Exploitation Of Mineral Resources Research Articles

Exploitation of Mineral Resources and Economic Growth in CEMAC: The Role of Institutions

Purpose: The objective of our study is to determine on one hand the effect of the exploitation of mineral resources on economic growth of CEMAC member countries, and on the other hand to examine the role of institutions in the transmission of these effects. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve our goals, we formulated an econometric model in panel data concerning countries of this economic community. Using the fixed effects method and two stage least squared method over the period 2002 to 2016, a period during which we observed not only a surge in the prices of natural resources in the markets but also a fall in the prices of basic resources following two large exogenous shocks. First, the “subprime” crisis and the 2015 oil crisis. Finding: From our findings, mineral rent has a positive and significant effects on economic growth. Subsequently, when we control our model with all the variables capturing institutions of governance (Voice and responsibility, Political stability and absence of violence / terrorism, Government Effectiveness - Regulatory quality, Rule of law, and Control of corruption), the results of our regressions were robust. In effect, good governance ensures the proper distribution of mineral rent throughout the economy and contributes to economic development. We came to the conclusion that these institutions of governance do not play a role in the transmission of the positive effects of mineral rent on economic growth. Research limitations/implications: The following where limitations encountered in our study. Firstly, the temporal dimension of our study (15 years). Secondly, the failure to take into account certain institutional variables such as democracy or the type of political regime. Originality/value: Our study enriches the literature of natural resource curse; it is in line with those who have shown that abundance in basic commodities or natural resource is not necessarily a hindrance to economic development.

The Emergence of Industrial Tourism in Post-Mining Closure Areas – Project Management Models and Local Practices

Reducing industrial activities has led to the need for identifying and implementing strategies aimed at an economic usage of affected areas pointing to the past industrial age. There are many successful examples globally of using industrial heritage in industrial tourism. In Romania, the achievements are not so advanced, although over time there have been several initiatives to preserve culture, knowledge, tools, equipment, customs, and clothing related to the exploitation of mineral resources. The aim of this paper is to propose a project management model in addressing the needs of communities facing post-mining closure contexts and to examine how an integrated managerial outlook for various stakeholders involved in local tourism portfolios might reach solutions for the ongoing long-term social consequences of mine closures. The paper provides as a case study the transformation of the industrial patrimony of the former Petrila Mining Assembly, which serves as a lesson of industrial archeology, being one of the last ensembles in the area that still retains part of each stage of its evolution. The involvement and contributions of local non-profit organizations, municipalities and local businesses in the emerging of industrial tourism in Petrila are analysed through the proposed managerial model.

Exploitation of Mineral Resources for Sustainable Development on the Example of Poland

Nuisance for the people living in areas covered by the direct or indirect impact of the mining industry is an important social problem. The development of the mining industry depends on high environmental requirements, in particular, it is closely related to the fulfillment of obligations of safety for human health and life. Through consultation with the local society and targeted actions degraded land can become attractive. In contrast, the lack of reclamation leads to the intensification of negative phenomena: erosion, surface mass movements, changes in the ecosystem, eutrophication of water tanks. Maintaining balance in the natural environment is the basic criterion for the proper functioning of industrial facilities. Mining activity is a threat to the environment, including human health and life. Use of the environment by mining is subject to adjustment to the legislation and carrying out mining activities in line with environmental requirements. Mining activities and nature protection can operate in a sustainable manner. Appropriate selection of methods for mineral exploitation allows you to minimize the impact on the environment components. The positive impact of opencast mining is reflected in the creation of new habitats of plants and animals in post-mining areas, in the creation of new recreation places, in diversifying the landscape thanks to the construction of water reservoirs. Lakes formed after use of natural aggregates overgrown vegetation reed, acting as a convenient place to settle the water birds.

