Mine accidents pose severe threats to worker safety and sustainable mining development in China. However, existing mine accident data in China are often scattered, unstructured, and lack systematic integration, which limits their application in safety research and practice. This study constructed a standardized structured dataset using 532 mine accident reports from official channels covering the period 2010–2025. The dataset went through four stages: data collection, standardized cleaning, structured annotation, and quality validation. It is stored in JSON Lines (JSONL) format for easy reuse. The dataset covers 27 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities in China. Among accident levels, general accidents account for 65.6%; among accident types, roof accidents account for 20.3%. Accidents are geographically concentrated, with 11.7%, 8.3%, and 7.7% occurring in Shanxi, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia, respectively. Official data have shown an annual average decrease of 9.7% in mine accidents from 2018 to 2022, reflecting improved safety governance. This dataset addresses the gap of a full-element structured mine accident database in China, providing high-quality data for accident causation modeling, regional risk early warning, and safety policy evaluation. It also supports mine enterprises in targeted risk prevention and regulatory authorities in precise regulatory enforcement.

Optimisation of stope support system using kinematic analysis and numerical modelling – A sustainable mining approach

Phytomining of rare earth elements using native hyperaccumulator plants and surface soils from Idaho, USA.

Governance and green finance for sustainable mineral resources: Technological innovation and infrastructure pathways in emerging economies

Mining is an important industry for the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs), but it results in a significant amount of degraded land worldwide, thereby affecting local social and ecological sustainability. Little is known about the extent to which this degraded land adheres to the current SDGs. In this study, based on public geographic information data, the status of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) for global mine sites was comprehensively assessed. The results show that (1) the global aggregation index for SDG 11 and 15 in mining areas increased from 23.94 in 2000 to 24.48 in 2020, generally exhibiting a positive trend. (2) For SDG 11, all four indicators indicate improvement, suggesting enhancement of the sustainability of cities and communities surrounding global mined land, as well as urban development, mining activities, and economic growth. In contrast, regarding SDG 15, there were noticeable improvements in the water body area and land reclamation ratio, but the forest coverage ratio and net ecosystem productivity significantly declined, indicating continued stress on ecosystems caused by mining. (3) Less than 1% of mines globally met the green grade in SDG 11, and around 97% were categorized as red grade. For SDG 15, no mines reached the green grade, and at least 99.74% were categorized as red grade mines. (4) Globally, the status has exhibited obvious spatial clustering, and the region with a better status is in the equatorial region. There has been obvious spatial heterogeneity within countries, and mine sites near urban areas have had a better status according to these SDGs. The main influencing factors on the status of mines, according to the SDGs, include the degree of mining disturbance, ecosystem recovery capacity, and urban expansion. Overall, the global status of mines according to the SDGs is far from expectation, indicating a considerable gap from achieving sustainable mining and necessitating efforts to improve human habitats and restore ecosystems in mining areas. Future endeavors should focus on strengthening site specific assessment and long-term monitoring of the global SDGs in mining areas to provide foundational data and scientific evidence for sustainable mining and the realization of SDGs.

Mining is among the world’s most hazardous industries, where workers face constant exposure to risks such as rock falls, gas explosions, and equipment accidents. Despite advances in mechanization and safety management, fatal incidents persist due to the limitations of traditional monitoring and reactive safety systems. The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) has introduced new opportunities to enhance predictive, automated, and real-time safety solutions. This systematic review synthesizes current research on the integration of these technologies for hazard detection and accident prevention in mining. The study categorizes applications across geotechnical, environmental, and operational hazards and examines their technical mechanisms, benefits, and limitations. Findings reveal that AI enables data-driven hazard prediction; IoT ensures real-time environmental and equipment monitoring; and robotics extends operational safety through autonomous inspection and intervention. However, challenges including data scarcity, connectivity issues, and lack of standardization limit large-scale deployment. The review highlights future research directions such as digital twin development, edge computing, explainable AI, and human–robot collaboration as pathways toward intelligent, ethical, and sustainable mine safety systems.

