Functional Mining Research Articles

Production analysis of functionally distributed machines for underground mining

Recent years, underground mining method is becoming popular because of its potentially high productivity and efficiency. In this method, a mining machinery; load haul dump (LHD), is used as both an excavator and a transporter of ore. This paper proposes a distributed system that realizes the excavation and transport functions with separated vehicles, an excavator and a transporter. In addition, this research proposes a mining map and configurations suitable for the proposed distributed system. To evaluate the productivity of the proposed system, a simulation environment has been developed. Analysis using the simulator reveals what performance factors of the excavator and the transporter have large impacts on the productivity. Simulation results also demonstrate the difference of potential between LHD system and the distributed system that can be explained based on their functions allocation.

Asia Pacific

Papua New Guinea's ('PNG') mining map is an arresting sight. The country is covered in a patchwork of multi-coloured squares, a blanket that extends past the coastal border and into the sea. These segments divide the highly prospective nation into legal claims to explore and exploit the minerals in the forested mountains and at the bottom of the sea, where the world's first deep-sea mining operation will plumb the ocean floor.

High Accuracy Photogrammetry of Historic Rock Art

The petroglyphs of Petroglyph Park, Peterborough, created by the Algonquin Peoples between 900 and 1400 A.D., were documented in 1983 by the Heritage Recording Directorate of theGovernment of Canada. With the aim of rerecording the glyphs again at a later date to monitor the conditions and weathering, several sets of photogrammetric stereo pairs were taken of the site using Zeiss UMK and a Wild P-31 film cameras. After this project was completed, the site became designated as sacred and photography was no longer permitted, thus rendering the completion of a second recording of the site all but impossible. Therefore, the photographs taken of these magnificent petroglyphs in the 1980s are the most recent documentation available. Using the ADAMTech Mine Mapping Suite, developed in Perth Australia for the mining industry, I was able to bring these archival photos to life by creating dense 3D models that rival those produced by LiDAR. I used the photos, digitized in Ottawa on a Wehri RM-6 photogrammetric scanner, to create 3D models of the glyphs. A similar Federal project from Writing on Stone National Park in Alberta also used film photogrammetry to record the glyphs at that site in 1982. From these images as well I was able to compile 3D models. It is hoped that by scanning the original glass-plate negatives from the 1980s, and not the film copies, as we have done thus far for both projects, measurement data of even greater accuracy (down to 60um) and density can be achieved.

Mapping Extent and Change in Surface Mines Within the United States for 2001 to 2006

AbstractA complete, spatially explicit dataset illustrating the 21st century mining footprint for the conterminous United States does not exist. To address this need, we developed a semi‐automated procedure to map the country's mining footprint (30‐m pixel) and establish a baseline to monitor changes in mine extent over time. The process uses mine seed points derived from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS), and USGS National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) and recodes patches of barren land that meet a “distance to seed” requirement and a patch area requirement before mapping a pixel as mining. Seed points derived from EIA coal points, an edited MRDS point file, and 1992 NLCD mine points were used in three separate efforts using different distance and patch area parameters for each. The three products were then merged to create a 2001 map of moderate‐to‐large mines in the United States, which was subsequently manually edited to reduce omission and commission errors. This process was replicated using NLCD 2006 barren pixels as a base layer to create a 2006 mine map and a 2001–2006 mine change map focusing on areas with surface mine expansion. In 2001, 8,324 km2 of surface mines were mapped. The footprint increased to 9,181 km2 in 2006, representing a 10·3% increase over 5 years. These methods exhibit merit as a timely approach to generate wall‐to‐wall, spatially explicit maps representing the recent extent of a wide range of surface mining activities across the country. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Mine-Water Flow between Contiguous Flooded Underground Coal Mines with Hydraulically Compromised Barriers

Groundwater flow entering closed contiguous underground coal mines may be strongly influenced by leakage across inter-mine barriers. This study examines a complex of multiple closed and flooded mines that developed into a nearly steady-state groundwater flow system within 10 to 50 years after closure. Field water-level observations, mine geometry, barrier hydraulic conductivity, recharge rates, and late-stage storage gains were parameterized to match known pumping rates and develop a fluid mass balance. Vertical infiltration (recharge and leakage) estimates were developed using a depth-dependent model based on the assumption that most vertical infiltration is focused in areas with <75 m of overburden. A MODFLOW simulation of the nearly steady-state flow conditions was calibrated to hydraulic heads in observation wells and to known pumping rates by varying barrier hydraulic conductivity. The calibrated model suggests significant head-driven leakage between adjacent mines, both horizontally through coal barriers and vertically through inter-burden into a shallower mine in an overlying seam. Calibrated barrier hydraulic conductivities were significantly greater than literature values for other mines at similar depths in the region. This suggests that some barriers may be hydraulically compromised by un-mapped entries, horizontal boreholes, or similar features that act as drains between mines. These model results suggest that post-mining inter-annual equilibrium conditions are amenable to quantitative description using mine maps, sparse observation-well data, accurately estimated pumping rates, and depth-dependent vertical infiltration estimates. Results are applicable to planning for post-flooding water-control schemes, although hydraulic testing may be required to verify model results.

