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By J. Fresnillo, M. Lopez Cano, S. Burgada, P. Couceiro, A. Jafa

This paper explores the sustainable use of the explosive’s energy for rock blasting and its role on the performance of downstream unit operations in mining applications. Since energy efficiency is becoming important for long term mining strategies, cost-effective optimization strategies are required to increase productivity and revenue while minimizing environmental impact. These optimization strategies involve continuous ability to model and measure all related phenomena and operational performance, integrated under a continuous improvement program where all involved counterparts act in close coordination. Although mining is complex, it can be regarded as a set of interconnected processes, where energy is consumed in a sequence, following all unit operations from the pit to the concentration. In this sense, the performance of downstream operations is potentially influenced by the initial energy input, since the explosive is the source of all energy used for rock fragmentation and heave. In this line, sustainable energy blasting is recognized as one of the main strategies for mine energy optimization projects. Finally, a special case study from an important gold mine in South America is presented, where benefits of a sustainable blasting energy strategies has been proved to deliver important downstream benefits.

Jan 1, 2019

OneSteel and BlueScope Steel have been working with the CSIRO to develop sustainable carbon fuels and reductants which are suitable for use in the iron and steel industry. One of the initial focuses of this work has been a process called steel recarburisation which is the addition of carbon to liquid steel to produce particular steel grades. This paper reports on the preliminary work and the recent full scale recarburisation plant trials conducted at the OneSteel Sydney Steel Mill.   Preliminary experimental work involved kilogram scale recarburisation of liquid steel with a range of commercial and prepared charcoal products. This work showed that charcoal dissolves into liquid steel very quickly and that carbon recovery to steel was inversely related to the charcoal volatile content. Initial larger scale work focused on the collection of wood, and preparation of low volatile charcoal which is required for steel recarburisation. Approximately three tonnes of charcoal was prepared at the Corrimal coke ovens of the Illawarra Coke Company. This charcoal was dried, crushed, sized and packaged in a form suitable for addition to 80 tonne liquid steel ladles.   The recarburisation trial was conducted over 30 ladle heats during June 2009. The charcoal was manually added to the liquid steel in 5 kg bags using normal plant practice. Conventional commercial recarburiser was also added to the liquid steel in alternate ladle heats. The performance of the charcoal was compared with the conventional recarburiser based on the carbon recovery to steel, hydrogen pick-up by steel and the rate of carbon dissolution into steel.   An analysis of the trial results showed that the charcoal performed at least as well as commercial recarburiser in carbon recovery and rate of dissolution but may have resulted in a slightly higher hydrogen content of steel. This is probably due to the higher moisture content of charcoal. The main challenges in the future include: increasing the charcoal density to improve transport and handling economics, securing a sustainable supply of biomass for the steel industry and developing a charcoal production industry so materials of suitable quality for both production and trials on other applications can be conducted.

