Several hundred colorfully dressed demonstrators linked arms and changed slogans, leading to wild scenes as police tried to escort delegates into the conference, which included speakers from BHP Group and gold miner Newcrest.
Organizers criticized police for using aggressive and intimidating tactics, while several delegates said they had been spat at by protesters, Reuters reported.
The protests come as the mining industry faces pressure to tackle issues such as climate change and pollution, and repair an image tarnished by environmental disasters.
Rio Tinto CEO Jean-Sébastien Jacques told a conference in London on Monday that miners needed to find new ways to respond to increasing demands from investors and communities for responsible mining practices.
Inside the International Mining and Resources Conference, which drew 7,000 delegates from over 100 countries, several speakers pointed to changes in the industry.
Global miner BHP spoke to how it is tapping partnerships to secure ethical supply chains, lowering CO2 emissions from shipping and promoting greater workforce diversity.