October 2020

VOL. 72 NO. 10

Performance optimization in underground mining

Dump planning optimization
Regulatory training-needs assessment

//////////
me.smenet.org
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 18

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF SME

www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

OCTOBER 2020
VOL. 72 NO. 10

Feature Articles 28
18
Performance optimization in underground mining combining
strategic development and wireless technologies

Klaus Pacheco Hague and Víctor O. Tenorio

28
Dump planning optimization with environmental
constraints

J. Dufayard, R.E. Vivas and C. Goldsmith

32
Regulatory training-needs assessment: survey
highlights industry trends and best practices

Lori Guasta, Hugh Miller and Michelle Reiher

Technical Paper Abstracts from

Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
(peer-reviewed and approved)

37 Innovation in the mining industry: Technological trends and a

case study of the challenges of disruptive innovation 32
by Felipe Sánchez and Philipp Hartlieb

39 Quick-Erect Stopping System for radiation protection and mine

rescue in small-scale mining
by Jörg Dehnert, Jens Stopp, Peter Windisch and Bernd
Schönherr

41 Role of processing temperature and time on the hydrothermal

alteration of K-feldspar rock in autoclave
by D. Ciceri, M. de Oliveira, D.P. Chen and A. Allanore

42 Practical experience in large-scale development of the Zijinshan

low-grade gold-copper mine
by Jinghe Chen, Shuiping Zhong, Ding Tang and Chen Kuang

44 The experience and management of fatigue: A study of mine

haulage operators
by Frank A. Drews, W. Pratt Rogers, Elaheh Talebi and Shantae
Lee
45 Evaluation index system of green surface mining in China
by Yongli Zhou, Wei Zhou, Xiang Lu, Izhar Mithal Jiskani,
Qingxiang Cai, Peng Liu and Lin Li
Copyright 2020 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy &
Exploration, Inc. All rights reserved.
MINING ENGINEERING (ISSN 0026–5187) is published
monthly by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and
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 52 Editorial Staff
Editor
William M. Gleason
gleason@smenet.org

®
Senior Editor
Georgene Renner
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF SME renner@smenet.org
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
Associate Editor
Margo Ellis
OCTOBER 2020 ellis@smenet.org
VOL. 72 NO. 10
Managing Technical Editor
Chee Theng
theng@smenet.org

Production Graphic Artist

SME News Ted Robertson
    47 SME Fellows robertson@smenet.org
48 Fine Grind Business Staff
    49 Environmental Division News Media Manager/Advertising
    50 New Media Gary Garvey
garvey@smenet.org
    51 Personal News
Phone: 1.800.763.3132
    52 Obituaries/Necrology Fax:  1.303.973.3845
Email: garvey@smenet.org
53 SME Foundation
55 Minerals Education Coalition Society for Mining, Metallurgy,
and Exploration, Inc. Officers
    The desire to maximize
productivity in underground President
mining operations through Robert Schafer
Departments the use of wireless technol- President-Elect
    6 President’s Page ogy requires planning and William Edgerton
strategic development. On
    8 Politics of Mining Past President
page 18, Klaus Pacheco Hugh Miller
    10 Industry Newswatch Hague and Víctor O. Tenorio
write about these issues. Executive Director
56 Coming Events/Short Courses On page 28, authors from David L. Kanagy
    58 New Products Vale and Hexagon Mining
write about dump planning Mining Engineering Committee
    60 Web Directory optimization while work- Jeff Gillow (Chair), Tom Meuzlear (Vice
    61 Classifieds ing under environmental Chair), Patsy Moran, Steven Schafrik,
constraints. Cover photo by Michael Trevits, Mara Erhardt, Nicole
    62 Professional Services Henderson, Javad Sattarvand, Sekhar
Keith Clark, member SME. Bhattacharyya, David Waterman, David
    67 Ad Index Meadows, Jaeheon Lee, Nathan Manser,
  68 Drift of Things Abhishek Choudhury.

This month exclusively on

MiningEngineeringMagazine.com: Reproduction: More than one photocopy of
an item from SME may be made for internal
use, provided fees are paid directly to the
Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood
Follow all of the recent news and developments Dr., Danvers, MA, 01923, USA. Phone 1-978-
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THANK YOU
for your membership!

We value our
SME and UCA
members.

To thank you for your

membership, members
will enjoy additional
purchase discounts
before October 31:

• ADDITIONAL 15% OFF

the member price on books,
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Visit smenet.org/store to redeem your discount.

Find Information. Connection. Inspiration.

President’s Page
A whole lotta changing going on!
2020 and 2021 invite unprecedented change for SME
Paraphrasing Jerry Lee Lewis,
there is “A whole lotta changin’
goin’ on,” seems appropriate right
now. His original lyrics came out at
a time when a new style of music
erupted in the 1950s and shook it
up. Today we have many stimuli that
are creating upheaval in social and
physical infrastructure and society is
adapting, sometimes radically.
We have a new virus that has
caused us to alter the way we meet,
socialize, entertain and educate
Robert W. Schafer ourselves. We also have a collision
2020 SME President of natural and imposed factors that
are causing us to reconsider the way we source
and use energy, water and air. In addition,
we have a technological revolution that is
altering daily lives in terms of communication,
information and the speed at which our daily
lives happen.
Things are changing as well at SME, some
of them resulting from these stimuli, others
are the result of our own perceived need for
innovation. When the dust settles, I believe
that we will all find that updating SME is for
the good.
The most noticeable SME change will be
our website. After years of work, October
2020 will see the new public view of SME
and what we offer. The new site can be
personalized, so you will be able to access
the information that is likely to be of most
value to you when you log on. It will be very
user-friendly, so you can also find other topics
easily. Let us know how you like it and if other
improvements are desirable.
By now, I will bet that everyone has been
bombarded by virtual webinars, meetings and
conferences. If it cannot be live, it must be
virtual. SME is also going virtual in its board,
division, committee and section meetings.
We are also developing the means to hold
conferences in virtual space, since all things
live have been cancelled into 2021 at this
point.
The next experiment will be the
THRIVE Virtual Conference, Oct. 20-21.
The headline theme is innovation in finance
and is titled “Financing Exploration, Mine
Feasibility, Construction and Closure —
Keys to Success and Navigating the Way
Forward in a Pandemic World.” The slate of
speakers is globally renowned. The cost is
reasonable — much less than traveling and
6 OCTOBER 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
Saftey share: Sharing workplace safety tips often can
help build top-of-mind awareness and put safety into
perspective.
Recognize workplace risks — The key to mitigating
risks begins with understanding what could cause a
potential hazard or incident.
Know how to report incidents or hazards —
Employees should know how to report issues
expeditiously to lessen their effects.
Don’t take shortcuts on tasks or procedures —
Remind employees about the importance of
following procedures to the letter for their own sake.
Keep your workspace clean and clear of clutter —
Clear away any clutter or unnecessary items that
could pose risks of tripping, falling, slipping or other
injuries.
Engage yourself with the company — Volunteering
for projects, lending a hand outside of normal
duties, joining a committee or team or participating
in company-sponsored programs can immerse
employees in your company’s culture.
Take regular breaks — Taking regular breaks can
ensure projects are completed on time and without
incident because it gives workers a chance to grab
their focus.
Get a good night’s sleep — Emphasize the
importance of a good night’s sleep and how it can
ultimately affect your employees’ performance.
Help new employees embrace the safety culture —
Set expectations up front and make it easy for them
to learn the ropes to stay safe on the job.
Source: ehsinsight.com
attending in person. And yes, there will even
be networking events. So please check it out,
register and attend.
THRIVE will be the warm-up for the big
virtual event: MINEXCHANGE 2021 SME
Annual Conference & Expo to be held March
1-5. Everything that is the annual convention
will be there: a multitude of technical
programs, the exhibit hall, keynote speeches,
awards presentations, committee and division
meetings — and all can be enjoyed virtually.
We will even hold virtual networking events
(happy hours).
(continued on page 17)
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
SAVE THE DATE
LEARN | DISCOVER | CONNECT

Mining’s most anticipated

technical conference will bring
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Politics of Mining
Judge rules Minnesota pollution control agency broke
no laws in Polymet case
A MINNESOTA judge ruled that
the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
(MPCA) did not violate its own policy
or break the law when it requested
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) regulators refrain from
commenting on an essential water
permit for the PolyMet’s proposed
NorthMet copper and nickel mine.
The Duluth News Tribune reported
that a coalition of environmental groups
and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake
Superior Chippewa argued the MPCA
urged the EPA to wait on commenting
on a PolyMet draft permit until the
public comment period ended and to
read comments over the phone instead
of putting them in writing (and the
public record). The coalition argued
that these amounted to “procedural
irregularities” and an effort by the
MPCA to suppress EPA concerns on
PolyMet’s National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
But Judge John H. Guthmann filed
a 104-page findings of fact, conclusions
PNG court rules against Barrick in Porgera Mine case
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Prime
Minister James Marape in April refused
to extend a lease for the Porgera gold
mine to Barrick Gold Corp. for the
requested 20 years and instead gave
the lease to a state-owned mining
company Kumul Minerals Holdings
Ltd. In September, Barrick lost a court
challenge over the rights to the mine
that Barrick had touted as being a
springboard for a potential buyout of
Freeport McMoRan Inc.’s Grasberg
copper and gold mine in neighboring
Indonesia.
Reuters reported that Barrick has
offered an upsized equity stake in
Porgera for nearby landowners and a
greater share of economic benefits for
Port Moresby but that those offers were
rebuffed.
Marape, who took power last year
on a platform of economic nationalism,
said Barrick’s lease was not extended
8 OCTOBER 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
of law and order in State District Court
in St. Paul that countered those claims
and sent the case back to the Minnesota
Court of Appeals.
“The MPCA effort to convince
the EPA to delay issuing written
comments about the NorthMet NPDES
draft permit was not an irregularity in
procedure,” Guthmann wrote. “There
is no statute, rule, regulation or other
formally adopted policy or procedure
that prohibits the MPCA from asking
the EPA to delay an optional course of
action.”
But Guthmann acknowledged the
MPCA kept EPA comments from the
public view to deter bad press, even if no
law or rule barred the agency from it.
“The MPCA knew it was required
to respond to all written EPA comments,
its responses would be public, and the
public would find out what the EPA’s
specific concerns about the permit were
from the comments and responses”
Guthmann wrote. “The MPCA had other
legitimate reasons for seeking an EPA
owing to environmental and community
concerns, part of his justification for
granting the new Porgera lease to
Kumul Minerals.
Porgera produced nearly 600,000
ounces of gold last year, with Barrick’s
share accounting for about 5 percent of
its annual production.
Barrick has sought international
arbitration and pledged to appeal its
loss of the Porgera lease to PNG’s
Supreme Court. It also said it would
challenge the lease grant to Kumul
Minerals, though it has not said in what
forum.
Barrick CEO Mark Bristow is
unlikely to relent, due to Porgera’s
potential to become one of Barrick’s
top assets and because doing so might
embolden pushback from other host
governments, investors and analysts.
“They’ll use negotiations and
lawsuits and diplomacy to do what they
delay in submitting comments. However,
the MPCA’s primary motivation was its
belief that there would be less negative
press about the NorthMet Project if
EPA comments were delayed until after
public comments and verbally expressed
EPA concerns were incorporated into
the draft permit.”
In an emailed statement, MPCA
spokesperson Darin Broton said the
decision meant “the court renewed its
confidence in the MPCA’s permitting
process for PolyMet.”
“While the MPCA always strives to
do better, the court overwhelmingly said
the agency’s permitting procedures were
not irregular,” Broton said. “The MPCA
remains committed to ensuring that its
permit processes and decision-making
are transparent and provide a robust
opportunity for public participation.”
PolyMet is trying to build a copper-
nickel mine, processing plant and tailings
dam near Hoyt Lakes and Babbitt. In a
news release, Polymet characterized the
judge’s order as a win. n
can to keep it,” said portfolio manager
Joe Foster at Van Eck Associates Corp,
Barrick’s second-largest shareholder,
according to Refinitiv data.
The dispute has flared as gold prices
scale record highs at the same time
PNG struggles with a budget deficit of
more than 6 percent of gross domestic
product.
Kumul Minerals has said it is open
to talks to restart production and
that Barrick and its partner China’s
Zijin Mining Group could retain an
ownership stake.
Previously they each held 47.5
percent of Barrick Niugini Ltd., which
operated the mine as a joint venture.
Landowner group Mineral Resources
Enga held the rest.
Barrick has questioned the state’s
capacity to operate Porgera, where
it projected margins of 50 percent or
higher for this year. n
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SME Foundation Online

Silent Auction 2021
Virtually the Same, Vitally Important WE NEED YOU
You can help make this event a huge success
The SME Foundation will hold an online silent auction during by donating items for auction.
the MINEXCHANGE 2021 SME Annual Conference & Expo Popular items donated include:
Virtual Event. This annual event raises funds for important • Historical mining equipment
Foundation programs and initiatives. and memorabilia
• Mineral and fossil specimens
To make a tax-deductible Cash donations are Your donation will be • Jewelry and gems
donation (items or also greatly appreciated recognized in Mining • Private VIP tours of mines
cash); please contact as this helps us purchase Engineering Magazine,
Megan Martin at additional highly desirable as well as on the online
• Adventure outings
martin@smenet.org. items for the auction. auction website. • Sports tickets
• Electronics and technology items
• Professional services
• Gift baskets
• Artwork
smefoundation.org

www.miningengineeringmagazine.com Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOBER 2020 9

Industry Newswatch

EPA issues final rule on wastewater from coal-fired plants;

Revised rule is expected to affect about 75 power plants
THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL
Protection Agency (EPA) issued its
final rule easing the 2015 regulation
for wastewater coming from coal-fired
power plants.
The final rule, known as the Effluent
Limitations Guidelines, is similar to
one proposed last fall but would further
extend the timeline for plants to comply.
And coal facilities that are closing,
repowering or switching to natural gas by
2028 are exempt.
The change will allow utilities to use
cheaper technologies and take longer
to comply with pollution-reduction
guidelines that are less stringent than
what the agency originally adopted in
2015. The change is the latest in a string
of regulatory rollbacks for coal power
under President Donald Trump.
According to the EPA, the changes
will help the industry save $140 million/
year while reducing 1 million pounds of
pollution per year over the 2015 rule,
despite relaxation of the timelines for
compliance.
“This new rule replaces a prime
example of regulatory overreach that was
specifically designed to stack the deck
against the coal industry when compared
with other fuels. The model wastewater
treatment techniques under the new rule
can effectively remove pollutants at less
cost and with fewer facility modifications
than the technologies required by
the prior rule, while also allowing for
more flexibility in plant maintenance
operations. The coal industry wants to be
able to compete while also safeguarding
important environmental protections —
this rule shows that balance is possible,”
National Mining Association President
and chief executive officer Rich Nolan
said.
The revised rule is expected to
affect 75 out of 914 coal power plants
nationwide, compared to more than 100
plants affected by the 2015 rule. That’s
in part because coal power usage has
dropped dramatically over the past
decade and many plants have been
shuttered.
E&E News reported that the new
rule would set a daily maximum limit on
selenium at 76 micrograms per liter — or
more than three times the Obama-era
limit of 23 micrograms per liter. The
monthly average treatment in the new
rule is 31 micrograms per liter, compared
with 12 micrograms per liter in the
Obama-era rule.
The new rule will also allow power
plants to use a shorter biological
treatment process that is cheaper but can
also result in higher selenium levels.
Compared with the 2015 rule,
this rule allows significant increases
in selenium that enters waterways in
discharges of wastewater that came from
cleaning power plants’ air filters.
But many plants have been exempted
from using the biological treatment
process at all, allowing their mercury,
arsenic and nitrogen levels to increase
significantly.
Power plants with high flows of
wastewater and coal power plants that
are used only during peak power demand
are exempted from the biological
treatment requirement entirely.
Those plants are allowed to release
nearly 10 times as much mercury —
788 micrograms per liter daily — as
plants that are not exempted from the
treatment requirement, which are limited
to 85 micrograms per liter daily.
The rule gives power plants until the
end of 2025 to comply with the new rules
but also says the EPA would establish
a voluntary incentive program whereby
power plants would have until 2028 to
comply, if they decide to include more
biological treatment. n

Newswatch Nevada Copper restarts production at

contents Pumpkin Hollow Mine
NEVADA COPPER Corp. has restarted will continue to be hoisted from the ENVS
12 milling operations at its underground until work on the main shaft has been
EPA establishes new project at Pumpkin Hollow. completed. The company remains on track
office in Colorado The company made the announcement for the commencement of main shaft hoisting
14 on Aug. 24, four days after it restarted
its processing plant following temporary
scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2020.
“We are encouraged by the processing
Study confirms suspension of copper production due to plant restart at our Pumpkin Hollow Mine,”
massive potential of impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The stated Evan Spencer, chief executive officer
Kakula Mine plant restart and ramp up benefits from of Nevada Copper. “Our full workforce has
15 the processing plant’s initial consistent
performance in the first quarter.
been mobilized and we have transitioned our
operations back into production smoothly,
Rio Tinto announces
In a press release, Nevada Copper picking up where we left off in Q1. We look
executive departures stated that there is approximately 145 forward to executing our ramp-up plans and
16 kt (160,000 st) of stockpiled material at will report on progress in the coming months.”
Murray Energy surface available for immediate processing. Nevada Copper’s priority during the
emerges from The stockpiled ore will be supplemented COVID-19 pandemic is to safeguard the
with additional development ore and health and safety of the company’s workforce,
bankruptcy
subsequent stope ore hoisted via the east including by following government-mandated
north ventilation shaft (ENVS). Material directives. n
10 OCTOber 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
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Industry Newswatch
Rio Tinto’s Kennecott operation the first to achieve the
prestigious Copper Mark for responsible production
RIO TINTO’S Kennecott site
in Salt Lake City, UT is the first
producer to be awarded the Copper
Mark, the copper industry’s new
independently assessed responsible
production program.
To win the recognition from the
International Copper Association,
the Kennecott operation in Utah
demonstrated that it meets more
than 30 criteria for responsible
environmental, social and governance
practices.
The Copper Mark is the first
and only program for responsible
production in the copper industry.
Originally developed in 2017 by the
International Copper Association,
with input from a broad range of
stakeholders including customers,
NGOs and producers, the Copper
Mark is now an independent entity
with a multistakeholder council. It
was developed utilizing the United
Nations Sustainable Development
Goals as a framework and was
developed to demonstrate that
copper is not only being produced
EPA establishes new office in Colorado;
It will focus on abandoned mine cleanup in the West
THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL
Protection Agency (EPA) announced
that it would establish a new office
in Lakewood, CO that will focus on
tracking and cleaning up abandoned
mines in Western states.
The Associated Press reported
that the office will have jurisdiction
of all federal hardrock mine cleanup
efforts west of the Mississippi River.
The office was placed in Colorado so
it would be more focused on regional
issues and to combat environmental
concerns more directly and
efficiently.
The Office of Mountains, Deserts
and Plains will steer and streamline
projects to remediate acidic drainage,
erosion and other surface and
groundwater contamination at the
mining sites, said the EPA’s Associate
Deputy Administrator, Doug
12 OCTOber 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
responsibly, but is also an important
contributor to society’s overall
sustainable development goals
and local community needs. After
extensive stakeholder consultation,
pilot assessment with 25 member
companies, and standards refinement,
the Copper Mark was launched on
March 30, 2020.
Rio Tinto Copper & Diamonds
chief executive Arnaud Soirat
said, “We are proud to lead the
copper industry in being awarded
the Copper Mark, demonstrating
our commitment to responsible
production and transparency.
“The Copper Mark allows our
customers to purchase copper
from operations that have been
independently assessed as meeting
the highest environmental, social and
governance standards, responding
to the growing expectations of
consumers around the world for
sustainable supply chains.
“We look forward to continuing
our work with the Copper Mark and
seeing this new program embraced
Benevento.
“It’s going to, I think, make the
(cleanup) work better and … more
accessible to communities that have
these issues,” stated Benevento.
Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality Director
Misael Cabrera said he looks forward
to “innovative yet practical solutions
that respect local concerns.”
“I commend EPA for establishing
a Western lands-focused office that
will address the complex problems
associated with hardrock mine
cleanups,” Cabrera said of the office.
Environmental and tribal officials
welcomed the announcement —
but noted that it comes from an
administration they said has pushed
for more uranium mining and opened
the door elsewhere to problematic
mining operations.
widely along the value chain, to
support the role copper continues to
play as a key material in a sustainable
future.”
The Copper Mark’s executive
director, Michèle Brülhart said, “We
congratulate Rio Tinto’s Kennecott
site and the leadership they are
taking to mine responsibly. We
welcome them as our first awarded
site.”
International Copper Association
President Tony Lea said, “The
Copper Mark is an important
milestone for the global copper
industry and reflects stakeholders’
needs for greater transparency. We
hope more producers will follow Rio
Tinto’s lead and apply for the Copper
Mark.”
To achieve the Copper Mark,
Rio Tinto’s Kennecott operations
were independently assessed across
more than 30 criteria covering
the categories of environment,
community, business and human
rights, labor and working conditions
and governance. n
“The Navajo Nation opposes
any hard-rock mining on or near
the Navajo Nation,” said Oliver
Whaley, director of the Navajo
Nation Environmental Protection
Agency. “Obviously that’s something
that hasn’t been the case with this
(Trump) administration.”
But Whaley welcomed any
move to clean up any of the many
abandoned uranium mines on the
Navajo Nation, an environmental
hazard the tribe has raised for years.
“The abandoned uranium mines
on the Navajo Nation need to be
addressed at a lot faster rate than
they currently are,” Whaley said.
Western states like Arizona,
Colorado and Idaho have long
benefited from hard-rock mining,
but those benefits have come at an
environmental cost. n
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
 SME WEBINAR SERIES
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Industry Newswatch

