Functional Mining Research Articles

Processing the CONSOL Energy, Inc. Mine Maps and Records Collection at the University of Pittsburgh

This article describes the efforts of archivists and student assistants at the University of Pittsburgh's Archives Service Center to organize, describe, store, and provide timely and efficient access to over 8,000 maps of underground coal mines in southwestern Pennsylvania, as well the records that accompanied them, donated by CONSOL Energy, Inc. to the University Library System beginning in 1991.

Geological methods in mineral exploration and mining

Preface. Prospecting and the Exploration Process: Definition of terms. Generating new projects and prospects. Some ways of generating new exploration ideas. A check list of negative assumptions. Stages in prospect exploration. Maximizing success in exploration programs. Geological Mapping: General considerations. Air photo mapping. Mapping with a plane table. Mapping on a pegged grid. Mapping with tape and compass. Mine Mapping: Mapping in open cuts. Mapping underground openings. Mineral Exploration Drilling: General. Diamond drilling. Reverse circulation drilling. Rotary air blast drilling. Auger drilling. Pitting Trenching and Stripping: Preamble. Safety and logistics. Geological Mapping. Geochemical Sampling. Geophysical and Geochemical Methods: General. A brief overview of techniques. Geographical Information Systems. Definition. The need for GIS. Manipulation of data in a GIS. Presentation of data in a GIS. Appendices: Notes on the use of graphical scale diamond core logging forms. Measurement of structures in oriented drill core. Practical field techniques. Suggested further reading. References. Index.

The Campus Mine: An Adaptable Instruction Approach Using Simulated Underground Geology in a Campus Building to Improve Geospatial Reasoning before Fieldwork

Geospatial skills are critical to effective geologic mapping, and many geoscience students experience challenges in developing good geologic interpretation and projection skills. A physical (non-virtual) underground mine mapping simulation in a building on the Adams State College campus in Alamosa, Colorado, provides an excellent cost-effective and efficient learning tool to prepare students for actual field mapping, while improving spatial thinking using a physical hands-on setting. In this simulation students act as mine geologists, completing simulated mine mapping work tasks. Mapping and interpretive skills are enhanced in an adaptable, flexible, and easily implemented simulation that is software independent. The mine simulation is well received by students as an effective training and learning tool.

인덱스를 활용한 3차원 콘텐츠 생성 시각화 구현에 관한 연구

유비쿼터스 환경에서 대표적인 장치들 가운데 하나인 이동장치가 이동성 덕분에 주목받고 있다. 일반적인 이동장치의 흐름은 스마트폰의 애플리케이션에 주목하고 있으며, 이 가운데 증강현실 등 객체들에 대한 지리적인 위치 및 현실적용 사례가 증가하고 있고, 이들에 대한 데이터 처리가 매우 중요해지고 있다. 이와 같이 사용자에게 제공하는 모바일응용서비스들은이동객체에기반한다양한서비스에대한기술이요구되어지며, 또한이들기술을활용하여 데이터를 시각적으로 인덱싱하여 신속하게 데이터가 처리되는 것을 시각적으로 표현하는 기술도 요구되어지고 있다. 그러나 이와 같이 사용자의 작업 이해를 높이기 위한 시각화 작업이 부족한것이 사실이다. 이러한 문제를 해결하기 위해 본 논문에서는 하위 트리를 갖는 R tree 인덱스를 활용하여 객체 생성을 수행하며, 생성된 객체들을 기반으로 3차원 도형으로 표현한 구현 결과를 보인다. 특히, 객체 생성과 이를 3차원으로 보여주며, 미니맵을 통해 사용자의 위치를 파악할 수 도 있으며, R tree의 노드안에 포함관계를 시각화시켜서 사용자의 이해를 향상시킬 수 있었다. Mobile device, one of typical devices in ubiquitous environment, is received attention owing to portability. In these days, technical researches on a kind of the device are focusing on applications of smart phone. For example, the techniques using geographical position and applied instances such as augmented reality techniques are gradually increasing. That makes data processing important. Mobile application services for users also require various application techniques based on moving objects. In addition, they require the techniques that processed data are needed to be shown in visualization. However, this is reality that it lacks of showing visualization works to improve the understanding of thing what it is. To reduce or solve the problems, in this paper we show the results to implement the R tree based 3 dimension index architecture in visualization. Further, we implemented and present creating objects, showing in 3D for the objects, catching spatial position on a node map through mini map function and improving the understanding of R tree by visualizing.

