Mining Industry Research Articles

Analisis Biaya Pengurasan Sedimentasi pada Kolam Pengendap Lumpur di PT Bukit Asam Tbk Unit Pertambangan Tanjung Enim Sumatera Selatan

PT Bukit Asam is one of the companies engaged in the coal mining sector which is located in Tanjung Enim, South Sematra. The mining system applied in exploiting coal is open pit mining which produces water called acid mine water (AAT), one of the components of the AAT problem. namely total suspended solid (TSS). At PT Bukit Asam, Bangko Barat, there are several KPLs that are still in use. KPLs that are continuously supplied with mining water certainly produce a negative impact, namely silting. The aim of this research is to analyze the cost of dewatering sedimentation in mud settling ponds. The method used in this research is to use field visits and direct observations. The shallowing itself is caused by rain factors and the long deposition time. To prevent silting, draining is carried out using an excavator and loading of the material using a dump truck. Draining activities in February amounted to IDR 185,634,400.00 handling the mud settling ponds also using chemicals or control methods which are useful for settling mud particles so that the draining process at the KPL runs quickly.

The impact of working conditions on the health of workers in contact with chrysotile-containing dust

The aim was to summarize the information in the literature on working conditions and professionally caused diseases in workers in contact with chrysotile-containing dust.During a 10-year-old literary search in Russian, Kazakh and English using the keywords «chrysotile asbestos», «employee health», «production environment», «risk factor», «professionally caused disease», «working conditions» from PubMed (Medline), eLibrary, Google Scholar databases.Assessing the health of the working population in the conditions of modern industry is becoming an urgent task that requires in-depth research of working conditions, lifestyle and health status of workers. According to the International Labour Organization, 160 million new cases of work-related diseases are registered annually in the world due to the effects of harmful industrial factors.Working conditions in the mining industry are associated with the release of dust, unfavorable microclimate, noise and vibration, which to one degree or another have a negative impact, it is the working conditions of workers that are the main risk factor for the formation of professional and production-related pathology.The problem of professionally caused diseases among workers of chrysotile production remains relevant and indicates the need for scientific epidemiological studies.

Investment Feasibility Analysis Using Discounted Cash Flow Valuation Method (Case Study: Gold Mine in Pit A PT XYZ)

Investment in the mining sector carries a high risk, so a comprehensive financial evaluation is required to ensure project feasibility. This study assesses the financial feasibility of gold mining investment in Pit A, PT XYZ, for the period 2025 to 2036. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of the project through the analysis of key financial indicators such as Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and Payback Period (PBP) using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) method. The DCF method was chosen due to its ability to project future cash flows and incorporate them into a comprehensive assessment of the potential benefits and risks of the project. In addition, sensitivity analysis was conducted to see the effect of changes in important variables such as revenue, cost of goods sold (COGS), and capital expenditure (capex) on the financial results of the project. The results show that the project is financially viable, with a positive NPV of US$404.16 million, an IRR of 52.10%, and a PBP of 3.32 years, all of which indicate a strong return on investment. Further sensitivity analysis shows that the project remains robust under various scenarios of changes in key variables. This study contributes to the investment evaluation literature in the mining sector by offering a more integrated approach to addressing investment uncertainty and risk through the combined use of the DCF method and sensitivity analysis.

The Application of Sulfur–Metal Mass Ratios in Metal Sulfides in Assessing Prospects for Deep Metallogeny: A Case Study of the Tongshan Copper Deposit in Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China

Sulfur–metal mass ratios (SMMRs) between sulfur and metal elements (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Fe, etc.) in metal sulfides are fixed in idealized compositions, so they should have a relatively fixed proportion in terms of mass without considering the presence of structural defects such as vacancies or substitution elements. Rock bodies with an SMMR of S far greater than the common metal sulfides may contain additional sulfides of other metals. We studied the Tongshan copper deposit in NE China and calculated the mass transfer of various elements in drill hole ZK611 samples. The data show a S influx of 7160 g/t, a Cu influx of 5469 g/t, and an Fe influx of 8796 g/t in the Cu ore body. Below the Cu ores, the average influx is 18,600 g/t of S, 650 g/t of Cu, and 5360 g/t of Fe, which provides an SMMR far above common mineral sulfide values. Further studies indicated that this rock unit contains fine-grained sphalerite and galenite, and when Zn and Pb are included in the rock SMMR calculations, values closer to the mineral sulfides emerge. These results imply that the coordinating balance relationship of S content with Fe and other ore-forming metals could provide direct information for assessing metallogenic prospects.

