Journal Description
Mining
Mining
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on mining science and engineering published quarterly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, GeoRef, AGRIS, and other databases.
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 19.6 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 4.5 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2024).
- Journal Rank: CiteScore - Q2 (Geology)
- Recognition of Reviewers: APC discount vouchers, optional signed peer review, and reviewer names published annually in the journal.
- Mining is a companion journal of Minerals.
Latest Articles
A Preliminary Assessment of Underground Space Resources for Hydrogen Storage in Salt Caverns in Lambton County, Southern Ontario, Canada
Mining 2024, 4(3), 530-545; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4030030 (registering DOI) - 26 Jul 2024
Abstract
Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) is considered to solve the intermittency problem of renewable energy. A geological assessment indicated that the B unit of the Salina Group in Southern Ontario, Canada, is the most promising for UHS because it is the thickest and most
[...] Read more.
Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) is considered to solve the intermittency problem of renewable energy. A geological assessment indicated that the B unit of the Salina Group in Southern Ontario, Canada, is the most promising for UHS because it is the thickest and most regionally extensive salt rock deposit. However, the comprehensive geological knowledge of potential sites and overall salt volume for UHS remains undiscovered. This paper collected 1112 wells’ logging data to assess the geologic potential for UHS in Lambton County. The geological characteristic analysis of the B unit was conducted using high-frequency stratigraphic sequences and logging interpretation. The internal lithologies and thicknesses of the B unit were interpreted from 426 available wells. The storage capacity of the salt caverns was calculated from simplified cylinder models. The results indicate that the B unit can be subdivided into three high-frequency sequences, denoted as the SQ1, SQ2, and SQ3 subunits. SQ1 corresponds to salt–limestone, SQ2 corresponds to bedded salt rocks, and SQ3 corresponds to massive salt rocks. Well sections and thickness maps indicate that the study area can be divided into two sub-areas along the Wilikesport, Oil Spring, and Watford line. To the northwest, unit B was thicker and deeper in terms of paleo-water depth, and to the southeast, less of the B unit was deposited on the paleo-highs. The main thicknesses in SQ1, SQ2, and SQ3 range from 20 to 30 m, 25 to 35 m, and 30 to 40 m, respectively. In conclusion, the best subunit for UHS is SQ3, with a secondary target being SQ2. The main factor impacting cavern storage capacity for the SQ2 subunit is high mud content, while for SQ3, it is the meters-thick anhydrite developed towards the base of the unit. The available underground storage volume of the salt caverns in the B unit is 9.10 × 106 m3. At the standard state, the working gas volume is 557.80 × 106 m3. The favorable area for UHS is the western part surrounded by Wallaceburg, Oil Spring, and Watford. The thickness distribution of the B unit is the combined result of paleo-topography, sea-level changes, and tectonic movement in Lambton. The geological storage capacity of the salt caverns exhibits significant potential.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coupled Thermal, Hydraulic, Mechanical and Chemical Phenomena as Related to Underground Safety and Green Mines)
►
Show Figures
Open AccessArticle
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Total Suspended Solids in Water Bodies and Mapping Mining Areas in Suriname and French Guiana
by
Breno Mello Pereira and Felipe de Lucia Lobo
Mining 2024, 4(3), 510-529; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4030029 - 16 Jul 2024
Abstract
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) has made several environmental impacts, resulting in the significant siltation of water bodies due to the deposition of sediments on riverbanks. Based on this perspective, this study aims to investigate the water bodies and regions most impacted
[...] Read more.
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) has made several environmental impacts, resulting in the significant siltation of water bodies due to the deposition of sediments on riverbanks. Based on this perspective, this study aims to investigate the water bodies and regions most impacted by mining activities, especially in relation to the increase in the Total Suspended Solids (TSS) caused by ASGM, focusing on the territories of Suriname and French Guiana, over the period from 2017 to 2023, through the creation of an algorithm in Google Earth Engine. This research also aims to map and describe active mining in this region using the Classification and Regression Tree (CART) method, which achieved an overall accuracy of 82% and a kappa index of 0.77. The results reveal that from 2017 to 2024, there was an increase of 148.09 km2 in mining, with an average increase in TSS of up to 167 mg/L in water bodies most affected by mining activities. Finally, the continued importance of using remote sensing technologies, such as GEE, together with innovative methodological approaches, to monitor and manage natural resources in a sustainable manner is highlighted.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Exploring the Mine Environment, Safety Risk and Occupational Health)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
CoalHeritage: Visualising and Promoting Europe’s Coal Mining Heritage
by
Pavlos Krassakis, Andreas Karavias, Evangelia Zygouri, Nikolaos Koukouzas, Kamil Szewerda, Dariusz Michalak, Tadeja Jegrišnik, Matjaž Kamenik, Nicolas Charles, Laurent Beccaletto, Gaël Bellenfant, Robert Hildebrandt, Sylwia Jarosławska-Sobór, Hernan Flores, Tansel Dogan, Julia Haske, Theodoros Zarogiannis, Ioanna Badouna, Eleonora Manoukian, Eleftheria Karampetsou, Dimitrios Karapanos, Georgios-Orion Marias, George S. Maraslidis, Rania Karametou and Efstratios Giouvanidisadd
Show full author list
remove
Hide full author list
Mining 2024, 4(3), 489-509; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4030028 - 16 Jul 2024
Abstract
Heritage and culture tourism involve features that commemorate a valued past. Mining heritage tourism allows visitors to experience the past, guided by former mining landscapes and engaging interactively with material artifacts. This paper introduces the CoalHeritage European project, focusing on the promotion of
[...] Read more.