Eco-environmental impact and spatial control of mineral resources exploitation in the Yellow River Basin

Eco-environmental impact and spatial control of mineral resources exploitation in the Yellow River Basin

Exploitation of Mineral Resources and Human Capital in CEMAC

The aims of this study is to verify the effect of the exploitation of mineral resources on human capital in CEMAC countries. Our analysis made use of panel data sets of all these members countries, over the period of 2002 to 2016, which is a period where the prices of natural resources weakness frequent fluctuation in the world market. The econometric model formulated in relation to mineral rent in CEMAC countries has three indicators of human capital, measured by the rate of school enrolment, infant mortality rate and life expectancy. Three regression techniques have been used for this purpose: the ordinary least squared (OLS); two stages least squared (2SLS) and Limited Information Maximum Likelihood (LIML). The results of our analysis shows that rent from mineral resources has a negative effect on schooling rate and life expectancy rate in CEMAC. Similarly, our result demonstrates that, mineral rent increases infant mortality rate in CEMAC members countries. Keywords: Mineral rent, human capital and panel data DOI : 10.7176/JESD/10-24-05 Publication date: December 31 st 2019

Stochastic optimization in mine planning scheduling

Mine planning scheduling of a mineral resource exploitation aims to maximize the profit of the mining project. Frequently, there have been in use technologies of planning that, although they allow to maximize the benefits of the exploitation, do suppositions unrealistic that do not value the risk and the uncertainty for an ideal process of mining planning. In this paper an approach is made that helps solve the classic mining planning problem, since uncertainties such as geological, technical and market are taken into account, in order to obtain a robust model that minimizes risk and maximize the profits or benefits of the mining project. The present paper proposes a model that tools use of metaheuristic and simulation tools contributing to the models found in the specialized literature to solve the problem of open pit mining planning. Due to the scopes of this investigation, there will analyze the problem of the mining planning in the stochastic mining optimization, about which a model will develop for the optimal planning of an open pit mining of a polymetallic deposit identifying the fundamental variables and his uncertainties, with the goal of maximizing the awaited profits and minimizing the risks associated with the process of mining planning. Finally, in order to improve the scope and results of this proposal presented in this paper, it is recommended to include other variables typical of current mining projects, such as environmental, ecological and social variables, which help to improve the methodological proposal developed in this paper.

Analysis and evaluation of heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils in six cities of Hunan Province, China

Environmental problems caused by the exploitation of mineral resources are worsening, especially the heavy metal pollution in soil. Food safety caused by heavy metal pollution in soil has become the focus of increasing attention.Sampling points were selected in Hunan Province. By sampling the soil and rice point by point, the total concentration and the concontration in rice were monitored. The results showed that the mean concentration of Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn were 1.31 mg/kg, 45.3 mg/kg, 0.61 mg/kg, 49.15 mg/kg and 133.3 mg/kg. The soils were contaminated in some parts of the 85 investigated sites in Hunan Province.Also, the analysis results showed that the average of PI (pollution index) descended in the order of Cd (2.58) > Hg (1.05) > Cu (0.52)> Zn (0.51)> Pb (0.41).The NIPI values of the research area were 28.59, belong to the high-level pollution, which mainly caused by Cd. The pollution ratio of soil samples were 100.0% in Zhuzhou-Xiangtan and Changning, 94.1%, 90.9% and 88.2% in Changde, Yiyang and Yongzhou. According to the potential ecological risk evaluation result, there was a medium level risk in the investigation area of Hunan and the potential ecological risk mainly caused by Cd.

Radon migration in the area around the coal mine during closing process

The Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) in Poland is an excellent example of an area affected by an increased migration of radon and by radon penetration into buildings. This occurs due to changes in the geological environment caused by the exploitation of mineral resources. Studies conducted in the past showed that the levels of radon emission, depend to a large extent on the geological structure of the subsurface layers. Mining-induced changes of the rock body are one of the main factors influencing the radon's ability to migrate. Some investigations were made near shafts which were closed many years before, and it was found that physical changes and disintegration of the rock body caused by mining activity (e.g. subsidence) could still influence the environment. Enhanced radon emission was observed even in the case of shafts closed for >50 years.The “Anna” coal mine - our study area – was opened in 1832, and hard coal was extracted until 2017. In this paper, we present the results of radon emission monitoring within a mine closure context. Measurements started in 2016, when the underground coal mine was still under operation; observations continued during the liquidation process, and more measurements will be taken in the post-closure period.The importance of the hazards related to radon emission has been reported by many organisations. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a statistically significant increase in the risk of lung cancer occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to radon when the concentration is at 100 Bq/m3, and increases by 16% per each 100 Bq/m3 increase. Moreover, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. For these reasons, the Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM of 5 December 2013 established basic safety standards for protection against the hazards related to ionizing radiation in 2013, paying particular attention to issues related to radon exposure. The goal of our work was to collect data on radon migration in an area influenced by mining activity around the “Anna” coal mine, and to assess the corresponding radon hazard.

