Surface Mining Operations Research Articles

Monitoring Aeolian Erosion from Surface Coal Mines in the Mongolian Gobi Using InSAR Time Series Analysis

Surface mining in the southeastern Gobi Desert has significant environmental impacts, primarily due to the creation of large coal piles that are highly susceptible to aeolian processes. Using spaceborne remote sensing and numerical simulations, we investigated erosional processes and their environmental impacts. Our primary tool was Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data from Sentinel-1 imagery collected between 2017 and 2022. We analyzed these data using phase angle information from the Small Baseline InSAR time series framework. The time series analyses revealed intensive aeolian erosion in the coal piles, represented as thin deformation patterns along the potential pathways of aerodynamic transportation. Further analysis of multispectral data, combined with correlations between wind patterns and trajectory simulations, highlighted the detrimental impact of coal dust on the surrounding environment and the mechanism of aeolian erosion. The lack of mitigation measures, such as water spray, appeared to exacerbate erosion and dust generation. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using publicly available remote sensing data to monitor coal mining activities and their environmental hazards. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of coal dust generation processes in surface mining operations as well as the aeolian erosion mechanism in desert environments.

Assessment of vertical transport of PM in a surface iron ore mine due to in-pit mining operations

Particulate matter (PM) is the most prevalent pollutant associated with surface mining operations, adversely affecting the health of mine workers. Using a combination of low-cost PM sensors and portable sampling devices, this research quantified the PM concentration and factors influencing its vertical transport inside a 100 m deep surface iron ore mine.Transport of ore through off-road trucks accounted for ∼ 70 % of the in-pit emissions. Also, differential settling and varying meteorological parameters along the vertical extent of the mine resulted in the escape of 17 % of PM2.5-10, 43 % of PM1-2.5, and 69 % of PM1to the mine’s surrounding atmosphere. Iron ore and carbon particles were identified as the major constituents of the airborne PM. The findings of this study demonstrate the application of low-cost sensors in monitoring PM concentration along the vertical extent of the mine, which can ultimately provide exposure estimates to the mine workers at different working locations.

Modeling the impact of surface mining operations on the condition of the underlying rock mass when planning underground mining operations using the CAE Fidesys software suite

Modeling the impact of surface mining operations on the condition of the underlying rock mass when planning underground mining operations using the CAE Fidesys software suite

Wetland water quality in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region and its relationship to aquatic invertebrate communities: pilot phase monitoring results

Wetlands in the Oil Sands Region of Alberta are vulnerable to direct and indirect effects of human development including land disturbance, hydrologic alteration, and addition of contaminants. Nineteen wetlands in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region were monitored over a five-year period to evaluate differences in water quality and benthic invertebrate composition between sites near to and further afield from surface mining operations. Concentrations of dissolved sulphate, dissolved iron, total dibenzothiophenes and specific conductance were significantly higher in wetlands near to surface mining operations. In addition, beta diversity of wetland invertebrates was higher in wetlands further afield of the industrial centre. Drivers of benthic assemblage differences among sites include specific conductance and pH. Conductance was positively correlated with Caenidae (Ephemeroptera) abundance and pH was negatively correlated with abundance of Naididae (Annelida).

Aircraft-derived CH4 emissions from surface and in-situ mining activities in the Alberta oil sands region

The identification and reduction of methane sources is considered an important part of the fight to stem greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere. One of the largest industrial contributors to national GHG emissions in Canada is the Alberta Oil Sands Region. To quantify and investigate the spatial distribution and temporal variability of methane emissions from this region, airborne measurements were conducted in 2017 and 2018 with three aircraft. 59 flights were conducted in total to assess emissions for both open-pit and in-situ facilities, in both cold and warm seasons. Derived emission rates were higher than those reported in national inventories by 30%–96% depending on the facility. In-situ facilities had emission rates an order of magnitude lower than surface mining operations and differed significantly from inventory estimates. No statistical differences in CH4 emissions between cold and warm seasons were observed, substantiating the use of simple upscaling to annual emissions within inventories. Rather than confirming a reported decrease in emissions between 2013 and 2018, the measurements suggest essentially no change from the 18 t h−1 for the region observed in 2013. Overall, the results suggest that current methods of CH4 emission determination within the oil sands region, for use in reporting, require improvement.

