build a village, castle and the Norse word for island. Neolithic period in Ireland and rock harbour for the benefit of fishermen and as outcrops were utilised as a ground stone A number of Iron Age burials were a protection against smugglers. Challoner axe quarrying and production site. The discovered in 1927 on Lambay during works worked four mines for silver and copper quarry site is unusual in Ireland for being on the island’s harbour. The finds included a and bred falcons on the island’s many the only Neolithic stone axe quarry with number of Romano-British items, and these cliffs... evidence for all stages of production, from items have been interpreted as evidence In 1611 the island was granted to Sir William Ussher and his heirs. James Ussher lived on Lambay in 1626 The Ussher family held the Island for 200 years. During the Williamite War the island was used as an internment camp for Jacobite soldiers. More than one thousand of them were imprisoned there after the Battle of Aughrim in 1691, and more than a few died of wounds and starvation. The 10th century saw the ownership of the Lambay change a number of times before the Baring family of banking fame purchased it in 1904. Sir Edwin Lutyens was contracted to work on renovation of the island’s main residence and grounds. He designed each individual stone of the mock medieval castle, which has no right angles. Cecil Baring became Lord Revelstoke in 1929 and Lambay is privately owned by his descendants to this day. Shipwrecks The island has claimed a number of shipwrecks, notably RMS Tayleur, the

104 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

largest merchantman of her day, on 21st introduced fallow deer (a herd of about Lambay with the intensity of a forensic January 1854, with the loss of 380 lives. 200) and wallabies (whose ancestors were police search. Although their discoveries The White Star Line`s biggest, best, and exiled to the island in the 1980s when were not quite Galapagosian, they did find most modern passenger ship, the first Dublin Zoo became overcrowded). 5 species new to science (3 worms, 1 mite ever ironclad clipper, huge at 1979 tons, Current status and 1 bristletail), 17 species new to the with masts 45m high, and at least 650 British Isles and 90 new to Ireland. passengers on board, was on her maiden Still privately owned by the Baring family, Lambay Island supports one of the largest voyage en route to Australia via Dublin and Lambay is home to an adapted medieval and most important seabird colonies trying to set a new record for the shortest castle and an Edwin Lutyens-designed in Ireland, with over 50,000 Common ever sea passage from Liverpool to Dublin estate. The estate includes a distinctive Guillemots, 5,000 Kittiwakes, 3,500 to impress the emigrants aboard. open-air real tennis court. Razorbills and 2,500 pairs of Herring Gulls, The ship was undermanned, and the crew Due to its deep surrounding waters, the as well as smaller numbers of Puffins, Manx were inexperienced, and nobody had yet island is a particularly popular location for Shearwaters, Fulmars and other species. worked out how to use a compass aboard scuba-divers. The island is accessible, by Among the mammals of the island are a metal craft. In thick weather, land was prior permission only, from Rogerstown an ever-increasing number of wallabies sighted ahead. It was misidentified, at Harbour, 4 km away, 27 km north of Dublin (whose ancestors were exiled to the island terrible cost. The massive square-rigger in Rush. in the 1980s when Dublin Zoo became struck the island and died slowly on the Lambay Island Chart overcrowded), thousands of rabbits, and a rocks. Escape from the ship at this critical herd of about 200 fallow deer. Grey Seals The island being privately owned, landing point favoured the able bodied: some abound in the local waters, and the island’s is not permitted without the permission of scrambled ashore, others slid down a rope. claim to be the home of Ireland’s only east- the owners. However, it is a very popular coast colony seems at best out of date. Only 3 of the 200 women on board destination for anglers and for sailors who survived. Corpses littered the shore for like to anchor in one of the many sheltered Bird watchers flock to the island, and weeks afterwards; 100 are buried on bays or observe the wildlife. The island due to its deep surrounding waters, it is Lambay. It is believed that most of the is host to a very large and internationally a particularly popular location for scuba- remaining emigrants did eventually make it important breeding population of seabirds divers. Visitors also come to see the castle’s to Australia. and seals. beautiful fuchsia gardens, distinctive open- A sailing circumnavigation invariably offers air real tennis court and walled cemetery. Wildlife a wide variety of wind, wave and tidal Lambay Island is accessible, with prior Lambay Island supports one of the largest conditions. permission, from Rogerstown Harbour in and most important seabird colonies Sea anglers find good fishing around the Rush, 4 km away. in Ireland, with over 50,000 Common rocky shores and the various wrecks in the Seabird’s eggs have been harvested Guillemots, 5,000 Kittiwakes, 3,500 vicinity. here on the grand scale in times of crisis. Razorbills, 2,500 pairs of Herring Gulls, as In 1905/6 Ireland’s greatest naturalist, Apparently the birds all feed on municipal well as smaller numbers of Puffins, Manx Robert Lloyd Praeger, in a Darwinian dumps across on the mainland and the Shearwaters, Fulmars and other species. attempt to find separately evolved eggs do no taste fishy at all. During WWII Among the mammals of the island are Grey creatures caused by lengthy isolation, led the eggs were collected and exported to Seals (Ireland’s only east-coast colony) and a team of 20 professionals to examine England.

www.imqs.ie 105 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 The Corinth Canal by Tony Killian, former Editor of the Annual Review (R.I.P.)