Heritage and culture tourism involve features that commemorate a valued past. Mining heritage tourism allows visitors to experience the past, guided by former mining landscapes and engaging interactively with material artifacts. This paper introduces the CoalHeritage European project, focusing on the promotion of coal mining heritage through the production and design of the European Visual Map Journal (EVMJ). The EVMJ is a user-friendly, web-based, interactive storytelling platform that supports the transfer of industrial and geoheritage from former coal mining areas. It aims to collect and disseminate heritage assets from post-mining coal areas, informing stakeholders and promoting these sites as tourist destinations. To further enhance public awareness, several ESRI StoryMaps web apps are being created to highlight specific features of each case study across Europe. The aim of this work is to introduce coal mining heritage as a new term, present the coal heritage platform and its importance for disseminating coal heritage aspects to the public, describe the methodology used for its design, and provide a brief overview of its evolving content.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-Mining Management)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Kinetic Model Evaluation of Arsenic and Selenium Sources in Waste Rock of the Powder River Basin, USA
by
Jeff B. Langman
Mining 2024, 4(3), 469-488; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4030027 - 12 Jul 2024
Abstract
Groundwater quality can be impacted by the backfilling of coal pits with waste rock containing new mineral surfaces and nanomaterials. This study was implemented to identify newly available arsenic and selenium sources in waste rock from the Cordero Rojo Mine in the Powder
[...] Read more.
Groundwater quality can be impacted by the backfilling of coal pits with waste rock containing new mineral surfaces and nanomaterials. This study was implemented to identify newly available arsenic and selenium sources in waste rock from the Cordero Rojo Mine in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming, to highlight the alteration of contaminant sources with the transition from an overburden geologic state to the mined waste rock. Basic kinetic models were constructed to replicate the possible weathering modeling scenario derived from published sources of arsenic and selenium in the Powder River Basin overburden—pyrite and gypsum, respectively. These basic prediction models were unable to capture the arsenic and selenium trends recorded for a saturated column loaded with waste rock from the Cordero Rojo Mine. Enhanced kinetic models were tested through trial and error to capture newly available sources created by the mining of the waste rock. The incorporation of new source contributions produced modeled arsenic and selenium trends similar to the observed trends in water extracted from the column. The identification of newly available contaminant sources in backfill waste rock is necessary to evaluate the potential release of contaminants and the exceedance of water quality criteria for overburden formations that have not previously shown the potential for water quality contamination.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Sustainable Mining Engineering 2024)
►▼
Show Figures
Graphical abstract
Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
The Application of Geosynthetics in Tailings Storage Facilities: A General Review
by
Ronald Kerry Rowe and Jiying Fan
Mining 2024, 4(2), 447-468; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4020026 - 15 Jun 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
This paper is a summary of many of the key findings on the application of geosynthetics in tailings storage facilities. Topics include the compressibility and permeability of tailings, the equations predicting leakage through circular and non-circular geomembrane holes, the effect of the subgrade
[...] Read more.
This paper is a summary of many of the key findings on the application of geosynthetics in tailings storage facilities. Topics include the compressibility and permeability of tailings, the equations predicting leakage through circular and non-circular geomembrane holes, the effect of the subgrade permeability, and the effect of a lateral drainage system within tailings on leakage predictions. Two commonly encountered engineering problems relating to the piping through circular geomembrane holes and the opening width of non-circular defective geomembrane seams are given to demonstrate the potential application of leakage prediction equations. Meanwhile, issues related to the subgrade imperfection and the long-term performance of both high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and bituminous geomembranes in tailings storage applications are addressed. The research highlights that an appropriate HDPE geomembrane liner can be expected to perform very well for an extremely long time, limiting leakage and contaminant migration from the facility into the surrounding environment if the liner is well constructed on a suitable subgrade.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Minimum Cost Pathfinding Algorithm for the Determination of Optimal Paths under Airflow Constraints
by
Kate Brown Requist and Moe Momayez
Mining 2024, 4(2), 429-446; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4020025 - 14 Jun 2024
Abstract
Pathfinding algorithms allow for the numerical determination of optimal paths of travel across many applications. These algorithms remain poorly defined for additional consideration of outside parameters, such as fluid flow, while considering contaminant transport problems. We have developed a pathfinding algorithm based on
[...] Read more.
