Exploitation Of Mineral Resources Research Articles

Sustainable mining method selection by a multi-stakeholder collaborative multi-attribute group decision-making method

How to protect the ecological environment during mineral resource exploitation is a crucial issue for the survival and development of human society. In this context, mining method selection requires simultaneous achieving environmental protection and resource exploitation, while involving the coordination of multi-agent interests. Therefore, this study develops a multi-stakeholder collaborative multi-attribute group decision-making approach for mining method selection. This method enables multiple stakeholders and experts from different fields to make decisions together. First, a conflict resolution model is proposed to resolve cognitive conflict and interest conflict among multi-stakeholders. Then, the 2-tuple linguistic representation model is used to deal with the decision maker’s fuzzy preference. Next, the comprehensive attribute weights are calculated and the alternatives are prioritized. A case study for mining method selection in a gold mine in Shandong Province, China, is presented to verify the validity of the proposed method. This method considers not only the coordination between mineral resource exploitation and ecological environment protection but also the conflicting views of stakeholders. The proposed method is a useful tool for the assessment and selection of development schemes involving multiple stakeholders.

Practical applications of quality assurance and quality control in mineral exploration, resource estimation and mining programmes: a review of recommended international practices

Independent quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) programmes are required by reporting codes for publicly listed companies and are necessary to optimize data quality at all stages of the sampling, preparation and analytical processes involved in mineral exploration, resource estimation and mining grade control. QA/QC programmes should be adjusted over time to meet changing requirements in data quality at different stages of mineral resource development and exploitation. Certified reference materials are used to monitor accuracy and bias at the project laboratory relative to consensus values for the material from round-robin certification analyses. They are also used to monitor drift over time within an individual laboratory and to identify significant failures in QC at the analytical batch level caused by abrupt changes in concentration related to re-calibration of instruments or procedural changes at the laboratory. Duplicate analyses of sample material are generated at key stages of sampling and preparation to estimate the precision of data generated at each stage. Invariably, the largest source of uncertainty occurs during the initial sampling. Coarse blanks are used to monitor cross-contamination between samples or from sample preparation equipment. Furthermore, each of these QC sample types can be used to discover possible sample mix-ups. Supplementary material: An Excel spreadsheet for the calculation of the average coefficient of variation (CV AVE ) (Appendix C) is available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7070137 Thematic collection: This article is part of the Reviews in Exploration Geochemistry collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/reviews-in-exploration-geochemistry

A regenerative agenda for economic recovery: Nurturing natural resource efficiency to foster environmental, social, and economic well-being

This study investigates the impact of green finance investments on sustainable development across 30 regions in China from 2005 to 2020, focusing on the role of technological advancement and natural resource efficiency in the context of mineral resource investments. Employing Augmented Mean Group (AMG) and Common Correlated Effects Mean Group (CCE-MG) methodologies, we explore the complex interactions between technology development, renewable energy integration, and their implications for sustainable development. Our analysis delves into the nuanced relationship between technological progress in natural resource management and its contributions to economic growth and environmental sustainability. The findings underscore the necessity of a holistic resource utilization strategy, highlighting the critical importance of investments in natural resources for enhancing industrial efficiency and fostering socio-economic advancement. We advocate for a comprehensive investment approach that melds green finance principles with technological innovations to ensure sustainable development throughout the mineral resource exploitation process.

Health risk assessment of soil heavy metals in a typical mining town in north China based on Monte Carlo simulation coupled with Positive matrix factorization model

The accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in soil caused by mineral resource exploitation and its ancillary industrial processes poses a threat to ecology and public health. Effective risk control measures require a quantification of the impacts and contributions to health risks from individual sources of soil HMs. Based on high-density sampling, soil contamination risk indexes, positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, Monte Carlo simulation and human health risk analysis model were applied to investigate the risk of HMs in a typical mining town in North China. The results showed that As was the most dominant soil pollutant factor, Cd and Hg were the most dominant soil ecological risk factors, and Cr and Ni were the most dominant health risk factors in the study area. Overall, both pollution and ecological risks were at low levels, while there were still some higher hazard areas located in the central and south-central part of the region. According to the probabilistic health risk assessment (HRA), children suffered greater health risks than adults, with 21.63% of non-carcinogenic risks and 53.24% of carcinogenic risks exceeding the prescribed thresholds (HI > 1 and TCR>1E-4). The PMF model identified five potential sources: fuel combustion (FC), processing of building materials with limestone as raw materials (PBML), industry source (IS), iron ore mining combined with garbage (IOG), and agriculture source (AS). PBML is the primary source of soil HM contamination, as well as the major anthropogenic source of carcinogenic risk for all populations. Agricultural inputs associated with As are the major source of non-carcinogenic risk. This study offers a good example of probabilistic HRA using specific sources, which can provide a valuable reference for strategy establishment of pollution remediation and risk prevention and control.

