Mining Infrastructure Research Articles

Controls on the industrial mineral potential of ore-proximal carbonate rocks, Garpenberg Zn-Pb-Ag-(Cu-Au) deposit, Bergslagen Sweden

ABSTRACT The c. 1.89 Ga Garpenberg Zn-Pb-Ag-(Cu-Au) deposit is hosted by dolomite marble, skarn and felsic metavolcanic rocks. Extensive marble units host part of the mine infrastructure, including sections of bright-colored, chemically pure marble. Assessing the potential of carbonates as by-products to base metal mining is of interest for a sustainable and efficient use of resources and for securing a domestic supply of carbonates. This study characterizes marble units proximal to the Dammsjön and Lappberget ore bodies at Garpenberg based on their optical, chemical, mineralogical, and textural properties to delineate controls on their brightness, color, and purity. Methods employed include drill core logging, whole-rock lithogeochemistry, petrography, SEM-EDS, μXRF, spectrophotometric brightness measurements, and tests of AIR and magnetic separation. The marble units are divided into bright calcite marble (white, gray, and green varieties), dark calcite marble (salmon pink, spotted, brecciated, and ophicalcite varieties) and dolomite marble. Brightness and purity of the marbles are highly correlated, with Fe having a particularly detrimental effect on brightness, both via substitution in the dolomite and calcite lattices, but also via presence of accessory minerals that grind to dark powders. Ore-proximal dolomite marble shows a hydrothermal signature, with elevated base metals, Fe, S and Mn content, whereas impurities in calcite marble seem to mainly be of detrital origin, reflecting co-settled volcaniclastic and siliciclastic material in the limestone precursors. Mainly the bright calcite marble varieties are of potential industrial quality and are present in Garpenberg in significant volumes, but the technoeconomic feasibility of by-product valorization requires further analysis.

Decision-Making Analysis of Ground Support Selection in a Critical Mine Infrastructure Tunnel

Decision-Making Analysis of Ground Support Selection in a Critical Mine Infrastructure Tunnel

Mining industry’s potential for community development, challenges, and way forward in the East Africa community. A review

ABSTRACT East African Community (EAC) countries have abundant natural resources, including minerals which are critical inputs for achieving sustainable development. The mining sector contributes a substantial portion of EAC exports, revenue, and gross domestic product to achieve sustainable development goals. Despite this accomplishment, the mining industry is nevertheless plagued by various issues. As a result, this review provides an overview of the mining sector’s challenges and way forward. It also looks at ways to improve the situation in the future. The study found that financial resources, human and technical resources, infrastructure, political instability, the nature of mineral reserves, social difficulties, marketing, and limited research and exploration are some of the main challenges faced by the mineral sector in the EAC region. Thus, the study recommends capacity building, resolving political instabilities, diversifying the economy to lessen reliance on mining, improving marketing, improving mining infrastructure, and encouraging research and exploration.

Water Troubles: Peruvian Capitalists, Mining Infrastructure, and the First Copper Bonanza

This essay examines struggles over a water drainage tunnel as a window into the politics of mining, infrastructure, and national development in early twentieth-century Peru. It argues that the Peruvian mining elite operated as an organized network of entrepreneurs, mobilizing capital, environmental technology, and the power of the state to challenge the rising hegemony of US interests in Peru's copper corridor. Unlike the classic literature on nineteenth-century mining in Peru, which has presented Peruvian mineowners as a struggling bourgeoisie, this study focuses on this group's innovations and dynamism in the wake of the copper bonanza. It also studies its discursive strategies, which appealed to preexisting skepticism of free trade and anxieties about foreign influence. Altogether, this essay contributes to the literature on US imperialism and capitalist penetration by centering local actors and studying US hegemony as a contentious and contingent process.

Innovative Seismic Imaging of the Platinum Deposits, Maseve Mine: Surface and In-Mine

Maseve Mine is located in the western limb of the Bushveld Complex, recognized as the largest layered igneous intrusion in the world. The study shows results from surface (SP1, SP2, and SP3) and tunnel (T3a, T3b, and TP4b) reflection seismic profiles, totaling 4150 m. Tunnel seismic data were acquired using a seismic landstreamer and spiked geophones with 5 m receiver and shot spacing, as well as a sledgehammer for shots due to space constraints and safety. The profiles, 10–50 m above mineral deposits, crossed major geological structures. Surface seismic profiles used cabled systems and wireless sensors with 5 m and 10 m receiver spacing, respectively, and a 500 kg drop hammer as a source with 10 m shot spacing. Despite high noise levels from mine infrastructure and power cables, a careful processing workflow enhanced target reflections. Interpretation was constrained using borehole data, geological models, and 2D/3D seismic modeling. The processed data exhibit gently dipping reflections associated with faults and dykes, imaging the target mineralization (Merensky Reef and Upper Group 2) and a possible extension. Tunnel seismic experiments demonstrated the application of seismic methods using in-mine infrastructure, while surface experiments proved efficient, illustrating small-scale seismic surveys’ capability to image the subsurface, adding value in active mining environments for exploration with cost-effective seismic equipment.

