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By Bruce Macdonald

Operational reservoir management activities such as cyclical steam, water or CO2 injections frequently cause surface micro-deformation. InSAR monitoring from space based sensors of this surface deformation has become a valuable approach to confirm and monitor extraction and injection activities. Sequestration of CO2 into deep saline aquifers is discussed as an important long term solution to slow future climate change. This method requires reliable continuous monitoring to assure that captured CO2 is sequestered in the substrate for ?all time? (typical minimum requirement by law is 20-30 years). We have shown that combining flow and deformation modeling with spaceborne synthetic aperture RADAR interferometry (InSAR) measurement of ground uplift caused by the underground release and spreading of the CO2 can be forged into a powerful tool to monitor sequestration. We used a novel InSAR approach to resolve the surface motion over the In Salah, Algeria CO2 sequestration site. Our approach exploits all information contained in an interferometric stack by exploiting both persistent distributed as well as persistent point scatterers. Displacement time series are obtained with a network inversion approach applied after topographic error and preliminary atmospheric correction of the network (dual-scale technique). After inverting the original network data to common master we then use an advanced spatio-temporal filtering scheme to remove the remaining atmospheric phase components down to scales of 1 km or less. By comparing final displacement series from multiple interleaving InSAR stacks we show that the accuracy of our refined solution to detect uplift outside of significant temporal data gaps in the InSAR stack is significantly better than 1 mm per year. We further show that accuracy and robustness to data gaps are both significantly improved by co-inverting multiple datasets with the same and different sensors. This co-inversion method also allows the seamless continuation of the monitoring from one sensor to another.

Jun 1, 2012

By Peter Swanson

A seismic monitoring network has been installed in western Colorado (USA) in the vicinity of three underground coal mines to (i) distinguish and characterize seismic activity as either mining related or naturally occurring, (ii) implement a real-time event monitoring and notification tool, and (iii) collect data for use in research studies aimed at quantifying impacts from mining-related and natural seismicity. These potential impacts include dynamic rock mass failures such as coal bumps as well as strong shaking in the vicinity of critical structures such as impoundment dams, reservoirs, mine seals, mine openings, and steep slopes. Examples of two damaging seismic events are presented and the mining and geologic factors attending these dynamic failures are described.

Jan 1, 2008

By John Babcock, Gregory Poole, Ron Hudson

In January 2007, Fultondale Alabama opened a new elementary school. Site work at the old school location included blasting activities and the old school building was scheduled for demolition. With help from Apache Construction, blasting was scheduled to be performed in close proximity to the old school building prior to the demolition. Arrangements were made to perform extensive monitoring on the old school building during the blasting activities. The monitoring plan for the project included: • Pre and post blast inspections were performed on the structure; • Conventional crack monitors were installed at 22 locations throughout the structure; • Digital displacement monitors were installed at 6 locations on the structure; and • Seismographs were used to monitor structure vibration at 6 locations and ground vibrations at 9 locations. Blasting activities were allowed to produce vibration levels well above the safe levels established by the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM). Vibration levels up to 7.44 in/sec were recorded with no damage noted. Permanent deformation was recorded on vibration levels of 9.68 and above. Not only did this project reinforce previous studies which indicate that concrete block walls can withstand vibration levels well above 2.0 in/sec, this study was also a good example of employing new technology to help determine if/when damage occurs on a specific structure.

