Fachartikel_04_2015

Negative environmental effects in connection with mining and tunneling are repeatedly highlighted in the media. Particularly critical are the issues of emissions and occupational safety. Through battery electric machines and automation of processes and machinery, a mine can unlock a number of benefits: improved health and safety, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and lower operating costs. At the same time, battery ...

Are studies in the fields of mineral resource and energy supply worth the effort? Is there even still any mining in North-Rhine Westphalia? What are the mining authority’s tasks if hard coal is no longer won? These are questions many young people, especially future students who are interested in studies in mining and energy, are asking themselves. The answer, according ...

Exploration expenditure is closely linked to commodity prices and in the current low commodity price environment pressure on exploration budgets and reduction in spending has been dramatic. This calls for making robust business cases for exploration spending to demonstrate value-added to senior management. This contribution examines exploration and related resource definition in the context of the mine production value chain ...

Australia is one of the biggest mining countries in the world. In spite of the current recession, the mining industry has continuously grown throughout the past decades. This predictable continuing development in the upcoming decades can undoubtedly be traced back to Australia’s vast and often unexploited landmasses. The country possesses about 10 % of the world’s known coal deposits. It further ...

From 2013 to 2014, Germany’s domestic lignite output dropped 2.6 % from 183.0 Mt to 178.2 Mt. The 2014 figure is equivalent to a net calorific value of 55.2 Mtce. Of the total output, 159.1 Mt, or some 89 %, was used in utility power plants for the public supply, i.e. 3.0 % less than in the previous year. In addition, 15.0 Mt was input in the factories ...

The rising global demand for metals is starting to focus greater attention on the extraction of marine mineral resources (MMR) from deep sea. The term MMR essentially covers three different types of formation: manganese nodules, cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts and massive sulphide deposits. All three of these natural resources provide the potential basis for a whole range of different metals. Germany ...

The Zinkgruvan Mine is Sweden’s southernmost mine located approximately 200 km south-west of Stockholm at the northern end of lake Vättern. The primary metal is zinc, secondary metals are lead, copper and silver. The Zinkgruvan Mining AB plans a 20 % increase of processed ore until 2022. This article examines the production processes and performs a value stream analysis of the ...

Australia‘s mining industry has reached the end of its super-boom period. Price collapses in the resource sector, caused by an oversupply on the world market and a decline in demand from China, have put an end to a capital-intensive investment phase that lasted more than ten years. The industry has now entered a phase of short-term targets where the main ...

Africa’s growing importance for the global economy is clearly visible in the increasing activities of companies from around the world. Countries such as France and the US have long been heavily represented in Africa, while others such as China, India and Brazil have been increasing their presence for more than a decade. German industry is also present, but is so ...

“Innovation in Canada’s Mineral Development Model” was the theme of the 19th National Mining Week, which took place in Canada from May 11 to 15, 2015. The fact that a Mining Week is held demonstrates the important role mining plays in the lives of Canadians and the awareness for this sector in society. The theme reflects a trend as well ...