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Looking Ahead
Published in Karlheinz Spitz, John Trudinger, Mining and the Environment, 2019
Karlheinz Spitz, John Trudinger
Another major focus of mining research is ‘automated mining’ including remote control mining using robotics. Mining by remote control has, until recently, been mainly used in circumstances that are dangerous for miners. These include high-grade underground uranium mines where exposure to radiation is a concern, and very deep mines where ‘rock bursts’ may occur. Continuous mining machines have been used for many years in coal mining. Recent research has sought to develop continuous mining machines for other applications, including mining of lateritic ores.
Modern Mining and Its Challenges
Published in Joel Lööw, Bo Johansson, Eira Andersson, Jan Johansson, Designing Ergonomic, Safe, and Attractive Mining Workplaces, 2018
Joel Lööw, Bo Johansson, Eira Andersson, Jan Johansson
A vision for future mining, which especially considers the trends above, was presented by Johansson and Johansson (2014). It is summarized here. The vision describes future deep metal mines as planning and cooperation successes. This type of mine would utilize automated and flexible mining systems based on drill-and-blast technology for ore fragmentation and continuous mechanical fragmentation (e.g. roadheaders) for development work. It would largely satisfy the requirements for zero-entry mining. Such a mine would use automated mining methods that make it possible to continuously produce desired ore qualities and quantities based on customer demand (providing a significant competitive advantage). This mining system would have dramatically reduced the prevailing and traditional use of storing and stacking mined ore and would allow for the practice of ‘lean mining’. The vision describes automated mining technology as being able to reduce costs for underground development work by 50 per cent and labour costs by even more. This would make it possible for companies to make large investments in new technology and personnel competence while still being highly profitable. New mines started under this vision would be exclusively underground. A green mining philosophy of in situ mining would be applied, making most mining activities almost invisible. For example, waste material would be directly used for backfill after recovering the metal content. This visionary mine would have been developed using an iterative planning and design methodology that reduces initial design errors and reflects ‘Safety First’ in every design decision. All activities would have been risk assessed and physical work properly simulated, evaluated, and approved before being conducted. The mine would have been designed from the start with sociotechnical principles (e.g. work organization based on production teams and broad professional skills among management and miners) and automation in mind. It would feature an impressive information and decision system based on sensor technology and production analysis. This would allow for proactive steering and controlling of the production process, increasing quality and production availability and stability, as well as making miners’ work interesting and challenging. The new deep metal mine would make use of remote operations centres designed to promote cooperation and creative problem solving in multi-skilled teams (made up of people of different ages, experience, gender, competence, background, and so on). Mining work would have become attractive not only because of high wages, but because of interesting work with good possibilities for personal and profession development in a safe and sound working environment.
Reducing the energy intensity of overland conveying using a novel rail-running conveyor system
Published in International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 2021
Michael J. Carr, Craig A. Wheeler, Peter W. Robinson, Bin Chen
The significant role belt conveying systems have, and will continue to play, in modern bulk material handling operations throughout the world is of critical importance. Belt conveyors are by far the most widespread bulk material transportation system used across the mining, mineral processing and power generation industries. Their continuous mode of operation makes them highly desirable for automated mining activities and this continues to drive the technology towards higher capacities and longer transportation distances. Although belt conveyors have significant benefits for automated processes in comparison to alternative technologies such as hauling trucks, they still require significant amounts of energy for their operation. The need for energy reduction during conveying in the mining sector is critical when global power demands are considered. As case of example for a typical South African gold mine, it is estimated that approximately 23% of their total operating cost will be attributed to electricity costs by 2020 [1].