Application and Prospect of Strapdown Inertial Navigation System in Coal Mining Equipment.

In recent years, with the rapid construction of a safe, clean, efficient and sustainable modern energy system, the intelligence of coal mining has become the inevitable direction of the development of the coal mining industry. The intelligence of coal mining system and equipment is the core of intelligent mining, and the positioning technology of mining equipment is the key to underground intelligent mining. The strapdown inertial navigation system can make up for the shortcomings of traditional GPS positioning systems and laser positioning because of its strong anti-interference, high precision and real-time monitoring, and ability to carry out real-time dynamic positioning of mining equipment in underground coal mines. This paper briefly introduces the basic principle of the strapdown inertial navigation system, analyzes the application of the existing strapdown inertial navigation system in mining equipment, and lists and analyzes the research status of the improvement strategy of the inertial navigation system, such as zero speed correction and integrated navigation technology. Finally, by analyzing the application and future development trend of inertial navigation systems in mining equipment, this paper provides more data and method support for the positioning of mining equipment in the future.

Reclamation satisfaction and post-mining land use potential in Central Appalachia, US

Community support for the mining industry depends upon satisfactory reclamation that preserves the land's potential to benefit the landowners and communities after the mining period. Abandoned mines that have been reclaimed poorly can often lead to a decline in local support for mining. Using the case of surface mining in Kentucky, this study assessed and compared landowners’ and their neighboring residents’ perceptions of environmental change, satisfaction with reclamation, and perceived barriers and opportunities to use reclaimed land to benefit the landowners and the broader community. We found poor satisfaction with reclamation efforts and only modest success in effectively managing reclaimed land for the intended use, largely because of inadequate reclamation. Financial incentives, legal assurance, and better reinforcement of reclamation rules were perceived to be potentially useful policy interventions to help landowners use the reclaimed lands effectively. Although they were acceptable to residents, landowners were quite unlikely to adopt educational projects, public parks, and biofuel crops. However, they were relatively more likely to adopt farmland, timber, and nature conservation and these uses were highly acceptable to the neighboring residents as well. Although this study focused on mining, the findings shed light on the social dynamics of mining's effects, reclamation, and the feasibility of land use alternatives in regions influenced by extractive industries.

Governance fragmentation and agency of miners in Ghana’s artisanal mining sector

Artisanal mining in Ghana was established by law as a legitimate indigenous economic activity in 1989, but the sector still lacks a designated formalized governance architecture. Artisanal mining in Ghana borrows from a governance architecture that is designed for large-scale corporate mining. Aspects of artisanal mining fall under governance of various issue areas. Mechanisms that are exclusive to artisanal mining are mostly temporary, including such ad hoc measures as moratoria and paramilitary operations. Also, non-state actors adopt measures to address specific needs in the sector. Hence, Ghana’s artisanal mining governance architecture includes duplicate, overlapping, uncoordinated, and competitive formal and informal measures. This creates confusion and uncertainty, complicates and derails governance, and disrupts legal mining activity. Miners manage to navigate the environment, often through illegal operations. Sometimes, miners also craft independent governance architectures in the mining sites. Literature on governance of artisanal mining in Ghana addresses various empirical and theoretical questions, without highlighting the sector’s fragmented governance architectures and miners’ agency in that context. Redirecting attention to the trend, this paper examines the following questions: 1) In what ways does governance fragmentation manifest in Ghana’s artisanal mining sector? How do miners navigate the environment and how does miner agency impact the fragmented governance? The paper applies a global governance concept to shed new light on governance of artisanal mining, an informal domestic sector, in relation to miner agency in the fragmented governance environment in Ghana. Focusing on environmental issues, the paper uses data from field research in Ghana and relevant secondary sources. Although miners’ independent governance effort extends the governance fragmentation, it is an important guide on formalizing artisanal mining in the Ghanaian context. The paper makes novel empirical and theoretical contributions to discussions on governance fragmentation and governance of artisanal mining.

