Russian Mining Research Articles

Mining Supervision Reform in Russia in the Second Half of the 19th — Early 20th Centuries: Projects and Their Implementation

This article traces the process underlying the creation of a new model of state supervision of the private mining industry as an integral part of the general reform of the institutional basis of this strategically important sector of Russia’s economy. The study covers the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and includes both the period of preparation of reform projects in the Mining and Tax Commissions in the 1860s, and the subsequent period of implementation of an option they proposed. The author determines the main differences between the two alternative projects arising from the different composition of the participants in the preparatory commissions. It is established that after the decision of the Minister of Finance Michael Graf von Reutern in 1868 to leave the reform process in the hands of the Mining Department, it began to be carried out according to the project proposed by the Mining Commission. This project involved the establishment of departmental mining supervision distinguished by the specialisation of functions and the professionalisation of officials. Additionally, the author considers the main responsibilities of district engineers determining their specifics conditioned by the peculiarities of the organisation of the Russian mining industry. Then, the research traces the expansion of functions of mining supervision and the coordination of its actions with regional civil authorities, the police, and other forms of industrial supervision in Russia in the 1890s. The author describes the course of the spread of a new model of mining supervision across the empire. At the same time, special attention is paid to the establishment of mining administrative districts in the largest Ural mining region. It is revealed that, as a result of the reforms, Russian mining supervision became organisationally equal to that in Western Europe but received a significantly more extensive functionality that went beyond the scope of technical supervision and was not provided for by the initiators of the reform.

МИРОВЫЕ ТРЕНДЫ СОВЕРШЕНСТВОВАНИЯ И МОДЕРНИЗАЦИИ ТРАНСПОРТНЫХ СИСТЕМ НА ОТКРЫТЫХ ГОРНЫХ РАБОТАХ

The analysis of international experience in increase of efficiency of open pit haulage system has been done. It is revealed that a new, rapidly developing and the most perspective direction in the world is to minimize and exclude human participation in the technological processes of mining. The development of technologies and equipment, allows gradually replacing the human driver in the transportation process and stepping into fully autonomous haulage system. The combination of sensors and detectors with the artificial intelligence of computer is able to analyze, evaluate and predict the traffic conditions with the generation of an adequate intellectual decision. The introduction of autonomous haulage system in open-pit mining is improved of the technical and economic performance of the rocks transportation and safety of mining. Outlined the directions for increasing the level of robotics and automation of production processes at the Russian mining enterprises to reduce the existing gap in this field between Russian and international mining companies.

Assessing the Impact of Innovation Activity on Mining Industry Results

The role of the mining industry in the world economy is enormous, since its branches are the most important source of industrial raw materials, without which the intensive growth of modern industry would be completely impossible. However, the technologies used in it are not always innovative. Despite the fact that the mining industry occupies a fairly small percentage in the structure of the world economy and does not exceed 10%, it is an important source of income for many states, including Russia. However, the changes that are now observed in the global economy require new approaches to organizing activities. Despite its profitability, this industry is quite difficult to manage. The way from the extraction of raw materials to their end user is very complicated and depends on many conditions. For the successful integration of the Russian mining industry into new economic realities, it is necessary to intensify innovative processes by investing financial resources in new equipment and high technology. At the same time, acceleration of the development of the mining industry can be achieved in the chain “mining industry - processing industry” through the introduction and use of nanotechnology, which can significantly improve the quality of raw materials.

Online Learning vs. Extreme Learning in Mining Higher Education under COVID

Mining education, including ESL teaching had to undergo a sudden switch to the distance learning mode in spring 2020 due to COVID-19. The article analyses the challenges that most of teachers had to face and justifies the term “extreme learning” in connection with a sudden shift to a distance mode in higher education world-wide. The analytical data is provided to prove the point and as an effort to evaluate the effectiveness of extreme online learning. Current situation in Russian mining universities can be compared with the results of transition to emergency online format in the United States, UNM University. The necessity for further assessment is underlined in connection with the analysis of prerequisites, needs, and processes rather than the results.

Innovative Ecosystem of Mining Industry

The mining industry belongs to the leading sectors of the global economy. However, the technologies used in it can not always be called innovative. This is due to both the specifics of the industry and the general technological lag of Russian economy. At present, it is almost impossible for individual enterprises to achieve significant success apart. In order for the process of innovative technological development to proceed more intensively, it is necessary to consider it through the prism of the ecosystem, i.e. a set of participants and the corresponding environment of this process, allowing to achieve a synergistic effect. The concept of an innovative ecosystem is based on the triple helix model, which is in turn based on a partnership between the state, science and business. They can interact effectively on the basis of technopark structures, which are a key element of the modern innovation ecosystem. The study was conducted on the basis of the Kemerovo region – a region in which a significant part of the Russian mining industry is concentrated. One of the tools for implementing the ecosystem approach to managing the development of the mining industry should be the main element of the innovation infrastructure of the Kemerovo region – the Kuzbass Technopark.