Effects of mining activities on social-cultural development: A case of Kapijipanga chiefdom in Solwezi district of North-Western Province, Zambia

Overview: This study examined the impact of mining activities on the social and cultural development of Kapijipanga chiefdom of Solwezi District. The study investigated various ways in which mining activities influence the social and cultural identity of local people. Body of knowledge: The findings contribute to a better understanding of the complex relationship between mining activities and social cultural development and offer insight for sustainable development and community well-being in Kapijipanga chiefdom of Solwezi District. Methods: The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods and descriptive survey design that sampled local people of Kapijipanga chiefdom, mine workers, headmen and chief. The sample size for this study was 150. Data was obtained from respondents by means of interviews and questionnaires. Tables, graphs and pie-charts were used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data obtained. Data was then analyzed manually in some cases and also, a combination of software MS Access, and MS Excel. Results: The results indicated that the effects of mining activities on social –cultural development in Kapijipanga chiefdom of Solwezi District is negative in the sense that social development is strongly influenced by the loss of farmland, houses, and livelihoods in Kapijipanga chiefdom. Additionally, the study found that mining activities has led to the loss of traditional authority in Kapijipanga chiefdom of Solwezi District. This is because mining projects often require the relocation of indigenous communities and villages to make way for mining infrastructure. Recommendation: The government of Zambia through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Department of culture should ensure that mines offer cultural awareness training programs for their employees to increase understanding and appreciation of local customs, traditions, and languages.

Remote sensing of hazards: The spatio-temporal evolution of land surface temperature over tailings flows and related drivers

Since mining activities began in Brazil some 300 years ago, disasters related to tailings dams have been recorded. In 2019, the B1 dam located at Vale, S.A.'s Córrego do Feijão mine in the municipality of Brumadinho (state of Minas Gerais) collapsed, releasing a vast amount of iron ore tailings into the Ferro-Carvão stream, which spread to the Paraopeba River located 10 km downstream. This tragedy devastated around 294 ha of the Ribeirão Ferro-Carvão watershed, including mining infrastructure, farmland and housing, and is among the biggest environmental disasters ever recorded in Brazil. The torrent of mud and debris and the substances released by the collapse, namely metals (e.g. iron, manganese), in addition to completely flooding the bed and banks of the Ribeirão Ferro-Carvão and remaining on them for several years as a thick blanket, caused significant changes in land surface temperature (LST). The aim of this study was to spatially analyze the LST in the period before and after the dam burst (2018–2021), and to find its relationship with the granulometric and chemical parameters of the deposited materials, as well as with the changes in land use and land cover that occurred with and after the dam burst. Landsat 8 satellite images processed on the Google Earth Engine platform were used to estimate the LST. The results showed a relationship between this parameter and the characteristics of the tailings, with lower temperatures being associated with sectors of the impacted area covered with fine fractions (presumably with greater heat dissipation capacity). A reduction in temperature was also detected over the period analyzed, which was related to the tailings removal and revegetation works in the impacted area. The integrated results indicate that LST is an effective parameter for characterizing disasters involving tailings dams, as well as for monitoring natural recovery or recovery as a result of mitigation measures implemented in the impacted areas. We therefore recommend its use in remote sensing of mining activities in general and tailings dam disasters in particular.

Lean construction: Implementing the Last Planner System on mining projects

The potential benefits of implementing the Last Planner System (LPS) on mining infrastructure projects were explored through two case studies in the South African mining industry. The first part of the study involved measurement of the impact of LPS through earned value techniques on secondary project data. The second part sought to establish the lean construction success factors leading to improvements in construction performance. This was done by means of a research questionnaire distributed to the project owner's teams, contracted parties, and the LPS facilitators. The results revealed a positive correlation between LPS application and planned percentage complete. However, the performance achieved during the LPS pilot was not sustained. The success factors and benefits considered most evident in the case study pilot differed among the three stakeholder groups. The findings are expected to guide construction stakeholders to better define performance measures and focus on factors required to make LPS implementation more effective in the South African mining sector.