Negotiating the legitimacy of conservation at mining frontiers: Evidence from Madagascar and the DR Congo

Political ecologists are increasingly interested in the dynamics of power and authority where mining and conservation converge. We contribute to this emerging literature by applying an 'actor-oriented' approach to explore the creation of protected areas in African mining frontiers. Concretely, we look at how 'multiple-use' protected areas have been layered on top of mining frontiers in eastern DRC and northern Madagascar. Both of these mining frontiers include artisanal, semi-industrial, and industrial mining activities and permits. In the DRC case, various state and non-state armed actors are also implicated in mining. Our results show that the legitimacy of conservation at mining frontiers evolves as a process involving indiscrete phases of negotiation, coercion, resistance and cooperation. When authorities and alliances supporting mining interests preclude coercive conservation strategies, conservation authorities need to negotiate their way through different phases of resistance and cooperation. We find that in both cases, local actors living at the extraction and conservation nexus assert their agency and 'forum shop', by switching their allegiances between conservation and mining actors.

Review of Major Influencing Factors Contributing to Persisting Safety Problems in Coal Mines: Addressing Systemic Challenges

The coal mining industry in Pakistan faces recurring fatal accidents due to data scarcity, lack of research, and technology adoption. This paper reviews the current status of coal mining, the ongoing energy crisis, the utilization of indigenous coal resources, and the prevailing safety challenges. By comparing coal mining safety standards in Pakistan with global benchmarks, this study proposes advanced mining technologies to improve productivity and safety. This study emphasizes the importance of investigating the underlying factors causing mining accidents in order to devise effective strategies to mitigate them. The lack of relevant data and the reluctance to adopt technology in the industry are identified as major obstacles to improving safety conditions. The proposed strategies for overcoming safety issues include improving data collection and analysis, increasing research efforts, and promoting the adoption of advanced technology. Thus, this paper highlights the urgent need to address safety concerns in Pakistan’s coal mining industry to avoid further loss of lives and resources.

Optimization of underground mining production layouts considering geological uncertainty using deep reinforcement learning

Mineral extraction plays a key role in the global raw materials supply chain, however the exhaustion of shallow deposits and typical scarcity of sampled data during exploration activities creates challenges in mine planning and design, where decision-making is highly sensitive to uncertainty in geology and mineral grade prediction. Geostatistical techniques are commonly used to generate a set of equiprobable simulated numerical models to capture these uncertainties, however incorporating these simulated models within a mine planning and design framework remains a major challenge. The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel approach to decision-making in underground mine design that can use information from an ensemble of numerical realizations of a mineral resource to improve the financial performance of the asset. A deep reinforcement learning (DRL) framework, using the proximal policy optimization (PPO) algorithm, is developed for the design of underground mining production level layouts. A case study is presented using a gold mineral resource characterized by an ensemble of 100 numerical realizations to verify the advantages of the proposed method, considering a baseline consisting of an industry standard automated design method. The DRL approach achieved an 8.3% higher expected profit, a 3.4% more gold mined than the baseline, and has the added functionality of considering uncertainty in mineral grades.

Mapping the Weaknesses of Nigeria’s Environmental Impact Assessment Act as a Framework for Environmental Protection in the Mining Industry

Abstract The recognition of the capacity of solid minerals to cause damage to the ecosystem informed the development of strategies to implement policy directives in mining development. The strategies include preventive impact assessment and prescription of sector-specific regulations. Using the analytical model as methodology and survey of literature as source of data, this study interrogates Nigeria’s Environmental Impact Assessment Act (EIAA) as a framework for environmental protection in the mining industry. It found that despite the existence of appropriate legislation and policy direction, there remains a wide gap between precept and praxis. It also found that the weaknesses of Nigeria’s EIAA erodes its capacity to tackle the negative externalities of mining. This article contends that poor enforcement of the extant EIA instrument adversely affects access to justice by the citizens and recommends the justiciability of environmental rights, strengthening of the machinery of public participation and access to justice in regulatory enforcement.

