Quarry Mining Research Articles

Influence of tire temperature conditions on the capacity of quarry dump trucks operated in JSC "CC Kuzbassrazrezugol"

More than 50-60% of minerals in Russia and the CIS countries are mined in an open-pit or in mining quarry, as it is the most economical and productive. JSC "CC Kuzbassrazrezugol" ranks second in terms of total coal production among the regions of the Russian Federation and first in Kuzbass. Quarry dump trucks are the main mode of technological transport when transporting mined rock. An important task facing road transport is to reduce the cost of transported products. The components of the costs include fuel, tires, maintenance and repair, maintenance of roads and others. It is possible to reduce tires costs by controlling tires life. Most often, thermal damage causes the emergency decommissioning of tires. It is possible to maintain the optimal temperature regime of quarry dump truck tires with the help of operating modes such as load capacity utilization factor and speed, as well as operating conditions such as ambient temperature and longitudinal slope of the road. In turn, the performance of quarry dump trucks directly depends on the operating modes. On the one hand, the growing utilization factor of load capacity and speed increase the productivity of quarry dump trucks, but at the same time this increases the temperature regime and reduces their reliability. This article proposes a methodology for determining the maximum productivity of quarry dump trucks operated in CC Kuzbassrazrezugol taking into account the temperature regime of tires.

Пылевидная фракция гранитов, мигматитов, мраморизированных известняков, офиокальцитов как носитель наноразмерных частиц пыли

In this work, we will discuss the study the dispersed composition stone dust such industrial objects as deposits migmatites, granites, marbleized limestone and ophiocalcites. The dust-like fraction the listed rocks is considered and evaluated as a micro-sized and nanosized component their structure formation. The main regularities of the formation nano- and microdust particles have been determined by the method membrane filtration. The most promising feature membrane filtration for the separation of professional (stone) dust mining quarries has been developed, which must be taken into account when developing a technology for processing raw materials, when separating particles into fractions for further use in the production the final product, when standardizing and qualitatively assessing the effect a nanosized fraction on the human body and environment. As a result the experiments carried out, the dispersed composition the rocks extracted at the quarries raw materials in the Irkutsk region was analyzed. The percentage particles with dimensions from 0.05 to 10 microns in the studied samples of professional dust was determined. The presence nanosized particles in them was confirmed, which, in turn, are the carrier a negative component, which can be considered from the point view industrial safety and health protection miners as a factor in the development such occupational diseases.

The concept of controlling the unmanned vehicles in open pit mining

Introduction. The article presents the results of studies related to the description of the synthesis and further analysis of the dynamic behavior of unmanned vehicles (UMV) operating in coal-mining pits and other mining quarries. The urgency of the discussed study is dictated by the need to create safe and effective conditions for stripping / mining and transportation operations. This is ensured, among other things, by the operation of unmanned heavy-duty dump cars. Research aim is to develop the concept for the formation of route parameters and models of the movement dynamics of vehicles along technological routes. Methodology. The paper describes the technology for generating and processing the signals in control subsystems as parts of both the computer-aided dispatching system and the on-board autonomous ISSN 0536-1028 «Известия вузов. Горный журнал», № 8, 2020 119 control subsystem of the UMV. The methods used in the research include the study of the forms and characteristics of current trajectories (CT) in relation to a nominal axial trajectory (NAT). In this case, a current trajectory of the UMV is considered within the framework of the so-called S-frames, which are generated in the form of geolocations on a working route of the UMV from the mining face to the place of unloading and vice versa. As a variable characterizing the behavior of the UMV on a current trajectory, a 1D-signal with a time-dependent frequency is adopted, the nature of the change of which is determined by the dynamic shape of a CT with regard to the NAT. Results. Such chirp-signals, together with the wavelet transform apparatus introduced into consideration, allow in a semantically transparent and information-rich video graphic form to represent and subject to further processing the signals characterizing a certain UMV current behavior on the route. The obtained parameters of such secondary wavelet representations of the UMV current dynamics (wavelet maps) are further planned to be used in the subsystem for dynamic modal controlling the UMV movement in the opencast mine. Conclusions. The results of the research allow us to form current routes of UMVs movement according to the models based on the analytical tools accompanying the dynamics of the UMV, proposed in the work.