Transitional and Post-Mining Land Uses: A Global Review of Regulatory Frameworks, Decision-Making Criteria, and Methods

Post-mining land management is an integral part of surface mining and quarrying operations. In this context, the questions raised concern what course of action is mandated by laws and regulations; what type of land reclamation should be implemented, taking into account the site-specific conditions prevailing in each mining area; what are the appropriate land uses; and by what criteria and methodology can these be determined? The literature review conducted as part of the present study revealed that in addition to the traditional 4R actions of land management, namely remediation, restoration, reclamation, and rehabilitation, two more actions, repurposing and co-purposing, have now been added, with the purpose to address the social and economic impacts of mine closures. Furthermore, numerous land uses were documented and categorized into 11 classes, 38 sub-classes, and 119 alternatives. Nine criteria for selecting land uses were identified, expressed through 72 attributes that served as input information for 22 multicriteria methods, which, in most cases, were applied in combination of two or more.

MineCam: Application of Combined Remote Sensing and Machine Learning for Segmentation and Change Detection of Mining Areas Enabling Multi-Purpose Monitoring

Our study addresses the need for universal monitoring solutions given the diverse environmental impacts of surface mining operations. We present a solution combining remote sensing and machine learning techniques, utilizing a dataset of over 2000 satellite images annotated with ten distinct labels indicating mining area components. We tested various approaches to develop comprehensive yet universal machine learning models for mining area segmentation. This involved considering different types of mines, raw materials, and geographical locations. We evaluated multiple satellite data set combinations to determine optimal outcomes. The results suggest that radar and multispectral data fusion did not significantly improve the models’ performance, and the addition of further channels led to the degradation of the metrics. Despite variations in mine type or extracted material, the models’ effectiveness remained within an Intersection over Union value range of 0.65–0.75. Further, in this research, we conducted a detailed visual analysis of the models’ outcomes to identify areas requiring additional attention, contributing to the discourse on effective mining area monitoring and management methodologies. The visual examination of models’ outputs provides insights for future model enhancement and highlights unique segmentation challenges within mining areas.

Integrating mining software, CAD, and GIS technologies for enhanced 3D geological mapping and visualization

This research provides a comprehensive overview of the methods and technologies applied for the mapping and visualization of three-dimensional (3D) mining and geological data, highlighting both mining-specific software and general-purpose engineering CAD and GIS tools. The study begins by addressing the challenges associated with the implementation of GIS-type spatial information systems within the mining industry, emphasizing their role in building robust information systems for mine technical departments. It then explores the application of spatial information systems in the environmental protection of mining and post-mining areas, where these technologies have found significant use. The final section delves into modern technologies for acquiring and visualizing spatial data, focusing on 3D data relevant to both surface and underground mining operations. The article underscores the growing importance of advanced visualization techniques in enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of mining operations and environmental management.

Assessing the Rainfall Implications on Surface Coal Mining Operations: Thar Case Study

Rainfall directly impacts the open-pit surface mining operations in the Thar Coalfield, Pakistan. The overall lithology hosting the lignite type of coal seams in the study area includes Dune Sand, alluvium, and soft sedimentary rocks. Due to the presence of three primary aquifers, the strata overlying and underlying the coal seams are under substantial porewater pressure. Additionally, heavy rainfalls in the Thar area lead to the accumulation of water in mines and may cause pit flooding, making it impossible to continue mining activities until the water is pumped out. Pit flooding often results in equipment damage and production delays. The main focus of the study is to investigate the impacts of heavy rainfall on the mining activities at Thar Coalfield. Two major aspects of open pit mining are considered in this study, i.e., production, and dewatering systems. Due to heavy rainfall, a significant production deviation (V) was noticed in comparison to regular months. The quantity of water drained from the pit (Qa) and anticipated inflow quantity (Qt) values were compared for the rainy season and other times. It was observed that heavy rainfall increases the production deviation from the planned targets and also increases the pit dewatering cost. Moreover, this study suggests preventive measures to address potential losses arising from intense rainfall.

Инструмент оптимизации выемочных единиц на открытых горных работах для блочных моделей месторождений

The MINEFRAME mining and geological information system features an algorithm and a software module to create bench-wise mining units for surface mining operations, which optimizes losses and dilution with due account for the spatial variability of the ore and gangue rock composition. The software module is based on both wireframe and pure block models, and takes into account a given development direction. The algorithm defines the mineable reserves of the deposit as a set of mining unit models. The module determines the expected levels of rational loss and dilution for each mining units of the bench, for each ore body, for the bench and for the open pit in general. The mining units also become the reference points for the design of blasting operations and the basis for the development of special measures to modify the parameters of the mining system locally. The obtained mineable reserves can be used in defining the pit boundaries and planning mining operations, and the contours of mining units will guide the design of the blast blocks. The algorithm can also be used to clarify the pit boundaries in the footwall of a sloping deposit and for economic comparison of the development options.

