Mine Workings Research Articles

Sentiment Analysis of Customer Reviews on E-commerce Platforms: A Machine Learning Approach

Internet users are a huge segment of the consumer market, and businesses nowadays are trying to enter e-commerce, where customers leave reviews regarding products and services. Sentiment analysis is the process of extracting the customer's real feelings from the reviews of the product or services. This study compares logistic regression, naive Bayes, neural networks, and support vector machine algorithms for sentiment analysis and finds the best-performing classifiers among them. This applied study evaluates the classifiers using accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score metrics. The dataset was taken from the E-Commence website, on which NLP and other classifiers are employed. The results show that the Naive Bayes model, with 94% accuracy, outperforms the different classifiers, where Logistic Regression and Neural Networks are at a similar level of 93%. In comparison, the SVM gave us an average of about 92%. This study suggests the significance of continuously updating sentiment analysis systems to maintain accuracy and relevance. Real-time sentiment analysis tools are a good technique for any text mining work that can help companies address customer problems based on immediate feedback and improve their products.

Assessing open-pit mining impacts on semi-arid grassland: A framework for boundary and intensity quantification

Coal mining in northern China's grasslands faces significant environmental challenges due to the fragile semi-arid ecosystem and the abundance of mineral resources. However, current research lacks clarity in both theoretical understanding and effective quantification of its impacts. Insufficient distinction between direct and indirect environmental effects, the oversight of interactions from neighboring activities, and inaccurate measurements of impact intensity all hinder a comprehensive understanding. These limitations also prevent the precise delineation of ecological protection compensation areas. In this study, we developed a comprehensive framework utilizing Landsat time-series images (1989–2017) and field sampling data (228 sample locations in 2017) to assess the boundaries and intensities of mining impacts. First, the k-means clustering algorithm was applied to identify the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time-series trajectories and map the spatial information of direct impacts. Then, a buffer zone was established and an amplitude model was proposed for determined the cross-impacts and their intensities based on the volatility of NDVI trajectories. Accordingly, a Trend-thresholds model was proposed to automatically extract the indirect impacts boundary of mining-dominated on vegetation under varying intensities. The Soil Quality Index (SQI) ∼ distance curves were fitted and a derivative model was employed for determine the boundary of indirect impacted on soil. We applied this assess framework in Baorixile coalfield (i.e., Baorixile coal mine (BM), DongMing coal mine (DM), Shunxing coal mine (SX)) a typical semi-arid grassland mining area, and quantified three types of impacts: direct, indirect, and cross-impacts. Findings reveal negative coal mining impacts primarily confined to permitted mining areas and decreasing over time. Direct impacts boundary limited in the mining sites and its impact intensity shows a dual nature, with a negative weakening and a positive strengthening trend. Widespread negative indirect impacts exist outward the mining area displays spatial heterogeneity, and its intensity attenuation with distances. In there, the very severe effect (D1) is predominantly focusing on the grassland where near by the mining work face (BM maximum range 1.2 km, DM maximum range 0.55 km, SX maximum range 0.4 km). Moreover, our study indicated that vegetation and soil exhibited consistent responses to coal mining impacts within 1 km, demonstrating the feasibility of using remote sensing data to qualify the impact boundary on the grassland environment. Besides, we further identify significant cross-impacts surrounding the mining areas, characterized by strong negative effects, particularly in the southeastern region of BM. This research offers valuable insights for effective ecological compensation governance and scientific environmental management in similar global contexts.

Head-neck local ventilation mode for long-narrow mine working face

To improve the thermal health state of workers in mines facing heat hazards and enhance cooling capacity utilization efficiency of mine ventilation, this study proposes a suitable air distribution for mine workers’ local cooling, taking into account the characteristics of long-narrow underground space and workers. The suggested air distribution involves harnessing underground cold air jets along with the mine’s crossflow (mainstream ventilation) to create a localized safeguard airflow around the worker’s head-neck, known as jet ventilation in crossflow (JVIC). The flow visualization experiment identified five flow patterns within a confined space. The study explores the impact of the velocity ratio (R) and confinement scale (C) on the evolution of JVIC flow patterns and presents a parametric description of the resulting flow field. Drawing on the microclimate control scope around mine workers’ head-neck, the study defines the effective cooling zone and the ineffective cooling zone as the boundaries for controlling JVIC air distribution within confined mine spaces. This clarifies the applicability of the air distribution form and introduces an evaluation model for assessing the cooling effect and the efficiency of cooling capacity utilization to manage the non-uniform underground environment.

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.