Resilience optimization analysis of smart mining cluster cyber-physical systems based on the NK model

This paper explores the challenges and opportunities presented by the digitization and intelligent clustering in the mining industry, focusing on the security and inter-system influences within Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) of smart mining clusters. Utilizing the NK model and complex adaptive systems theory, we construct a dual-layered network and cascade failure model, alongside a dynamic repair strategy that adapts to environmental changes. By analyzing the critical parameters of node number (N) and relationship density (K), we assess the resilience of smart mining CPS under cascade failures with dynamic repairs. Our findings reveal that dynamic repair strategies significantly enhance network resilience against both random and deliberate attacks, with N and K acting as crucial regulators of repair effectiveness. This suggests that adapting N and K can improve repair outcomes and system resilience, despite increasing complexity. The paper discusses the practical implications of these strategies through simulation and real-world scenarios, highlighting the need for adaptive repair strategies in enhancing smart mining CPS resilience and process safety. Introducing the NK model to CPS resilience research offers new insights into the resilience of smart mining cyber-physical systems and provides a comprehensive risk analysis method for these systems in complex scenarios.

Untapped Mineral Potential of Somaliland: A review

This comprehensive study explores the untapped mineral potential of Somaliland, a region rich in geological diversity and significant mineral deposits. By examining the intricate geology of Somaliland, including its ancient Precambrian basement and younger sedimentary sequences, the research uncovers valuable insights into the region's mineral wealth. Extensive exploration activities reveal substantial reserves of base metals, precious metals, industrial minerals, and gemstones, highlighting the region's promise for future mining endeavors. The findings underscore the strategic importance of Somaliland's mineral resources, offering a roadmap for sustainable development and economic growth through enhanced geological surveys, infrastructure investment, and robust regulatory frameworks. This article serves as a vital resource for geologists, investors, and policymakers interested in unlocking the mineral wealth of Somaliland and fostering regional development.

Evaluation of the Mechanical Behavior of Asphaltic Mixtures Utilizing Waste of the Processing of Iron Ore

Mineral extraction is an important operation for the economy of different countries and generates millions of tons of mining waste. In this context, and in association with the high demand for paving aggregates and the lack of raw materials for this purpose, the feasibility of using iron ore processing waste has emerged as a promising alternative. This study evaluates the physical and mechanical behavior of asphalt mixtures incorporating waste from the company Samarco S.A., collected in Mariana-MG, to replace the fine aggregate in asphalt concrete mixtures, with a view to applications in the bearing layer of local traffic roads. Two mixtures, M2 and M3, containing 20% and 17% waste, respectively, were formulated and analyzed, compared to a reference mixture, M1. Evaluations were carried out using the Marshall method parameters, mechanical tests of resilience modulus, and fatigue life under controlled tension, as well as mechanistic analysis. Brazilian mechanistic–empirical design software (MeDiNa—v 1.5.0) contributed to this analysis. This analysis revealed that, for a traffic level of N = 5 × 106 (average traffic) on a local road, pavements containing the M1 and M3 mixtures had the same layer thicknesses (6.9 cm), as well as the same fatigue class, equal to 1. The pavement with the M2 mixture had the thickest asphalt layer (8.2 cm) and a lower fatigue class equal to 0. But if compared in terms of the percentage of cracked area over 10 years, it still offers ideal performance conditions compared to the M1 and M3 mixes. Thus, it can be considered feasible to replace fine aggregate with iron ore waste in asphalt concrete for use on local roads in the region without altering the bearing capacity of the pavement.

