Mining Countries Research Articles

Prediction of spontaneous combustion susceptibility of coal seams based on coal intrinsic properties using various machine learning tools.

Spontaneous combustion of coal leading to mine fire is a major problem in most of the coal mining countries in the world. It causes major loss to the Indian economy. The liability of coal to spontaneous combustion varies from place to place and mainly depends on the coal intrinsic properties and other geo-mining factors. Hence, the prediction of spontaneous combustion susceptibility of coal is of utmost importance for preventing the risk of fire in coal mines and utility sectors. Machine learning tools are pivotal in system improvements in relation to the statistical analysis of experimental results. Wet oxidation potential (WOP) of coal determined in the laboratory is one of the most relied indices used for assessing the spontaneous combustion susceptibility of coal. In this study, multiple linear regression (MLR) and five different machine learning (ML) techniques, such as Support Vector Regression (SVR), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting (GB) and Extreme Gradient Boost (XGB) algorithms, were used to predict the spontaneous combustion susceptibility (WOP) of coal seams based on the coal intrinsic properties. The results derived from the models were compared with the experimental data. The results indicated excellent prediction accuracy and ease of interpretation of tree-based ensemble algorithms, like Random Forest, Gradient Boosting and Extreme Gradient Boosting. The MLR exhibited the least while XGB demonstrated the highest predictive performance. The developed XGB achieved R2 of 0.9879, RMSE of 4.364 and VAF of 84.28%. In addition, the results of sensitivity analysis showed that the volatile matter is most sensitive to the changes in WOP of coal samples considered in the study. Thus, during spontaneous combustion modelling and simulation, volatile matter can be used as the most influential parameter for assessing the fire risk of the coal samples considered in the study. Further, the partial dependence analysis was done to interpret the complex relationships between the WOP and intrinsic properties of coal.

Post-Mining goes international: Hurdles to climate neutrality using the example of China

The topic of post-mining is becoming increasingly important globally in times of climate change and sustainability. This includes not only dealing with the post-mining heritage through adequate mine water management or environmental monitoring. Rather, it requires concepts for a successful transition in affected mining regions. China, as the world’s largest mining country, offers an important point of reference here. In coal-intensive regions, economic viability is closely linked to the coal industry. Structural change requires additive policies and restructuring to create, on the one hand, innovative conversion opportunities such as the integration of renewable energies into existing mines. On the other hand, plant closures are followed by unemployment for former workers. Here, on the other hand, the creation of alternative employment and new incentives is needed to minimize the consequences for citizens and the environment. Nevertheless, it can be stated that it is essential to reuse abandoned mines in order to support several factors: Efficient use of existing resources, cost reduction, creation of alternative jobs, protection of industrial heritage, modernization of history, sustainability and green development. The driver behind this research is to actively contribute to a livable sustainable future, nationally and internationally. This area has many research gaps that need to be filled to promote internationalization and individual development. Therefore, the results are transferred from German experiences to an international level by taking China as a dominant coal player into account.

Policy impacts on Ghana's extractive sector: The implicative dominance of gold and the future of oil

As Ghana continues to develop into one of West Africa's economic leaders, the extractive resource sector will play a critical role in the country's industrialization in a post-industrial world, especially through mining and oil. As of 2020, Ghana's extractive sector generates for 17 percent of government revenue and 67 percent of exports. Gold accounts for 93 percent of the country's mining revenue, while the mining industry accounts for 10 percent. Essentially, the mineral sector is valuable to Ghana, yet it continues to lack the attention it requires in policy development and implementation. In light of this, this paper aims to highlight the potential positive outcomes of leveraging the extractive sector in Ghana as a tool for sustainable development and inclusive economic growth. Utilizing policy reviews, the paper analyses the implementation of laws, capacity limitations, and policy gaps in Ghana, and suggests steps toward addressing them. The paper further examines Ghana's fiscal regime, diversification of economy, linkages between sectors and inclusive economic transformation. The paper concludes that the extractives industry – in particular the oil sector – can, through effective policy implementation and revenue management, contribute to economic diversity and socioeconomic development.