Systematic Review: Analysis of the Impact of Hydrated Lime (Cao) Exposure pon Coal Mining Workers

Systematic Review: Analysis of the Impact of Hydrated Lime (Cao) Exposure pon Coal Mining Workers

“If your ox does not pull, what are you going to do?”: Persistent Violence in South Africa’s Deep-Level Gold Mines and Its Contribution to the 1922 Rand Rebellion

Abstract The 1922 Rand Rebellion was the only instance of worker protest in the twentieth century in which a modern state used tanks and military airplanes, as well as mounted infantry, to suppress striking workers. These circumstances were unprecedented in their own time and for most of the century. The compressed and intensely violent rebellion of twenty thousand white mineworkers in South Africa’s gold mines had several overlapping features. Within a matter of days—from 6 to 12 March—it went from a general strike to a racial pogrom and insurrection against the government of Prime Minister Jan Smuts. Throughout all these twists and turns, the battle standard remained, “Workers of the world unite and fight for a White South Africa!” Race and violence were integral features of South Africa’s industrial history, but they do not explain the moments when discrete groups of people chose to use them as weapons or bargaining tools. At the close of the First World War, for instance, South Africa’s white mine workers demanded a more comprehensive distribution of the privileges of white supremacy, but in a manner that was both violent and contentious. Consequently, South Africa’s immediate postwar period became one of the most violent moments in its history.

Application of artificial intelligence in technology management: status quo, challenges and opportunities

ABSTRACT Technology management (TM) aims to enhance technical competitiveness, providing organizations with a market advantage. The increasing interest in artificial intelligence (AI) within TM has sparked debate: supporters praise AI's decision-making capabilities, while critics stress the importance of human expertise. This study advocates for integrating AI into TM as a supportive tool for human decision-making rather than replacing domain experts. To achieve this, a comprehensive literature review examines the integration of AI in TM, exploring potential benefits and challenges. The research analyzes text mining works, existing data, and the suitability of AI models for various TM tasks. Additionally, it reviews AI applications in TM, identifying opportunities and challenges.

Study on Spontaneous Combustion Characteristics and Microstructure of Bituminous Coal under Water Immersion.

The stagnant water above the coal seam flows into the goaf, causing the goaf coal to be soaked by water for a long time. Compared with dry raw coal, water-soaked coal has a stronger tendency for spontaneous combustion, which poses a serious threat to mining operators. To unravel the impact of water immersion on coal's self-heating properties, an investigation was conducted employing techniques such as simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), low-temperature nitrogen adsorption based on the BET theory, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The variations in the characteristic temperature, microphysical structure, and active functional groups of bituminous coal with water immersion degrees of 10, 30, 50, and 100% were studied, and the experimental results showed that (1) during the initial stage of coal self-ignition oxidation, moisture can cause a delay in the characteristic temperature points of bituminous coal. When the degree of water saturation in bituminous coal reaches 100%, both the critical temperature (T 1) and the cracking temperature (T 2) peak at 48.14 and 205.06 °C, respectively. However, after the water evaporation phase is complete, water soaking promotes the spontaneous combustion of bituminous coal. (2) The number of pores and fractures in bituminous coal is positively correlated with the amount of water soaked, with the average pore diameter increasing from 10.124 nm in raw coal to 15.547 nm in the A4 coal sample. Moreover, when the degree of water immersion reaches 100%, the proportion of mesopores and macropores increases to 38.89 and 19.95%, respectively. (3) Compared to untreated coal, the number of functional groups in water-soaked coal samples increases. With the increase in water immersion, the hydroxyl (-OH) content of raw coal and four kinds of bituminous coal with different degrees of immersion was 40.8, 41.3, 42, 43.9, and 42.9%, respectively, showing a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. When the degree of water immersion of bituminous coal is 50%, the natural tendency is the strongest. These findings contribute to elucidating the underlying mechanism of water immersion's impact on coal self-ignition, thereby holding significant implications for enhancing fire safety measures in mine working areas.

Experimental and Numerical Study of Air Flow Reversal Induced by Fire in an Inclined Mine Working

Effective fire prevention in mine workings and tunnels requires a thorough theoretical analysis of the heat and mass transfer processes within these structures. This involves using established models to calculate non-isothermal air flow dynamics in long tunnels and mine workings. While the ventilation of tunnels has been extensively studied, significant challenges persist regarding mine ventilation systems, particularly due to their complex and branched topology. This study aimed to address these challenges and gaps in mine ventilation. We designed a laboratory bench to simulate an inclined mine working with a heat source (fire) and validated a mathematical model of heat and mass transfer in such settings. Using experimental measurements, we verified the model’s accuracy. It is important to note that our experimental and theoretical analyses focused solely on the thermal effects of a fire, without considering the release of harmful impurities. Using the validated model, we conducted multiparameter simulations to identify the conditions leading to the formation of a thermal slug in an inclined mine working and the subsequent reversal of air flow. The simulation data enabled us to determine the dependency of the critical heat release rate on the aerodynamic parameters of the mine working. Additionally, we evaluated the changes in average air density within a mine working at the critical heat release rate. These findings are crucial for the further development of a network-based method to analyze air flow stability in mine ventilation networks during fires.