This research explores advancements in tailings management technologies, focusing on reducing environmental risks and enhancing operational stability in modern mining operations. The study evaluates techniques such as dry stacking, geotechnical stability enhancements, real-time monitoring systems, and water reclamation methods. Innovative approaches including bioremediation and nano-filtration are analyzed for their potential to address contamination and resource recovery. The research highlights the economic and regulatory challenges of implementing these technologies while emphasizing their necessity for sustainable mining practices. Through case studies and technical reviews, the study showcases the effectiveness of these methods, offering insights into the industry's transition toward safer and environmentally responsible operations.

This article explores the critical role of the Geological Survey of Brazil (SGB-CPRM) in advancing national development strategies through the provision of geoscientific data and expertise. It examines how the institution's activities align with and support key public policies in Brazil, including those focused on safe and sustainable mining, mapping and studies of oceans and coastal zones, water security (“water in quantity and quality, forever”), disaster risk reduction, and other crosscutting agendas. Through a comparative analysis of strategic plans from leading global geological surveys, the article underscores Brazil’s technical strengths and strong data production capabilities, while also drawing attention to the lack of a formally established national mineral policy integrated into broader development frameworks. It argues that SGB-CPRM plays a vital role in bridging this policy gap and positioning Brazil to participate effectively in the global transition to a low-carbon economy. The article also describes the Brazil Geological Survey’s contributions under the Multi-Year Plan (PPA), particularly in geological mapping and critic minerals, marine geology, water resources and geohazards. Despite facing budgetary and operational constraints, the institution has continued to make progress through institutional collaboration and technical resilience. SGB-CPRM acts as a strategic partner in the formulation and implementation of public policies, integrating geoscientific information into policy frameworks to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of government actions across various sectors. One of the SGB-CPRM's most tangible contributions lies in its long-standing geological mapping program, which has produced an extensive and systematically updated set of geological maps covering the vast Brazilian territory. These maps—developed over decades and continually updated—are accessible through the institutional repository and constitute a fundamental resource for academic research. While not formally responsible for policy formulation, SGB-CPRM acts as a key articulator, providing critical scenarios and technical insights to both the executive and legislative branches. In addition to the national geological mapping program, a core function of SGB-CPRM is to serve as the central hub for generating Brazil's basic geoscientific data. This foundational information, made available through its public platforms, is indispensable for the creation of evidence-based policies. By ensuring access to reliable and standardized national data, SGB-CPRM empowers government bodies, the private sector, and civil society to make informed decisions. To enhance the effectiveness of these policies, there is a clear need for more participatory committees focused on Brazil's diverse development strategies. Continued investment in its technical capabilities and expanded data dissemination efforts will further solidify SGB-CPRM's pivotal role in supporting Brazil’s national development strategies and contributing to a more resilient and sustainable future.

Abandoned flooded coal mines offer potential low-carbon heating, cooling, and thermal storage resources. It is widely understood that climate change will impact on global water resources. It follows that climate change could impact mine water resources and therefore potentially affect the performance and longevity of mine water geothermal projects. We performed a systematic review of climate change impacts on mine water in the UK and found very limited research to date; two UK publications. We consequently broadened our review to climate change impacts on groundwater in the UK to gain insights into potential implications for mine water resources. Again, we found published research was limited, and the 30 UK publications we identified were largely focussed on resource quantity (recharge and/or groundwater levels). Our review indicates that mine water recharge in the UK may decrease and water quality parameters may exhibit climatic variations. Since these parameters are known to affect the available thermal resource and operational practices of mine water systems, we argue that specific work to examine climate change impacts on mine water resources is required to inform climate resilient and sustainable mine water systems.

Abstract The integration of Autonomous Haulage Systems (AHS) in surface mining has transformed operational practices in leading mining nations. This study offers a comparative analysis of the adoption and impact of driverless haul trucks in China and Australia, evaluating key dimensions such as labor economics, digital infrastructure, safety improvements, environmental benefits, and social challenges. While Australia has established itself as a global leader in mining automation—driven by high labor costs, remote operations, and private-sector innovation—China’s transition remains in its early stages, constrained by lower wages, infrastructure gaps, and a large mining workforce. Nonetheless, rising labor costs, national policy mandates, and successful pilot projects are accelerating interest in automation across China. This paper synthesizes data from industrial case studies, government reports, and academic sources to assess the feasibility of full-scale AHS deployment in China. It identifies both strategic opportunities and implementation barriers, including workforce displacement, capital investment requirements, and regulatory uncertainties. The study concludes with a roadmap for phased automation, emphasizing infrastructure readiness, workforce reskilling, and cross-sector policy alignment. By learning from Australia’s experience, China can adapt automation technologies to its unique socio-economic and industrial context, laying the groundwork for a safer, more efficient, and sustainable mining future.