English

Hydrogen peroxide is used to oxidize ferrous iron at some acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment plants. Its potential use for in situ treatment of net alkaline mine drainage is evaluated in this study. Mine maps were used to identify an entry in the T&T #2 mine that was believed to channel the entire flow from that mine. Two wells, one existing and one new, were used to inject 35 percent hydrogen peroxide into the mine. A pump installed in a third downstream well was used to observe the changes in water chemistry resulting from the peroxide addition. Raw mine water contained 32 to 47 mg/L of predominantly ferrous iron, had a field pH of 6.4, and a field alkalinity between 118 and 170 mg/L. Hydrogen peroxide addition, controlled by a peristaltic pump, was able to demonstrate a linear dose response in situ. The pH and ORP were measured during bench scale testing of the mine water and were shown to be predictive of the ferrous iron oxidation end point. These end points were observed in situ. Based on data from the bench testing the flow in the mine was calculated to be 2.61 l/s. The chemical cost of implementing this technology was calculated to be $0.174 per mg/L ferrous iron per 100,000 liters treated.

Predicting Millimeter Wave Radar Spectra for Autonomous Navigation

Millimeter Wave (MMW) radars are currently used as range measuring devices in applications such as automotive driving aids (Langer and Jochem, 1996), (Rohling and Mende, 1996), the mapping of mines (Brooker et al., 2005) and autonomous field robotics (Brooker, 2001), (Langer, 1996). This recent interest is largely due to the advantages MMW radars offer over other range measuring sensors, as their performance is less affected by dust, fog, rain or snow and ambient lighting conditions. MMW radars can provide received signal strength values, at all discrete range intervals, within the working range of the radar (Clark and Durrant-Whyte, 1997), (Scheding et al., 2002). The received power versus range spectra hence contain useful range to target information, but are also corrupted by noise. User defined stochastic algorithms can then be implemented, which exploit this rich data to improve object detection and mapping performance. This is in contrast to many other range measuring devices which typically internally threshold received signals, to provide single hard decisions only, on the estimated range to objects (Mullane, 2007). This paper addresses the issues of predicting the power-range spectra from MMW radars which use the Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) range estimation technique. This is important for two reasons. First, in automotive and autonomous robotic applications, such sensors are used in conjunction with vehicle navigation and map state estimation filters. This is so that (typically uncertain) vehicle motion knowledge can be optimally fused with the noisy sensor information, to infer estimates of the state of interest (typically, the vehicle's pose (position and orientation) and/or information of the surrounding object locations). Hence, it is essential that predicted power versus range spectra can be computed, to apply a Bayesian recursive estimation framework, based on previous measurements, and uncertain vehicle motion information. Second, it is extremely useful to be able to simulate MMW radar data, given certain environmental configurations. This aids the development of reliable object detection algorithms, based on theoretical sensor and noise models, which can then be applied more effectively to real MMW radar data.

GPS and Google Earth based 3D assisted driving system for trucks in surface mines

In order to reduce the number of surface mining accidents related to low visibility conditions and blind spots of trucks and to provide 3D information for truck drivers and real time monitored truck information for the remote dispatcher, a 3D assisted driving system (3D-ADS) based on the GPS, mesh-wireless networks and the Google-Earth engine as the graphic interface and mine-mapping server, was developed at Virginia Tech. The research results indicate that this 3D-ADS system has the potential to increase reliability and reduce uncertainty in open pit mining operations by customizing the local 3D digital mining map, constructing 3D truck models, tracking vehicles in real time using a 3D interface and indicating available escape routes for driver safety.