Numerical simulation of heat release performance of filling body under condition of heat extracted by fluid flowing in buried tube

It is the basic requirement of the synergetic exploitation of deep mineral resources and geothermal resources to arrange the heat transfer tube in filling body. The heat release performance of filling body directly impacts on the exploiting efficiency of geothermal energy. Based on heat transfer theory, a three-dimensional unsteady heat transfer model of filling body is established by using FLUENT simulation software. Taking the horizontal U-shaped buried pipe as research object, the variation of temperature field in filling body around buried pipe is analyzed during the heat release process of filling body; the initial temperature of filling body, the diameter of buried pipe, the inlet temperature and inlet velocity of heat transfer fluid influencing of coupling heat transfer, which exists between heat transfer fluid and surrounding filling body within a certain axial distance of buried tube, and influencing of temperature difference between inlet and outlet of heat transfer fluid and on heat transfer performance of filling body are also discussed. It not only lays a theoretical foundation for the synergetic exploitation of mineral resources and geothermal energy in deep mines, but also provides a reference basis for the arrangement of buried pipes in filling body as well as the selection of working conditions for heat transfer fluid.

Definition of candidate Essential Variables for the monitoring of mineral resource exploitation

ABSTRACT The practice of raw material extraction has a high impact on the environment and represents a potential threat to the health and thriving of local communities. The concept of Extractive Essential Variables (EEVs) are explored in order to propose variables that can be used to quantify the environmental footprint of mineral extraction. Considering the interdependence of mining activities with social, economic and environmental issues, the variables target the development of monitoring tools for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The identification of EEVs is based on the use of Earth Observation products in the field of mineral resources exploitation. A list of variables is proposed based on three classes of Essential Variables (EVs): installation and exploration phase, mineral extraction, and ore processing. These variables take into account the impacts of mining on the hydrology, land, water resources and the atmosphere of the area subjected to mineral exploitation. One of the variables is implemented as an operational workflow addressing SDG15, “life on land”. The workflow is intended to assess the area of forest ecosystem lost due to the presence of a mining site. Geospatial data on the extent of mining concessions and forest cover are combined using ArcGISTM. The workflow is successively translated into a Unix script to automatize the process of data treatment. The script is developed using the Geospatial Data ion Library (GDAL). The use of a Virtual Laboratory Platform (VLab), a web-service-based access platform, increases the accessibility of data and resources and the re-use of the script. This work is a first attempt to propose a framework of EEVs, derived data workflows, while the underlying methodology, partially based on scientific publications and on personal reasoning, still needs to be tested and, improved based on expertise in the sector.

Legal regulations on environmental safety in the Arctic zone

Ensuring environmental safety in the Arctic zone is currently an essential national and public goal. The living standards and development of socio-economic relations depend on appropriate legal regulations of the government bodies of the territories of the Russian High North. The article considers peculiarities of legal regulations, environmental safety of the above-mentioned regions. It also describes organizational and legal evaluation of measures that are conducted to replenish environmental losses and restore natural landscape. One of the main issues in this field is to intensify activity of environmental organizations which are in charge of human rights; therefore, the ways how to improve their work have been determined. Conceptual conclusions have been drawn on the necessary procedures of the state policy in the sphere of ecology and natural resources. They include the following: to establish a special government agency aimed at maintaining the centralized control over extraction activities and mineral resource exploitation; to take urgent measures focused on restoration of natural environment damaged as a result of harmful impact; to expand legal regulations of environmental activities within this region through passing special statutory acts; establishing the public administration system in this field with cooperative efforts of the federal government and public authorities of the subjects of the Russian Federation.

Exploitation and use of non-metal mineral resources of the Tuzla Canton

This paper analyzes the spatial distribution of potential non-metallic mineral resources in the area of Tuzla Canton. Available non-metallic mineral resources of the Tuzla Canton are classified into three groups: energy (coal), industrial processing (rock salt, limestone, quartz sand, brick clay and magnesite) and construction materials (gravel and sand). Identification of non-metallic mineral resources of Tuzla Canton described and enumerated all the resources by their importance and use, giving a brief analysis of their economic exploitation. Based on field research, current knowledge, collection of various information and documents, the author tries to point out in the paper the economic importance of non-metallic mineral resources and their participation in the economic development of the Tuzla Canton.

