Search Documents

By FELIPE SÁNCHEZ, PHILIPP HARTLIEB

Innovation plays a critical role in the mining industry not only as a tool to improve the efficiency of its processes and to reduce costs but also to meet the increasing social and environmental concerns among communities and authorities. Technological progress has also been crucial to allow the exploitation of new deposits in more complex scenarios, such as lower ore grades, extreme weather conditions, deeper deposits, harder rock mass and high-stress environments.  

By K. Nielsen

The Norwegian tunnelling industry has made remarkable improvements both with regard to productivity and cost efficiency over the last 30-40 years. This development has been made possible by continuous improvement driven by innovation. Based on a generic description of the innovation process and the innovation system, the paper has used the development of modern tunnel drilling in the Norwegian tunnelling industry to discuss the characteristics of its innovation system with a focus on human capital issues and knowledge management.

Jan 1, 2006

By Martin Herenknecht, Michael Knabe, Ulrich Rehm

In Switzerland at present, the longest railway tunnels in the world, the Gotthard(57 km) and the Loetschberg base tunnel (34km) are under construction. For thischallenge six high-tech HERRENKNECHT Hard Rock Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM)are applied, which have to excavate approx. 80 km at the Gotthard and 20 km at the Loetschberg Tunnels. The machines being used are of a single Gripper-TBM type, which are equipped with the latest rock support techniques, in order to optimize the quality of the working conditions for the personnel which have direct impact on the quality of the tunnels. The different requirements of the projects based on different speci?cations within the tender documents led to completely different TBM concepts which will be reviewed in detail in this paper.

Jan 1, 2003

By William Gleason

"Technology of all forms has experienced exponential growth in recent years, and there is no sign of it slowing down. This growth has presented amazing opportunity and significant challenges in nearly every aspect of daily life. Some of these changes are seen and experienced every day as we turn to our smart phones, tablets and smart watches to help with us with everything from directions to the store to managing our health. And other technological growth takes place far away from the public view but can have as much of an impact on our daily life as does shopping at Amazon or connecting with friends on social media.At the “THRIVE 2018, Innovations Advancing Mining” conference presented by SME on Sept. 27 at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square in Pittsburgh, PA, the focus was on innovation and how it affects the global mining industry.More than 100 people were on hand for the inaugural event, and they were treated to a unique program that focused on the cutting-edge innovations that will carry the mining industry into the future while increasing safety and productivity along the way.2018 SME President Barbara Arnold was the driving force behind the conference and put together the technical program with a focus on innovation through the entire mining life cycle and into the future. Talks ranged from more efficient and safer ways to extract minerals to some of the most advanced end uses of minerals and metals, including the use of 3D printing to create precision parts for machines and humans from advanced metal alloys.“We need to adapt new technologies to our industry and develop additional technologies as we provide materials and metals for infrastructure and energy development in the United States, around the globe, and to the Moon and beyond,” Arnold told Mining Engineering. “Our inaugural THRIVE conference sets the stage for these innovations to be applied and to continue to be developed. Our mining industry can only continue to thrive with these advances.”"

Jan 11, 2018

At long last, mining is on the rebound in Minnesota?s Iron Range and the excitement is starting to show. The SME Minnesota Section?s annual meeting was once again held in the heart of Iron Range country, at the Duluth Entertainment and Conference Center on the Duluth waterfront. The conference boasted a record attendance of 475 people and its largest-ever trade show. Appearances by Governor Mark Dayton?s new Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) appointee, Tony Sertich, as well as a local Fox news crew (see clip on SME website [link: http://fox21online.com/news/duluth-mining-conference-breeds-optimism-tech-innovation]) made clear that a lot of eyes [ ] are on the industry as it dusts itself off from the 2008-2009 recession. While the early years of the 21st century were very good to the Iron Range, the global drop in commodities prices and production left many companies reeling and brought back bad memories of the collapse of the industry in the 1980s. However, two years of solid growth and a rebound to above pre-2008 production levels have let the Minnesota mining industry to relax a little and talk seriously about long-term growth and stability.

