Jumna remediation project
The Jumna minerals processing facility operated from 1972 to 1987, processing tin ore from various mining activities in the Herberton and Irvinebank area. Operations at Jumna ceased in 1987 when low tin prices forced it into care and maintenance.
Jumna reverted to state control in 2002 following termination of mining leases for non-payment of rent.
The site consisted of a processing plant, underground workings, tailings storage facility and water supply dam. The tailings storage facility contains 5 cells constructed in the early 1970s. The nearby Jumna Dam was constructed for the processing plant operations. This facility is also managed by the Queensland Government.
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Project snapshot
Region: North Queensland
Location: 5km north-east of Irvinebank or 18km west of Herberton, Latitude -17.393461, Longitude 14.223724
Commodity: Tin
Mining type: Processing site and tailings storage facility
Date of abandonment: October 2002
Status: Remediation in progress
Native title interest: Bar-Barrum people represented by the Mbabaram Aboriginal Corporation
Public land registers: Listed on the Environmental Management Register
Photo gallery
Key risks
Health and safety risks associated with unauthorised access onto the tailings storage facility, including by recreational campers or motorbike riders.
Environmental risks associated with:
- exposed tailings leading to contamination of surface water onsite as well as potential seepage from the tailings storage facility
- ingestion of exposed contaminants by livestock or other nature wildlife.
Completed works
- Demolition and removal of process plant, associated infrastructure and buildings.
- Environmental sampling.
- Fencing to restrict public access.
Planned works
- Three-year remediation project commencing July 2025 which includes:
- dewatering of the tailings storage facility
- reprofiling of tailings into a combined single landform
- installing a cover capping system across the tailings surface
- installation of a closure spillway.
- Continued monitoring of downstream impacts.