Mining revenues and quality of public goods in sub‐Saharan Africa

AbstractIn this paper, we investigate the impact of public mining revenues on perception indicators of public goods quality in five mining countries that have recently experienced a boom in their government revenues: Burkina Faso, Ghana, D.R. Congo, Tanzania and Zambia. The effect of the tax revenue boom is identified using a difference‐in‐differences estimation. Our estimations indicate that people living in mining regions have a sense of structural disadvantage in terms of the provision of public goods; however, this perception is pro‐cyclical in the presence of revenue booms/busts. Our results hold even after taking into account the possible endogeneity of our measure of resource revenue.

Grade and Tonnage Comparison of Anthropogenic Raw Materials and Ores for Cu, Zn, and Pb Recovery

Primary metal production operates with large tonnages and takes advantage of economies of scale. Metal recycled from low-value waste streams, competing in the same global metal market as primary production, will be more competitive by also taking advantage of up-scaling. However, an overview of metal tonnages in low-value waste streams to see upscaling potential needs to be provided in the literature. In response, this study provides estimates of copper, zinc, and lead metal tonnages in waste incineration ash—A major waste stream going to landfills. Metal concentrations and tonnages are compared to tonnages and concentration grades found in ores. Copper, zinc, and lead concentration averages are about 3–5 times lower in ash compared to the worldwide average head grade of ores. Tonnages of metal in the ash generated from waste incineration in European countries bordering the Baltic and the North Sea are about 1/3 of mining metal output from Sweden, a leading mining country in the region. Therefore, incineration ash should be considered a significant potential Cu, Zn, and Pb metal source.

Factors Influencing Cryptocurrency Adoption in Georgia

Georgia is top of the list due to its tax restrictions on cryptocurrency mining activities. Furthermore, the overall costs of running a mining operation are substantially lower in Georgia. as Georgia takes place as the third biggest mining country in the world. The goal of this paper is to fill a deficiency in the existing literature that examines the present level of cryptocurrency acceptance, and adoption-influencing factors, offering an in-depth interpretation of these aspects and outlining certain problems associated with cryptocurrency adoption in Georgia. 
 This study employs a quantitative approach, a total of 175 people did take part in the poll (out of 200 questionnaire respondents). The survey was held in a hybrid manner, with the questionnaire being distributed in April and May 2022 in various cryptocurrency-selling locations throughout Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. A structural equation model was applied in the paper (SEM). The findings of the study confirm that the measurement items and constructs in the proposed model are reliable and valid. The result of the study found that there is a positive relationship between future reward, innovativeness, knowledge, and cryptocurrency adoption. Furthermore, it was found that innovativeness is significant as a mediator between future rewards and cryptocurrency adoption.
 

Mapping global platinum supply chain and assessing potential supply risks

Platinum is widely considered as a critical mineral. According to the most optimistic scenario, the demand for platinum could increase 240-fold globally by 2050 due to the enormous demand potential for green hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles. By integrating network analysis and evaluation indicators, this study develops a framework to visualize the global platinum upstream supply chain, pinpoint supply-related risk areas, and assess the position of various nations in the supply chain. We conclude that there is a significant risk of disruption to the global platinum upstream supply chain. Following is a summary of the main conclusions: First, the global platinum supply network and primary platinum product trade network are both relatively sparse, with poor network connectivity, and the overall network’s risk-resistance is weak. Second, at the non-geographical production country level, the global platinum mining countries, the countries of the producing companies, and the countries of the shareholders of the producing companies are all highly concentrated. Third, the global platinum supply and demand markets are significantly divided, and South Africa holds a significantly stronger national position in the platinum supply network than any other nation, except for the national level of producing companies’ shareholders. However, the national role of South Africa in the trade network is not as strong as that of consuming countries and transit countries. The study proposes that global platinum consuming countries can reduce supply risks by increasing domestic platinum mine production, building international large-scale integrated mining corporations, and raising global supply share by investing in overseas mines.