Bauxite mining exploitation in Indonesia demonstrates a serious gap between government regulation and oversight. Although a legal framework is in place through Law Number 3 of 2020 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining and its derivative regulations, its implementation remains weak due to disharmony between agencies and overlapping authority between the central and regional governments. This study aims to analyze the regulatory and oversight gaps in bauxite mining management and their implications for legal certainty and environmental sustainability. The research method used is a normative juridical approach, examining laws and regulations, legal literature, and empirical data related to mining oversight practices in several bauxite-producing regions. The results indicate that weak inter-agency coordination, a shortage of mining inspectors, and minimal transparency of production and export data are the main causes of weak oversight. Furthermore, the lack of integration between technical and environmental policies creates a gray area that business actors exploit to avoid legal obligations. This gap has resulted in increased environmental damage, legal uncertainty, and a decline in public trust in the government. Regulatory reform measures are needed through inter-agency harmonization, strengthening digital-based oversight capacity, and involving the public in evaluating mining activities to create a transparent, equitable, and sustainable mining governance system.

Illegal small-scale mining, also known as galamsey, is a threat to Ghana’s sustainable growth, posing serious environmental degradation and gross socio-economic effects. Drawing on Ghana’s mining industry and comparative cross-case international studies, this paper integrates evidence to provide a holistic analysis of the galamsey phenomenon and the transformational potential of formalization. This research proves that unregulated mining operations have contaminated 60% of water bodies in the mining regions in Ghana, rendered 30% of arable land unusable, and triggered violent conflicts over mining territories. The study shows that the successful implementation of strategic formalization in Tanzania and Burkina Faso, has the tenacity of improving three key areas: (1) environmental protection (reduction in mercury pollution (85%)), (2) economic benefits (increase in government revenues (350%)), and (3) social welfare (reduction in the workplace fatalities (62%)). The study identified four critical factors: digital licensing systems that cut down bureaucratic barriers, cooperative models that ensure improved accessibility to financing and technology, comprehensive training programs in sustainable mining practices, and integrated monitoring combining satellite surveillance and community participation. This paper emphasizes that successful formalization implementation requires strategies that go beyond regulatory changes. It requires an inclusive strategy that integrates policy reform, institutional capacity building, and community engagement. The paper presents a comprehensive phased implementation framework that aligns with Ghana’s commitments under the Africa Mining Vision and adds to achieving SDGs 8, 12, and 15. We conclude with evidence-based recommendations for policymakers, emphasizing the importance of sustained political will, predictable resource allocation, and genuine multi-stakeholder engagement.

Mining activities have caused widespread land degradation and contamination, affecting millions of hectares worldwide and posing persistent ecological risks. However, reclamation substrates are constrained by limited availability and compromised quality, which restricts their ability to fully support mine ecological restoration. Among various amendment materials, biomass-based amendments have been widely applied due to their broad availability, renewability, biodegradability, and low cost. In recent years, their role has expanded beyond simple nutrient supplementation to encompass multiple functions, including structural optimization, pollutant stabilization, and microbial regulation. This review highlights the valorisation of biomass-derived solid wastes as multifunctional amendments for mine ecological restoration. By converting agricultural and industrial wastes into green materials, these amendments improve substrate structure, stabilize heavy metals and organic pollutants, enhance nutrient cycling, and stimulate microbial activity. Potential risks, including nutrient leaching, secondary pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, are critically assessed, with emphasis on their variability under different environmental conditions. By integrating functional benefits with ecological risks, this work underscores the critical role of biomass-based amendments as waste-to-resource strategies in advancing sustainable mine reclamation, contributing to circular economy goals, and supporting environmental engineering practices.

