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By Julián M. Ortiz, Antoine Caté, Oy Leuangthong, Ilkay S. Cevik

Mineral resource classification relies on the expert assessment of a qualified person (QP) to determine which blocks of a 3D mineral resource model are classified as measured, indicated, or inferred. The decision is often based on a combination of quantitative parameters related to the estimation process and qualitative decisions based on previous experience or preconceptions not captured in the numerical model. As such, the procedure is subject to inconsistency, that is, blocks with similar qualities may end up in different categories, mainly due to the subjective nature of the approach. In this paper, we present a methodology to assist the qualified person in this task by clustering blocks with similar parameters and then classifying them into categories in a consistent and automatic manner that only requires the specification of a few hyper-parameters. The result is a consistent classification into resource categories comparable to the result of a classification done by a qualified person but fully consistent and generated in a short time frame. The procedure begins with repeatedly sub-sampling the block model to determine a distance matrix using an unsupervised random forest approach and then clustering the blocks using the associated distance matrix. Then, all the blocks in the model are classified using a supervised random forest approach, which gives a probability of belonging to each class. The initial class can be determined from the class probabilities. Support vector classification with a radial basis function kernel is utilized to smooth the boundaries between classes and define the final classification. An approach to tune the hyper-parameters of smoothing is provided. The methodology is demonstrated with two examples from two gold deposits. Results are comparable to the classification done by the project qualified person using conventional methods.

Aug 17, 2021

By F. N. Siddiquie, Mohd Shaif, Rajiullah Khan, Juned Alam

Manganese ore bodies of Banswara Mn belt were classified into stratiform and stratabound types, based on their mode of occurrence, distribution, and their chemical characters. These ore bodies generally composed of braunite, pyrolusite, cryptomelane/ psilomelane, wad, etc. The stratiform-type Mn ore bodies are conformable with the associated host rocks (Mn phyllite, etc.) and occurred in the form of layers, bands, etc., which are variable in their shape and size. These ore bodies are also strongly folded with the enclosing host rocks. The others, which are stratabound-type Mn ore bodies, also showed an intimate association with the associated host rocks. These types of ore bodies occurred in thin layers, pockets, lenses, stringers, etc. The classified ore bodies are confined with Kalinjara formation of Aravalli Supergroup of Paleoproterozoic age. The ore bodies are structurally controlled and well associated with phyllite, schist, limestone, quartzite, etc. The stratiform-type ore bodies constitute a marginal to low Mn grade and are also characterized by lower Mn content (26.19–39.24%) along with the Mn/Fe ratio of 7.16–12.23, while the stratabound-type Mn ore bodies are rich in Mn (35.92–49.64%) along with the higher Mn/Fe ratio of 14.15–23.97. However, the poor Mn grade along with high siliceous impurities of Banswara Mn deposits is subjected to them for intermittent mining activities in the past and, consequently, did not attract the scientific and industrial community for the evaluation of these resources. Therefore, the authors attempted this study in a scientific and systematic manner (mode of occurrence/distribution and possible methods for evaluation/exploration) to evaluate the potential of existed and newer Mn deposit resources in the Banswara Mn belt. The whole findings would be very much helpful for exploration/ mining geologist along with other concerned, to completely evaluate these Mn deposits in the future.

Aug 16, 2021

By Rushikesh Battulwar, Javad Sattarvand, Joseph Seamons, Masoud Zare

In the last decade, new developments took place in the area of indoor positioning (or localization). Since the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) cannot be used in underground mines, other technologies are needed for localization. Positioning and communication options today primarily include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID), etc. Smartphones and tablets currently have an array of sensors and radios, which can provide valuable information to allow indoor localization via various methods. Where mineworkers could keep smartphones with them, they can be highly effective at enabling localization and navigation. Recent applications of these technologies in underground mines have been thoroughly reviewed and examined for the likelihood of their utility for accurate localization where no other means exist. Some critical challenges and gaps that need to be addressed in future research have been identified.