Study confirms massive potential of Kakula Mine;

Copper complex would be the second largest in the world
AN INDEPENDENT definitive
feasibility study (DFS) for the
development of the Kakula copper mine
in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC) found that the asset may become
the second-largest copper complex in the
world, according to a press release issued
by Canada’s Ivanhoe Mines.
The Kakula Mine is the first
underground mine planned at the
Kamoa-Kakula concession. It is forecast
to generate 6 Mt/a (6.6 million stpy)
of ore at an average feed grade of 6.6
percent copper during the first five years
of operation, the study shows.
The DFS is an independent
verification from nine top engineering
firms and incorporates the advancement
of development and construction
activities to date. “The DFS has once
again confirmed the outstanding
economics of the first phase of the
Kakula Mine. As well, the expanded
PEA shows the excellent potential to
develop the project to a much larger
scale and with a significantly larger
production capacity,” the company said
in a release.
The Kakula Mine, which is expected
to begin producing copper in less than
a year, along with the Kansoko, Kakula
West and Kamoa North projects could
produce 800 kt/a (880,000 stpy) at full
production.
“The definitive feasibility study
also confirms what we’ve been telling
investors for the past year and a half
and showcasing monthly in our progress
galleries — the Kakula Mine is being
rapidly built, it is ahead of schedule and
is on budget. The estimated remaining
initial capital costs for the phased
development at Kamoa-Kakula is $0.7
billion, of which an estimated $0.65 billion
is to complete the 6-Mt/a (6.6 million
stpy) mine at Kakula,” said Ivanhoe’s
co-chair Robert Friedland. “Our
proportionate share of the remaining
initial capital costs is approximately 50
percent, with subsequent expansions
funded by cash flows.
“Most importantly, the Kakula
Mine has been designed to produce the
world's most environmentally responsible
copper, which is crucial for today’s new
generation of environmentally and
socially focused investors,” said Friedland.
Kamoa-Kakula is a strategic
partnership between Ivanhoe Mines
(39.6 percent), Zijin Mining Group (39.6
percent), Crystal River Global Limited
(0.8 percent) and the DRC government
(20 percent). Ivanhoe will advance in
stages until it has four producing mines
with a combined 19 Mt/a (21 million
stpy) output rate.
Ivanhoe is exploring for new copper
discoveries on its wholly owned Western
Foreland exploration licenses, adjacent to
the Kamoa-Kakula mining license.
Friedland also said that Kamoa-
Kakula recently retained Hatch Ltd.,
of Mississauga, ON, Canada, a leading,
international environmental consulting
firm, to independently audit the
greenhouse-gas intensity metrics for the
copper that will be produced at Kamoa-
Kakula, demonstrating the company’s
pledge to be a leader in environmentally
responsible copper mining.
“Kakula is projected to have an
average grade of 6.6 percent copper
over the initial five years of operation,
a grade that is an order of magnitude
higher than the majority of the world’s
other major copper mines. In addition,
approximately one half of the mine’s
tailings will be mixed with cement
and pumped back underground to fill
mined-out voids, resulting in a surface
tailings containment facility that is tiny
compared to other major mines,” said
Friedland. n

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Rio Tinto announces executive departures;
Destruction of caves in Australia leads to executive-level changes
RIO TINTO announced that
J-S Jacques, executive director and
chief executive of the group, will step
down from his position as a result
of the destruction of the Juukan
rockshelters in Australia in May 2020.
The company announced that by
mutual agreement, Jacques, as well
as Chris Salisbury, chief executive,
iron ore and Simone Niven, group
executive, corporate communications,
will all step down from their
respective positions following
pressure from shareholders and other
stakeholders.
The moves come in the wake
of the company’s Board Review of
Cultural Heritage Management that
was released on Aug. 24. In a press
release on Sept. 11, Rio Tinto wrote
that it had “engaged extensively with
shareholders, traditional owners,
Indigenous leaders and other
stakeholders. While there is general
recognition of the transparency
of the board review and support
for the changes recommended,
significant stakeholders have
expressed concerns about executive
accountability for the failings
identified.”
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
Rio Tinto chairman Simon
Thompson said, “What happened
at Juukan was wrong, and we are
determined to ensure that the
destruction of a heritage site of
such exceptional archaeological and
cultural significance never occurs
again at a Rio Tinto operation. We
are also determined to regain the
trust of the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and
Pinikura people and other traditional
owners. We have listened to our
stakeholders’ concerns that a lack of
individual accountability undermines
the Group’s ability to rebuild
that trust and to move forward to
implement the changes identified in
the board review.”
A process to identify Jacques’
successor is underway. He will remain
in his role until the appointment
of his successor or March 31, 2021,
whichever is earlier. This will ensure
business continuity to maintain the
strong performance of the Group’s
global operations during COVID-19.
Ivan Vella, current managing
director for Rail, Port & Core
Services within Rio Tinto Iron Ore,
will replace Salisbury on an interim
basis, following a handover period.
Industry Newswatch
Niven will step down Dec. 31,
2020 after completing an orderly
transition of her responsibilities. As
previously announced, Rio Tinto is
establishing a new social performance
assurance function, reporting to
Mark Davies, group executive, HSE,
technical and projects, to strengthen
oversight of communities and
heritage practices and performance
within the operations.
In order to enhance board
engagement in Australia, Simon
McKeon, nonexecutive director,
is appointed senior independent
director, Rio Tinto Ltd., effective
immediately. This newly created
board role will complement the
existing senior independent director
role, which will continue to be
performed by Sam Laidlaw for Rio
Tinto plc.
“Rio Tinto is a financially and
operationally robust business with
world-class assets, a clear strategy
and outstanding people. We are
determined to learn the lessons
from Juukan and to re-establish our
reputation as a leader in communities
and heritage management,” said
Thompson. n
Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOber 2020 15
Industry Newswatch
Murray Energy emerges from bankruptcy with new name;
Company will operate as American Consolidated Natural Resources
MURRAY ENERGY Holdings has
emerged from bankruptcy under the new
name of American Consolidated Natural
Resources Inc.
The Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan
filed by Murray Energy was approved
in August in U.S. bankruptcy court in
Ohio and became effective Sept. 16. The
company said in a statement that it has
completed the sale of its assets to an
entity formed by former creditors.
American Consolidated Natural
Resources Inc. (ACNR) is now the
largest privately owned U.S. coal
operator with active mines in Alabama,
Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Utah,
the statement said.
ACNR also has separate management
services agreements to operate Foresight
Energy mines in Illinois and Murray
Energy subsidiary Murray Metallurgical
mines, Fox Business reported.
The new company plans to produce
about 32 Mt/a (35 million stpy) of
bituminous coal. In 2018, Murray Energy
produced 42 Mt (46.4 million st) and
was the country’s fourth largest coal
producer, accounting for 6 percent of
total production, according to the Energy
Information Administration.
The restructuring eliminated more
than $8 billion of Murray’s debt and
legacy liabilities, and it allowed the
new company to access new financing,
providing ACNR with enhanced financial
flexibility, the company statement said.
When the bankruptcy filing was
announced in October 2019, Robert D.
Moore was named president and CEO
of Murray Energy, replacing Robert
Murray. Moore also heads the new
company, which has more than 4,000
employees.
“Throughout these complex
proceedings, we have been challenged
with a global pandemic, extremely volatile
coal markets and months of uncertainty,
Moore said. “Our employees and business
partners met these challenges, and,
together, moved the company forward to
today’s emergence.” n

Letter to the editor: response to The Great

Hello fellow SME members,
This letter to the editor is in response to an article that
was published in the August 2020 issue of Mining Engineering
magazine, “The Great Debate” (page 16), which is to be a
good-natured conversation about the most important sector in
the mining industry. The outcome is to result in a fundraising
effort for the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum. The
16 OCTOber 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
concept sounds fair, but the article that represented “Women
in Mining” tipped the scales of ignorance toward men in
mining, old people and also other women in mining who don’t
agree with their opinions. I sincerely hope that the majority of
Women in Mining members do not share the same views of
the authors, Ann Carpenter and Kelly Ward, regardless if the
article was written in jest.
Let’s get started. The subtitle of the article was “Women
are the most important group in civilization” and the schism of
pride just gets worse. The authors write about women having
birthing rights to miners, better driving skills and then even
praised Barack Obama for saying that the world’s problems
come from “old people, mostly men, holding onto power.”
The authors then write “because women are a compassionate
group, we respectfully and humbly agree.” I want to make this
crystal clear; I do not agree with this statement from Obama
or the support of it from the authors as well as the rest of their
women vs. men dialogue.
As a mining professional who has worked in the coal
industry for 29 years in the mines moving through the ranks
of laborer, foreman, engineer and now as a corporate safety
director, it has never been in my comprehension to tout my
gender for special attention or advancement. Even more, I
have enjoyed every moment working side by side with my
male and female colleagues pushing the plow, making things
happen, promoting the industry, keeping miners safe and
having fun along the way.
I leave you with one last thought. Could you imagine
the fallout if men in mining wrote something similar about
women? It would be hurtful at a minimum (probably
more like a nuclear bomb) but most of all, it would be non-
productive and cause further division. I am fully committed
to working side by side with my male coworkers and I would
hope we can agree that we should not be divided based on
race, gender, religion, age or anything else. n
Respectfully,
Susan B. Bealko, MS MPH
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
President’s Page: times of change
(continued from page 6)
Facing reality head-on, the global
social and economic disruption will
also cause SME to review, analyze and
develop a new business model. The
entire revenue and cost structures of our
organization, our services and benefits
to members and the way day-to-day
business is carried out are impacted.
Membership dues are a key source of
revenue, so we hope that all of you will
not only maintain your place at SME,
but that you will encourage associates
and colleagues to join the best mining
organization on the globe. While the
format of some member benefits may
have changed, SME offers a wealth
of leading-edge technical resources to
help you excel in your job. For the price,
membership in SME is a great value.
Our annual conference and technical
meetings also bring in critical revenues
and have significant costs to stage them
professionally. The paradigm for holding
a large conference will change. Whether
it is all face-to-face, or perhaps a hybrid
that includes a virtual component, the
way we attend live events will change.
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We are confident that SME will continue
to bring the best technical content to its Your
Knowledge
members, the industry and interested
stakeholders. And while the expectations
will be different, the SME committees
and staff will continue to do an immense
amount of planning and work to make
the whole package worthwhile and
enjoyable.
Explore all aspects of
The cost and size of the meeting mining influence water
location, hotel or convention center with the six volume set
space will change, as will catering Management
costs. The audio visual and computing
needs will likely be amplified, internet Technologies for
broadcasting abilities will be a premium. Metal Mining
Importantly, the number of exhibitors Influenced Water Series
will likely be different as will the need
for display space.
The SME staff is working diligently
and with urgency to create a business
model that reflects these new realities.
Even creating a base case scenario
engenders a lot of estimating with large
margins for error. Working together, we
can optimize the value created by the
coming changes to further improve SME
for its members and solidify its status as
the premier mining and underground
construction organization. n
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Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOber 2020 17
Underground

Performance optimization in underground

mining combining strategic development and wireless
technologies
by Klaus Pacheco Hague and Víctor O. Tenorio

C urrently there is a
trend to maximize the
productivity of underground
Figure 1
Typical sublevel stoping layout. Source: Atlas Copco (now
operations by implementing Epiroc).
diverse technologies.
However, differences between
manufacturers and the purpose
of their functions become a
major challenge for smooth
integration. At the same time,
the design of excavations may
need modifications when the
demand for production increases
and changes in development
are required. The combination
of strategic design and the
utilization of new wireless
technologies may represent a
significant improvement in the
effort of optimizing the overall
performance. A proposed
solution for implementing a mine
plan that includes near-real-time
performance measurements,
workstation design with tracking
systems, the integration of
diverse production areas and
analysis of results is presented
to obtain measurable outcomes
and help reduce operational
delays while increasing safety for
operators.
Mining companies are
constantly trying to improve productivity performing adequate decision making. This
through the optimization of production action should focus as much as possible on
cycles by reducing operational delays, preventive actions and corrective actions as
reducing costs and well.
controlling workforce The present work is an approximation
Klaus Pacheco Hague and Víctor
and equipment risks. of the design of a mining operations control
O. Tenorio are mining engineer/
The advance of current system considering all aspects included
graduate student in mining
technologies allows in the process. Interacting disciplines are
and geological engineering and
a company to use its geology, engineering, planning, operations,
professor of practice, Mine Intel-
benefits to create a safety and geomechanics, among others.
ligence Research Group, respec-
communication and All of them can be integrated through
tively, Department of Mining and
control system that interconnection using a monitoring and
Geological Engineering at the
unifies the information control system with the use of new wireless
University of Arizona in Tucson,
and centralizes it with communication technologies. This is based
AZ, email kpacheco@email.
the idea of helping with on an underground mining operation with
arizona.edu.
the analysis of data and the mining method of sublevel stoping with

18 OCTOber 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

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Underground
Figure 2
Control room scope.
long drills, which is a method of massive
mining that involves high productivity
and high traffic of equipment, as well as
constant control of parallel activities and
the risks associated with daily operation in a
underground mine.
The management of a mine is a process
that involves the optimal use of all the
resources available in the organization
(human, physical, technological and
financial), so that through planning,
organization, direction and control, the set
of objectives can be achieved.
The present work defines some design
criteria to consider, starting with the
description of the mining method used
and the operations infrastructure, with
the purpose of defining the appropriate
communications and control system. Some
concepts related to the selection of the
type of network, system coverage and
characteristics of the control room for the
remote management of the operation are
explained. Moreover, some work schemes
and associated risks will are described.
Planning and control in mining operations
Planning is the first function that is
executed. Once the objectives have been
determined, the necessary means to achieve
these objectives are presented as plans.
20 OCTOber 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
The last phase of the
management process is
the control function. Its
immediate purpose is to
measure, qualitatively
and quantitatively, the
execution in relation
to the action patterns
and, as a result of this
comparison, determine
whether it is necessary
to take corrective
actions. The adequate
planning and control
in a mining operation
is given by the way it is
designed and how the
operational processes are
measured and managed.
The advancement of
technology with the use
of communications and
control systems, almost
in real time, allows both
stages of management
to be developed in a
more optimized way.
The integration of mining information
from equipment to process control system
contributes to potentially reduction reducing
delays in decision making (Knights and
Scoble, 1995).
There are different ways to plan and
control a mining operation. One of them is
to establish management indicators aligned
with the objectives of the company that allow
monitoring of the most important processes
in an operation. The management indicators
are data that reflect the results of actions
taken in the past and are the basis for actions
to be taken in the present and in the future.
Key performance indicators are collections
of measured data that are used for evaluating
the performance of an operation. They
are the tools utilized by management to
evaluate the performance of an activity.
These assessments usually compare the
actual and estimated performance in terms
of efficiency, efficacy and quality (Cox et al.,
2003). The indicators should reflect truthful,
reliable and unambiguous data so that
their interpretation is clear. These results
will allow managers to determine if the
operation and the organization are fulfilling
the objectives, have deficiencies or are going
beyond being successful. The indicators
must be measurable, understandable and
controllable.
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
 ANSWERING MINING’S
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Underground
Figure 3
Production section. Source: MineSight software, 2019 (now MinePlan
by Hexagon).
Examples of some aspects to be
measured with the idea of performing better
control of the operation are:
• Workforce tracking and development will influence the choice of the
location.
• Atmospheric monitoring.
• Environmental monitoring.
• Emergency response.
• Geotechnical evaluations.
• Ventilation system and clean the type of system to be used, whether it is
air demand.
• Diesel emissions.
• Air cooling and compressing accessories to be used as supports, stations,
systems parameters.
• Production times and delays.
• Equipment monitoring, can be classified according to several
utilization, performance and aspects; one of them is the way ore is
efficiency.
• Traffic control.
• Blasting system performance.
• Drilling system performance.
• Maintenance time and The present study is based on an
availability.
• Pumping system performance.
• Backfilling system efficiency.
Criteria to consider in the design
The proper communication and
22 OCTOber 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
control system starts from knowing the
characteristics of the mine and the mining
method and how to properly distribute the
data collection system along the existing
infrastructure and how it should be in
line with the daily production processes.
This data collection consists of voice,
video and data-transfer communications
interconnected with the equipment in the
mine and a dispatch system. Part of the
system would include a wired connection to
a certain part of the mine infrastructure and
the other part wireless communication due
to the benefits and advantages of this type
of connection.
A fundamental part of this design
involves determining the type of system
to be used and the type of distribution
recommended, considering that a mine is
not static but is constantly changing and
is also subject to processes, involving the
use of energy such as blasting that force an
optimal system to be designed. A correct
distribution diagram includes an analysis of
aspects such as main and secondary accesses,
location of work, work cycles, location of
equipment, resource utilization, energy
sources and risk assessment.
Describing the type of mining
The importance of defining the mining
method lies in how the shape of the
structure and the progress in infrastructure
type of communication and control network.
This has a direct effect on where and how
the communications and control system
is installed and deployed. Several factors
related to the infrastructure will influence
copper cables, fiber optic, coaxial or wireless
systems. This is also related to the type of
auxiliary units, shielding and emergency
systems. Underground exploitation methods
extracted either using blasting systems or
by using mechanical excavation machinery
without the use of explosives, such as raise
boring or continuous miners.
underground mine that uses the sublevel
stoping mining method with long drills
to produce ore. Sublevel stoping is an
application of the principles of blasting in
openpit banks to underground holdings.
The exploitation is carried out through the
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
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Underground
Figure 4
Scheme of system distribution in vertical section.
sublevels for drilling and blasting at fixed
intervals in ascending and descending form,
with main levels and ramps for mineral
extraction. This type of method is considered
a massive method of underground
exploitation that generates large tonnages
of fractured ore and therefore large volumes
resulting from swelling. To decide on the use
of this mining method, a series of studies
must be carried out.
The selection of massive methods faces
the challenge of planning and for this we
must take into account the following criteria:
• Geometry of the deposit.
• Distribution of the mineral and its
grades.
• Geotechnical properties of mineral
and rock.
• Technical and economic aspects.
• The dip must be greater than 40º.
• Boxing rocks must be competent and
resistant.
• The mineral must be competent and
with good stability.
• The limits of the deposits must be
wide and regular.
Figure 1 shows a vertical section with the
typical layout and infrastructure distribution
24 OCTOber 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
in the sublevel stoping mining method.
Network type selection
The selection of the type of network and
its design depends on many factors such as:
• The status of operations, determining
the location of the network
depending on where it would be
located if this is an exploration area,
production, mine development,
auxiliary services, pumping chambers,
electric stations, main ventilation
circuits, backfilling plants and
electrical substations.
• Time of permanence of the
communication network, depending
on what phase the installation zone
is in. For example, is it new work, is
it in constant production, is it in the
culmination stage, mine-filling area,
etc.? In this case, the installation of
wireless systems reduces the cost of
permanent installations and allows
the equipment to be reinstalled in
adjacent areas.
• The purpose of the installation.
That is, if it is required for control,
monitoring, data storage, video
surveillance, tracking or emergency
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
 Underground

response and alarms. transmitters and receivers of the signal,

• The type of network required
based on current technology such
as fiber optics, coaxial cable, copper
cables, radio signal, video and data
transmission.
Theoretical concepts
Current technology allows us to decide
on the type of system to be used according
to its characteristics and uses, as well as the
need and adaptability of these to the work
area. The current systems available are
installations with coaxial cable, optical fiber
and wireless systems.
Installation with coaxial cable. The
coaxial cable is used to transport high-
frequency electrical signals. The main
objective of this element is transport of the
signals, but with a high frequency, without
losing sharpness in the path. It is useful for
the transport of the high frequency, in turn,
for the digitization of multiple transmission
sources and with frequencies that are
increasingly high. Most of the
impedances of the coaxial cable
work between 50 ohms and 75
ohms. It is recommended for video
monitoring and communication
facilities.
among which are antennae, laptops, PDAs
and mobile phones. Currently, wireless
transmission is an effective tool that
allows the transfer of voice, data and video
without the need for wiring. This transfer
of information is achieved through the
emission of radio waves that have two
advantages: mobility and flexibility of the
system in general.
Communication and control coverage
For proper information management
and data analysis, audio, video and
data transfer are recommended. This
distribution is based on the need in a
specific work area, as well as the reason for
its installation, which may be monitoring,
control or tracking.
Regarding audio communications, it is
recommended that workers, supervisors
and support staff have a communications
system that allows them to interact
between workforce in the mine and on the
surface. Each equipment operator must

Installation with fiber optics.