Practical application of surveying methods for determination of volume quarry mining

Nowadays, various types of geodetic measuring instruments are available in surveying. When conducting a survey of a terrain, surveyor must choose a survey method that is capable of providing high precision measurements. In the surveying process, it is possible to use the following measurement methods - tachymetric survey method, positioning method and remote sensing method. Each of the methods produces data formats that can be used further for volume calculations. The paper analyses the volume differences that are obtained when using various survey methods and volume calculation programs to obtain the surface model. The use of such a tool is important for useful mineral miners, so that surveyors make qualitative surveys and obtain accurate and reliable volumes. Useful minerals miners are required to report annually on their mining volume for a specified period. The useful minerals miners shall at all times keep records of the quantities of minerals actually extracted. Regardless of the type of accounting, topographic surveying and the calculation of volumes, if mineral is extracted in mineral deposits of national importance, more than 50 000 m3, are required (Augstas detalizācijas topogrāfiskās…, 2012). High-quality and accurate topographic survey is needed to create the most realistic surface model appropriate to the terrain. It is defined that the difference between the volumes obtained from the recording of vehicle loads should not be more than 5% when comparing the result of the mineral extraction from topographic surveys (Derīgo izrakteņu ieguves…, 2012; Noteikumi par valsts…, 2018). Nowadays, various measurement methods can be used to obtain data from which a surface model can be generated, and this model can then be used for volume calculations. The surface model is a set of points where, in addition to plane coordinates (x and y), there is also altitude (z) known (Luukkonen, 2011). Each measurement method has its own different measuring instruments that can be used, each method has its own operating principles, on which the quality and accuracy of the obtained data depends.

A novel soft computing model for predicting blast - induced ground vibration in open - pit mines using gene expression programming

The efforts of this study are to develop and propose a state - of - the - art model for predicting blast - induced ground vibration in open - pit mines with high accuracy anf ability based on the gene expression programming (GEP) technique. 25 blasts were conducted in the Tan Dong Hiep quarry mines with a total of 83 blasting events that were collected for this study. The GEP method was then applied to develop a non - linear equation for predicting blast - induced ground vibration based on a variety of influential parameters. A traditional empirical equation, namely Sadovski, was also applied to compare with the proposed GEP model. The results indicated that the GEP model can predict blast - induced ground vibration in open - pit mines better than the Sadovski model with an RMSE of 0.986 and R2 of 0.867. Meanwhile, the traditional empirical model (Sadovski) only provided an accuracy with an RMSE of 1.850 và R2 of 0.767.

Application of Discriminant Analysis for Avoiding the Risk of Quarry Operation Failure

Activity in the mining industry is based on the profitability principle similar to other business sectors. In the case of stone pits, gravel and sand quarries, it presents a very complex task, mainly due to the fact that the economy of localities is influenced greatly by natural conditions, which cannot be changed. The presented contribution deals with the problem of how mining companies, realizing the surface extraction of construction materials, could be profitable in the future. The main research method of this contribution presents regression and correlation analyses with the goal of determining parameters with a decisive influence on the future economic development of the locality. A complex system of stone pit, gravel and sand quarries demanded discriminant analysis to evaluate individual localities with the goal of dividing them into profitable and not profitable localities. The results of the contribution divide localities of quarry mining among profitable or not profitable, serving for predicting the future development of the company, based on discriminant analysis. The results of maximally possible measures respect assumptions, enabling the correct application of such multivariate statistical methods. A further orientation of the research in an area of model creation for predicting the future development of the company is possible in the application of logistic regression and neuron nets.

