scholarly journals Operations Strategy Formulation: Shifting From Grasberg Open-Pit Surface Mining To Underground Mining

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-48
Author(s):  
Rafiq Sulistyo ◽  
◽  
Alibasjah Soedjarno ◽  
Togar M. Simatupang
Keyword(s):  
Underground Mining ◽  
Surface Mining ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Operations Strategy ◽  
Strategy Formulation

scholarly journals Mapping Annual Land Disturbance and Reclamation in a Surface Coal Mining Region Using Google Earth Engine and the LandTrendr Algorithm: A Case Study of the Shengli Coalfield in Inner Mongolia, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wu Xiao ◽  
Xinyu Deng ◽  
Tingting He ◽  
Wenqi Chen
Keyword(s):  
Inner Mongolia ◽  
Land Reclamation ◽  
Underground Mining ◽  
Surface Mining ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Google Earth ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Open Pit Mining ◽  
Landsat Images ◽  
Google Earth Engine

The development and utilization of mining resources are basic requirements for social and economic development. Both open-pit mining and underground mining have impacts on land, ecology, and the environment. Of these, open-pit mining is considered to have the greatest impact due to the drastic changes wrought on the original landform and the disturbance to vegetation. As awareness of environmental protection has grown, land reclamation has been included in the mining process. In this study, we used the Shengli Coalfield in the eastern steppe region of Inner Mongolia to demonstrate a mining and reclamation monitoring process. We combined the Google Earth Engine platform with time series Landsat images and the LandTrendr algorithm to identify and monitor mining disturbances to grassland and land reclamation in open-pit mining areas of the coalfield between 2003 and 2019. Pixel-based trajectories were used to reconstruct the temporal evolution of vegetation, and sequential Landsat archive data were used to achieve accurate measures of disturbances to vegetation. The results show that: (1) the proposed method can be used to determine the years in which vegetation disturbance and recovery occurred with accuracies of 86.53% and 78.57%, respectively; (2) mining in the Shengli mining area resulted in the conversion of 89.98 km2 of land from grassland, water, etc., to barren earth, and only 23.54 km2 was reclaimed, for a reclamation rate of 26.16%; and (3) the method proposed in this paper can achieve fast, efficient identification of surface mining land disturbances and reclamation, and has the potential to be applied to other similar areas.

scholarly journals Study on End-wall Slope Stability of Surface Coal Mine under the Condition of Combined Open-pit Mining with Underground Mining

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Peng Hongge ◽  
Cai Qingxiang ◽  
Zhou Wei ◽  
Shu Jisen
Keyword(s):  
Coal Mine ◽  
Underground Mining ◽  
Surface Mining ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Open Pit Mining ◽  
Surface Mine ◽  
Minimum Width ◽  
Surface Coal Mine ◽  
End Wall ◽  
Wall Slope

With the deepening of surface coal mine, the application of combined surface mining with underground mining is increased now. According to the influence analysis of underground mining on surface coal mine end-wall slope, the thin plate model of mined slope was proposed with distortion and stress distribution of the girder studied. Considering the practice of combined surface mining with underground mining, the modified method was put forward. Based on the roof breaking law of mined slope, the minimum width of protecting coal pillar was elicited. Subsequently this paper took the combined mining practice of Anjialing surface mine as example to study the subsidence law of roof and the influence of underground mining to surface mine slope. The research conclusion indicates that under the condition of combined mining the deformation and subsidence of overlying strata are obvious with a clear lag time, and the ceiling distortion evokes distortion of mined slope, which can be used as the theory sustainment to stabilization of mined slope under combined surface mining with underground mining.

scholarly journals Extended Ultimate-Pit-Limit Methodology for Optimizing Surface-to-Underground Mining Transition in Metal Mines

2022 ◽  
Vol 2022 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Si-Tong Ren ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
Xin-Yi Yang ◽  
Ding-Gui Tong ◽  
Gao-Feng Ren
Keyword(s):  
Underground Mining ◽  
Surface Mining ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Practical Aspect ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Optimization Approach ◽  
Original Design ◽  
Metal Mines ◽  
Iron Mine ◽  
Total Profit