Прогнозная оценка устойчивости борта карьера в тектонически напряженном массиве

The article presents an approach to determining the stability of the pit walls and benches using a set of methods. The results of numerical modeling of the stress-and-strain state are presented for the rock mass in vicinities of one of the quarries in the Khibiny Apatite Arc. Calculations were made using elastic approach to a three-dimensional finite-element model which incorporates basic geological, mining engineering and geomechanical data. The impact of gravitational and tectonic stress field is demonstrated on the stability of the pit wall and benches during its development. Potentially unstable areas have been determined in the wall and benches of the open pit design contour. The identified features of the stress-and-strain state of the rock mass in vicinities of the pit wall make it possible to increase the justification level of technical solutions for the development of surface mining operations and to design preventive measures that would ensure the stability of structural elements of the open pit.

Краткосрочное планирование открытых горных работ в горно-геологической информационной системе MINEFRAME

One of the levels in planning of surface mining operations is short-term planning during the mining phase of the deposit reserves. Algorithms and software tools for the module of automated planning of surface mining operations have been developed as part of the task to enhance the efficiency of short-term planning in the MINEFRAME mining and geological information system. This module allows to make a comparative analysis of the selected structure of complex mechanization, as well as to optimize the operation of the in-pit transport based on simulation modeling of technological processes in surface mining. The module for planning of surface mining operations increases efficiency, timeliness and accuracy of planning based on input data and limitations that characterize the operation of the enterprise. Selection of the optimal structure for complex mechanization is made based on the analysis of the received reporting data of each planning scenario according to the performance indicators of the machinery and equipment. This approach fully corresponds to the trends of digital transformation declared by the government of the Russian Federation and represents a new stage of automation and informatization of economic activities and transition to digital technologies.

A comparative study between the system reliability evaluation methods: case study of mining dump trucks

The shovel-truck system is a widely used technique for haulage systems in surface mining operations. However, predicting the failure patterns of complex systems requires accurate failure prediction techniques. In this study, several major system reliability evaluation groups, including non-parametric, parametric, and semi-parametric methods, are investigated, and their effectiveness is compared to identify the best group for predicting the failure patterns of complex systems such as mining dump trucks, which operate in harsh environments. A historical dataset of time to failure (TTF) and maintenance data was collected. Then, the system’s reliability was evaluated using the major TTF data analysis methods. The findings demonstrated that all the major system reliability evaluation groups produced similar curves; however, the semi-parametric method outperformed the other methods. This result underscores that this system reliability evaluation group is the most effective method for complex systems. Also, it was found that the dump truck reliability dropped to 50% after 40 operation hours, demonstrating the critical importance of implementing preventive maintenance to enhance the system’s performance and ensure operation safety. In addition, this study provided an appropriate insight into the predictive methods and offered an accurate estimation of the failure pattern of complex systems, resulting in availability and productivity improvement.

Rockfall in open pit mines: management of the pit geometry and protection measures design

Rockfall events represent a serious hazard for people, structures, and infrastructures. The phenomenon can occur in several environments, natural and artificial. In surface mining operations, blasting, bench clean-up and scaling can induce rock blocks detachment, compromising operators’ and operations’ safety. The installation of passive mitigation measures coupled with a specific design of the pit geometry can mitigate this risk. The bench height, width, and slope angle, the number of benches, together with the material characterizing the slope, affect in different ways the kinematics of the possible detached blocks. In this paper, a large set of configurations is studied and trajectory analyses are performed to evaluate the influence of each geometrical or material variable. Results are analysed considering blocks kinematics both on the pit floor and at each bench. The findings provide a useful a tool for a preliminary design of pit geometry and mitigation measures. Design charts are proposed for different slope materials, reporting, as function of the total pit height, the blocks stopping distance, their velocity at the pit floor, their passing height and velocity at each bench, for each geometrical configuration. The obtained charts can be effectively implemented in a quantitative risk assessment procedure for mining activities.

Role of Ergonomics in the Selection of Stemming Plugs for Surface Mining Operations

Role of Ergonomics in the Selection of Stemming Plugs for Surface Mining Operations

Navigating access to golden lands: Gender roles and constraints of women in artisanal and small‐scale mining operations in north‐western Ghana

AbstractThe daily lives of female artisanal and small‐scale miners revolve around an array of complex and labour‐driven activities. The complexities and labour demands vary depending on the type of artisanal and small‐scale mining involved, the underground pit (ghetto) or surface mining. Few studies have explored how gender roles manifest in the two major mining types to inform policy on the creation of a gendered mining environment for women. This paper fills the lacuna in the literature by investigating gender roles and the consequential effects on female artisanal miners' daily lives and practices along the underground pit and surface mining. The liberal feminist theoretical lens is employed as a framework. Data were sourced through field observations and in‐depth interviews with 13 lead miners (men) and 67 female miners in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Findings show that sociocultural marginalisation of women is predominant in underground pit/ghetto mining. Women are content to work in surface mining operations and can form gangs to operate independently; nevertheless, sociocultural framings have limited women's space and access to mineralised concessions. The study argues that steps towards promoting gender equality in artisanal and small‐scale mining should explore a gendered mineralised concessions distribution; thus, the distribution of mining concessions under the community mining project by the government of Ghana should be gender‐sensitive.