Geochemistry of surface waters and weathering effects in the upper catchment of the Ctalamochita River, Cordoba’s Sierras Pampeanas (Central Argentina)

The chemical compositions of waters from the upper basin of the Ctalamochita River draining the Cordoba Pampean Ranges were analyzed to determine the chemical signature related to different forcings, geochemical processes, and solutes sources. The catchment has four sub-basins: Santa Rosa River, Grande River, Quillinzo River and De Los Sauces River. Most of the riverine chemical compositions are dominated by the HCO3−–Ca2+-type to Ca2+–Na+–Mg2+. The specific conductivity is higher in the Santa Rosa and De Los Sauces rivers (347.59 and 409.00 μS/cm, respectively) than in the Grande and Quillinzo rivers (125.56 and 87.54 μS/cm, respectively). Mineral hydrolysis of andesine and oligoclase and the dissolution of calco-magnesian limestone, are the main dissolved solids contributors to the river waters. Higher contribution of bicarbonate ions is associated to those sub-basin having quarry mining activity. Saturation indexes show that the Santa Rosa and De Los Sauces rivers are saturated with calcite, dolomite, and talc.

Effect of Quarrying and Stone Crushing Activities on Nutritional Composition, Heavy Metals and Oxidative Stress Indices of Aspilia africana.

Physiological and biochemical changes in plants are indicators used for monitoring cellular activity of plant prior and post exposure to harsh environment. This study investigated the impact of quarrying and stone crushing activities on heavy metals, plant nutritional composition, phytochemicals and oxidative stress indices of Aspilia africana. Different parts of A. africana were collected from the quarry site and compared to those growing from non-quarry mining environment. The result shows that A. africana from quarry mining site had significant (p<0.05) increase in phenol, tannin, alkaloid, saponin, flavonoid, Mg2+, Na+, Fe2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ levels when compared to that of control site. Ascorbic acid, chlorophyll and Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) level significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the quarry site. The photomicrograph of the A. africana leaves from the quarry site demonstrated a squeezed venial arrangement, necrotized surface, closed stomata and compressed vein. The result suggests that quarrying and stone crushing activities may induce oxidative stress on A. africana. Based on its APTI rating, A. african can be used in the monitoring of air pollution. The results revealed that quarrying and stone crushing activities increased health promoting phytochemicals and some minerals of A. africana growing around the quarry environment.

Effect of Granite Quarry Mining on Chlorophyll Content of Tropical Plants

The research was conducted in the granite mining sites of Kerala to determine the effect of mining on the health of two tropical plants namely Macarangapeltata and Chromolaenaodorata which were common to the area. The area having high amount of particulate matter in the working hours of the quarry. The plants were severely affected by the mining activities. In this study, it was observed that the quarry dust was affecting the Chromolaenaodorata, as it is having chlorophyll lower than the control sites.Chromolaenaodorata present in the quarry sites having retarded growth compared to control site plants. In the case of Macarangapeltata, samples showed higher concentration of chlorophyll than control to cope up with the stress.

A Novel Combination of Whale Optimization Algorithm and Support Vector Machine with Different Kernel Functions for Prediction of Blasting-Induced Fly-Rock in Quarry Mines

