Glückauf!

As in 2019, high-performance mining will once again be one of the keynotes featured in this year’s series of Mining Report Glückauf (MRG) publications. Like other sectors, such as the automotive, chemicals and energy supply industries, mining has been going through the fourth industrial revolution in recent years. Here the theme of “sustainability” is set to play a major role alongside other issues associated with the ongoing development of engineering expertise and technologies. High-performance mining focuses on man and the environment and examines how these two factors interact with engineering know-how. The mining industry has of course also set itself the aim of giving companies a clear direction … Read more
With my best regards // Mit freundlichem Glückauf
Dipl.-Ing. Andreas-Peter Sitte
Chief Editor Mining Report Glückauf, Essen

ISSUE 04/2021

Ongoing Post-Mining Deficiencies in Raw-Materials Policy and the Repurposing of Mining Infrastructure

Fig. 1. UN Sustainable Development Goals. // Bild 1. UN Sustainable Development Goals. Source/Quelle: UN

The Research Center of Post-Mining (FZN) at the TH Georg Agricola University (THGA) in Bochum/Germany has significantly expanded the range of its research programme since 2019/2020. Its scope has now been broadened by the new research division “Reactivation and Transition”. Research in this division focuses on land development and regional policy, socio-economic aspects and governance of post-mining. Emphasis is less on natural science, geosciences and engineering and more on economics and geography, spatial planning and political issues related to post-mining, although the work in the research centre has interdisciplinary ties …

Author: Prof. Dr. Kai van de Loo, Forschungszentrum Nachbergbau (FZN), Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA), Bochum/Germany

Positions and Demands of the German Extractive Industry for the 2021 National Election in Germany

Raw material extraction in Germany is in need of support to ensure a secure, responsible and sustainable supply of raw materials. The entire range of raw materials must be considered. The coronavirus pandemic has clearly revealed just how important it is to have a secure supply of products from within our own country. Germany is independent of imports, above all with respect to the products relevant for the system that are produced here.

Authors: Dr. Ludwig Möhring, Hauptgeschäftsführer, und Ulrike Drachsel, Leiterin Hauptstadtrepräsentanz & CSR, Bundesverband Erdgas, Erdöl und Geoenergie e. V. (BVEG), Hannover, Christoph Wehner, Hauptgeschäftsführer, und Dr. Björn Knudsen, Geschäftsführer, Verband der Kali- und Salzindustrie e. V. (VKS), Berlin, Dr. Thorsten Diercks, Hauptgeschäftsführer, und Dr. Martin Wedig, Geschäftsführer, Vereinigung Rohstoffe und Bergbau e. V. (VRB), Berlin

Fig. 2. CMOC control room for LHD automation (3). // Bild 2. CMOC Grubenwarte für Laderautomatisierung (3).

Mining, like other branches of industry, has experienced the fourth industrial revolution in recent years. The transformation process from mechanized to automated raw material extraction has begun worldwide. Despite major initial challenges, some early adopters are already benefiting from the great potential of digitization and automation in mining and are one step ahead of their competition. Companies that do not follow this trend will find it difficult in the long run to keep up economically with the pioneers of this future technology.

Author: Dipl.-Ing. André Jakobs, Business Development and Account Director Northern Europe, Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology, Essen/Germany

Fig. 7. Temperature propagation at a specific depth of the 3D numerical model. // Bild 7. Temperaturausbreitung in einer bestimmten Tiefe des numerischen 3D-Modells. Source/Quelle: ITASCA

Aotash mine in Kaliningrad, Russia is to be developed. Two shafts are planned to be sunk to extract the potash deposits in approximately 1,100 m depth and for general mine operation. Demanding lithological layers, namely alternating clays and floating sands combined with high pressure aquifers in large depths pose challenging circumstances for the sinking of the shafts. To overcome these, the freezing method was chosen to improve the mechanical properties of the local geologies and to stabilize the pressurized aquifers. ITASCA Consultants GmbH, Gelsenkirchen/Germany, has been asked to perform the numerical analysis of the freezing process. The objective was to investigate…