Though only completed in the late 19th Several rulers in antiquity also thought of point the Slipway was paved with porous century, the building of the canal was cutting a canal through the Isthmus. The stone throughout its length. Two deep an idea and dream that dates back over first was Periander, the tyrant of Corinth parallel grooves, which ran at a distance of two thousand years. (602 BC). Such a giant project was beyond 1.50 metres from each other, still marks the the technical capabilities of ancient times, Diolkos. The Canal so Periander by a daring decision which led To reduce the weight of the ship as far as When the seafaring Greeks from the to the greatest of technical construction possible, it was unloaded, dragged onto Corinth area, faced with a 400 mile works in early Greece: the building of the the Diolkos initially on wooden cylinders hazardous trip around the Peloponnese Diolkos or Slipway, or “movable platform” and then transferred to a special wheeled peninsula to the Saronic Gulf, an area which to carry ships across the peninsula. vehicle to be dragged across the Isthmus. was plainly visible across the 4 mile narrow The Diolkos was a 10 meters wide roadway The unloaded commodities were taken strip of land, they could only wish for a which ran all the way from the Gulf of by ordinary road to the other end of the possible canal across the Isthmus, to allow Corinth to the Saronic Gulf. Narrowing to Isthmus. On reaching the Slipway’s terminus them a short, safe passage for their ships. between 3.50 and 6 metres after its starting on the Saronic Gulf, the ship was lowered into the sea, and the cargo was reloaded to continue its journey. This arrangement did not merely speed up traffic. It also enabled ships moving between the Central and Eastern Mediterranean to avoid the rough seas almost unavoidable in a voyage round the Peloponnese. The Diolkos was repeatedly repaired in ensuing centuries and remained in use until the days of Augustus, though the appearance of ever-larger ships curtailed its usefulness. There is hardly any mention of its use in later centuries, and then only in connection with warlike activities. Between 1956 and 1959, the Greek Archaeological Society carried out excavations designed to trace the course of the Diolkos. Dimitrios Poliorkitis, king of Macedon (c. 300 BC), was the second who tried to build the canal, but his engineers insisted that if the seas where connected, the more northerly Adriatic, mistakenly thought to be higher, would flood the more southern Aegean. The most serious attempt to build a canal was that of Emperor Nero (67 AD) who provided 6,000 slaves for the job, starting the work himself by digging with a golden hoe, while music was played. However he was killed before the canal could be built. In the 19th century, the first who thought seriously about carrying out the project was Capodistrias (c. 1830), first governor of Greece after the liberation from the Ottoman Turks, but the budget, estimated at 40 million French francs, was too much for the Greek state. The modern attempt at construction began in the 1870’s following the successful opening of the Suez Canal. A French company was hired to build it, but due to financial difficulties, the company ceased work after only the two ends had been dug. Finally, in 1881 a Greek company led by Andreas Syngros, (the main contractor being Antonis Matsas), ultimately took over the project.

106 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Corinth Gulf. The Diolkos.

Building retreated from Greece, the canal was ship traffic. This is particularly important put out of action by German “scorched for sailing vessels. Additionally, the lack The builders dug the canal through earth” operations. German forces used of an above-deck structure is considered the Isthmus at sea level; no locks were explosives to set off landslips to block the aesthetically pleasing. However, the employed. A persistent problem was the canal, destroyed the bridges and dumped presence of the submerged bridge heavily faulted nature of the sedimentary locomotives, bridge wreckage and other structure limits the draft of vessels in the rock, in an active seismic zone, through infrastructure into the canal to hinder repair waterway. which the canal is cut. The canal’s high work. limestone walls have been persistently They were installed in 1988. unstable from the start. Although it was The United States Army Corps of Engineers formally opened in July 1893 it was not began work to clear the canal in November The Motorway Bridge opened to navigation until the following 1947 and managed to reopen it for shallow- The E 94 highway Olimpia Odos from November, due to landslides. It was soon draft traffic by 7 July 1948, and for all traffic Athens to Kalamata on the Peloponnese found that the wake from ships passing by that September. peninsula which crossed the canal, was through the canal undermined the walls, The “Sinking Bridges” upgraded to motorway standard as part of causing further landslides. This required the A7 in 2005. The motorway bridge has further expense in building retaining walls An unique feature of the canal are the walkways on both sides (as well as parking along the water’s edge for somewhat more two ‘sinking’ bridges, originally called sub spaces on both directions of traffic) and than half of the length of the canal, utilising ducting bridges, situated at both ends of offers a vertical view of the canal from some 165,000 cubic meters of masonry. the Canal at Isthmia and Corinthand, which higher above. Between 1893 and 1940, it was closed for lower the center spans below water level a total of four years for maintenance to when they give way to ships crossing the The Railway Bridge stabilise the walls. In 1923 alone, 41,000 channel. The location of a new 250m High Speed cubic meters of material fell into the canal, The primary advantage of lowering the Railbridge was chosen to be alongside the which took two years to clear out. bridge instead of lifting it above is that new motorway connecting Athens to the there is no structure above the shipping West over the north side of Peloponnese, Achievement channel and thus no height limitation on with construction of the railway bridge The Corinth Canal is considered a great technical achievement for its time. It is 3.9 miles (6.3 km) long and has a water depth of 26 feet (8 m) at low tide. Its width varies from a minimum of 69 feet (21 m) at the bottom to 82 feet (25 m) maximum at the water’s surface. The job was completed and regular use of the Canal started on Oct 28, 1893, but it failed to attract the level of traffic anticipated by its operators. World War II Serious damage was caused to the canal during World War II, when it was the scene of fighting due to its strategic importance. On 26 April 1941, during the Battle of Greece between defending British troops and the invading forces of Nazi Germany, the Germans were able to surprise the defenders with a glider-borne assault in the early morning of 26 April and captured the bridge over the canal The bridge was defended by the British and had been wired for demolition, and the British were able to set off the charges and destroy the structure. Three years later, as German forces A bridge being submerged to allow boats to pass through.

