From deep earth to deep space

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The International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) has once again proven to be a cornerstone event for the global mining sector. Hosted at ICC Sydney from 29th to 31st October, IMARC 2024 brought together over 9,000 attendees from 120 countries, showcasing 500+ exhibitors, 800 mining companies, and featuring 600 expert speakers across nine concurrent conferences. This year’s event focused heavily on sustainable practices, innovation, and the future of critical minerals.

The inaugural Mining, Metals, and the Circular Economy conference made a significant debut, exploring the role of circular principles in the mining supply chain. Industry leaders from Cobalt Blue Holdings, Sustainable Minerals Institute, and the Circular PV Alliance explored opportunities in tailings reprocessing, ESG commitments, and the market potential of repurposing waste.

In support of these themes, Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Cathy Foley, delivered a compelling keynote on sustainable mining practices and innovations driving the sector’s transition to net-zero.

The Hon. Madeleine King, Minister for Resources, and the Hon. Courtney Houssos, NSW Minister for Finance and Natural Resources, set the tone for the opening day with compelling addresses. Minister King highlighted Australia’s strategic focus on bolstering critical minerals supply chains, emphasising that: 

“The path to net-zero depends heavily on a resilient domestic mining sector.” 

Minister Houssos echoed this, outlining the NSW government’s Critical Minerals Strategy, a comprehensive framework promoting exploration, skills development, and responsible mining practices aimed at positioning NSW as a leader in high-tech metals and advanced manufacturing.

A unique highlight this year was the debut of the AROSE Mining & Space Conference, designed by the Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE). This segment showcased how cross-industry innovations in AI and autonomous systems are paving new frontiers both in deep space and here on Earth.

Fleet Space Technologies introduced ExoSphere Discovery, an AI-powered mineral exploration platform designed to predict opportunity zones and drill targets with high accuracy. By integrating multiphysics data with custom AI models, ExoSphere Discovery represents a leap forward in autonomous, data-driven exploration. 

“ExoSphere’s real-time 3D imaging at depth has been instrumental in advancing data-driven exploration across five continents. By augmenting ExoSphere with the latest advances in AI, we provide a plug-and-play infrastructure designed to deliver increasingly accurate predictions and narrow the search space at every stage of exploration.” - Fleet Space CEO, Flavia Tata Nardini.

DARPA program manager Michael “Orbit” Nayak presented a bold vision, rallying Australia’s mining sector to take on a “Grand Oz Challenge” for testing in situ resource utilisation (ISRU) technology. Drawing parallels to DARPA’s own groundbreaking autonomous vehicle competitions, Nayak emphasised that it would foster a collaborative environment for developing essential lunar technologies, from power and communications systems to mining operations.  

He described Australia as a prime testing ground due to its unique expertise in operating machinery in extreme environments, proposing that an initiative akin to DARPA’s LunA-10 project could transform Australia’s outback into a real-world analog for lunar resource mining. 

“Australia has the unique infrastructure and insights to help develop commercial mining technology that could thrive on the lunar surface.” - Nayak asserted.  

He suggested that facilities like the Australian Automation Robotics Precinct could be leveraged to adapt and refine mining hardware for the challenging conditions of the Moon. 

Highlighting the critical need for sustainable lunar mining, Nayak proposed merging mining with biotechnology as a promising “tech moonshot.” This concept includes the potential for engineered microbe farms that could process lunar waste material. As Nayak envisioned, “When Starship can land 100 tonnes on the Moon, we’ll need intelligent, minimal adaptations of mining equipment to build the infrastructure of a lunar economy.”

Held on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, IMARC 2024 emphasised the essential role of First Nations communities within the resources sector. Indigenous Women in Mining and Resources Australia (IWIMRA) returned as IMARC’s First Nations partner, fostering a space for dialogue on environmental and cultural heritage challenges. 

Mark Podlasly, Chief Sustainability Officer of the First Nations Major Project Coalition, underscored the benefits of a shared-prosperity model, stating: 

“The purest form of consent is equity. If you’re an equity partner, you’re in a position to influence how a project is built, operated, and eventually closed.” 

This collaborative model is gaining traction in Australia as stakeholders recognize the opportunity to reshape the fiscal relationship between First Nations groups and the resources sector. Kia Dowell, Chair of the Gelganyem Group, added a powerful perspective, emphasising the importance of ensuring that “post-mining land use and the transfer of infrastructure meet Traditional Owners’ standards.” She likened current practices to a landlord receiving a property back in disrepair, advocating for higher standards in mine closure to ensure lasting benefit to Indigenous custodians.

IMARC 2024 showcased the latest in AI, electrification, automation, and exploration that are redefining productivity and safety standards across the industry. 

As the industry steps into the future, the conversations and partnerships fostered at IMARC 2024 promise to shape a more resilient, inclusive, and technologically advanced path forward. 

IMARC will return to Sydney in 2025, October 21 – 23.