The transition from surface mining to underground is a critical issue for metal mines. The commonly cited procedure cored by ultimate-pit-limit (UPL) methodology is restricted to maximize the profit from both surface and underground mining, due to the absence of the integration of the profit from either of them. Under the target for such maximization, this study proposes a new optimization approach, which directly relates the design of open-pit limit and underground stopes, by equalizing the marginal profit from either surface or underground mining. The variation of the crown pillar size is involved in this approach. The proposed approach is applied to the Dagushan iron mine, and results show the total profit increased from 3.79 billion CNYs (original design by conventional UPL methodology) to 4.17 billion CNYs (optimal design by the proposed approach), by 9.91%. Moreover, the marginal profit from surface and underground mining, as well as total profit, of all possible designs of surface-to-underground mining transition in Dagushan iron mine is calculated to validate the proposed approach. When the marginal profits satisfy the criterion of the proposed approach, the maximum value of the total profit appears, and this demonstrates the proposed approach is robust to maximize the total profit in surface-to-underground mining transition. This work contributes to existing literature studies primarily from practical aspect, by providing a unified approach to optimize the transition from surface to underground mining.

scholarly journals A Multiple Criteria Decision Making Method to Weight the Sustainability Criteria of System Selection for Surface Mining

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 3066
Author(s):  
Michał Patyk ◽  
Przemysław Bodziony ◽  
Zbigniew Krysa
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Performance Assessment ◽  
Multiple Criteria Decision Making ◽  
Surface Mining ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Mining Equipment ◽  
Surface Mines ◽  
Mining Conditions ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Selection Of

Selection and assessment of mining equipment used in open pit rock mines relies chiefly on estimates of overall exploitation cost. The rational arrangement of mining equipment and systems comprising loading machines, haul trucks and crushing plants should be preceded by a thorough analysis of technical and economic aspects, such as investment outlays and the costs of further exploitation, which largely determine the costs of mining operations and the deposit value. Additionally, the operational parameters of the mining equipment ought to be considered. In this study, a universal set of evaluation criteria has been developed, and an evaluation method has been applied for the selection of surface mining equipment and the processing system to be operated in specific mining conditions, defined by the user. The objective of this study is to develop and apply the new methodology of multi-criteria selection of open pit rock mining equipment based on multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) procedures, to enable the optimization of loading, handling and crushing processes. The methodology, underpinned by the principles of MCDM, provides the dedicated ranking procedures, including the ELECTRE III. The applied methodology allows the alternative options (variants) to be ranked accordingly. Ultimately, a more universal methodology is developed, applicable in other surface mines where geological and mining conditions are similar. It may prove particularly useful in selection and performance assessment of mining equipment and process line configurations in mining of low-quality rock deposits. Therefore, we undertook to develop universal criteria and applications for the selection and performance assessment of process machines for surface mines, taking into account environmental aspects as well as deposit quality.

scholarly journals Quantification of methane sources in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region of Alberta by aircraft mass balance

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 7361-7378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabour Baray ◽  
Andrea Darlington ◽  
Mark Gordon ◽  
Katherine L. Hayden ◽  
Amy Leithead ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Surface Mining ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Emission Rates ◽  
Athabasca Oil Sands ◽  
Emissions Inventory ◽  
Athabasca Oil Sands Region ◽  
Major Surface ◽  
Tailings Ponds