Investing in Mining Infrastructure: Economic Benefits, Challenges, and the Role of Public-Private Partnerships

This is a comprehensive analysis of the economic and environmental aspects of sustainable practices in the mining industry, focusing on a case study. The work is aimed at studying the integration of innovative technologies, environmental aspects and economic feasibility in the formation of a sustainable mining paradigm in the 21st century. The study is conducted using a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating economic, environmental and technological perspectives to assess the long-term sustainability of mining practices.

Water Reservoirs in North-Western Hispania Roman Gold Mining: Technology, Chronology and Paleoenvironmental Evolution

ABSTRACT Water reservoirs located on the mining fronts were essential for the operation of Roman gold mining. They served purposes such as the extraction and washing of gold deposits, and the final disposal of waste. The history of a Roman gold mine is intricately linked to its hydraulic network. Therefore, dating the construction, usage, and abandonment layers of water reservoirs enables us to comprehend the evolution of mining operations. In this paper, we present a methodological approach consisting of the opening of archaeological sondages in the water reservoirs to understand their stratigraphy and operating phases, together with sampling to obtain chronological and pollen information. We present the work carried out in four case studies located in various mining areas in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Results indicate that water reservoirs serve as paleoenvironmental archives, facilitating the chronological unravelling of mining operations and the landscape reconstruction from the period immediately preceding the onset of mining operations to their abandonment. Results also have highlighting some of the challenges when interpreting radiocarbon results. We conclude that the archaeological analysis of hydraulic mining infrastructure is an effective methodology for understanding the evolution of mining landscapes.

Evaluation of hydrological and sediment connectivity in catchments with mining activity in semiarid central Mexico

Source–sink systems in arid and semiarid regions contain low plant cover areas (inter-patches) functioning as sources of runoff, sediments, and nutrients that are retained by vegetated patches, which act as sinks. The spatial configuration of these hydrological units largely determines the connectivity network of runoff sources. At the same time, their dynamics are essential for assessing ecohydrological functionality, which mining can modify through the alteration of the system's ability to retain water and sediments, causing increased runoff and soil erosion. The objectives of this work were to: (1) identify the spatio-temporal changes in ground cover (i.e., vegetated patches and inter-patches) in two areas with mining activity: Cerro de San Pedro (1970–2015) and Villa de la Paz (1983–2014); and (2) evaluate, from an ecohydrological perspective, the changes in hydrological and sediment connectivity as the result of changes in ground cover in the two periods within each study area. Ground cover maps were obtained from aerial photographs and high-resolution WorldView 2 satellite images calibrated with 2 × 2 m plots measured in the field. For each study area, a transition matrix was used to assess spatio-temporal changes of patches and inter-patches, while hydrological and sediment connectivity were evaluated with the index of connectivity (IC). The results showed that the area with vegetated patches has decreased in Cerro de San Pedro and Villa de la Paz, leading to increased hydrological and sediment connectivity related to mining infrastructure and urbanization. The results can be used to prioritize areas for restoring ecohydrological functioning by reducing the connectivity of runoff sources.

Innovative solutions for coastal and offshore infrastructure in seawater mining: Enhancing efficiency and environmental performance

Climate change has prompted an increasing focus on responsible resource recovery, environmental sustainability, and the need for resilient infrastructure. Using a comprehensive review of literature and case studies, this article examines the design, impact, and resilience of coastal and offshore infrastructure for sustainable seawater mining. The findings reveal that: the integration of innovative engineering solutions improves operational efficiency and sustainability in coastal and offshore infrastructure for seawater mining; effective mitigation strategies lead to enhanced ecosystem health and water quality; resilient infrastructure incorporating adaptive design, nature-based solutions, and multi-hazard risk assessments increases the capacity to withstand climate change and sea-level rise impacts; incorporating sustainable practices positively contributes to overall sustainability and environmental performance. This research provides insights into the design, impact, and resilience of coastal and offshore infrastructure for sustainable seawater mining. It extends existing knowledge by presenting case studies and identifying managerial and policy implications. The originality of this research lies in its holistic approach, considering engineering solutions, environmental considerations, and resilience strategies, while emphasizing the importance of sustainability in seawater mining infrastructure.