A spatial decision support system for the optimal environmental reclamation of open-pit coal mines in Greece

Mine reclamation is an integral part of the mineral development process. The selection of land use after the mine closure is a difficult decision, which is complicated further because of the variety of parameters that must be taken into account trying to provide the local community with a viable development plan. Conventional methods used for reclamation planning are characterised by the lack of data integration and by time-consuming analysis. In this study, we propose a spatial decision-support system (SDSS) that minimises these problems, as data integration and analysis are offered within one computerised environment. A geographical information system and multi-criteria decision-making methods, based on binary integer linear programming models, have been integrated to select the appropriate land use in different parts of a post-mining area taking into account social, technical, economic, environmental and safety criteria. The proposed SDSS was used for the selection of the optimal landscape reclamation strategy of the Amynteon lignite surface mine located at West Macedonia Lignite Centre, Northern Greece. On the basis of developed mine maps, the model variables are assessed and incorporated into the objective optimisation function. Emphasis is placed on the spatial diversification of the model variables. The application demonstrates that the decision-support system allows the mining company to determine in an efficient way the specific land use (agricultural land, forest, recreational area and industrial zone) that is considered the most suitable for every part of the study area.

Zigbee/Google Earth based assisted driving system in mining

The Assisted Driving System (ADS) for haul trucks operating in surface mining and construction sites is to reduce accidents related to low visibility conditions. This system is based on the GPS, Zigbee, and the Google-Earth engine as the graphic interface and mine-mapping server. The system has the capability to pin-point and track vehicles in real time using a 3D interface, which is based on user-based AutoCAD mine maps using the Google-Earth graphics interface. All equipped vehicles are shown in a 3D mine map stored in a local server through a wireless network. When low visibility conditions are present, the system indicates available exit/escape routes for driver safety. The ADS potentially increases reliability and reduces uncertainty in open pit mining operations.

Metallogenesis of the Nkana copper–cobalt South Orebody, Zambia

The Central African Copperbelt is one of the largest and richest metallogenic provinces in the world. Despite the many studies, the genesis of the stratiform Cu–Co-mineralization remains a subject of intense discussion. A diagenetic, pre-folding origin is proposed for most ore deposits both in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, later mineralization and/or remobilization seem to be important in the enrichment of the ores. The geological mapping of the South Orebody mine at Nkana (Zambia) indicates a relation between the mineralization and the host rock but also with compressional deformation. The location of the rich ore bodies generally corresponds with the hinge zones of tight to isoclinal folds and with the contact between the sandstones and conglomerates of the Footwall Sandstone Formation and the overlying organic-rich shales of the Ore Formation. The circulation of the mineralizing/remobilizing fluids through the rocks was facilitated by fracturing, especially in the hinge zones of the folds resulting in a structural permeability. A petrographical study demonstrated that, in addition to disseminated sulphides, three successive vein generations occur at Nkana South Orebody, i.e. layer parallel veins, irregular, crosscutting veins and massive veins. These vein generations respectively formed during the initial phase of basin inversion, the main phase of deformation and a late phase of orogenesis or later extensional tensions. Early diagenetic disseminated framboidal pyrites were replaced by Cu–sulphides. The timing of this replacement could not be constrained. Silicification, K-feldspar alteration, albitization, carbonatization and replacement by anhydrite are the main alteration phases.

Reconnaissance spatial analysis of the hydrogeology of closed underground coal mines

A method is demonstrated to employ combined mapping and field techniques to unravel complexities in the hydrogeology of flooded and unflooded underground coal mines of shallow (120 m, 400 ft) depth. For a study area in the Appalachian coal basin, underground mines, coal outcrop, coal structure, and mine-drainage discharge locations were mapped onto an integrated geographic information system platform. The Upper Freeport coal seam (Allegheny Group) in the study area is relatively shallow (120 m, 400 ft), with many closed free-draining mines and numerous discharges. The mapping of coal outcrop and structure was accomplished using (1) high-resolution aerial orthophotographs, (2) digital outcrop polylines, and (3) a coal-bottom structure surface created by geospatial interpolation of point data mostly abstracted from original mine maps. Mapping results integrated with field measurements of mine-water discharge allow inference of likely pool locations and potential interconnections between underground workings, which are not apparent from mine maps alone. The results are reconnaissance level in that the interpreted pool locations and depths are unconfirmed by drilling or water level measurement; therefore, any action based on such results should be preceded by fieldwork to confirm hypotheses offered by the reconnaissance analysis. Nonetheless, such a preliminary interpretation of hydrogeological conditions based on little or no subsurface (well) water level information may be highly useful for both interpreting subsurface conditions and for planning future research. The technique is based on a combination of mine mapping, digital analysis of geologic structure, and surface reconnaissance fieldwork. Results are directly applicable to areas of reclamation of shallow coal mining where mine closures have resulted in an uncontrolled discharge of mine drainage.

