Rehabilitation
One of the most important elements of the mining process is land rehabilitation. Iluka has devoted substantial resources establishing sound, long term land uses for completed mining projects. Programs aimed at finding the best soil treatment and management procedures and the best re-vegetation techniques are all part of Iluka’s commitment to sustainable development.
Planning for rehabilitation and closure of Iluka's mine sites commences early and before any mining takes place. One of the first steps, and a key step in obtaining project approvals, involves Iluka working with environmental agencies to establish a detailed agreement about rehabilitation objectives. This includes flora and fauna surveys as well as soil profiles and reports on land. Upon completion of activities, rehabilitation is monitored and reported, usually for least two to three years after mining operations have finished.
A benefit of mineral sands mining is that only a small percentage of the ore is removed as mineral. This gives the rehabilitation project team the opportunity to re-establish ground contours similar to the original landscape. Alternately, former mining areas can be re-shaped to create lakes, improve drainage systems or be put to any other desirable use. Iluka has successfully rehabilitated mining areas to a range of land uses, including nature vegetation, pastoral and agricultural production and land suitable for residential development.