www.imqs.ie 107 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

The motorway and railway bridges. Tourist viewing area. completed in 2007. of retrolift or upgrade of the load capacity was far below what had been predicted. This bridge is one of the most important of the bridge. An annual traffic of just under 4 million Greek bridges,and was the first railway It was designed by Odomichaniki SA, net tons had been anticipated but by 1906 bridge in Greece constructed with partial constructed by Michaniki SA, and traffic had reached only half a million net seismic isolation by use of lead rubber completed in 2007. tons annually. By 1913 the total had risen to bearings at the abutments and piers and some 1.5 million net tons, but the disruption longitudinal hydraulic shock absorbers at caused by the First World War produced a the abutments. It has three spans of 60 major decline in traffic. meters + 110 meters + 60 meters totalling Some unusual features make this a 230 meters in length. visually stunning piece of engineering, Its central span bridges the Canal leaving a but also render it impractical for modern free height of 52 meters for ship passage. commercial shipping. It can only The centre span was constructed using the accommodate ships of up to 54ft (c 16m) free cantilever method while the two side and a depth of 24ft (c 7m) – too small for modern ocean freighters. spans were cast in situ. The foundation is a combination of deep concrete shafts and Ships can pass through the canal only one shallow pile groups working as anchors at a time on a one-way system. Larger ships to avoid excessive loading imposed on are towed by tugs. However, the canal is the banks of the channel. The bridge still used by many smaller craft, and there structure was designed to withstand design are also cruises organized where travelling earthquakes with an acceleration of 0.78g along the canal with the ship almost while the isolation system was designed touching the land on each side can be a for the maximum credible earthquake of memorable experience. 0.975g. The Corinth Canal is not only an Provisions were made so that the bridge Canal usage international shipping route but also could also sustain tetonic movements of The canal experienced financial and a tourist attraction point. Hundreds of 0.25 meters between its first abutment operational difficulties after completion. thousands of tourists from domestic and and pier. Due to a fault crossing between The narrowness of the canal makes abroad visit the Canal every year and them frame type special structures navigation difficult; its high rock walls admire this great project while crossing were designed at the two abutments in channel high winds down its length, and the through it, and others indulge a new order to prevent uplift during extreme different times of the tides in the two gulfs activity which takes place in the Canal, loading conditions. End and intermediate cause strong tidal currents in the channel. bungee jumping. anchorage blocks were also designed to For these reasons, many ship operators Some 11,000 ships per year travel through enable future external prestressing in case did not bother to use the canal and traffic the waterway.

108 www.imqs.ie intelligent washing solutions

http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Your_Industry/Quarrying/Events_Organisations_Publi cations/All_Island_Quarry_Safety_Conference/All_Island_Seminar_2018_Exhi bitors_Info/All_Island_Exhibitors_Info.htmlWASHING/FEEDING/SCREENING/RECYCLING/ENGINEERING/WEARPARTS

VENUE This is your opportunity to interact with over 200 Owners, Operators, Directors, Managers, and other To be held at Doran’s Pit, leaders from the Extractive Industries across the Island of Ireland Blessington, First Call for Exhibitors Large outdoor display areas (20 x 10 metre) can be o ered to exhibit machinery, plant and County Wicklow equipment and to make practical demonstrations to the people that matter. Equipment demonstrations will run concurrently with presentations from Industry Experts In association with: Smaller Internal Table Plots are also available in one of the Marquees External display areas are priced at €750 and Internal Plots are priced at €200 (Discounts apply for IMQS Members) To reserve an External Display Area, Internal Table Plots or book delegate tickets click here or visit https://tinyurl.com/hsam-q2018 Please contact the IMQS at [email protected] for more details.