Sep 5, 2021

By P. Samanta, Mohammed N. Azad, Gustad F. Taraporewalla, A. K. Mukherjee, Abhay S. Patra, D. Sachinraj

Beneficiation of coal is a water intensive process, and the water is recovered in downstream operations in the high rate thickener (HRT) and vacuum belt filtration (VBF). Clean coal particles entering the HRT have an inherent tendency to enter the overflow because they are extremely fine and hydrophobic. Hence, flocculants (polymers) are used to floc the ultrafine particles so that they settle and enter the underflow. Ultrafine coal particles (−37 μ), which are highly hydrophobic, if present in the stream, will not be efficiently captured by using flocculants alone. This is observed in the normal plant operation at one of the beneficiation plants in the Jharia region, Jharkhand, India. Approximately 6–7% of the feed to the HRT enters the over flow (supernatant water). Hence, this amount of clean coal particles is not recovered and account for production losses. A comprehensive settling and dewatering test work was conducted with clean coal slurry using several commercially available reagents. Studies were also done on different combinations of reagents, including coagulants and surfactants along with flocculants, to improve the settling behavior of the coal particles. The reagents were assessed based on their performance with respect to settling rates, overflow water clarity, and compaction of the underflow solids. Emphasis was given to the ability of the reagents in compacting thickener underflow to higher densities so that maximum water could be recovered from the thickener. Pretreatment of highly hydrophobic coal slurry with a combination of coagulant and surfactant followed by flocculation showed very good settling characteristics with clear overflow.

Sep 30, 2021

By Onuralp Yücel, Kağan Benzeşik, Ömür Can Odabaş, Selçuk Kan

Extraction and processing constitute an important area in the metallurgy of molybdenum. Molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) production is one of the most important stages in molybdenum production. In this study, the effects of different furnace types on MoO3 production were investigated by using molybdenum concentrate as a raw material obtained during the enrichment of copper ores. Preliminary experiments have been made using a chamber type furnace, and a transition to a pilot-scale has been carried out with rotary kiln experiments. The effects of a different time and atmospheric conditions on MoO3 roasting kinetics were investigated by experimental studies conducted in the temperature range of 500–650°C. It was determined that the optimum temperature and time for sulfur (S) removal was 625°C and 180 min in the studies carried out in the rotary kiln, and it was determined that 0.61%S content was reached with an average removal efficiency of 98%. The activation energy in these sets was calculated as 89.519 kJ/mol.

May 3, 2021

By J. Zhang, A. J. S. Spearing, L. Ma

Ore deposits are becoming more complex to mine as a result of the exhaustion of surface and other easily mined deposits. There is also increasing socio-political pressure to design more environmentally sound, sustainable, and safe mining practices. Wang and Ma designed a mining method for coal, similar to a modified drift and fill using a continuous miner to take sequential cuts (rooms) that are subsequently backfilled. The authors have modified the concept to make it more autonomous, safer, and less costly using highwall coal mining techniques, modified and adapted for underground applications. The method is more flexible than longwall mining and the percentage extraction would seem to be in the same range. In addition because of the backfilling, surface subsidence would not be a major issue and could be more effectively managed.

Feb 2, 2021

By S. Lohmeier, D. Gallhofer, B. G. Lottermoser, T. Schirmer

At a time of resource consumption, it is important to study the chemical composition of mining and metallurgical wastes to prevent the dissipative loss of metals and metalloids from the mining value chain. In particular, the recovery of critical elements from wastes is an option to increase the resources of such materials that are economically significant and have an overall supply risk. In this paper we report on the chemical composition, in particular the critical element content, of granulated slag originating from historical smelting activities in the Tsumeb area, Namibia. Laboratory-based inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses as well as portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) demonstrate that the slags are on average enriched in base metals (Cu 0.7 wt%, Pb 2.7 wt%, Zn 4.7 wt%), trace metals and metalloids (Cd approx. 50 mg/kg, Mo approx. 910 mg/kg) as well as critical elements (As approx. 6300 mg/kg, Bi approx. 3 mg/kg, Co approx. 200 mg/kg, Ga approx. 100 mg/kg, In approx. 9 mg/kg, Sb approx. 470 mg/kg). While metals and metalloids such as As, Mo and Pb can be determined reliably using pXRF instruments, the technique has inherent limitations in evaluating the contents of certain critical elements (Ga, Sb). However, there are positive correlations between the As, Mo, and Pb contents determined by pXRF and the Ga and Sb contents obtained through ICP-MS and XRF. Thus, quantitative pXRF analysis for As, Mo, and Pb allows calculation of Ga and Sb abundances in the slags. This work demonstrates that pXRF analysers are a valuable tool to screen smelting slags for their chemical composition and to predict the likely contents of critical elements.