Jan 1, 2009

By Liang Dong, Jinxuan Liu, Biao Qiu, Jing Chai

"The Cenozoic unconsolidated strata in the east area of China are composed of clay, sandy clay, fine sand, hardpan, etc. Numerous shafts of the coal mines in these areas have been damaged in various degrees since 1987. The main reason for this disaster is the vertical additional stress on shaft caused by the subsidence of the thick unconsolidated strata. In order to monitor the subsidence deformation of the unconsolidated strata, a sensing network system with multiplexed Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) for monitoring settlement deformation of the unconsolidated strata in deep borehole is proposed. The field monitoring results show that, soil layers settle or expand with decrease or increase in ground water levels. The thick hardpan generates the main compressive deformation. This FBG strain monitoring method can take place of traditional ground water measuring method. This system is stable and reliable, and the monitoring results can show the subsidence deformation of different layers, which has significance for the predictive maintenance of the shafts.INTRODUCTIONSince 1980s, a specific geologic hazard has occurred frequently on the coal mine shafts in eastern China: non-mining-induced shaft deformation, involving up to 100 shafts located in Jiangsu, Shandong, Anhui and Herran province, distributed in Xuzhou, Datun, Huainan, Huaibei, Yanzhou and Yongxia coal fields. This kind of geologic hazard can lead to shaft wall deformation, water infiltration, cage stuck, water-sand burst or shutting down of coal mines, which seriously risks the coal mines. Zhangshuanglou coal mine, Haizi coal mine and Linhuan coal mine shut down for 2-8 months due to this hazard (Chen, 1997; Cui, 1998). The main reason for this geologic hazard is the subsidence of the super thick unconsolidated strata (Liu et al., 2007; Xu et al., 2006).An innovative structure health ·monitoring and damage estimation method has been developed in recent years, i.e., optical fiber smart material and structure (Nobuo, 2002; Wang et al., 2000). A Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor is a device that can transfer the change of the measured strain or temperature to the change of Bragg wavelength. One of the most important applications of FBG sensors is to monitor the internal stress and strain distribution of material and structure (Philipp et al., 2000; Ansari et al., 1998). Compared to traditional electrical sensors, FBG sensors have many advantages; they are adaptable to harsh environments, abrasion resistant, immune to electrical magnetism (EM) interference, safe and reliable. They also offer integrated sensing and transmission on a single fiber, have simple structure and are convenient to use, which satisfies the requirements of long distance, distributional and long term use in monitoring mining and geotechnical engineering structure. Due to such advantages, the FBG sensor has already been applied in petroleum engineering (Kersey, 2000), rock mechanics testing (Cornelia et al., 2003; Yang et al., 2007; Wei et al., 2008), physical simulation experiments (Chai et al., 2007; Chai et al., 2006; Zhu et al., 2008; Li et al., 2008; Chang et al., 2008), strain sensor (Li et al., 2007; Chai et al., 2008) and construction structure damage diagnosis (Dong et al., 2004; Kerrouche et al., 2008; Whitten et al., 2001)."

Jan 1, 2010

By Andrew Neale, Ari Supomo, Mike Mular, Rob Perry

A method is presented to measure and correct the performance of regulatory control loops. Freeport Indonesia treats over 220,000 dmtpd of copper-gold ore in a complex of four concentrators. More than 400 regulatory control loops are implemented throughout the operation. The performance of each loop is quantified by an index based on its time in automatic, the deviation of the measurement from the setpoint and a metallurgical assessment of its impact on overall plant operation. Index values are recorded in a plant-wide data acquisition system and analyzed to produce a report of loops requiring attention. Loop statistics are analyzed to show if the problems can be corrected with tuning. The practical application, benefits, management and staffing requirements of this method are discussed.

Jan 1, 2000

BHP Steel International's Newcastle blast. furnaces have operated since their caimissioning on cake based on local low rank coals. In the early 1960's Newcastle coke was believed to be the weakest in the world. Newcastle coke now supports a blast furnace operation with a productivity of 2.1 t/d.rn IV, a fuel rate of 490 kg/t and a coke rate of 415 kg/t. This coke is nuudv from blonds of lcxni and southern Sydney basin coals with blend Ro nex in the range 0.94 - 1.01. Blast furnace performance in periods of differing coal blends is conjured. The relationship between coal aril coke quality indices and blast. fin-mice perforrnarcc.e is discussed as well as the relevance of conventional coke tests. New BHP coke tests are referred to.