Speaker Organisation Title of Presentation

Brian Carroll Sandvik Mining & Sandvik - Underground Mining - Load, Haul & Drill Vehicle Rock Technology Automation

Cormac McCarthy Roadstone Limited Mobile Plant and Fixed Plant safety in Quarries

Dr Tom Donnelly (O ce of the Chief Taking care of your most valuable assets - Your Employees Medical O cer)

Brendan Morris Lisheen Mining The e ectiveness of Human Factor Safety Initiatives at Lisheen Technical Services Mine - A Case Study

Maurice Maveric Contractors McNamara (Civil Engineers) How modern technology improves safety in our business GPS systems, Drones, fully automatic hydraulic Oil Quick couplers

Johnny Evans & Northstone Limited Management of dust exposure in Extractive Pierce Kirwan quarries

A number of Senior Managers and Decision Makers will attend the event Industries including representatives of Ireland

26th of September 2018 Wednesday - 9.00 – 18.00

Health and Safety Conference and and many more Companies and Independent Operators VENUE Exhibition for the Mining, Quarrying To be held at Doran’s Pit, Blessington, Co. Wicklow on Wednesday the 26th of September 2018, and Construction Products Industries 9.00 – 18.00

www.imqs.ie 109 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 The Shanxi Hanging Temple

by Tony Killian, former Editor of the Annual Review (R.I.P.)

There’s no shortage of breathtaking architectural wonders in the long history of China. Some are magnificent, while some are odd, dangerous, and sophisticated. Hanging Temple, also known as Hanging Monastery or Xuankong Temple, is an outstanding representative of the latter. Location Shanxi Monastery stands at the foot of Mt. Hengshan, 40 miles from Datong City in China, hanging on the west cliff of Jinxia Gorge more than 50 meters above the nearest point by road, which point can only be reached after a tortuous and dangerous journey. Construction The building process began at the time of Northern Wei Dynasty, 1400 years ago, and according to the history of Hengshan Mountain, the whole construction started by only one person, a monk named Liao think that the temple is supported by these unusual. The architecture and everything Ran. The Temple was designed skillfully fragile wooden sticks, but when the temple it symbolizes embodies a great cultural and boldly constructed. The method used was built, there were no sticks needed achievement of Chinese people. was to chisel horizontal holes in the cliff, to support the temple, and the whole with crossbeams half-inserted into the rock Why build a monastery like this? Location temple seemed to be hanging against the as the foundation, while the rock in back is the first reason; building a monastery became its support. cliff. People didn’t dare to walk onto it on the cliff could shield it from floods. In without the temple having visible support, addition, the mountain peak protects it Boards and pillars were placed on the so later the master of the temple had to from rain and snow; and the mountain beams to build various beam frames and order workers to add several wooden around it also diminishes damage from roofs. Balusters were set around all the sticks to comfort people mentally. The long-time sunshine. The second reason is buildings and the temple was arranged in existing monastery was largely rebuilt and that the builders followed a principle in random from north to south, with a bluff Taoism: no noises, including those from inside and several plank passages built maintained in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). rooster crowing and dog baying; so from along the face of the cliff. Beam frames and the upper ground, all noises drop away. balusters were connected to each other to Construction experts from countries form one integrated mass. including Britain, Germany, and Italy, Serving three religions It can be seen from the foot of the come to see the monastery. In their The second attraction of Hanging mountain that the monastery is “supported” words, Hanging Monastery, which mixes Monastery is that it includes Buddhism, by over 20 vertical beams. It is easy to mechanics, aesthetics, and Buddhism, is Taoism and Confucianism. Inside

The people shown here are making their perilous way to the The approach road. most strangely constructed Hanging Temple.

110 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

A lone lady slowly makes her way down to safety. Walkways at the Hanging Monastery. the monastery, the sculptures of has a three-eave gable and hip roof with world’s top ten most odd and dangerous Sakyamuni, Confucius and Laotzu appear nine ridges. Statues of Confucius, Laozi (a buildings. together, which is very unusual. scholar in ancient China) and Sakyamuni With the development of tourism, more the founders of Confucianism, The inner temple and more visitors rush to this world wonder, Taoism and Buddhism respectively, are bringing a tremendous load to the temple. When stepping into the temple, one can enshrined in the hall. Different cultures Hanging Temple is even more dangerous smell ancient feelings from the old woods. directly encounter one another here. The to visit than the Leaning Tower of Pisa was Take a deep breath… start your wonderful statue of Sakyamuni stands in the middle, prior to its stabilisation and climbing up to tour to explore the embodiment of Chinese that of Laozi on the right and Confucius on the Hanging Monastery is not an easy job. culture in this unique place. the left, with different expressions. There are steps everywhere and the The buildings are arrayed in a line from Displaying the innermost being of three monastery itself is navigated via ladders the south of the cliff to the north, and founders of different doctrines, techniques and tiny trapdoors, so is completely heightened gradually. More than forty of statuaries are really exquisite and are inaccessible to wheelchairs and tricky for halls, rooms and pavilions in the temple are acclaimed as the peak of perfection. people with broad shoulders. divided to three groups. Passing through This building is a perfect combination There are also narrow and steep stairs the temple gate, one can reach a two- of religion and culture of Chinese feudal linking the three main structures hanging storied building. society. The Hanging Monastery was built on the cliff. The walkways between areas At the stele pavilions and the gate towers, at a crossroads between towns so that are slatted, allowing the visitor to see the two tall buildings stand face to face in the travelers would use it as a place to rest ground below, and the whole structure yard, with two bell and drum towers on during their journey. In that more religious sways under the weight of too many both sides of the temple gate, and there are age, travelers were reluctant to stay in people. Anyone suffering from acrophobia square side pavilions. places devoted to other faiths so the or infirmity would be well advised not to Hanging Monastery enshrined the three attempt the climb. The principal building among them is the major religions of China to accommodate Sanguan Hall, a place to offer sacrifice to guests. Visitor Tips Taoism. Statues in the hall are vivid, with The Hanging Monastery is 65 kilometers undecorated faces, black eyebrows and Visiting southeast of Datong City, and takes swaying gussets. Hanging Monastery is an architectural ninety minutes by car. A taxi costs around The central part is the Sansheng Hall, wonder as well as an amazing construction 150rmb or 26rmb for the two-hour bus which enshrines sitting Buddha statues wonder, and it attracts people by its natural journey. There are some decent hotels in with disciples standing submissively on the views and man-made landscaping. It is well the neighboring town. The usual snacks sides. The last building complex the Sanjiao worth a visit, however. In December 2010, are available in the car park, or at the local Hall, the highest one in the temple, and it was listed in the “Time” magazine as the restaurant.