Qualification of geotechnical parameters with 3D geotechnical modelling to improve mine planning reliability

Mine planning and pit design involve making the best decisions and recognising good practices for the profitable exploitation of mineral resources. A pit design project begins with the delimitation of the ore body in the form of blocks, then going through pit optimisation, then pit design and sequencing and ends with the economic evaluation. Several techno-economic indicators are used in these stages and have a direct impact on mine planning. The research methodology proposes an in-depth study of the geotechnical parameters of the pit to be conducted in mine planning in a more reliable and assertive way, with the aid of 3D geotechnical modelling. From a geotechnical point of view, an initial validation of the methodology was performed in an example of application in an iron mine, where a change in the planned slope angles of a pit over a 5-year period was suggested. The suggested new pit guarantees safety factors that suit the minimum stability requirements and proposes a 1.49% higher ore availability and a 0.90% increase in the net present value.

Sustainable resource management in China's energy mining sector: A synthesis of development and conservation in the FinTech era

The optimal exploitation of energy and mineral resources is crucial to the optimal allocation of resources and the sustainable development of Society. Based on the optimal control theory, this paper establishes a dynamic model of inter-period optimal exploitation of mineral resources and examines the impacts of energy resource supply and environmental pollution with the help of a panel data vector autoregressive (PVAR) model under the constraints of environmental regulations and technological advances in each region. These results show that the estimated coefficient for the one-period lag of energy supply is significantly positive at the 1% level, indicating that a positive shock resulting in increased energy supply in the preceding period is associated with a pronounced escalation in environmental pollution. Meanwhile, the estimated coefficient for the one-period lag of environmental pollution is negative at the 1% level. In contrast, the estimated coefficients for the one-period lag of environmental regulation and technological progress are positive. It implies that positive shocks in the intensity of environmental regulation and technological progress in the previous period contribute to a more efficient energy supply. Furthermore, the estimated coefficient for the one-period lag of environmental pollution and energy supply is significantly positive at 1%. It suggests that heightened environmental pollution and energy shortages in the preceding period prompted the government to undertake necessary measures to address these issues. Therefore, establishing a theoretical model that meets the characteristics of China's resources will be conducive to realizing sustainable development of resources and the environment.

Relativizacija konflikata na području Svetske baštine UNESCO - slučaj manastira Studenica, Srbija

Conflicts in space encountered by participants in the development of spatial plans for special purpose areas of cultural or natural assets are numerous, and the most significant are between protection and development. The relativization of the conflict implies the harmonization, neutralization or minimization of mutually opposing interests and goals in that area. This paper investigates conflicts in the area of the Studenica monastery, a cultural property inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986, as well as in the area of the cultural landscape that surrounds it. In this particular case, conflicts were identified between the protection of cultural heritage on the one hand and the development of transport infrastructure, water management and the exploitation of mineral resources on the other. The task of spatial planning, as carried out for special purpose areas, is the relativization of conflicting interests in space. This paper shows that in relation to conflicting interests in the area of a world heritage site, not everything is contingent on the creation of spatial plans of special purpose areas, but rather on their realization, monitoring and evaluation, as well as on the corresponding capacities in general. The aim of the research presented in this paper is to point out the importance of spatial planning in the relativization of conflicting interests and goals using the example of the world heritage site planning of the Studenica monastery.

