Mining Mondays was established in 2017 on the Gold Coast to bring together people of the Mining Industry living on the Gold Coast and to further contribute to an industry which had its birth on the Gold Coast i.e., the Mineral Sands Industry. Many of our Group have worked in the Exploration and Mining Industry for over 50 years within the Industry, Government and Consulting as Geologists, Engineers, Metallurgists, Financiers, Accountants and Managers. This collective experience has been obtained for many commodities, in exploring, financing, and developing mining operations within Australia and throughout the world. Some have retired but are still enthusiastic about the industry and believe Queensland should be the Premier State of Eastern Australia for Resources. Queensland is rich in mineral resources that should benefit the people of the State and Country.

We meet on the last Monday of the Month, commencing at 5pm on 34th Floor of the Wave Resort, cnr. Broadbeach (Oasis) Mall and Surf Parade, Broadbeach. At these meetings a member or a guest will give a presentation on different topics relating to the Mining Industry. These meetings usually generate a lively discussion during and after the presentation. The lively discussion is generated by the vast and in-depth experience of our many mature members. These meetings are held each month January to October. November’s Meeting is a Christmas Party. At this meeting each presenter during the year’s meetings receives a bottle of wine with a cryptic ‘cartoon’ label. The best presentation of the year voted by the Members receive another bottle of wine with ‘The Best of the Best’ label. This is a much sort after award with many offer a bribe the convenor to win, (all in good jest). In recent years we have also voted for a Member of the Year, awarded for excellent service to the Group.

Convenor - Graham Rolfe

Minerals Sands were identified by the early settlers on the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers. They were first mined for their gold content from the late nineteenth century until the 1920’s. 

The interest in the mineral sands, particularly rutile, began in the late 1920’s when electric arc welding started to take off and rutile was used in the coatings of the welding rods. During WW2, the industry expanded to meet the demand for producing ships, etc for the war effort.

At the time, most of the minerals were exported as mixed concentrates, but a ban on exporting radioactive thorium, found in the small amount of monazite present in these concentrates, meant the industry moved to install treatment plants to produce and sell individual products.

The next impetus was the Korean War and the demand for rutile for the manufacture of titanium metal required for jet aircraft. At the same time the use of TiO2 pigment based paints was increasing.

The expansion of the industry lead to many innovations in the separation equipment by various industry companies and individuals such that the local industry soon became world leaders in the field. This equipment has also found a place in processing other minerals such as iron ore, coal, tin, gold, silica sands, etc..

By the 1970’s most of the available reserves on the coast had been exhausted and the industry moved on but the equipment manufacturing part of the industry continued to be centred on the Gold Coast and it remains so to-day. Most of the equipment currently used worldwide continues to be manufactured by Mineral Technologies and others on the Coast and many of the plants mining mineral sands around the world have been and continue to be designed here.

Graham Balderson