Acquisition of Photogrammetric Data Using Uav – Case Study: Bistriţa Limestone Quarry, Vâlcea

Abstract Through this paper the project team aimed to demonstrate the utility and feasibility of using flights and photogrammetric methods in surface mining in mountainous areas. Thus, in the first part of the paper, the working principles, the applied methodology, the criteria for selecting the methodology, and the necessary resources are presented, and later the results obtained from the case study from the limestone quarry in Bistrița, Vâlcea are presented. At the same time, the environmental, relief and accessibility conditions in the mining perimeters were identified and practical recommendations were issued regarding the execution of a photogrammetric data acquisition flight in the surface mining operations in the mountain area. This paper indicates risk factors identified in quarries in the mountain area and offers practical solutions to avoid them.

Mine Pit Wall Geological Mapping Using UAV-Based RGB Imaging and Unsupervised Learning

In surface mining operations, geological pit wall mapping is important since it provides significant information on the surficial geological features throughout the pit wall faces, thereby improving geological certainty and operational planning. Conventional pit wall geological mapping techniques generally rely on close visual observations and laboratory testing results, which can be both time- and labour-intensive and can expose the technical staff to different safety hazards on the ground. In this work, a case study was conducted by investigating the use of drone-acquired RGB images for pit wall mapping. High spatial resolution RGB image data were collected using a commercially available unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at two gold mines in Nevada, USA. Cluster maps were produced using unsupervised learning algorithms, including the implementation of convolutional autoencoders, to explore the use of unlabelled image data for pit wall geological mapping purposes. While the results are promising for simple geological settings, they deviate from human-labelled ground truth maps in more complex geological conditions. This indicates the need to further optimize and explore the algorithms to increase robustness for more complex geological cases.

Environmental Noise Impact Assessment for Large-Scale Surface Mining Operations in Serbia

Noise emissions are a significant environmental impact caused by the mining industry in all technological phases of surface mining, mineral processing, and waste disposal. This paper presents the role of noise impact assessment and control in large-scale surface mining operations. Mine planning develops the model of mining operations, ore excavation, and waste dumping scheduling and processing rates, including spatial distribution of mining activities. Such a level of mine planning requires an environmental impact assessment study. This can be achieved by applying noise impact assessment models. The described approach can be used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed protection measures to reduce or eliminate the identified negative impacts. This paper presents a case study of environmental noise impact assessment and control at the Serbia Zijin Copper DOO Bor mine, encompassing the analysis of the noise protection measures efficiency within the planning of large-scale mining operations at the open-pit mine Veliki Krivelj.

Исследования техногенного воздействия взрывного разрушения горных пород при освоении месторождений полезных ископаемых открытым способом

The topicality of this research is defined by the increasing volume of mining operations near settlements and production infrastructure, as well as by the increasing unit capacity of mining and haulage equipment and, consequently, by the growing volume of rock mass simultaneously blasted and prepared for excavation. Changes in the mining conditions at the operations of UK Kuzbassrazrezugol JSC have been analyzed. A brief analysis of research results on various factors affecting the degree of man-made impact of the blasting operations is presented. One of the ways to safely increase the volume of simultaneously blasted rock mass is the introduction of energy-saving environmentally friendly technologies in production and use of plastic explosives, which would ensure higher completeness of chemical transformations and the efficiency of the blast through the use of special fuel mixtures containing surfactants instead of diesel fuel in the compositions of granular industrial explosives. This will increase the contact surface area of the fuel and the oxidizer by several orders of magnitude as well as the stability and the energy-output ratio of the blasting charges with the zero oxygen-combustible balance. Reducing the consumption of explosives, energy intensity of mining, the man-made impact of blasting operations on the environment, the seismic action of the blast, the radius of the hazardous zone - all of this can be achieved by using charges placed in hoses of variable diameter when blasting wet and dry rock masses. The article shows the dependence of changes in the load on the atmosphere with increasing distance from the blast epicenter and with increasing weight of simultaneously detonated explosives in surface mining operations, as well as the dependence between the yield of fines and the size of the gap between the charge and the charging chamber.