Guy Boggs, co-Editor-in-Chief of Research Directions: Mine Closure and Transitions, is hoping to make headway on a pressing global issue that has seen little progress to date.

Across the world, every mine that opens will have to close at some point – because every resource is finite. But what does a successful closure look like, when looked at through social, cultural, economic and environmental lenses?

This is a simple yet complex question under the scrutiny of Dr Guy Boggs, Chief Executive Officer of the Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies, in Perth, Australia – and now co-Editor-in-Chief of Research Directions: Mine Closure and Transitions, launched by Cambridge University Press late last year.

Guy has a PhD in Geomorphology and Spatial Information Systems, where he examined post-mining landform design for a proposed mine in a highly sensitive environmental and cultural setting. Over the past 20 years, he has worked as an academic, teaching Geography and Spatial Information Systems, and in industry (mining and agriculture) on enabling the adoption of innovative sustainable practices.

Complex systems

Guy came to the field through his PhD research in the late 1990s: “My PhD focussed on planning for the closure of the proposed Jabiluka Mine located next to the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park. The project attracted me because it provided complex technical and environment modelling questions, recognised that scale and geography was important, and was a major problem for one of our most critical industries.”

Every mine that opens has to close at some point. Every mine also changes a site and its region while it is active – whether this be the natural environment, the development of infrastructure or the interaction with regional economies and its social context. Guy continues: “The science of mine closure and transitions looks at how to optimally close a mine and the transition to the future beyond the mine. This is a global issue and one that is recognised as having had limited solutions developed and progress made.”

Under Guy’s leadership alongside Prof. Thomas Baumgartl from Federation University, Research Directions: Mine Closure and Transitions will look at mine closure and transitions through a complex systems approach, recognising the need for transdisciplinary contributions to solving the problem: “One of the most simple but complex questions the journal poses is ‘What does success look like?’ This seems like a question we should know the answer to, but it is clear that there is still debate and confusion as we look at this through social, cultural, economic and environmental lenses.

“We also have such a limited track record of success globally, with very few mines closed successfully but many thousands abandoned.”

As we approach global decarbonisation, Guy identifies three key connection points:

• An increase in some mines closing as our commodity needs shift, with many of these operating for long periods of time and supporting regional economies and communities;
• An increase in new mines needing to be established to provide the critical minerals needed for the energy transition in an environment where social license is a key risk and opportunity for the sector; and
• Increased land competition and opportunities for decarbonisation of mines, recycling and re-use of mine waste and infrastructure and re-purposing of mined land to be able to support global decarbonisation.

Greater accessibility

Guy believes the unique, question-led approach of Research Directions will provide the ideal model for discussion around the subject of mine closure and transitions: “This is because it is a problem- rather than discipline-focused approach to publication. This is important for mine closure and post-mine transitions, as we want to encourage publication from multiple disciplines and see solutions emerging from innovative collaborations across disciplines.

Core disciplines that will feature in the journal include the biophysical sciences required to re-create past or create new natural environments post-mine – including landforms, water bodies and natural ecosystems or productive landscapes. “This includes planning for land use and regional economies, and the social sciences required to understand the implications for regional and First Nations communities,” says Guy. “Finally, it requires economic research to best understand how to factor post-mine risks and opportunities into short-term decision-making and how to value aspects beyond traditional economics – such as natural value.”

The first few months has been a “whirlwind of activity”, says Guy, “with really positive reviews of the journal concept, some great support from a global network of leaders who have made themselves available to be part of the governance of the journal, and the foundational thinking on what are the most pressing questions”.

“I am excited about the first year of publication and the articles we will see, and I trust the journal has a long and sustained future in progressing a global innovation agenda for mine closure and post-mine transitions.” Guy concludes: “I feel extremely proud and honoured to be co-editor in chief, and I am optimistic about the contribution this journal can make to what is such an important issue for our society.”