Thermo-mechanical coupling characteristics of the shearer’s guiding shoe during the friction

The reliability and longevity of the guiding shoe are crucial for the proper functioning of coal mining machines. The heavy wear of the sliding surface under thermal stress coupling is the primary factor influencing the service life of the guiding shoe. To reveal the heat flow distribution patterns and the thermo-stress coupling mechanisms of the guiding surface, a thermo-mechanical coupling model of the guiding shoe and the pin row is established. The transient thermodynamic behavior of the guiding shoe under different load and speed conditions is studied using the coupled temp-displacement analysis method in Abaqus. The results indicate that the overall temperature of the guiding shoe friction surface experiences a rapid increase during the initial running-in phase, followed by a progressively slower temperature increase over time. Temperature and stress concentration regions on the friction surface primarily localize at the corners of the shoe groove, and the distribution of temperature and stress shows a strong coupling. Furthermore, elevated traction speed and mechanical load exacerbate the thermo-elastic instability of the guiding shoe, consequently augmenting thermal stress on the friction surface. The increase in support load results in significant thermal shock on the lower area of the left side of the guiding shoe. The research provides a reference for exploring the fatigue failure and wear mechanisms of the guiding shoe while considering thermal effects.

ფეთქებადი ნივთიერებების ქიმიური ანალიზის ძირითადი მეთოდები და მათი მნიშვნელობა

The importance of explosives is invaluable not only in war, but also in peacetime - in the mining industry, during the arrangement of infrastructure, etc. Practical use of explosives raises the need for their chemical analysis: Determining the structure of a newly synthesized explosive, or other type of substance, is impossible without analysis. The same can be said about the research and utilization of expired explosives. In general, analysis is one of the most important areas of chemistry, the scope of which often goes beyond the boundaries of chemistry and reaches such areas as mineralogy, pharmacy, criminalistics, military affairs. The article of a predominantly review nature discusses the importance of chemical analysis in relation to explosive substances, provides a brief characterization of analysis methods, prospects for creating new methods.

Characterizing nano-indentation and microstructural properties of mine tailings-based geopolymers

The mining industry's extraction processes produce vast amounts of waste, including mine tailings (MT), traditionally stored in large ponds, causing significant environmental harm due to a lack of effective recycling methods. This research explores the potential of converting MT into a resource i.e., precursors in geopolymer synthesis. By analyzing the physicochemical and mineralogical properties of MT, the study formulates four geopolymer composites, substituting up to 30 wt% MT for fly ash. The composites' mechanical and microstructural properties show a contribution of MT in the stability of the matrix. Compressive strength of 59 MPa when incorporating 30 wt% MT, along with water absorption, microstructural analysis, and environmental impact assessments, support the hypothesis that the matrix is improved. Nano-indentation techniques further evaluated the nanomechanical properties, such as Young's modulus and fracture toughness. The findings reveal that geopolymers with 30 wt% MT exhibits up to 130 % increased strength. This research highlights the potential for innovative, eco-friendly solutions in waste management and material production, contributing to sustainable mining practices and advancing the field of geopolymer technology.

Assessment of Spatial Proportions of the Tax Potential of Small and Medium Enterprises in a Resource Type Region

Purpose of the study – to determine the spatial structure and concentration of tax revenues from the activities of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in municipal entities of the resource-type region (based on materials from the Kemerovo Region – Kuzbass), to characterize their compliance with the needs of local budgets.Materials and methods. The data on total tax revenues from SMEs, specific revenues per small and medium enterprise, in relation to population indexes, the total number of SMEs, the presence or absence of coal mining in the municipality were used. The coefficients of variation and oscillation, Atkinson index, the coefficient of paired correlation, Gatev coefficient, and the paired Student t-test were applied. The calculations were performed in the SPSS 19.0 program and the free software “R”.Results. The Kemerovo region – Kuzbass is characterized by high levels of spatial concentration of revenues from SMEs by municipalities, spatial inequality for this index. This is explained by not only the differences in the level of economic and business development between the centers and the periphery, but also by a large gap between municipalities in terms of population (10 times or more). The concentration and inequality of tax potential by municipalities in 2023 increased compared to 2021. The absolute values of revenues from special tax regimes and the population of municipalities have a very high level of correlation. Gatev coefficient (where another calculation method related to specific weights is used) showed a moderate degree of difference in the structures of these indexes. The center is ahead of the periphery in terms of the share of SMEs in the tax potential. Spatial inequality in revenues per one SME entity is moderate; in 2023, compared to 2021, a tendency towards an increase in this index was revealed. The leading positions are occupied by the Novokuznetsk municipal district (which is partly explained by the agglomeration effect of Novokuznetsk), Tashtagolsky municipal district (rapid development of the national resort of Sheregesh). The largest urban centers (Kemerovo, Novokuznetsk urban districts) occupy only third and fourth place. The absolute value of the tax potential of SMEs, as well as specific revenues from special tax regimes per one SME entity do not depend on the presence of a developed coal industry in the municipality.Conclusion. The study demonstrates spatial proportions and spatial inequality of municipalities in terms of SME tax potential, taking into account the specifics of resource-type regions. The presented methodological approach can be used to study a similar subject area in other regions dependent on mineral extraction. The findings of the study demonstrate the potential of SMEs in ensuring budget balance at the local level in the face of risks of declining coal production.