Pathfinding algorithms allow for the numerical determination of optimal paths of travel across many applications. These algorithms remain poorly defined for additional consideration of outside parameters, such as fluid flow, while considering contaminant transport problems. We have developed a pathfinding algorithm based on the A* search algorithm which considers the effect of fluid flow behaviors in two dimensions. This search algorithm returns the optimal path between two points in a setting containing impermeable boundaries, allowing for a computational approach to the determination of the most likely path of travel for contaminants or hazards of concern due to fluid flow. This modified A* search algorithm has applications in the statistical modeling of airborne contamination distributions, providing a relative estimate of the statistical relationship between two points in an underground mine’s ventilation system. This method provides a significant improvement to the spatial resolution of minimum-cost path methods currently in use in mine ventilation network software.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Underground Mine Planning, Scheduling, and Optimization: Theory and Applications)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
A Methodology to Determine Undercutting Height in Block/Panel Caving
by
Danko Morales, Raúl Castro and René Gómez
Mining 2024, 4(2), 417-428; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4020024 - 13 Jun 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
The undercutting process is a technique employed to initiate the caving of the ore mass in block caving, achieved by creating a basal cut on the block scheduled to be submerged. The effective execution of the undercutting process involves numerous variables, such as
[...] Read more.
The undercutting process is a technique employed to initiate the caving of the ore mass in block caving, achieved by creating a basal cut on the block scheduled to be submerged. The effective execution of the undercutting process involves numerous variables, such as the undercut height and the vertical section’s undercut geometry, whose influence has often been overlooked. This research presents a methodology for determining the undercut height in a post-undercutting scenario, including variables such as the undercut level design, the extraction level design, and the air gap. Integral to this methodology is a parameterization that estimates the undercut height, from which design abacuses can be created to aid the assessment of present and future operations for any block/panel caving operation that employs the post-undercutting variant. Additionally, two examples demonstrate the application of this methodology, revealing how alterations in the dimensions of the crown pillar and drawbells significantly influence the undercut height. The calculation methodology outlined in this document delivers an undercutting height, providing an evaluation methodology for ongoing operations. Consequently, any height exceeding this suggests a conservative approach, potentially offering an opportunity for design improvement and alignment with the described parameters.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessReview
Enhanced Measurement and Verification Practices in Deep-Level Mines: The Current State
by
Frans J. L. Matthee, Johan H. Marais and Jean H. van Laar
Mining 2024, 4(2), 401-416; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4020023 - 24 May 2024
Abstract
This article explores operational challenges in mining, with a focus on energy management amid depleting ore grades and rising costs. The urgent need for innovative energy management systems and strategies is highlighted by analyzing the unexplored landscape of mine energy budgeting and forecasting
[...] Read more.
This article explores operational challenges in mining, with a focus on energy management amid depleting ore grades and rising costs. The urgent need for innovative energy management systems and strategies is highlighted by analyzing the unexplored landscape of mine energy budgeting and forecasting and identifying gaps in current practices. Drawing from the literature, this paper offers new insights into energy budgeting and the evaluation of energy efficiency initiatives by integrating traditional and advanced measurement and verification (M&V) techniques. M&V practices are crucial for energy management, particularly in deep-level mines, with a focus on practical knowledge and advanced methodologies. Key findings from this study show that integrating advanced M&V techniques with unplanned events is crucial to improve the financial management of mines. By leveraging these key findings, this article proposes a roadmap of the next seven milestones needed in advanced M&V research to aid effective energy management in a mining environment. If executed successfully, a practical method for applying advanced M&V processes to deep-level mining operations can be constructed. Such a generic method will enhance mining companies’ energy efficiency initiatives and improve financial management practices on a global scale.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Sustainable Mining Engineering 2024)
►▼
Show Figures
Graphical abstract
Open AccessArticle
Soil and Urine Mercury Levels in Secocha: A Case Study of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Peru
by
Rolando Quispe Aquino, Fredy Fortunato García Zúñiga and Aaron Malone
Mining 2024, 4(2), 389-400; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4020022 - 23 May 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
In recent decades, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) has spurred population and economic growth in the small rural communities in which it is located, along with causing contamination of the soil, air, and water with grave effects on human health due to
[...] Read more.
