The workshop organizers identified “Prospects, control of reliability and quality of geological exploration works (GE) on the basis of KAZRC requirements” as the main topic whereby mining experts were invited as speakers. The workshop started with the report of the geological consultant of SRK Consulting (Kazakhstan) Denis Kovalenko who spoke about the QA/QC procedures (Quality Assurance – Quality Control).
The essence of these procedures is as follows. Quality Assurance is the sum of all planned and systematic actions necessary to provide the adequate assurance that a product, a process or a service will meet the specified quality requirements as they are created, as well as maintenance of these characteristics during storage, transportation and operation. In its turn, quality control is focused on the currently developed product that is, the techniques or actions used to maintain the quality of the product at a given moment of time. According to the requirements of the international standards, any geological exploration work must necessarily be accompanied with QA/QC programs. In addition, a certain type of work must correspond to its own types of control. The concept of a control sample includes sampling, sample preparation and analytical studies. The number and frequency of QA/QC batch samples testing is determined according to the peculiarities of each project but the main rule remains – it is necessary to constantly track random and systematic sampling errors. On average, the level of QA/QC testing is approximately 20%. In summary, the speaker stressed that the violation of the CA/QC procedures can result in economic damage, wasted time and financial resources.
The second session was devoted to the current status and prospects of the KAZRC code. We want to remind you that during the meeting of the Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO) on June 14, 2016, in Astana, the Republic of Kazakhstan represented by the Kazakhstan Association for Public Reporting on the Results of Exploration Work, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (KAZRC) was admitted to the membership of this organization. Today, 10 national organizations, including SiM (Canada), JORC (Australia and New Zealand), SME (USA), PERC (Europe), SAMREC (South Africa), IMEC (Chile), IPIGM (Mongolia), NAEN (RF), CBRR (Brazil) and KAZRC (Kazakhstan) are CRIRSCO members. The basic principles of CRIRSCO: • Promotion of the best practices in international public reporting on exploration results, reserves of mineral resources; • CRIRSCO is an international advisory body without legal authority relying on subjects to ensure regulatory
The and disciplinary supervision at the national level; • CRIRSCO recognizes the truly global nature of the mining industry and the agreed need in the international consensus on reporting standards. The speaker in this session was General Manager of SRK Consulting (Kazakhstan) Nikolay Yenshin. In his presentation, he clearly demonstrated the rank of our Republic in terms of the volume of direct foreign investments in the mining and mineral processing complex, announced some data on the reporting on minerals in the Republic of Kazakhstan, presented risk factors in the mining industry and information on how the CRIRSCO standards help to avoid them.
The third speaker – consulting geologist of SRK Consulting (Kazakhstan) – Marat Khakimzhanov spoke on drilling methods at various stages of geological exploration. Key points of the speech were types of drilling, performance improvement techniques, project stages and their specifics (prospecting and exploration works, operation). Having considered separately each method of exploration and type of drilling, compared the advantages and disadvantages, the speaker announced the appropriate conclusions. Nikolay Yenshin ended the workshop with a rather cognitive session presenting the report on associations of professionals in the mining and geological industry in the world and in Kazakhstan. In particular, on the Public Association “Professional
Association of Independent Subsoil Experts” (PAISE) the main activities of which are:
• generalization of the progressive experience of application of CRIRSCO standards in the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• establishing cooperation to achieve statutory goals;
• holding round tables to discuss mining issues;
• proposals for changes in the legislation and participation in its reformation;
• arrangement of workshops and courses for advanced training;
• website maintenance and publishing activities.
All participants had the opportunity to ask the speakers questions and discuss on the subject matter, which added a keen interest and vehemence to the workshop. One question triggered another one, criticism turned into irony; none of the invited guests remained without an answer and attention. At the end of the presentations, a collective photo session was held, and then, on this autumn warm evening, a pleasant bonus was prepared for everyone – an outdoor entertainment program and a picnic on the lakeshore. All participants could meet and chat with each other in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, take pictures and exchange contact details. I would especially like to note the good choice of the venue and the high level of the event, which is indicative of the professionalism of its initiators.