Circle Economy in Mining Industry-Hydraulic Backfill Use in Velenje Coal Mine

Abstract

Adverse impacts on human environment are growing daily. Possible new locations for mining activities in Slovenia and worldwide are becoming very scarce. Particularly sensitive issue usually is to find appropriate location for disposal of mining waste, generated by process of excavation and processing/transformation of metal/non-metal minerals and coal. By establishing of closed ecological and technological circle of winning, processing or energy transformation and returning mining waste materials into excavated open space it is possible to organize environment friendly, sustainable metal/non-metal/coal mining or circle economy in mining industry. By depositing mining waste into underground space, earth surface can be disburdened. Suitable location should take existing natural barriers into account otherwise technical measures have to be taken to protect surrounding formation against adverse impact. Essential conditions for underground mining and processing or transformation mining waste depositing is reliable and durable protection against spreading of adverse impact of deposited waste materials into surroundings, particularly in hydrosphere. For this, natural and/or technical barriers should be thoroughly used. The good results of this research should assure by selection of appropriate waste materials mixtures preparation, transport and deposition by proper technology, future mining to be ecologically sustainable/green and economically effective. A brief outline of backfilling by thick suspension mixtures performed in Velenje coal mine will be presented.