The optical fiber is a flexible,
transparent fiber made of silica
or plastic in a slightly thin
diameter. They are widely used in Impact Saddle and Cushion Arc
® ®

communications, where they allow

transmission over distances and in
bandwidths (speed of data) larger
than electric wires. Fibers are used,
instead of metal wires, because
the signals travel through them
with less loss. In addition, fibers
are immune to electromagnetic
interference, a problem from which
metal cables suffer. An extended
use is for sensors and fiber lasers.

Wireless system. Wireless

communication is one in which
the communication (transmitter/
receiver) is not realized by means
For application assistance call
of physical propagation, but
1.800.237.6951
instead uses the modulation of
electromagnetic waves through
space. In this sense, physical
©Richwood 2019
devices are only present in the
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOber 2020 25

Mining Engineering 20.indd 1 3/12/20 9:48 AM

Underground
Figure 5
Scheme of system distribution in horizontal view.
have a portable radio with batteries that
allows him or her to report breakdowns
or perform requirements in real time.
An important aspect to consider is the
use of these tools for risk activities such
as coordinating blasting, rescues and
emergencies.
In communications and control through
video surveillance, the main use is the
monitoring of work areas, keeping the
control in function of the workforce and
the equipment, as well as the situation of
access and roads. If the control of critical
areas such as shaft, ore passes, powder keg,
main entrances and exits, main ventilation
systems, shelters, warehouses or pumping
systems is necessary, then the visual
monitoring system could include alert
systems.
In relation to data transmission,
specialists usually recommend the use of
fiber optics and an internet connection
system installed in the mine. The data
transmission is regulated according to the
amount of information that is required
to process. This makes the installation
of a server that processes and stores the
information paramount. The data would
be captured by sensors installed at specific
points or, alternatively, entered manually
by the operators with the help of portable
devices such as tablets or smart phones and
the information would be downloaded to a
control point.
26 OCTOber 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
Control room
Control rooms are specialized rooms
to manage all emergency requests and
view or monitor processes effectively,
efficiently and immediately. This is carried
out thanks to its concept and design. That
is, the objective of its design will be to
carry out all these tasks in an optimal way
for its vision, control and management.
The core of the central control room is the
integration of information technology (IT)
and operations technology (OP), which
brings data from real-time systems (from the
mines) into IT software. These are among
the key opportunities to enhance efficiency,
responsiveness and profitability across the
mining value chain (Mielli, 2013). A control
room for remote operations is related to the
ability to respond to situations that arise
after receiving and processing the data.
This implies receiving the information and
issuing a signal or response action. This
room must be an integral operation control
room that includes the entry and data
processing of the different unit operations in
the mine. With a centralized control room, it
is possible to monitor and follow up all the
equipment used in a mine. It involves the
recording and analysis of several thousand
processing variables, often transmitted from
locations several kilometers away. A control
room also allows monitoring, operation and
control of existing auxiliary equipment and
facilities in a mine. Data, verbal information,
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

radio signals, video images and alert
messages will be transmitted and collected
centrally. This information can also be fed
to the operational network of areas related
to the mine such as the plant, workshops,
warehouses, etc. or provided to other users.
A scheme of a control room and its scope
is shown in Fig. 2.
By using this system, mine operators
have a complete overview of the mine at
all times and can determine who else can
receive the information. The application
of a multifunctional open system is an
essential element in the design of a
control room. When using the Ethernet
and TCP/IP protocol, all installed devices
are compatible, and the distance does
not cause major problems. The system
separates the process control from the
management level, guaranteeing a stable
and safe function. Figures can be displayed
in full screen or in a diminished window
or can be transferred to a large-screen
monitor. Operators decide who can access
the data, who will have active access rights
and who will be assigned read-only rights.
The data can be saved as HTML files,
which can then be retrieved through a web
browser. Installing a central control station
can reduce costs through:
• Optimization of the workforce since
the control room only requires two
or three people per shift, so workers
can be assigned to other areas.
• Reduction of maintenance as
problems are recognized before
they can cause serious damage. In
other words, the preventive process
is made easier with a control room.
• Reduction of delay in the processes
due to the fact that the documents
and reports are issued automatically,
reaching the end users and being
processed simultaneously with the
operative process.
Case-study application
The mining operation under study
has 17 main levels with more than 35
production sublevels and more than 340
km (211 miles) of mining work that are
being extended to the south and in greater
depth for exploratory purposes. Currently
there is a radio communication connection
through the installation of Flexcom cable
with 85 percent coverage. Due to the need
to automate operations, the possibility
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
Underground
of installing a control and monitoring
system is analyzed. The entry of the current
communication is through the main
access ramp, which is 9.05 km (5.62 miles)
long with an average negative gradient
of 8-10 percent. The mine is planning to
increase another 4 km (2.4 miles) more
in explorations and about 30 km (18.6
miles) in production areas. The operation
involves ore production zone, areas under
development and preparation, auxiliary
service areas, mine filling system, pumping
systems, and energy circuits.
Figure 3 shows a production area
section with the layout and infrastructure
distribution.
It is proposed to establish a system
of communication and control of
the operation by integrating all the
participatory elements in the process by
installing systems recommended by the
manufacturers. According to information
from suppliers, the installation cost of a
conventional system on average varies
in the range of $15-$20 per linear meter
compared to a wireless system, which can
vary in the range of $25-$30 per linear
meter.
The idea of the process optimization
and remote control of the processes
is to install data collection systems in
the equipment so that the information
is obtained by receiving equipment
with wireless technology and telemetry
along the road and work areas. This
equipment consists of ore passes, dumps,
hydraulic hoppers, fans and ventilation
circuits, mechanized drilling and support
equipment, material hauling and transport
equipment, pumping systems, mine filling
systems and electrical substations. A
schematic of the distribution of the system
is shown in a vertical section (Fig. 4) and a
horizontal section (Fig. 5) for a production
area and the control elements to be
considered. n
References
Cox, R. F., Issa, R. R., & Ahrens, D. (2003).
“Management's perception of key performance
indicators for construction.” Journal of Construction
Engineering and Management, 129(2), 142-151.
Knights P., and Scoble, M., (1995), “Integrated
mining information and control system: towards the
digital mine.” SME preprint 91-121.
Mielli. F., (2013). The Central Control Room:
Improving Mine Operational Performance.
Engineering & Mining Journal
Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOber 2020 27
 Dump Planning Optimization
Dump planning optimization
with environmental constraints
by J. Dufayard, R.E. Vivas and C. Goldsmith
A significant amount of the world’s
nickel production comes from New
Caledonia, a French island located in the
South Pacific Ocean. New Caledonia is on
of the top five producers in the world, with
more than 90 percent of the island’s exports
being metallurgical goods. There are several
mines and mining companies operating in this
region. The mining industry in New Caledonia
Figure 1
Geologic cross section.
provides a large number of jobs to the local
population both directly at the mine and
indirectly through administrative positions and
mining contractors.
The mining companies also provide to the
community, investing in both sustainability
and local cultures. There
J. Dufayard, R.E. Vivas and C. are preservation efforts for
Goldsmith are geology & mine the indigenous languages
planning manager, Vale NC, New in New Caledonia, to both
Caledonia, France and principal teach interested students
mine planning specialist and and ensure that the
mine planning specialist (SME languages are documented
members), Hexagon Mining in and kept. Numerous
Tucson, AZ, respectively. Email conservation groups, local
ernesto.vivas@hexagon.com. tribes and government
organizations ensure the
28 OCTOber 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
preservation of the rich marine ecosystem.
In 2008, UNESCO added the Lagoons of
New Caledonia to the World Heritage Site list.
The reef systems in the area are among the
three largest in the world and rival the Great
Barrier Reef in coral and fish species diversity.
There are serious conservation efforts in place
to maintain their condition, and all fishing and
mining activities are strictly watched in order
to minimize their impact.
Project overview
The nickel/cobalt mines
in New Caledonia consist
of mostly openpit, truck
and shovel operations. This
type of mining is favorable
as nickel laterite deposits
are massive and typically
located close to the surface.
The deposition sequence
includes iron oxides
(laterites) near the surface
and magnesium silicates
(saprolites) beneath. The
top layer primarily consists
of low-grade material,
while the high-grade ore
is found at the bottom of
the saprolites. Figure 1
shows an example cross
section and the associated
mineralization.
The laterite and
saprolite ores are extracted using hydraulic
excavators and bulldozers, and the haulage
is carried by a fleet of dump trucks. The
climate on the island is tropical and the hot
season (December to March) is humid and
rainy. The top soil layers often become slick
mud, which can impair the road conditions,
making average driving speeds slower. In
addition to the rain interfering with the
driving conditions, mine sites constantly deal
with water management and erosion control.
The mine site needs appropriate drainage in
place, and the waste impoundments need to
be monitored, with appropriate dewatering
measures. All these efforts require constant
maintenance from the mine, as the working
areas change.
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
 Dump Planning Optimization
Table 1
Cobalt usage by year.

Once the ore is mined from the pit, the Usage industry 2006 2016 2020 (est.)
material is sent to the high-pressure acid Lithium-ion batteries 20 percent 51 percent 62 percent
leach (HPAL) for recovery of nickel. HPAL
Super alloys 24 percent 20 percent 16 percent
is a process in which nickel and cobalt are
extracted using elevated temperatures and Hard metals 12 percent 8 percent 6 percent
pressures in order to separate the metals from Ceramics & pigments 10 percent 8 percent 6 percent
their ore. This process is beneficial because of
its ability to process ore quickly and efficiently. Other 34 percent 13 percent 10 percent
In our current industrial setting, both nickel
and cobalt are sought after and heavily used. order to maintain the balance and meet the
Nickel is resistant to corrosion even at blend for the final product. The first step in this
high temperature and is used to plate other process is restraining the amount of material
metals to protect them. The primary industrial that is allowed into the mineral processing
use is for alloys, specifically in the creation plant. This can be done through application
of stainless steel. Nickel alloys are also used of constraints and restrictions that allow for
in desalination plants, and boat/turbine a reasonable processing of all the desired ore.
propellers. Outside of alloys, nickel is also used Sequential planning of the waste dumps and
in nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hybrid how they connect into the haulage plan is very
batteries, as well as coins and currency pieces. important in the life-of-mine plan.
Cobalt is a major component of lithium-ion
batteries, which is a developing industry Pushback and slope design — with
due to the rise of the electric car industry. constraints for mill. Over the course of
Other industries include superalloys, material their lives, these mines may have different
strengtheners, and the ceramics and pigments pushbacks and extraction points used to
industry. Table 1 details predictions of cobalt excavate the area and produce the resources.
usage by industry. A detailed plan is required in order to meet
In addition to using cobalt in these all the constraints, both production and
batteries, newer lithium-ion batteries are using environmental. The initial design of these
nickel manganese in their production. With pushbacks and associated dumping locations is
electric cars, and lithium batteries becoming what drives and limits the production schedule
more common, these metals will only become as the pit is excavated and backfilled. There
more sought after. The New Caledonian mines may have to be several designs created and
are contributing to the production of green manipulated in order to meet the variety of
technologies. restrictions that are in place. Even once an
initial plan is developed, it will have to be
Dump planning optimization revisited and altered as the mine develops
The mines of New Caledonia are subject in order to clearly understand the future
to the highest environmental standards and workings to proceed.
regulations. One example is the restriction
of disturbance limits. The disturbance area
is restricted to the ultimate pit limits, and
all mining activity must stay in this confined Figure 2
area. This imposes a series of limitations and Pit with highlighted mining direction.
challenges, including a limitation on the space
available for waste dumps. So, throughout
these projects it may be necessary to backfill
the pit with waste material. However, opening
the space on the pit floor to accommodate the
waste can be tricky. In addition to the opening
of the pit floor, the blending of grades is
important, which makes planning of the mine
pushbacks and of the dump sequencing a
difficult task. These deposits contain both
manganese and magnesium, which need to
be controlled to meet the plant technical
requirements. This poses a significant
challenge in mine planning as the excavation
requires precise removal of material types in
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOber 2020 29
Dump Planning Optimization
Figure 3
Pit design parameters.
The slopes of the pit walls need to be
designed to withstand the heavy amounts of
water that are present. Combined with the
changing geology this poses an interesting
problem when designing pit slopes. In some
mines, the final design includes multiple geo-
tech slopes zones. For example, there may be
specific design parameters that vary according
to the geotechnical recommendations.
Since there will be workings in both areas
of the geological zones, different slope designs
need to be in place. Maintaining these two
slope designs is of utmost importance to stay
on top of the structural integrity of the areas.
This means that there needs to be a consistent
effort by the planning and operations staff to
ensure that the working and completed areas
are safe and stable.
While the material excavation aims to
mine the best ore first, with high nickel and
cobalt grades often come high magnesium and
manganese as well. These two minerals need
to be processed with a very specific balance
to ensure that the processing proceeds as
planned. The manganese and magnesium
percentages must be within certain ranges
as required by the plant. At these ranges
the recovery rate for desired minerals
can be optimized, while the acid and lime
consumption are kept to a reasonable amount.
This is critical for the processing plant, as
exceeding these percentage amounts would
cause the consumption rates of acid and
lime to increase. Increasing the consumption
rates means importing or creating more
of these materials, which is not desirable
30 OCTOber 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
environmentally or from a
production standpoint. Taking
all of this into consideration
creates a difficult task when
designing the excavation
sequencing, furthering the
need for attention to detail.
In addition to the material
constraints and slope designs,
the pit boundary limits and
dump design heavily impact
the design process.
Backfilling and dump
sequencing — following
pushback design and pit
availability. While structure
and blending are prevalent
design problems, the handling
and designation of waste
material is another planning
issue. The first workings of the
mine require a large in-pit dump that places
the waste material further into the pit. This
dump will be located near the excavation
surface, and as close to the workings as
possible, to minimize the rehandling distance.
After the first few pushbacks have been
mined, the space will then be needed for waste
material. The previous waste material will be
rehandled, and the first backfilling dump will
be constructed so all the ore-bearing material
can be extracted. As the old waste material
is being moved into first in-pit dump areas,
the excavation group will have to manipulate
the working faces so material will always be
available for blending.
Multiple iterations of the dump designs
may be required to ensure that different
areas of the pit become available to mine. It is
important to have multiple working faces, both
for blending and for unexpected operational
issues. Similarly, the inclusion of high cobalt
grade in the design plan will change the
footprint of the pit that further limits the space
for dumping.
A balance will be struck between finding
the appropriate blend, and simultaneously
removing the material from the previous
dump site, in order to relocate it to the
newest in-pit dump site. The inner workings
of the mine will consistently be changing, and
operations will need to be in constant control
of the next plan. As the last phases of the
mines are excavated, the final layers will be
added to the in-pit dumps. As the benches are
not particularly tall, the material can be moved
quickly, and the dumps will begin to expand
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
 Dump Planning Optimization
Figure 4
Allocating phase 1 waste material to an in-pit dump that will
later be excavated.
rapidly. This will aid in the reclamation efforts
at the site, making the overall footprint of the
mine smaller.
Over the life of the mine, the first
working areas of the mine will be completely
covered with the in-pit dumps. By the end
of the mine’s excavation, the working areas
from the middle of the mine’s life will also
be covered. Reclamation efforts can ensure
that these areas are consistent with the pre-
mining environments. While optimizing profits
and delivering the correct blend of material
is important, meeting the environmental Figure 5
responsibilities and constraints are the main Relocating the in-pit dump.
drivers of the schedules and dumping plans.

