A shared strategy for classifying ores and concentrates will be released later this year to help the European mining and minerals industry meet its obligations under the United Nations’ Globally Harmonised System (GHS) of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals.

The GHS specifies that all producers of ores and concentrates are responsible for assessing their products and classifying ‘hazardous’ materials under the new rules. It will require industry to reformat its product shipping labels and materials safety data sheets, as well as conform to new hazard statements and signs illustrating potentially dangerous substances.

In the EU, this process must be completed and notified to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) by December 2010.

At the same time, GHS principles can be applied to help classify substances that have been pre-registered under related legislation REACH.

‘Since there are potentially many variations in types of ores and concentrates, [and] a disproportionate focus of the GHS is on organic chemistry, our aim is to agree a shared strategy on classifying [the materials], with a particular focus on how industry can achieve scientifically robust and consistent classifications,’ explains Johannes Drielsma, Environmental Manager at Euromines, the European Association of Mining Industries, which has helped lead the work over the past two years.

He adds, ‘Potential inconsistencies may result due to complex mineralogy, differences in interpretation of the existing data, and divergent application of the GHS criteria, which may not have been developed with mineral forms in mind. We may need to apply the new rules to know if any of the previously non-hazardous materials will now qualify as hazardous or not’.

Some of the major metal commodity associations are piloting the cost effectiveness of the proposed voluntary strategy before it is rolled out by Euromines and the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM).

Substance ID

The recommended tiered approach, which considers the bioavailability of mineral forms, was presented to and debated by industry at a workshop held on 1 May in London, UK. Organised by the ICMM, ‘Classification of Ores and Concentrates’ was attended by representatives of major mining companies such as Anglo American and Rio Tinto, as well as metal producer organisations such as the European Copper Institute and the International Lead Association.

‘It is a big job to track down all the potential consequences of a change to the classification of a substance,’ notes Drielsma. The GHS could impact on the way materials are handled and stored.

Drielsma presented a generic Substance ID template at the event. He says, ‘It is designed to inform companies about the specific pieces of information that will be required by the ECHA in 2010, and to inspire harmonisation across companies. They will be able to decide which testing they wish to do to achieve scientifically robust classification’.

Antony Francis, Senior Metallurgist at European Goldfields Ltd, in London, attended the workshop. He notes, ‘There is only limited time remaining. All mining and concentrate-producing companies operating in, or trading with, Europe will need to become familiar with the extensive and complex requirements’.

Further information: Euromines and ICMM

Thanks to John Monhemius and Antony Francis of the Institute’s International Mining and Minerals Association for their help with this article.