Magnetometry in Space Exploration

Magnetometry in space exploration is a field utilizing physical laws of magnetism and electromagnetism, which studies the magnetosphere of planets and their possible satellites in order to map the planetary or interplanetary magnetic fields and to extract information on the structural composition of the planets (targeting mining mapping) and the complex interactions between the plasma and the solar wind. However, in order to achieve this kind of magnetic measurements based on highly sensitive magnetometers, magnetic cleanliness must be prevailed. This makes necessary the knowledge of the magnetic field generated by potential sites within the area of spacecraft.

The use of unmanned aerial systems for the mapping of legacy uranium mines

Historical mining of uranium mineral veins within Cornwall, England, has resulted in a significant amount of legacy radiological contamination spread across numerous long disused mining sites. Factors including the poorly documented and aged condition of these sites as well as the highly localised nature of radioactivity limit the success of traditional survey methods. A newly developed terrain-independent unmanned aerial system [UAS] carrying an integrated gamma radiation mapping unit was used for the radiological characterisation of a single legacy mining site. Using this instrument to produce high-spatial-resolution maps, it was possible to determine the radiologically contaminated land areas and to rapidly identify and quantify the degree of contamination and its isotopic nature. The instrument was demonstrated to be a viable tool for the characterisation of similar sites worldwide.

Visualization of mining and geological data based on coal mine KWK “Knurów-Szczygłowice” Ruch “Knurów”

The aim of this work was to create a 3D model of underground workings of fragment coal mine KWK ,,Knurow - Szczyglowice Ruch ,,Knurow” for 550 m and 650 m level. The 3D model has been developed on basis of the digital, two – dimensional mining map. Initially, completeness of mining maps has been checked, which allowing one to select the south - east area to create the model. The elements were created in 3D space such as: boundaries of the mining area, protective pillars, workings wall, boreholes. Creating a model one started from the construction of the simplest form, the axis model. In turn moving to more complex visualization a circular cross-section model has been created. For workings walls the basis for showing them in three-dimensional space was to extrude the surface along the Z axis equal to the thickness of the deposit. More complex task was modeling protective pillars because of their shape of the area. An important element was to define transparency level each of element from the model. Modeling was performed in Microstation, AutoCAD and with GeoLisp system, which bases on AutoCAD. Afterwards, conclusions for creating three – dimensional mining maps and using programs have been performed. The result of the work is an animation showing selected elements of mining map in 3D space.

Modeling and analysis of gas capture from sealed sections of abandoned coal mines

All coal mines eventually complete their economic life, stop production, and are abandoned completely. Ventilation shafts and access drifts of these mines are usually sealed by plugging with concrete to isolate the mine environment from the outside atmosphere (surface) and also to prevent unauthorized access to old workings. Although large areas of access to the mine can be isolated, the void space left behind can never be isolated from surrounding coal and other formations. The void spaces act as a huge sink and start accumulating gas, perhaps groundwater as well, over time to form a methane reservoir. Understanding methane emission into old workings from surrounding strata, and the leakage characteristics of in-place mine seals, and analyzing gas production potential from such areas can improve ventilation designs in mines operating in similar settings, and can also enable the possibility of using abandoned mine methane (AMM) as an energy source. To meet these objectives, data acquired from different sources and utilized in the context of flow modeling and reservoir simulation, along with productions of AMM wells, can be invaluable tools. However, modeling of abandoned mines for gas emission and capture may not be an easy task. The difficulties in estimating spatial variability in various properties of the surrounding coal and mine environment, the complex geometry of the mine boundary and its details, and the initial conditions at the time of abandonment and when analysis begins all add to the challenge.In this paper, a reservoir modeling study that aims to characterize methane extraction from an abandoned room-and-pillar mine in the Springfield coal, Indiana, is demonstrated. The analyses related to interactions of surrounding coal with the abandoned mine environment were performed though history matching, initially, of two AMM wells drilled into two sealed sections. Analyses were then extended to evaluate different well locations to understand potential changes in gas emission from the coal, as well as leakage from the seals. Data required for establishing a detailed reservoir environment were obtained from mine maps, analysis of well productions by using a composite model, and by geostatistical modeling of point-wise data to create property maps.Results showed that wells drilled in larger sealed sections of the mine and away from previous workings performed better. Furthermore, the location of the well in the sealed section can be important as locations close to surrounding coal can have a better chance of promoting more gas in-flow from the coal seam, whereas locations close to the seal can take advantage of leakage through the seal and can benefit from higher rates of the gas contributed from other parts of the mine. Since gas emissions from coal and leakage through seals vary with the pressure differential, simulations of AMM can also be used in ventilation design of mines operating in similar settings as estimates and thus can also help improving safety of mines with quantified understanding of leakage.