Remote-controlled robotic complex for underground mining

As the global rich mineral deposits are becoming depleted, the deposit development is performed with a deeper bedding and in much more difficult mining and geological conditions. This circumstance determines both the increase in the labor intensity and development costs, and the increased likelihood of emergencies. In recent years, the accidents have become more frequent at the Russian mining enterprises, aggravated not only by the significant damages, but also by the casualties. The ongoing efforts to correct the tight situation do not have a perceptible effect. A complete exclusion of the presence of people underground should be considered as a drastic remedy for preventing human casualties. It can be achieved only through the use of machinery and technology for manless mining using the automated control systems. The Department of Engineering Mechanics of the Ural State Mining University has formed the concept of a “remote-controlled robotic complex for underground mining”, according to which a surface-controlled system of mining equipment will absolve the miners from working underground. At present, the favorable conditions have been laid for combining the in-mine equipment and permanent installations into a single complex under the control of operators located on the soil surface. In accordance with the concept, the technological robotic complex is transformed into a mechatronic system of the underground mining equipment. The mechatronic system is divided into the separate subsystems by the types of equipment. Particular attention is paid to the automated complex remote-control system based on the telemetry principles using the latest means of data acquisition, conversion and transmission. The system interface provides the most efficient and error-free performance of the operator throughout the entire shift. The concept implementation of the remote-controlled robotic complex in the mining industry will allow not only to avoid the tragic consequences of emergencies in the mines, but also to elevate the national mining equipment and technology to the highest world standards.

Arterial hypertension and cardiovascular risk factors in employees of underground mining ore minerals

Introduction. The wide spread of mining in Russia determines the high relevance of the preservation of labor resources in this industry, the prevention of occupational and production-related morbidity, reducing cases of temporary and permanent disability. Mine mining is characterized by the impact on workers of several nonspecific harmful (dangerous) factors: industrial noise, general and local vibration, the severity of labor, heating or cooling microclimate, low light. The impact of these factors predisposes to the development of pathology of the cardiovascular system.The aim of the study was to study the prevalence of hypertension among underground miners, clinical features and changes in the complex of biochemical risk factors for cardiovascular complications.Materials and methods. The observation group consisted of 98 employees of underground chrome ore mining. The comparison group (working in conditions outside the influence of the studied production factors) consisted of 75 employees of this enterprise. All employees surveyed are male. To study the impact of working conditions on the health of workers, workplaces with a characteristic set of harmful production factors (chrome, dust, noise, vibration, labor severity, labor intensity, cooling microclimate) and the same working modes (sliding three-shift schedule with a shift duration of eight hours) were selected. The study of laboratory parameters (markers of risk of cardiovascular disease) was performed by unified General clinical, biochemical and enzyme immunoassay methods.Results. In the group of underground miners, the prevalence of arterial hypertension was established (in 31.3% in the observation group and in 17.2% of the surveyed in the comparison group, p=0.042), which becomes statistically significant when the work experience is more than 10 years. The study established the clinical features of the anamnesis and objective status of employees of the mine for the extraction of chrome ore. The laboratory study in the group of miners revealed the presence of a number of paraclinic syndromes: systemic inflammation and immune activation syndrome, dyslipidemia syndrome, oxidative stress syndrome, hormonal profile disorder, renal dysfunction syndrome.Conclusions. Employees of underground mining of chrome ore are characterized by a high incidence of hypertension with experience of more than 10 years. The clinical and instrumental changes revealed in the work in the observation group give grounds for the development of directed preventive programs in this category of ore mine workers.

When Public is Not Enough: A Local Russian Social Movement Between Suppression and Depoliticisation

This paper suggests an approach to Russian politics through the theory of depoliticisation. The author suggests that administrative methods of neutralisation and modes of depoliticisation of public discussions are similar in both local and country level of contentious politics. This paper analyses a case of social movement against an extraction project in Russian agricultural region that was approved by the government and initiated by one of the biggest Russian mining companies. The local movement was inspired by the protest movement of 2011–12 and hastened development of local public. Both of the movements faced similar methods of depoliticisation and suppression, but despite the one against extraction was anchored in the local community and protested visible problems, it was divided and mostly dissolved by the end of 2014. Analysis reveals typical tactics of depoliticising conflicts used in controlling political discussion in Russia.

