Small Mining Research Articles

Poor Man's Fortune: White Working-Class Conservatism in American Metal Mining, 1850–1950

Poor Man's Fortune: White Working-Class Conservatism in American Metal Mining, 1850–1950

Speciation Modelling of Cyanide in Effluent from Small Scale Gold Mining in Southern Ecuador

Speciation Modelling of Cyanide in Effluent from Small Scale Gold Mining in Southern Ecuador

Research on Personalized Recommendation of Higher Education Resources Based on Multidimensional Association Rules

The personalized recommendation method of higher education resources currently cannot carry out multidimensional association analysis of learners, situations, and resources and cannot extract accurate resources for learners, resulting in a large error. This study constructs a personalized recommendation method for higher education resources based on multidimensional association rules. This algorithm clarifies the multidimensional association rules, extracts the key data from massive educational resources, and groups the same kind of data by using a frequent itemset algorithm for mining association rules, namely, the Apriori algorithm. Combined with traditional data mining technology, this study constructs a new personalized recommendation model for education resources based on multidimensional association rules, which achieves the accurate extraction of higher education resources and ensures the matching degree between learners and resources. The experimental results show that the personalized recommendation model of educational resources in this study effectively makes up for the disadvantages of the traditional data mining algorithms, with a small root mean square error and short data mining time, within 20 ms.

The “Bitcoin Generator” Scam

The “Bitcoin Generator Scam” (BGS) is a cyberattack in which scammers promise to provide victims with free cryptocurrencies in exchange for a small mining fee. In this paper, we present a data-driven system to detect, track, and analyze the BGS. It works as follows: we first formulate search queries related to BGS and use search engines to find potential instances of the scam. We then use a crawler to access these pages and a classifier to differentiate actual scam instances from benign pages. Last, we automatically monitor the BGS instances to extract the cryptocurrency addresses used in the scam. A unique feature of our system is that it proactively searches for and detects the scam pages. Thus, we can find addresses that have not yet received any transactions.Our data collection project spanned 16 months, from November 2019 to February 2021. We uncovered more than 8,000 cryptocurrency addresses directly associated with the scam, hosted on over 1,000 domains. Overall, these addresses have received around 8.7 million USD, with an average of 49.24 USD per transaction.Over 70% of the active addresses that we are capturing are detected before they receive any transactions, that is, before anyone is victimized. We also present some post-processing analysis of the dataset that we have captured to aggregate attacks that can be reasonably confidently linked to the same attacker or group.Our system is one of the first academic feeds to the APWG eCrime Exchange database. It has been actively and automatically feeding the database since November 2020.

Research on Application of Fully Mechanized Caving Mining Technology in Small Coal Mine with Three Soft and Unstable Seams

Research on Application of Fully Mechanized Caving Mining Technology in Small Coal Mine with Three Soft and Unstable Seams

Mechanical Mechanism Analysis of Roof Fracture Evolution in Stope with Variable Length Based on Elastic-Plastic Structure Theory

Stope with variable length is formed by length change of mining face due to the irregular distribution of geological rock pillars, which is a typical representative of complex coal seam mining. According to the geometric characteristics and mechanical boundaries of each mining stage of stope with variable length, the roof structure models with four boundary conditions were established and solved successively by using the small deflection thin plate bending theory. Combined with the simulated images of MATLAB and FLAC3D, the fracture laws and corresponding engineering phenomena were analyzed. According to the characteristics of roof rock pressure zoning, the overburden structure pressure model of “three stopes, three areas, and three structures” is constructed. The research shows that the traditional “O-X” fracture occurs in the roof of small mining stope. For the cracks generated by prolonged “O-X” fracture and drift “O-X” fracture in mutative mining stope are similar to the crack development characteristics of large mining stope, so they are integrated into full-scale mining stope. The full-scale mining stope roof is broken in “X-O” shape, and the crack continues to develop to produce extended fracture, forming the roof fracture theory of “two stopes and two laws.” The research conclusion strongly reveals the failure law of roof from tension instability to plastic fracture and abnormal ground pressure during mining in stope with variable length. It provides a basis for exploring the essence of overburden migration in stope with variable length and strengthening the roof prevention and control theory under the occurrence conditions of deep complex coal seams.