Authors: Nils Ehringhausen, M.Sc., Dr. Gregor Schweppe, Dr. Lothar te Kamp, Ivan Akinshin, M.Eng., ITASCA Consultants GmbH, Gelsenkirchen/Germany

Fig. 2. 3D visualisation of a gold ore sample from the Porgera gold-silver mine, Papua New Guinea (sample diameter approximately 7 cm). The yellow phase represents native gold. Note its skeletal texture. The blue coloured phases represent non-differentiated sulfides. Gangue material is shaded in light grey. Source: MRE

Industrial computed tomography (CT) is a non-destructive X-ray computerized method for studying the three-dimensional (3D) distribution and microtexture of phases within individual solid samples. For geological and mineral product samples, CT allows visualization of phases with significant density contrast as well as the recognition of gas and fluid inclusions. Also, the technique precisely defines the in-situ location of minerals of interest. In this paper, we summarize CT principles and present examples of unique 3D information for selected …

Authors: Leonard Krebbers M.Sc., Dr. rer. nat. Ramil Gainov, Univ.-Prof. Bernd G. Lottermoser Ph.D., Dr. rer. nat. Stephanie Lohmeier, Dr.-Ing. Alexander Hennig, Institute of Mineral Resources Engineering (MRE), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen/Germany

Fig. 1. Matawinie graphite project – exploration overview map. // Bild 1. Matawinie-Graphitprojekt – Übersichtskarte. Source/Quelle: NMG

Nouveau Monde Graphite (NMG), Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Québec/Canada, has put forward innovative design criteria related to its carbon-neutral vision, the reduction of its environmental footprint and the integration of reclamation to develop the Matawinie mining project, a world-class graphite deposit, which fits into its host environment. With graphite playing an important role in the electrification of transportation thanks to lithium-ion batteries, NMG plans to deploy an all-electric fleet for its mining operations …

Authors: Martine Paradis M.Sc., David Lyon B.Sc., Frederic Gauthier, Benoit Ouellet and Eric Desaulniers M.Sc., Nouveau Monde Graphite, Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Québec/Canada, Ann Lamontage Ph.D., Lamont, Lac-Beauport, Québec/Canada, Kevin Morin Ph.D., Minesite Drainage Assessment Group, Surrey, British Columbia/Canada

Fig. 1. The role of lignite in Germany’s energy economy 2020; position: March 2021. // Bild 1. Die Rolle der Braunkohle in der Energiewirtschaft Deutschlands im Jahr 2020; Stand: März 2021. Source/Quelle: AG Energiebilanzen und BDEW

Germany’s domestic lignite output decreased by 23.9 Mt, which equals 18.2 %, from 131.3 Mt to 107.4 Mt between 2019 and 2020. The lignite extracted in 2020 had a net calorific value of 33.4 Mtce. 93.1 Mt, or almost 87 %, of that output were used in utility power plants supplying the general public. This translates into a decrease of 19.1 % compared to the previous year. The sharp decline in power generation from lignite was primarily due to the pandemic-related decrease in electricity consumption, the transfer of additional power plant units into a secure and reliable standby mode for backup purposess …

Authors: Dipl.-Volkswirt Uwe Maaßen, Geschäftsführer Statistik der Kohlenwirtschaft e. V., Bergheim, Dr. rer. pol. Hans-Wilhelm Schiffer, Member of the Studies Committee, World Energy Council, London/UK und Lehrbeauftragter für Energiewirtschaft an der RWTH Aachen, Aachen/Germany

MINING REPORT

Glückauf!

Ongoing Post-Mining Deficiencies in Raw-Materials Policy and the Repurposing of Mining Infrastructure

Positions and Demands of the German Extractive Industry for the 2021 National Election in Germany

How Long Can Mining Operations Still Afford not to Automate? – An Assessment

Numerical Simulation of Shaft Sinking Using the Artificial Freezing Method

Applications of Industrial Computed Tomography in the Mining Sector

Responsible Development: Matawinie Mining Project Model

The German Lignite Industry in 2020