www.imqs.ie 111 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 IMQS Annual Dinner Dance 2017

John and Sinead Francis. David Johnston, Eileen Johnston and Sam Eccles.

Brendan Kieran, Sean Finlay, Siobhan Tinnelly, Brendan Morris. Deshnee Naidoo, CEO of Vendanta Zinc International - Guest Speaker.

Brendan Morris (IMQS President) and Sam Eccles (IQNI Chair). Gordon Best, Brendan Morris and Garfield Harrison.

112 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Eibhlin Doyle and Gerry Stanley. Conor Byrne and Helen Byrne. Lesley and Stan Bartlett.

President Brendan Morris and family. Les and Heather Sanderson.

Chris Stevenson and Ciaran Greenan. Brendan Morris and Deshnee Naidoo. Eibhlin Doyle and Carol Sanderson.

Gerard Morris, Padraig Barrett, Brendan Morris, Kevin Lonergan. Sam Eccles - Chairman of the Institute of Quarrying Northern Ireland.

www.imqs.ie 113 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 IMQS Annual Dinner Dance 2018

Saturday 10th November, 2018

This year’s IMQS Dinner Dance will dancing to the early hours! take place in the Kildare Hotel Spa & The event will be addressed by a Guest of Country Club, Straffan, Co. Kildare. Honour. This is a 5-star resort on a former Georgian There is also ample free parking. estate on 300 rural acres along the River Liffey in County Kildare 30 minutes from This is a social evening with good and Dublin International Airport and Dublin City outstanding entertainment, a brilliant Centre. chance to meet up with old friends The resort offers golf on two internationally and make new acquaintances in the recognised championship courses. industry. Individual or small groups will be Our Golf Tournament will take place accommodated on members tables, so on 10th November at 11.00am - don’t be put off if you want to come by Email [email protected] for more details. sophisticated sound and look, the band yourself or in a small group. Music will be supplied by Vegas Nights perform a brilliant mix of music from Pop Tickets are now available on the who are a fantastic 6 piece band fronted to Country and the Classics! IMQS web page http://www.imqs.ie/ by both a male and female singers with a Followed by a DJ that will keep you DinnerDance.aspx

10th November 2018 Annual Dinner Dance

In the K Club, Straffan, Co Kildare Music by Vegas Nights Tickets now available Book early to avoid disappointment

114 www.imqs.ie Galway | Dublin | Castlebar | London

TOBIN Consulting Engineers is a nationwide consultancy o ering multi-disciplinary engineering services: · Civil · Planning & Feasibility Studies · Structural Expert Areas Include: · Hydrogeology & Hydrology · Energy & Environment · Roads & Transportation · Waste Management · Design & Build · Ecology · Mechanical & Electrical · Residential & Commercial · Water Services · Safety (PSDP) · Mining & Quarrying · Project Management · Sports & Recreational · Traffic (TIA & RSA) · Mineral Valuations

www.imqs.ie 115 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Obituary Dr. John F. Lawlor Geologist, Olympian

