Jumna remediation project
The Jumna minerals processing facility operated from 1972 to 1987, processing tin ore from various mining activities in the area. Operations at Jumna ceased in 1987 when low tin prices forced it into care and maintenance.
- View a glossary of mining terms used on this page.
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, one of which has been capped but the others remain exposed. Nearby Jumna Dam is a freshwater dam constructed for the processing plant operations. This facility is also managed by us.
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 ongoing
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 by recreational motorcycle riders creating a potential exposure to tailings dust
- remnant and dilapidated infrastructure
- remnant asbestos-containing material.
Environmental risks associated with:
- poor-quality water as a result of acid metalliferous drainage from the tailings storage facility and remnant material at the processing site
- ingestion of mineral precipitates (salts) and mine-affected water outside stock water guidelines by livestock
- potential contaminants in the drill core storage area.
Completed works
- Demolition and removal of remnant buildings constructed of asbestos-containing materials, including drill core trays
- Demolition and removal of processing plant and asbestos-containing materials
- Establishment of environmental monitoring program
- Fencing to restrict public access
- Characterisation of tailings in partnership with University of Queensland
Works to be investigated
- Sealing and capping the tailings storage facility to reduce the generation of acid and metalliferous drainage
- Treatment of water contained in cell ponds
- Groundwater contamination assessment
- Continued monitoring of downstream impacts
- Water-use survey and monitoring of water quality to appropriate standards