This study proposed a novel data-driven model for estimating distance of fly-rock in bench blasting in open-pit mines using a robust combination of the whale optimization algorithm (WOA), support vector machine (SVM) and kernel functions. Four kernel functions were investigated for embedding in the SVM model, including linear (L), radius basis function (RBF), polynomial (P), and hyperbolic tangent (HT) functions. Then, the WOA was applied to optimize the kernel-based SVM models, namely WOA–SVM–L, WOA–SVM–P, WOA–SVM–RBF, and WOA–SVM–HT. A variety of conventional data-driven models were also developed for predicting fly-rock distance, including adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), gradient boosting machine (GBM), random forest (RF), classification and regression tree (CART), and artificial neural network (ANN). The blasting parameters and maximum fly-rock distance, as well as their relationship, were carefully investigated for this aim. The predictive results of the models were evaluated through two performance indices: root-mean-squared error (RMSE) and correlation coefficient (R2). These indices indicated that the linear function-based WOA–SVM model (i.e., WOA–SVM–L) seems to be not fit for predicting fly-rock with the largest error (i.e., RMSE = 9.080 and R2 = 0.937). In contrast, the WOA–SVM–RBF model yielded the highest accuracy in predicting the distance of fly-rock (i.e., RMSE = 5.241, R2 = 0.977). Meanwhile, the WOA–SVM–P and WOA–SVM–HT models provided lower performances than those of the WOA–SVM–RBF model, but they are acceptable. The conventional models (i.e., ANFIS, GBM, RF, CART, and ANN) are pretty well (i.e., RMSE in the range of 5.804 to 6.567; R2 in the range of 0.965 to 0.973); however, their performance is lower than those of the WOA–SVM–RBF model as well. Based on these results, the WOA–SVM model was proposed as a useful data-driven model for predicting fly-rock with high reliability in practical engineering.

Investigation of Dimension Stone on the Island Brač—Geophysical Approach to Rock Mass Quality Assessment

A site located on the island of Brač is known in history for world-famous architectural stone and stone mining, dating all the way back to ancient Greek and Roman times. The most famous building constructed from the stone from Brač is the Diocletian Cesar Palace in the town Split. Prospective new locations for quarries are still required because the demand for the stone from the island is still high. This paper presents a review of undertaken geophysical investigations, as well as engineering geologic site prospection, with the purpose of determining if the rock mass quality is suitable for the mining of massive blocks needed for an architectural purpose—dimension stones. Several surface noninvasive geophysical methods were applied on the site, comprising of two seismic methods, multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) and shallow refraction seismic (SRS) electrical methods of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), as well as electromagnetic exploration with ground penetrating radar (GPR). Results of geophysical investigations were compared to the engineering geologic prospection results, as well to the visible rock mass structure and observed discontinuities on the neighboring existing open mine quarry. Rock mass was classified into three categories according to its suitability for dimension stone exploitation. Each category is defined by compressional and shear seismic velocities as well as electrical resistivity. It has been found that even small changes in moisture content within the large monolithic rock mass can influence measured values of electrical resistivity. In the investigated area, dimension stone quarrying is advisable if the rock mass has values of resistivity higher than 3000 Ωm, as well as compressional seismic velocities higher than 3000 m/s and shear wave velocities higher than 1500 m/s. Georadar was found to be a good tool for the visual determination of fissured systems, and was used to confirm findings from other geophysical methods.

Product lightweight research in green design

The wire sawing machine is a large-scale concrete structure cutting equipment and mining quarrying machine used in the wild, in order to reduce costs and reduce energy consumption during manufacturing, transportation and use, on the premise of ensuring its performance, it is of great significance to explore its lightweight design method. This paper uses a multidisciplinary approach to construct a research method model for product lightweight design, comprehensively considering the aesthetic principles and usability principles of products, combining structural optimization theory and Kansei engineering theory, referencing three points of modeling structure, material selection and usage, through to the two aspects of physical and visual lightweight quantitative evaluation standard to determine the optimal solution for lightweight design. First, use Solidworks to build a three-dimensional model of the wire sawing machine; then, use ANSYS Workbench to perform finite element analysis on the mechanical properties of the frame to confirm it has optimization space of the frame strength; finally, through topology optimization of the frame structure and the design of the machine casing, the weight of the mainframe was reduced by 23%. The physical and visual lightweight results verifies the feasibility of the lightweight design model applied in the product design process and provides a useful reference for the sustainable development of industrial products.

