Central Mining Research Articles

Large-Scale Ex Situ Tests for CO2 Storage in Coal Beds

This publication discusses the experiments and findings of project ROCCS (Establishing a Research Observatory to Unlock European Coal Seams for Carbon Dioxide Storage), which aimed to investigate the potential for carbon dioxide storage in coal seams. The project involved large-scale ex situ laboratory tests, where CO2 was injected into an experimental coal seam using a high-pressure reactor at the Central Mining Institute in Poland. The reactor simulated underground conditions, and the experimental coal seam measured 3.05 m in length with a cross-section of 0.4 × 0.4 m. Parameters such as gas flow, temperatures, and pressures were monitored during the experiments. In the study conducted, the sorption capacity of coal from the Polish mine “Piast-Ziemowit” for CO2, at a sorption pressure of 30 bar, was determined to be 4.8% by weight relative to the raw coal mass. The data collected from these ex situ tests can support the design of a potential commercial-scale CO2 storage installation.

Nabataean iron picks for copper mining from Nahal ‘Amram, Israel; Chemical, isotopic and production technology analysis

Recent excavations at Naḥal ‘Amram, a Nabataean copper mining center in the Arabah valley, Israel, unearthed for the first time four iron tips of mining picks. The present study undertakes a complex investigation of the picks, including metallographic, indentation hardness, slag inclusions (SIs), metal matrix, and osmium isotopic composition (Os-IC) analyses. The results indicate that the picks were manufactured via similar blacksmithing techniques, using two types of hard alloys: quench-hardened steel and phosphoric iron. A correlation was found between the composition of SIs, metal, and osmium isotopic signature, suggesting that three different ore sources were exploited to produce these picks. The quenched steel likely originated from a single ore source, whereas the two P-rich iron probably provenance from two different, yet geographically close or geologically similar ore deposits.The undertaken study highlights the importance of an integrative provenancing approach, which relies on the analyses of siderophile/chalcophile elements of the metal, lithophile trace elements of slag inclusions, and osmium isotopic analyses. This approach allows the complete characterization of the ore provenance signature of an artefact. However, the final provenance assignment to a specific ore deposit is currently limited, as it depends on our knowledge and familiarity with potential ore sources and on the archaeological evidence of their exploitation.

The impact of depositing waste from coal mining and power engineering on soils on the example of a central mining waste dump

The impact of depositing waste from coal mining and power engineering on soils on the example of a central mining waste dump

Tests on Hydraulic Props Equipped with Yield Valves at Dynamic Load Modelling a Rock Burst

The article presents the results of tests on SHC-40 hydraulic props equipped with two types of valve blocks: standard (with spring steel cylinder) and BZG-2FS (with gas spring). The research was conducted using impact mass of 4,000 kg and with extreme dynamic load of free fall impact mass of 20,000 kg released from different heights h. The dynamic tests involved a camera with the speed of image capture up to 1,200 frames/sec, which made it possible to register the stream of liquid at the dynamic load and to determine the valve opening time. The study conducted on SHC-40 NHR10 props equipped with two types of valve blocks: a standard and the BZG-2FS fast acting relief, showed that the prop with the BZG-2FS block is more suitable and more effective in the case of areas with high risk of mining tremors and rapid stress relief of a seam. Research methodology developed in the Central Mining Institute combines digital recording technique of pressure in a prop and fast registration of the images, and allows to acquire more accurate analysis of dynamic phenomena in the prop during testing.

Recreolization as Decolonial Dramaturgy: Tansi Language in Tonel Performance, Sawahlunto City

Tonel performance in the city of Sawahlunto is practiced by the ethnic community who speak the Tansi creole language. Sawahlunto in tropical West Sumatra, Indonesia, was built by the Dutch colonialists in the late 19th century as a coal mining center based on the labor of local people and the forced labor of convicts of various ethnicities sent from around Indonesia. The multiethnic population developed a pidgin language which later became the Tansi creole language. This article discusses a new strategy for developing Tonel dramaturgy, which emerged through performances at the Sawahlunto Cultural Festival in 2021. Paying attention to the theatrical communication that occurs in Tonel performance, this study analyses how changes in the Tansi language used during performances, can be recognized as processes of decreolization and recreolization. The recreolization process proved to be a way to break the remnants of the continuing effects of colonialism in the Tansi culture. By changing words or adding new words to the Tansi language during the performances, the Tansi community builds a new dramaturgy based in a practice of cultural decoloniality through Tonel performance. This decolonial practice is particularly significant in the currrent development of Sawahlunto as a postcolonial mining tourism city, and the detangling of its colonial legacy.