Is Bitcoin an emerging market? A market efficiency perspective

Abstract Despite recent studies focused on comparing the dynamics of market efficiency between Bitcoin and other traditional assets, there is a lack of knowledge about whether Bitcoin and emerging markets efficiency behave similarly. This paper aims to compare the market efficiency dynamics between Bitcoin and the emerging stock markets. In particular, this study indicates whether the dynamics of Bitcoin market efficiency mimic those of emerging stock markets. Thus, the paper's contribution emerges from the combination of Bitcoin and emerging markets in the field of dynamics of market efficiency. The dynamics of market efficiency are measured using the Hurst exponent in the rolling window. The study uses daily data for the MSCI Emerging Markets Index and the Bitcoin market over the period 2011–2022. Our results show that there is at most a moderate correlation between the dynamics of Bitcoin and emerging stock markets’ efficiency over the entire study period. The strongest correlations occur mainly in periods of high economic policy uncertainty in the largest Bitcoin mining countries. Therefore, the association between Bitcoin market efficiency and emerging stock markets’ efficiency may strengthen with an increase in economic policy uncertainty. These findings may be useful for investors and portfolio managers in constructing better investment strategies.

ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ВИКОРИСТАННЯ НОВІТНІХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ СПОРУДЖЕННЯ СТВОЛІВ ТА СВЕРДЛОВИН ДЛЯ ПОВОЄННОЇ РОЗБУДОВИ ВУГІЛЬНОЇ ГАЛУЗІ УКРАЇНИ

Purpose Analysis of production experience, scientific and technical developments and assessment of prospects for the use and development of the latest technologies for the construction of vertical mine shafts and wells for the post-war development of the coal industry of Ukraine. Methods. The methods of analysis of the accumulated production experience of drilling shafts and wells, first, in the leading mining countries and in Ukraine, as well as scientific and technical literature, were use. Findings. The classification of technologies of vertical shafts and wells construction methods was consider. It’s tested and promising ones for Ukraine were analyze, in relation to the restoration and creation of mining capacities, technological schemes and equipment for the construction of vertical openings mainly with mechanical destruction of rocks in the hole, the production experience of the Donetskshakhtoprokhodka and Spetsshakhtoburinnia trusts was summarize. from the point of view of use, in particular, during the construction of new coal blocks of PJSC «Mining Management «Pokrovske», large-scale investment projects. The possibility of using a modified parallel technological scheme for traditional blasting technology is substantiate. The prospects of mechanized boring of shafts in Ukraine – by drilling and with the use of shaft boring combines of leading world manufacturers – were evaluate. These opportunities can be realize in case of acceptance and implementation by Ukraine's partners of a modern analogue of the "Marshall Plan" after the victory over the aggressor. Originality. The results of the analysis of technological schemes and methods of drilling vertical shafts and wells, the accumulated production experience and scientific and technical developments are summarize, the trends and prospects of the development of mine construction technologies – the driver of the development of the national mining industry – are considered. Practical implication. The analysis of technological schemes and methods of drilling vertical shafts and wells was perform based on domestic and foreign production experience. Key words: vertical shaft, borehole, sinking technology, mechanical fracture, rodless boring, shaft-borehole machine, pilot borehole.

Assessment of the role of the state in the management of mineral resources

Mineral resources as natural capital can be transformed into human, social and physical capital, that guarantees the sustainable development of a country, exclusively through professional public management. Public management of a country's mineral resource potential is seen as an element of transnational governance. Regulation involves the use of laws, rules and regulations within the jurisdictional and sectoral capabilities of the state, minimizing its involvement as a producer. The features of the ideology of economic liberalism, which polarizes the societies of raw material producing countries by imposing austerity, as well as lowering trade barriers have been studied. The analysis of the influence of the radical new order of neoliberal world ideology on the development of the extractive sector and the strengthening of state regulation has been presented.

Latin American Extractivism: Dependency, Resource Nationalism, and Resistance in Broad Perspective

Latin American Extractivism: Dependency, Resource Nationalism, and Resistance in Broad Perspective

A corporate social responsibility conceptual framework to address artisanal gold mining in South Africa

The formal sector's role in supporting the informal sector is becoming more recognisable worldwide. In this regard, the International Labour Organisation (ILO, 2002: 73) remarked that it is becoming more difficult for corporations to maintain and improve circumstances in the formal economy without addressing the informal economy. To explore the role corporations can play in developing and addressing artisanal mining in South Africa, this paper engages with the theoretical domain of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Based on empirical data, a CSR framework was developed through the research, which is the first comprehensive framework that mining companies can use to address the current unsustainable artisanal mining sector in the South African context. The CSR framework provides practical initiatives to develop and create opportunities for historically disadvantaged South Africans to benefit from the country's mineral resources.