Jan 1, 2011

By Anatoly F. Usov, Vyacheslav A. Tsukerman

"The Russian scientists have developed a new energy saving method for an efficient destruction of the sturdy and hard materials (rocks, ores, frozen soils, concrete blocks ets.) - the Electric Pulse Discharge method of materials destruction (EPD). The detailed researches of a broad circle of problems connected to development EPD-disintegration of materials of a various nature and area of use are executed. The electrical and power characteristics of process, physical fundamentals of selectivity of a breakdown and destruction are investigated, the means of electric pulse splitting and refinements of materials are developed, the technological efficiency of disintegration of industrial minerals estimated.One of the most important characteristics of the EPD-disintegration of ores is the high selectivity of destruction, which provides a large ratio of useful minerals' grains opening, and at the same time, it destroy them less. This ensures in the subsequent stages of beneficiation of ores considerable increase of the extraction and improving the quality of concentrates.The technological tests of various industrial minerals have shown a possibility the EPD-disintegration, as a process that provides the best efficiency of disclosure of useful minerals in all types of ores. Technological and economic efficiency of the method of ore beneficiation is the highest for difficult beneficiated ores with rather low extraction by existing methods. The increase of extraction in this case can reach several percents. As a rule, at a EPD-disintegration the disclosure of mineral grains happens in earlier stages of material comminution than at a mechanical comminution, and with less damage of products. This promotes a simplifying the process of ore preparation and for reducing the power consumption."

Jan 1, 2003

By L. Ivanova, V. Tsukerman

"Dynamics of general economic growth is to a considerable extent determined by results of research, technical and innovation policies in the Arctic zone of Russia. Evaluating contribution of innovation-technological development of the economy in growth of the country’s GDP, scholars assign 70-80% to this factor’s share.Mineral formations, accumulated during industrial epoch, affect significantly economic and ecological situation in the Arctic region. On the one hand, production wastes destroy the region’s environment. On the other hand, technogenic mineral formations contain a lot of valuable scarce components. The amount of solid wastes increases annually.Transition to innovation economy provides re-comprehension of mining enterprises in society. Actions should be directed to radical renovation of production technologies. It will ensure rapid growth of competitiveness, increased demand and stronger position at the international market. Development of innovation technologies can be provided at the expense of active state and private innovation activities.IntroductionIn northern regions it is necessary to carry to the basic organizational-economic conditions of realization of industrial innovative policy: - orientation to all-round support of the basic and improving innovations making a basis of modern technological way; - a combination of state regulation of innovative activity to effective functioning a competitive market mechanism; - assistance to development of innovative activity in region, to the international transfer of technologies and To investment cooperation, protection of interests of national innovative business. Strategy of industrial development of regions of the North, connected with transition from conceptual resource-export and export-oriented models to resource-innovative model and in the further - is innovative-technological in view of a real condition of industrial productions, realization of domestic and foreign technologies and their subsequent development is considered."

Jan 1, 2008

By Sean Dessureault

Technological Revolution ?Information age ? brought about by: ?Low-cost processing, storage, information sharing ?Shared & integrated data ? Increasingly more sensors & data sources From data collection to data use ??Data mining??analyzing the huge volumes of data ?Key example used in MBAs: ?Wal-mart, Google Explosion of data, trickle of information ?Paralysis of action Outline Trying to provoke- What drives innovation now? ?Challenges in mining Data Action Approach ?Examples from research & consulting upon request Conclusions ?Unaddressed challenges (Research Opportunities)

May 1, 2006

By V. A. Chanturiya

The state-of-the-art of mineral mining and metallurgy industry in Russia is characterized by high demand of nonferrous, rare, rare earth metals, and highgrade coal, on the one hand, and by involvement of natural and technogenic minerals with low content of valuable components, fine (nearly emulsion) dissemination of valuable components and close physicochemical and process properties. This calls for high-productive and ecology-friendly technologies for more efficient mineral beneficiation based on intensification of operating and new methods to extract valuable components from rebellious ore and technogenic minerals, relying on the last achievements of basic sciences, combination of dressing and chemico-metallurgical processes and using advanced pyro- and hydrometallurgical technologies. The transition to a new strategy of processing is only possible based on the new technological–mineralogical appraisal of a mineral raw material. Actually, the process mineralogy has a stock of modern high-resolution physical methods for analyzing composition, structure and properties of geomaterials, inclusive of micro- and nano-levels: - Identification of micro- and nano-size noble metals, and natural and induced formations on mineral surface; - Experimental validation of structural phase and chemical transformation of minerals under different energy input; - Justification of choice and mechanism of interaction between flotation agents and noble metals with complex material constitution; - Analysis of structural, phase and chemical transformations of sulfides and rocks under leaching. Thus, process mineralogy is an informational background for a unified theoretical approach to scientific justification of flowsheets of efficient mineral processing. The article gives a brief review of practices that have found application and proved to be of high economic efficiency. Such practices are: X-ray radiometry and photometry separation (Uchalinsky and Gaisky Mining and Processing Integrated Works of ALROSA); selective disintegration (equipment engineered by Mekhanobr-Tekhnika and IPKON RAS); process selectivity enhancement (IPKON RAS, Central Research Institute for Geological Exploration of Nonferrous and Noble Metals, Chinakal Institute of Mining, Siberian Branch RAS, etc.); bacterial gold leaching (Olimpiada MPIW, technologies developed the Central Research Institute for Geological Exploration of Nonferrous and Noble Metals, Nezhdaninsky deposit projects, etc.); combination processing at a mining and metallurgy plant (Norilsk Mining and Metallurgical Company, Yaregsky deposit projects and others); processing of waste: overburden, mill tailings, slag, etc. (Kovdorsky MPIW, Svyatogor JSC, Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company, plants designed by the Central Research Institute for Geological Exploration of Nonferrous and Noble Metals, Mining Institute of Kola Science Center RAS, Research Institute for Chemical Technologies); water conditioning in mineral dressing circuits (ALROSA, equipment by IPKON, etc.); utilization of process water (ALROSA, Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company, Severalmaz JSC and others). Thus, Russia this time has the academic and engineering background for development of efficient energy-saving technologies for comprehensive advanced processing in accordance with the world’s standards, or even higher in terms of a number of the technologies, which has continually been highlighted by participants of recent international congresses on mineral processing.

