PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Mining major Rio Tinto has admitted to missing "various opportunities" to re-evaluate the mine plan for its Brockman 4 operation, in the Pilbara, which resulted in the destruction of two sacred Aboriginal caves.

Blasting operations undertaken in May resulted in destruction of the Juukan Forge rock shelters, which showed evidence of continual habitation dating back some 46 000 years.

In its submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia, Rio on Wednesday said that in 2011 participation agreements with the Puutu Kunti Kurama and Pinikura (PKKP) had included a list of 16 areas of high cultural heritage significance, which were afforded additional protection from the mining activities in the region, and that the Juukan sites were not included on that list.

However, the miner noted that subsequent surveys between 2013 and 2014 revealed the "significance" of the Juukan rock shelters, and while the information was available to both PKKP and Rio, the company said that "various opportunities were missed" to re-evaluate the chosen mine plan for the Brockman 4 operation, in light of the new material.

Four pit operations were initially considered for Pit 1 in the Juukan Gorge area, with three avoiding the shelters to varying degrees. However, the fourth option, which impacted the rock shelter, was chosen in order to gain access to higher volumes of high-grade ore.

The selection mine option was consented to under the Aboriginal Heritage Act.

Rio in May 2020 received a formal request from the PKKP to cease mining activities at the Juukan rockshelters, but the miner noted that by this time, the blasting sequence had already commenced.

“The destruction of the Juukan rockshelters should not have occurred and I have unreservedly apologised to the PKKP people. As a first priority our aim is to strengthen our partnership with the PKKP. That remains our focus. We have also taken actions to strengthen governance, controls and approvals on heritage matters,” CEO Jean-Sebastian Jacques said on Wednesday.

“I am continuing to meet with Traditional Owners across Australia and remain committed to listening and learning.”