PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Joseph Hughes B. Sc., M. Sc.
Senior Environmental Geochemist

Summary
Joseph is a recent employee of Earth Systems and has five years experience in the mining and exploration industry within Australia and New Zealand. Joseph’s expertise is in the fields of Acid and Metalliferous Drainage, geology, and water quality.

Previous employment as an Environmental Scientist at coal mining operations within the Bowen Basin and New Zealand has given Joseph a broad experience of environmental issues related to the mining industry. Such experience includes environmental monitoring and design, community consultation, developing Environmental Management Systems and the prediction and remediation of Acid and Metalliferous Drainage. This includes waste rock characterization and selective placement, pollutant longevity modeling, and assisting the research and development of passive and active treatment systems (e.g. limestone leach beds and limestone dosing plants). His experience encompasses laboratory and field trials through to gaining regulatory approval for full scale implementation of projects.

Joseph is part of the Earth Systems team working on the management of Acid Sulfate Soils in the Lower Lakes, South Australia. Specifically, Joseph has assisted the project management of the key Acid Sulfate Soil minimisation strategy of trialling subsurface barriers to retard acidity geneneration in sandy lake sediments.

Education and Affiliations

• Master of Environmental Science with Distinction; University of Otago, New Zealand. Dissertation: Environmental evaluation of Cypress mine proposed overburden, West Coast, New Zealand. This involved laboratory and field methods for Acid and Metalliferous Drainage prediction.
• Bachelor of Science in Geology; University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Awards

• Awarded Foundation for Research Science and Technology Enterprise Scholarship, NZ, 2003 – 2004.
• Received University of Otago NZ Division of Sciences Award 2003 – 2004.
• Awarded Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) New Zealand Branch Scholarship, 2003

Countries of Work Experience
Australia, New Zealand.

Professional History

• July 2009–Present: Senior Environmental Geochemist, Earth Systems.
• April 2008–July 2009: Environmental Advisor, Peabody Energy, Millennium Coal Mine, Bowen Basin.
• January 2005–November 2007: Environmental Scientist, Solid Energy New Zealand.

Fields of Special Competence
Geochemistry; Water Quality; Environmental Management; Waste rock characterisation (kinetic and statictesting methods); Environmental: impact assessment; management systems and plans; Acid and Metalliferous Drainage/Acid Sulphate Soils; Geology.

Representative Experience
Joseph has recently worked on the following projects:

• Project management of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Millennium Mine Expansion Project, Central Queensland, Australia.
• Saline water quality management at the Millennium Mine site including negotiation of regulatory conditions with the Department of Environment and Resource Management.
• Acid and Metalliferous Drainage minimisation and treatment strategies at the Stockton Mine, West Coast, New Zealand.
• Acid and Metalliferous Drainage Prediction at the Proposed Cypress Mine, West Coast, New Zealand.
• Acid Sulphate Soil research in the Murray River Lower Lakes, South Australia.

Selected Publications

• Hughes, J.B., Weber, P.A., Lindsay, P. (2007) ‘Stockton Mine Acid Rock Drainage Remediation: Part 1 – Passive Mitigation’. In: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AUSIMM) New Zealand Branch, 40th Annual Conference.
• Hughes, J.B., Weber, P.A., Lindsay, P. (2006) ‘Acid Rock Drainage Characterisation and Treatment, Stockton Mine, West Coast, New Zealand’. In: Water 2007 Annual Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.