Mercury Pollution from Small Scale Gold Mines in Agricultural Lands

Abstract Small scale gold mines widely spread in developing countries, including Indonesia. Most miners use mercury (Hg) in an amalgamation process to separate gold from its ores. This process produces a waste as mercury-containing slurries which is eventually discharged to surrounding water streams, potentially creating ecosystem pollution. If the polluted water is used for irrigation to surrounding ricefields, mercury may stay and accumulate in streambed sediments and irrigated soils and enter the food chain, including human consumption. This research was aimed to assess pollution potential in stream water and ricefields surrounding small scale gold mines in Lebong District, Bengkulu, Indonesia. This research was conducted from November to December 2018. Field activities included collecting 9 water samples, 6 sediment samples, 3 soil samples, and 3 plant samples in different locations. Laboratory analysis were carried out at the Soil Science Laboratory, University of Bengkulu, Bengkulu and the Integrated Research and Testing Laboratory (LPPT) Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The results showed that all water, streambed sediment, soil, water, and plant tissue samples contained mercury and most of their concentrations exceeded the threshold values. The highest Hg concentrations were found 58.19, 16.85, and 15.44 ppm the streambed sediments, rice plants, and ricefield soils respectively, while a relatively lower Hg (0.044 ppm) was found in the stream water.

Environmental Sustainability and Supply Resilience of Cobalt

Cobalt (Co) is an essential metal for the development of energy-transition technologies, decarbonising transportation, achieving several sustainable development goals, and facilitating a future net zero transition. However, the supply of Co is prone to severe fluctuation, disruption, and price instabilities. This review aims to identify the future evolution of Co supply through technologically resilient and environmentally sustainable pathways. The work shows that advances in both primary and secondary sources, Co mining methods and recycling systems are yet to be fully optimised. Moreover, responsible sourcing from both large mines and small artisanal mines will be necessary for a resilient Co supply. Regulatory approaches may increase transparency, support local mining communities, and improve secondary Co recovery. Novel Co supply options, such as deep-sea mining and bio-mining of tailings, are associated with major techno-economic and environmental issues. However, a circular economy, keeping Co in the economic loop for as long as possible, is yet to be optimised at both regional and global scales. To achieve environmental sustainability of Co, economic incentives, regulatory push, and improved public perception are required to drive product innovation and design for circularity. Although the complexity of Co recycling, due to lack of standardisation of design and chemistry in batteries, is an impediment, a sustainable net zero transition using Co will only be possible if a reliable primary supply and a circular secondary supply are established.

Wildlife visitation at abandoned mines

AbstractAbandoned mines provide habitat for bats, but their importance to other wildlife is less understood. This descriptive study was designed to answer the following questions with an emphasis on carnivores: are wildlife species other than bats visiting abandoned mines, is wildlife entering abandoned mines, does wildlife visitation at abandoned mines differ seasonally, and does wildlife visitation differ at individual mines? To address these questions, we monitored 50 abandoned mines using remote cameras in the northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado, USA, for 25,201 camera days from May 2017 to August 2020. We monitored mines in 2 phases. During phase 1 (May 2017–May 2019), we monitored 30 randomly selected mines to gather baseline data on carnivore visitation and to model carnivore visitation. During phase 2 (May 2019–August 2020), we monitored 27 mines to test the visitation model and to determine if carnivores visited multiple mines as they traveled across the landscape. We observed >48 species of vertebrates at mines, including 11 of 14 carnivore species known to occur in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Carnivores ranged in size from ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) to American black bears (Ursus americanus). Pumas (Puma concolor) visited mines most frequently and we observed pairs of adult pumas entering mines, presumably during courtship and mating. We also observed American black bears, pumas, and common gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) visiting and entering mines with young. Carnivores visited mines at low levels throughout the year and visitation differed by season, temperature, and carnivore species, size, and family. Our most parsimonious generalized linear models identified mine elevation, entrance (portal) size, land cover type, tree cover, and aspect as significant predictors of visitation. Our top models explained ≥78% of the variation in carnivore visits and indicated that carnivores in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains were most likely to visit small horizontal mines at lower elevations in dense piñon (Pinus edulis)—juniper (Juniperus sp.) woodlands. We encourage resource managers to monitor abandoned mines for ≥1 year prior to closing or gating mines to understand which wildlife species might be affected by closures.

Women in Artisanal and Small Scale Mining Uganda: Regulation, Barriers and Benefits

This study gives an overview of women in artisanal and small scale mining in Uganda (ASM). It sheds light on regulatory framework while citing the barrier and benefits. In summary the finding of the study are namely; - (i) Many studies describe how male dominated the mining industry is. - (ii) Women play a significant role in ASM, however, much of their work takes place illegally. In Africa alone ASM workforce comprises of 40-50 % women. - (iii) Although many women work in ASM, the exact number of women involved in remains largely unknown. - (iv) ASM is a source of livelihood and has other social economic benefits for many women and in poor rural families in Uganda. - (v) The study reveals key barriers that women in ASM face and suggest what can be done to make it more gender responsive.