Preventing Practices of Manipulating Accident Data in the Coal Mining Sector Using Mobile Applications in East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Objective: The practice of manipulating data on work accidents and potential hazards still occurs, especially in the coal mining sector. A mobile application for reporting work accidents and potential hazards is required so that data manipulation practices can be prevented.Material and Methods: The research design used was exploratory, which aimed to introduce and explore the capabilities of the SIKAP mobile application (Information System for Occupational Accidents, Occupational Diseases and Potential Hazards) to prevent data manipulation practices. Researchers involved thirty coal mine workers, using the SIKAP application, which had been tested on three information systems experts using the black box testing method. Results: Every worker had the opportunity to report work accidents and potential dangers via the SIKAP application on the worker’s account. Companies can receive and follow up on worker reports via the company account. Regional governments in the field of labor development and inspection can monitor reports through government accounts. The SIKAP application is integrated and synchronized between workers, companies and the government.Conclusion: The SIKAP application is able to prevent the practice of manipulating work accident reporting data and potential hazards in the coal mining sector.

Occupational Health and Safety Practices Among Coal Mine Workers in Pakistan

Occupational Health and Safety Practices Among Coal Mine Workers in Pakistan

GIS analysis for the selection of optimal sites for mine water geothermal energy application: a case study of Scotland's mining regions

Water within flooded coal mines can be abstracted via boreholes or shafts, where heat can be extracted from (or rejected to) it to satisfy surface heating (or cooling) demands. Following use, water can be reinjected into the mine workings or discharged to a surface water receptor. Four criteria have been applied, using ArcGIS, to datasets describing mine workings and mine water below the Midland Valley of Scotland to provide an initial screening tool for suitability for mine water geothermal energy exploitation. The criteria are: (i) the presence of two or more worked coal seams below site; (ii) the absence of potentially unstable shallow (<30 m) workings; (iii) a depth to mine water piezometric head of less than 60 m; and (iv) a depth of coal mine workings of less than 250 m. The result is the Mine Water Geothermal Resource Atlas for Scotland (MiRAS). MiRAS suggests that a total area of 370 km 2 is ‘optimal’ for mine water geothermal development across 19 local authority areas, with greatest coverage in North Lanarkshire. This result should not be taken to suggest that mine water geothermal potential does not exist at locations outside the identified ‘optimal’ footprint. The MiRAS does not preclude the necessity for specialist engineering and geological input during a full feasibility study.

Explaining Union Decline: Remaking Power Relations in the Pilbara Iron Ore Industry

How have scholars tried to explain marked union membership decline in the Global North, and how have they assessed consequent “union renewal” strategies? In this journal in 2020, Bowden argued that most accounts of unionism failed to explain decline, relied too much on state policy as causation and were too optimistic about those renewal strategies. One way to respond to these important general claims is to assess, as this article does, a striking and important local instance of decline and unsuccessful strategy – Pilbara unionism, once an archetype of mining workers’ power – and to do so over the entire history of an industry. In explaining the fall of the Pilbara mining unions, which for 20 years until 1986 had seemed so strong, “power resources” and geography itself were remade by capital in ways that were entwined with, but did not always rely on, state action. This argument recasts debate about decline in two ways: by drawing on a longer timeframe than is common in industrial relations scholarship and by adopting a more theoretically explicit, and inter-disciplinary, framing than is usual in the labour historiography addressing these issues. The explanation offered here shows how, after just 20 years of mining, union power in the Pilbara unravelled. Employer strategy, the precise nature and timing of state intervention, and the geographically textured nature of employer and union power explain the rise and fall of these unions.