In recent decades, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) has spurred population and economic growth in the small rural communities in which it is located, along with causing contamination of the soil, air, and water with grave effects on human health due to the uncontrolled use of mercury for gold processing activities. This study analyzes the levels of mercury in Secocha, an ASGM community in Arequipa, Peru. A total of 44 soil samples were taken from two ASGM commercial-extractive zones (n = 18) and non-processing urban zones (n = 26). Soil mercury analysis with atomic absorption spectrometry revealed average mercury levels of 86.11 mg/kg in commercial-extractive zone I, where ore processing has occurred for about 17 years, and mercury levels of 43.81 mg/kg in commercial-extractive zone II, where processing has occurred for about 7 years. In the urban zone, the average mercury level was 9.53 mg/kg. The average mercury concentrations for each zone exceed the relevant environmental quality standards established by the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment. In addition, urine samples were obtained from 15 miners and 15 people from the general urban population (non-miners). The average mercury level in the urine of miners was 7.04 µg/L, and in the urine of non-miners it was 0.49 µg/L. In both cases, the mercury urine level did not exceed the limits established by WHO and the Peruvian Ministry of Health, though miners’ elevated levels do raise concerns.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Multi-Sensor Satellite Remote-Sensing Data for Exploring Carbonate-Hosted Pb-Zn Mineralization: Akhlamad Area, Razavi Khorasan, North East Iran
by
Saeedeh Hosseini, Maryam Gholamzadeh, Amin Beiranvand Pour, Reyhaneh Ahmadirouhani, Milad Sekandari and Milad Bagheri
Mining 2024, 4(2), 367-388; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4020021 - 11 May 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
The exploration of Pb-Zn mineralization in carbonate complexes during field campaign is a challenging process that consumes high expenses and time to discover high prospective zones for a detailed exploration stage. In this study, multi-sensor remote-sensing imagery from Landsat-8, Sentinel-2, and ASTER were
[...] Read more.
The exploration of Pb-Zn mineralization in carbonate complexes during field campaign is a challenging process that consumes high expenses and time to discover high prospective zones for a detailed exploration stage. In this study, multi-sensor remote-sensing imagery from Landsat-8, Sentinel-2, and ASTER were utilized for Pb-Zn mineralization prospectivity mapping in the Akhlamad carbonate complex area, Razavi Khorasan, NE Iran. Due to the presence of carbonate formations and various evidence of Pb-Zn mineralization, this area was selected. Band composition, band ratio, principal component analysis (PCA), and SAM techniques for mapping alteration minerals as well as lineament analysis were implemented. Subsequently, a fuzzy logic model for identifying the prospective zones of Pb-Zn mineralization using multi-sensor remote-sensing satellite images was designed. The weight of each exploratory layer was determined using the fuzzy hierarchical method and the integration process of the information layers was performed using fuzzy operators. Finally, the existing mineral indications were used to evaluate and validate the obtained mineral potential map. The outcome of this investigation suggested several high-potential zones for Pb-Zn exploration in the study area.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Perspectives for Photochemical Leaching Processes of Chalcopyrite: A Solar Radical-Leaching Process
by
Orlando Yepsen, Lorena Cornejo-Ponce and Rodrigo Yepsen
Mining 2024, 4(2), 352-366; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4020020 - 11 May 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
This paper review presents a comparison between conventional leaching and advanced photochemical leaching processes and their potential for use in chalcopyrite leaching. Likewise, it presents an analysis of the differences between the advanced leaching processes, photoleaching and radical-leaching, indicating that the photochemical mechanisms
[...] Read more.
This paper review presents a comparison between conventional leaching and advanced photochemical leaching processes and their potential for use in chalcopyrite leaching. Likewise, it presents an analysis of the differences between the advanced leaching processes, photoleaching and radical-leaching, indicating that the photochemical mechanisms (photooxidation/photoreduction and generation of radical oxygen species (ROS) and radical sulfur species (RSS)) would improve the oxidative dissolution of chalcopyrite, taking advantage of the high oxidizing power of free radicals. Initial experimental results of solar-assisted radical-leaching on chalcopyrite are presented, demonstrating that sulfate radicals (SO4−) allow copper to be leached at a rate 4.7 times higher than in the absence of radicals and sunlight. With these results, a radical-leaching process is presented for the first time, with a perspective toward the future development of a new hydrometallurgical route: solar-assisted radical-leaching.