Classification of factors influencing the reliability of the driver-vehicle-road-environment (DVRE) system in the conditions of mountain quarries

The article provides a classification of factors affecting the efficiency of the DVRE system in operating conditions in mountain quarries. A detailed classification of factors affecting the reliability of mining heavy-duty dump trucks operating in mining quarries for such groups of features as design, technological, operational and road-climatic is provided. In addition, the article provides a classification of factors based on controllability. To assess the influence of the stochastic nature of external influences that determine the dynamics of the interaction of the vehicle with the roadway, rational methods based on probability theory are substantiated. Three of them are recommended for an adequate assessment of the influence of external influences on the output indicators of a career heavy-duty dump truck, in particular for evaluating the process of interaction of a vehicle with a roadbed, which is probabilistic in nature. Among the recommended estimation methods are included such as the method of approximating the external load with a periodic function such as a sinusoid with certain values of the amplitude and period of oscillation, the method of expanding the periodic function in Fourier series and the probabilistic-statistical method, which is based on taking into account the action of many random factors characterized by a stable frequency.

Respiratory Symptoms and Diminished Lung Functions Associated with Occupational Dust Exposure Among Iron Ore Mine Workers in Iran.

Background:Dust exposure at quarry mines is inevitable and can result in poor air quality. This research aimed to assess pulmonary symptoms and lung functions of dust-exposed workers at an iron-ore mine in eastern Iran.Methods:An environmental cross-sectional study sampled 174 dust-exposed mine workers and 93 unexposed administrative employees as the reference group. A standardized questionnaire on respiratory symptoms was completed in accordance with recommendations of the American Thoracic Society(ATS). Calibrated spirometer measured Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs). Data were analyzed via SPSS-21, integrating independent samples t-test, Chi-square and linear or logistic-regression models.Results:There was no significant variation between dust-exposed and reference groups in terms of age, weight, height, work experience and the number of smokers (P>0.05). Mean levels of exposure to inhalable and respirable mineral-dust were 15.09±2.34 and 3.45±2.57 mg/m3 respectively. Pulmonary capacities of dust-exposed group were considerably decreased as compared to others (Forced Vital Capacity [FVC] 86.55±13.77 vs. 105.05±21.5; Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second [FEV1] 88.06±16.8 vs. 105.81±21.55; FEV1/FVC 103.03±18.17 vs. 93.3±12.49; and Peak Expiratory Flow [PEF] 89.82±22.58 vs. 98.09±20.60) (P<0.001); with a higher prevalence of cough (P=0.041), wheezing (P=0.032), and dyspnea (P=0.035) among formers. Age along with exposure to respirable-dust significantly reduced FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC. Cigarette consumption attenuated FVC and FEV1 on an average of 5 to 9 units.Conclusion:Controlled occupational dust-exposure is a definitive pre-requisite to reduce respiratory problems among quarry workers, with an explicit consideration towards mineral- mine workers. Modifiable accomplices like smoking and non-compliance of PPEs usage should be amicably resolved.

Developing a New Computational Intelligence Approach for Approximating the Blast-Induced Ground Vibration

Ground vibration induced by blasting operations is an important undesirable effect in surface mines and has significant environmental impacts on surrounding areas. Therefore, the precise prediction of blast-induced ground vibration is a challenging task for engineers and for managers. This study explores and evaluates the use of two stochastic metaheuristic algorithms, namely biogeography-based optimization (BBO) and particle swarm optimization (PSO), as well as one deterministic optimization algorithm, namely the DIRECT method, to improve the performance of an artificial neural network (ANN) for predicting the ground vibration. It is worth mentioning this is the first time that BBO-ANN and DIRECT-ANN models have been applied to predict ground vibration. To demonstrate model reliability and effectiveness, a minimax probability machine regression (MPMR), extreme learning machine (ELM), and three well-known empirical methods were also tested. To collect the required datasets, two quarry mines in the Shur river dam region, located in the southwest of Iran, were monitored, and the values of input and output parameters were measured. Five statistical indicators, namely the percentage root mean square error (%RMSE), coefficient of determination (R2), Ratio of RMSE to the standard deviation of the observations (RSR), mean absolute error (MAE), and degree of agreement (d) were taken into account for the model assessment. According to the results, BBO-ANN provided a better generalization capability than the other predictive models. As a conclusion, BBO, as a robust evolutionary algorithm, can be successfully linked to the ANN for better performance.