An OGC standard-oriented architecture for distributed coal mine map services

Abstract GIS- or CAD-based technology has been widely used for cartographic maps in coal mines, but structural gaps between such maps make it difficult to provide an integrated map service, for any specific purpose, at higher levels. There is no uniform platform that can be used to manage all involved maps. The main reason for this is that datasets are submitted by individual coal mines using their individual, diverse software. No consistent model is used within the software for data abstraction and symbolization. This paper first reviews all the essential specifications concerning OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium) interoperability. Then an OGC standard-oriented architecture is proposed to provide distributed coal mine map services. Within this new architecture the management of spatial data archives, and the integration of coal mine maps, are achieved through the interfaces of geospatial services. Finally an open source geospatial approach is suggested to implement the proposed scheme. A case study of the Huaibei Coal Group is used to demonstrate the proposal.

English

On 01/25/05, a 10,000-gpm blowout of the century-old Nickle Plate Mine (Pittsburgh coalbed) occurred in a public sidewalk about 12 miles southwest of downtown Pittsburgh, PA. The US Office of Surface Mining, first responder, installed diesel pumps and drain lines along public streets to control and convey the discharge to a nearby stream. On 02/22/05, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation issued a 90-day emergency contract to Environmentally Innovative Solutions, LLC to provide a permanent control. With numerous partners (federal, state, local agencies; local residents and businesses), property access, stream and mine pool water quality data, historical mine mapping, and other pertinent site information were acquired. Nine options were developed and evaluated. Paramount in design considerations was public health and safety followed by effectiveness, reliability, community and environmental impact, long-term maintenance requirements, installation cost, and aiding future work including grouting to address mine subsidence issues and treatment of the abandoned mine drainage. Piezometers and test pits were installed in city streets, private driveways, and on undeveloped property and mine pool response tests were conducted. After data evaluation, the mine pool was manipulated to discharge about ½-mile northeast of the blowout on undeveloped land to an AMD-degraded receiving stream. By 05/20/05, a primary gravity drain, a secondary drain, and an early warning system at the blowout had been completed. Subsequent monitoring confirms the facilities are functioning as designed.

High-Resolution Mapping of Mines and Ripples at the Martha's Vineyard Coastal Observatory

High-resolution multibeam sonar and state-of-the-art data processing and visualization techniques have been used to quantify the evolution of seafloor morphology and the degree of burial of instrumented mines and mine-shapes as part of the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR, Arlington, VA) mine burial experiment at the Martha's Vineyard Coastal Observatory (MVCO, Edgartown, MA). Four surveys were conducted over two years at the experiment site with a 455-kHz, Reson 8125 dynamically focused multibeam sonar. The region is characterized by shore-perpendicular alternating zones of coarse-grained sand with 5-25-cm-high, wave orbital-scale ripples, and zones of finer grained sands with smaller (2-5-cm-high) anorbital ripples and, on occasion, medium scale 10-20-cm-high, chaotic or hummocky bedforms. The boundaries between the zones appear to respond over periods of days to months to the predominant wave direction and energy. Smoothing and small shifts of the boundaries to the northeast take place during fair-weather wave conditions while erosion (scalloping of the boundary) and shifts to the north-northwest occur during storm conditions. The multibeam sonar was also able to resolve changes in the orientation and height of fields of ripples that were directly related to the differences in the prevailing wave direction and energy. The alignment of the small scale bedforms with the prevailing wave conditions appears to occur rapidly (on the order of hours or days) when the wave conditions exceed the threshold of sediment motion (most of the time for the fine sands) and particularly during moderate storm conditions. During storm events, erosional ldquowindowsrdquo to the coarse layer below appear in the fine-grained sands. These ldquowindowrdquo features are oriented parallel to the prevailing wave direction and reveal orbital-scale ripples that are oriented perpendicular to the prevailing wave direction. The resolution of the multibeam sonar combined with 3-D visualization techniques provided realistic looking images of both instrumented and noninstrumented mines and mine-like objects (including bomb, Manta, and Rockan shapes) that were dimensionally correct and enabled unambiguous identification of the mine type. In two of the surveys (October and December 2004), the mines in the fine-grained sands scoured into local pits but were still perfectly visible and identifiable with the multibeam sonar. In the April 2004 survey, the mines were not visible and apparently were completely buried. In the coarse-grained sand zone, the mines were extremely difficult to detect after initial scour burial as the mines bury until they present the same hydrodynamic roughness as the orbital-scale bedforms and thus blend into the ambient ripple field. Given the relatively large, 3-D, spatial coverage of the multibeam sonar along with its ability to measure the depth of the seafloor and the depth and dimensions of the mine, it is possible to measure directly, the burial by depth and burial by surface area of the mines. The 3-D nature of the multibeam sonar data also allows the direct determination of the volume of material removed from a scour pit.