Full article
Graphical abstract
Open AccessArticle
Development and Usability Evaluation of VulcanH, a CMMS Prototype for Preventive and Predictive Maintenance of Mobile Mining Equipment
by
Simon Robatto Simard, Michel Gamache and Philippe Doyon-Poulin
Mining 2024, 4(2), 326-351; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4020019 - 9 May 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
This paper details the design, development, and evaluation of VulcanH, a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) specialized in preventive maintenance (PM) and predictive maintenance (PdM) management for underground mobile mining equipment. Further, it aims to expand knowledge on trust in automation (TiA) for
[...] Read more.
This paper details the design, development, and evaluation of VulcanH, a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) specialized in preventive maintenance (PM) and predictive maintenance (PdM) management for underground mobile mining equipment. Further, it aims to expand knowledge on trust in automation (TiA) for PdM as well as contribute to the literature on explainability requirements of a PdM-capable artificial intelligence (AI). This study adopted an empirical approach through the execution of user tests with nine maintenance experts from five East-Canadian mines and implemented the User Experience Questionnaire Plus (UEQ+) and the Reliance Intentions Scale (RIS) to evaluate usability and TiA, respectively. It was found that the usability and efficiency of VulcanH were satisfactory for expert users and encouraged the gradual transition from PM to PdM practices. Quantitative and qualitative results documented participants’ willingness to rely on PdM predictions as long as suitable explanations are provided. Graphical explanations covering the full spectrum of the derived data were preferred. Due to the prototypical nature of VulcanH, certain relevant aspects of maintenance planning were not considered. Researchers are encouraged to include these notions in the evaluation of future CMMS proposals. This paper suggests a harmonious integration of both preventive and predictive maintenance practices in the mining industry. It may also guide future research in PdM to select an analytical algorithm capable of supplying adequate and causal justifications for informed decision making. This study fulfills an identified need to adopt a user-centered approach in the development of CMMSs in the mining industry. Hence, both researchers and industry stakeholders may benefit from the findings.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Integrated Remote Sensing for Geological and Mineralogical Mapping of Pb-Zn Deposits: A Case Study of Jbel Bou Dahar Region Using Multi-Sensor Imagery
by
Marouane Chniouar, Amina Wafik, Youssef Daafi and Daniela Guglietta
Mining 2024, 4(2), 302-325; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4020018 - 27 Apr 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
This research applies remote sensing methodologies for the first time to comprehensively explore the geological and mineralogical characteristics of the Jbel Bou Dahar region. An integrated approach with multi-sensor satellite images, including ASTER, Landsat-8, and Sentinel-2 was applied with the aim to discriminate
[...] Read more.
This research applies remote sensing methodologies for the first time to comprehensively explore the geological and mineralogical characteristics of the Jbel Bou Dahar region. An integrated approach with multi-sensor satellite images, including ASTER, Landsat-8, and Sentinel-2 was applied with the aim to discriminate the different lithological units in the study area. We implemented a suite of well-established image processing techniques, including Band Ratios, Principal Component Analysis, and Spectral Angle Mapper, to successfully identify, classify, and map the spatial distribution of carbonate minerals, OH-bearing minerals, and iron oxide minerals. Due to its high spectral resolution in the short-wave infrared region (SWIR), the ASTER sensor provided the most accurate results for mapping carbonate and OH-bearing minerals compared to the Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 sensors. Conversely, Sentinel-2 offers high spectral and spatial resolution in visible and near-infrared (VNIR) corresponding to the regions where iron oxide minerals exhibit their characteristic absorption peaks. The results confirm the advantages of remote sensing technologies in the geological and mineralogical exploration of the study area and the importance of selecting the appropriate sensors for specific mapping objectives.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Selective Removal of Arsenic and Antimony from Pb-Ag Sulfide Concentrates by Alkaline Leaching: Thermodynamic and Kinetic Studies
by
Walter Blanco-Vino, Gerardo Zamora and Javier I. Ordóñez
Mining 2024, 4(2), 284-301; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4020017 - 25 Apr 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
Arsenic and antimony are impurities that reduce the economic value of concentrates due to the environmental problems they cause. The removal of these impurities by hydrometallurgical means has been highly studied for sulfide copper concentrates using different leaching agents in an alkaline medium
[...] Read more.
