General

ISSUE 06/2017 Coal to Chemistry. On the Material Utilisation of Lignite There are many who believe that Germany’s lignite industry has no future. After all, the country has committed itself to the energy transition and it is a fact that Germany’s ongoing turnaround in its energy policy will gradually drive lignite out of the energy mix. For the mining companies ...

“Rare earths” are an essential part of modern technology. These metals – which, despite their name, are not actually very rare – are used in a large number of high-tech applications, including high-performance magnets that can be found e. g. in wind turbine generators or electric car engines. The market is currently dominated by Chinese producers. A German-Brazilian research project wants ...

ISSUE 05/2017   Fully Automated Underground Mine Since its mechanisation – mainly 1950s to 1970s – and first approaches for automation of single processes – since late 1980s – the mining industry is now developing solutions for complete automation systems for independent mine sections or, ideally, entire mines. Applications will be found first in countries of intensive mining activities, such as ...

ISSUE 04/2017 Mine Ventilation in the 21st Century – Development Towards Adaptive Ventilation Systems Mine ventilation and climatization became increasingly important over the last decade. Main challenges and drivers have been the development of mining activities towards greater depths, more complex deposits with a larger areal extent, the further introduction and implementation of diesel-powered vehicles as well as stricter occupational ...

ISSUE 03/2017 The End of the German Coal Mining Industry and RAG’s Transition to the Post-Mining Era The cessation of coal production at Herne-based RAG’s last two collieries at the end of 2018 will mark the end of several hundred years of mining in the Ruhr, Saar and Ibbenbüren coalfields in Germany. The end of the production period will immediately ...