Conclusions
In the coming years new developments and
plans will continue to improve the quality of
mining, and the recovery of desired minerals.
It is important to minimize the impact of
mining on local ecosystems and preserve the
landscape that minerals are extracted from.
By backfilling the waste material, the impact
of the mine site on the local environment can
be reduced and reclamation efforts can begin
faster. Mine plans may have rigid restrictions
that need to be met, but manipulating the
constraints that are available allows for a Figure 6
plan that is both precise, and achievable. Continuing the backfilling process.
Finding the best location for backfilling the
dump sequence can be an iterative problem
as it depends on the space available as the pit
opens up. The space available in the pit for
backfilling may in turn be a function of the
grade and blending requirements that dictate
how the pit opens up and limits the space
available for the in-pit dumps. n

References
Garcia, J. and Vivas, R.E. (2015) “Reconciling mine
plans with mine operations at Freeport-McMoRan
Sierrita,” Englewood, CO. Society for Mining, Metallurgy,
and Exploration Inc. (SME), Preprint 15-119. Figure 7
Haynes, W. M. (2017). CRC Handbook of chemistry
and physics: A ready-reference book of chemical and
Finalizing the backfill dumps.
physical data. (97th ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. doi:
978-1-4987-5429-3
Villa, J. A., Vivas, R. E., & Reyna, P. (2017, February).
Peña Colorada iron ore project Coeur ready for gold,
silver’s return USGS’ iron ore production report. Mining
Engineering:
Peña Colorada Iron Ore Project Coeur Ready for
Gold, Silver’s Return USGS’ Iron Ore Production Report,
69(2), 14–19.
Zozaya, L. and Vivas, R.E. (2016) “Pursuing
Operational Excellence at Cobre del Mayo,” Tucson, AZ.
Hexagon Mining.

www.miningengineeringmagazine.com Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOber 2020 31

Regulatory Training
Regulatory training-needs assessment:
Survey highlights industry trends and best practices
by Lori Guasta, Hugh Miller and Michelle Reiher
Figure 1
Respondents’ occupation or affiliation.
T he Colorado School of Mines’ (CSM) Energy,
Mining and Construction Industry Safety
(EMCIS) program has been providing U.S. Mine
Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)-
required training to students, individuals and
companies throughout the United States for more
than 20 years. This training has been possible
through NIOSH support under a U60 cooperative
agreement. The program is particularly critical
for underserviced populations working on mine
sites, including contractors, suppliers, consultants,
equipment manufacturers and small mine
operators. In this new decade of 2020, the EMCIS
program is working to support current and future
efforts to increase the quality, availability and
delivery of MSHA-required training. Effective
regulatory training, strategic partnerships and
outreach and research efforts to support this
work are important to ensure the competencies of
mining professionals. These activities also serve to
promote compliance and best practices to ensure a
safe and healthy workforce in the mining industry.
In January 2020, a training-needs assessment
survey was conducted to solicit feedback regarding
MSHA-required training. The results from this
survey will be used as a
continuous-improvement
The authors are principal inves- mechanism to ensure that
tigators and staff at the Energy, training and other services
Mining and Construction Safety provided through EMCIS
Program at the Colorado School are meeting the needs of the
of Mines in Golden, CO, email industry and prospective
emcis@mines.edu. trainees.
A convenience sample
32 OCTOber 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
was used to solicit participation through
social media platforms (LinkedIn and the
CSM Mining Engineering Department’s
Facebook page). A purposive sampling
technique was also used by sending a
request for participation to a contact list of
more than 700 former trainees. The survey
contained a total of 19 items and was open
for a total of seven weeks. Feedback was
collected from a total of 68 respondents.
Key takeaways
• MSHA-required training is needed among
a variety of direct and indirect mining
industry jobs.
• While work in the metal/nonmetal sector
was represented more than coal or
construction, overlap exists in trainees
serving both surface and underground
mining.
• Companies with fewer than 100
employees are more likely to use external
trainers for MSHA-required training.
• Instructional methods most commonly
used in MSHA-required training include:
lecture provided by main trainers (84
percent), PowerPoint presentations (78
percent) and videos (DVDs, YouTube,
etc.) (65 percent). Approximately 19
percent of participants reported that
online delivery was used.
• A need exists to use instructional
methods and facilitation that encourage
participation and interaction among
trainees.
• Qualitative insights from narrative
comments collected include: 1) value
of interactive instructional methods;
2) value of games to encourage active
participation; 3) value of experienced
and knowledgeable trainers; 4) specific
training content matters; 5) value of real-
life stories to communicate safety; and
6) importance of training content being
current and relevant.
Description of the sample
The majority of respondents were affiliated
with a mining company (36 percent) or identified
themselves as a consultant (31 percent).
Figure 1 shows a range of direct and indirect
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 Regulatory Training
Figure 2
Respondents’ position or department.
mining positions including equipment
manufacturer (15 percent), mining
supplier (12 percent), original equipment
manufacturer (OEM) (9 percent) and
academia (6 percent). This finding
supports EMCIS’s efforts to provide
training and services to a variety of
underserviced populations working on
mine sites.
With regard to position, the majority
of respondents identified as a safety
professional (35 percent), followed by
senior leader or middle manager (32
percent), and nearly 24 percent of the
sample reported working in engineering.
An additional 13 percent of respondents
13 percent of respondents that reported “other,”
selected training department to describe their
narrative descriptions provided included: oil and
position; 9 percent reported as administrative
gas, tire repair and sales; power hydro; abandoned
or technical staff; 9 percent reported as hourly
mine cleanup/rehab; water management,
employee; and 4 percent reported as frontline
reclamation/environmental; and nuclear-waste
supervisor. The remaining 10 percent that reported
disposal.
as other described themselves as: photographer,
When asked “What type of mining do you
owner/operator; territory sales rep.; business
work in? (select all that apply),” the majority of
development manager; and geologist/surveyor/
respondents reported working in both surface (76
equipment operator/mechanic (Fig. 2).
percent) and underground (69 percent) mining.
Nearly 78 percent of respondents reported
Nearly 31 percent of respondents reported
working in the metal/nonmetal sector, and 44
working in construction. Other types of mining
percent reported working in coal. In addition,
that respondents reported working in included
31 percent of respondents reported working
dredging (7 percent), in situ (3 percent) and other
in aggregate or construction materials and 19
(4 percent) with narrative descriptions including
percent in industrial minerals (Fig. 3). Among the

Figure 3 Figure 4
Respondents’ commodity affiliation. Respondents’ mining sector affiliation.

Dredging, 7%

www.miningengineeringmagazine.com Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOber 2020 33

Regulatory Training
Figure 5
Respondents’ organization size.

exploration and reclamation (Fig. 4).

Among the total sample, the size of
organizations they were affiliated with was
somewhat evenly distributed with 34 percent
of respondents coming from organizations with
fewer than 100 employees, 22 percent from
companies with 250-500 employees, 15 percent
from companies with 500-1,000 employees and
nearly 21 percent from companies with more than
1,000 employees (Fig. 5).
When asked “What percentage of employees
in your company is required to receive regulatory
training,” more than 51 percent of the sample
reported 76-100 percent, which indicates an
Figure 6 existing demand for new miner and annual
Percentage of respondents’ company employees that require MSHA refresher training (Fig. 6). With a more even
training. distribution among other percentages reported
(12 percent reported 25-49 percent, 10-24
percent, and 9 percent or less), it is also worth
noting that individual needs for training exist for
employees working in indirect mining or roles and
professions.
With regard to who provides the MSHA-
required training, data collected revealed an
even distribution reported for internal company
trainers (onsite or corporate trainers) — (32
percent) and external trainers (consultants or
state-sponsored training organizations) — (32
percent). This finding is further supported by 28
percent of respondents reporting that MSHA-
required training is provided by a balanced mix of
Figure 7 both internal and external training resources (Fig.
7).
Training resources used by respondents’ company. Of particular interest, respondents who
reported working for a company with fewer
than 100 employees were most likely to report
that training is provided by external trainers
(61 percent), compared to internal trainers (17
percent) or a mix of internal and external trainers
(13 percent). Respondents from companies of 250-
500 employees reported using more of a balanced
mix of internal and external trainers (46 percent)
and only 20 percent of training provided mainly by
external trainers. Respondents from companies of
over 1,000 employees reported that approximately
14 percent of training is provided by external
trainers and 28 percent by a balanced mix of
external and internal trainers.

Instructional methods
When asked to note which instructional
methods are used in respondents’ experience
with regulatory training, several common
methods were identified. Nearly 84 percent of all
respondents indicated that a lecture provided by
main trainers was used, followed by PowerPoint
presentations (78 percent) and videos (DVDs
and YouTube) (65 percent). Nearly 53 percent of
34 OCTOber 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

Figure 8
Instructional methods used in respondents’ past MSHA-required training.
respondents reported that interactive exercises
or games (small or large group activities) and
hands-on techniques were used, followed by
quizzes or tests (43 percent), live demonstrations
(32 percent) and special guest presentations (29
percent). Approximately 19 percent of participants
reported that online delivery was used. This aligns
with narrative data collected that reveal the
potential for increased use of more interactive
instructional methods, compared to traditional
lecture, PowerPoint presentations and videos
(Fig. 8).
Training effectiveness
Seven survey items were used to measure
respondents’ perception of training effectiveness.
Responses collected were based on a Likert-
Figure 9
Respondents’ perception of past MSHA-required training effectiveness.
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
Regulatory Training
type agreement scale of 1 to 5 with 5 indicating
the most favorable response of “strongly agree.”
Based on Kirkpatrick’s (1994) model of training
evaluation, Level 1 or reaction data collected were
overwhelmingly positive (either a 4 or 5) for each
of the items. Figure 9 shows the percentage of the
sample that disagreed, were neutral or agreed
with the item statements regarding: 1) clearly
communicated training objectives (88 percent
favorable); 2) training content being organized
and easy to follow (90 percent favorable); 3)
the facilitator being knowledgeable about the
content (85 percent favorable); 4) the facilitator
being well-prepared (82 percent favorable); 5)
participation and interaction being encouraged
(76 percent favorable); 6) topics considered
relevant (81 percent favorable); and 7) the
Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOber 2020 35
Regulatory Training
effectiveness of instructional methods used (82
percent favorable). These finding suggest that one
area for improvement in MSHA-required training
is the use of instructional methods and facilitation
to ensure participation and trainee interaction.
Qualitative insights
Four qualitative items were included in
the survey to gain a deeper understanding of
respondents’ perceptions and needs regarding
regulatory training. These items included:
1. What will you remember most about
past MSHA-required training you have
received?
2. What was the best part about past
MSHA-required training you received?
3. What suggestions do you have for
improving past MSHA-required training?
4. What are other types of training (or
topics) you are interested in? Are
there other safety-related services your
company could benefit from (such as
audits, perception surveys, etc.)?
5. Thematic analysis was conducted based
on 265 narrative comments collected, and
several dominant themes were revealed:
1) The use of interactive instructional
methods lends to training effectiveness.
2) The use of games encourages active
participation.
3) Experienced and knowledgeable
trainers are key to training effectiveness.
4) Specific training content matters.
5) The use of real-life stories is important
to communicate safety.
6) It is important to continually update
training content for training effectiveness.
The qualitative data to support these themes
are available upon request or can be accessed at
the EMCIS website.
Summary and discussion
This training needs assessment was conducted
to explore the perceptions and interests among
professionals in the mining industry who have
experience with MSHA-required training, such as
new miner or annual refresher training. Based on
a sample of 68 survey respondents, it was found
that MSHA-required training is needed among
a variety of direct and indirect mining industry
jobs. While work in the metal/nonmetal sector
was represented more than coal or construction, a
majority of trainees reported serving both surface
and underground mining. It was also found that
companies with fewer than 100 employees are
more likely to use external trainers for MSHA-
36 OCTOber 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
required training.
Instructional methods most commonly
reported to be used in MSHA-required training
include: a lecture provided by main trainers,
PowerPoint presentations, and videos (e.g., DVDs
and YouTube) (65 percent). Approximately 19
percent of participants reported that online
delivery was used. Analysis of the survey data
revealed that a need exists to use instructional
methods and facilitation that encourage
participation and interaction among trainees. This
finding was strongly supported by qualitative
insights gleaned from approximately 265 narrative
comments. The findings revealed by the qualitative
data included: 1) the value of using interactive
instructional methods; 2) the value of using games
to encourage active participation; 3) the value of
experienced and knowledgeable trainers; 4) that
specific training content matters; 5) value exists in
using real-life stories and cases to communicate
safety; and 6) a need exists to ensure training
content is current and relevant to trainees.
Limitations of this research activity involve
the use of convenience and purposive sampling,
producing a sample of only 68 respondents. In
addition, it is likely that approximately half of the
sample included former participants in MSHA-
required training delivered through the EMCIS
program. While this characteristic of the sample
may limit the ability to transfer findings to a larger
population, data analysis and the findings from
this research activity can be considered a type of
evaluation measure for the EMCIS program.
Numerous favorable comments about MSHA-
required training were collected that directly
connect to EMCIS-specific training (e.g., use
of Jenga, Mine-opoly, and other specific games
that EMCIS uses in training, as well as a mine
tour to the Edgar training mine maintained by
the Colorado School of Mines). Due primarily
to the small sample size in this research activity,
continued efforts are needed to collect training-
needs assessment data more broadly across the
mining industry.
This article was supported by the Cooperative
Agreement Number, U60OH010017, funded by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Its contents are solely the responsibility of the
authors and do not necessarily represent the
official views of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention or the Department of Health and
Human Services. n
References
Kirkpatrick, D. L. (1994). Evaluating training programs:
The four levels. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
 MME Technical-Paper Abstracts

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Innovation in the mining industry: Technological trends and a case study

of the challenges of disruptive innovation
Felipe Sánchez1 and Philipp Hartlieb2,*
Department of Strategy and Policy Planning, Chilean Copper Commission, Santiago, Chile
1

Chair of Mining Engineering and Mineral Economics, Department Mineral Resources Engineering, Montanuniversität Leoben, Leoben, Austria
2

*Corresponding author email: Philipp.Hartlieb@unileoben.ac.at

Full-text paper:
Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-020-00262-1

Keywords: Mining innovation, Mining technology, Digital transformation, Industry 4.0

To read the full text of this paper (free for SME members), see the beginning of this section for step-by-step instructions.

Special Extended Abstract

Innovation plays a critical role in the mining industry not
only as a tool to improve the efficiency of its processes and
to reduce costs but also to meet the increasing social and en-
vironmental concerns among communities and authorities.
Technological progress has also been crucial to allow the ex-
ploitation of new deposits in more complex scenarios, such as
lower ore grades, extreme weather conditions, deeper deposits,
harder rock mass and high-stress environments.
This paper discusses the importance of innovation for the
mining industry and describes the mechanisms by which it
is carried out. It includes a review of the drivers and actors
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
involved and current trends. The digital transformation pro-
cess that the industry is going through is analyzed, along with
other relevant trends that are likely to shape the mining of the
future. Additionally, a case study is presented to illustrate the
technical and economic implications of developing a disrup-
tive innovation project.
Background
Natural factors such as decreasing ore grades, deeper de-
posits and harder rock mass, combined with increasing envi-
ronmental and social awareness, have spurred the industry
Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOBER 2020 37
MME Technical-Paper Abstracts
to constantly work to enhance its processes along the whole
value chain. In this, innovation plays a crucial role by provid-
ing suitable solutions to surpass these difficulties, ensuring the
continuity and sustainability of the mining activity.
This article aims to characterize the innovation environ-
ment in the mining industry, specifically:
• Importance of innovation for the mining industry:
relation between labor productivity and innovation.
• Dynamics of innovation in the industry: drivers and
actors.
• Current trends and future of the mining industry.
Innovation in the mining industry
A first approach to understanding the relevance of inno-
vation within the industry can be made through the analysis
of labor productivity.
Technological advances usually have an impact on the
output, allowing higher production rates while maintaining a
similar workforce, or directly reducing the needed personnel
by the automation of processes. Several authors have ana-
lyzed these processes, and while in periods of labor produc-
tivity growth it has been possible to isolate the positive effect
of innovation, during declining cycles this task turns more
complicated. However, the fall in these periods is attributed
mainly to natural and economic factors. For example, in a
high-price mineral commodities scenario, it is profitable for
companies to compromise their costs, in order to increase
production. In other words, while declining labor produc-
tivity may be inevitable during certain periods of time, the
development and adoption of new technologies, along with
innovation at a managerial level, are essential to maintain
mining’s competitiveness through the different cycles.
Whereas in the past mining companies would have tend-
ed to develop technology solutions in-house, over the last
decades of the 20th century outsourcing became a tenden-
Fig. 1 Digital transformation technologies in the different stages
of the mining value chain. Based on [2,3].
38 OCTOBER 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
cy, resulting in higher degrees of vertical disintegration [1].
Companies would focus on their core businesses while rely-
ing on suppliers for the development of technological solu-
tions, therefore avoiding the risks associated with the large
investments involved.
This outsourcing trend has also allowed the creation
of collaborative alliances between mining companies, local
suppliers, and governmental and academic institutions for
the development of technological solutions.
Current trends and mining in the future
Defining a future view for an industry is not a simple
task. Nevertheless, in the case of the mining industry, it is
possible to identify certain trends that can be of help to out-
line this future scenario. First and most evident is the ma-
jor technological shift occurring across all industries: the
so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution, as the transition to
the digital era. Then, social and environmental concerns are
already compelling mining to look for safer, more efficient
and sustainable ways of conducting business.
In this section, the process of digital transformation is
analyzed, along with some of the key technologies in the
digital mine (Fig. 1), and the main challenges that companies
must face for successful digitization. Additionally, three im-
portant trends are reviewed and discussed: electromobility,
invisible zero-waste mining and continuous mining.
Case study: A continuous mining system for caving
operations
The Continuous Mining System (CMS) was an innova-
tion project developed by Codelco, in Chile, that intended to
create a continuous material handling system for block and
panel caving operations. After almost 20 years of research
and testing, the project was finally dismissed as a conse-
quence of difficulties faced in the construction phase for its
industrial validation [4].
From Codelco’s experience in the process validation of
the CMS project, several key elements can be identified, and
lessons can be learned:
Time required for process validation. Developing an
innovation project for a technological breakthrough often
requires long periods of time. After the idea is conceived,
conceptual studies must be carried out before initiating pilot
and industrial validation tests. During this time, other tech-
nologies are developed, which may be incorporated in the
innovation project being tested, changing its potential value
and the future impact of its application.
Capital expenditure and execution period estimation.
Process validation can be expensive, especially in the in-
dustrial validation phase. Special care must be taken in the
economic evaluation that justified the project and in the ex-
ecution time and budget estimation. The CMS project was
stopped and finally cancelled due to problems in its con-
struction phase, not because of unsatisfactory results of the
test itself: this did not even get to be executed.
Infrastructure required and coordination with opera-
tions. New designs for extraction and material handling
methods must be proved under real conditions for their in-
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