by Hugh McCullough, B.L., P.Geo

John Lawlor died in Boston on Sunday sadly died in 2013. Noel and John had Region of Ghana and we were looking for May 20th, 2018, aged 84. John was a soldiered together in the Special Branch of a way of financing its further exploration multitalented individual, being both An Garda Siochána in the late 1950s, and and development. John and the President intellectually and physically strong. He indeed Noel had many hilarious stories to of Pioneer, Jack Cogan arrived in Accra in had a passionate interest in Ancient tell of those early days. As it happened, April 1986, the day after Ronald Reagan both Noel and John left the Guards to bombed Gadaffi in Tripoli. There were Greek history and literature. He held go to college and study geology, John at serious protests outside the US Embassy the Irish hammer throwing record in the Boston University, on a hammer-throwing in Accra that day resulting in the death of early 1960s. sporting scholarship, and Noel at UCD. a policeman, but luckily it did not prevent He competed for Ireland in the Rome Upon graduation, John went to work as Pioneer from pursuing an agreement with and Tokyo Olympics in 1960 and 1964 an exploration geologist in the lead zinc Glencar on the Teberebie Project respectively, and won the British AAA mine at Silvermines, Co. Tipperary where After many visits and discussions, hammer title in 1961. While studying he remained until the late 1960s, when he we concluded an agreement and this geology at Boston University, he was returned to Boston University to complete ultimately led to the development by a three - time NCAA champion in the a PhD in Geology. Upon receiving his Pioneer of the Teberebie Gold Mine which hammer throwing event. John was from a doctorate he was hired by Phil Caret of the is still in production today, more than 30 sporting family – his older brother Paddy Pioneer Group of Boston, a major mutual years and 7 million ounces later, now under gained 12 caps playing rugby for Ireland fund management company. the ownership of Gold Fields. and John himself was also a keen rugby John led and managed Pioneer’s Other Irish notables who worked on the player. John was pre-deceased by his investments in the natural resources sector pre-feasibility of the Teberebie deposit in wife Kathleen, who died in 2016 and he is and it was in that capacity that our paths the early days were geologists Noel Gillatt survived by his five children Mary, Maeve, crossed with John through another Irish and Peter Strogen; electrical engineer John, Paul and Owen. friend of ours in the financial investment Paddy Lord; drilling chief Andy Gailey I first met John in Ghana in early 1986 sector in New York, Gerry Murphy. and honorary Irish mining engineer, John when he came to visit a gold project held Gerry rang Noel one day in 1986 to say Stocks. It was John Lawlor who later there by my former company Glencar that John Lawlor was looking for gold introduced Noel Kiernan to that other Irish Mining plc. At that time, I was working in investments for Pioneer in Africa. At that explorationist of international renown, the Glencar alongside another stalwart of the time, Glencar had secured the licence late Joe Breen. Irish exploration scene, Noel Kieran who over the Teberebie deposit in the Western It was during those early years of drilling out and proving the Teberebie deposit that we got to share some of the best stories from the old days. I do remember one story told around a dinner table in Accra with John and Noel and others about John’s representation for Ireland at the Rome Olympics in 1960. The bus from his hotel to the stadium got caught in a traffic jam and, realizing that he was going to be late for his allotted throwing time, John jumped off the bus and ran to the stadium. Having arrived there, he was refused admission, because he had left his accreditation papers in his jacket on the bus. No amount of gesticulation and explanation could persuade security that he was due to throw the hammer for his country in less than 10 minutes’ time! So John went around the corner and climbed a fence into the ground and made his slot with only moments to spare. Amazingly, he came within a few tens of centimetres of a bronze medal and finished in fourth place. John Lawlor was a gentle, informed professional, and was always interesting company. He was a resourceful man working successfully in the resources Photo of the late John Lawlor (left) with his colleague Jack Cogan of industry. Pioneer Group taken in Accra c 1990. May he rest in peace.

116 www.imqs.ie ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Obituary Dave Fitzgerald 1928 – 2018

by Nicholas Coy, Geologist MHTI

On 30th May 2018, Dave Fitzgerald, mines of the 20th century. He had a wicked former Manager at the Tynagh Lead sense of humour, a passion for the industry, –Zinc Mine in County Galway died and a list of fascinating stories from the peacefully at his daughters home in early days of mine exploration in Ireland. Dublin. One of his most extraordinary stories concerned the underground exploration Dave was born in County Kerry in 1928, the of the Allihies Mine in the early sixties, in son of a railway engineer. After his early which he was involved. After the mine education, during which he excelled in a had been dewatered, his description of number of sporting activities, he graduated descending the 1500 foot, twisting, narrow as a mining engineer from the Camborne and inclined engine shaft in an open iron School of Mines in Cornwall. One of his skip was hair raising and hilarious. earliest jobs was in a chromium mine in Pakistan, and over the following years We were fortunate that he was able to he worked in a number of mines in Asia, attend the 50th anniversary celebration Canada and South America. Management meeting in Tynagh in of the opening of Tynagh at the Loughrea the sixties. Dave is standing in the Hotel in January 2016, where he met By the early sixties he was working in the centre. Murray Pickard, the General many of his old working colleagues and St John D’el Rey Gold Mine in Brazil when Manager is seated on the left with associates for the last time. he got a call from Ireland asking him to join Jim Lenehan the mine accountant the development team on the first major standing behind him. Dave passed away on 30th May 2018, just Lead-Zinc-Copper-Silver deposit in Ireland four months after celebrating his 90th in the 20th century. The mine was at birthday. This was just six months after the and other members of the Tynagh staff, Tynagh in East County Galway which had death of the Tynagh Mine geologist Dave only recently been discovered by Irish Base who were often referred to as “the Whitehead, his longtime friend, work and Metals Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary Canadians” by locals in the early days sailing colleague. Dave Fitzgerald was one of Northgate Exploration. He returned to of the mine, he formed a sailing club on of the last of that unique group of men Ireland and worked as Mine Manager at Loughrea Lake, the first of its kind on those who were a formative part of the revival Tynagh throughout its operating life, up to waters. Over the following years his sailing of Irish mining in the 20th century. He was its final closure in 1982. adventures took him around the Irish coast larger than life in many respects and will and as far as the Mediterranean. Always a keen sportsman, he played rugby be greatly missed by those who knew him. with Corinthians and went fox hunting He had a strong and successful Our sympathies go to his three daughters with the Galway Blazers, but sailing was management style at Tynagh, probably one Grainne, Trish and Kathy. his greatest passion. With Dave Whitehead of the most successful and profitable Irish Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.

