In this episode we talk to Dr Kym Morton, MD of KLM Consulting Services, who specialises in mine de-watering design, water control and accurate tailings pore-pressure monitoring, plus many other areas around water management.
With 40 years-experience, Kym is an expert in this subject and we talk about the learning of mine de-watering design and the key ingredients to a successful mine water management and risk reduction. We continue by explaining why the best solutions are both top-down and bottom-up around water control, and what challenges the industry faces around their water management plans and tailings dam management, as well as what they need to do to improve and monitor more closely these issues.
KEY TAKEAWAYS

Having been on both sides of mining operations, Kym recognises the importance of not just having a practical knowledge, but also a method of communicating your ideas to the money men.
You need to know three things in order to effectively plan de-watering:

Where’s the water coming from?
How is it travelling to you?
What will you store it in?

You need an effective monitoring network in order to see where the water is coming from and where it will be stored. Technology is a huge asset in this.
Kym has found that by showing the mistakes made by companies in the past, she can provide a humorous approach to making sure that companies don’t repeat them.
The three mantras for mine de-watering control are:

Cut off recharge
Exploit permeability
Start early

Much monitoring happens that isn’t relevant to the mining problem. Too much “box-ticking” takes place. The reality is that the monitoring is being done in the wrong places.
There will be a lot more activity in the area of tailings dams in the future, mainly because insurers are drawing away from high-risk ventures.

.BEST MOMENTS
’It’s necessary to learn how to speak to board members in financial terms’
‘I hit a glass ceiling in ’89’
‘What I’ve learned in the last 40 years is how not to do things’
’They want more bang for their buck’
 
VALUABLE RESOURCES
 
Dig Deep – The Mining Podcast on iTunes
Dr Kym Morton LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kym-l-morton-phd-mba-c-geol-fgs-fsaimm-dic-a6172426/?originalSubdomain=za
ABOUT THE HOST
Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight to peoples experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.
Rob is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first world to third world countries from Africa, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia. We source, headhunt and discover new and top talent talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients organisation in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace.
 
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