Jan 1, 1987

By S J. Schafrik, C Keles, C Schlosser, E S. Gilliland, A K. Louk, N S. Ripepi, S Keim, J Amante, E Diminick

Three legacy coalbed methane production wells have been converted to injection wells for a one-year carbon dioxide (CO2) injection test to evaluate the potential for CO2 storage in the coal reservoir and the potential for enhanced gas production at offset wells. The injection reservoir is composed of 15–20 individual coal seams with an average thickness of 30 cm (1.0 ft), spanning a depth range of approximately 240 (800 ft) to 670 m (2200 ft).The monitoring program for this test includes gas and water sampling of the three injection wells, three dedicated monitoring wells and approximately 20 offset production wells. Key technologies used for monitoring the study area include time-lapse GPS and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) acquisitions for surface deformation measurement, a 28-station buried passive microseismic monitoring array, real-time downhole pressure and temperature sensing and perfluorocarbon tracer fluids, which will be injected with the CO2 stream. The schedule for the monitoring program includes pre- (baseline), during- and post-injection data collection. This schedule will allow data to be analysed for time-lapse changes and trends, which are important for understanding the migration of gas and fluid phases in the reservoir – including CO2, methane, other hydrocarbons and water – and for observing the changing distributions of reservoir pressures and stresses.The results of the monitoring efforts for this study have implications for monitoring mining operations. The combined use of GPS and InSAR geospatial data to evaluate elevation changes across and beyond the study area may prove to be an accurate option for measuring surface deformation, including mining-induced subsidence, in unstable terrain. Long-term microseismic monitoring using high-sensitivity instruments has several applications in mining operations, including rock stability monitoring, production monitoring and miner location detection during emergencies. Tracer studies and short-term microseismic monitoring used to assess methane extraction can also be used to develop and optimise degasification systems for underground coalmines.CITATION:Gilliland, E S, Ripepi, N S, Schafrik, S J, Schlosser, C, Amante, J, Louk, A K, Diminick, E, Keim, S, Keles, C and Karmis, M, 2015. Monitoring design and data management for a multiwell CO2 storage/enhanced coalbed methane test in a stacked coal reservoir, Buchanan County, Virginia, USA, in Proceedings Third International Future Mining Conference, pp 47–56 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 4, 2015

By Silvana Costa

Rapid changes in technology and human resources trends require the mining industry to plan carefully for new work camps. The abandonment of the “mining town” concept and rapid increases in the adoption of long distance commuting have intensified the need for improved planning and monitoring of existing and upcoming operations. New mines will have an increasing Aboriginal participation in their workforce and will mostly to be located in remote and in extreme weather conditions. In this sense, the intensification of the use of the commuting system has increased the need for improved planning and monitoring of upcoming operations. Given that mining development is experiencing a surge in activity in Canada, particularly in remote and northern locations significant number of individuals will get jobs that involve mine camp communities. Some employees will spend half of their working lives at the mine site for a period of time that can last up to 30 years. Even though investments have been made towards particularly high quality physical environments, mine camp policies, programs and employee quality of life in mine camps have not been studied in any depth.

Sep 12, 2005

By F. Kapeller, G. Herget

"The need for monitoring the effect of changes in ground stresses due to mining in hard rock has existed for many years. The Mining Research Laboratories of CANMET, EMR have developed a new tool which monitors with high precision the radial deformation in boreholes. The result is the Mining Research Laboratories strain monitoring system (MSMS) which uses the highly stable and very sensitive vibrating wire principle to monitor deformations in relatively large boreholes, e.g. 76 mm to 153 mm diameter.The vibrating wire is strung across a relatively large proving ring and operates at a frequency between 600 to 1800 Hz. The read-out system is based on continuous vibration.The ring is installed with a hydraulic tool and brought into contact with the surrounding rock through precisely machined and guided wedges. The resolution of the system is in the neighbourhood of 4 x 10-4 min/ Hz. The data collection can be carried out with a portable read-out unit and provisions are available for automatic data collection. Stresses may be calculated from strain readings.The system was tested in cooperation with the Centre de recherches minérales at the Niobec Mine in Quebec for the purpose of monitoring the effects of drill drift development and slope mining on surrounding ground stresses.After access was available to the site, 153 mm diameter holes were drilled for the determination of in situ ground stresses. These holes were then used to install the strain monitoring system. The effect of drill drift development and production blasting in stopes C-203-13 and C-203-15 on ground stress distribution could be observed clearly.The horizontal relaxation in the core of a pillar which occurred during mining of adjacent rooms was between 0.082 mm to 0.111 mm. Calculations of stresses from these deformations indicate that the rock material is still in an elastic condition.Roctest of Montreal has obtained a license on the manufacturing and distribution rights. A patent has been registered and CANMET will assist in installation of the MRL strain monitoring system and the interpretation of records."