Achievements and Challenges in Improving Temperate Perennial Forage Legumes

The expected move towards more sustainable crop-livestock systems implies wider cultivation of perennial forage legumes. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa subsp. sativa) is the main perennial legume in most temperate regions, especially where farm systems rely largely on forage conservation. White clover (Trifolium repens) and red clover (Trifolium pratense) are dominant in specific regions and farm systems. Although breeding progress for disease and insect resistance has been achieved, these crops have shown lower rates of genetic gain for yield than major grain crops, owing to lower breeding investment, longer selection cycles, impossibility to capitalize on harvest index, outbreeding mating systems associated with severe inbreeding depression, and high interaction of genotypes with cropping conditions and crop utilizations. Increasing yield, persistence, adaptation to stressful conditions (drought; salinity; grazing) and compatibility with companion grasses are major breeding targets. We expect genetic gain for yield and other complex traits to accelerate due to progress in genetic resource utilization, genomics resource development, integration of marker-assisted selection with breeding strategies, and trait engineering. The richness in adaptive genes of landraces and natural populations can be fully exploited through an ecological understanding of plant adaptive responses and improved breeding strategies. Useful genetic variation from secondary and tertiary gene pools of Medicago and Trifolium is being increasingly accessed. Genome sequencing projects in alfalfa and white clover will enrich physical, linkage and trait maps. Genome sequences will underpin fine mapping of useful loci and subsequent allele mining, leveraging the synteny of these crops with M. truncatula. Low-cost genome-wide markers generated through genotyping-by-sequencing will make genomic selection for adaptation and forage yield possible for these crops. Genetic markers will also be used for dissecting quantitative traits and developing toolboxes of functional markers for stress tolerance and other traits. Under current regulatory policies, transgenic approaches are likely to be limited to a few breakthrough traits. The key challenge for future applications of genomics technologies is their seamless integration with breeding system logistics and breeding schemes.

GIS Based Coal Seam Floor DEM Construction According to Floor Contours and Considering Faults Distribution

Coal seam floor contours are one of the most important 8 mine maps, and was usually used for coal mine decision-making. However, the graph, which was expressed as lines, has many disadvantages, including inadequate intuitive, poor visibility, and weak in expression of three-dimensional morphology formation. Thus, the readers have to spend more time to reveal the spatial distribution of coal deposits. According to the coal seam floors contours, and considering the constraints of faults in coal seams, the following steps were implemented to acquire coal seam floor DEM, which are: 1) contours discrete; and 2) interpolation using Inverse Distance Weighted method (IDW). The process was easy-manipulated, and the results could reflect the spatial distribution of coal seams in an objective, intuitively, and strong visibility manner. The method could facilitate and guide the analysis of mine design and coal production.

Re-Os geochronology of gold mineralization in the Fawakhir area, Eastern Desert, Egypt

We report the first Re-Os data on gold-associated arsenopyrite from mesothermal gold-quartz veins in the ancient Egyptian Fawakhir–El Sid gold mining district in the central Eastern Desert. This mining district has an ~5000-year-old history and is displayed in the Turin Papyrus Map (about 1150 BC), which is widely acclaimed as the world’s oldest geographic map, as well as the oldest geologic and mine map. The Fawakhir–El Sid district is part of a regional NNW-trending shear corridor (15 km wide) that hosts several other historic gold mines associated with left-lateral wrench structures and related granite intrusions. Vein-style gold mineralization is hosted within and at the margin of an I-type and magnetite-series monzogranite, the Fawakhir granite intrusion, and a Pan-African (~740 Ma) ophiolite sequence. The ore mineralogy of the mineralized quartz veins includes pyrite-arsenopyrite-pyrrhotite-sphalerite-galena-chalcopyrite-electrum plus a number of tellurides of Ag, Au, and Bi. The 187Re/188Os versus 187Os/188Os regression on 5 points of arsenopyrite gives an age of 601 ± 17 Ma with an initial 187Os/188Os of 0.24 ± 0.07 (2 σ; MSWD = 17). This age coincides within error with the U-Pb age on zircon from the Fawakhir monzogranite (598 ± 3 Ma). The age coincidence and the hydrothermal Te and Bi metal signature suggest a foremost role of granite-related fluids in the quartz-vein system.