RESULTS OF ARCHAEOZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON KARTAMYSH

The paper is devoted to the analysis of archaeozoological collections from the excavations of the Kartamysh archaeological microdistrict of Donetsk Mining Center of Late Bronze Age. The results of the carried out research to a certain extent may indicate the vectors of trade relations between miners and metallurgists, since, as it is known, livestock was the main element of their exchange. Among four main types of domestic animals, the quantitative ratio of three species as sheep or goat, pig and horse on the Kartamysh monuments of the Donetsk Mining Center (DMC) occupies a middle position relating to the same animals from the settlements of the Pokrovsko-Mosolovskaya Timber Culture (PMTC) of the Severskiy Donets Left Bank and Berezhnovsko-Mayevskaya Srubnaya culture (BMSC) of Donetsk ridge. On our opinion, data obtained can be considered as one of the manifestations of trade and exchange operations of DMC miners-metallurgists both with the inhabitants of the BMSC of the Donetsk ridge and with the inhabitants of the PMSC of the Severskiy Donets Left Bank.
 Comparing the Kartamysh to the Kargaly collections of osteological material indicates significant variations in both, which consist in the life support features of the two mining and metallurgical centers of the Timber Community — BMSC and PMSC. The above fact, as far as we could see, affected the animal they chose for ritual ceremonies. On Kargaly, the main sacrificial animal was cattle (a bull), and on Kartamysh — small cattle (a goat or a sheep).

Advantages and Challenges of Developing Large and Local Coal Projects in the Arctic Zone of Russia

Among the new projects of the Program for the Development of the Coal Industry of the Russian Federation until 2035, the possibility of developing the Arctic coal deposits is being considered. The article considers both positive (increase in NSR cargo turnover, employment in the territory, development of the Arctic infrastructure) and negative effects (environmental burden, non-transparency of tax revenues of projects not in the territory of implementation, rotational management, state subsidies, etc.), which generate new projects.Prospects for the supply of new coal projects are analyzed in the context of the decarbonization economy. Arctic projects involve the supply of coking coal and anthracites for export, which leads to increased competition in the Asian markets among Russian coal suppliers from Yakutia, Tyva, and Kuzbass. Due to the geographical remoteness of traditional coal mining centers from export ports and due to the limited capacity of the railway, in the future, competition between individual regions of the Russian Federation for access to logistics infrastructure and subsidies for transportation becomes acute. In this situation, Arctic coal projects are in a comparatively better position.An increase in the production of high-quality coking coals and anthracites is planned to be achieved in the underdeveloped northern regions, which will require the use of new innovative technological solutions not only in the production, but also in the transportation of coal, as well as the involvement of a large number of workers and specialists.

Barguzin: Urban History (1783–1927)

The article is devoted to the “urban” period of Barguzin (1783–1927) – one of the oldest settlements in the Republic of Buryatia. Its history has its own peculiarities, closely related to the marginal policy of the state. Founded as a prison settlement on the way of the Cossacks of the Russian Kingdom advancing to the East, Barguzin became one of the first strongholds of the “sovereign’s servants” on the territory of modern Buryatia. After the completion of the process of annexation of the Siberian territories, less than a third of all Siberian prisons – wooden fortresses – got a chance for further development due to their successful transport and geographical location, opportunities for economic development and patronage from the regional authorities. Barguzin was among them. The article for the first time considers the question of compliance of Barguzin with the status of the city throughout its “urban” history. Based on a wide source base, including archival documents introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, the author proves that Barguzin, even with a small population, in the chronological period under study corresponded to the criteria of the city highlighted by researchers: the diversity of the population occupations, a significant economic and political role in the region. Although Barguzin stayed only a few years as the administrative center of Western Transbaikalia, having retained the administrative status of a county town, it became the focus of the political, economic and cultural life of the region, the center of gold mining and a place of mass exile, including the political one, new cultural traditions having been brought to the urban way of life. The author states that Barguzin lost its positions at the end of the XIXth century which is explained by the decline in gold mining and remoteness from the Trans-Siberian railway. During the years of economic prosperity provided by gold mining, Barguzin did not create a material base that, with the depletion of gold placers, could fuel the city, and the remoteness from trade routes excluded a developed trade turnover that provided an influx of population. The loss of Barguzin urban status did not diminish the interest of researchers in its rich history. The basic principles and methods of historical research: objectivity, historicism, scientific, systematic, comparative analysis allowed us to identify cause-and-effect relationships, patterns, facts, features of Barguzin development due to both external and internal factors.