Past, Present, and Future of Copper Mine Tailings Governance in Chile (1905-2022): A Review in One of the Leading Mining Countries in the World.

How mine tailings storage facilities (TSF) are managed reflects the history, regulatory framework, and environment of a country and locale of the mine. Despite many attempts to find an environmentally friendly strategy for tailings management and governance that balances the needs of society and the ecosystem, there is no worldwide agreement regarding the best practices for tailings management and governance. This article reviews the evolution of copper tailings management and governance in Chile, current practices, and changes that could be or may need to be made to improve practices in response to local environmental conditions and local tolerance for risk. The progress to date in developing a holistic tailings management strategy is summarized. This article also describes recent proposals for the best available technologies (BATs), case histories of Chilean TSF using conventional technology, thickened tailings, paste tailings, filtered tailings, water use reduction, tailings reprocessing to obtain rare earth elements (REEs), circular economy, submarine deep-sea tailings disposal, and ways to avoid failure in a seismic region. Finally, the Chilean tailings industry’s pending issues and future challenges in reducing the socioenvironmental impacts of tailings are presented, including advances made and lessons learned in developing more environmentally friendly solutions.

MINING COUNTRY — A History of Canada’s Mines and Miners

MINING COUNTRY — A History of Canada’s Mines and Miners

Allocation Issue of Asteroid Mining: A Symbolization of Global Equity

Nowadays with the advance of the space exploration and the large-scale utilization of mineral resources, many nations begin to put their eyes on ‘Asteroid Mining’. In fact, the United Nations’ Outer Space Treaty was signed 55 years ago. But with new problems about global equity and interest protection popping up, it’s quite essential to update the original treaty. In order to structure a solid fundamental for our analysis, we firstly build a definition model to define the ‘Global Equity’. We use great amount of indicators searched from OECD and integrate them into four main factors:‘ Resource’, ‘Society’,‘ Economy’ and ‘History’. Through ‘AHP’ and ‘TOPSIS’, we work out the weights of every factor and their sub-indicators. We successfully build the Equity Assessment Model (EI model) and the importance of each factor appears immediately. Then we calculate the EI value of each nation which shows the overall condition of the nation in the course of resources allocation. Based on the data we get, we classify the nations into three grades: ‘Top Qualified Countries’, ‘Rest Qualified Countries’, ‘Unqualified Countries’. The explanation will be given later. So how are the mineral sources allocated in the market? We think the mining countries should get rewards to cover the cost of researching and exploring. Also, the ‘Unqualified Countries’ should be aided and given some welfare and discount. The rest countries purchase their share of minerals regularly. Different countries have different shares of mineral resources they can purchase based on the Allocation Model we build. We use the Regression Analysis of input-output and Copulglas functionto help build the model. The share scheme and welfare scheme are two features of our analysis. After that, we jump to the conclusion that the economy and even the whole world will get better after the asteroid mining is implemented.

Горная промышленность, промышленная политика и апгрейд экономики

The aim of this article is to analyze the role of industrial policy in promoting technological modernization and economic upgrading in two mining countries, i.e. Brazil and South Africa. It analyzes the mining complex of these countries, in which they have achieved certain advantages in international markets. The main results show the significant difficulties that industrial policy faces in creating mechanisms to overcome economic and technological lags. Transition towards a higher added value and more sophisticated and diversified economic activity forms the basis of a sustainable and healthy economy, allowing companies and industries to fully implement their potential, involves investment in a wide range of production facilities and institutional structures.