Prospects for mathematical modeling in mining system development: accounting for global oscillations and seismic waves

The article discusses the potential of mathematical modeling in understanding the impact of vibrations and seismic waves, aiming at enhancing the sustainability of systems within the mining industry. It explores the dynamic response of a tall, elastic structure with a uniform cross-section and a fixed cylindrical fluid reservoir, subject to various complex boundary conditions. The study delves into the vibrational behavior of the structure when exposed to seismic and harmonic forces, calculating frequency, vibration periods, and deriving formulas for stress, tension, deformation, bending moments, and shear forces in different parts of the structure through both theoretical and experimental approaches. Additionally, the article derives the differential equation for the free oscillation of a tall hydraulic structure in pure bending with an incorporated mass load under appropriate boundary conditions, identifying specific vibration frequencies and periods. The forced vibration scenario is also examined, focusing on the structure's foundation movement due to external harmonic forces. Numerical computation technology is utilized to analyze the change laws of principal quantities that describe both free and forced vibrational movements of the hydraulic structure, showcasing the applicability of these models in predicting and mitigating the effects of seismic activities on mining infrastructure.

Renovation of the retention bunker lining on the example of the Mysłowice-Wesoła coal mine

The scientific article focuses on the analysis, renovation and modernization of the retention bunker No. 4 at the 465 m level in the Mysłowice-Wesoła coal mine complex. This bunker, a key part of the mining infrastructure, has an important function in the coal mining process, accumulating output before its further transport to the surface. During a regular inspection of the bunker, significant damage was found in the form of defects on the lining, caused by the impacts of the output flow. Repair efforts required a comprehensive approach, including the use of rope access techniques (industrial mountaineering) for precise damage assessment and repair. The research and repair work included the installation of rappelling stations, rope access rappelling, non-destructive testing, bolting, concrete encasement of the damage, and other innovative repair techniques. Careful adaptation of operations to underground conditions and precise planning of logistics and repair work were key to successfully restoring the bunker’s stability and functionality. An analysis of the renovation process reveals the comprehensiveness of the measures, covering both the north and south sides of the bunker. The use of bolting, steel mesh, and innovative approaches allowed for the successful repair of damage. The ultimate success of the renovation helped minimize the risk of further damage and restore the integrity of the No. 4 retention bunker. The article also highlights the often-downplayed role of bunker in mining infrastructure, arguing that despite having ready-made longwalls and roadways, the absence of a functional bunker makes a coal mining system incomplete.

Block method of excavation with backfilling the excavated space of the Bor River deposit

The position of deposits and ore bodies for the underground mining in the underground mine Jama Bor, in relation to the terrain surface, old works of the Jama and Open Pit in Bor, and in relation to the mining infrastructure limits the selection of excavation methods with the applied technologies up to now. This paper presents the block method of excavation with backfilling the excavated space with the paste backfill of the Bor River deposit.

Increasing the Efficiency of Diagnostics in the Brush-Commutator Assembly of a Direct Current Electric Motor

Increasing the productivity and reliability of mining infrastructure facilities is an important task in achieving future goals. Mining dump trucks are an important part of coal mine infrastructure. In this article, to determine the reliability indicators in a brush–commutator unit and the residual life of electric motor brushes, a mathematical model for processing statistical data has been developed, which allows for the classification of types of failures and, unlike existing models, the determination of the life of the brushes according to the maximum extent of their wear. A method for predicting the residual life of an electric brush in a DC electric motor is presented, which contains a list of controlled reliability indicators, included a mathematical model. The described model improves the accuracy of the prediction and detection of DC motor failures. The derivation of the general formula for calculating the residual life of electric brushes is given. Based on the proposed mathematical model, we studied and calculated the reliability of the brush–commutator unit, the minimum height of the brush during operation, the average rate of its wear, the standard deviation and the mathematical expectation of brush wear. A nomogram of the failure-free operation time of the brush–commutator unit in a DC electric motor was modeled using the height of the brush during operation. Output parameters after the implementation of this monitoring system include the reliability of the electric motor operation. At the same time, diagnostic characteristics are improved twofold, and the residual life of the brush-switching unit is increased by 28–30%.

