When mining metals and industrial minerals it is inherent in the process that a certain proportion of the productive material will be left behind in the tailings. While these mineral residues, some of which are recyclable, were not the focus of attention at the time the minerals were being mined, they have more recently taken on growing significance, as in the case of rare-earth metals. With the international demand for raw materials growing, and the metal content of primary ores tending generally to decline, we are now seeing a continuous escalation in the quantity of material being disposed off in spoil tips. Enormous quantities of mining refuse from raw-materials extraction are now to be found in the spoil tips and tailing ponds of current and former mining countries and work has been … Read more
With my best regards // Mit freundlichem Glückauf
Dipl.-Ing. Andreas-Peter Sitte
Chief Editor Mining Report Glückauf, Essen
ISSUE 01/2022
Climate Change | Management and Monitoring of Soil and In Situ Sensor Data as the Key to Process Understanding
The four test areas (red boxes) in the Boye catchment zone (red polygon). Source: FZN
he decision to reconfigure and straighten the route of the Emscher river in 1902 was to herald the start of a dismal future for the waterway as the industrial age went on to reach its peak. While the Ruhr and Lippe became fresh water streams for the Ruhr valley, the Emscher, which was more centrally located between the other two rivers, was relegated to the role of a sewage channel for practically the entire Ruhr area (1). As a slow-draining lowland river the Emscher had always encountered problems on account of its very small drop in height between source and mouth (1, 2). Increasing industrialisation meant a further deterioration in the situation until things became untenable. Channelled into pipes and placed in a concrete strait-jacket the waterway was euphemistically referred-to as a sewage ditch …
Authors: Dr. rer. nat. Bodo Bernsdorf, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Tobias Rudolph, Khaing Zin Phyu M. Sc., Forschungszentrum Nachbergbau (FZN), Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA), Bochum
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German Game Changer in Mineral Supplies
Unused EU e-raw-material resources. Source: EU-Commission
he article presents serious changes in the demand for and extraction of raw materials in Germany and Europe, which are caused by the drastic changes in the legal and social framework. Only recently, the German government passed the Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains. This new law requires companies to abide by a standard of due diligence obligations. Overall, the law establishes a conceptual gradation of responsibilities. Subsequently, these developments lead to increasing liability obligations for …
Author: Dr.-Ing. Martin Wedig, Geschäftsführer der Fachvereinigung Auslandsbergbau und internationale Rohstoffaktivitäten (FAB), Berlin
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The Mine Life Cycle and the United Nations 2030 Agenda – A Sustainability Analysis
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Source: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
genda 2030 and the sustainable development goals have continued the process of giving equal consideration to social, ecological and economic aspects in the planning and implementation of projects of all kinds. The dynamics associated with the increasing world population, globalization and the fight against the climate crisis have taken on an essential role. This brings to bear developments and instruments that cannot be ignored by the raw materials industry, as they are associated with considerable opportunities and risks. In fact, the provision of geo-resources requires an adjustment of operational activities and communication adapted to these new conditions. This paper identifies the fields of action for sustainable mining processes in the mine life cycle and addresses the consequences of …
Authors: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Goerke-Mallet, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Christian Melchers, Forschungszentrum Nachbergbau (FZN), Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA), Bochum
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Minerals for the Energy Transition and their Carbon Footprint
The change in demand for battery minerals.
nergy transition involves navigating an exit strategy for use of fossil commodities. But the technologies require other minerals which are getting new applications. Beyond their role in the steel- and metals industries demand now extends into electro-mobility and regenerative energy supply. Their primary production and refining is energy-intensive, suggesting a need for more climate friendly processes.
Author: Dr.-Ing. Frank Leschhorn, Independent Consultant and Expert in Mining and Resources Industries, Munich Mining International (MMI), Munich/Germany and Brisbane/Australia
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Reallabor Nivelstein – Sustainable Structures for a Future-oriented Raw Material Supply
By holistically linking important key components, the potential of digitalization can be sustainably exploited. Source: RWTH Aachen
secure and sustainable supply of raw materials is one of the societal challenges of our time. At the same time, the extraction of raw materials itself faces challenges of great complexity. These include, among others, the trend towards lower grade deposits, increasing requirements for carbon neutral raw material extraction and rapid advancements in digital technologies. To meet this complexity, the focus is increasingly on interdisciplinary approaches and the integration and involvement of different actors. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular do not usually have their own research, development and innovation (RDI) departments to account for increasing demands with existing capabilities. Universities and other research institutions …
Authors: Sebastian Graszk, M.Sc., Pablo Muñoz Sánchez, M.Sc., Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies (AMT), Samuel Viola, M.Sc., Lehr- und Forschungsgebiet Aufbereitung mineralischer Rohstoffe (AMR), Wan Li, M.Sc., Lehrstuhl für Informations- und Automatisierungssysteme für die Prozess- und Werkstofftechnik (PLT), Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Elisabeth Clausen, Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies (AMT), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen
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