Development dynamics of the industry in Khakassia, technological solutions for a coal cluster

Today the coal industry of Khakassia takes the third place according to the index of industrial production, regarding extraction of coal, among regions of Siberia and the 14th place in Russia. Its further development is connected with creation of a coal cluster on the basis of enterprises producing and processing coal. There are all necessary modern capacities in the Republic. There are two coal processing plants, crushing and sorting complexes and also favorable conditions for developing transport networks connected to the perspective centers of coal mining in the country, capable to increase volumes of producing and processing coal, to increase quality of products. It is noted that the foundation of coal mining in Russia was laid at the end of the 17th century. The first deposits began to be mined near modern Donbass (area of the Kalmius river and the river Seversky Donets). The coal industry is one of major export developing industries of local economy.

On improvement of corporate relations in the mining and metallurgical complex of Russia

The article emphasizes the need to improve the mechanisms of corporate interaction of companies of the domestic mining and metallurgical complex (MMC). A brief description of the modern iron ore base of Russia is given, rational industrial operation of which implies further innovative development of iron ore raw materials processing industries, strengthening of the position of Russian metallurgical and mining companies in domestic and world markets. The main typological forms of integration interaction between metallurgical and mining segments of MMC are considered. A brief analysis of the content of the corporate governance codes used by MMC companies has been provided. Key principles of improvement of integration interaction of mining-enrichment and metallurgical in the framework of industry corporate associations are proposed. Among them — factors (conditions) of strategic planning of development of MMC business groups. Recommendations are given to improve the practice of strategic planning of supply and investment activities of mining and processing mills.

Social Life Cycle Assessment of Brine Treatment in the Process Industry: A Consequential Approach Case Study

Social life cycle assessment (SLCA) was developed to complement the environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) and economic assessment. Contrary to LCA, SLCA is not yet standardized, and the consequential approach is little discussed in literature. This study aims to perform a consequential SLCA and investigate the applicability of the method in industrial decision making. The aforementioned assessment is done within the Zero Brine project, which works on zero liquid discharge technology for water, salt, and magnesium recovery from brine effluents. The developed SLCA systems are gate-to-gate, and the analysis is performed at two levels: Hotspot and site-specific. The system boundaries consist of a demineralized water (DW) production company, a chlor–alkali company, an electricity provider, a magnesium distributor in the Netherlands, and a Russian mining company. The latter exists only in the boundaries before the change due to the Zero Brine project, because recovered magnesium is expected to replace the Russian magnesium imported in the Netherlands. Within the system boundaries, the stakeholders contributing the most are the DW and the magnesium distributor companies. The former produces the brine and thus recovers the magnesium and salt. The latter is the exclusive distributor of Russian magnesium in the Netherlands. Overall, we find that the recovered magnesium results in improving social performance mainly in “Freedom of association and collective bargaining”, “Fair salary”, and “Health and Safety” due to decreasing the dependency of the Netherlands on Russia, while increasing operation in a country with much stronger environmental regulation and corporate commitment to sustainability issues. Modelling with SLCA may not result in the expected societal benefits, as the Russian community and workers may not benefit due to the large geographical boundaries of the system under study. Nevertheless, the application of the consequential approach can be considered suitable, yet complicated, for offering decision makers adequate social information. We recommend that decision makers in the DW company invest in magnesium recovery and that decision makers in the magnesium distributor company distribute the recovered magnesium.

Nikmelnikovite, Ca12Fe2+Fe3+3Al3(SiO4)6(OH)20, a new mineral from Kovdor massif (Kola peninsula, Russia)

Nikmelnikovite, Ca12Fe2+Fe3+3Al3(SiO4)6(OH)20, is a new mineral from the Kovdor massif, Kola peninsula, Russian Federation. It is the first trigonal member of the garnet supergroup. The mineral is named in honor of Academician Nikolay Nikolaevich Melnikov (1938-2018), an outstanding Soviet and Russian mining engineer, long-time (1981-2015) director of the Mining Institute of the Kola Science Center, Russian Academy of Sciences.

Nikmelnikovite, Ca 12 Fe 2+ Fe $$_{3}^{{3 + }}$$ Al 3 (SiO 4 ) 6 (OH) 20 : A New Mineral from the Kovdor Massif (Kola Peninsula, Russia)

Nikmelnikovite, Ca 12 Fe 2+ Fe 3+ 3 Al 3 (SiO 4 ) 6 (OH) 20 , is a new mineral from the Kovdor massif, Kola peninsula, Russian Federation. It is the first trigonal member of the garnet supergroup. The mineral is named in honor of Academician Nikolay Nikolaevich Melnikov (1938-2018), an outstanding Soviet and Russian mining engineer, long-time (1981-2015) director of the Mining Institute of the Kola Science Center, Russian Academy of Sciences.