L-R: M.V. O’Brien, J. Tonner, D. Fitzgerald (President), C. Blair Dave arriving at the 50th Anniversary of the Tynagh Mine and J. Warfield. opening celebration in Loughrea. He is accompanied by his daughter Grainne. John Kelly is on his right hand side.

www.imqs.ie 117 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Obituary William James Tilson MIMMM CEng ACSM

by Mike Lowther FIMQS and Colleen Cairns (née Tilson)

William James (Jim) Tilson was born Safety Engineer, Jim then spent several years development of the mine rescue team, with on 22nd February 1932 in Draperstown, as Mine Overseer, supervising production, many games of tennis, and swimming. He County Londonderry. He grew up in the capital development, and shaft sinking. enjoyed the desert life, and also greatly village of Moneymore with his parents Following a few months in Tasmania to check encouraged the multi-national workforce to Thomas and Mary, his brother Roy and his out possible jobs, (where Jim declared it take part in team events, such as the annual sister Anne. His father was a policeman, was too wet to settle a family!), Jim, Maisie Mine Sports Festival. and the family roots are in County Cavan. and their two young children returned to the In early 1993, Jim was appointed as Chief Copperbelt in 1965. Jim worked as Shiftboss, Jim attended Moneymore Primary School, Operating Officer for ARCON International Mine Captain and Assistant Underground where he earned a County Scholarship, and Resources, with responsibility for the Manager at the Rhokhana Corporation, then Rainey Endowed Grammar School in development of the first new mine in Kitwe. Magherafelt, where he excelled academically Ireland for 20 years, at Galmoy in County and at sports. He enjoyed rugby, cricket, Then in 1970 a great opportunity to start Kilkenny. Jim was responsible for the boxing and athletics, and was active in the a new mine in Canada came along. Jim detailed engineering and design, completion Boys’ Brigade and Scouts. moved his family to central Manitoba, and of the complex planning and permitting as General Superintendent and Acting Mine process, recruitment of key staff, selection Jim qualified as a teacher from Stranmillis Manager he was responsible for building of contractors and the heavy vehicle fleet, College Belfast in 1953, and followed this not only the Manibridge Mine but also the construction of the mine and site, and up with a post-graduate certificate and whole new town, for Falconbridge Nickel bringing the mine into production. Work diploma from the University of Nottingham Mines Limited. Jim and his wife Maisie were began on site in the summer of 1995, and and Loughborough Training College, where instrumental in encouraging a community by the spring of 1997 the mine development he was good at the teaching of physical spirit by arranging sporting activities aimed education. contract was completed – on time, on at families and workers. The ladies’ walk in budget, and with a good safety record. Jim Returning to Northern Ireland, Jim taught in the woods, children’s swimming club, men’s was then appointed as Managing Director of a Technical Intermediate School, and then fishing competitions, pool/snooker games all ARCON Mines Limited, and guided the ramp- was appointed as Headmaster of a small evolved to a purpose built ice rink for hockey up in production and further development rural school in County Fermanagh. and eventually a community sports centre! of the mine, and a successful exploration However, the wander-lust was beginning to Jim returned to Ireland in 1973, and worked programme in the surrounding area. Jim also set in, and in 1957 Jim set off for Northern for several years as Mine Superintendent and worked on several new business projects Rhodesia (now Zambia). He joined the then General Superintendent at Silvermines, for ARCON Mines Limited, in Australia and Northern Rhodesia Police, and also spent which was owned by International Mogul Hunan Province, China, before retiring in time as a miner at the famous Roan Antelope of Ireland. From all accounts Jim had a very 2001. Mine in Luanshya. On his birthday in 1958 positive effect on production and labour In his private life Jim continued to have a while still on the Copperbelt, Jim married relations, and is still mentioned in dispatches passion for sport (especially team sport, Maisie Shields from Bushmills, County down in Nenagh! particularly rugby) and he enjoyed nothing Antrim. Maisie had also studied at Stranmillis Towards the end of 1975 Jim was appointed more than watching a match with his friends College Belfast, and had then travelled to as General Manager (Mining) for Bula and colleagues. When he took up an interest Southern Rhodesia to work as a teacher in Limited, and worked for ten years on the he would fully embrace the subject and this a brand new primary school in Amandas, Nevinstown Mine project. was so with his interest in music, art and later north of Salisbury (now Harare). Seeing the in life, property. He served for several years potential for a career in the mining industry, Following this Jim spent a few years as Jim and Maisie returned to Cornwall in 1958, an independent consultant, then in 1990 in the late 1990s on the IMQS Council. Jim for Jim to study at the Camborne School was appointed as Manager Production was a tough and uncompromising character, of Mines. Jim excelled at his studies, and and Technical Services at Petromin’s Mahd who demanded high standards from those graduated in 1961 with a first class degree in adh Dhahab Mine in the Kingdom of Saudi working for him. But he also had a caring Mine Engineering. He worked as a student Arabia. Sporting facilities were good, and nature and considered a workforce’s welfare. at South Crofty Tin Mine, Jim interspersed his work duties, and Many who worked at Galmoy are grateful for and also at Rio Tinto Mine in the pension system that Jim Spain. His paper ‘’Open Pit worked tirelessly to establish. Mining at Rio Tinto’’ won the Jim was also a very private William Thomas Memorial person, and spent his later Prize from the Cornish years in retirement in Belfast, Institute of Engineers. where he was able to devote Heading back to Africa, Jim’s his time and energy to his first job was for Newmount family. Mining, at Tsumeb, South- Jim died on 7th February West Africa (now Namibia), 2018, just short of his 86th where he initially worked as birthday and 60th wedding a planning engineer on the anniversary. layout and design of the new An adventurous life, lived to Kombat Mine. After a spell as the full.