An innovative method for the efficient and selective extraction of Co, Ni, Cu, and Mn from oceanic cobalt-rich crusts by ammonium sulfate roasting: Behavior, roasting kinetics and mechanism

The exploitation of deep-sea mineral resources is an unavoidable choice for sustainable human development, given the diminishing or even depletion of land-based mineral resources and the increasing demand for critical metals in global industrialization. This work presents a new method for the selective extraction of Co, Ni, Cu, and Mn from oceanic cobalt-rich crusts through the ammonium sulfate roasting-water leaching process. The metal oxides in oceanic cobalt-rich crusts were transformed to sulfates or ammonium sulfate salts by sulfation roasting and then by selective decomposition roasting to transform Fe2(SO4)3 to Fe2O3, while the other metals remained in sulfate forms. Under the sulfation roasting temperature of 450 ℃ for 120 min and the mass ratio of (NH4)2SO4 to cobalt-rich crusts of 1.2:1, the decomposition roasting temperature of 650 ℃ for 90 min and the air flow rate of 2 L/min, the leaching efficiencies of Mn, Co, Ni, and Cu reached 98.3 %, 93.7 %, 88.7 %, and 66.3 %, while the Fe leaching efficiency was only 0.9 %. The analysis of the mechanism shows that the Mn in oceanic cobalt-rich crusts first formed (NH4)2Mn2(SO4)3 during roasting and then decomposed to MnSO4; Co, Ni, and Cu first formed (NH4)2Co2(SO4)3, (NH4)2Ni2(SO4)3, (NH4)2Cu3(SO4)4 and then decomposed to their respective sulfates; Fe first formed (NH4)3Fe(SO4)3 and finally decomposed to Fe2O3. Ammonia released during the roasting process can be absorbed with dilute sulfuric acid and then regenerated (NH4)2SO4 with an ammonia recovery of 87.3 %. The process proposed in this study is not only efficient, clean, and selective, but also achieves full component recovery from oceanic cobalt-rich crusts, with obvious environmental and economic advantages over the traditional reduction roasting-acid/ammonia leaching.

Evaluation of green mine construction level in Tibet based on entropy method and TOPSIS

Green mine construction is a systematic project involving the whole life cycle of mineral resources exploitation and utilization, representing the overall level of development potential. As an important strategic mineral resources reserve base in China, Tibet is rich in mineral resources. In order to calculate the level of green mine construction in Tibet, we obtained different data sources such as statistical yearbooks and mine construction information through field research and discussion. We establish the EMUCIMH evaluation system, select a total of 20 indexes from seven aspects(ecological mining environment, scientific mining method, efficient resource utilization, standardization of energy conservation and emission reduction, intelligent mine construction, standardization of enterprise management and harmonization of mining community),using the Entropy Weight TOPSIS Method to study the problems existing in the process of green mine construction, expecting to provide some references for government departments to make management decisions and for mining enterprises to improve green mine construction. The results show that among the 11 national green mines in Tibet, the construction status is uneven, and there are large differences in the mining methods, the comprehensive utilization of resources, and the ecological environment of mining areas. In contrast, The difference of standardization of enterprise management, intelligent mine construction and the harmonization of mining community is small. Among the specific indicators, in terms of exhaust emissions, mining community harmony and corporate culture are doing well, while they are relatively poor in terms of environmental management and monitoring, technological innovation, and intelligent mine, which need to be improved. Large and medium-sized mines, especially metal mines, the overall level of green mine construction is high, followed by small and medium-sized metal mines and individual Non-metal large mines, and mines with more historical problems faced more difficulties and challenges.

Spatial distribution characteristics, risk assessment and management strategies of tailings ponds in China

The tailings ponds (TPS) stemming from mineral resource exploitation are becoming a global challenge due to their high hazards and pollution to the surrounding area. However, previous studies on China's tailings ponds have either focused on a single or few areas, or the number of tailings ponds varies greatly. A systematic assessment of the number, distribution characteristics, potential risks and management strategies of the tailings pond in China is lacking. This study obtained the latest list of tailings ponds in China up to the end of 2022 based on official information and assessed their spatial distribution characteristics, environmental risk and management strategies simultaneously. The results demonstrated that the distribution of TPS in China is relatively clustered and multiple factors affected the spatial distribution of TPS in China, which were concentrated in areas with low economic and population density, convenient transportation, and a developed water system. The risk assessment suggested that 1803 TPS had large or significant environmental risks, which were mainly distributed in Yunnan, Hunan, Shaanxi and Jiangxi provinces. To solve the problem of tailings ponds from the source, the key point of tailings pond management in China should be adjusted from the prevention of pollution or dam break accidents to the full resource utilization of tailings. In summary, this study will provide a scientific basis for the risk control of TPS and an innovative idea for the management of other solid waste.

