Mining has undeniably an adverse impact on the environment and this is why in Germany the mining industry has such a poor image in many social and political circles. Yet it is an important contributor to the nation’s economic performance, while the high standards that have been achieved in the redevelopment of its legacy landscapes are acclaimed around the globe. It is no coincidence that the world’s only research centre for post-mining activities is to be found at the TH Georg Agricola University in Bochum. The German mining industry continues to produce special technical solutions …
Read moreWith my best regards // Mit freundlichem Glückauf
Dipl.-Ing. Andreas-Peter Sitte
Chief Editor Mining Report Glückauf, Essen
Mine Water Monitoring in Closed Mines at RAG Aktiengesellschaft
The shutdown of hard coal production in 2018 implicates a challenge in deriving of physical and chemical parameters of mine water in situ. Finishing underground activities is going along with a limitation of alternative application of monitoring methods. This report is focussing on measures to derive sufficient information about water rebound in former mines. Exemplarily results of an underground monitoring system, which was developed in cooperation between TH Georg Agricola University (THGA) in Bochum/Germany and RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany, are presented. The system includes four probes at the former …Author: Dr.-Ing. Holger Witthaus, Servicebereich Technik- und Logistikdienste, RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany
Read moreIntegrated Monitoring of Rising Mine Water Levels in the Hard Coalfields of North Rhine-Westphalia – a System under Development
The year 2020 marked the start of an integrated process aimed at monitoring rising mine water levels in the former hard coal mining industry of the Ruhr coalfield and the Ibbenbüren coalfield. This paper presents the different topics that are to be dealt with and the assessment strategy that has been laid down for the monitoring operation and also examines the make-up and previous activities of the various bodies involved. After establishing the scientific and technical bases of the operation …Authors: BD Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Dronia, OBVR Dipl.-Ing. Philipp Hensel, BD Dipl.-Ing. Jürgen Kugel, BR Dipl.-Ing. Martin Wissen, Bezirksregierung Arnsberg, Abteilung 6 – Bergbau und Energie in NRW, Dortmund/Germany
Read moreEnvironmental Pressures of Current Mining in Germany: a Critical Comment

Table 1. Examples of environmental indicators describing the interactions between mining and the environment according to the DPSIR framework (Driving Forces, Pressures, States, Impacts, Responses). Source: MRE
Author: Univ.-Prof. PhD Bernd G. Lottermoser, Lehrstuhl für nachhaltige Rohstoffgewinnung, Institute of Mineral Resources Engineering (MRE), RWTH Aachen University (RWTH), Aachen/Germany
Read moreExperiences and Outlook for Machine Sinking of Shafts and Developments in Conventional Sinking with Drilling and Blasting

General view of the construction site of Woodsmith mine with MTS shaft (back right), service and production shaft (one behind the other on the left). Photo: Redpath Deilmann
Author: Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Ahlbrecht, Technical Director, Redpath Deilmann GmbH, Dortmund/Germany
Read moreHead Frame of the Research and Training Mine Reiche Zeche − Spectacular Renovation of a Landmark

The guide frame (a) and the diagonal brace (b) were lifted out of the shaft house. Photos: Kerstin Rysavy, SBN
Author: Dipl.-Ing. Danny Bodenstab, Geschäftsführer, SCHACHTBAU NORDHAUSEN GmbH (SBN), Nordhausen/Germany
Read moreELMAR: Research on Electric-Autonomous Transportation and the Implications for Mine Design and Energy Management
The ELMAR research project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action (BMWK), aims to integrate and demonstrate electric and autonomous transport vehicles in raw material extraction operations. This will be done with special consideration of maintaining process reliability and ensuring electrical supply security, as well as their coupling to renewable energy sources within the framework of suitable representative application scenarios (use cases) …Authors: Dennis Wagner M. Sc., Pablo Muñoz Sánchez M. Sc., Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Elisabeth Clausen, Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies (AMT), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen/Germany
Read moreWeir Motion Metrics Unveils Cutting-Edge Product Catalogue Empowering Mines with Advanced Technologies

Weir Motion Metrics’ solutions provide mining operators with reliable, high-quality imaging systems to enhance performance and productivity. Source: Weir
Author: Mike Passen, Sales Manager EME (DACH), Weir ESCO® − Weir Motion Metrics®, Mönchengladbach/Germany
Read moreHigh-Voltage Power Cable Project – the SuedLink Line Goes Underground at the Südwestdeutsche Salzwerke Salt Mine near Heilbronn

Schematic illustration of the different cable laying arrangements Source: TenneT TSO GmbH und TransnetBW GmbH: SuedLink unter Tage − Broschüre − Die Gleichstrom-Erdkabelverbindung im Raum Heilbronn.
Authors: Lauritz Albrecht-Vogelsang M. Sc., Projektleiter, und Robby Schmidt M. Sc., Bereichsleiter Steinsalz, Südwestdeutsche Salzwerke AG (SWS), Heilbronn, Dipl.-Ing. Dirk Fraas, Teilprojektleiter Bergwerk, und Dipl.-Ing. Peter Herzel, Teamleiter Technik Bergwerk, TransnetBW GmbH, Stuttgart
Read moreInnovative Closure Concepts around the Water-Energy-Nexus in Mining – a Case Study from South Africa

AMD from flooded deep level gold mines in the Eastern Basin (top, 2009) and the Western basin (bottom, 2012).Photo: Winde
Author: Dr. habil. Frank Winde, Wismut GmbH, Chemnitz/Germany, and North-West University, Potchefstroom/South Africa
Read moreChile, Salt Lakes and Lithium: Current Production Status

The Salar de Atacama is the deposit with the best conditions for lithium mining worldwide. Photo: AHK Chile (I. Wunderlich)/Albemarle
Authors: Dipl.-Wi.Hisp. Iris Wunderlich, Deutsch-Chilenische Industrie- und Handelskammer, Santiago/Chile, Dr. Stefanie Schmitt, Germany Trade and Invest – Gesellschaft für Außenwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH (GTAI), Santiago/Chile
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