Load–Displacement Behaviour and a Parametric Study of Hybrid Rubberised Concrete Double-Skin Tubular Columns

Rubberised concrete has emerged as a material of interest to the research community with the mission of creating sustainable structural members and decreasing the burden of waste tyre rubber. The potential benefits of replacing natural aggregates with rubber particles to obtain greater energy absorption and ductility are proven in the literature. To negate the reduction in capacity due to the addition of rubber particles, single- and double-skin confinements were proposed and successfully tested by researchers. Hybrid rubberised double-skin tubular columns (RuDSTCs) were recently trialled and tested by the authors. Each of these hybrid RuDSTCs had a filament-wound carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) outer tube and an inner steel tube with rubberised concrete as the sandwich material between the two tubes. To explore the axial behaviour of such a column, this paper develops a finite element modelling strategy and carries out a comprehensive parametric study of the hybrid RuDSTC with 0%, 15%, and 30% combined aggregates replaced with rubber particles. This methodology is validated by experimental results, and a good agreement is found. Hybrid RuDSTC models are developed in four groups with different material and geometric parameters, in addition to those corresponding to the experimentally tested column, to explore the effects of the thickness ratio, hollow ratio, steel tube yield strength, and CFRP tube diameter with a special focus on the transition of the characteristic bilinear stress–strain curve of the hybrid RuDSTCs. The results show the smooth transition of the stress–strain curve with increasing rubber content after the yielding of steel, which indicates better ductility of the rubberised columns. The novel hybrid RuDSTCs can provide a promising sustainable solution with greater capacity compared with their unconfined counterparts. Better strain and enhanced ductility of the hybrid RuDSTCs compared with non-rubberized hybrid DSTCs enable their use in seismic-prone regions and mining infrastructure.

A multiapproach for solving geoarchaeological problems: inferences from Roman gold mining in the Eria Valley (León)

The Eria River valley exhibits one of the largest gold mining complexes in NW Iberia from Roman age. In this study, a geoarchaeological work is presented, combining a multiapproach based on airborne LiDAR remote sensing, descriptive geology and radiocarbon dating. The studied area is characterized by the presence of a mining infrastructure comprised of hydraulic canals driving the water at different levels to the mines. Mining works were associated with Plio Quaternary raña deposits and Quaternary materials consisting of hillside and periglacial deposits, and fluvial terraces. The washing of the gold deposits used the hydraulic force to break up and drag out the sediment, giving rise to three different types of exploitation depending on the characteristics of the different materials. The results shed light on the geological materials exploited and other geographical aspects that conditioned the exploitation techniques. The work contributes to improving the knowledge about Roman gold mining and its geological context in northwest Iberia.

Stochastic Models and Processing Probabilistic Data for Solving the Problem of Improving the Electric Freight Transport Reliability

Improving the productivity and reliability of mining infrastructure is an important task contributing to the mining performance enhancement of any enterprise. Open-pit dump trucks that move rock masses from the mining site to unloading points are an important part of the infrastructure of coal mines, and they are the main transport unit used in the technological cycle during open-pit mining. The failure of any of the mining truck systems causes unscheduled downtime and leads to significant economic losses, which are associated with the need to immediately restore the working state and lost profits due to decreased site productivity and a disruption of the production cycle. Therefore, minimizing the number and duration of unscheduled repairs is a necessity. The most time-consuming operations are the replacement of the diesel engine, traction generator, and traction motors, which requires additional disassembly of the dump truck equipment; therefore, special reliability requirements are imposed on these units. In this article, a mathematical model intended for processing the statistical data was developed to determine the reliability indicators of the brush collector assembly and the residual life of brushes of electric motors, which, unlike existing models, allow the determination of the refined life of the brushes based on the limiting height of their wear. A method to predict the residual life of an electric brush of a DC electric motor is presented, containing a list of controlled reliability indicators that are part of the mathematical model. Using the proposed mathematical model, the reliability of the brush-collector assembly, the minimum height of the brush during operation, and the average rate of its wear were studied and calculated.

Convolutional neural networks for accurate identification of mining remains from UAV-derived images

A new deep learning system is proposed for the rapid and accurate identification of anthropogenic elements of the Roman mining infrastructure in NW Iberia, providing a new approach for automatic recognition of different mining elements without the need for human intervention or implicit subjectivity. The recognition of archaeological and other abandoned mining elements provides an optimal test case for decision-making and management in a broad variety of research fields. A new image dataset was created by obtaining UAV images from different anthropic features. A convolutional neural network architecture was implemented, achieving recognition results of close to 95% accuracy. This methodological approach is suitable for the identification and accurate location of ancient mines and hydrologic infrastructure, providing new tools for accurate mapping of mining landforms. Additionally, this novel application of deep learning can be implemented to reduce potential risks caused by abandoned mines, which can cause significant annual human and economic losses worldwide.