A study of justification of the buyers' synergetic optimism in major M&A deals of 2008–2014 involving Russian mining enterprises

A study of justification of the buyers' synergetic optimism in major M&A deals of 2008–2014 involving Russian mining enterprises

Consumer Potential of the East Asian Region: Contemporary Trends and Opportunities for Russia

The article aims at assessing consumer potential of the East Asian region in the context of diversification of economic growth sources and its transition to consumption-led economic growth model. Favorable social, demographic and economic trends, as well as demand-stimulating policies, implemented by governments and monetary authorities of the most of regional economies, entail a rapid increase in the private consumption contribution to economic growth, lead to a gradual transformation of the commodity structure of consumption, and import demand, which opens up new opportunities for exporters from the third countries, including Russia. The analysis made it possible to make a number of practical conclusions. Given consumer potential and mutual trade dynamics, China and Vietnam, to a lesser extent Malaysia, are of the greatest interest to Russia, while Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines’ potential can be implemented in medium-term perspective (5-10 years). Russian mining, agricultural and heavy engineering industries (mainly, aircraft, space and power engineering) can become the key beneficiaries of the growing consumer potential in East Asia.

Christmas in the Traditions of Russian Mining Settlements of the Komi Republic (as Per Records of the Early Twenty-First Century)

Christmas in the Traditions of Russian Mining Settlements of the Komi Republic (as Per Records of the Early Twenty-First Century)

MINING AND BUSINESS ACTIVITIES: IN SEARCH OF THE BALANCE

The article reveals the content and outlines approaches to the definition of the legal nature of mining. Attention is drawn to the necessity of legal regulation of this activity, which is predetermined by the Federal Program «Digital Economy of the Russian Federation» — a project that provides for normative regulation of the digital environment. In order to support the mission to eliminate digital illiteracy, which is also envisaged in the National Program, the author elucidates the etymology and meaning of the term «mining» and considers various doctrinal interpretations of this concept. The paper presents such analogies of the blochchain technology as the public ledger, DNA, and a layer-cake for a better understanding of the blockchain technology that is associated with mining. Material-technical and organizational foundations of mining are revealed. The author demonstrates advantages and disadvantages of solo mining, pool mining, and cloud mining. The results of comparative monitoring of the attitude to the recognition of cryptocurrency as a means of payment are presented. Attention is drawn to the liberal legal regulation of blockchain technology and mining under the laws of the Republic of Belarus. The paper determines the stages of a law-making process aimed at legal support of mining in Russia. Based on the results of comparison of concepts of entrepreneurial activity and mining, it is concluded that mining represents one of new types of entrepreneurship brought to life due to the needs of digital economy. The author suggests thatmining participants be recognized as self-employed persons. It is noted that the entrepreneurial nature of mining arises questions concerning measures of its state regulation which is difficult within the framework of the existing paradigm, but should be built on the basis of a balance between private and public interests.

THE FORMATION OF THE NATIONAL BODIES OF MILITARY ACCEPTANCE AT MINING PLANTS IN RUSSIA IN THE 1830-ies

Introduction. This article is devoted to the formation of the apparatus of artillery surveyors at the mining plants of the Russian Empire in the 1830s. Its relevance is due to the fact that at present there is no thorough historical research on this issue. At the same time, the study of the foundations on which the domestic Institute of military acceptance was built in the past will allow us to draw certain conclusions for the present day situation. Materials and Methods. Problem-chronological and comparative-historical methods were used in the preparation of the publication. The source base of the research includes both published documents (The complete collection of laws of the Russian Empire) and archival materials from a number of Federal, regional and departmental archival institutions of Russia. Research and Discussion. The article describes the state of the military institution of domestic acceptance by the early 1830s. The basics of staffing, cash and property security of artillery inspectors as well as the technical issues of acceptance of the military products at the Russian mining plants are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the interaction of gunners and representatives of the mining Department, as well as the solution of emerging problems and disputes. Conclusion. The publication concludes that in the 1830s many conceptual foundations of the work of domestic military acceptance bodies were laid. At the same time, there were numerous organizational and technological problems which had to be promptly resolved.

Improvement of drilling efficiency in underground mines in Russia

Russian and foreign equipment and technologies of drilling are reviewed. The integrated assessment of blasthole drilling energy efficiency is carried out in terms of air-powered hammer P-160-5,5 SHV operation with drilling rig BP100P in a mine. Mechanical, run and volume velocities of drilling are determined using the data of video and acoustic processing of drilling process records. The cost of drilling is evaluated by the integral energy criterion of volumetric destruction of rocks. The analytical estimation of production rate is presented alongside with the methods of improvement. The reasons for the decline in the productivity of drilling operations in domestic mines have been established, and methods for improving it have been proposed. It is shown that energy efficiency and energy source cost should be use as the criteria when selecting drilling machines together with drilling productivity.

Applying financial instruments to assess the competitiveness of Russian mining organizations

Applying financial instruments to assess the competitiveness of Russian mining organizations