Jan 1, 1989

By Sengstock G. W, Spathis A. T

Benchmarks of mine equipment involved in the excavation process of coal mines would suggest that such equipment is not always operating at an optimum level. Dragline operations and truck/shovel operations rely on efficient use of their plant in order to maintain high mine throughput. The first process which affects the material to be excavated is the drilling and blasting process. Drilling and blasting delivers a fragmented material with a given disposition ready for excavation by mine equipment. As mine operators demand more productivity from their major excavating equipment, many sites are considering the use of productivity monitors to measure their outputs. Some of these productivity improvements will be directly related to the drilling and blasting process, so that as the monitoring systems improve, the opportunities to evaluate all drilling and blasting variables will also improve. This paper reviews current and newer methods for monitoring equipment productivity in mines. These include simple time and motion studies obtained by either manual timing of processes or by automated data collection equipment being adopted by the industry. Case studies for truck/shovel operations are discussed and the productivity improvements are compared with typical industry standards. These improvements relate specifically to parts of the load, haul and dump cycle and the potential for significant improvements are identified. Particular opportunities for drilling and blasting improvements are also presented.

Jan 1, 1995

By Robert W. Miller, Rhoda S. Kriesel

INTRODUCTION With each passing year, the general public becomes increasingly aware of the potential hazards associated with many products and services previously considered unharmful. This new consciousness is especially evident in the workplace, both as the result of advances in scientific understanding and the influx of concerned, responsible professionals into the labor movement. For example, data produced by epidemiologists doing retrospective mortality studies which related mortality to toxic substance exposures has often been the prime motivating factor behind reductions in exposure standards. This certainly has been the historical case with many radiation exposure standards, including the limitations set for "Working Level" exposure. The concept of "Working Level" was introduced in PHS Publication No. 494 as a result of both the difficulty in relating radiation units to biological effects and the complexity of interaction of radon daughters with the physical environment. WORKING LEVEL One working level is defined as any combination of radon daughters in one liter of air that will alternately release 1.7 x 105 MEV of alpha energy during decay of 210pb (RaD). Its usefulness is that working level can be readily measured in both the field and the laboratory. Because of this, existing occupational exposure standards for radon daughters in both the U. S. and other countries use working level as their basis. In the U. S., the last twenty years has witnessed a significant reduction in radiation exposure standards from 120 working level months to 4 working level months per year. New international standards are being proposed that would be only slightly higher than these current U. S. standards. POTENTIAL EXPOSURES TO RADON DAUGHTERS The universal use of nuclear power, along with the transfer of nuclear technology to developing nations, has significantly increased the demand for fuels. As a result, uranium mining operations have expanded and increased numbers of miners are regularly exposed to radon daughters. In addition to potential exposures in uranium mines, other deep mines such as tin, gold, platinum and tungsten, also have potential exposures due to the distribution of uranium and its accompanying radium throughout much of the earth's crust. The energy crisis has also prompted interest in general population exposure to radon daughters in buildings. Many homeowners, using additional insulation and caulking to seal cracks and conserve energy, have reduced indoor ventilation to the point where working level exposure could become significant, especially in homes with unventilated crawl spaces. In fact, several serious exposure situations have occurred where mine tailings were used for building materials. MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES Historically, rapid and convenient measurement techniques have been actively sought to improve the ability of ventilation engineers to limit mining exposures through ventilation control. A number of measurement techniques have been developed, including the Kusnetz method (further elaborated by Shalaynev) and techniques developed by Rolle and Tsivoglou. All, however, suffer from similar handicaps that prevent their usefulness in the mining environment. Their main limitation, in terms of minimizing employee exposure, is the elapsed time from the start of sampling until the results can be calculated. It is usually 40 to 90 minutes. This time delay presents both serious economic limitations as well as the potential for exposing workers to high radon daughter concentrations until calculations are completed and corrections made. Further reducing the utility of the Kusnetz and Tsivoglou techniques is the need for tedious calculations that increase the possibility of human error along with the need for cumbersome sampling equipment that is not ideally suited to the mining environment. INSTANT WORKING LEVEL METER To alleviate these problems, the idea of an Instant Working Level Meter was conceived by several groups. Several such instruments were proposed, built, and tested with disappointing results. Although the concepts behind them were sound, the instruments simply failed to measure working level without excessive distortion. In addition, their cost was relatively high, gamma background presented a problem, and sophisticated computations were necessary to determine working level. In short, these systems lacked the design engineering that would make them suitable for the demands of a mining environment.