Impact of Mining and Ore Processing on Soil, Drainage and Vegetation in the Zambian Copperbelt Mining Districts: A Review

The regional environmental–geochemical surveying of the long-term impacts of mining and ore processing on a large part of the Zambian Copperbelt mining district was carried out by the Czech Research Group with cooperation of the Geology Department, University of Zambia, and the Geological Survey of Zambia in the period 2002–2018. This included the characterization of various sources of contamination, the extent of contamination of soils and crops, and the degree of contamination of river water and sediments. Solid speciation studies of potentially harmful chemical elements (PHEs), plant and human bioaccessibility studies, and a range of mineralogical techniques were used to assess the pathways of PHE cycling in terrestrial and aqueous systems and their impacts on human health. Ores of the Zambian Copperbelt mining district are mined for Cu and Co, but a number of other trace elements (Pb, As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Zn) gradually accumulated in soils and stream sediments. It was concluded that the most important problems related to ore mining and processing are the contamination of soil and crops due to dust fall out from tailing facilities and emissions from smelters. Moreover, leakages of solutions from tailing dams, insufficient technological control of their stability and breakdowns on pipelines transporting slurry from treatment plants to tailing impoundments cause contamination of water courses and deposition of metal(loids) in stream sediments. However, the contamination of the Kafue River water is relatively limited due to its high neutralization capacity. In contrast, in some Kafue River tributaries, especially those close to big mining centers, the concentrations of dissolved Cu and Co are high (up to 14,752 μg/L and 1917 μg/L) and exceed Zambian effluent limits. We also recommend measures that could contribute to minimizing the impact of ore mining and processing on the environment and the health of the local population.

Murphyite, Pb(TeO4), the Te-Analogue of Raspite, a New Mineral from Tombstone, Arizona, USA

Abstract A new mineral species, murphyite (IMA 2021-107), ideally Pb(TeO4), has been found from the Grand Central mine, Tombstone, Arizona, USA. It occurs as bladed or prismatic crystals on top of a quartz matrix. Associated minerals include chlorargyrite, emmonsite, ottoite, stolzite, scheelite, schieffelinite, quartz, and jarosite. Individual crystals of murphyite are up to 0.20 × 0.05 × 0.05 mm in size. Twinning is common on {100}. Murphyite is colorless to very pale yellow in transmitted light, transparent with white streak and adamantine luster. It is brittle and has a Mohs hardness of ∼3½, with perfect cleavage on {100}. The calculated density is 7.579 g/cm3. Murphyite is insoluble in water or hydrochloric acid. An electron microprobe analysis yielded the empirical formula (based on 4 O apfu): (Pb0.96Fe0.03Mn0.02)Σ1.01[(Te0.61W0.38)Σ0.99O4], which can be simplified to Pb[(Te,W)O4]. Murphyite is the Te-analogue of raspite, Pb(WO4), and represents the first mineral with Te6+ substituting for W6+ over 50%. It is monoclinic with space group P21/a and unit-cell parameters a = 13.6089(3), b = 5.01750(10), c = 5.5767(2) Å, β = 107.9280(10)°, V = 362.302(17) Å3, and Z = 4. Its crystal structure consists of distorted MO6 (M = Te + W) octahedra sharing edges to form zigzag chains running parallel to [010]. These chains are linked together by PbO7 polyhedra. Compared to raspite, the substitution of W6+ by Te6+, which has a smaller ionic radius, results in a noticeable structural change: a significant decrease in MO6 octahedral angle distortion, with a concomitant increase in both MO6 octahedral volume and average Pb–O bond length. The unit-cell volume increases from 358.72(4) Å3 for raspite to 362.302(17) Å3 for murphyite. Raman spectroscopic data show that the major peak ascribable to M–O symmetrical stretching vibrations within the MO6 octahedron is centered at 870 cm−1 for raspite but at 881 cm−1 for murphyite.

The industrial heritage of two sacrifice zones and the geopolitics of memory in Northern Chile. The cases of Gatico and Ollagüe

ABSTRACT The Antofagasta region, now part of northern Chile, belonged to Bolivia until the so-called War of the Pacific (1879–1883). Since the end of the nineteenth century, with the irruption of foreign and national capitals, the area witnessed intense industrialisation and mining expansion. Industrial mining modified local communities’ livelihoods, social practices, landscapes, and ecologies. Gatico (coast) and Ollagüe (highlands) were two mining centres that agglutinated a significant migrant workforce to produce copper and sulphur, respectively. Now dismantled, both peripheric extractive spaces form an ‘industrial topology’ structured outside the national margins. Abandoned industrial infrastructures and the chemical debris of mining activities reconfigure the current geopolitics of memory among local communities. Tensions and dissonances emerge from the touristic and economic ‘museumification’ of these sacrifice zones and their industrial ruins.