Kebijakan Pemerintah Kabupaten Gunung Mas Dalam Pengendalian Kerusakan Lingkungan Pertambangan Emas Skala Kecil

This study is to determine the policies of the Gunung Mas Regency Government regarding Small-Scale Gold Mining in Tanjung Riu Village, to know the factors that cause small-scale gold mining activities, knowing the social impacts that occur, knowing the policies of the Gunung Mas Regency Government. This research is a qualitative descriptive study using the purposive sampling technique. The research was conducted in Tanjung Riu Village, Kurun District, Gunung Mas Regency, Central Kalimantan Province, from August to September 2019. The variables observed included (1) Economic Factors, (2) Social and Cultural Factors, (3) Government policy in implementing Community Mining Areas (WPR). The results showed that the factors causing small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Tanjung Riu Village were economic factors with a percentage of 92.7%. The social impact resulting from Small Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) activities is the circulation of illegal drugs by 64.23%. The Gunung Mas Regency government policy regarding Small-Scale Gold Mining (PESK) is granting People's Mining Permits (IPR) and managed through the Gunung Mas Perkasa Regional Company. The community obeys government regulations by not working illegally.

FactSeg: Foreground Activation-Driven Small Object Semantic Segmentation in Large-Scale Remote Sensing Imagery

The small object semantic segmentation task is aimed at automatically extracting key objects from high-resolution remote sensing (HRS) imagery. Compared with the large-scale coverage areas for remote sensing imagery, the key objects, such as cars and ships, in HRS imagery often contain only a few pixels. In this article, to tackle this problem, the foreground activation (FA)-driven small object semantic segmentation (FactSeg) framework is proposed from perspectives of structure and optimization. In the structure design, FA object representation is proposed to enhance the awareness of the weak features in small objects. The FA object representation framework is made up of a dual-branch decoder and collaborative probability (CP) loss. In the dual-branch decoder, the FA branch is designed to activate the small object features (activation) and suppress the large-scale background, and the semantic refinement (SR) branch is designed to further distinguish small objects (refinement). The CP loss is proposed to effectively combine the activation and refinement outputs of the decoder under the CP hypothesis. During the collaboration, the weak features of the small objects are enhanced with the activation output, and the refined output can be viewed as the refinement of the binary outputs. In the optimization stage, small object mining (SOM)-based network optimization is applied to automatically select effective samples and refine the direction of the optimization while addressing the imbalanced sample problem between the small objects and the large-scale background. The experimental results obtained with two benchmark HRS imagery segmentation datasets demonstrate that the proposed framework outperforms the state-of-the-art semantic segmentation methods and achieves a good tradeoff between accuracy and efficiency. Code will be available at: <uri>http://rsidea.whu.edu.cn/FactSeg.htm</uri>

Análise da atividade neoextrativista da mineração de ouro no estado do Amapá (2000-2020)

On the one hand, the withdrawal of natural resources from the subsoil has been defended as an important generator of foreign exchange and as a mechanism for economic growth. On the other hand, those responsible (environmentalists and / or affected groups) highlight their environmental and social impacts, their inability to promote local development and to generate benefits for localities and those responsible. Based on these considerations, the objective of the paper is an analysis of the impacts of the neo-extractive mining activity in the state of Amapá, particularly the extraction of gold. Therefore, the pertinent bibliography of the area is read, with the support of a database (RAISG, SIGMINE-ANM, among others). To illustrate this situation, we can base our analysis on several projects that already exist in Amapá, either in the legal sphere (mining companies) or by illegal mining (artisanal and small scale mining), as we can see in the maps generated. They highlight what already exists in legal mining (authoritative titles) and expectations (about the right to mine, which are represented by the requirements). Thus, it is observed that the socioenvironmental impacts arising from the neo-extractive activity of minerals favor the deforestation of protected areas and / or indigenous territories, particularly due to the illegal mining that crosses the borders of the state of Amapá (French Guiana and Suriname), the which makes it possible to observe that, despite the legal framework, the neo-extractive mining activity is responsible for favoring a degradation of the Amazonian biome, with the presence of land grabbing, the creation of highways, in addition to affecting the traditional mode.