This paper presents a dual-benefit method for green and sustainable mine construction through developing filling materials using solid waste. In practical engineering applications, there are sulfate ions in mine water, which leads to performance degradation in traditional cement-based filling materials. In this paper, electrolytic manganese slag-based mine filling materials (EBFMs) were developed by utilizing electrolytic manganese residue (EMR), fly ash (FA), phosphorus slag (PS), and quicklime (QL). The effects of EMR content on the basic performance and the sulfate resistance of EBFM in a 5 wt.% Na2SO4 solution at different stages of erosion were extensively discussed. The results showed that when the content of EMR was 25 wt.%, EBFM showed the best basic performance and sulfate resistance among all groups. After sulfate erosion, the compressive strength increased and the porosity decreased, and the mass of the samples increased. The EBFM exhibited superior sulfate corrosion resistance at the lowest porosity (4.14%) and the highest mass change rate (5.82%) after 90 days of sulfate erosion. The corrosion resistance coefficient stabilized between 1.23 and 1.24 after 30 days of erosion. In a sulfate environment, sulfate ions contribute to promoting hydration reactions to form more hydration products, which make a denser structure. The Fe-AFt (ferrous ettringite) formed during hydration demonstrates superior stability, representing a key factor for better sulfate resistance. The EBFM transformed the presence of sulfate ions in mine water (a typically adverse condition) into a beneficial factor that enhanced the materials’ performance, thereby exhibiting excellent sulfate resistance.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly vital in modern mineral processing, where it addresses critical challenges such as falling ore grades, rising energy costs, and the demand for sustainable operations. Despite notable progress, most existing studies focus on individual applications like ore sorting or predictive maintenance and lack a holistic view of AI-enabled mineral processing systems. This review aims to bridge that gap by examining how AI tools can be integrated into a unified workflow that spans ore characterization, sorting, and real-time process optimization. Using a structured review of research articles, industrial case studies, and technical reports from 2015 to 2025, the study evaluates key AI techniques including machine learning, computer vision, digital twins, and predictive modelling. Findings indicate that AI has improved ore recovery by up to 30% in smart sorting systems and reduced equipment downtime by as much as 50% through predictive maintenance. These results demonstrate AI’s ability to enhance both productivity and resource efficiency, though challenges related to data quality, system compatibility, and model interpretability persist. The review highlights the need for explainable AI, scalable digital twin architectures, and targeted workforce development to support wider adoption. Overall, the paper emphasizes the potential of AI to accelerate the transition toward intelligent, sustainable mining under the Mining 4.0 paradigm.

Separation processes are critical to mining and mineral processing, through the concentration and purification of valuable elements. Maximizing metal recovery while reducing water and chemical usage are central goals within a range of mining contexts, especially within the context of in-situ resource utilization related to space applications. Electrochemical approaches provide a pathway sustainable mining through renewable-electron driven metal recovery.Molecular selectivity is a central challenge for separation processes in mining, requiring detailed fundamental understanding and control of complex interfacial and colloidal interactions at multiple scales. To overcome these limitations, we pursue the molecular design of electrochemically-responsive interfaces for the selective recovery of critical elements. We explore these tunable electrosorbent platforms for the recovery of transition metal oxyanions, noble metals, and rare-earth elements, and discuss electrochemical engineering pathways for scalable and modular deployment.Finally, we present a perspective in which electrochemical purification processes can synergistically integrate within a sustainable mining framework, by coupling with upstream ore extraction, beneficiation, and sustainable hydrometallurgical techniques. On the long-term, we expect these advances in molecular separations to be directly relevant in space engineering.

The surging demand for energy storage has driven lithium prices up tenfold over the past two decades. While global lithium production relies heavily on brine sources—geographically scarce in the U.S.—the nation’s import dependence exceeded 50% in 2018 and 25% in 2019. To secure a cost-effective and sustainable supply, extracting lithium from unconventional resources is imperative. However, renewable extraction from such sources faces persistent technical, economic, and environmental hurdles.In this talk, I will present our breakthrough in electrochemical leaching for lithium extraction from ore minerals like α-phase spodumene. Our method achieves 92.2% leaching efficiency at room temperature using dilute acid, by passing the energy-intensive phase conversion required in conventional approaches. Key to this success is an innovative additive that slashes leaching potential by facilitating electron transfer and altering reaction pathways. By optimizing the leaching potential, we simultaneously maximize Faraday efficiency and minimize energy consumption.This electrochemical strategy not only outperforms traditional leaching methods but also reduces environmental impact, offering a scalable pathway to decarbonize lithium production. Our work paves the way for sustainable mineral extraction and battery recycling processes. Acknowledgement: This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under Award Number DE-SC0025307.