Comparison of NAIP orthophotography and RapidEye satellite imagery for mapping of mining and mine reclamation

National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) orthophotography is a potentially useful data source for land cover classification in the United States due to its nationwide and generally cloud-free coverage, low cost to the public, frequent update interval, and high spatial resolution. Nevertheless, there are challenges when working with NAIP imagery, especially regarding varying viewing geometry, radiometric normalization, and calibration. In this article, we compare NAIP orthophotography and RapidEye satellite imagery for high-resolution mapping of mining and mine reclamation within a mountaintop coal surface mine in the southern coalfields of West Virginia, USA. Two classification algorithms, support vector machines and random forests, were used to classify both data sets. Compared to the RapidEye classification, the NAIP classification resulted in lower overall accuracy and kappa and higher allocation disagreement and quantity disagreement. However, the accuracy of the NAIP classification was improved by reducing the number of classes mapped, using the near-infrared band, using textural measures and feature selection, and reducing the spatial resolution slightly by pixel aggregation or by applying a Gaussian low-pass filter. With such strategies, NAIP data can be a potential alternative to RapidEye satellite data for classification of surface mine land cover.

Combining RapidEye Satellite Imagery and Lidar for Mapping of Mining and Mine Reclamation

Combining RapidEye Satellite Imagery and Lidar for Mapping of Mining and Mine Reclamation

The Ventersdorp Contact Reef model in the Kloof Gold Mine as derived from 3D seismics, geological mapping and exploration borehole datasets

A model of the Ventersdorp Contact Reef (VCR) orebody at Kloof Gold Mine was derived by integrating 3D reflection seismic data with information derived from underground mine mapping and exploration drilling. The study incorporated the depth-converted prestack time migrated (PSTM) seismic cube, the mine geomodel, faults and dikes mapped in excavations, mine development infrastructure, and intersections of the VCR by surface and underground exploration drilling. The 3D seismic data provide an accurate geometric model of the VCR orebody and its offsets. The underground mapping datasets help to define minor faults and dikes that are below seismic resolution limits. The integration of the these datasets allowed (1) for better mapping of fault architectures and distributions within the lease area, (2) definition of the likely zones of difficult ground conditions around seismically imaged dikes and faults, and (3) better predictions of the number and spacing of faults that offset the VCR within minable blocks. The model is useful in mitigating both economic and safety risks of deep mining.

Cytogenomic mapping and bioinformatic mining reveal interacting brain expressed genes for intellectual disability

BackgroundMicroarray analysis has been used as the first-tier genetic testing to detect chromosomal imbalances and copy number variants (CNVs) for pediatric patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD). To further investigate the candidate genes and underlying dosage-sensitive mechanisms related to ID, cytogenomic mapping of critical regions and bioinformatic mining of candidate brain-expressed genes (BEGs) and their functional interactions were performed. Critical regions of chromosomal imbalances and pathogenic CNVs were mapped by subtracting known benign CNVs from the Databases of Genomic Variants (DGV) and extracting smallest overlap regions with cases from DatabasE of Chromosomal Imbalance and Phenotype in Humans using Ensembl Resources (DECIPHER). BEGs from these critical regions were revealed by functional annotation using Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) and by tissue expression pattern from Uniprot. Cross-region interrelations and functional networks of the BEGs were analyzed using Gene Relationships Across Implicated Loci (GRAIL) and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA).ResultsOf the 1,354 patients analyzed by oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), pathogenic abnormalities were detected in 176 patients including genomic disorders in 66 patients (37.5%), subtelomeric rearrangements in 45 patients (25.6%), interstitial imbalances in 33 patients (18.8%), chromosomal structural rearrangements in 17 patients (9.7%) and aneuploidies in 15 patients (8.5%). Subtractive and extractive mapping defined 82 disjointed critical regions from the detected abnormalities. A total of 461 BEGs was generated from 73 disjointed critical regions. Enrichment of central nervous system specific genes in these regions was noted. The number of BEGs increased with the size of the regions. A list of 108 candidate BEGs with significant cross region interrelation was identified by GRAIL and five significant gene networks involving cell cycle, cell-to-cell signaling, cellular assembly, cell morphology, and gene expression regulations were denoted by IPA.ConclusionsThese results characterized ID related cross-region interrelations and multiple networks of candidate BEGs from the detected genomic imbalances. Further experimental study of these BEGs and their interactions will lead to a better understanding of dosage-sensitive mechanisms and modifying effects of human mental development.