Monitoring Land Surface Displacement over Xuzhou (China) in 2015–2018 through PCA-Based Correction Applied to SAR Interferometry

Land surface deformation in metropolitan areas, which can cause varying degrees of hazard to both human lives and to properties, has been documented for decades in cities worldwide. Xuzhou, is one of the most important energy and industrial bases in eastern China, and has experienced significant land subsidence due to both excessive extraction of karst underground water and exploitation of mineral resources in recent decades. Furthermore, Xuzhou has recently undergone rapid urbanization in terms of urban expansion and underground construction, which could induce additional pressure on the urban land surface. However, most previous research on land surface deformation in the Xuzhou urban areas has been conducted based on traditional ground-based deformation monitoring techniques with sparse measurements. Little is known about the regional spatiotemporal behavior of land surface displacement in Xuzhou. In this study, a detailed interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) time series analysis was performed to characterize the spatial pattern and temporal evolution of land surface deformation in central areas of Xuzhou during 2015–2018. A method based on principal component analysis was adopted to correct artifacts in the InSAR signal. Results showed the correction strategy markedly reduced the discrepancy between global navigation satellite systems and InSAR measurements. Noticeable land subsidence (−5 to −41 mm/yr) was revealed widely within the Xuzhou urban areas, particularly along subway lines under construction, newly developed districts, and in old coal goafs. Remarkable consistent land uplift (up to +25 mm/yr) was found to have significantly affected two long narrow areas within the old goafs since 2015. The possible principal influencing factors contributing to the land surface displacements such as subway tunneling, building construction, mining, underground water levels and geological conditions are then discussed.

Гироскопические горные машины для освоения полезных ископаемых Луны и строительства на ней постоянных поселений

Гироскопические горные машины для освоения полезных ископаемых Луны и строительства на ней постоянных поселений

Determinants for selection of projects for exploitation of mines in Iran

The main objective of this study is to determine a systematic and scientific framework towards prioritizing projects for exploitation of mines and consequently selecting premium projects for exploitation of mineral resources in Iran. An in-depth review of the relevant literature and screening of determinants for selection of projects for exploitation of mines by seven experts led to the identification of 5 main factors and 19 corresponding sub-factors. A fuzzy hybrid quantitative approach consisting of Fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Laboratory (FDEMATEL) and fuzzy Analytic Network process (FANP) techniques Known as FDANP technique was utilized to prioritize projects for exploitation of mines. “Scheduling project implementation” was the most permeable factor for selecting projects for exploitation of mines. It means that this factor is the main problem and could be solved with the help of the influential factors. The “costs” was the most influential factor for selecting projects for exploitation of mines.

Investigating the Characteristics, Evolution and Restoration Modes of Mining Area Ecosystems

The exploitation and utilization of mineral resources bring changes of the regional material cycle and energy flow, resulting in degradation and negative evolution of the local ecosystem. Many countries are committed to researching ecological environment issues and have proposed a series of techniques and methods in recent years, but the comprehensive study of mining area ecosystems and restoration modes is not enough. To further clarify the mining area ecosystem and global restoration, this research analyzed the characteristics and functions of the ecosystem in mining areas, explored its evolution principles, types and processes, and put forward four typical ecological restoration modes. The mining area ecosystem features open, artificial and complex characteristics and special energy and material flows. Its functions mainly refer to the input and output of materials, energy, information and stream of people in the internal and external systems. The ecosystem evolution of mining areas consists of negative evolution and positive evolution in arid and semi-arid areas and humid and semi-humid areas. Overall, four typical restoration modes of mining area ecosystems are featured, including land engineering reclamation, soil improvement and vegetation restoration, secondary wetland construction and ecological self-restoration modes.

Hydrogeochemical Characteristics and Controlling Factors of the Lhasa River under the Influence of Anthropogenic Activities