Mines to moana: Hydrochemical legacies in a historically mined watershed

This study investigates contemporary freshwater contamination originating from old mine workings in the Thames-Coromandel region of Te Ika-a-Māui (North Island), Aotearoa New Zealand. We employed a multi-method approach, including stable H and O isotope determinations of surface water, geochemical modelling, and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) deployments. Atypically, spring-summer (Sept–Nov) surface water stable oxygen isotope ratios (δ18O) were negatively displaced from meteoric values (ca. −0.28 ± 0.13 ‰), indicating a remarkable degree of low-temperature water-rock interaction, likely enhanced by dry antecedent conditions. Isotope ratios in tributaries showed less alteration than the main stem, suggesting greater meteoric inputs and shorter residence times in areas of high topographic relief. Conversely, in the main stem, isotope ratios revealed higher mineral weathering, accompanied by elevated dissolved metal concentrations, consistent with dominant inputs from shallow groundwater. Weathering of primary sulfides contributed pronounced acidity in one tributary (pH ca. 3.8), but overall, carbonate buffering ameliorated acid mine drainage across the catchment (pH ca. 7–8). Nevertheless, our results confirm exceedances of ecological guideline values (>80% protection threshold) for several toxic metals including Al, Zn, Cd and Pb; with implications for fresh and coastal water quality in Tikapa Moana-o-Hauraki, the Firth of Thames.

Assessing the hazard of diesel particulate matter (DPM) in the mining industry: A review of the current state of knowledge

In the confined spaces of underground mines, the exposure of over 10,000 miners in the U.S. to diesel exhaust and diesel particulate matter (DPM) is an occupational inevitability, particularly in metal and nonmetal mineral extraction. These workers routinely operate amidst diesel-powered equipment, often outdated and highly polluting, extracting resources such as limestone, gold, and salt. The acute health effects of such exposure are significant, leading to symptoms like headaches and flu-like conditions, with the impact being more pronounced in these closed work environments. This review scrutinizes DPM’s hazard in the mining sector, consolidating the extant knowledge and exploring ongoing research. It encapsulates our understanding of DPM’s physicochemical properties, existing sampling methods, health ramifications, and mitigation technologies. Moreover, it underscores the necessity for further study in areas such as the evolution of DPM’s physicochemical attributes, from its genesis at high-pressure, high-temperature conditions within diesel engines to its emission into the mine atmosphere. A key research gap is the intricate interaction of DPM with specific characteristics of the mine environment—such as relative humidity, ambient temperature, the presence of other mineral dust, and the dynamics of ventilation air. These factors can significantly alter the physicochemical profile of DPM, influencing both its in-mine transport and its deposition behavior. Consequently, this can affect the respiratory health of miners, modifying the toxicity and the respiratory deposition of DPM particles. Identified research imperatives include (1) the advancement of instrumentation for accurate number measurement of DPM to replace or supplement traditional gravimetric methods; (2) the development of long-lasting, cost-effective control technologies tailored for the mining industry; (3) an in-depth investigation of DPM interactions within the unique mine microclimate, considering the critical components like humidity and other aerosols; and (4) understanding the differential impact of DPM in mining compared to other industries, informing the creation of mining-specific health and safety protocols. This review’s findings underscore the urgency to enhance emission control and exposure prevention strategies, paving the way for a healthier underground mining work environment.

Research on 3D geological modeling based on boosting integration strategy

Accurate geology modeling is critical in coal mining engineering for increasing mining efficiency and safety. Traditional 3D modeling approaches rely on drill hole data to fill in unknown geographical characteristics using interpolation or machine learning methods. However, the cost of individual borehole projects is high, and borehole distribution is sparse; the filling of sparse boreholes by interpolation smoothes the geologic data to some extent, and some abnormal geologic conditions cannot be shown in the interpolated geologic data; and the classification of subsurface space by machine learning is hampered by sparse training samples and model overfitting or underfitting. As a result, this paper proposes a method to reduce the complexity and uncertainty in the process of 3D geological modeling by integrating the classification results of multiple classifiers based on the machine learning classification model and constructing a 3D geological model based on gas extraction borehole data using the Boosting integration strategy. The results reveal that the Boosting integration model outperforms a single machine learning model in geological modeling, with improved classification accuracy and resilience. A comparative investigation of different classifiers demonstrates that the Boosting integrated model outperforms a single classifier in geological modeling. The geologic profile analysis confirms the dependability and stability of the Boosting integrated model, which can provide an effective solution for 3D geologic modeling of coal mine workings and is critical for increasing mining productivity and lowering accident risks.