Jun 1, 2010

By J. Kretschmann

According to the model of product life cycles, the global coal mining industry is in the stagnation phase. The coal demand of the main consumer, China, has peaked in 2013 and is slowly declining. The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund, the world´s largest, has excluded coal-related companies for ethical reasons. Important players like the UN or the EU have already begun to describe pathways towards de-carbonization. Increasing competition between coal mining companies and the mining regions can be expected worldwide if companies want to keep their positions on the global and national coal markets. Companies will focus on the best deposits. European countries like France, Spain or Germany are only forerunners of this development - their centuries of coal production have been finished. The concept of Sustainable Development (SD) is fundamentally based on a model of progress where ecological, economic and social dimensions should be developed equally and positively. But without the idea of competition, the concept of SD is incomplete. Questions arise, such as: How can SD be realized on stagnating or declining markets without guarantees for companies “to live forever”? How can SD be a corporate goal in a phase of decline? How can declining mining regions sustainably progress into a better future? The German hard coal mining industry´s lifecycle has ended in 2018 after 60 years of stagnation and decline. As of 2019, all hard coal consumed in Germany will be imported, especially from Colombia, Russia and South Africa. What has been done in Germany to handle the coal decline in a sustainable way and the lessons learned from this process is described in this paper. It may be useful for mining regions who will face a similar future sooner or later. INTRODUCTION Principally, mining natural resources is a finite business that reaches its limits once the deposits mined are depleted, the resources can no longer be mined in an economically profitable way, or substitutes are pushing the mined products out of the market. An example for the latter is the increasing replacement of coal with natural gas and renewables in power generation in the USA. (Kok 2017) According to the model of the product lifecycle, the global mining hard coal mining industry has reached the stagnation phase. (Kretschmann 2000) Although the coal mining business is more a multi-regional than a global business the trend is obvious. The peak of coal use is behind us, especially because the coal demand of China is slowly decreasing since 2013. (Shell 2018) China´s government has announced investing $360 billion in renewable energy by 2020 and scrap plans to build 85 coal-fired power plants. In March 2018, Chinese authorities reported that the country was already exceeding official targets for energy efficiency, carbon intensity, and the share of clean energy sources. China’s energy regulator, the National Energy Administration, rolled out new measures to reduce the country’s dependence on coal. (Kejun and Woetzel 2017) Coal consumption in the US is facing a 16 % decline in five years from 800 to 670 million short tons between 2015 and 2019 and - according to the EIA – will not rise again. (EIA 2018) The decline is attributed to complex market dynamics from low gas prices because of the “shale gas revolution” (Kok 2017, p. 3) to federal environmental regulation like the Clean Power Plan. The United Nations´ UNEP Finance Initiative is cooperating with the Portfolio Decarbonization Coalition of institutional investors to implement decarbonization strategies across their portfolio. Amongst these investors is the New York State Common Retirement Fund, the third largest public pension plan in the USA. (UNEP 2017) The European Union has already begun to de-scribe pathways to decarbonization. (European Union 2018) The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund, the world´s largest, excluded coal-related companies for ethical reasons. The oil giants Total S.A. and Royal Dutch Shell, tradi

Jan 1, 2019

By Jürgen Kretschmann

Principally, mining natural resources is a finite business that reaches its limits once the deposits mined are depleted, the resources can no longer be mined in an economically profitable way or substitutes are pushing the mined products out of the market. An example of the latter is the increasing replacement of coal with natural gas and renewables in power generation in the United States [1]. According to the model of the product lifecycle, the global hard-coal mining industry has reached a stagnation phase [2]. The trend is obvious. Coal use peaked in 2013 [3], and the coal demand of China has been slowly decreasing since then [4]. Coal consumption in the United States saw a 16 percent decline from 726 Mt (800 million st) to 608 Mt (670 million st) between 2015 and 2019. In addition, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, it will not rise again [5]. The decline is attributed to complex market dynamics, from low gas prices because of the “shale gas revolution” [6] to federal environmental regulations like the Clean Power Plan. Moreover, important players like the United Nations and the European Union have already begun to describe pathways toward decarbonization. Increasing competition between coal-mining companies and the mining regions can be expected worldwide if companies want to keep their positions on the global and national coal markets. Companies will focus on the best deposits. European countries, like France, Spain or Germany, are only forerunners of this development — their centuries of coal production have passed. The concept of sustainable development (SD) is fundamentally based on a model of progress in which ecological, economic and social dimensions should be developed equally and positively. Questions arise, such as: How can SD be a corporate goal in a phase of decline? How can former mining regions sustainably progress to a better future? The steps Germany has taken to handle the coal decline in a sustainable way and the lessons learned from this process are described in this paper. 

By Jürgen Kretschmann

According to the model of product life cycles, the global coal mining industry is in the stagnation phase. The coal demand of the main consumer, China, has peaked in 2013 and is slowly declining. The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest, has excluded coal-related companies for ethical reasons. Important players like the UN or the EU have already begun to describe pathways towards decarbonization. Increasing competition between coal mining companies and the mining regions can be expected worldwide if companies want to keep their positions on the global and national coal markets. Companies will focus on the best deposits. European countries like France, Spain, or Germany are only forerunners of this development—their centuries of coal production have been finished. The concept of sustainable development (SD) is fundamentally based on a model of progress where ecological, economic, and social dimensions should be developed equally and positively. But without the idea of competition, the concept of SD is incomplete. Questions arise, such as how can SD be realized on stagnating or declining markets without guarantees for companies “to live forever”? How can SD be a corporate goal in a phase of decline? How can declining mining regions sustainably progress into a better future? The German hard coal mining industry’s lifecycle has ended in 2018 after 60 years of stagnation and decline. As of 2019, all hard coal consumed in Germany will be imported, especially from Colombia, Russia, and South Africa. What has been done in Germany to handle the coal decline in a sustainable way and the lessons learned from this process is described in this paper. It may be useful for mining regions who will face a similar future sooner or later.

