Finding the Working Deep Books on the Epiroc Stand at IMARC 2025
IMARC 2025 was a great few days of mining technology, new ideas and catching up with people from across the industry. One of the highlights, though, was something I was not expecting.
Thanks to Matt Brice from VRIFY for letting me know that industry partner and long-time supporter Epiroc had copies of the Working Deep children's mining books on their stand as conference merchandise.
Epiroc originally purchased both books for their annual Australian family day, using them to help staff share what they do with their children, families and wider community.
I have always loved this use of the books. Mining can be difficult to explain to someone who has never worked around it. For children in particular, a picture book about underground machines, people, safety and technology can create a much easier connection to what Mum, Dad or another family member actually does at work.
A few books were left over from the family day, so they made their way onto the IMARC floor.
Seeing Working Deep Down in the Pit sitting beside a full size Epiroc Minetruck was a pretty special moment.
Mining Innovation at IMARC 2025
The rest of IMARC provided a good snapshot of where mining technology is heading.
From an innovation perspective, some of the most interesting conversations were around technologies moving beyond software and into new sensing, automation, processing and environmental applications.
In geoscience, companies including TeraGlo, neuro.mine and Outer Rim Exploration are looking at new approaches to material identification, exploration data and portable sensing.
Underground, LoopX is developing AI powered situational awareness for mining equipment, while EcoHoist is tackling vertical material transport. I also caught up with teams from Westfill, Innovative Blasting Technologies and Robotic Systems, with some interesting underground projects continuing to develop.
Processing innovation was another strong theme, including RapidGraphite, Gega Elements and FAST Metals, working across synthetic graphite, germanium, gallium and recovery of critical minerals from industrial waste streams.
There was also plenty happening around rehabilitation and social licence, with businesses such as TreeTrack, Bioculum and DNAir applying new technology to reforestation, mine rehabilitation and biodiversity monitoring.
Unfortunately a cancelled Perth to Sydney flight meant I missed day one, but there was still plenty packed into the remainder of the event.
For me, IMARC 2025 was a nice reminder that mining innovation can take plenty of forms. Sometimes it is advanced sensors, robotics or new processing technology.
And sometimes it is a children's mining book sitting beside a 60 tonne underground truck, helping the next generation understand the industry a little better.
