Rio Tinto says two concentrator incidents produced visible dust plumes; company outlines monitors and control work

Rio Tinto representatives told the Copperton Town Council that dust plumes from the company’s concentrator were visible in Copperton on Aug. 9 and Aug. 11 and described steps they are taking to reduce recurrence.

The company attributed the events to a “fall from height” at the concentrator involving soft rock that produced a large, visible dust cloud, and said water and dust-control systems were operating when the events occurred. Ryan, social performance manager for Rio Tinto Chemical, said the company will temporarily shut the concentrator next month to install automated sprinkler systems and make other changes that Rio Tinto expects will reduce dust from large material falls.

Why it matters: Neighbors raised health and nuisance concerns about those two events on social media and to council members. Rio Tinto and council members said publicly available air-monitoring data and clearer on-site controls are the…