By Jürgen Kretschmann

According to the model of product life cycles, the global coal mining industry is in the stagnation phase. The coal demand of the main consumer, China, has peaked in 2013 and is slowly declining. The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest, has excluded coal-related companies for ethical reasons. Important players like the UN or the EU have already begun to describe pathways towards decarbonization. Increasing competition between coal mining companies and the mining regions can be expected worldwide if companies want to keep their positions on the global and national coal markets. Companies will focus on the best deposits. European countries like France, Spain, or Germany are only forerunners of this development—their centuries of coal production have been finished. The concept of sustainable development (SD) is fundamentally based on a model of progress where ecological, economic, and social dimensions should be developed equally and positively. But without the idea of competition, the concept of SD is incomplete. Questions arise, such as how can SD be realized on stagnating or declining markets without guarantees for companies “to live forever”? How can SD be a corporate goal in a phase of decline? How can declining mining regions sustainably progress into a better future? The German hard coal mining industry’s lifecycle has ended in 2018 after 60 years of stagnation and decline. As of 2019, all hard coal consumed in Germany will be imported, especially from Colombia, Russia, and South Africa. What has been done in Germany to handle the coal decline in a sustainable way and the lessons learned from this process is described in this paper. It may be useful for mining regions who will face a similar future sooner or later.

By L. K. Holder

The White King / Lucky Lass Superfund site consists of two former uranium mines in south-central Oregon. The remedy included consolidating two large mining overburden stockpiles that contained low levels of radioactivity and heavy metals by moving over 700,000 cubic yards of material and then capping the combined stockpile. An innovative armored cap design was used to minimize the stockpile footprint and thereby prevent disturbing existing wetlands. In addition, the stockpile was designed to merge into the surrounding topography. The remedy also included stream restoration and development of new wetlands. The stream was returned to its pre-mining channel, with the addition of hydraulic features to create new wetlands. The wetlands have greatly enhanced the ecological value of the remedy and the site.

Feb 23, 2014

By Henrik Saxén, Mikko Helle, Hamid Ghanbari

In this study, a process integration approach in a primary steelmaking is investigated to evaluate future operation concepts of a steelmaking site considering sustainability issues. Mathematical programming is used to study the integration of the steel plant with chemical units for utilization of available off-gases in the system, and carbon capturing and sequestration unit. Different industrial carbon utilization options are considered to find the best route of development. A multi-period optimization model is developed based on site-wide mass and energy balances by considering the availability of the fuels and by-product gases and their consumption in the production system and a conceptual polygeneration system. The objective is to reach maximum economic profit while environmental aspects of integrated system are considered for different fuel systems, alternative blast furnace reductants and implementation of new process technologies. The model can provide useful information concerning techno-environmental and economic aspects for decision-making and can estimate optimal operational condition of current and future primary steelmaking under alternative scenarios. The results of the work illustrate the potential to develop steelmaking towards more sustainable operation in the future.

Jan 1, 2015

By M. Wrobel, J. Hammerschmidt, M. Runkel

Fluid-bed technology is a key pyrometallurgical step for processing a vast number of ores and concentrates. Over the past 50 years, considerable research and development efforts have been made by Metso Outotec to expand the application window of this technology. This paper illustrates different processing routes where fluid-bed technology plays an important role in the production of the copper. The fluid-bed processes utilized are partial, sulfate-producing, and dead roasting. The focus of this paper considers the advantages of the dead-roasting process. This “zero waste” process can provide copper oxides, steam, electrical power, and sulfuric acid for new and existing solvent extraction–electrowinning plants. In a case where an operation is running out of oxidic ores and concentrates, fluid-bed roasting can be applied to close this gap and provide the required copper oxides in a sustainable way.