Fatigue Life of Compacted Wire Ropes for Applications in Deep Mining

Abstract Recent months have highlighted the progressing energy crisis across Europe in connection with the severe sanctions imposed on the import of hydrocarbons and coal from Russia. This is particularly visible in Poland, where over 40% of electricity is generated from coal, while in individual households it is the primary source of heat. This situation puts the already enigmatic plans of shutting down coal mining in Poland into question. Therefore, work aimed at increasing the extraction capacity of existing shafts while maintaining the highest level of operational safety is still valid. This article concerns the issues of the fatigue life of compacted ropes used as hoist ropes in mine shafts. The discussion regarding the use of these ropes among shaft hoist users has been going on for several years. This paper presents the unique results of compacted rope fatigue tests carried out at the Central Mining Institute in Katowice. In the authors’ view, these results and their interpretation should serve to clarify several important aspects that arouse the interest of users.

Abandoned underground mines in Nízký Jeseník Upland (Czechia)

ABSTRACT This paper summarises the results of an inventory of abandoned underground mines within the Nízký Jeseník Upland (Czechia, Central Europe). The area has a long and complex history of mining. During the period between the 11th and 13th centuries, the upland was the centre of ore mining, and later, during the 18th and 19th centuries, it transitioned into slate mining for roofing. From 2016 through 2018, we collected detailed data from 137 mines to better understand their parameters and functioning within the contemporary landscape. The data were mainly focused on the geomorphic character of underground mines, as the existing inventories focus on various other aspects. The results were processed into an interactive web map using ArcGIS Online's online mapping software. Relations between parameters were assessed using three methods: the χ2 test for a contingency table, ANOVA and linear regression.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE BIVARIATE STATISTICAL METHODS AND THE ANALYTICAL HIERARCHICAL PROCESS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF MASS MOVEMENT SUSCEPTIBILITY. A CASE STUDY: THE LM-116 ROAD – PERU

It has been long observed that the Peruvian Central Highway (PE-22) and the LM-116 road are among the roads most affected by mass movements (MM) in Peru, frequently exposed to the occurrence of rockfalls, debris flow and landslides; both roads represent an important connection alternative between Lima with towns, cities and mining centers located in the Central Mountain Range of the Andes. In this research, firstly, a point density analysis was performed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) considering the road network of all of Peru (composed of 144,499 km) and the inventory of geological hazards (GEOCATMIN) prepared by the Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute of Peru INGEMMET (2000-2018). Subsequently, the evaluation of the mass movement susceptibility on the LM-116 road has been carried out using free access data reported by Peruvian institutions (INGEMMET, MTC, MINAM) from which it was possible to elaborate thematic maps, including the most relevant factors in the occurrence of mass movements, like a slope, lithology, geomorphology, land use, drainage density, and the distance from tectonic structures. Finally, for the mass movement susceptibility analysis, three methods have been considered: the Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP), the Statistical Index (Wi) and the Weights of Evidence (WoE). The results were validated using the area under the curve criteria (AUC). Both bivariate statistical methods (Wi and WoE) presented a prediction rate above 78%, with a higher rate for the WoE method. On the other hand, the semi-quantitative method (AHP) obtained values in the order of 69%. Therefore, it is concluded that the maps elaborated with the statistical methods presented a better approximation concerning the database of geological hazards reported by GEOCATMIN.

Prospects of the Solovyev gold mining center of the Amur gold-bearing province

Prospects of the Solovyev gold mining center of the Amur gold-bearing province

Preface

The 5th Polish Mining Congress was successfully held between 6th and 7th September 2022 at the International Fair EXPO Katowice (Poland). This event is one of the largest mining conferences organized every two-three years to gather industry, academia and policy-makers together. This year’s congress was held under the slogan:Mining industry of the 21st century—how to extract and process mineral and energy resources while protecting the climate and the environment?For the first time, the congress was accompanying International Fair EXPO KATOWICE The Mining, Energy and Metallurgy Industry Fair. The meeting was a place of exchange of ideas and views on the future of coal industry in Poland. Over 200 delegates were present at 8 scientific sessions with the total number of 49 presentations. Thematic sessions were focused on the future development of the mining industry, electrification and automation in mining industry, new trends in underground construction, transport and mechanization, Coalbed Methane as a resource and threat, mine ventilation and safety in mining, environmental protection and rehabilitation of mining areas as well as circular economy in mining.The main partner of the conference was KGHM Polska Miedź SA – leader in copper and silver production. Other important industrial partners were: CARBOSPEC, FAMUR SA. FASING SA, Research and Supervisory Centre of Underground Mining, CEZ Group, DAMEL, Central Mine Rescue Station in Bytom and CTL Maczki-Bór S.A.The conference series is a result of selection of the most important articles. All articles were peer reviewed through process administrated by the Editors.List of Organizing committee, Scientific Committee are available in this Pdf.