Dynamics of artisanal gold mining in Gashaka local government area of Taraba State, Nigeria

Despite the fact that gold has been mined in Gashaka, Taraba State for over a century and has continued to present day in the area, not much is known about this activity and its associated environmental impact in the state. This study therefore, examines the dynamics of artisanal small scale gold mining activities in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design approach which involves the use of direct fieldwork observation and interview of key informants. The findings of the study reveals that alluvial gold is mined along the streams and farmlands on the floodplains in the area. The gold exists as alluvial gold dust and nugget gold. The artisanal gold mining activity is carried out with rudimentary materials such as pickaxes, diggers, shovels, spades, pans and water pumps. Some of the local mining communities are Gayam, Jamtari, Karamti, Serti, Goje, Bodel, Mayo Jim, Bashishir, Kurr and Garbabi. The 3 major methods employed by artisanal gold miners in the study area include panning method, use of locally constructed devices and picking of gold nuggets or crystals from dug pit on the floodplain. The artisanal gold miners use sulphuric acid and white mercury in purifying the collected gold. The miners do not use any protective gears such as face masks, rubber gloves, leather boots or head coverings in the mining process. All golds collected from the mining activities are sold in the town (Serti/Baruwa). There is a ready market with both local buyers residing in the town and distant buyers coming from different parts of the country. Artisanal gold mining is an important livelihood activity in the study area despite the fact that many of them are carried out illegally. Based on the findings, the study recommended the establishment of a goldsmith industry, improvement in security in the local communities and organizing the artisanal gold miners into cooperative organizations.

Assessment of dissolved mercury by diffusive gradients in thin films devices in abandoned ponds impacted by small scale gold mining

In order to fulfil the Minamata Convention on Mercury, it is necessary to monitor the Hg contamination in freshwater ecosystems nearby artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM) areas. Since most of these ASGM communities are located in remote areas, a convenient method for sampling, preserving and transporting samples is needed. In this study we evaluated the feasibility of the diffusive gradient in thin-films (DGT) technique to detect and quantify the labile fraction of Hg and other metals (Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, Mn and Cr) in a hard-to-reach gold mining district in the state of Chocó, Colombia. We deployed DGT at sampling sites along the Atrato river and abandoned mining ponds (AMPs) which were deserted in different periods since 1997 to 2019 (6–15 years). In average, the labile THg concentrations in AMPs (148.9 ± 43.2 ng L−1) were a 50% higher than in the river water (99.9 ± 37.4 ng L−1). In the ponds, no significant differences were found in labile Hg with respect abandonment period. Labile Ni (0.9–493.1), Mn (1.33–11.48), Cu (0.030–2.233), and Zn (0.67–10.29) (in μg L−1) were found in higher amounts than for the rest of metals. Labile concentrations of metals are related with their downstream proximity to gold mining activities, being higher in devices deployed close to ASGM sites. Moreover, this study demonstrates the feasibility of the DGT technique to sample, transport, storage, and preserve labile Hg from hard-to-reach ASGM areas.

SWOT Analysis in Determining Environmental Risk Management Strategy in Medium Scale Nickel Laterite Mining (Case Study in PT Rohul Energi Indonesia)

Nickel is an essential metal in modern infrastructure, with significant uses in the stainless-steel industry for less than 65%. Nearly 70% of the world’s nickel laterite production comes from Indonesia and the Philippines. The high demand for nickel-based materials globally and the availability of nickel laterite ore in Indonesia make laterite nickel mining in Indonesia inevitable. Medium and small mining companies are more likely to have a more significant impact on the environment than large companies. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the implementation of environmental risk and impact management, and develop a company strategy. The research was conducted by qualitative method, namely by descriptive analysis and SWOT analysis. The data was collected in interview text, questionnaire results, field notes, documentation, photos, and videos. SWOT is one of the methods to analyze the strategy of an organization by identifying and measuring strengths and weaknesses, and opportunities and threats of the organization. Result is obtained score 3.77 (the X-axis), and 0.34 (the Y-axis) and will be plotted into a quadrant graph of the SWOT analysis method. The research resulted in PT. REI is in quadrant I. Therefore, the strategy would be utilizing the strengths and opportunities of the organization.