118 www.imqs.ie 274-278 Whitehill Street, Glasgow G32 3EL email: [email protected] Web: www.cormac.co.uk

44 cu m Vertical Electric Low Energy Tank supplied to Kerry Tarmac Manufacturing / McSweeney Bros @ Listowel, Co. Kerry

Cormac 8m x 1.6m Rotary Dryer installed for Mid Cork Quarries / McSweeney Bros @ Kilmichael, Co. Cork on their Marini Asphalt Plant

Ireland Agent

Morgan Industrial Ltd Offi ce 1, Business Centre, 62 Scarva Road, Banbridge, Co Down BT32 3QD T: +44 (0) 28 4066 2663 M: +44 (0) 77852 33363 W: morganindustrial.com E: [email protected]

MOBILE CRUSHING SPECIALISTS All Types of QUARRY CRUSHING SCREENING ROCKBREAKING LOADING SHOVELS FOR HIRE McCabe Contracts Ltd. Drumbroagh, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan Telephone: 0429662393 Mobile: 0872642288 Fax: 0429662414 Email: [email protected]

www.imqs.ie 119 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Colouring pages for children of all ages - great fun and creative.

120 www.imqs.ie THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST CONVEYOR METAL DETECTOR

For more information visit www.conveyortek.com

0169_IMQS Advert HALF PAGE 180x131.indd 1 DISTRIBUTORS FOR YANMAR IN NORTHERN IRELAND,23/04/2018 14:41 DONEGAL & THE BORDER COUNTIES FOR 20 YEARS Crumlin Plant Sales normally stock from the SVO8 up to VIO50/6

Telephone: 90a Blackisland Rd., Craigavon, Portadown, BT62 1NH C P CRUMLIN 028 3885 2540 Email: [email protected] PLANT or S SALES 077 33018714 www.crumlinplantsales.co.uk

www.imqs.ie 121 ANNUAL REVIEW 2018

Membership Application Form

IMQS, THE LUCAN CENTRE, PRIMROSE LANE, LUCAN, CO. DUBLIN Web: www.imqs.ie Email: [email protected] Tel: 089 49 27942

PERSONAL Details (PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS THROUGHOUT) Surname: ...... Forename(s): ...... Home Address:...... Telephone Number: ...... Mobile: ...... Home E-Mail Address: ......

EMPLOYER Details (PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS THROUGHOUT) Employer: ...... Address:...... Telephone Number:...... Mobile: ...... Work E-Mail Address:......

Correspondence Address (please tick both location to be sent to & by what means Home q Work q E-Mail (preferred by IMQS) q Post q

Please state association with the Mining or Quarrying Industry:...... Proposed by: ...... (Existing IMQS Member)

Note: Should the candidate be unable to obtain a proposer who is a member of the IMQS, the application will be assessed by the Council of the IMQS and membership is subject to the approval of the Council. Please send to address above enclosing payment of €50 (ordinary membership). (Membership fees are payable in January each year and are valid for that calendar year). Advertisers Index

Close Bros 2 Arthur Cox 55 SLR 99 Liebherr 4 J. Harris 56-57 Abbey Rollers 99 KPMG 7 McGrath Limestone 59 QME Mining Equipment 102 Finning 9 McCloskey International 61 Smiley Monroe 103 Boliden Tara Mines 11 Geogiogcal survey of Ireland 63 Bruce Engineering 109 LTMS 21 GSNI 67 BRG 25 Morgan Industrial Limited 69 Extractive Industries Ireland 109 Finning 27 Quarry & Recycling Services 71 TOBIN Consulting Engineers 115 Epiroc 29 Wirtgen Ireland 73 Six West 115 WAC McCandless 33 Irish Industrial Explosives 77 Cormac Engineering 119 Agrigear 37 Irish Drilling Company 79 McCabe contracts 119 Irish Cement 39 Arachas 85 Conveytek 121 Geoscience Ireland 43 CDE 86-87 Irish Salt Mining & Exporation 47 Atlantic Bitumen 93 Crumlin Plant Sales 121 Pat O’Connor 48-49 McHale Plant Sales 95 C&K Fitzpatrick 123 Roadstone 51 Donnell & Ellis 97 Pat O’Donnell 124

122 www.imqs.ie             

                                                                                                                                     