Impact of investments in mining on economic growth of Krasnoyarsk Krai

Aim. To evaluate the impact of investments in mineral extraction on the economic growth of Krasnoyarsk Krai using the dynamics of data for 2004–2021.Objectives. To prepare initial data for modeling in comparable prices; to build statistical models with a time lag; to determine the multiplier and gas pedal coefficients of investment; to demonstrate the possibilities of applying the obtained dependencies.Methods. The authors used the method of economic and mathematical modeling, in particular the calculation of socio-economic indicators using mathematical statistics. The regression model was built using the initial data that meet the requirements of comparability and homogeneity, are relevant and statistically reliable.Results. Dependencies reflecting the investment multiplier effect, i.e. the increase in the gross regional product (GRP) and the volume of shipped products in response to the increase in investment in mining were obtained. Dependencies reflecting the investment gas pedal effect are also obtained, showing how increased income affects the size of investment. The dependencies are applied to solve a number of practical problems.Conclusions. It has been established that investments in mining in Krasnoyarsk Krai have an impact on the growth of GRP and the volume of shipped products. The return on investment has a temporary character. The strongest impact of investments in the current year have on the growth of GRP and shipped products for the next year. The multiplier coefficient is 2.72. Increased income affects the size of investments: the growth of income from mining stimulates the growth of induced investments in the following year with the multiplier coefficient, which is equal to 0.14. The comparison of actual values of investments in mineral resources extraction and volume of shipped products with the target values laid down in the Strategy of socioeconomic development of the region until 2030 has been carried out. The target values, according to the Strategy, are determined with the help of the obtained dependencies. It was established that the actual volume of investments is sufficient to ensure the GRP growth in accordance with the Strategy at the first stage; to ensure growth at the second stage it is necessary to increase investments by 12–15 % annually; to ensure growth at the third stage it is necessary to increase investments by 9–13 % annually from the current state. In order to ensure the values of indicators on the volume of production provided for in the Strategy, it is necessary to increase output by 4–6 % annually compared to 2021.

Access denied: Land alienation and pastoral conflicts

Conflicts involving pastoralists have been on the rise in the past two decades in West, Central and East Africa. This article argues that land alienation is a major source of this type of violence. We employ a narrow identification strategy of relevant pastoral conflicts based on the Armed Conflict Location Event Dataset and create a unique indicator of land alienation comprised of three types of land use changes (conversion of land into conservation areas, crop farms, and industrial mining projects). Relying on a disaggregated quantitative comparative design of 50 km-by-50 km cells covering the Sahelian region from 2002 to 2019, we find that land alienation is an underlying cause of pastoral conflicts. Moreover, we show that the impact of land alienation on pastoralist violence spreads over long distances and is influenced by state presence and climatic conditions. Our analysis further reveals an overlap between pastoralist violence and armed conflict. Bridging a gap between macro- and micro-level studies, we contribute to shed more light on the determinants of pastoral conflicts, a type of violence that has received scant attention in the geospatial quantitative literature.