The impacts of gold mining on the welfare of local farmers in Asutifi-North District in Ghana: A quantitative and multi-dimensional approach

Farming is the major economic activity of the people in the Asutifi-North District of Ghana however, farmers in this District are mainly characterized by small-farm holdings of less than 3 acres per farmer as a result of shrinking agricultural land due to increasing small and large-scale mining in the District. Currently, mining has become the major competitor to farming in terms of land-use conversion within the District. Though mining activities have led to several land-use conversions, little or no studies have been done in that regard. Studies over the years have focused on the environmental impacts of mining with less emphasis on the impacts of mining on farmers' welfare. This paper examines the factors influencing farmers' participation in land-use conversion for mining, its impacts on farmers' welfare, and the criteria of compensation given to affected farmers by the large-scale mine. Multi-staged sampling comprising both purposive and random sampling techniques was employed to gather data from 300 farmers in 5 mining communities in the district. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Heckman two-stage model involving the Probit and OLS equations. Results indicate that variables such as farmer's age, sex, distance from household to farm, farmer's experience, total land size, and distance to the nearest access road were factors that influenced farmers' decision to participate in land-use conversion. Also, participants of land-use conversion had an annual income of (GH₵ 189)-$31.68 more than the non-participants however, their incomes are not sustainable hence compelling them into illegal mining. This paper has a guiding significance for policy decision making for gold mining in Ghana.

Zoning Control Technology of Gob-Side Roadway Driving with Small Coal Pillar Facing Mining in a Special Isolated Island Working Face: A Case Study

The gob-side roadway in an isolated island working face is a typical representative of a strong mining roadway, which seriously restricts the efficient and safe production of underground coal mines. With the engineering background of the main transportation roadway 1513 (MTR 1513) of the Xinyi Coal Mine, this paper introduces the engineering case of gob-side roadway driving with small coal-pillar facing mining in an isolated island working face under the alternate mining of wide and narrow working faces. Through comprehensive research methods, we studied zoning disturbance deformation characteristics and stress evolution law of gob-side roadway driving under face mining. Based on the characteristics of zoning disturbance, MTR 1513 is divided into three zones, which are the heading face mining zone, the mining influenced zone, and the mining stability zone. A collaborative control technology using pressure relief and anchoring is proposed, and the differentiated control method is formed for the three zones. For the heading face mining zone, the control method of anchoring first and then pressure relief is adopted; for the mining influenced zone, the control idea of synchronous coordination of pressure relief and anchorage is adopted; for the mining stability zone, the control method of anchoring without pressure relief is adopted. Engineering practices show that the disturbance influence distance of working face 1511 on MTR 1513 changes from 110 m advanced to 175 m delay. At this time, the surrounding rock deformation is effectively controlled, which verified the rationality of the division and the feasibility of three zoning control technology. The research results can provide reference for gob-side roadway driving with small coal pillar facing mining in a special isolated island working face.

‘The whole of Shirebrook got put on an ASBO’: The co-production of territorial stigma in a former colliery town

This paper draws on data collected from a multimethod ethnographic study to contribute to debates on the production of territorial stigmatisation through the analysis of Shirebrook, UK: a small post-industrial mining town in Derbyshire, which now houses the distribution centre and warehouse of Sports Direct, recently the subject of high-profile scrutiny in the UK over working conditions. Combining semi-structured interviews, participant observation and the analysis of documentary sources, I argue that the territorial stigmatisation of Shirebrook does not emanate from a single source. Rather, multiple institutions and agents converge in the co-production of stigma. The analysis draws attention to local antagonisms and hierarchies in the production of stigma, demonstrating how relatively powerful actors ‘below’ do not simply resist or deflect stigma onto less powerful others, but influence the way that territorial stigma operates, problematising Wacquant's top-down conceptualisation.

Resistance to mining and adaptation of Indonesia farmer's household to economic vulnerability of small scale sand mining activities

ABSTRACT This research describes how agriculture-based villages have changed due to small sand mining (artisanal) activities: the social meaning or social representation of the mining existence, how much it contributes to household income, and community resistance forms, including how the farming community adapts to the vulnerability. To analyze various quantitative data related to social representation, we used Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to explain community acceptance of the mining activities. Qualitative data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive analysis, while four-quadrant analysis was employed in analyzing mining development, resistance, and community adaptation to vulnerability. The findings show that the shift in the village economy from agriculture to mining has been driven more by the government's massive infrastructure development policy since 1990 that sand mining has become an integral part of people's social lives, and people become so dependent on it. It has resulted in split public opinion regarding the mining activities. The people's contradictory views on mining have caused community resistance to be closed and cultural, not open and structural, that mining activities do not face many obstacles. As a result, their adaptation strategy to vulnerability is dominated by short-term reactive strategies rather than long-term anticipations to stabilise livelihoods. The current research illustrates that sand mining is inherent in the social system and harms the environment and social sustainability, especially on the community's weak opposition and low adaptability.