Jan 1, 2018

By V. I. Lakshmanan

Whilst the prices of metals in nominal terms have largely remained static over the past forty years, in real terms, the primary metals industry receives very much less today for its products than in the past. Yet, it has largely managed to remain competitive, despite the fact that ore reserves are not only diminishing, but are of lower grade and higher complexity, and that there are much greater pressures on companies to be good environmental stewards. This paper examines how hydrometallurgical processing has shown itself to be highly innovative in order to remain viable both economically and environmentally. Aspects of process chemistry are discussed, and the lessons to be learned from having a good understanding of this chemistry are highlighted with reference to a number of case histories such as HPAL for nickel laterites, the Avmin/Chambishi Cosac Project, use of chloride chemistry for titanium extraction, and plant effluent treatment and recycle.

Jan 1, 2003

Innovation ? In economics a change must increase overall value, customer value, or producer value. ? Innovations are intended to make someone better off, and the succession of many innovations adds growth to the whole economy. ? Innovation may refer to both radical and incremental changes to either products, processes or services.

Feb 1, 2008

By B. K. Gorain

"As mining has evolved over a century, so are the challenges associated with mining. Mining of complex ore bodies at greater depths is a major challenge requiring high capital and operating costs due to remote locations, high energy costs, water quality and complex environmental issues. In addition, the stakeholder expectations are growing along with challenges associated with highly complex mine permitting processes and changing demographics of mining jurisdictions. The dynamic metals market adds to these challenges impacting the long term development and sustainability of mining projects.These challenges are compelling mining companies to look at various innovations with an integrated approach focusing on meeting the needs of various stakeholders. Mining companies are slowly tapping into some successful concepts that have transformed other industries such as manufacturing, chemical, pharmaceuticals along with oil and gas.This paper provides an overview of various innovations and technology developments in mineral processing that have shaped the current mining industry. A glimpse of the present and future challenges in mining is also presented. An integrated approach to problem solving involving various stakeholders is gaining momentum and this has been reflected in this paper. Various developments that are being pursed in mineral processing focusing on a change in the existing mining paradigm are also presented in this paper.INTRODUCTIONAs mining is evolving, so are the challenges associated with mining. Some of the key challenges are complex ore bodies at greater depths, high capital and operating costs, water scarcity and quality issues, high energy costs, complex environmental issues including tailings management, worldwide constraints on resource availability, more and more elaborated regulations in emerging economies impacting the permitting processes, increasing stakeholder expectations, changing demographics of mining operations with ever-changing cultural or community expectations and the urgent need for a better assessment of project viability, this in very dynamic metals markets impacting the dynamics of mining projects development and sustainability."

Jan 1, 2016

By Shawna Munn, Nadir Ansari, Toben Jerry

With ever increasing demands on space in urban environments and smaller available footprints, buildings are being designed to increasing heights to meet the need. This case study discusses the increasing challenges in developing projects within urban environments with smaller available footprints and increasing building heights. The One, Canada’s tallest residential building under construction will stand at 85 storeys and is located at one of the most prominent and built up intersections in Toronto, Yonge Street and Bloor Street. This led to many challenges in design and construction of the shoring and foundation work, including the required design capacity of the foundations for the supertall building and proximity of the large diameter drilled shafts to the excavation shoring wall. This case history describes the shoring design option evaluation, performance, and lessons learned to date throughout construction of the building foundations within a small congested site. PROJECT OVERVIEW The One, Canada’s tallest residential building under construction by Mizrahi Developments, is a supertall building that will stand at 85 storeys and 306 m (1005 ft). The first 18 floors will be comprised of retail, restaurants, and hotel with luxury residential condominium units in the tower above. The project is located on the Southwest corner of Yonge Street and Bloor Street, one of the most prominent and built up intersections in Toronto. The L-shaped excavation measures 58 m by 47 m (190 ft to 154 ft) and ranges from 22 m to 28 m (72 ft to 92 ft) in depth with one internal corner projecting 11 m (36 ft) into the site.