dustrial validation. For this, first the company needs to have
access to the ongoing mining operations, of its own property
or in coordination with another company, as necessary. Then,
proper coordination with the current operations must be
conducted to minimize interferences and ensure the avail-
ability of resources, such as energy and water.
Conclusions
Though the importance of innovation is a critical factor
in the improvement of labor productivity, mining companies
usually show low levels of research and development inten-
sity, similar to mature industries and far below high-tech sec-
tors. The tendency to vertical disintegration has led firms to
focus on their core businesses, relying mainly on equipment
manufacturers and suppliers for the development of innova-
tive solutions. Also, collaborative alliances between mining
companies, suppliers and research centers share a significant
participation in the development of new technologies.
Nowadays, several technological trends can be identified
as main factors that will shape mining in the future. The first
and most relevant one is digital transformation (DT). Au-
tomation, robotics, remotization of operations, internet of
things, analytics and digital twinning, among others, have the
Quick-Erect Stopping System for radiation protection and mine rescue in
small-scale mining
Jörg Dehnert1,*, Jens Stopp2, Peter Windisch3 and Bernd Schönherr3
1
Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology, Dresden, Germany
2
Aluminiumbau und Verwaltungs GmbH Stopp, Schneeberg, Germany
3
Bergsicherung Schneeberg GmbH & Co KG, Schneeberg, Germany
*Corresponding author email: joerg.dehnert@smul.sachsen.de
Full-text paper:
Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-020-00261-2
Keywords: Radon, Radiation protection, Ventilation, Stopping, Mine rescue
To read the full text of this paper (free for SME members), see the beginning of this section for step-by-step instructions.
Special Extended Abstract
The Quick-Erect Stopping System (QESS) offers a new
way of reducing the radon exposure of miners in Germany,
especially during remediation work in old mines. The QESS
is a lightweight, modular and reusable construction kit of in-
terlocking telescopic aluminum tubes, radon-proof foil and
expanding foam. It is designed to seal off radon-rich parts of
galleries within minutes. Originally, the QESS was developed
to protect miners against radon exposure. Then, the QESS
found the attention of several mine rescue teams at a Ger-
man mining conference. Some mine rescue drills by The Stu-
dent Mine Rescue of the Technical University Bergakademie
Freiberg, Wismut Mine Rescue and Front Range Mine Res-
cue helped to improve the system and highlighted its poten-
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
MME Technical-Paper Abstracts
potential to enhance processes along the whole value chain
of mining. However, though DT is frequently mentioned as
one of the main concerns among most large-scale mining
companies, the level of digitization of the industry remains
low, indicating that most of the potential of DT for the sector
is still to be unlocked. The main challenges that firms must
face to achieve successful digitization are commitment and
joint-task coordination among the different business units,
implementing proper organizational structure changes and
promoting a new cultural mindset regarding cybersecurity
strategies and their continuous improvement.
Other important trends are electromobility, invisible
zero-waste mining and continuous mining. These concepts
answer to the necessity of building a more sustainable and
efficient industry, reducing the environmental footprint and
enhancing the safety of mining operations. ■
Selected references
1. Pietrobelli C, Marin A, Olivari J (2018) Innovation in mining value chains: New
evidence from Latin America. Resources Policy 58:1–10
2. Coombs D, O’Donnell C, Sparks J, Veiga P, Jones B (2019) Perspectives and
opportunities in the mining equipment and services sector. Santiago, Chile
3. Deloitte (2017) The digital mine. What does it mean for you? Kalgoorlie, Australia
4. Codelco (2018) Memoria Anual 2018
tial for mine rescue operations. Now, the QESS is well-suited
for small-scale mining. The QESS can be used to both protect
miners from radon exposure and to support mine rescue op-
erations. Moreover, the QESS was also successfully used in
ventilation experiments.
Background
Mining in the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge) and Vogtland
mountains began in the 12th century and continues to this
day. Both mountains are low-mountain ranges in the East
German state of Saxony. The mining has left numerous gal-
leries and shafts that cause occasional surface damage. To
protect people, buildings and infrastructure, around 250
Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOBER 2020 39
MME Technical-Paper Abstracts
Fig. 1 Quick-Erect Stopping System in its transportation box.
miners from eight companies are permanently engaged in
remediation work at up to 40 smaller and frequently chang-
ing construction sites in an average year.
The high radon potential in the two mountain ranges is
significant for radiation protection of miners during reme-
diation work. It is not unusual to find radon activity concen-
trations of 100,000 Bq/m3 in mine air currents under natural
ventilation. The most important radiation protection mea-
sures are ventilation with mobile mine fans and pipes, tem-
porarily sealing off galleries with the help of mine stoppings,
and rotating miners after they have worked at construction
sites with high radon activity concentrations [1]. Miners are
monitored with personal radon dosimetry [2].
Miners usually erect mine stoppings with the help of
wood, foil and expanding foam. Erecting such stoppings is
time-consuming. On average, two miners need four hours to
build one stopping. First, miners need to carry material and
tools by hand from the mine opening through narrow and
twisted galleries to the construction site. The distance they
have to cover can amount to several hundred meters. Then,
they have to construct the stoppings to a perfect fit with
the wood on site. To do so, they have to measure the mine
openings meticulously. In the end, the stoppings are sealed
with expanding foam. Stoppings need to be dismantled be-
fore and re-erected after all blasting operations. As a result,
miners have to endure radon-containing mine air for many
hours.
The goal of this project was to develop a new reusable
stopping with a quick assembly time to reduce the working
time of miners in mine air currents with high radon activity
concentrations.
Quick-Erect Stopping System (QESS)
The QESS is a lightweight, modular and reusable con-
struction kit consisting of interlocking telescopic aluminum
tubes, radon-proof foil and expanding foam able to seal off
radon-rich parts of galleries of any width within minutes. The
QESS comes boxed for transport over ground and includes
two bags for transportation underground. The QESS can be
extended by more kits [3].
Each construction kit contains 15 two-piece, extend-
able telescopic tubes in four different lengths, which are
color-coded with reflecting foil. All tubes have regularly
placed slots from top to bottom on both sides. The tubes are
40 OCTOBER 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
Fig. 2 Quick-Erect Stopping System in the Querschlag 68
gallery in Schneeberg, Germany.
equipped with tips made of hard plastic at both ends. The
tube tips can be inserted into the slots of other tubes. One
of the two tips of a tube is equipped with a spring. There-
fore, the telescopic tubes can be pulled out and stretched to
brace radon-proof foil in a gallery. The telescopic tubes can
either be inserted in other telescopic tubes or braced inde-
pendently. They do not have to assume a radial form but can
be braced freely, adapting to any imaginable form of a mine
opening. If necessary, the telescopic tubes can be extended
out of the cross section to brace the foil in front of or behind
the cross section. Under conditions of high pressure in the
gallery, it is possible to support the QESS from the front with
telescopic tubes against the floor, walls and ceiling by using
front openings in the tubes. Finally, the erected structure is
sealed with expanding foam (Figs. 1 and 2).
Setting up the QESS takes two miners 15 to 30 minutes.
The QESS can be dismantled in less than five minutes. It is
reusable except for the foil and the foam. To erect the QESS,
no tools or electricity are required. There is no need to mea-
sure the gallery to be sealed off. Moreover, the reflecting foil
of the color-coding can be clearly seen in the light of miners’
lamps.
The full-text paper shows examples using the QESS for
radiation protection, mine rescue and ventilation experi-
ments and includes a discussion on the costs of the QESS
compared with other stoppings.
Discussion and conclusion
The QESS protects miners from radon, smoke and dust.
Compared with conventional stoppings, the QESS reduces
the radon exposure of miners due to its significantly shorter
assembly time.
The QESS is not designed to be cheaper than other sys-
tems. It is also not intended to replace systems that are built
stationary for permanent use. Mull et al. calculated the con-
struction costs for a small stopping with five materials and
three transportation distances for the Reiche Zeche Mine
in Freiberg, Germany [4]. With a 16-time assembly, the cost
of the reusable QESS is around the same as that for wooden
stoppings.
The QESS is a new system. The full-text paper outlines
the current state of development. Many questions about the
application of the QESS remain unanswered. A first assess-
ment of the QESS comes from Yildirim [5]. ■
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

Selected references
1. Dehnert J (2020) Radon exposures of miners at small underground construction
sites in old mining: Recommendations to improve radiation protection measures
by the Saxon Radiation Protection Authority. Health Phys 118(1):96–105
2. Dehnert J, Guhr A, Engelhardt J (2020) Improvement of a radon dosimetry system
for miners by replacing reference dosimeters with radonproof boxes containing
activated-carbon cartridges. Health Phys 118(2):117–128
3. Dehnert J, Schönherr B, Stopp J (2016) Strahlenschutz im Altbergbau: Mobiles
und wiederverwendbares Express-Wetterblenden-System zum Sofort-Schutz von
Role of processing temperature and time on the hydrothermal alteration
of K-feldspar rock in autoclave
D. Ciceri*, M. de Oliveira, D.P. Chen and A. Allanore
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
*Corresponding author email: ciceri@mit.edu
Full-text paper:
Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (2020) 37:955–963, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-020-00233-6
Keywords: Fertilizers, Hydrothermal processing, Potash, Calcium-aluminum-silicate-hydrate (C-A-S-H)
To read the full text of this paper (free for SME members), see the beginning of this section for step-by-step instructions.
Special Extended Abstract
The alkaline hydrothermal processing of K-feldspar
rocks in an autoclave can be a pathway to synthesize a po-
tassium fertilizer for tropical soils that is potentially cheaper
and more efficient than traditional potash (KCl). When K-
feldspar undergoes hydrothermal alteration in the presence of
calcium oxide (CaO), it generates a complex mixture of calci-
um-aluminum-silicate-hydrate (CASH) minerals that incor-
porate K atoms stochastically in their structure. These atoms
are subsequently released, as shown in a test-tube leaching
test, indicating a possible uptake by crops. The relationship
between the processing temperature and time in the autoclave
for the hydrothermal reaction and the resulting mineralogy
and elemental release are only partially understood and are
investigated in this study. Elucidating that relationship is the
key requisite for subsequent techno-economic analysis, and
ultimately for the development of a fertilizer that can be con-
sidered as a feasible alternative to KCl.
Background
Soluble potash is mined in a few areas of the world and is
generally expensive or unavailable for farmers in the tropi-
cal region of the world. Conversely, alternative K-bearing
minerals such as K-feldspar are distributed worldwide but
are considered insoluble by farmers and therefore ineffec-
tive as a fertilizer. Hydrothermal processing of K-feldspar
powder in an autoclave in the presence of CaO generates a
mixture of CASH minerals with a K release rate that is en-
hanced with respect to that of unprocessed K-feldspar. How-
ever, little is known of how the processing conditions, par-
ticularly temperature and time in the autoclave, influence
the overall mineralogy and K release rate of the processed
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
MME Technical-Paper Abstracts
Bergleuten vor Radonexpositionen. In: Busch W, Knospe St, Meier G, Sroka A,
Löbel K-H, Klapperich H, Tondera D (eds) 16. Altbergbau-Kolloquium, ISBN 978-3-
938390-18-4, 240 pp. 10–12 November 2016, Goslar, Germany: 173–181 (in German)
4. Mull A, Weyer J, Mischo H, Brune J (2016) Mine stopping construction and leakage.
SME Annual Conference & Expo, Feb. 21-24, 2016, Phoenix, AZ, Preprint 16-150.
5. Yildirim O (2019) New Quick Erect Stopping System for underground mines: A
technical, economic and environmental assessment of a newly developed ventilation
and gas proof sealing system for the application in different mine settings. Master
Thesis, Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
material: that is, the CASH mixture. This paper investigates
the change in mineralogy and elemental release as a func-
tion of the hydrothermal processing time and temperature.
Method
In this study, a sample of K-feldspar rock (ultrapotassic
syenite) of Brazilian origin was used. The X-ray diffraction
(XRD) analysis showed a 79.5 weight percent of K-feldspar,
followed by Na-feldspar (12.7 weight percent) and pyrox-
ene (6.6 weight percent). The XRF analysis showed the SiO2,
Al2O3 and K2O contents as 63.4, 17.1 and 13.4 weight per-
cent, respectively. CaO (reagent grade; Sigma-Aldrich) was
used as received. The mixture used as feed for the autoclave
process was obtained by milling jointly 849.3 g of the rock
and 150.8 g of CaO. For each of the hydrothermal synthe-
ses corresponding to a specific set of temperature and time,
the feed mixture, freshly prepared, and water were loaded in
an autoclave (Parr Instruments, 7.6 L, Ti with stainless steel
liner, 4843 Parr controller) at a weight ratio of 1:4. Process-
ing was carried out at temperatures of 200, 220 and 230 °C
and times from 0.5 to 3.0 hours. For each of the conditions,
a new batch of feed mixture was processed for a total of 18
batches, each of 1 kg. Following the reaction in the autoclave,
the hydrothermal slurry was poured in a pan and dried over-
night at 120 °C. After drying, the solid cake was ground with
a pestle in a mortar to obtain a powder renamed as hydro-
thermal material.
The hydrothermal materials were characterized by XRD
and also analyzed by laser-diffraction particle size distribu-
tion (PSD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron
probe micro analyzer (EPMA) and elemental release via
Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOBER 2020 41
MME Technical-Paper Abstracts
leaching tests. Leaching tests were conducted by subsam-
pling a small amount of material from the processed 1-kg
batch and suspending it in water acidulated with nitric acid
(HNO3). After 24 hours, the aqueous suspension of hydro-
thermal material was filtered, diluted and analyzed by induc-
tively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy for K, Si, Al and Ca
(ICP-MS; Agilent Technologies 7700 Series).
Results and discussion
The XRD analysis showed the presence in the hydro-
thermal material of K-feldspar (altered), hydrogrossu-
lar (Ca3Al2(SiO4)3−x(OH)4x), α-dicalcium silicate hydrate
(Ca2(SiO3OH)(OH)), or α-C2S, and 11 Å tobermorite
(Ca5Si6O16(OH)2·4H2O). Additionally, an amorphous com-
ponent was detected in all batches. Some trends identifiable
in the mineralogy were: at 200 °C the time required for CaO
to react completely was at least one hour, whereas 0.5 hour
was sufficient at higher temperatures; a 30 °C rise in temper-
ature corresponded to an approximately 12 percent increase
in K-feldspar conversion; the concentration of hydrogrossu-
lar in the hydrothermal material was 10±2 weight percent
on average across all temperatures and times; increasing
the time transformed the α-C2S into 11 Å tobermorite. This
transformation was accelerated by raising the temperature;
raising the temperature from 200 to 230 °C increased the
weight fraction of amorphous independently of time (24±6
weight percent at 200 °C and 220 °C versus 37±2 weight per-
cent at 230 °C). The SEM analysis revealed that K-feldspar
was severely altered (pitting and cracking).
The availability of K was substantially unchanged across
all sets of processing conditions with the exception of the
Practical experience in large-scale development of the Zijinshan
low-grade gold-copper mine
Jinghe Chen1,2,3, Shuiping Zhong1,2,3,*, Ding Tang1,2,3 and Chen Kuang1,2
1
College of Zijin Mining, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China
2
Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd, Shanghang, Fujian, China
3
State Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Utilization of Low Grade Refractory Gold Ores, Shanghang, Fujian, China
*Corresponding author email: zspcsu@163.com
Full-text paper:
Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (2020) 37:1339–1347, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-020-00237-2
Keywords: Zijinshan gold-copper mine, Practical experience, Hydrometallurgy, Engineering design, Heap (bio)leaching
To read the full text of this paper (free for SME members), see the beginning of this section for step-by-step instructions.
Special Extended Abstract
The Zijinshan gold-copper mine, located in Shanghang
County, China, is a porphyry-type, low-grade ore deposit with
a geological profile of upper gold and lower copper. Despite
its low-grade nature, it has become one of the largest in pro-
duction scale and most profitable nonferrous metal mines in
42 OCTOBER 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
batch processed at 200 °C for 0.5 hour, which was due to
CaO having reacted only partially. Excluding such a batch,
the average availability corresponded to 10,683±433 ppm of
K in the dried hydrothermal material. From the standpoint
of K availability, processing is accomplished within one hour.
After that, the main transformation is that ofαα-C2S meta-
stable transitioning to 11 Å tobermorite. The release of Ca
is shown to be largely insensitive to both temperature and
time, whereas the release of both Al and Si exhibits a pattern
of difficult interpretation.
Conclusion
The change in mineralogy and elemental release of the
material obtained through hydrothermal alteration of K-
feldspar rocks in the presence of CaO in autoclave was inves-
tigated. By raising the processing temperature, the amount
of K-feldspar in the hydrothermal material as detected by
XRD decreases whereas the weight fraction of tobermori-
te increases at the expense of α-dicalcium silicate hydrate
(α-C2S). The fraction of amorphous component is increased
by raising the temperature. Raising the temperature did not
increase the leaching of K significantly. Conversely, leach-
ing of Al, Si and partially Ca changes as a function of the
processing conditions, suggesting the possibility to synthe-
size soil-tailored fertilizers. Batches were carried out on a
1-kg scale, demonstrating that mineralogical properties can
be scaled up to a level that is relevant to agronomic tests in
pots. ■
References
A list of references is available in the full-text paper.
China, which can be attributed to the successful application
of hydrometallurgy as well as proper engineering design. A
large-scale, open-air cyanide heap leach has been success-
fully implemented to recover gold under the humid and rainy
weather conditions of southern China. Furthermore, accord-
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

ing to the gold ore characteristics, a combination of gravity
separation, carbon-in-leach and heap leaching processes was
developed to improve gold recovery. In terms of copper ex-
traction, copper ore of a grade higher than 0.25 percent is fed
to the flotation plants to produce copper concentrate (gold is
also enriched here), while copper ore of a grade lower than
0.25 percent undergoes heap bioleaching followed by solvent
extraction and electrowinning to produce cathode copper. Ad-
ditionally, a unique bioleaching system has been established
at the Zijinshan Mine: low operating pH (0.8~1.0), high con-
centration of total soluble iron (~50 g/L), high temperatures
(45~60 °C) and low activity of microorganism (~104/mL) in
the pregnant leach solution (PLS). This review paper sum-
marizes the practical experience acquired in developing the
Zijinshan gold-copper mine and could be of use in other gold
and/or copper plants.
Introduction
Exploitation of the Zijinshan gold and copper ores be-
gan in 1993 and 2002, respectively. The proven reserves are
318 t of gold and 2.42 Gt of copper at cut-off grades of 0.15
g/t and 0.15 percent. By the end of 2018, the cumulative pro-
ductions of gold and copper were about 213 t and 0.41 Gt
(not including copper sulfide concentrate), respectively, gen-
erating an economic benefit of $327 billion.
A large-scale, open-air cyanide heap leach was first suc-
cessfully implemented to recover gold in humid and rainy
weather conditions. At present, the grade of gold ore fed to
the heap has been lowered to 0.27 g/t. Nonetheless, the treat-
ment cost per tonne of gold ore is only about $4.20. Differ-
ent from other copper bioleaching plants, a unique bioleach-
ing system with characteristics including low pH, high iron
concentration, high temperature and low microorganism
activity has been established at the Zijinshan Mine. Copper
recovery of approximately 80 percent can be reached. The
average operational costs for copper ore and cathode cop-
per are about $9.43/t and $1.10/lb, respectively.
Technological innovations
The Zijinshan gold ore has high mud content, which
causes poor permeability and diffusion of leaching solu-
tion in the heap. In addition, the free coarse gold could not
be completely dissolved during the residence time of 60 to
70 days. These factors make for relatively low gold recov-
ery. Therefore, a combined flowsheet of crushing, washing
and screening, gravity separation, carbon-in-leach and heap
leaching was developed (Fig. 1). First, the gold ore is washed
by spray on a vibrating screen after crushing. Product that
is smaller than 6 mm undergoes gravity separation before
entering the next screening. Of particular note is that a
Knelson gravity separator is used to recover the coarse gold.
After screening, the undersized part (200 mesh) is subject-
ed to carbon-in-leach treatment, by which the influence of
mud on the permeability and diffusion of leaching solution
is avoided. Additionally, the oversized ore enters the heap
leaching system. By adopting this combination of processes,
gold recovery is increased to 82 percent as compared to 68
percent obtained by single heap leaching.
The Zijinshan copper bioleaching system runs stably
under its unique operational conditions, including low op-
erating pH (0.8~1.0), high concentration of total iron ions
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
MME Technical-Paper Abstracts
Fig. 1 Flowsheet of the combination of gravity separation,
carbon-in-leach and heap leaching processes.
(~50 g/L), high temperatures (45~60 °C) and low activity of
microorganism (~104/mL) in PLS [1]. A high content of py-
rite in the copper ore causes the production of excess acid
and iron. Additionally, heat is generated when the inorganic
sulfide minerals are oxidized. The temperature of the PLS is
maintained at 45~60 °C throughout the year. Because of the
low pH, high concentration of iron and high temperature,
growth of an iron-oxidizing microorganism, Leptospirillum,
is largely inhibited. Therefore, the oxidation-reduction po-
tential (Eh ) fluctuates between 700 and 740 mV versus SHE
(standard hydrogen electrode). The total number of microor-
ganisms in the leaching solution significantly decreases from
106/mL (start-up state) to 104/mL (steady state). The dissolu-
tion of copper minerals could be promoted at high tempera-
ture but is minimally affected by Eh at 60 °C. On the other
hand, the dissolution rate of pyrite is strongly correlated
with Eh, and there is a limited influence of temperature on
pyrite dissolution at low Eh. Therefore, the selective leach-
ing of copper minerals is achieved under the conditions of
high temperature (45~60 °C) and low Eh (700~740 mV ver-
sus SHE). Furthermore, the balance of excessive iron ions is
realized through the in situ formation of jarosite at high tem-
perature in the heap. Under the above unique operational
conditions, a copper recovery of approximately 80 percent
could be achieved in the Zijinshan bioleaching system.
Conclusion
The successful application of hydrometallurgy as well as
proper use of engineering design are the key factors in the
large-scale development of the Zijinshan gold-copper mine.
Most aspects of the production processes, such as mining,
beneficiation, ore stacking, heap (bio)leaching, carbon-in-
leach, solvent extraction, electrowinning, and wastewater
and tailing treatments are summarized in the full-text paper.
This practical experience could help promote the develop-
ment of hydrometallurgy and serve as a model for other gold
and/or copper plants around the world. ■
Selected reference
1. Ruan RM, Liu XY, Zou G, Chen JH, Wen JK, Wang DZ (2011) Industrial practice
of a distinct bioleaching system operated at low pH, high ferric concentration,
elevated temperature and low redox potential for secondary copper sulfide.
Hydrometallurgy 108:130-135
Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOBER 2020 43
MME Technical-Paper Abstracts
The experience and management of fatigue: A study of mine haulage
operators
Frank A. Drews1, W. Pratt Rogers2, Elaheh Talebi3,* and Shantae Lee3
1
Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
2
Faculty of Mining Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
3
Department of Mining Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
*Corresponding author email: elaheh.talebi@utah.edu
Full-text paper:
Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-020-00259-w
Keywords: Mine worker fatigue, Fatigue, Emerging technologies, Miner health and safety
To read the full text of this paper (free for SME members), see the beginning of this section for step-by-step instructions.
Special Extended Abstract
Fatigue is a relatively well-investigated topic in the surface
transportation industry with a research focus on sleep depri-
vation and disruption. This paper examines fatigue in min-
ing operations. While mine operators are using or currently
introducing technology to monitor fatigue, there is little work
that focuses on the operators’ experience of fatigue and the
acceptance of fatigue-monitoring technology. Focus groups
were conducted to investigate these topics. The results of this
research suggest that current fatigue-monitoring systems lack
validity, reliability and user acceptance. Overall, these results
emphasize the importance of a socio-technical systems per-
spective to guide interventions aiming at improving miner
health and safety.
Background
The goal of this research was to explore the experience
of fatigue of haulage operators in the mining industry by
conducting focus groups examining fatigue experience, fa-
tigue management, and operator’s experience with current
fatigue-monitoring technologies. The basis for this research
is the three-factor model [1] of fatigue with the following
facets:
• Fatigue involves both “extreme tiredness” and “re-
duced functional capacity.”
• Fatigue is experienced physically, mentally and/or
emotionally.
Fig. 1 Extended conceptual fatigue model.
44 OCTOBER 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
• Fatigue is “temporally tied to the workday,” empha-
sizing the relationship between time of day at work
and fatigue.
In addition, this research used an extended version of
a conceptual model of fatigue developed by Matthews that
distinguishes between distal and proximal factors [2]. On the
right side of Fig. 1 are listed the proximal factors, and on
the left are the distal factors affecting sleep history. Distal
factors include sleep efficiency, clinical condition, life events
and stressors that impact the quality and amount of sleep,
personality factors that are affecting the proximal factor of
fatigue state (with impact on psychological, behavioral, cog-
nitive and physiological parameters) and the time duration
of the previous shift.
Current technology-based fatigue management ap-
proaches use a range of physiological and behavioral re-
sponses to assess operator fatigue. The monitoring approach-
es of fatigue levels in mining include camera-based mea-
surements, such as percentage of eye closure (PERCLOS),
electroencephalography (EEG) and other physiological
or behavioral measures to estimate fatigue. Unfortunately,
most of these systems are only able to measure fatigue at the
point at which it occurs but are not able to predict fatigue
levels of an operator.
Method
Focus groups were conducted at two mining sites in the
Rocky Mountain region of the United States, with a total of
eight focus groups (four groups at each site). Overall, 42 par-
ticipants, ranging from five to seven per group, participated.
All participants worked as haul truck operators and vol-
unteered to participate in this Institutional Review Board-
approved study. All focus group discussions were audio-
recorded for later transcription and analysis. Focus groups
discussed up to 12 questions covering the following topics:
• What are the factors that affect the frequency and
severity of fatigue episodes experienced by opera-
tors?
• What are the current best practices operators use to
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

