About This Project
The Neo-Marvin case study examines what changes when water use, treatment and management are built into life-of-mine planning from the start, rather than treated as an outside limit. It uses the Neo-Marvin orebody, a hypothetical copper-gold deposit, as a neutral research platform that belongs to no single company.
Why it exists
Water is usually applied to a mine plan late, as a constraint. This study tests what happens when it is planned in from day one.
Status & next steps
Phase 2 is refining the integrated modelling. Phase 3 will deepen the analysis of key water constraints and optimisation scenarios.
Who is involved
Delivered by Whittle Consulting, with premium sponsors Agnico Eagle and Weir and support from Eriez and Anglo American.
What It Covers
Phase 1 set the study context, objectives and modelling approach, linking water consumption, treatment and management to life-of-mine planning. Phase 2 examines how pit dewatering, climate stresses, technology choices and tailings water hold-up interact with production scale and optimisation, and assesses first, second and third-order effects, from capital and operating costs to environmental and sustainability outcomes.
Who It Is For
Mine planners, processing engineers and decision-makers who want to see how water risks and water choices change the economics of a mine, worked through on an orebody that no company has a stake in.