Arsenic and antimony are impurities that reduce the economic value of concentrates due to the environmental problems they cause. The removal of these impurities by hydrometallurgical means has been highly studied for sulfide copper concentrates using different leaching agents in an alkaline medium (NaClO, H2O2, NaOH, Na2S, NaHS, and S). For a lead–silver concentrate consisting of galena, sphalerite, and pyrite, it was possible to selectively reduce the arsenic content from 1.10% to 0.55% and antimony from 2.41 to 1.04% through the digestion-leaching technique that uses elemental sulfur as a leaching agent in alkaline medium. The adequate powdered sulfur and sodium hydroxide dosage were 336 and 342 kg/t, respectively. The process was carried out at 120 °C with a liquid/solid ratio of 2 in digestion and 5.67 in leaching; the appropriate digestion and leaching time were 20 and 30 min, respectively. The thermodynamics and kinetics of this process turned out to be very complex due to the great variety of simultaneous leaching and precipitation reactions. The digestion process exhibited a mixed kinetic control, where diffusion through the boundary layer and the chemical reaction were the controlling steps with an activation energy of 11.05 kcal/mol.
Full article
Graphical abstract
Open AccessReview
The Smallest “Miner” of the Animal Kingdom and Its Importance for Raw Materials Exploitation
by
George Xiroudakis, George Saratsis and Emmanouil Manoutsoglou
Mining 2024, 4(2), 260-283; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4020016 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
The mining industry is the leading supplier of raw materials in modern society. This sector of human activity has experienced a severe crisis due to the energy transition and has been revived in recent years due to the need for critical metals that
[...] Read more.
The mining industry is the leading supplier of raw materials in modern society. This sector of human activity has experienced a severe crisis due to the energy transition and has been revived in recent years due to the need for critical metals that are essential in the post-coal era. In underground and open pit mining, processes such as extraction, transportation, safety, underground ventilation, waste management, and rehabilitation are of major importance, and their “design” is critical to the economic survival of the mine. All the above processes required to operate a mine are strongly reminiscent of an example of nature’s workman: the ant. The sympatric insect uses the same processes as the ones aforementioned during the creation of its nest. The ants dig to “extract material from the ground”, and they transport this material from the nest‘s site to the waste deposition location. The ants ensure the safety of the underground opening and the proper ventilation needed for them to live there for a long time. This article attempts to identify the relations between all the above processes and sub-processes, and how human mining and ant colony development correlate with each other. Furthermore, we examine how an ant colony has aided in the development of mining technology, and what more humans can learn and adopt from a “miner” that is 66 million years old, in order to improve their processes.
Full article
Graphical abstract
Open AccessArticle
Territorial Impact Assessment for Coal Sites in Transition
by
Kai van de Loo and Julia Haske
Mining 2024, 4(2), 248-259; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4020015 - 19 Apr 2024
Abstract
This article describes a part of the POTENTIALS project promoted by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) of the EU, which, in general, has aimed to develop business models for the reuse of former industrial and mining sites in different European
[...] Read more.
This article describes a part of the POTENTIALS project promoted by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) of the EU, which, in general, has aimed to develop business models for the reuse of former industrial and mining sites in different European regions. The goal of this project focused on the creation of so-called eco-industrial parks to enable sustainable energy production and reduce waste and pollution on coal sites in transition. A key aspect was the development of a suitable territorial impact assessment (TIA), a new and complex policy tool for the assessment of the territorial impacts of EU policies and projects on territorial cohesion. Therefore, the special TEQUILA (Territorial Efficiency, Quality and Identity Layer Assessment) approach is used to describe the TIA for this case and emphasizes its application in assessing ex ante the impacts of the transition from a coal site to an eco-industrial park. It underlines the need for a differentiated understanding of the regional characteristics and potential impacts of transition policies or projects. Furthermore, the process and results of applying the TEQUILA methodology, a multicriteria analysis, in the context of regionalized impact models has shown how important it is to select well-defined, expert-based criteria, but at the same time, to establish a system that is flexible and adaptable to the needs of political decision makers and stakeholders considering the normative weights of the criteria. This has been illustrated by some examples.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-Mining Management)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Participatory Geomonitoring for Future Mining—Resilience Management in the Cavern Storage Epe (Germany)
by
Tobias Rudolph, Peter Goerke-Mallet, Andre Homölle, Andreas Müterthies, Holger Perrevort, Sebastian Teuwsen and Chia-Hsiang Yang
Mining 2024, 4(2), 230-247; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4020014 - 16 Apr 2024
Abstract
Integrated geo- and environmental monitoring in mining represents a high-dimensional challenge (location, altitude/depth, time and sensors). This is challenging for experts but poses great problems for a multitude of participants and stakeholders in building up a complete process understanding. The Epe research cooperation
[...] Read more.