Mining and agriculture in municipalities with mineral-based economy in Brazil

Agriculture is an important investment alternative for productive diversification and food security in municipalities with mineral-based economies. Agricultural activities can benefit from improvements in infrastructure and availability of resources generated from the mineral industry, adopting technological innovations in production systems and expanding market opportunities. Given this context, the objective of the article was to identify whether the main mining municipalities in the states of Pará and Minas Gerais, the largest ore producers in Brazil, are exhibiting growth in agricultural production and production systems of higher technological level. Factor analysis was used to estimate the Index of Agricultural Modernization (IMA) and a log-linear regression model to estimate production growth rates. Although these municipalities receive a high amount of the Financial Compensation for Exploitation of Mineral Resources (CFEM), the activity has shown an incipient performance evidenced by low levels of modernization of agricultural production systems and low production growth rates, leaving clear signs of the occurrence of Dutch disease in these territories.

Exploiting the deep seabed for the benefit of humankind: A universal ideology for sustainable resource development or a false necessity?

Abstract A pivotal point in time has been reached in the ongoing negotiations under the auspices of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) towards the adoption of regulations for the commercial exploitation of mineral resources in the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction. The ISA has a mandate to ensure that activities in the Area, legally designated as ‘common heritage of humankind’, are carried out for the benefit of humankind as a whole. Yet, there is a growing sense of unease with the potential imminence of the commercial exploitation phase, and concern that the implementation of all components of the common heritage principle, including its environmental and distributive ambitions, will be compromised in the interest of a handful of industry stakeholders. This article dives under the surface of these tensions by asking how the public interest in a global commons can become constructed in a way that conflates diverse and opposing interests in favour of value extraction by the private sector, revealing the ambivalent role of international law in the process. It uses the concept of ‘false necessity’ to question the apparent urgency and inevitability of commercial exploitation, more specifically to the extent it obscures and pre-empts more inclusive conceptions of ‘benefit’ for humankind. By shifting the focus from the much-debated risks of deep seabed mining to the notion of benefit, the article illuminates the inherent contradictions and distributional asymmetries obscured by the conflated yet purportedly universal conception of public interest in exploitation.

Problemas socioambientales asociados a la minería en la República Centroafricana

Considering the differences between the European and African continents concerning the management of the mining production sector, we decided to carry out this study with the main objective of demonstrating that, in Africa, mining can improve the quality of life of the populations where it develops and, at the same time, it is possible to respect the environment, which is our main wealth. To achieve these objectives, it is necessary to present the mining activity of the continent, emphasizing both the negative aspects and its strong points. The most important thing is to make a good diagnosis of the situation, which will allow us to cure our "patient", that is, African mining production. Therefore, it is important that these states have access to the maximum amount of information and technical solutions that facilitate their decision for a better management of their mineral resources and, by extension, the improvement of the living conditions of millions of Africans who still live below of the poverty threshold. Today, the African continent is experiencing a great revolution, and many governments are considering reviewing the mining contracts signed with the multinationals that exploit their resources. The Central African Republic is not to be outdone; despite its strong mining potential it has never really been able to take off. Today, in addition to poverty, a war has been set up directly related to the exploitation of mineral resources. People who were working for themselves yesterday are enslaved by militias that not only destroy nature, but also social cohesion.

A lightweight convolutional neural network with end-to-end learning for three-dimensional mineral prospectivity modeling: A case study of the Sanhetun Area, Heilongjiang Province, Northeastern China