reduce the number of fatigue episodes?
• What are effective strategies to address fatigue?
• What is the operators’ understanding of mine-spe-
cific, in-use fatigue-monitoring technology?
Results and discussion
The focus-group results were organized based on the
discussion questions and conceptual framework shown in
Fig. 1. The proximal factors include the cognitive and psy-
chological impact of fatigue. Among frequently mentioned
symptoms of fatigue were: yawning, nodding off, eyelids
fluttering, rubbing eyes, microsleep episodes, and feeling
heavy and relaxed. Participants mentioned the experience
of misperceptions or perceptual illusions. The impact on cog-
nitive processes involved losing focus/concentration, spatial
disorientation or memory impairment (forgetting of driving
episodes). Participants also suggested fatigue impacted their
decision-making ability, resulting in poor decisions. Other
behavioral impacts of fatigue included increased reaction
time, lack of precise vehicle control, driving at lower speeds,
lack of speed maintenance and forgetting of routine opera-
tion sequences. The distal factors of fatigue that were identi-
fied involved diet, shift schedule, commuting time, amount
of quality sleep, domestic factors, physical fitness and sick-
ness. Participants pointed out that they were using various
ways to combat fatigue, ranging from cognitive, social and
physical strategies such as taking breaks, taking medication
or consuming energy drinks.
When discussing the organizational support in fatigue
management, participants mentioned the use of an EEG sys-
tem and PERCLOS. Overall, participants’ acceptance of both
monitoring systems was low. Several participants mentioned
MME Technical-Paper Abstracts
that the monitoring systems are experienced as distracting
due to the operator’s alarming functions (vibration of the
seat/auditory alarms). Finally, some participants noted that
they would favor the use of monitoring systems if they would
provide correct alarms and no false alarms.
Conclusion
Overall, the results of the focus groups demonstrate that
operators have awareness and knowledge of fatigue issues
and management. In addition, the results suggest that the
impact of fatigue is broader than previously reported cogni-
tive functions, affecting the complete cognitive process con-
tinuum (that is, from perception to response selection and
execution). Participants emphasized the distraction associ-
ated with current fatigue-monitoring systems, and most im-
portantly, the lack of trustworthy alarms. While it is tempting
to implement technology-based solutions to monitor fatigue
of operators, it is also vital to acknowledge the importance of
user acceptance to leverage maximum utility. The results of
this research suggest that fatigue monitoring is one facet of
health and safety management, and a sole focus on techno-
logical solutions may ignore a range of problems introduced
by such narrow solutions. By adopting a socio-technical sys-
tems perspective, it is possible to assess the impact of new
technologies on operators and understand the limitations of
these technologies better. ■
Selected references
1. Frone MR, Tidwell M-CO (2015) The meaning and measurement of work fatigue:
development and evaluation of the Three-Dimensional Work Fatigue Inventory
(3D-WFI). J Occup Health Psychol 20(3):273–288
2. Matthews G (2002) Towards a transactional ergonomics for driver stress and fatigue.
Theor Issues Ergon Sci 3(2):195–211

Evaluation index system of green surface mining in China

Yongli Zhou1,2, Wei Zhou3,4, Xiang Lu3,4, Izhar Mithal Jiskani3,4,3, Qingxiang Cai3,4, Peng Liu3 and Lin Li5
1
School of Mechanical Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin, Liaoning, China
2
Shenhua Zhungeer Energy Co., Ltd., Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China
3
School of Mines, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
4
State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
5
School of Energy and Mining Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing, China
*Corresponding author email: imjiskani@hotmail.com

Full-text paper:
Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (2020) 37:1093–1103, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-020-00236-3

Keywords: Green mining; Ecological mining, Sustainable mining, Evaluation index system, Fuzzy evaluation

To read the full text of this paper (free for SME members), see the beginning of this section for step-by-step instructions.

Special Extended Abstract

Green mining is the latest technological advancement to re-
duce mining’s environmental impact with minimal energy and
resource consumption. Green mining — aimed at protecting
nature and providing socio-economic benefits — is a multi-
faceted network of its connotations and key indicators. China
has not yet defined its connotation and formed an effective
evaluation system for surface mining. We defined its connota-
tion and developed an evaluation index system based on the
theory of green grades. As the indicators are selected based on
extensive research, they express the advantages and disadvan-
tages of various aspects of a mine. The index is composed of
three attributes (safety, efficiency and environment), nine crite-

www.miningengineeringmagazine.com Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOBER 2020 45

MME Technical-Paper Abstracts
ria and 35 indicators. The indicators were quantified according
to experts’ opinions using the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation
method. The results of a case study show that the environment
is the most critical aspect, followed by efficiency and safety.
This study can provide technical support for the development
of green mining.
Background
Green mining is a modern mining paradigm aimed at
maximizing the benefits of enterprises and society through
optimized resource productivity and the least environmental
impact while ensuring standards for production, transporta-
tion and storage management are met. So far, there has been
no research on green surface mining to ensure whether a
mine is reconciled with the vision of green mining. We ex-
pound on the connotation of green surface mining and es-
tablish an evaluation index system to determine the level of
green mining and identify existing problems that hinder its
development.
Methodological approach
The first step was construction of the evaluation index
system. Multiple indicators were selected based on docu-
ment analysis and the expert consultation approach. The
index considers safety, efficiency, environmental protec-
tion, implementation of modern technologies, energy and
resource consumption, practical mine conditions and other
related indicators that fully reflect the vision of green min-
ing. The second step was quantification of the indicators,
which was accomplished using a fuzzy comprehensive evalu-
ation method. The analytic hierarchy process approach was
used to determine the weight of each indicator. The steps of
the formal procedures include construction of the factor set,
weight set, judgment set, membership matrix and the final
evaluation model. Figure 1 shows the evaluation index and
overall weights of each indicator.
Results and discussion
The environment is the most critical aspect of green sur-
face mining, followed by efficiency and safety. The ranking
order of the top 15 indicators are: application of new tech-
Fig. 1 The evaluation index system, showing the weights
of indicators.
46 OCTOBER 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
nology > starting-off rate of equipment > science and tech-
nology input to total investment > number of accidents >
production > cost per ton of same stripping ratio > energy
consumption > employee efficiency > resource recovery
rate > prevention methods > personnel working conditions
> other consumption > working conditions of equipment >
safety management system > resource consumption. These
results imply that the environment is the most influential as-
pect of green surface mining, which conforms to the concept
of sustainable mining. Therefore, to improve green grades
of mines, considerable attention must be paid to it. For effi-
ciency of the industry, enterprises must update current tech-
nology and restructure their production process to develop
new technological capabilities. Regarding safety, through the
integration of proactive safety rules and regulations, as well
as technological facilities, the mines will become safer. It fol-
lows that green surface mining seeks to ensure better safety,
higher efficiency and a cleaner ecological environment to
obtain maximum socio-economic benefits with minimal en-
ergy and resource consumption.
In order to provide scientific support for the future
framework of green surface mining, it is suggested to pay
more attention to the in-depth research of engineering
technology as well as the study of economic and industrial
policies. The adoption of green mining can be strengthened
through joint initiatives and continuous participation of
government, society and other stakeholders. Additionally,
further focus should be put on the regulatory system, envi-
ronmental management, socio-economic impact evaluation,
and technology transfer. In order to make significant over-
all progress of green mining, enterprises need to cooperate
more with research and development institutions. There is a
need for an integrated and practical evaluation system, for
which indicators need to be carefully and accurately selected
to avoid duplication or overlap. The composited indicators
should be effectively updated to offer an intelligent assess-
ment. In this regard, we further propose 51 indicators, pre-
sented in the full-text paper. However, the position of these
indicators should be dependable. Future work is suggested
to address the question of how to update the index and how
to perform automatic evaluations by computer programs.
Conclusion
Green surface mining must ensure that all available re-
sources are optimally utilized, adverse impacts on the eco-
logical environment, economic environment and social envi-
ronment are prevented or minimized, and safe and efficient
production is ensured. For these reasons, the industry must
strive to achieve the concept of green mining to make min-
ing coexist with nature successfully. When assessing the cur-
rent situation of green surface mining in China, it was found
that the environment is the most critical aspect of green
surface mining, followed by efficiency and safety. In order
to strengthen the adoption of green mining, we recommend
paying attention to research into engineering technology, the
study of economic and industrial policies, focus on the regu-
latory system, environmental management, socio-economic
impact evaluation and technology transfer. ■
References
A list of references is available in the full-text paper.
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

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S ME has a host of technical resources to support its
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grained ores. An important challenge in flotation is the
presence of fine silicate and clay minerals that increase
entrainment, slime coatings, and high-pulp and froth vis-
cosities. The content of sulfide and hydrophobic gangue
minerals in metal ores is also increasing, leading to poor
selectivity in the flotation process. This special issue will
present remedial strategies of these sulfide and nonsulfide
gangue minerals, hydrophobic or hydrophilic, with a focus
on innovative green technologies.
Gangue minerals can also react and complex with
lixiviants and targeted elements in hydrometallurgical
processing, not only resulting in the large consumption of
reagents but also compromising the recovery of valuable
elements. Great effort is required to manage gangue min-
erals in heap leaching, in situ leaching, reactor leaching
and autoclave leaching.
This special issue, which will come out in 2021, will
present the most recent innovations, concerns and chal-
lenges encountered in the management of gangue miner-
als in different hydrometallurgical processes for a range of
commodities and, in particular, tailings. n
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
 SME News
Environmental Division News

Environmental Division hosts

technical sessions
by Larry Williams, P.E., R.G.

T he Environmental Division will be hosting a number of

technical sessions at the MINEXCHANGE 2021 SME
Annual Conference & Expo. The overall theme of the 2021
conference will be “Social License: Mining for the Future”
with featured environmental technical-session topics figur-
ing prominently in the conference program.
The mining industry must offer innovative, sustain-
able solutions in order to mitigate social risk and attain
social license. The Environmental Division is planning at
least three technical sessions focusing on sustainable and
socially responsible mining practices, including topics such
as renewable energy, reduced carbon emissions, community
development and engagement, social licensing and environ-
Environmental Division News serves as a forum for
the presentation and discussion of facts, ideas and opinions
pertaining to the interests and technology of the Environ-
mental Division. Accordingly, all material published herein
is signed and reflects the individual view of the authors. It
is not an official position of SME or the division. Comments
by readers will be referred to that division for response. The
division chair in 2020 is Leslie Watson.
mental, social and corporate governance issues (ESG).
Acid-rock drainage, data management, mine site recla-
mation and closure, regulatory permitting, water manage-
ment and water treatment continue to provide numerous
opportunities for the mining industry to use technological
innovations to improve environmental performance. Each
of these topics will be covered in the remaining technical
sessions.
The Environmental Division is currently reviewing ab-
stracts from industry thought leaders and innovators. We
are focused on presentations related to interesting envi-
ronmental case studies, new technologies, novel project ap-
proaches and unique regulatory challenges, as well as other
provocative environmental topics that may be of interest
to conference attendees. As we draw closer to our annual
conference, watch the SME website for presentation guides
and registration. We are planning an excellent conference,
and we are looking forward to seeing you online. Plan on
participating in the 2021 Environmental Division confer-
ence technical program and contributing to another suc-
cessful year. n

AIME has released the Barbara Filas oral history

A IME’s oral history series consists of 48 interviews
with the legends of the minerals industry, from all of
its many fields of endeavor. In the most recent two-part
of the oral histories conducted by University of California-
Berkeley’s Bancroft Library Regional Oral History Office
in the 1970-1990s.
oral history, Tim Arnold interviewed Barbara Filas, the first To continue its mission of honoring the legacy and
woman president of SME. Arnold and Filas discussed her traditions of AIME, AIME’s History and Heritage Com-
background in mining, her plan to make her own name in mittee seeks candidates for oral history capture to pre-
the industry, why engineer is a good title and other high- serve and promote achievements in its fields and share the
lights from her successful career. stories of prominent members with future generations. To
In the two videos, Filas speaks candidly about her up- submit a candidate, visit http://aimehq.org/programs/oral-
bringing, her current roles and everything in-between. She histories. n
begins the interview by telling how she unintentionally
took a geology course in college, which would eventually
determine her career path — but not before she hit a few
bumps in the road. With a father who worked in mining and
traveled often, it seemed like this was always the road she
was destined to take. At the beginning of her professional
career, she experienced a good deal of bias (unconscious
and conscious) in the mining industry, but this never slowed
her determination. She also highlights her career at Exxon
and with Knight Piesold, where she was able to visit six of
the seven continents. As her career progressed, Filas served
as president of SME and as an AIME Trustee.
AIME’s entire oral history collection, including the Fi-
las oral history, can be found on the Engineering and Tech-
nology History Wiki (ETHW) website, www.ethw.org, on
the AIME website, www.aimehq.org/programs/archives
and at its member societies, AIST, SME, SPE and TMS.
AIME thanks SME for funding the digitization of 15
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com Mınıng engineering october 2020 49
New Media SME News
Taconite: New Life for Minnesota’s Iron Range
The History of Erie Mining Company
2017, by the Erie Mining Company History Project Team, published
by the Donning Co., ISBN: 978-1-68184-244-8, hardcover, four-color,
available from the St. Louis County Historical Society, $45, includes all
taxes, shipping, and handling, https://www.thehistorypeople.org/product-
page/erie-mining-book-1.