The mammalian transcriptome and the cellular complexity of the brain

The mammalian transcriptome and the cellular complexity of the brain

Automatic Three-dimensional Underground Mine Mapping

For several years, our research group has been developing methods for automated modeling of three-dimensional (3D) environments. In September 2002, we were given the opportunity to demonstrate our mapping capability in an underground coal mine. The opportunity arose as a result of the Quecreek mine accident, in which an inaccurate map caused miners to breach an abandoned, water-filled mine, trapping them for several days. Our field test illustrates the feasibility and potential of high-resolution 3D mapping of an underground coal mine using a cart-mounted 3D laser scanner. In this paper we present our experimental setup, the automatic 3D modeling method used, and the results of the field test.

Laramide orogeny-related controls on coal mine ground instability in Cretaceous coal seams, southern Rocky Mountain foreland

Investigation of ground conditions in nine coal mines located in the structurally complex southern Rocky Mountain foreland tectonic province suggest that structural compression associated with the Late Cretaceous–Eocene Laramide orogeny caused deformation of Cretaceous-aged coal seams. Structures include low-angle bedding-plane faults and drag folds that are indicative of bedding-plane faulting. Other structures include high-angle joints and faults. The pattern of structural geologic features documented during mine mapping is similar to the local trends of regionally extensive thrust faults, fold axes, and basement-cored uplifts that formed during the Laramide orogeny. This suggests that the observed structural geologic features in mines developed in Cretaceous coal seams reflect regional deformation that occurred in response to the Laramide orogeny. The geologic structures documented in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah coal mines were commonly associated with major instances of ground failure. The recognition of regional tectonic controls on relatively localized geologic structures has important implications for the prediction of degraded ground conditions in advance of mining. Because the structural discontinuities observed in coal mine immediate roof strata formed in response to regional stress conditions during orogenic activity, they can often be simply characterized as linear zones that are relatively continuous along strike at the mine scale. Once recognized, the structural zones can be projected in advance of mining so that section crews can be forewarned of potentially adverse ground conditions and be prepared to install appropriate supplemental support, and local modifications to pillar design can be implemented to enhance long-term stability. Thus, geologic hazard mapping that incorporates structural geologic features as part of an integrated geologic characterization should be an appropriate method for ground control planning.

Pre-Mining Pattern of Soils on Nauru, Central Pacific

ABSTRACT The environment of Nauru, a raised atoll located in the central Pacific Ocean (0° 32′ S, 166° 56′ W), was devastated by mining of phosphate “rock” during the twentieth century. Some 100 million tonnes of phosphate material has been removed, leaving more than 80% of the island as a dolomite pinnacle–dominated karrenfeld. Based on fieldwork examining sites unmined at that time, laboratory studies on undisturbed profiles, aerial photographs, and old mining maps, a picture of what the soil pattern on Nauru was before mining has been developed. Four major soil associations were identified: the coastal fringe carbonate dominated soils set on a recent fringing reef; deep and relatively deep phosphate-dominated soils free of substantial influence from the underlying dolomite pinnacles occurring on the NE, NW, SE, and SW sectors of the uplifted section of the island (known locally as “Topside”); a complex set of soils found on Topside and on the scarp where the pinnacle influence is important but containi...