This study directly compares, under controlled Taguchi design of experiments (DOE) conditions, the effectiveness of two purification routes for quartzite from Hatay, Türkiye: (1) bioleaching using Aspergillus niger and (2) oxalic-acid leaching. The raw material contained 96.54% SiO2, 0.75% K2O, 0.53% TiO2, 0.75% Al2O3, 0.05% CuO, 0.21% CaO, and 0.65% Fe2O3, rendering it unsuitable for direct glass-industry use. An L9 Taguchi experimental design was applied to both routes. Among the tested combinations, the best performing bioleaching condition (5% solids, 200 rpm, 10 days, 3 mL spore suspension) yielded a quartz product with 98.10% SiO2, 0.35% Al2O3, and 0.28% Fe2O3, whereas oxalic-acid leaching at 5% solids, 20 g L−1 oxalic acid, 80 °C, and 90 min produced 98.70% SiO2, 0.38% Al2O3, and 0.22% Fe2O3; post-treatment XRD showed only quartz reflections. This side-by-side evaluation under identical, systematically designed conditions for natural quartzite with complex impurities has not been comprehensively reported previously. Both routes produced glass-grade quartzite via effective Al/Fe removal, meeting green and amber glass specifications; bioleaching provides a reagent-lean, microbially driven pathway, whereas oxalic-acid leaching enables rapid Fe removal, supporting pilot-scale validation for industrial adoption in sustainable mineral processing.

Purpose: This study aims to develop and validate a Green Economy (GE) policy model for sustainable mining concessions in Indonesia through the novel RE-ACTIVE methodology, ensuring both contextual feasibility and policy relevance. Design/methodology/approach: The research adopts a mixed-method approach framed by the RE-ACTIVE steps (Research–Analyze–Construct–Test–Implement–Validate–Evaluate). Data were collected through document review, surveys, field observations, interviews, and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with Pentahelix stakeholders, representing government, industry, academia, civil society, and media. Benchmarking was conducted with mining regions in Kendari and East Kalimantan to identify best practices. Findings: The prototype model consists of six core components: local regulation, green audit system, transformational CSR, territorial revitalization, monitoring, and periodic evaluation. Empirical testing with a partner mining company demonstrated improvements in ESG indicators, eco-efficiency, green innovation, and stakeholder engagement, confirming both the academic validity and practical relevance of the model. Practical implications: The model provides actionable guidelines for local governments in drafting responsive regulations, for mining industries in adopting sustainable practices, and for communities in ensuring participatory post-mining revitalization. It offers an evidence-based tool that can support the drafting of regional regulations (Perda) and enhance the alignment of local policies with national and global sustainability agendas. Theoretical implications: This research advances sustainability governance and policy evaluation literature by introducing the RE-ACTIVE methodology, which integrates the Pentahelix approach with cultural dimensions. It contributes theoretically by bridging global Green Economy frameworks with local socio-cultural contexts through realist evaluation and theory of change (ToC). Originality/value: This study presents RE-ACTIVE as a new methodological framework for policy design and evaluation, delivering both conceptual innovation and a contextually tested Green Economy policy model that is replicable in other mining regions.

Coal remains the primary energy source in China despite its declining role in global energy consumption. While coal mining ensures energy security and economic growth, it has substantial environmental consequences. This study synthesizes secondary data and peer-reviewed literature to examine three major impacts of coal mining: geological disruption, water resource depletion and pollution, and atmospheric contamination. Results show that underground mining causes land subsidence and topographical deformation, while groundwater pumping accelerates aquifer depletion and acid mine drainage formation. Additionally, spontaneous combustion of coal gangue and emissions of SO₂, NOₓ, CO, and CH₄ contribute to severe air pollution and climate change. The analysis highlights the urgent need for improved mine water management, land reclamation, and methane mitigation strategies. Future research should integrate field-based monitoring with multi-dimensional ecological assessments to provide a scientific basis for sustainable mining practices and low-carbon transitions.