Jan 1, 2019

By Weizhi Zeng, Michael L. Free, Shijie Wang

Copper electrorefining is an old technique that is generally performed in electrolytic cells with a bottom inlet and top outlet that are convenient for electrolyte flow control. Nevertheless, this configuration cannot effectively direct electrolyte flow to the regions between electrodes, which results in weak convection and inadequate delivery of chemical species and additives. In this article, we discuss the innovations in electrore fining cell design to improve electrolyte flow for better cathode quality and simulation of fluid flow field and particle movements based on finite element modeling method. The resulting fluid flows in cells can transport suspended slime particles to the cathode, where they can be incorporated as impurities. The concentration of suspended slime particles is inversely related to slime adhesion, which is strongly influenced by slime particle sintering, and sintering is dependent on temperature and slime particle composition. Thus, the combination of innovative fluid flow and slime particle sintering can play important roles in improving cathode quality.

Mar 1, 2017

By F G. Cooke

"This paper describes a medium-sized copper mine's results in making innovations and changing operational practices to combat increasing expenditures due to higher labour and supply costs, extended workings, scarcity of experienced manpower and problems created by deteriorating ground conditions.OPEMISKA COPPER MINES (QUEBEC) LIMITED is located at Chapais in the Chibougamau area, in central eastern Quebec, approximately 300 miles north of Montreal and 150 miles north west of Lake St. John. The latter area, developed by lumbering and farming, has supplied the majority of the employees, who, with training and experience and a desire to work and improve themselves, have become the backbone of the Company's 600 personnel.Opemiska began production in 1954 at a rate of 400 tons per day, using diesel power and road transportation. The rate was progressively increased and, by 1959, with hydro-electric power and rail transportation, the mine had reached its present production rate of 2,000 tons per day. It has produced concentrates containing over 430 million lbs of copper."

Jan 1, 1968

By Woodcock JT

This paper deals with some innovations and current proposals for the treatment of gold ores and considers the possibilities of incorporating new developments in new or revised ore treatment flowsheets. The main topics considered are I. typical practice in relation to the size of gold particles, 2. concentration of coarse gold, 3. leaching reagents, 4. in situ leaching, 5. heap leaching, 6. carbon-in-pulp adsorption, and 7. treatment of complex ores (gold in pyrite, gold tellurides, and carbon-containing ores).

Jan 1, 1982

By Zajber A, Kulchen R, Letzel D, Weyer A, Schwellenbach J

The search for modem casting plant concepts today focuses more and more on the harmonisation and optimisation of overall concept lines to obtain a continuous quality control and reduce the cost of production (Figure 1). Fin I As far as continuous casting plant concepts are concerned, this specifically requires an optimal adaptation and flexible operation when converting liquid steel into a directly processable product without any in-between treatment. Continuous casters need to fully satisfy the requirements of both the upstream steelmaking facilities as well as the downstream rolling facilities.

Jan 1, 1999

By Doug Halbe

A number of CIP plants have been built in Western Australia in the past two years. The authors have surveyed several of these new plants and present drawings, data and discussion of operating and design innovations and areas of interest.

Jan 1, 1982

By Peter B. Lilly

I appreciate the opportunity to tell you something about Kerr-McGee's Galatia Mine in Southern Illinois. This new underground mine was a departure for us since our previous experience had been gained in large surface mines in Wyoming. Although we were new, we did have the corporate experience in the operation of deep uranium and potash mines in New Mexico and Wyoming, and an earlier underground coal mine in Southeast Oklahoma. In arriving at our final design, we evaluated numerous concepts and finally settled on a two seam mine sharing a single shaft and slope. The mine, in turn, would be supported by a heavy media processing plant designed to optimize the yield from either seam. Further, we wished to be able to keep the two seams separate so that we could sell either seam separately or in a blend. Due to the thickness of the coal, the practical area dedicated to the mine provided forty to fifty years operations at the selected mine capacities. It was important, therefore, that our design and selection of hardware and systems provide for long life and low maintenance in order to compete in today's competitive markets.

Jan 1, 1984

By Andre Pienaar, Larry Wilson

Destruction of waste emulsion by blasting has been proven to be risky and disastrous incidents have been seen when using this practice. Our R&D department in conjunction with Lake International has developed an emulsion breaker system where underground waste can be destroyed safely. The methodology and logistics around the system will be demonstrated during the presentation. This process offers a safe alternative for the removal of sensitized and un-sensitized waste products from these mining environments.

Jan 1, 2010