Integrated geo- and environmental monitoring in mining represents a high-dimensional challenge (location, altitude/depth, time and sensors). This is challenging for experts but poses great problems for a multitude of participants and stakeholders in building up a complete process understanding. The Epe research cooperation aims to elucidate the ground movement at the Epe cavern storage facility with a public participation process. The research cooperation was founded by the city of Gronau, the citizens’ initiative cavern field Epe, the company EFTAS, Münster, and the Research Center of Post-Mining at the Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola, Bochum. This research cooperation is the first in Germany to involve direct collaboration between science and the public. In the cavern field, which has been in operation since the 1970s, brine is extracted, and at the same time natural gas, crude oil and helium, as well as hydrogen in the future, are stored in the subsurface. The technical focus of this work was the development of a high-resolution spatiotemporal analysis of ground movements. The area is monitored annually by the mining company’s mine surveyor. The complexity of the monitoring issue lies in the fact that the western part is a bog area and a former bog area. Furthermore, the soils in the eastern part are very humus-rich and show strong fluctuations in the groundwater and therefore complex hydraulic conditions. At the same time, there are few fixed scatterers or prominent points in the area that allow high-resolution spatiotemporal monitoring using simple radar interferometry methods. Therefore, the SBAS method (Small Baseline Subset), which is based on an aerial method, was used to analyze the radar interferometric datasets. Using an SBAS analysis, it was possible to evaluate a time series of 760 scenes over the period from 2015 to 2023. The results were integrated with the mine survey maps on the ground movement and other open geodata on the surface, the soil layers and the overburden. The results show complex forms of ground movement. The main influence is that of mining. Nevertheless, the influence of organic soils with drying out due to drought years and uplift in wet years is great. Thus, in dry years, ground subsidence accelerates, and in wet years, ground subsidence not only slows down but in some cases also causes uplift. This complexity of ground movements and the necessary understanding of the processes involved has been communicated to the interested public at several public information events as part of the research cooperation. In this way, an understanding of the mining process was built up, and transparency was created in the subsurface use, also as a part of the energy transition. In technical terms, the research cooperation also provides a workflow for developing the annual mine survey maps into an integrated geo- and environmental monitoring system with the development of a transparent participatory geomonitoring process to provide resilience management to a mining location.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-Mining Management)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Towards a Long-Term Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Monitoring Framework for Post-Mining Effects: Prosper-Haniel Case
by
Marcin Pawlik, Benjamin Haske, Hernan Flores, Bodo Bernsdorf and Tobias Rudolph
Mining 2024, 4(2), 211-229; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4020013 - 12 Apr 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
Direct and indirect effects after mine operations cease operating must ideally be subjected to perpetual monitoring routines in order to detect possible risks or avoid adverse effects on the surrounding ecosystems at an early stage. In this contribution, mining subsidence lakes created inside
[...] Read more.
Direct and indirect effects after mine operations cease operating must ideally be subjected to perpetual monitoring routines in order to detect possible risks or avoid adverse effects on the surrounding ecosystems at an early stage. In this contribution, mining subsidence lakes created inside the nature reserve Kirchheller Heide and Hilsfeld Forest are subjected to analysis for a long-term monitoring scheme. For this purpose, we employ high-resolution unmanned aerial system (UAS)-based multispectral and thermal mapping tools to provide a fast, non-invasive and multitemporal environmental monitoring method. Specifically, we propose to monitor vegetation evolution through multispectral analysis, biotypes identification using machine learning algorithms, and water surface extent detection, together with their thermal behavior. The aim of this contribution is to present the proposed workflow and first results to establish a baseline for future analyses and subsequent surveys for long-term multi-temporal monitoring.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Machine Learning Approach to Identify Important Parameters Influencing Pumping Load Shift in a Complex Dewatering System of a Deep-Level Mine
by
Fortunate Olifant, Shaun Hancock, Johan du Plessis, Jean van Laar and Corne Schutte
Mining 2024, 4(2), 189-210; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4020012 - 26 Mar 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
This study investigated the application of machine learning to optimise the pumping load shift of a complex dewatering system in a deep-level mine, aiming to reduce energy costs associated with the dewatering process, which consumes an average of 14% of the mine’s electricity.
[...] Read more.