T his book is a history of the Erie Mining Company in Minnesota. Written

by former employees over a period of five years, it tells the story of Erie
Mining, from its formation in 1940 to its closure in 2001, and examines the
vast amount of pioneering work involved in developing an economically fea-
sible method to mine and process a previously worthless low-grade iron ore
called taconite. By turning taconite into a high-quality product, the develop-
ment of Minnesota’s mineral resources was made possible. This ensured Min-
nesota’s continued prominence as the major supplier of the iron ore critical
to the nation’s security and the advancement of its standard of living.
Research using samples of taconite from the eastern Mesabi Range
began in 1912 at the University of Minnesota by Edward Davis and others.
This proved that the fine iron particles could be separated from the taconite
at a laboratory level. However, it would be up to mining companies, such as
Pickands Mather, to develop the commercial-size equipment necessary for
full-scale mining.
Beginning with the early experiments, the book follows the construction
of both the Erie Preliminary Taconite Plant and the Commercial Plant. Using
the oral histories of former employees, the book details the operations of the plant, its growth and expansion, the union
and people of Erie Mining, and the closure of the company.
“It was a joy,” said Dan DeVaney, an Erie history project team member. “Some of the guys were hourly, some were
salaried. Luckily, we had someone from every department at Erie, so we had knowledge of every department when we
started writing the book.” Ronald Hein, who led the Erie history project, noted that goal was to make sure the younger
generations had the opportunity to learn more about the rich history at Erie and be inspired by it. The St. Louis County
Historical Society in Duluth handled the financial aspects of the project, and local historians Marvin Lampaa and Pam
Brunfelt reviewed and critiqued the project. n

SME welcomes the following new members

Greg Abrahams, Sandy, UT
Anggy Nicole Acuña A., Huancayo, Peru
Hugh Agro, Toronto, ON, Canada
Carlos Alberto Alava P., Quito, Ecuador
Roberto Carlos Alcorta V., Arequipa, Peru
Lita Pamela Ambrosio S., Huancayo, Peru
Khairul Anuar, Singapore, Singapore
Jhon Cesar Aro M., Arequipa, Peru
Shirley Katheryne Ayala C., Cajamarca, Peru
Juan Carlos Ayala V., Ayacucho, Peru
Richar Sandro Balboa Z., Lima, Peru
Battulga Baldorj, Ulanbator, Mongolia
Bryan Ronaldo Balta L., Trujillo, Peru
Marc Barnard, Perth, WAS, Australia
Debanshu Basu, Taylorsville, UT
Keysi Yanella Bejarano S., Trujillo, Peru
Michael Beswick, Woodvale, WAS, Australia
Diviesh Bhakta, South Jordan, UT
Michael Bierwagen, Gold Canyon, AZ
Battogtokh Bold, Ulan Bator, Mongolia
Aida Carolina Borges C., Mount Lawley, WAS,
Australia
Jon Brady, Midvale, UT
Stewart Brand, Scarborough, WAS, Australia
Scott Broad, Perth, WAS, Australia
Vanessa Cano B., Arequipa, Peru
Santiago Carassale, Tomball, TX
Luis Giellermo Castañeda A., Huancayo, Peru
Juan Héctor Cerrón R., Huancayo, Peru
George Chapin, South Salt Lake, UT
Ahsan Chaudhary, Mesa, AZ
Vivek Chauhan, Kitimat, BC, Canada
Cristhian Choccelahua J., Huancayo, Peru
Carlos Choquepuma Y., Arequipa, Peru
Chantelle Colquhoun, Ashfield, WAS, Australia
Alex Renato Condori V., Arequipa, Peru
Andrea Sofía Córdova N., Quito, Ecuador
José Pedro Cortez O., Lima, Peru
Mawson Croaker, Sandy Bay, TAS, Australia
Ana Lucía Cruz N., Quito, Ecuador
Michael Cuadros P., Ayacucho, Peru
Anibal Cuba B., Ayacucho, Peru
Piotr Cygan, Perth, WAS, Australia
Crystal Darger, Herriman, UT
Jacqueline David, Marana, AZ
Vanessa Dayana Díaz Q., Quito, Ecuador
Blair Dickerson, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Kimberly Dodson, La Mesa, CA
Kevan Ehman, Castlegar, BC, Canada
Jenny Ellis, Superior, AZ
Sergio Escudero, Medellín, Colombia
Gus Fomradas, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Thomas Francis, South Jordan, UT
Erdenedorj Ganbat, Hovd, Mongolia
Telmen Gansukh, Hovd, Mongolia
Christian Gaona, Austin, TX
Daniel Goldstein, Clarkson, WAS, Australia
Yohann Gonsalves D., Perth, WAS, Australia
Alvaro Gonzalez, Perth, WAS, Australia
Marco Gozzetti, Perth, WAS, Australia
Jacob Graham, Collingwood, ON, Canada
Ros Green, Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia
Thomas Green, Perth, WAS, Australia
Melissa Gregory, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
(Continued on page 54)

50 october 2020 Mınıng engineering www.miningengineeringmagazine.com


BARBARA J. ARNOLD (SME) has
joined the John and Willie Leone Fam-
ily Department of Energy and Mineral
Engineering in Penn State’s College of
Earth and Mineral Sciences as a profes-
sor of practice in mining engineering.
In addition to teaching responsibilities,
Arnold will develop a strong research
program in tailings management, critical
minerals, rare earth elements and the
arnold
application of data science to coal and
mineral processing value chains. She will be a key player
in the recently established Center for Critical Minerals.
Arnold is the founder and president of PrepTech Inc., an
engineering services and mineral processing equipment
company in Apollo, PA. She is a registered professional
engineer, was president of SME in 2018 and is a Penn State
Alumni Fellow, the most prestigious award given by its
Alumni Association.
SCOTT RAND (SME) has been ap-
pointed North American vice president
of Shotcrete Tunneling and Mining
(STM). STM is a new business unit
established by Sika following its acquisi-
tion of King Packaged Material Co. It
will focus on complete shotcrete solu-
tions, including materials and equip-
ment, and will service the growing
rand Canadian and U.S. mining, tunneling,
refractory, concrete construction and
concrete rehabilitation markets. Rand has more than 20
years of experience representing the King brand and will
lead an expanded sales team consisting of King Construc-
tion Products team members and Sika North America team
members. The new team will be responsible for the sales of
materials, equipment and other products.
JAMES R. TUER has assumed the role of president, chief
executive officer and a director of Fjordland Exploration.
He was the founding principal of Hudson Resources Inc., a
Canadian-based mining and technology company. He will
be responsible for managing the company’s ongoing nickel,
copper, cobalt and platinum-group-element exploration
projects. He replaces RICHARD ATKINSON (SME) who
is now chairman of the board.
GEORGE BEE (SME) has been appointed president of
US Gold. Bee spent 16 years with Barrick Gold, where his
roles included serving as the senior vice president for the
Frontera district in Chile and Argentina, in addition to the
mine manager role at Goldstrike.
USA Rare Earth LLC announced that PETER CRITIKOS
(SME) has joined the management team as director of en-
gineering and development. Most recently, he was senior
project manager with Samuel Engineering.
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
SME News
Personal News
JOHN MANSANTI (SME), the
president and CEO of Crystal Peak
Minerals, has resigned to pursue other
opportunities; he is also stepping down
as a director. DEAN PEKESKI, the
vice president of project development,
has been named interim president and
CEO. Mansanti has assumed a consult-
ing position to act as a senior advisor
mansanti to the board, so that the company may
continue to draw on his experience as it
moves forward with its Sevier Playa project.
STEVE PRECOURT is the new presi-
dent of SynTerra Corp., a science and
engineering firm. He succeeds MARK
TAYLOR, who served as SynTerra’s
president since 2006. Precourt, a licensed
professional engineer in Florida, served
as the Republican Florida House major-
ity leader in 2012-2013. In 2018, while
serving as CEO of Florida-based KPM
precourt Franklin, he received the Governor A.W.
Gilchrist Award, presented annually to
recognize an engineer for public service, helping mankind,
and bringing honor to the engineering profession. Precourt
worked as a transportation engineer in Central Florida and
as a principal at Dyer, Riddle, Mills & Precourt. He has
also served on the Orange County Development Advisory
Board, including several years as its chair.
The International Council on Mining
and Metals (ICMM) has announced
that Richard Adkerson, pres-
ident, CEO and vice chairman of
Freeport-McMoRan, is its new chair.
ICMM is governed by the chief execut-
tive officers of its 27 company members.
Officers are appointed from within this
group for approximately a two-year
adkerson term. The chair leads ICMM on its
mission of strengthening the environ-
mental and social performance of the mining and metals
industry and building recognition of its contribution to lo-
cal communities and society at large. Adkerson has been
a member of ICMM since 2005 and previously served as
chair from 2008-2011.
Diane R. Garrett (SME) has
been appointed president and CEO of
Hycroft Mining Holding and has also
joined the company’s board of direc-
tors. Garrett resigned as president,
CEO and director of Nickel Creek
Platinum, but will remain a consultant
to the management team and board of
garrett directors. n
Mınıng engineering october 2020 51
Obituaries/NecrologySME News
Robert Lane White
R obert Lane White, 82, died Aug. 21, 2020 of heart
failure. As a longtime member of the SME Colorado
Section, he received the section’s Lifetime Achievement
(E&MJ) in 1971 and went on to serve as managing edi-
tor, as international editor based in London, England and,
for one year, as editor-in-chief. As international editor he
Award in 2011 for outstanding support and service to the traveled extensively to mining operations throughout Eu-
section. He also served the section as its newsletter edi- rope and other parts of the world.
tor for 14 years. He received his SME 25-year-member From 1989 to 1995, White was manager of publications
pin in 1997 and, in 2003, he received the SME Colorado and publisher of Mining Engineering magazine. After his
MPD Subsection’s Arthur C. Daman Lifetime Achieve- retirement from SME, he worked as a freelance mining
ment Award for his “dedication and support toward the writer from his Denver home business, Mining Media
advancement of the mining industry.” Services, until a few weeks before his death. The majority
White studied engineering at the Colorado School of of his recent work was monthly contributions to E&MJ’s
Mines and graduated from the University of Colorado news section.
with a degree in English. He served in the U.S. Army, White was active with the National Mining Hall of
1961-1964, in Panama as a Spanish translator, following Fame & Museum in Leadville, CO, serving as the national
training at the Army Language Institute in Monterey, CA. chair of the Nominating Committee. He maintained the
White worked as a mining journalist at Metals Week “Industry News Section” on the website of the Interna-
from 1968 to 1971, covering the copper, lead and zinc tional Precious Metals Institute and edited technical re-
markets. He joined the Engineering & Mining Journal ports for Behre Dolbear in Denver, CO.
White was an avid lover of music in its many forms.
He played saxophone in high school and college, enjoyed
jazz and even played the banjo. For a short time, he played
handbells for a local church. In his younger years, he was
active in community theatre and was a dedicated amateur
photographer.
White is survived Necrology
by his sisters, Laura date elected name and city
McLane and Vennie
Eline White; nieces 1977 John T. Bartlett
Sandra Nicholls, Tucson, AZ
Sharon van Thul- 1956 Donald Gasper **
lenar, Kristen Sch- Pittsburgh, PA
upp and Eva Maska;
and nephews Brian 1954 Richard E. Guth **
Tucson, AZ
Wert, Bob Wert,
Brett Ulak and Ra- 2019 Jorge Lema-Patino
mon McLane, plus Santa Cruz, Bolivia
many great-nieces 2006 James E. Monsees
and nephews. He Villa Park, CA
was predeceased by
his sister, Claudeen 1972 Robert Lane White
Denver, CO
Lane White displays the ‘57 Chevy that was presented to him, Wert, and his broth-
along with a plaque, for receiving the Lifetime Achievement ers Scott, Joe and ** Legion of Honor
Award from the SME Colorado Section. Vernon White. nn

Fine Grind
(Continued from page 48)
as a reviewer, please reach out to one of the editors, who
will be glad to answer any of your questions. Even if you
have never submitted a paper for peer review, you will find
that the process is straightforward and that the peer review
will often greatly improve the scientific quality of the work.
The journal editors are always looking for subject-matter
52 october 2020 Mınıng engineering
experts to serve as peer reviewers for material in their areas
of expertise.
More information about the journal and the submission
process can be found on the journal website, https://www.
springer.com/journal/4246, and in the SME eNews article at
https://me.smenet.org/reader.cfm?webArticleID=3118. n
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

SME Foundation outlines its goals
and core values
by Mary Korpi, SME Foundation President
D ear SME members and SME Foundation friends;
Who would have ever imagined the changes that
have occurred since we all gathered together in Phoenix at
the February MINEXCHANGE 2020 SME Annual Con-
ference & Expo more than six months ago? We had events
to celebrate and recognize our generous Foundation donor
companies and individuals and events to honor the numer-
ous scholarship and award winners for their contributions.
We discovered the latest industry advances in technical
sessions, renewed friendships with long-term acquaintances
and, on the expo floor, networked with industry peers.
The world has been constantly changing since February,
and the SME Foundation has adopted new ways of do-
ing business to support the Foundation’s mission to be the
source of funding for education and outreach to SME and
the community it serves. The updated SME strategic plan
encompasses three core values — members first, profes-
sional excellence and innovation. These values will guide
the six, long-term goals focused on resources, sustainability,
education, growth, stability and perception. The important
Foundation programs and activities are in alignment to sup-
port these core values and the goals described in a couple
of examples.
Goal A
Provide resources for sustainable professional and edu-
cational programs.
The Professional Engineers program supports licensure
SME Foundation will hold its 2021 auction
online
T he SME Foundation has announced that it will hold an
online silent auction to help raise funds for the Founda-
tion’s programs and initiatives. The online auction will take
place in conjunction with the virtual MINEXCHANGE
2021 SME Annual Conference & Expo, March 1-5.
At this time, we request your help in making our event
a huge success by donating items for auction. This is an
excellent way for you and your company to advertise while
donating to the Foundation. Your donation will be recog-
nized in Mining Engineering magazine, as well as on the
online auction website.
Popular items donated in the past include:
• Scale models of mining equipment.
• Historical mining equipment and memorabilia.
• Mineral and fossil specimens.
• Jewelry and gems.
• Private VIP tours of mines.
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
SME News
SME Foundation
for trained and qualified mining and mineral processing
engineers who will become the leaders in our industry. The
Ph.D. Fellowship and Career Development Grant program
addresses the long-term challenges that threaten the sus-
tainability of U.S. mining and mineral processing/extractive
metallurgy academic degree programs. ABET ensures that
mining engineering, geological engineering, geophysical
engineering and similar degrees maintain the established
university accreditations that provide the critical academic
programs for the future engineers of our industry.
Goals B and C
Be the primary source of mining and underground con-
struction information, and improve the perception of min-
ing industry among the public and key constituents.
The Minerals Education Coalition develops and deliv-
ers accurate and timely K-12 educational materials and ac-
tivities and conducts public awareness outreach about min-
ing and minerals. The Miners Give Back Award promotes
humanitarian and service-oriented projects by SME Local
Sections, and the Mining in Society merit-badge program
develops materials and training for merit-badge counselors
and Scouts and conducts outreach to other Scouting groups.
So much continues to be accomplished with the Foun-
dation’s programs, and I hope that you have had the op-
portunity to watch three of our SME members share their
(Continued on page 54)
•
•
•
Adventure outings.
Sports tickets.
Electronics and technology items.
• Professional services.
• Gift baskets.
• Artwork.
Cash donations are also greatly appreciated, as this
helps us purchase additional highly desirable items for the
auction. The money raised from the online auction will sup-
port SME Foundation programs, such as the Ph.D. Fellow-
ship and Academic Career Development Grant program,
the Minerals Education Coalition, ABET, the PE licensure
program, Miners Give Back and numerous scholarships.
If you or your company would like to make a tax-de-
ductible donation (items or cash), contact Megan Martin at
martin@smenet.org.
We can’t wait to hold a successful virtual auction. n
Mınıng engineering october 2020 53
SME News SME News
New Members
(Continued from page 50)
Dallas Griffin, Houston, TX
Kelly Stephanía Guamán A., Quito, Ecuador
Victor Miguel Guanilo V., Trujillo, Peru
Mike Gunner, Woodvale, WAS, Australia
Daniel Gutierrez B., Ayacucho, Peru
Eugene Gyawu, Rolla, MO
Adam Hall, High Wycombe, WAS, Australia
Robert Hall, Rapid City, SD
Ian Hamilton, Alabaster, AL
Christopher Harman, Brighton, QLD, Australia
Bernadette Harris, Belmont, WAS, Australia
Nicholas Hawkes, Cheddar, United Kingdom
Trevor Heaton, South Jordan, UT
Anthony Henager, Mesa, AZ
Jovan Hicks, Superior, AZ
Betty Jacob, Brisbane City, QLD, Australia
Cleyder Miguel Jacobo L., Trujillo, Peru
Khulan Jambalsuren, Ulanbator, Mongolia
Emmanuel Kiemde, Moline, IL
Yuri Kinakin, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Pierre-Henri Koch, Amay, Belgium
Christopher Kulcher, Gilbert, AZ
Tomasz Kuziemka, Ely, NV
Stuart Laing, Belmont, WAS, Australia
Gay Landwehr, Perth, WAS, Australia
Jonathan Lapwood, Perth, WAS, Australia
Elihazer Agustin Layza R., Trujillo, Peru
Lloyd Lee, Wabush, NL, Canada
Winston Liang, Kirkwood, QLD, Australia
Jonathan Pier Linarez L., Trujillo, Peru
Christian Paolo Llave M., Trujillo, Peru
Jacklyn Lodge, Teneriffe, QLD, Australia
José Pablo Lope M., Ayacucho, Peru
Jorge Antonio Lujan J., Trujillo, Peru
Hongliang Ma, Perth, WAS, Australia
Aejandro Macci, Santiago, Chile
Scott Macdonald, Carey Park, WAS, Australia
Andres Maldonado, Clint, TX
Sami Malhas, Boise, ID
Ricardo Fabian Mamani M., Arequipa, Peru
Joel Orestes Mamani P., Arequipa, Peru
Charles Marrs, Golden, CO
Alex McAllister, Paddington, QLD, Australia
Amanda McLane, Mesa, AZ
Cameron McNeilage, Mount Hawthorn, WAS,
Australia
Joanna Lizeth Mendivil O., Hermosillo, SON,
Mexico
William Mitchelson, West Jordan, UT
Feker Mnif, Saguney, QC, Canada
Sinetemba Mnunu, Richards Bay, South Africa
Pete Moncla, Superior, AZ
Nishita Narula S., Montreal, QC, Canada
Santiago Navia V., Envigado, Colombia
Laura Nuno, Newmarket, QLD, Australia
Eduardo Alonzo Obando Z., Arequipa, Peru
Gaher Rubén Ocampo R., Mexico City, MEX,
Mexico
Louisa O’Connor, Kalamunda, WAS, Australia
Yemi Okubanjo, Montréal, QC, Canada
Jonathan Fernando Ortega G., Loja, Ecuador
Alejandro José Ortiz M., Cajamarca, Peru
David Palmer, Floreat, WAS, Australia
Wilder Pando, Cajamarca, Peru
Ritesh Patel, Gladstone Central, QLD, Australia
Johana Giorget Pérez C., Trujillo, Peru
John Petrea, Bartonville, IL
Caitlin Pierce, Tempe, AZ
Laura Pilkington, Perth, WAS, Australia
Eduard Pogosov, Overland Park, KS
Alasdaire Pope, Sandy, UT
Nathaly Fernanda Puetate N., Quito, Ecuador
Manlai Purevdorj, Hovd, Mongolia
Curtis Purrington, Littleton, CO
David Rafael Reascos M., Quito, Ecuador
Peter Richter, Brisbane City, QLD, Australia
Raul Rios, Midvale, UT
Gregory Ritter, Herriman, UT
Nathan Robinson, New Farm, QLD, Australia
Yuliano André Robles B., Ayacucho, Peru
Traci Rodosta, Washington, D.C.
Isaac Manuel Rodriguez L., Trujillo, Peru
Gavin Rootsey, Brisbane City, QLD Australia
Blake Rothlisberger, Mesa, AZ
Jaime Alessandro Saavedra V., Huancayo, Peru
Cynthia Estefanía Saltos G., Quito, Ecuador
Kevin Israel Santacruz L., Quito, Ecuador
Himanshi Satnani, Perth Airport, WAS,
Australia
Disha Saxena, Brisbane City, QLD, Australia
Bill Schieb, Fort Collins, CO
Connie Schultz, Gilbert, AZ
Maiko Sell, Montreal, QC, Canada
Gajan Shivaramanan, Brisbane City, QLD,
Australia
Wade Shoop, Lead, SD
Rananjay Singh, Perth, WAS, Australia
Kenneth Soh, Singapore, Singapore
Diego Armando Soto A., Arequipa, Peru
Giovanni Stabile, Montreal, QC, Canada
James Strachan, Weipa, QLD, Australia
Joshua Stretton, Nhulunbuy, NT, Australia
Lori Sudbury, South Jordan, UT
Oscar Tinoco, Salt Lake City, UT
Kristin Trappitt, East Victoria Park, WAS,
Australia
Regzedmaa Tsagaankhuu, Hovd, Mongolia
Ninjin Tsolmon, Hovd, Mongolia
Keiko Ali Uriol R., Trujillo, Peru
Ivan Domivanovish Valdivia A., Arequipa, Peru
David Alejandro Vàsquez A., Quito, Ecuador
David Jericó Vivanco C., Lima, Peru
Susan Wacaster, Santa Fe, NM
Hanlie Walsh, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Jody Wentzell, Labrador City, NL, Canada
T. West White, Montgomery, AL
Tom White, Gilbert, AZ
Ryan Wilde, South Jordan, UT
Joshua Wood, Carlisle, WAS, Australia
Heath Wooders, Brisbane City, QLD, Australia
Henrique Wu, Shanghai City, China n

SMEF
(Continued from page 53)
personal experiences with the programs they have ben-
efited from and passionately support. Go to the Foundation
website, smefoundation.org; from the “About” tab, choose
“How your donations make a difference” in the dropdown
menu selections. Then click on the pictures to watch short
video stories on why SME Foundation programs are im-
portant in the lives of our members and the difference your
support makes in the industry.
During this time, I have been especially inspired by
the dedication and commitment of the SME Foundation
staff and the Foundation Trustees, as they build on what
has been working, develop new methodologies as needed,
remain flexible and keep a positive attitude. As a result,
projects and activities are moving forward and being ac-
complished. Planning is underway for MINEXCHANGE
2021’s move to a virtual format, and dynamic ways to con-
tinue to celebrate the Foundation’s award and scholarship
recipients are in process. The opportunity to celebrate these
honored recipients will occur, and fundraising will remain a
priority.
All of the Foundation’s critical work can only be accom-
plished with the generous contributions from our valuable
donor companies and individuals. Thank you for your past
donations. We appreciate your continued financial sup-
port of the SME Foundation. We appreciate your belief in
the value of the SME Foundation programs and activities.
Working together we will continue to provide the benefits
critical to our industry and our members. Please be safe and
stay healthy. n
With sincere thanks and gratitude,
Mary Korpi, SME Foundation President

54 october 2020 Mınıng engineering www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

 SME News
Minerals Education Coalition

MEC’s new activities for 2020 Earth

Science Week
E ach year, the Minerals Edu-
cation Coalition (MEC)
partners with the American
Geosciences Institute’s Earth
Science Week (ESW) to provide
educational resources around
the world.
For the 23rd annual Earth
Science Week celebration, Oct.
11-17, 2020, MEC has collaborat-
ed with the Ohio Aggregates &
Industrial Minerals Association
(OAIMA) to produce the Sort It
Out! educational unit. The unit
includes an OAIMA video tour
of aggregate processing facilities,
an accompanying MEC lesson
plan about aggregate production
and the Sifting Stones activity
in the 2020-2021 Earth Science
Week calendar. A postcard in
the ESW toolkit gives teachers
the link to visit MEC’s new ac-
tivities at mineralseducationco-
alition/esw. MEC’s calendar page in the ESW toolkit calendar.
This year’s theme for Earth Science Week, “Earth
Materials In Our Lives,” will focus on the ways that earth Move Mining is open for submissions from anywhere
materials impact humans — and the ways human activity The Fifth Annual Move Mining Competition is open
impacts these materials — in the 21st century. Minerals for submissions, and the finalists won’t need to travel, so
Day, Oct. 12, 2020, is a new Focus Day during Earth Sci- don’t hesitate to enter. The Move Mining live event will
ence Week, and teachers can gather information about this be completely virtual this year, just as MINEXCHANGE
new activity at www.earthsciweek.org/minerals-day. 2021 SME Annual Conference & Expo will be fully vir-
Copies of the 2020 Earth Science Week toolkit are tual. If you haven’t started preparing your concept and
free and available for the cost of shipping and handling to video, what are you waiting for? Help us change the per-
teachers in the United States. To order ESW toolkits, visit ception of mining with your ingenuity and talents. The five
earthsciweek.org/materials. finalist teams will compete for the $5,000 grand prize.
The deadline for submissions is Nov. 11, 2020 at
noon MST, and it takes time to complete the full en-
try. So, enter well before the deadline. Go to movem-
ining.org for all the details.