Очистка сточных вод горнодобывающих предприятий Узбекистана с применением высших водных растений

Mining enterprises have an intense impact on the environment, and leads to its change. The sources of pollution of the most water bodies are discharged, insufficiently treated waste water from the industrial enterprises, large complexes and production waste from the development of ore minerals and mining enterprises. In the study, the general characteristics of the water in the tailings of the Central Mine Administration of GMZ-2 and the Northern Mine Administration of GMZ-3 of Mining and Metallurgical Plant were considered. For the experiment, waste water was selected from the filtrate of the CHEMIKS GMZ-3 tailings, where the dry residue is 8.1 g/l, and the water from the GMZ-3 tailing facility, where the dry residue is 8.7 g/l. The physical properties and chemical composition of GMZ-3 waste water are considered. From the results obtained, it can be seen that the waste water is heavily polluted. Based on the results obtained, the experiments were carried out with eichornia, which is the most resistant to wastewater. This plant has filtration properties, sorption, absorption and accumulation of heavy metals, reduces the concentration of chemical compounds. To study the quality of water purification from heavy metals by water hyacinth plants, water withdrawn from the tailing pond № 2 at GMZ-2, tailing pond GMZ-3 was used as a nutrient substrate. Planting was carried out on the basis of: one adult plant per liter of treated water, the water surface coverage was 75 %. Model systems were illuminated with incandescent lamps (3500 lux) at 12-hour daylight hours. The water temperature in the experiments was 22–24 °С, ambient air 24–26 °С. During the experiments, the following analyzes were carried out: water samples purified with eichornia, as well as the green mass of plants at the end of the experiments. Analysis of the content of heavy metals in the samples was carried out by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Elemental analysis of the aqueous medium was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS) on an Agilent 7500a quadrupole mass spectrometer (Agilent Technologies, USA). From the results of the experiments, it was identified that with the help of eichornia it is possible to achieve purification of more than 50 % within 10 days of 100 % wastewaters from GMZ-3, the purification efficiency can be increased to the maximum allowable concentrations of technical water in the spring and summer seasons of the year.

The main measuring point of the first Polish geodetic network on the summit of Łysica in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains in the light of verification archaeological research

The first professional geodetic network on Polish soil was established in 1829-1835. It was created for the mines and factories of the Old Polish Industrial District, which remained the largest centre of mining and metallurgy in Poland until the end of the 19th century. The main measuring point was established on the summit of Mount Łysica in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains. However, it was promptly destroyed and, despite detailed data published by one director of the project, Professor F.S. Armiński, it has only recently been rediscovered. Test excavations undertaken in 2019 revealed numerous inconsistencies between the archival data and the actual construction of the uncovered foundations.

Human exposure to mercury in the atmosphere and soils in Konongo: an age-old mining centre in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

The dramatic upsurge of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) activities in Ghana has resulted in environmental degradation, water pollution and human exposure to mercury-the main hazardous element used in gold extraction. This study evaluated the degree of human exposure to mercury based on the concentrations found in the air and soil samples taken at a resolution of 1 km2 across Konongo, a historic mining town in Ghana's Ashanti Region. The highest atmospheric mercury concentration was 193ng/m3, which is much higher than the levels the European Union and Japan allowed, which are 10ng/m3 and 40ng/m3, respectively. The concentration in the soil was 3.6mg Hg/kg, which is around ten times higher than the background concentration in nature. Additionally, the soil concentrations were higher above the worrisome levels of soil contamination in agricultural land (4mg/kg) and industrial areas (16mg/kg), respectively. Soils are extremely contaminated with mercury at sites artisanal mining activities take place. The concentrations of mercury in the air and soils were significantly higher (p < 0.5) at locations of prominent mining activities compared to areas not close to mining sites. The inhabitants of the Konongo community are therefore exposed to mercury, most likely emitted from artisanal mining activities. A non-carcinogenic risk is posed to the people by inhaling mercury vapour through the air and vapourisation from the soil. Children are exposed to a higher risk than adults as they receive higher daily doses of mercury than adults.

Gray Gold: Lead Mining and Its Impact on the Natural and Cultural Environment, 1700–1840

Gray Gold: Lead Mining and Its Impact on the Natural and Cultural Environment, 1700–1840