Mar 1, 2021

By I. J. Geldenhuys

South Africa’s mining and metals industries have an illustrious history dating back to the Late Iron Age. We live in a complex and data-intensive world that has already fundamentally changed how we work and live. The outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 resulted in immeasurable suffering worldwide, but the crisis also accelerated many technological developments and altered the way we think about, and experience, technology and work. Problem-solving requires new and rapidly changing skills to manage the data tsunami. Whether at the rock face or on the processing plant, the fundamentals have not changed, although how we interact with minerals and their properties has changed dramatically. Sustainable processing and design are non-negotiable if we genuinely want to achieve the aim of the cradle-to-cradle principle. As we venture forth, what can scientists, engineers, technologists, and mathematicians learn from history? History is data presented in a context; sometimes, the context is also important. We exist in an age of data, with most of the world’s data created in only the past two years. History can enhance our understanding of the present and enhance our future outcomes. Lessons from history can help provide insights into making ethical and sustainable choices related to technology or engineering in the mining and metallurgical industry. Shifting the perspective of mining and metallurgy professionals from a narrow focus on complex technical solutions towards a broader context for problem-solving and designs that includes the entire ecosystem is crucial. In other words, using or reflecting on historical process development is, at its core, systems thinking.

Sep 1, 2021

By Alberto Guizado

A la fecha ciertos consumidores de energía eléctrica, entre los que se encuentran las empresas mineras, pagan mensualmente, además del IGV e Impuesto de Promoción Municipal, otras 3 obligaciones, considerados, por no pocos, como subsidios cruzados y en ciertos casos como impuestos, cuyos egresos son directamente proporcional al consumo de la energía eléctrica (a mayor uso del suministro, corresponde aumento en los pagos).

Sep 29, 2023

By Edgardo Rabanal, Mario Adrianzén

El presente trabajo nos permitirá demostrar las bondades del potencial que tiene el enfoque de Newmont para la gestión de riesgos integral que es el Sistema de Gestión de Riesgos (RMS Risk Management Sistem) uno de los principales componentes es la Gestión de Riesgos de Fatalidad (FRM, por sus siglas en inglés de Fatal Risk Management) que es una herramienta primordial de gestión para evitar fatalidades. En los proyectos de Newmont Yanacocha (Proyecto Yanacocha Sulfuros YSP y Proyecto de Tratamiento de Aguas WTP2) se utiliza el FRM para brindar asesoramiento, acompañamiento y empoderamiento en la salud y seguridad de las empresas locales y sus colaboradores.

Sep 29, 2023

By Daniel Lovera, Freddy Sojo, Edwin Manrique

El agua de mina es un problema constante en las empresas minero metalúrgicas debido a su alta acidez y contenido de iones disueltos. Esto ocasiona constantes desembolsos para su tratamiento antes de ser desechado. Mientras los concentrados de cobre por su alto contenido de calcopirita requieren del proceso de tostación para recuperar el cobre valioso generando emisión de gases contaminantes. En esta investigación se emplea 4 soluciones de lixiviación con el agua de mina como componente principal y diferentes concentraciones de cloruro de sodio (NaCl), nitrato de sodio (NaNO3) e hipoclorito de calcio (Ca(ClO)2). El concentrado empleado contiene principalmente calcopirita.

