Freeport-McMoRan’s work to conduct its operations with minimal adverse impacts on the environment is highlighted in a docuseries produced by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration.
In two separate episodes of its current season, SME’s Jobs of Tomorrow explores how mining companies transform former operating sites into spaces compatible with the surrounding environment; and how mining companies manage tailings, the material left over after the completion of the mining process.
The episodes, aimed at showcasing careers in these areas, are available on the SME website, Amazon Prime, TUBI and other platforms.
In a 20-minute episode titled, “Engineering an Environmentally Conscious Mine,” Jobs of Tomorrow highlights how the community engages with scientists, geologists and environmental engineers to address environmental concerns and make informed decisions throughout the reclamation process.
“As environmental scientists, we use our knowledge of the environment to make sure we are protecting that environment as well as doing our best to ensure the safety of human health,” Belen Lawrence, Chief Environmental Scientist, said in the segment.
In addition to Lawrence, Trika Graham, Manager, Water Quality Programs, spoke of her team’s involvement in every part of the life cycle of the mine. That episode, which aired this month, can be viewed here.
In a 20-minute episode titled “Unearthing Tailings: The Hidden Story of Mining Residues,” the series explores the roles involved in responsible tailings management and the technology enabling companies like Freeport to make tailings management safer for communities and the environment.
“We need to understand the tailings rheology, which is the structure of the tailings themselves, to understand the safest way to dispose of the tailings,” Cassandra Hall, Manager, Tailings-Crushed Leach and Water, said in the segment. “Each tailings (storage facility), because it is man-made, is different depending on the ore that you are mining.”
In addition to Hall, Zhengguang Tian, Senior Geotechnical Engineer, spoke in the program about the company’s use of drones to inspect tailings; and Ron Hickman, Senior Geotechnical Engineer, talked about the company’s growing use of technologies such as seismic data, microphones and satellites to identify potential issues.
That episode, which ran in April, can be viewed here.
In addition to the two shows from the current season, Freeport was featured in an episode of the Jobs of Tomorrow series last year. Cory Stevens, President-FM Mining Services; Raquel Crossman, Chief Metallurgist; and Shannon Ennis, Senior Data Science Analyst, were interviewed in an episode called “Mining Data for Mining Innovation,” which can be viewed here.