Abstract. Aircraft-based measurements of methane (CH4) and other air pollutants in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR) were made during a summer intensive field campaign between 13 August and 7 September 2013 in support of the Joint Canada–Alberta Implementation Plan for Oil Sands Monitoring. Chemical signatures were used to identify CH4 sources from tailings ponds (BTEX VOCs), open pit surface mines (NOy and rBC) and elevated plumes from bitumen upgrading facilities (SO2 and NOy). Emission rates of CH4 were determined for the five primary surface mining facilities in the region using two mass-balance methods. Emission rates from source categories within each facility were estimated when plumes from the sources were spatially separable. Tailings ponds accounted for 45 % of total CH4 emissions measured from the major surface mining facilities in the region, while emissions from operations in the open pit mines accounted for ∼ 50 %. The average open pit surface mining emission rates ranged from 1.2 to 2.8 t of CH4 h−1 for different facilities in the AOSR. Amongst the 19 tailings ponds, Mildred Lake Settling Basin, the oldest pond in the region, was found to be responsible for the majority of tailings ponds emissions of CH4 (> 70 %). The sum of measured emission rates of CH4 from the five major facilities, 19.2 ± 1.1 t CH4 h−1, was similar to a single mass-balance determination of CH4 from all major sources in the AOSR determined from a single flight downwind of the facilities, 23.7 ± 3.7 t CH4 h−1. The measured hourly CH4 emission rate from all facilities in the AOSR is 48 ± 8 % higher than that extracted for 2013 from the Canadian Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, a legislated facility-reported emissions inventory, converted to hourly units. The measured emissions correspond to an emissions rate of 0.17 ± 0.01 Tg CH4 yr−1 if the emissions are assumed as temporally constant, which is an uncertain assumption. The emission rates reported here are relevant for the summer season. In the future, effort should be devoted to measurements in different seasons to further our understanding of the seasonal parameters impacting fugitive emissions of CH4 and to allow for better estimates of annual emissions and year-to-year variability.

scholarly journals On evaluation of complex-structured coal deposits based on their typical geometric features

2021 ◽  
Vol 303 ◽  
pp. 01029
Author(s):  
Alexander Katsubin ◽  
Victor Martyanov ◽  
Milan Grohol
Keyword(s):  
Surface Mining ◽  
Geological Structure ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Open Pit Mining ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Coal Deposits ◽  
Geological Conditions ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Large Length

Information about the geological structure of Kuznetsky coal basin (Kuzbass) allows us to note that coal deposits developed by open-cast method are characterized by complicated conditions and have the following features: large length of deposits at significant depths of occurrence; coal series bedding of different thicknesses (from 1 to 40 m); different dip angles (from 3 to 90º); a significant number of dip and direction disturbances; different thickness of unconsolidated quaternary sediments (from 5 to 40 m); a wide range of strength values of rocks. In addition, there is a thickness irregularity and frequent variability of elements of occurrence of coal seams within the boundaries of a quarry field both in length and depth of mining. From the point of view of open-pit mining, such deposits are complex-structured. The factors listed above have a decisive influence on the choice of technical means, the order of development and the possibility of carrying out surface mining operations. Therefore, there is a need for a systematization of mining and geological conditions for the development of coal deposits, the purpose of which is to ensure a process of evaluation of complex-structured coal deposits for the development of coal-bearing zones by various complexes of equipment.

scholarly journals Technological Adaptation of Internal Dumping to the Operating Mode of Open Pit when Developing Inclined and Steeply Dipping Coal Seams Strata

2021 ◽  
Vol 315 ◽  
pp. 01015
Author(s):  
Alexei Selyukov
Keyword(s):  
Surface Mining ◽  
Operating Mode ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Surface Mines ◽  
Technological Adaptation ◽  
Coal Deposits ◽  
Mining Front ◽  
Mining Methods ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Internal Dumping

With surface mining of inclined and steeply dipping coal deposits, the so-called deeping longitudinal mining methods with a gradual deepening of mining from the surface to the final depth are widely spread, while orienting the mining front along the strike line of the seams (strata). When using such mining methods, the volumes of internal dumping are limited or completely absent; there is a peak-like increase in overburden volumes and transportation distance, the land resources disturbing proceeds at a progressive pace. In this regard, it is obvious that an important production task is to find technological solutions and methods to develop coal deposits that reduce the environmental hazard and increase resource conservation in mining by placing overburden in the mined-out space while reducing the area for external dumps and disturbing the earth's surface. If this is not foreseen at the present time, then all coal surface mines in the coming decades will be limited by their own external dumps of overburden, and their further development will be problematic.

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