Jan 1, 1981

By P. K. Kaiser

The purpose of deformation monitoring for the evaluation of the stability of underground openings is reviewed briefly and some results from laboratory tests of small tunnels are presented. The ground behaviour is described by comparison with the response of structural systems and illustrated by the data from the testing of small tunnels. It is concluded that the main objective of a deformation monitoring system for stability evaluation is to determine the actual process of deformation and instability in the area surrounding the opening. Only when this process has been established is it possible to use deformation measurements to design support systems or to improve construction or mining procedures. Present monitoring practice is not sufficiently orientated toward the aim of process description.

Jan 1, 1981

[Determine how subsidence resulting from underground coal mining affects surface structures, and evaluate the usefulness s of the tiltmeter for monitoring foundation movement. Approach The Bureau of Mines is studying foundation response to mine subsidence in order to determine how subsidence-induced ground movements affect foundations in place directly above the mint. These investigations are essential if economic mitigation and repair techniques are to be made. In addition, commercially available tiltmeter are being evaluated (or use as a cost-effective monitoring technique. To study foundation response and to evaluate the tiltmeter system, full-scale model foundations were constructed, instrumented, and monitored for three years. Vertical and horizontal displacements, tilt magnitudes and directions, and observed damages were recorded. Displacements were compared with measured lilt to determine if the tiltmeter was tracking foundation response to subsidence, The Bureau developed a computer software package to aid in the reduction and analysis of the tiltmeter data.]

Jan 1, 1988

By T. Gerritsen, T. Plikas, K. Ochoa, M. Loveless, R. MacRosty, J. Reichart, R. Pula

Sidewall accretion in a smelting furnace plays an important role in furnace integrity as it provides protection to the sidewall cooling elements and thereby extends the furnace campaign life. The extreme thermal and mechanical stresses in the furnace and changes in the slag chemistry can cause the sidewall accretion to melt or break away decreasing the lining protecting the cooling elements. Thin accretion is highly undesirable as it increases the risk of exposing the cooling elements to the molten bath and in the worst case may lead to a failure. Therefore, monitoring the sidewall accretion on an operating furnace is extremely important to manage furnace integrity and to support safe furnace operation. Operators often generate estimates for sidewall accretion and refractory thickness using either copper cooler temperatures or heat load into the cooling water circuits. Multivariate statistical models, on the other hand, have the capability to consider all the process measurements simultaneously to provide a more reliable estimate. This paper describes the application of multivariate statistical models for sidewall integrity monitoring on a Flash Converting Furnace (FCF) and also discusses the online implementation of these models as the Sidewall Accretion Monitoring System. INTRODUCTION Rio Tinto’s Kennecott Utah Copper (KUC) smelter located near Salt Lake city, Utah operates a Flash Smelting Furnace (FSF) and a Flash Converting Furnace (FCF) to produce high-grade matte and blister copper respectively. Since the commissioning of smelter in 1995, several improvements were made to these furnaces to increase their efficiency and operational safety. At present, Kennecott smelter is known to be among the lowest-emission and highest energy recovery copper smelters in the world. Since the smelter start-up, Kennecott has invested in several advanced furnace monitoring practices to evaluate the integrity of the furnaces and improve their campaign life. An example is their temperature monitoring system installed for the smelting and converting furnaces, which continuously monitors the furnace sidewall temperatures and notifies the operators during temperature excursions. During an investigation on the converting furnace, it was revealed that there were frequent temperature excursions in the settler sidewall area towards the reaction shaft end of the furnace that caused significant furnace downtime. The reason for the sidewall temperature excursions was not clearly known.