Anthropogenic activities have had diversiform impacts on the surrounding river and environments. A study on the surface water of the Lhasa River Basin was undertaken to assess its hydrogeochemical characteristics under the influence of anthropogenic activities. A total of 16 samples collected from the Lhasa River were analyzed for pH, electric conductivity (EC), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), total dissolved solids (TDS), major cations (K+, Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+), major anions (Cl−, SO42−, HCO3−, and NO3−), and trace metals. The pH of the analyzed water samples varied from 6.40 to 9.10, indicating alkaline in nature. The EC values varied from 77.3 to 213 μs/cm while the TDS values varied from 73.37 to 217.55 mg/L. HCO3− and SO42− are the dominant anions while Ca2+ and Na+ are the dominant cations in the river water. The concentration of alkaline earth metals (Ca2+ + Mg2+) exceed the alkali metals (Na+ + K+) and HCO3− dominates over SO42− + Cl− concentrations in the majority of the surface water samples. Ca2+-Mg2+-HCO3− and Ca2+-Mg2+-Cl− are the dominant hydrogeochemical facies in the surface water of the area. The water chemistry is mainly controlled by rock weathering with secondary contribution from anthropogenic sources. The content of trace elements in the Lhasa River is low, basically at the natural background value. The high content of individual elements is mainly due to the mineral resource exploitation and geothermal resources in the basin. Countermeasures and attention should be payed to these aspects, such as the construction of water conservancy facilities, urban economic development, the development of mining activities, and sewage and wastewater discharge, so as to protect the water quality and sustainable development of the Lhasa River Basin.

Static and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Granite from Various Burial Depths

The exploitation of mineral resources is gradually shifting from shallow to deep targets. However, the corresponding basic theoretical research has not determined the differences in rock-mining engineering at different depths. In this paper, longitudinal wave velocity measurements, uniaxial compression tests, and dynamic impact tests were conducted on granite from various burial depths to reveal the static and dynamic mechanical properties of the rocks. The initial damage variables of the rock specimens decrease after a rapid increase with increasing burial depth. The stress–strain curves of the deep rocks for various strain rates can be divided into two modes. The relationships between the secant modulus, peak stress, elastic modulus, and burial depth basically follow a quadratic function. The rock failure patterns observed in the uniaxial compression tests are basically tensile. In the dynamic loading experiments at various strain rates, the failure pattern of the rock changes with burial depth, when the strain rate is small, from local instability to overall instability and back to local instability; while the strain rate increases, the failure pattern transforms into overall instability. In the dynamic impact experiments with different confining pressures, the rock only undergoes shear failure due to the restriction of the lateral deformation from the confining pressure. These research achievements could provide significant theoretical support for rockburst prevention at greater mining depths.

Regional analysis of the green development level differences in Chinese mineral resource-based cities

Mineral resource exploitation has a negative impact on the immediate environment. Green development has been promoted as a new method for economic growth and environmental protection because of increasingly serious resource and environmental issues. Evaluating the green development level (GDL) of mineral resource-based cities (MRBC) is beneficial to understanding the key drawbacks in the green development process in each city. In this study, a comprehensive GDL evaluation index system is constructed from societal, economic, and environmental perspectives. The entropy method and AHP are used to empower the index, and a GM (1, 1) model is then utilized to forecast the GDL of each city. A time series weighting method is also employed to determine the comprehensive GDL in each city during the 11th, 12th, and 13th Five-Year Plan. The GDL in the eastern, northeastern, central, and western regions is comprehensively analyzed, and the following observations are found: (1) the changes in GDL in most MRBC in China were good, and 25% of the cities were lagging behind; (2) the GDL in MRBC had significant regional differences and were progressively low from east to west; (3) from 2006 to 2020, the GDL in MRBC in the western region was rapidly promoted, whereas the GDL in the eastern region was deteriorating, and a polarizing trend emerged in the northeastern region. The proportion of the four categories, namely, A, B, C, and D, in the central region was gradually showing an equal value. Finally, countermeasures to improve the GDL in MRBC are proposed to provide a reference for sustainable development.

Exploration of Measurement Methods of 3D In-Situ Stresses in Rock Masses

This paper gives an overview of the measurement methods for the 3D in-situ stresses. Rock masses in the Earth’s crust are stressed in a natural stress state, which has six components in three dimensions. They are called “in-situ stresses” or “field stresses” with three principal stress components. Reliable estimate of the in-situ stresses in the rock mass is essential and vital for proper planning and design, underground excavation, mineral resource exploitation and ground stability control in geotechnical, mining and petroleum engineering. The basic principles of the measurement methods, including overcoring, hydraulic fracturing, back analysis, borehole slotting, flat jack, geophysical, and borehole breakout, are introduced. The advantages and limitations are discussed and compared. Methods that measure borehole deformation and strains during overcoring appear most common and are the only methods for the complete 3D stresses. Other measurement methods generally provide results of the orientations and/or magnitudes of some components of the in-situ stresses, mostly the maximum and the minimum stresses in the plane perpendicular to the borehole. In some methods the vertical stress is assumed as a principal stress.