Move Mining Next Gen is open for submissions

Have some fun and get a student in your life in-
volved in learning about our industry. Mentor a team
to help them learn, research and spread the word
about why minerals and mining are important to our
daily lives. Guide them as they create a three-minute
video for the chance to win $1,000.
Go to moveminingnextgen.org to learn everything
they need to know to enter as well as how to promote
their videos for public voting.
Resources to help make content-rich videos can
be found at mineralseducationcoalition.org. n

www.miningengineeringmagazine.com Mınıng engineering october 2020 55

 SME News
Coming Events/Short Courses

Upcoming SME Events

THRIVE — Virtual 2020 Cutting Edge Conference George A. Fox Conference
Financing Exploration, Feasibility, Virtual Jan. 26, 2021
Construction and Nov. 10-11, 2020 New York, NY, USA
Closure Keys to Success
Oct. 20-21, 2020
For additional information, contact: Meetings Dept., SME
Phone 800-763-3132 • 303-948-4200 • Fax 303-979-3461 • email sme@smenet.org • www.smenet.org
Visit www.miningengineeringmagazine.com for more industry events or to list your event online.

October 2020 9-13 • Expomin 2020

Espacio Riesco, Santiago, Chile
Phone: 562-2530-7000
2 • SME Foundation Benefit Golf Tournament email: ventas@expomin.cl
Dinosaur Mountain Golf Course at Gold Canyon Golf Resort www.expomin.cl/en
Gold Canyon, AZ, USA
Phone: 303-948-4200
email: smefoundation@smenet.org
16-19 • Economic Evaluation and Investment Decision
https://community.smenet.org/smefoundation/eventspage/ Methods
golf-tournament2 Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO
Phone: 303-384-2690 • Fax: 303-384-2695
email: learn@mines.edu
26-30 • Hydroprocess 2020 — Virtual https://csmspace.com/events/econeval
Phone 562-2652-1535
email: hydroprocess@gecamin.com
https://gecamin.com/hydroprocess 16-19 • 2nd International Conference on High-
Performance Mining — Virtual
AMT at RWTH Aachen University
November 2020 Phone: 49-241-8094522
email: info@academy.rwth-aachen.de
2-6 • Paste 2020 — Virtual https://hpm.academy-rwth.de
Phone: 562-2652-1549
email: operaciones@gecamin.com
https://paste2020.com December 2020
16-18 • Minexcellence
7-14 • Alta 2020 — Virtual Hotel Sheraton, Santiago, Chile
Phone: 61-0-41-692-442 Phone: 562-2652-1548
email: allisontaylor@altamet.com.au email: minexcellence@gecamin.com
www.altamet.com.au/conferences/alta-2020 https://gecamin.com/minexcellence n

Reserve your space now to be featured in

Mining Engineering’s editorial coverage of
Electronic Vehicles in our December issue.
Call Gary Garvey at 303.948.4243 today!

56 october 2020 Mınıng engineering www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

 DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN $5,000
for creating the best idea to change
the world’s perception of mining!

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Enter from anywhere in the world:

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Learn more and submit videos at MoveMining.org

New Products
Sensemetrics launches IIoT cloud technology to mitigate
tailings storage risk
S ensemetrics, a global Industrial IoT (IIoT) and cloud
technology company, has announced a new technology
that gives mining companies and their insurers real-time,
end-to-end mine tailings storage facilities (TSF) insights.
Available globally, the solution drives safety and mitigates
risk across the entire TSF lifecycle, providing mine opera-
tors with access to real-time information and analytics for
continuous and complete surveillance across TSF construc-
tion, operation and closure phases.
The new technology also offers a variety of new fea-
tures specifically designed for reinsurers and primary insur-
ers, empowering them with critical insights for technical
Sena Industrial releases a new Tufftalk M headset
S ena Industrial has released its
new Tufftalk M headset, which
now features mesh intercom
technology for expanded team
coverage, simplified connection,
hearing protection, hands-free
operation and multi-channel
functionality. The headsets are
available in an over-the-head ver-
sion as well as a hard-hat version.
Mesh intercom technology
is a self-optimizing and self-healing network, always look-
ing for the best connection and seeking a new one when a
device disconnects. Tufftalk M features two mesh modes
— open mesh and group mesh. With open mesh, a nearly
unlimited number of users can connect to each other within
an effective range of 1.1 km (0.7 miles), using nine channels
Haver & Boecker Niagara offers a variety of fine screen media
H aver & Boecker Niagara offers a range of fine screen
media options for applications that include frac and
silica sand, salt, perlite, potash and steelmaking coal. The
portfolio features options for cut sizes as small as 120 mesh
and for temperatures as high as 315 °C (600 °F). And most
products are ready to ship in two to three days from the
North American production facility. The fine screening
portfolio includes Ty-Ger Wire, Ton-Cap, Tyler mineral-pro-
cessing screens, Profile Wire, single-layer and multi-layer
sections.
The company’s signature Ty-Ger Wire contains high-
tensile spring
steel for
durability
and abrasion
resistance.
Ty-Ger Wire
is ideal for
fine screening
Ty-Ger wire applications
58 october 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
risk underwriting and enabling them to achieve a level of
end-to-end TSF assessment previously unavailable to the
mining industry. Features include: a remote sensing module
for insight into risk assessment parameters; a secure appli-
cation programming interface for the exchange of real-time
and historical sensor data; and native iOS and Android
mobile apps. The Sensemetrics platform supports all of the
best practices outlined in the Tailings Governance Frame-
work, recently published by the International Council on
Mining & Metals.
www.sensemetrics.com
The Tufftalk headset comes in two styles
— over-the-head earmuffs and hard-hat
integrated.
to stay in touch with the right team
members. For private sessions, group
mesh supports up to 24 participants.
Tufftalk M also features four Blue-
tooth connections that pair with
Sena’s Bluetooth-enabled devices,
such as the original Tufftalk.
Tufftalk M is designed with a
hands-free intercom system and a three-button layout mak-
ing it easy to control in demanding work environments. It
can also connect via Bluetooth to a smart phone to make
calls or listen to music.
www.senaindustrial.com
requiring lower corrosion resistance but higher wearability
and greater resistance to tearing than stainless steel.
Tyler mineral processing screens fit industrial separators
with automatic tensioning, giving producers sharp separa-
tions and high efficiency. The media can handle high tem-
peratures, and the screens are ideal for applications where
sizing accuracy is critical. The screens can be manufactured
with abrasion-resistant Ty-Ger wire for longer wear life.
Ton-Cap is designed for high-tonnage applications re-
quiring increased open area. The media features distinct,
slotted openings, ranging from 76 mm (3 in.) to 50 mesh to
ensure the ideal fit for a variety of classifying applications.
The durable sections handle high capacities without an in-
crease in wire diameter.
Haver & Boecker Niagara uses its extensive screening
OEM experience to help operations determine the best
product for their application and solutions to their chal-
lenges.
www.haverniagara.ca
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
 New Products

Maxam presents its new integrated blasting service: X-Energy

X -Energy from Maxam combines the most advanced explosives technology on the market — Smart Rioflex — with a
set of digital tools for optimized blast design and execution, all integrated into the Maxam Blast Center. X-Energy’s
modular nature allows a mine to customize the design and execution of each individual blast and integrate it to the re-
quirements of downstream operations. The benefits in enhanced safety, reduced impact on the environment, optimized
rock fragmentation, efficient use of energy, higher production, and reduced costs help mines become more competitive and
more sustainable.
Smart Rioflex technology instantly adjusts the explosive density to match to a range of rock mass conditions with one
single matrix and sensitizing unit. Its
mechanical sensitization provides more
control than chemical gassing, ensuring
the exact product quantity at the right
stemming length, saving operational
time.
The Maxam Blast Center is a cloud-
based platform that integrates a range
of digital tools to design, plan and con-
duct an efficient drilling and blasting
operation and is envisioned to include
third-party data for downstream impact
tracking and optimization.
www.maxamcorp.com The Maxam blast center allows a customized solution for each operation.

Telestick attachment extends the reach of Gradall’s telescoping boom

G radall extends the productivity of its Series V excava-
tors with its Telestick attachment, allowing the boom
to reach as far as 15 m (50 ft). Equipped with ditching, grad-
ing and dredging buckets as well as a grapple, the Telestick
is an ideal attachment for Gradall’s XL 5100V and XL
4100V model excavators with highway speed undercarriag-
es, as well as XL 5200V models on crawler undercarriages
designed to operate on very rough terrain.
The unique Gradall-engineered, high-pressure, load-
sensing hydraulic system efficiently powers the entire boom
movement as it tilts 220° to address slopes and even reach
under bridges and in tunnels. On models with highway
speed undercarriages, operators can drive the machines to
job sites at 60 mph.
The Telestick can typically be installed in less than 30
minutes using the standard boom-end bucket adapter and
two pins. Installation requires no lifting, and because it can
be attached and removed quickly, the versatile excavators
can be used for both standard and long-reach jobs in a
single day.
www.gradall.com

Force Control offers PosiStop air-operated brakes for

hazardous-duty applications
A ir-operated, PosiStop oil-shear motor and coupler
brakes from Force Control are ideal for severe-duty
applications. When they are equipped with a hazardous-duty
needs to be adjusted. Their multiple-disc design reduces
the inertia of the brake, which puts less load on the motor,
and improves efficiency each cycle. PosiStop motor brakes
valve, they can be used in hazardous mount to the back of brakeless motors,
environments, often mounted on air mo- while coupler brakes mount to the drive
tors. They are designed for a long service end of the motor, often between the motor
life with minimal maintenance, even in and the reducer. Dust, dirt, moisture and
severe and critical applications. Typically fume proof, they are available in wash-down,
furnished as spring-set, pressure-release marine-duty and severe- or hazardous-duty
brakes, pressure-set brakes are also models. PosiStop brakes are ideal for con-
available for applications where torque veyors, hoists, winches, stackers, loaders and
Oil Shear technology means the PosiStop unloaders. They can be used horizontally or
brakes do not need maintenance or vertically and require minimal air volume. n
adjustment and last up to 10 times longer
than standard dry-friction motor brakes. www.forcecontrol.com

www.miningengineeringmagazine.com Mınıng engıneerıng october 2020 59

Web Directory
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www.miningengineeringmagazine.com Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOBER 2020 63

Professional Services

M I N I N G S O F T WA R E I N T E R N AT I O N A L

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64 OCTOBER 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

 Professional Services

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

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www.miningengineeringmagazine.com Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOBER 2020 65

Professional Services

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66 OCTOBER 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

3468 BioN 1col x 4.indd 1 12/6/19 4:01 PM

 Index of Display Advertisers
Index of Display Advertisers OCT 2020

Dyno Noble ............................................................... Back Cover

ERIEZ...................................................................................... 9

General Kinematics.................................................................. 15 ®

Gradall Company..................................................................... 23 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF SME

J.H. Fletcher & Co.................................................................. 21 Business Office

12999 E. Adam Aircraft Circle
Jennmar Corp................................................... Inside Front Cover Englewood, CO 80112 USA
Main Tel: 1.303.948.4200
Keller Foundations LLC............................................................... 3 1.800.763.3132
Fax:    1.303.973.3845
MacLean Engineering............................................................... 14 www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

Richwood Industries................................................................ 25

Sandvik.................................................................................. 11 Advertising Manager

SME - Membership Appreciation................................................. 5 Gary Garvey
garvey@smenet.org
SME - Books ......................................................................... 17

SME – Career Center ......................................... Inside Back Cover

SME - MINEXCHANGE............................................................... 7 Sales Offices

SME - Move Mining ................................................................ 57 Hooper Jones
Central, NW U.S.
SME - SMEF ............................................................................ 9 1.847.486 .1021
Cell: 1.847.903.1853
SME - Webinars...................................................................... 13 Fax: 1.847.486.1025
hooperhja@aol.com
SRK Consulting....................................................................... 16 Laura Lemos
East, South, West U.S.
The Gorman-Rupp Company..................................................... 19 Cell: 1.973.668.2449
Main: 1.973.822.9274
Weir Minerals North America...................................................... 1 laura@boja.com
Darren Dunay
Canada
1.201.781.6133
Cell: 1.201.873.0891
sme@dunayassociates.com
Professional Services Eberhard G. Heuser
I N T E R N AT I O N A L Europe
+49 202 2838128
Fax: +49 202 2838126
World’s Leader in Underground egh@heusermedia.com
Grouting Equipment
Patrick Connolly
Cable & Rock Bolts United Kingdom
Void Fillings +44 1702.477341
Waterproofing Fax: +44 1702.477559
Shaft Sealing patco44uk@aol.com
Gary Garvey
International Sales
1.303.948.4243
Fax: 1.303.973.3845
708.354.7112 garvey@smenet.org
www.chemgrout.com

www.miningengineeringmagazine.com Mınıng engıneerıng OCTOBER 2020 67

The Drift of Things
SME to host a virtual convention in 2021
This month, SME President
Robert Schafer shared several issues
of change associated with the Society
(see page 6) due to the COVID-19
pandemic. I want to discuss one of
the biggest changes that much of
the SME membership will see early
next year and I thank Bill Gleason
for allowing me space in his Drift of
Things column this month to share
these thoughts.
As you should have received by
now, SME announced in late August
that the MINEXCHANGE 2021
David Kanagy SME Annual Conference & Expo
SME Executive Director will be held virtually in February
and March 2021. This will be the
first time in the history of the Society that dates
all the way back to 1871 (including the AIME
days) that the mining industry has had to hold
its premiere technical conference and exhibit in
a virtual manner.
SME is having to pivot away from its
normal face-to-face meeting for several reasons,
including the availability of the convention
center, legal requirements, space restrictions and
for the safety and health of our membership.
The city of Denver has many precautions in
place and, at the present time, there are no
waivers around the city restrictions. SME has
been informed that the restrictions (100 people
per 20,000 sq ft of space) will not be lifted until
a vaccine is in place. With these restrictions, we
cannot hold a meeting for 7,000 people and we
had to make the very difficult decision to hold a
virtual 2021 SME Annual Conference & Expo.
What does a virtual conference mean? It
means that you will receive the value of solid
technical information, a showing of products
and services for the mining industry and
an abundance of networking opportunities
similar to a face-to-face meeting. We will just
host it through a digital platform that SME is
purchasing to produce an outstanding event.
Will it be similar to a face-to-face meeting?
Unfortunately not. This will be a very different
event. As you understand, SME cannot hold
lunches, dinners or receptions. We wish we could
serve food and beverages virtually, but that
technology is not here yet. We are still working
to determine the best way to present some
of the functions that normally happen at the
annual conference each year. But we will do as
much as the platform will enable us to do.
68 OCTOBER 2020 Mınıng engıneerıng
What can I expect? We are monitoring the
changes taking place in virtual meetings and you
can be assured that the SME staff is working hard
to develop an outstanding program. We will use
fewer hours each day, we won’t use the weekend
days, and we will extend the program for a full
week (March 1-5, 2021). The week will include a
keynote and opening sessions each day, technical
sessions, a virtual trade show that you can visit
with any and all exhibitors selling the products and
services you want and need, a recognition of SME
Award winners both from the Society and from
our individual Divisions, and a few receptions and
coffee breaks (if that’s what you can call a break
without serving coffee).
What will be the cost? The cost will be
much lower than the traditional registration fee
(approximately 50 percent less) and exhibit fees
will be lower as well (approximately 65 percent of
the normal fee). Of course you will incur no travel
expenses, which might be the biggest savings to
everyone.
Will I receive material for the program? Yes,
you’ll receive a set of materials similar to the
on-site registration material you would normally
receive when you check in for your name badge.
We plan to provide you with a program book,
Mining Engineering will have its normal show
guide and other regular sponsor materials. This
information should easily guide you through the
available presentations and programs in the virtual
event.
Will this event be live or prerecorded? Both!
We will have several prerecorded signature
presentations, several live question-and-answer
sessions, chat availability for exhibitors and award
recognition periods. We want you to have the best
experience possible and it will require the use of
various forms of media to receive the full value.
Plus, you won’t miss the Foundation or Division
Silent Auctions. We plan to hold a virtual silent
auction that will include contributions from
all of the Divisions and the SME Foundation.
The proceeds from this auction will benefit the
funds and activities of the SME Foundation and
individual Divisions.
Yes, as Bob noted in the title to his column this
month “the times they are a changin’.” This will
be a change that I believe you’ll enjoy . . . at least
once! But I really look forward to 2022, when we
can all be safely packed into a convention center
again and share our COVID pandemic stories. I’m
certain everyone will all have some good ones to
share. n
www.miningengineeringmagazine.com
Make a Smart
Career Move with the
SME Career Center
Search a dedicated career resource specific to the mining and mineral industry.

�e SME Career Center connects you with employers actively looking for professionals
in the mining industry.

Interested in posting a job or internship Visit miningjobs.smenet.org to:

opportunity and connecting with the talented
SME membership? Create a job seeker profile
Post a resume
Learn more at miningjobs.smenet.org or
contact Laura Nelson at nelson@smenet.org. Apply for jobs
Get job flash emails

smenet.org
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