Jan 1, 2019

By C. Niedersberg, M. K. Almeida, R. M. C. Santana, V. G. Dalenogore

"The major source of environmental pollution in urban areas is the transport sector and its impact on human health and the greenhouse is preoccupying. In many works of literature is monitored the pollutants in urban cities, however in specific areas such as universities, they are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this work is to monitorate the gaseous pollutans in a bus terminal at Santa Cruz do Sul University-UNISC and to develop a control framework of the air quality. Six points were selected for monitoring, being one of them inside a bus. The monitoring of CO, HC and CO2 were carried out on arrival and departure of the bus. Preliminary results conducted in a day of spring showed that the most critical condition was during the night shift, where the concentration of CO (200 ppm) was the highest, caused by the vehicles increase, due to the larger number of students.IntroductionAccording to Mascarenhas et al, 2005, air pollutants are responsible for various effects on vegetation, ecosystems and is recognized as one of major public health problems of today, with harmful effect on humans even at levels considered safe by Brazilian legislation.There are numerous scientific papers linking air pollution with respiratory problems, cardiovascular which hinder the daily life because many of these diseases are chronic and may even lead to death, as was noted by Brook et al, 2004.There is a significant increase in the last decades of emissions to air resulting mainly from human activities. Already being observed the relationship of these emissions with the change in global climate, IPCC, 1995.They are a multitude of pollutants from the atmosphere, and its sources and its effects. The effect of Greenhouse gases (GHG), representing less than 1% of the gases in the atmosphere, controlling the flow of energy in the atmosphere. The increase in emissions of greenhouse gases is affecting the Earth's average temperature, which depends on the balance between these flows, in particular the flow of solar radiation reaching the surface and the flow of infrared radiation sent into space.One of the main greenhouse gases to this imbalance is the gas methane (CH4). Methane is produced by anaerobic decomposition of organic substances, through the action of bacteria metanogenic conditions that require highly reduced to its growth. This gas is released into the atmosphere mainly by transport diffusive by aerenchyma (vascular tissue) plant and also by diffusion through the water slide. (Bont et al., 1978)."

Jan 1, 2008

By Roy J. Greenfield, Charles H. Stoyer

A geophysical survey was made in Kylertown, Pa., in an area where the ground water is polluted with acid mine drainage. Since acid mine water is a good electrical conductor, both direct-current electrical and electromagnetic loop methods were examined for their ability to determine the subsurface electrical conductivity structure and from this to imply the location of the acid water. Consistent results were obtained with the two methods and the interpreted subsurface resistivities were consistent with the electrical resistivity measured for water samples. It was demonstrated that fracture traces which act as conduits for ground water flow can be located with electromagnetic surveying methods. Thus geophysical methods for measuring subsurface electtrical resistivity can be used to advantage for monitoring the environmental impact on the ground-water system of acid mine water.

Jan 1, 1977

By Richard M. Tinlin

The mining industry needs to assure compliance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92-500). Congress has enacted this legislation with the intent of preventing, reducing, and eliminating pollution of the nation' s surface and groundwaters. Recognized sources of pollution such as seepage from tailings ponds, waste dumps, and contaminated effluent from mine dewatering operations pose a serious threat to adjacent groundwaters. In addition, technological innovations being implemented by the industry such as in situ leaching of low grade ore deposits may also lead to ground- water contamination. An adequate monitoring methodology designed to meet the needs of the mining industry is needed. Monitoring and control methodology devised for other man- caused sources of ground- water pollution - e. g., landfills - offer considerable promise for adaptation to the problem. The prediction of deleterious effects on groundwater quality usually requires extensive geohydrological data in addition to a thorough analysis of the mining activity that is underway or projected. If the avail- able data are adequate, mathematical models of surface and groundwater flow can be constructed that will help to predict effects on water quality. Data are inadequate to allow a realistic interpretation of pollution potentials. These data can be supplemented by computer simulation as a method to explore a number of possible environmental effects and also to develop a minimum-cost approach to identifying and gathering the additional necessary supporting data. Incorrect assessment of the important environmental considerations may, in many instances, prove to be the weakest link in analyzing the financial feasibility of a mining operation.