Analysis of community understanding on the dangers of quarry mining to the environment: a case study of community forest at Karang Sidemen Village North Batukliang District, Central Lombok

Mining material of quarry (class-C) as one of the activities that utilize natural resources should be able to bringgood impacts to the community economy, but with the understanding of the community that is still said to be low. Some factors such as economic impetus, ignorance aspect, personal interests, political elements, the usage, the quarry brings more negative impact. This is due to the fact thatthere are no clear rules and no boundaries in operatingthe mining process. Reclamation is very difficult to do. The purpose of this research is to explain to the community ofthe dangers posed byquarry to the environment of thecommunity forest at Karang Sidemen Village North Batukliang District, Central Lombok. This research uses qualitative method of research and uses three methods of data collection, namely observation method, interviews, and documentation conducted in the village. This research uses four stages of data analysis, namely data collection, data reduction, display or presentation, and data verification. Theresults show that the understanding of the people about the dangers of class-C mining to the environment of the community forest in the village of Karang Sidemen is still low, due to low education level and based on economic drive factor.

Forecasting of atmospheric air pollution rates from drilling and blasting operations on iron mining quarries

Forecasting of atmospheric air pollution rates from drilling and blasting operations on iron mining quarries

Soil structure of sand quarries territory

Anthropogenic activities are one of the leading factors of soil differentiation. Significant changes in the soil cover occur as a result of the construction of quarries. The mining industry causes the complete degradation of soils in large areas, the change of the natural soil cover and elevation around the quarries, the destruction of vegetation, disturbs biodiversity of the territory and the death of ecosystems. Soil cover structures of mining quarries have been considered on the example of the Leningrad region such as a natural conditions and environmental peculiarities typical for the whole Russian North-West area. Decoding and diagnostic signs of anthropogenic transformed soils were determined. The type and degree of transformation of the component composition, the contrast and heterogeneity of the soil cover, intercomponent connections, the shape and figure of the internal organization of the of soil cover structures have been identified. The complexity of the anthropogenic transformed soils cover is illustrated by “key site”.

Assessment of occupational risks of employees engaged in open-pit mining

Currently, Uzbekistan is in the process of legislation modernization, primarily in matters of labor protection and industrial safety. Modernization consists in the transition from a previously existing ineffective system focused on compensation payments to a modern system based on preventive approaches, which imply continuous improvement of work conditions. The aim of this work is to analyze the legislation in the field of labor protection management, obliging employers to proceed to occupational risks assessment and their management, as well as the assessment of occupational risks for miners, working under the influence of harmful and dangerous production factors during gold mining in the quarry, and the development of measures to reduce them. The possible reasons for the discrepancy with the stated requirements of the physical factors of the miners working environment when performing work in gold mining quarries are analyzed. It has been established that professional risks for personnel are classified as high and medium and it is necessary to carry out organizational and technical measures to minimize them.

Causes, Impact of Noises with Remedies in Rathinamangalam, Tamilnadu, India

The noise pollution is one of the slow killer and The pollution level increasing day by day mostly in Industrial areas, heavy traffic, markets, theatre, and etc., mainly in metropolitan cities and municipalities in the developing countries. In this research study the noise pollution analysis in quarry mining area was carried out in Rathinamangalam, Tamilnadu, India. Further, the causes of Noise Impact was also studied and analyzed. Mainly the health effects were studied. The measurement of sound was made by Sound level meter for period of one year the impact of pollution was also observed on the biotic components. The noise pollution in the very close vicinity of quarry site was higher than the prescribed guidelines especially in the sensitive and residential zone areas. The noise pollution sampling was carried at different seasons, timings and the results are tabulated and compared With Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines. Suitable remedial Measures also suggested for controlling the same.