Phytomining and hyperaccumulation of constituents of potential concern that deem vegetation grown on rehabilitated soil or irrigated with mine water unsafe for use.

Mines already provide substantial training and their junior managers were found motivated and committed, yet development at this level remains problematic. Gaps sat in commercial exposure, financial and accounting skills, industrial relations, quality standards, administration and project management. The report sets out the attributes to screen for at appointment and a framework that makes candidates responsible for their own development.

Mapping abandoned, inaccessible bord and pillar workings comes down to two options: borehole deployed laser or sonar scanning, or sensors carried in by unmanned vehicles. Drone mounted laser scanning for air filled voids and sonar carried by small submersibles for flooded workings were judged the most promising, but intrinsic safety, deployment and the risk of losing equipment still favour borehole methods for occasional use.

Compares labour intensive mechanised drill and blast underground mining with capital intensive bord and pillar using continuous miners, and adds the option of substituting locally made goods for imported supplies. Input data came from two mines running both types of section under comparable geological conditions, covering worker numbers, skill profiles, cost structures and import dependence, then calibrated to industry totals to drive a socio-economic model.