Jan 1, 2023

By Leonard Weixler, Peter Halbach, Michael Jarowinsky, Johannes Post

Germany as an industrial nation is highly dependent on the import of mineral or metal resources. Sources which have not been considered until now are the marine mineral resources (MMR), which in recent times are enjoying more and more increasing interests and which might provide in the future a considerable contribution to the supply security on metal resources not only for the industrial countries. Backed up by the German government’s "National Masterplan Maritime Technologies" (NMMT) and corresponding industrial R&D-activities, the idea and the advantages of deep-sea mining is gaining more and more interests and supporters with respect to industrial and political considerations on strategic raw material resources as well as on the development of deep-sea mining technologies. The NMMT aims to initiate growth and increase the competitiveness of the German maritime industry on international markets and covers about 10 different marine and ocean technology sectors including deep-sea mining.

Sep 1, 2014

Sustainable development places a heavy burden upon everyone involved in the public policy debate, about how to balance economic growth and environmental protection. We must treat that responsibility very seriously indeed. The mining industry especially cannot dodge the responsibility, even if it wished to.

Jan 1, 1992

By Madan M. Singh

A new mining project can raise questions about what effect it will have on the community after it closes. Historically, little was done by communities to plan for and accommodate the changes in the economic infrastructure when a mine project is finished either after the ore runs out or if market conditions deteriorate and make it unprofitable. Projects that were underfunded were generally unable to withstand periodic market downturns. However, data in a recent study conducted by the Seidman Research Institute leads to the conclusion that, even when a mining project is terminated, there can be (and, in the specific case studied, is) a residual beneficial economic effect in the community, which lasts for a long period of time.

Jan 1, 2010

By P. van der Veen

There are two key reasons for this presentation: - Sustainability - Improving the economic, environmental and social impact of mining. As I will discuss in my presentation we see sustainability throughout the mine life cycle as critical for successful mine development - that is the mine makes a successful contribution to economic development and poverty alleviation for the host community and host country and at the same time the mine is a successful investment for the investor. - Knowledge Sharing ? The World Bank is not only a development bank, but also a ?knowledge bank?. One of our key functions is the dissemination of usable information and knowledge. We are here not only to share our experience but to learn from your experience as well ? two reasons that fit clearly with the mandate of the World Bank Group.

Jan 1, 2003

By Gordon E. Forward

Sustainable development in the mining and metallurgical industrial sectors can be implemented by two distinct groups: 1. The managers and operators of existing facilities ? working with industrial processes and systems that have been operating for many years, in some cases several decades 2. Those who are engineering and building new facilities or upgrades of existing plants. The focus of this paper is to look at approaches and tools available to bring sustainable development thinking and action to these two distinct areas. The paper will discuss: 1. The concept of working with existing facilities and processes to minimize waste and maximize product from a regional raw material/resource consumption perspective using By-product Synergy. The BPS concept has been carried out in Texas (TXI-Chaparral?s STAR Example), in Calgary, Alberta with Suncor assistance, in Montreal, Quebec with Noranda as project leader and currently in Ontario with Dofasco as industry champion. Successful outcomes are presented. 2. A new approach to designing greenfield facilities or upgrades to existing plants using a sustainable development review process. Undertaking the review early in every project can institutionalize the concept of discussing and implementing waste elimination, design for environment, eco-efficiency, risk minimization and community awareness and involvement in the future capital stock. The review process has been developed as an excellent tool for measuring and reporting on a corporation?s sustainable development progress. Examples of how this approach has been adopted in the mining and metallurgical industry, and the resultant outcomes are given.

May 1, 2002

By V. T. McLemore

The mining industry is at a crossroad. To sustain our technically based society, demands for commodities are increasing, and exploration for these commodities is a must. The debate is between sustainable development and the status quo and begins with exploration, where it is determined if a mineralized area contains enough potential ore to be mined economically. Mineral deposits are relatively rare and depend upon certain natural geologic conditions to form and may not always occur in locations that are most suitable to society. Exploration can be compatible with environmental protection and social responsibility, but difficult challenges face the industry to develop a property that is environmentally, economically, and socially responsible.