This study investigated the application of machine learning to optimise the pumping load shift of a complex dewatering system in a deep-level mine, aiming to reduce energy costs associated with the dewatering process, which consumes an average of 14% of the mine’s electricity. Traditional practices, reliant on human control and simulations, often lead to inconsistent savings and occasional losses. The study employed multivariate linear regression (MLR) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) on a mine dewatering system, to identify important parameters influencing the pumping load shift performance. Critical parameters significantly impacting the energy consumption of the dewatering system were identified by the best-performing model, XGBoost. Implementing a pumping schedule based on XGBoost insights resulted in consistent load shifting and enhanced energy cost savings. These findings highlight the potential of machine learning in comprehending and optimising complex systems in deep-level mines, with the case study approach proving effective in quantifying and validating real-world impacts. This approach could offer substantial energy savings through data-driven decision-making.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
The Influence of Explosive and Rock Mass Properties on Blast Damage in a Single-Hole Blasting
by
Magreth S. Dotto and Yashar Pourrahimian
Mining 2024, 4(1), 168-188; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4010011 - 20 Mar 2024
Cited by 1
Abstract
In rock blasting for mining production, stress waves play a major role in rock fracturing, along with explosive gases. Better energy distribution improves fragmentation and safety, lowers production costs, increases productivity, and controls ore losses and dilution. Blast outcomes vary significantly depending on
[...] Read more.
In rock blasting for mining production, stress waves play a major role in rock fracturing, along with explosive gases. Better energy distribution improves fragmentation and safety, lowers production costs, increases productivity, and controls ore losses and dilution. Blast outcomes vary significantly depending on the choice of the explosive and the properties of the rock mass encountered. This study analyzes the effects of rock mass and explosive properties on blast outcomes via numerical simulation using data from the case study, and later validates the simulation results from the field blast fragmentation. The findings suggest that, for a given set of rock properties, the choice of explosive has a major influence on the resulting fragmentation. Strong explosives (high VOD and detonation pressure) favor large fracture extents in hard rocks, while weaker explosives offer a better distribution of explosive energy and fractures. The presence of rock structures such as rock contacts and joints influences the propagation of stress waves and fractures depending on the structures’ material properties, the intensity and orientations, and the direction and strength of the stress wave. When the stress wave encounters a contact depending on its direction, it is enhanced when traveling from soft to hard and attenuates in the opposite direction. The ability of the stress wave to cause fracturing on the opposite side of the contact depends on the intensity of the transmitted wave and the strength of the rock. Transmitted wave intensity is a function of the strength of the incident wave and the impedance difference between the interface materials. The presence of joints in the rock mass affects the propagation of the stress wave, mainly depending on the infill material properties and the angle at which the stress wave approaches the joint. Less compressible, higher stiffness joints transmit more energy. More energy is also transmitted in the areas where the stress wave hits the joint perpendicularly. Joints parallel to the free face offer additional fracturing on the opposite side of the joint. Other parameters, such as the joint width, continuity, fracture frequency, and the distance from the charge, enhance the effects. To achieve effective fragmentation, the blast design should mitigate the effect of variability in the rock mass via explosive selection and pattern design to ensure adequate energy distribution within the limits of geometric design.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Mining)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Highly Accessed Articles
Latest Books
E-Mail Alert
News
Topics
Topic in
Materials, Mining, Recycling, Resources, Sustainability
Sustainable Recycling and Reuse of Industrial By-Products or Waste from Geo-Resource Exploitation
Topic Editors: Sossio Fabio Graziano, Rossana Bellopede, Giovanna Antonella Dino, Nicola CaredduDeadline: 1 November 2024
Topic in
ChemEngineering, Compounds, Materials, Metals, Alloys, Mining
Recent Advances in Metallurgical Extractive Processes, 2nd Volume
Topic Editors: Norman Toro, Edelmira Gálvez, Ricardo JeldresDeadline: 25 January 2025
Topic in
Applied Sciences, Crystals, Materials, Minerals, Mining, Toxics
Innovative Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Mining
Topic Editors: Chongchong Qi, Qiusong Chen, Danial Jahed ArmaghaniDeadline: 31 March 2025
Topic in
Energies, Minerals, Mining, Processes, Sustainability
Green Mining, 2nd Volume
Topic Editors: Kun Du, Jianping SunDeadline: 31 May 2025
Conferences
Special Issues
Special Issue in
Mining
Post-Mining Management
Guest Editors: Jörg Benndorf, Tobias Rudolph, Jan BlachowskiDeadline: 20 December 2024
Special Issue in
Mining
Feature Papers in Sustainable Mining Engineering 2024
Guest Editors: Mostafa Benzaazoua, Yassine Ait-KhouiaDeadline: 31 December 2024
Special Issue in
Mining
Coupled Thermal, Hydraulic, Mechanical and Chemical Phenomena as Related to Underground Safety and Green Mines
Guest Editors: Shunde Yin, Hetao SuDeadline: 31 March 2025
Special Issue in
Mining
Application of Empirical, Analytical, and Numerical Approaches in Mining Geomechanics, 2nd Edition
Guest Editors: Mohammad H.B. (Farzine) Nasseri, Bibhu MohantyDeadline: 31 May 2025