With the continuous exploitation of surface and shallow mineral resources, the global demand for concealed ore deposit exploration is increasing. However, concealed mineral prospectivity modeling (MPM) requires significant efforts, particularly in terms of methods and technologies for three-dimensional modeling. In this study, we propose a lightweight three-dimensional convolutional neural network (3D CNN) for MPM, which adopts the inception structure of GoogleNet and combines the idea of end-to-end learning. We replace the fully connected layer in the conventional CNN with deconvolution, which can greatly reduce the required parameters during the training process and accelerate the convergence. The proposed method overcomes the disadvantage that other shallow machine learning methods cannot extract spatial neighborhood information, while it can extract cross-correlations among geological factors and generates less parameters by a lightweight network when facing massive data. Additionally, compared with the patch-wise method commonly used in previous studies, we use the pixel-wise method for end-to-end learning, which not only overcomes the drawbacks of random sampling but also considers the influence of each voxel when calculating the loss function. The three-dimensional multi-source geoscientific characteristics obtained from the geophysical inversion and 3D geological models are not discretized in order to promote effective CNN training while facilitating the ore-controlling representation. Comparing the predicted results between the 3D weight of evidence (WofE) and our proposed 3D CNN method for MPM, our proposed method and WofE delineated 100% of the known mineralization in high-favorability areas with voxel numbers of 70% and 95%, respectively. A case study of a structure-controlled hydrothermal gold deposit in the Sanhetun area of Heilongjiang Province demonstrates that the proposed 3D CNN method performs better than WofE in terms of prediction effectiveness and efficiency and effectively reveals the correlation between mineralization and adjacent ore-controlling characteristics. Moreover, the proposed 3D CNN method can simulate non-linear metallogenic processes and mine hidden relationships to reveal complex ore-controlling characteristics. In conclusion, the proposed 3D CNN method can reduce the exploration effort in 3D MPM, thus greatly improving the efficiency of discovering concealed ore deposits.

Initial research results on the possibility of using metacarbonate formations in Tan Lap - Cho Don - Bac Kan province as decorative stone

Based on the study of the characteristics of materials, structure, textures and physical properties of metacarbonate rocks at Tan Lap area, Cho Don district, Bac Kan province, it is possible to provide the initial possibility of using these rocks as decoration stones. Methods applied in the study include field investigations and sampling; sample analysis for thin-section microscopes, for the chemistry of sicilate and physical properties. The results indicate that metacarbonate rocks consist mainly of marbles which are allocated within the 3rd unit of the upper part of Mia Le formation (D1ml2). The rocks are thick layered structure, granoblastic texture, fine- to medium-grained marbles. Cao is the predominate chemical composition while heavy metals and radioactive elements are of very low contents. The rocks are pure white, exhibiting high color fastness and gloss. The outcomes of this study could serve as a scientific basis for guiding in exploration, exploitation, and utilization of mineral resources (marble) in the Tan Lap area particularly as well as in Vietnam's territory.

Sustainable Seabed Mining—The Phase 1 Environmental Draft Standards and Guidelines

Abstract The oceans are home to a rich diversity of plant and animal life and also provide a source of food and marine resources that drive economies. Climate change and pollution are changing ocean dynamics and the ability of the oceans to support life. Seabed mining in areas beyond national jurisdiction will add to the ocean’s stressors and could cause severe environmental damage. The International Seabed Authority (‘ISA’) is mandated to manage access to and benefits from the seabed, its subsoil, and mineral resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction (the ‘Area’). Although the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea sets out the legal framework for developing the Area and its resources, it does so in broad terms and leaves substantial gaps. These gaps include the scope of activities in the Area, the interrelationship of international obligations, the division of responsibilities between the ISA and sponsoring states, and the regulation of the mining system in situ. To partially fill these gaps, the ISA has drafted a set of ‘Phase 1’ Standards and Guidelines under the Draft Regulations on Exploitation of Mineral Resources in the Area. This paper investigates and critiques five environmental Draft Standards from a precautionary and comparative law perspective. Phase 1 standards and guidelines should adopt a more rigorous interpretation of the precautionary principle. Additional recommendations include creating enhanced governance processes and incorporating an ecosystem-based framework for regional environmental assessments and management plans not present in Draft Standards. This research will assist academics, practitioners, governments and the ISA with policies and strategies to enhance environmental and social protections from seabed mining.

Automatic P-Phase-Onset-Time-Picking Method of Microseismic Monitoring Signal of Underground Mine Based on Noise Reduction and Multiple Detection Indexes.

The underground pressure disaster caused by the exploitation of deep mineral resources has become a major hidden danger restricting the safe production of mines. Microseismic monitoring technology is a universally recognized means of underground pressure monitoring and early warning. In this paper, the wavelet coefficient threshold denoising method in the time-frequency domain, STA/LTA method, AIC method, and skew and kurtosis method are studied, and the automatic P-phase-onset-time-picking model based on noise reduction and multiple detection indexes is established. Through the effect analysis of microseismic signals collected by microseismic monitoring system of coral Tungsten Mine in Guangxi, automatic P-phase onset time picking is realized, the reliability of the P-phase-onset-time-picking method proposed in this paper based on noise reduction and multiple detection indexes is verified. The picking accuracy can still be guaranteed under the severe signal interference of background noise, power frequency interference and manual activity in the underground mine, which is of great significance to the data processing and analysis of microseismic monitoring.