The structure of the Hallstatt evaporite body (Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria): A compressive diapir superposed by strike-slip shear?

Based on old detailed mining maps and own observations in the Hallstatt salt mine, we reinterpret the structure of the Hallstatt evaporite body of the Upper Permian to Lower Triassic Haselgebirge Fm. within the Northern Calcareous Alps (NCA). The Haselgebirge Fm. represents a rocksalt mylonite with abundant lenses of sulphates, mudstones and limestones. In comparison to published results of analogue modeling we interpret the present shape of the Hallstatt body as a WNW–ESE elongated compressive teardrop-like diapir. This is overprinted by NNE–SSW shortening and dominantly sinistral shearing along a W-trending shear zone. The internal structure shows steeply dipping rock units and foliation. Earlier dextral ductile shear fabrics of likely late Early Cretaceous age are preserved in sulphate rocks and are subsequently overprinted by mylonitic fabrics in rocksalt and cataclastic fabrics in other rocks.The low strength of halite results in recent subvertical shortening and a strain rate ε˙ of 8 × 10−10 [s−1] is deduced from deformed subhorizontal boreholes. This value is similar to such strain rates (10−10 to 10−9 s−1) estimated by the halite grain size distribution from other salt mines in the NCA and thus indicative of sub-recent formation of the halite microfabrics.

Structural analysis within the Rozna and Olsi uranium deposits (Strazek Moldanubicum) for the estimation of deformation and stress conditions of underground gas storage

Uranium deposits, between which gas storage are being designed, the Rožna deposit and Olsi deposit, are situated on the east edge of the Stražek Moldanubicum in Bohemian Masiff. Based on structural analysis it was possible to carry out the first rough prediction of potential weak zones in the rock mass. The structural analysis was also one of the supporting materials for determining the geometry and design method for the mine workings for the gas storage and for the advancing exploration of the gas storage region. Until now, the measurement of foliation planes and discontinuity planes in the survey crosscut V1-XXI and in a survey connecting gate GR1-XXI has been carried out. The results of interpretation of the measurement and monitoring of ductile elements (foliations) and joints (ruptures) as well as dislocations interpretation from the mine maps can be summarized and quoted in the contribution.

The Remote Sensing Imagery, New Challenges for Geological and Mining Mapping in the West African Craton - The Example of Cote D’ivoire

This paper is a synthesis of the evolution on the use of remote sensing imagery for geological and mining mapping in West Africa, particularly in Côte d'Ivoire. For nearly 50 years, the development of countries in West Africa is mainly based on agriculture. Given the very low prices of export commodities on the world market, governments have adopted other economic policies including, in particular, the exploitation of natural mineral resources. This is as well as several countries saw their economy go on thanks to these natural resources. This is the case of Ghana (gold); Sierra Leone (gold and diamond); and Nigeria (for petroleum). For a decade, mining research has experienced rapid development in some countries in West Africa (Ghana, Mali, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone...). This mining research, which is based in part on geological mapping, seems to depend on good geological maps of the affected areas of the West African Craton. It is therefore important to have access to recent and precise maps. It is consequently necessary to use new technologies to resolve the one of the major problems to which ones are confronted the geologists: the lack of sufficient outcrops in the humid tropics of West Africa to achieve accurate maps. Therefore, remote sensing imagery appears to be one of the effective tools for achieving accurate geological maps, essential supports for searching mineral resources. It is necessary that a particular methodology must be known by geologists for a better use of remote sensing imagery.

A landmark‐bounded method for large‐scale underground mine mapping

AbstractA practical localization technology for underground drift networks—such as those excavated in the practice of underground mining—has yet to become commercially available. This paper focuses on the problem of mapping GPS‐deprived underground environments with the eventual goal of using these maps for navigation. Recent industry‐directed work in the creation of a landmark‐bounded occupancy grid mapping tool that combines odometry, scanning laser data, and sporadically placed passive RFID tags is described. Unlike other work, the suggested approach holds the philosophy that precise localization of the actual landmark locations is not necessary; rather, landmarks serve as a global means for partitioning the map. Successful field experiments were conducted in two underground environments, with the results used to conduct a basic analysis of the described method. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.