Two mining groups have enjoyed an exciting and educational visit to the independent calcium carbonates company Longcliffe Quarries in Derbyshire, England.
A party from Women in Mining UK (a non-profit volunteer organisation dedicated to promoting the employment, retention and advancement of women in the mining industry) and representatives of Young Mining Professionals (an organisation which assists members in obtaining the skills, support and knowledge to successfully advance their careers) visited the company’s Brassington Moor Quarry, near Matlock.
Longcliffe manufactures over 100 products for use in a wide variety of applications, ranging from animal feeds and pet foods to glass and plasterboards, as well as plastics, adhesives, agricultural lime, and construction aggregates.
The visit included the opportunity to witness a quarry blast and also the chance to ride in one of the giant dumper trucks, which are an integral part of the process. The group, also supported by Minerals Matter (a resource for young people and adults considering their career options), was introduced to the family-owned Longcliffe through a presentation. This was followed by a trip to the viewing platform, which offers a panoramic view of the entire extraction and processing operation.
The group was then taken to see the extraction process closer to the quarry faces. Finally, the visitors were brought into the laboratory to see where Longcliffe tests all its products to ensure they meet high-quality standards.
Commenting on the visit, Lucy Crane, Managing Director of Women in Mining UK, said: “Women in Mining UK is extremely grateful to Longcliffe for hosting us on site and sharing such generous access to their operations and people. The chance to witness a blast, ride in a haul truck, and tour the lab brought the full journey from extraction through processing and quality assurance to life for our members. It is truly brilliant to see the breadth of careers across geology, operations, engineering, sustainability and product quality in action, and to meet a team so passionate about the critical role calcium carbonates play in everyday industries.”
Alex Christopher, Chair and Director of Young Mining Professionals, London, added: “On behalf of Young Mining Professionals London, we extend a huge thank you to Longcliffe for providing attendees with the opportunity to visit their site at Brassington Moor and experience first-hand the quarrying value chain in full – from extraction to the processing of quality limestone for a variety of modern-day applications. YMP London exists to provide a platform for the metals and minerals industry’s future leaders to connect, learn and develop in the UK, and we are grateful for Longcliffe’s support in achieving this goal.”
Longcliffe’s Operations Director, Chris Wainwright, who coordinated the visit, said: “Visits like this provide a welcome opportunity for us to not only educate people on the variety of essential products our material goes into, but also to promote the variety of careers on offer in the mining and quarrying industries. It was a pleasure to host this visit from a group who clearly have a genuine passion for this sector, and we were delighted they chose Longcliffe for their annual mining visit.”