Creating noise contour maps utilizing the NIOSH Noise Mapper App (A pilot study)

High noise levels can lead to physical and psychological stress, reduced productivity, and permanent hearing loss in workers. Traditional noise monitoring techniques indicate that mine workers, for example, consistently have a higher level of noise exposure when compared to workers in other heavy industries. It is critical to conduct risk assessments, identify noise sources, and control them to prevent occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has recently developed the smartphone-based NIOSH Noise Mapper Application, which generates a noise contour map to enable individuals, workers, and hearing conservation professionals to apply the hierarchy of controls for optimized prioritization and focused targeting of the most effective hearing conservation interventions. Preliminary testing of the Noise Mapper app has been carried out in a hemi-anechoic chamber at the NIOSH Mining Laboratory in Pittsburgh. The results demonstrate that the Noise Mapper app can quickly and cost-effectively generate adequate noise contour maps to identify noise hazards and relevant noise-generating machinery to prioritize and target the most effective interventions. However, additional testing is needed to evaluate the Noise Mapper app's performance in real-world environments and its ability to measure multiple sound sources. This new tool supplements, but does not, replace traditional methods of creating noise contour maps.

Разработка технологии проведения и крепления горной выработки в зоне тектонически-ослабленных пород

Presence of tectonically weakened and disturbed zones leads to decreased underground excavation rates and reduced safety of the mining operations. As a rule, such zones are bounded by vertical and subvertical disturbances that contribute to weakening and loss of stability of the rock and ore mass. Disturbance of the natural state, in particular driving of a mine workings, provokes irreversible deformations due to redistribution and concentration of stresses within the boundary rock mass, which is more rigid. At the same time no significant stresses are formed within the rock mass of the tectonic zone due to its caving. Therefore, when developing solutions for driving and supporting mining excavations within the tectonic zone, the rock mass should be considered as weakened and highly fragmented with unbonded structural blocks. The particle-size distribution within the rock mass of the tectonic zone varies in a wide range of sized from several to tens of centimetres. In this context, the mining and rock reinforcement technology presented in this paper accounts for the possible free caving of the non-bonded host rock mass made up of small-sized blocks. The paper discusses physical and mechanical characteristics and the stress-and-strain state of the rock mass within the tectonically weakened zone and the boundary host rocks, and a technology of driving and supporting underground mine workings is proposed on this basis.

Формирование цифровой модели угольного месторождения в горно-геологической информационной системе МАЙНФРЭЙМ

Digitalization of enterprise management using Russian software is the main trend in the development of the country's mining sector. Sharp fluctuations in demand and prices in the mineral markets, as well as the development of technical tools for mechanization and automation of technological processes along with a systematic increase in their cost affect the financial performance of mining companies. This determines the need for a rapid adoption of technical, technological and organizational decisions, which, along with the requirements of the company's owners and regulators to obtain prompt, reliable and the most complete information about the production process explains the urgent need for the prompt introduction of digital control systems for mining operations. In the article the authors describe an algorithm to design a digital model of the mining and geological system, including a digital geological model of the deposit, digital models of mine workings and the surface topography, based on the experience of creating three-dimensional digital models of complex-structured coal deposits. The basic software suite for designing a digital management system for mining operations is the MINEFRAME mining and geological information system developed at the Mining Institute of the Kola Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. MINEFRAME allows to perform a full range of tasks aimed at creation of a digital 3D model of the mining and geological system for a coal deposit with the possibility to account for the complex bedding in the modelling. High accuracy and correctness of the input geological sampling data is achieved by means of tools to check for errors in the tables of borehole collar coordinates, inclinometry and sampling. The wireframe modelling methods implemented in MINEFRAME provide the possibility to create wireframe models of seams with high detail in the fracture zones.

Worker exit and suicide and overdose mortality in a cohort of male non-metal mine workers

BackgroundSuicides, overdoses, and drug-related liver diseases (deaths of despair) are greatly elevated in the mining and extraction industries compared to other industries. To better understand the drivers of these deaths, we examined suicide or overdose mortality in relation to age at worker exit among a retrospective cohort of 11,009 male mine workers from the Diesel Exhaust in Miners Study II. MethodsWe calculated age-adjusted mortality rates (1947–2015) and estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) for suicide or overdose death in relation to age at worker exit (leaving work). The mining industry curtailed its workforce in the early 1980s due to economic downturn; therefore, separate models were fit for worker exit pre- and post-1980. ResultsSuicide deaths peaked between 1980 and 1989 at 67.2 per 100,000, more than double the rate in the general population. The hazard rate for suicide or overdose was 2.56 times higher for inactive versus actively employed workers (95% CI: 1.88, 3.50). Based on 187 suicides or overdoses, associations between younger age at worker exit and suicide or overdose death were null or protective before 1980. However post-1980, those who exited between ages 30–39 years had an elevated risk of death HR = 1.33, 95% CI (0.70, 2.53) and those who exited before age 30 had a HR for suicide or overdose of 1.57 (0.83, 2.96) compared to those who exited work after age 55. ConclusionWorker exit may contribute to the elevated mortality from suicide or overdose among male mine workers, particularly among younger age groups.