Možnosti využitia potenciálu horskej krajiny v terénnom vyučovaní na príklade Španej doliny

One of the many options of geographical education is field teaching. Thanks to the direct contact of pupils with the country and specific examples of human activity in it, pupils have the opportunity to understand better the interconnectedness of various phenomena and components in the country and build a positive relationship to its natural and social values. Another reason for using field teaching is the possibility of applying interdisciplinary relationships, while on the example of a mining country, it is possible to integrate information, topics and procedures from geography, geology, history and other subjects. The importance of field teaching also lies in the practical use of knowledge and skills pupils have acquired at school. It also gives more space for group work, communication, strengthens social relations. Field teaching of geography at primary and secondary schools has its place also within the current school curriculum. Nevertheless, teachers include this method in the teaching only to a limited extent. The paper presents the mining village of Špania Dolina near Banská Bystrica, its potential in science and social education, and the design and experience with the implementation of field teaching in this village.

Green Mining Takes Place at the Power Plant

The number of large coal power plants, characterized by pithead plants, is increasing rapidly in major coal mining countries around the world. Overburden movement caused by coal mining and greenhouse gas emissions caused by coal thermal power generation are intertwined, and have become important challenges for mine ecological environment protection at present and in the future. In order to provide more options for green mining in large coal power plants, a large coal power base in northwest China was taken as the researching background in this paper, and a green mining model considering the above two aspects of ecological environment damages was proposed; that is, the carbon dioxide greenhouse gas produced by coal-fired power plants can be geologically trapped in goaf, whose overburden stability is controlled by backfill strips made of solid mine waste. In order to explore the feasibility of this model, the bearing strength of the filled gray brick consisting mainly of aeolian sand and fly ash under different curing methods was firstly studied, and it was discovered that the strength of the gray brick significantly improved after carbonization curing. After that, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to compare the mineral composition and its spatial morphology in gray brick before and after carbonization, and it is believed that the formation of dense acicular calcium carbonate after carbonization curing was the fundamental reason for the improvement of its bearing strength. Finally, a series of stope numerical models were established with UDEC software to analyze the surface settlement, crack propagation height and air tightness of the overlying strata, respectively, when goaf was supported by the backfilling strips with carbonized gray brick. The research results of this paper showed that the stability of overlying strata in goaf can be effectively controlled by adjusting the curing methods, width and spacing of the filled gray brick, so as to facilitate the following geological sequestration of carbon dioxide greenhouse gas in goaf. Consequently, the ecological environment damages caused by coal mining and utilization in a large coal power base can be resolved as a whole, and the purpose of green mining can be achieved as desired.

Safety rationale for composite ore deposits underground mining in energy distributed masses

Introduction. Composite ore deposits development in energy-disturbed masses is currently characterized by reduced ore areas, lower metal content in ore, deteriorated mining-geological and mining conditions, as well as stringent requirements for human safety in mining facilities influence zone. Research objective is to develop safety rationale for composite ore deposits underground mining, taking into account the geomechanical state of energy disturbed masses based on graph-analytical calculation methods for stable parameters of enclosing rock outcrop and filling material in during processing. Methods of research. A systematic approach was used, which contains an outcome analysis of research, development and design of new technologies and technical means that ensure the rational use and protection of subsoil, environment and population, taking into account advanced instrumental, geological, mine surveying and geomechanical support for standard and new methods. Results. A graphic-analytical method (nomograms and calculation formulas) is recommended to justify safe parameters of chambers based on the results of multi-year research during composite ore deposits underground development and depending on the rock mass properties. Safe parameters are determined from experience for a highly, moderately and sparsely jointed rock mass with horizontal outcrop. The Instruction on the Geomechanical Rationale for Safe Mining at GP VostGOK Mines, Ukraine, was also compiled. This will make it possible to improve mining and environmental safety of operations at the deposits of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ukraine and other developed mining countries of the world.

Геологическая характеристика, потенциал и генезис образования железомарганцевых руд на дне юго-западной части Южно-Китайского моря Ч. 2. Результаты исследований образцов руд дна Южно-Китайского моря

The aim of this article is to analyze the role of industrial policy in promoting technological modernization and economic upgrading in two mining countries, i.e. Brazil and South Africa. It analyzes the mining complex of these countries, in which they have achieved certain advantages in international markets. The main results show the significant difficulties that industrial policy faces in creating mechanisms to overcome economic and technological lags. Transition towards a higher added value and more sophisticated and diversified economic activity forms the basis of a sustainable and healthy economy, allowing companies and industries to fully implement their potential, involves investment in a wide range of production facilities and institutional structures.