Jan 1, 2004

By J. M. Barker, V. T. McLemore

Most discussions of sustainable development (SD) in mining relate to metal mines in rural areas. Industrial minerals (IM) are closer to urban areas primarily owing to a high transport-cost component of delivered cost. This visibility to large populations overshadows IMs relatively small operation size and generally lower waste volume and toxicity. The IM industry needs to rethink its way of doing business to fit into the SD paradigm. Society and business in general will also undergo significant change to enable industrial SD along the lines of triple-bottom-line accounting with government pushing everyone. The benefit to IM mining from embracing SD is a renewal in their social license to operate and a rebirth of mining as a positively-viewed force in society. This positive view would lead to lower acquisition costs because society would not fight so hard to eliminate nearby mining. This would ease the current exploration woes of the IM industry by opening up new deposits for exploration and more readily allowing placement of mines nearer to markets. The earlier in the exploration process SD is initiated, the better.

Jan 1, 2004

By S. Mendenhall

The Golden Sunlight Mine (GSM) began operation in 1982 with a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and the local community. This commitment ensured the long-term physical, chemical and ecological stability of the mine site and maintained an active partnership with local stakeholders. Concerns for economic development intensified as mine closure loomed on the horizon and fostered the inception of the Community Transition Advisory Committee(CTAC).This coalition of interested area stakeholders has the primary focus to sustain current mining operations while concurrently seeking alternative post-mine economic development opportunities utilizing existing mine assets. Accomplishments include development of an Asset Re-utilization and Post-closure Plan, a community survey regarding the impending mine closure, recruiting an international wind energy company to develop a wind farm, and development of an industrial/business park. The synergy of this strong partnership is key to meeting sustainability goals and enhancing potential future mining operations. The cooperative effort of the GSM and the local stakeholders is a success story that could be a role model for other mining operations.

Jan 1, 2004

Sustainable Development SAFETY ?Safety is the most important element of sustainability. ?One bad experience or incident can mar a company?s reputation for a long, long time. ?News travels faster than ever ?Internet, blogs, texting, peer-to-peer communication, etc. and unfortunately sometimes the information is not always accurate. ?Rarely do we hear in the news about the mining companies or projects that are done safely ?we always hear about the exceptions. ?Safety is just like TQI / TQM ?the process of improving can never stop.

May 1, 2010

By F. Flores

With the World Summit for Sustainable Development planned for 2002 in mind, nine of the world's largest mining companies decided to initiate a project to examine the role of the minerals sector in contributing to sustainable development, and how that contribution could be increased ? the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development Project (MMSD). This project assumed from the start that sustainable development could provide a useful framework to guide the minerals sector which main goal was integrating economic activity with environmental integrity, social concerns, and effective governance systems. The broad steps of MMSD project strategy can be grouped into four major categories: increase understanding of sustainable development; create organizational-level policies and management systems for implementing the principles of sustainable development; collaborate with others with common interests to take joint steps towards sustainable development, and; increase our ability to work towards sustainable development at the local, national, and global levels. In opinion of the article's author, to go ahead with the MMSD strategy and achieving the sustainable development objectives, it is necessary to consider the concept of self-organization, fundamental of the emergent new scientific paradigm, and the consequent epistemology and values that conform a supporting culture for sustainable development.

Jan 1, 2007

By H Jones

The paper outlines the adoption and evolution of ‘sustainable development’ as a concept in tailings management practices in the mining industry over the last 30 years. Over 500 lives have been lost in tailings facility accidents since World War 2. The paper outlines commonalities in many of these accidents, particularly the role of excess water. It considers the role effective tailings management can play in enhancing the social acceptability of mining in the future.Tailings management is a major operating cost at many mines while the cost of successfully closing tailings facilities is also very high. Current tailings management practices in the industry are outlined. The technical and engineering challenges of reducing potential risks associated with tailings by reducing water entrainment are described. The successful development of practical techniques to better manage tailings and reduce water consumption and wastage are described. For example, water removal in the alumina industry to produce a paste for dry stacking is now a reality.The future adoption of these new risk reducing techniques by the industry is discussed and the implications of the adoption or non-adoption of these techniques on the industry’s future ‘social licence’ is considered.

Nov 22, 2011