Jan 1, 1973

By Richard M. Tinlin

Some of the practices of the mining industry that may place an undesirable stress on the groundwater environment are coming under increasing scrutiny from legislators and regulatory agencies. Among these practices are mine dewatering, the use of tailings ponds, land rehabilitation, and technological innovations such as in situ leaching of waste clumps and ore deposits. Pernichele, noting that 24 states have enacted legislation controlling to varying degrees the environmental effects of mining, has emphasized the importance of assessing the potential for damage to groundwater when evaluating, planning, and designing mining projects. 1 Illinois has enacted legislation requiring anyone opening, operating or abandoning a mine site to obtain a permit from the Illinois EPA. The law is one of the first to require regular monitoring and reporting to a control agency. Legislation has also been recently enacted at the national level that will have a significant impact on the mining industry; e. g., the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92-500). The stated objective of this Act is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the nation's waters. Specifically, according to Sec. 102(a), the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to prepare or develop comprehensive programs for preventing, reducing or eliminating the pollution of the navigable waters and groundwaters and improving the sanitary condition of surface and underground waters. The definition of the terms "pollution" and "pollutant" is of particular significance to those who must comply with PL 92-500. The definitions are quite broad and include most of the adverse water quality effects of man's activities. As defined in Sec. 502(19), "pollution means the man-made or man-induced alteration of the chemical, physical, biological and radiological integrity of water." Within the Act, the list of pollutants includes dredged spoil, solid waste, incineration residue, chemical wastes, radioaetive materials, heat, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt, and industrial waste discharged into water.

Jan 1, 1973

By L van Latum, A Koh, I Thomas

Haul truck drivers are at a high risk of developing fatigue due to the monotonous nature of the work and demanding shift rosters. In the mining industry, fatigue is identified as a major contributing factor in several fatal accidents a year. A number of fatigue detection devices are now available, that can contribute to improved fatigue risk management in the mining industry. This paper describes the technology and algorithms behind one particular product which is both predictive and un-obtrusive to the operator. The Advisory System for Tired Drivers (ASTiD), was developed by Fatigue Management International (FMI) in collaboration with the Loughborough Sleep Research Centre (LSRC), both in the United Kingdom. While this system includes a model of the human circadian rhythm as a bias for predicting expected fatigue risk by time of day, it also uses yaw data generated by a solid-state gyroscope in the horizontal plane. Algorithms analyse this data to determine the level of monotony of actual driving conditions and to detect changes in steering control caused by driver fatigue. During normal levels of attention, a haul truck driver applies continuous, small adjustments to the steering wheel. As the level of fatigue increases, steering adjustments become less frequent and more erratic. Differentiating between these modes of control in the highly variable mining environment is accomplished by chromatic processing of the gyroscope data. This paper will go into some detail explaining the principles behind chromatic processing and the specific application of these in detecting fatigue in haul truck operators.Technology in itself is not the solution to addressing operator fatigue, but it plays an important role in ongoing monitoring and maintaining awareness with mining personnel. Furthermore, the specific principles behind ASTiD technology support a risk-based approach to fatigue management, allowing optimisation of the mining operation for productivity as well as safety.

Sep 26, 2011

By He F, Zhu D

How to monitor and control the support and surrounding strata system on a longwall face effectively is one of the major research problems in ground control. Based on observations on movements of the support and surrounding strata of face No. 2703 of Dongpang colliery, the relationship between the downtime related to support and surrounding strata and other influential factors is analysed systematically in this paper. Monitoring indices and control measures are then determined by taking corresponding downtime as an objective function. When the monitoring method, developed from the above findings, was used on face No. 2703, the downtime due to support and surrounding strata was remarkably reduced, and the face advanced Normally.

Jan 1, 1992