Research on the Influence of Backfilling Mining in an Iron Mine with Complex Mining Conditions on the Stability of Surface Buildings

The safe and efficient extraction of ore bodies under buildings contributes to the continued exploitation and utilization of mineral resources. To effectively reduce the mining-induced disturbance caused to surface buildings, the Vertical Crater Retreat (VCR) delayed backfilling method was applied at the Wuji iron mine according to mining theory and engineering experience, and the surface deformation under buildings was investigated through numerical simulation and on-site monitoring. The results show that stress concentration occurs at the top of the ore body and in surrounding rocks between ore veins, and the direction of the principal stress coincides with that of the main bearing capacity of the rock mass. With the increasing distance between the surrounding rock and the ore body, the stress disturbance in the surrounding rock attenuates gradually. The surface subsidence and deformation caused by ore mining exhibits the same northwest trend as the strike of the ore body, and the surface deformation in the X direction is greater than that in the Y direction. The surface deformation of the mining area near the 1# air shaft, Wuji village, steam autoclave workshop of the brick factory, and 1# substation is relatively large, while the surface subsidence, horizontal deformation, inclination, and curvature are all smaller than the critical values allowed for buildings and structures. This research provides a theoretical basis and engineering guidance for the prevention and control of surface deformation during mining under buildings and structures.

The South Africa High Court Baleni judgment: towards an indigenous right to consent?

In the Baleni judgment the High Court of South Africa declared that the Umgungundlovu community has a right to consent before the exploitation of mineral resources in their traditional lands. This decision represents one of the few cases where a domestic court refers to a right to consent of an indigenous community under both domestic and international law. The article aims to explore the compatibility of the Court’s findings with the current international law standard on permanent sovereignty over natural resources and on indigenous peoples’ right to free, prior and informed consent to explore whether it is possible to conceive an indigenous right to consent, as a veto power, before the exploitation of natural resources on their lands. In doing so, the case discussion focuses on the possible impact of such judgment on the jurisprudence of the African Court andCommission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Furthermore, the article outlines how the findings of the Court may contribute to strengthening the concept of an indigenous right to free, prior and informed consent.

Thermo-hydro-mechanical modelling of geothermal energy extraction in deep mines in spatially heterogeneous settings

With the increasing demand for mineral and alternative energy resources, as well as the gradual depletion of shallow resources, the exploitation and utilization of mineral resources and geothermal energy in deep strata is an effective way to solve the problem of resource shortage [1]. In recent years, as a new type of resource mining mode, the co-mining of deep mineral and geothermal energy has developed rapidly [2, 3]. This method can make use of the original equipment of the mine for geothermal exploitation. However, the deep co-mining system faces two significant challenges: the first is the significant uncertainty inherent in subsurface properties, while the second is the high levels of geostress and temperature associated with deep mining. These challenges are adding some constraints on the practicality of exploiting such systems and limit the feasibility of deep resource co-mining, so that modelling efforts are needed for actual risk assessment.
 Consequently, we developed a Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM) coupling framework for geothermal energy exploitation in deep mines using COMSOL to quantitatively characterize the temperature field of the geothermal system and predict the stress field of the mining system, considering the joint effects of large uncertainties and THM coupling. Through SGeMS, the uncertainty and spatial heterogeneity distribution of porosity are first generated. Then, the uncertainty of the hydraulic parameter [4] (permeability), mechanical parameter [5] (elastic modulus), and thermal parameter [6] (heat capacity and heat conductivity) was derived from the porosity. 500 samples were generated within a given uncertainty range, by means of Monte Carlo simulations. The spatial and temporal distributions of the temperature field of the geothermal system, and the stress field of the mining system were simulated, for each sample with COMSOL. Using the distance-based global sensitivity analysis [6], the most sensitive parameters for deep mining are identified, the heat storage capacity of the system and evolution of the maximum stress ratio are evaluated, including uncertainty.