English

The Corning mine complex, a suite of abandoned partially flooded room-and-pillar mines in Perry County, Ohio, contributes nearly 100% of the annual acidity load to upper Sunday Creek. Discharge, which issues from a single hole, averages 73 liters/s (2.6 cfs); acidity load averages 590 kg/day; and metal (Fe, Al and Mn) loads average 260, 2 and 13 kg/day respectively. The discharge is a high priority for remediation, but is not well suited for treatment by passive systems. Source-control strategies require knowing recharge sources, flow paths, underground pool interconnections, and mine residence times. This paper describes the development of both conceptual and quantitative models of the mine system, based on mine and soil water budgets, an equivalent-porous-medium numerical model, a barometric efficiency model, and a chemical mixing model. The models were based on monthly water sampling, continuous mine-pool and discharge hydrographs, borehole logs, meteorological data and mine maps. The recharge rate is 20 cm/yr (13% of precipitation). Stream capture contributes 13% of the mine's annual recharge, with diffuse recharge accounting for 87%. During intense rainfall events, however, 50% of recharge can occur by stream capture. Mine storage varies seasonally, depending on recharge, which in turn depends on not just precipitation but also evapotranspirative demand and soil- moisture storage. Consequently, mine storage and discharge are highest in the late spring and lowest in the late summer and early fall. The mine aquifer is a gently dipping grid of rooms and tunnels that collectively provide hydraulic resistance to flow, and it does not form a single hydrostatic pool. Assuming that mines are fully interconnected and that water is well mixed yields a residence time of 5.1 years. However, barometric pressure response shows that the eastern 40% of the mine is separate and partially confined, with exceptionally poor water quality. The eastern portion accounts for only 10% of the flow, but contributes 50% of the chemical load. Excluding the weakly-connected eastern 40%, residence time is 3.9 years. Barometric responses of heads in various parts of the mine show unconfined behavior, confined behavior, or displacement behavior, in which heads increase with barometric pressure. Additional Key Words: barometric efficiency, storativity, beach location

English

More than two hundred homes in Hazleton, Pa. were found to have benzene vapors (a known carcinogen) from one of the largest underground gasoline storage tank spills in PA history. Remediating this site became the number one priority of USEPA Region III (EPA). A relic underground coal mine situated along a 3000 ft long plunging syncline beneath the Laurel Gardens neighborhood complicated site geology. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) determined if air filled mine voids existed and contained gasoline and gasoline vapors. The plan called for four study phases: Determining the mine location, Visualizing the geology and water table, Modeling mine pool effects on plume behaviors, and Field sampling to verify study results. Mine Location: GIS was used to georeference and compare a 19 th century mine map of unknown datum and coordinate system with old aerial photos, boreholes data and microgravity survey results. Extremely accurate location of the mine was critical for locating potential gas filled voids. Visualization: A three dimensional geologic model was constructed from the GIS data and available site data depicting the relationship between site geology, the mine void, the mine pool elevation and the surrounding groundwater table. This predicted air filled mine voids in the upper areas of the syncline. Modeling: A finite element groundwater model (FEMWATER) was developed to study mine pool effects on gasoline plume movements. Two different approaches were compared for modeling the mine pool. In one approach the mine void was modeled as high conductivity aquifer. In the adopted approach, it was modeled as an interior boundary with assigned heads. The model showed dissolved gasoline contaminants migrating to the mine. Field Sampling: Using the gravity data and 3 dimensional mine model, several target areas for drilling were identified. Gas vapor explosion was a concern during drilling. The drilling plan incorporating the use of on-demand nitrogen gas connected to a drill rig. A gas filled mine void was encountered and an aqueous sample confirmed gasoline contamination in the mine.