Sep 29, 2023

By Paul Ruíz

Con el objetivo de aumentar la utilización de la flota de acarreo, la Compañía Minera Antamina implementó el proyecto llamado "Relevo en Caliente" en el año 2022. En el marco de este proyecto, se incorporaron 196 aprendices procedentes de las comunidades cercanas, de los cuales el 41% fueron mujeres. El propósito de esta iniciativa era formarlos como operadores de camión minero

Sep 29, 2023

By Hilario Gorvenia, Eduardo Ku

Los controles predictivos del tipo de mineral, cambios de reología, etc., que ingresará a la Planta, anticipará al área de Operaciones y al área de Gestión de Relaves para realizar las acciones pertinentes en la disposición de relaves para prevenir imprevistos en la producción de la Planta. El presente trabajo propone una metodología de planificación desde la Mina para optimizar el tiempo de vida útil de los depósitos de relaves y maximizar la recuperación de agua desde los relaves.

Sep 29, 2023

By Ronald Ticona, Marjorie Aubert, Frank Luján

Uno de los principales objetivos en la optimización de los procesos mina a planta es la obtención de una buena fragmentación en la voladura, el cual permitirá generar la cantidad de finos adecuados para la alimentación de la planta concentradora. Con la finalidad de evaluar los efectos de la fragmentación en mina en los procesos aguas abajo desde la voladura, una importante mina de cobre del Perú decidió evaluar el impacto en los procesos aguas abajo de dos tipos de explosivos, de emulsión 100% gasificable con RBS de 118 y de mezcla explosiva gasificada 80/20 con un RBS de 158, en zonas de roca altamente competente con un rango 150 a 160 de UCS y 0.8 de RQD.

Sep 29, 2023

By Eduardo Guanilo

El uso de la Analítica de Datos permitió una gestión adecuada en nuestros indicadores de seguridad - productividad y su implicancia directa en el logro de los objetivos de producción mina todo esto a través de la excelencia y la disciplina operacional. La información obtenida con la herramienta de Analítica de Datos, el proceso sistemático de revisión de variables claves para la operación minera, la identificación de desviaciones y la interacción constante entre nuestra supervisión durante la revisión de las recomendaciones en tiempo real, permitieron mejorar y optimizar las decisiones operativas logrando los objetivos establecidos.

Sep 29, 2023

By Alexandra Nieves, Artemio Pérez

Antapaccay, empresa minera ubicada en la provincia de Espinar; realizó un diagnóstico a profundidad sobre las causas de la conflictividad social. Ello conllevó inicialmente a la creación de herramientas para controlar el riesgo que posteriormente fueron analizadas a profundidad para entender la dinámica del territorio y establecer una estrategia de intervención social con enfoque estratégico. Es así como nace el “Sistema de Gestión de riesgos sociales y transformación de conflictos de Antapaccay, metodología que nos está permitiendo reducir los microconconflictos , conflictos socioambientales y socio políticos.

Sep 29, 2023

By Jairo Romero, Fernando Pajuelo

Los avances en tecnologías digitales han permitido nuevos métodos de trabajo para realizar pruebas, como el análisis granulométrico. Por esta razón, este estudio propone aprovechar la fotogrametría mediante drones para realizar un análisis granulométrico completo y preciso a partir de fotografías digitales aéreas, especialmente en áreas de almacenamiento de material (StockPiles). Esto permite optimizar los recursos de mano de obra y reducir los costos operativos hasta en un 71%. Además, se realizó un análisis económico comparativo entre el método digital propuesto y el método convencional de estudio de granulometría.

Sep 29, 2023

By Miguel Cochachi, Wilson Chavez, Germán Sovero

El presente trabajo está enfocado en recuperar los metales como plata y plomo de las escorias, mediante el proceso metalúrgico de lixiviación ácida/super ácida y flotación. Estas escorias son pasivos ambientales generados en los años 80’s, JS Consulting en el área de investigación metalúrgica desarrollo el proceso de lixiviación y flotación para lograr recuperar la Ag y Pb de las escorias y de esta manera darle valor en el mercado de dicho material que no tenía valor. Los resultados obtenidos fueron muy favorables, en la lixiviación de las escorias se logro separar hierro, silice, zinc, cobre de la plata y plomo, estos dos últimos elementos quedaron en el solido logrando una concentración comercialmente en el mercado.

Sep 29, 2023

By Ronald Ticona

Con el objetivo de mejorar la trazabilidad del mineral desde mina a planta en una operación de una mina de cobre del Perú, se evaluó el impacto en la planta de procesamiento en relación con las optimizaciones de voladura, un sistema de trazadores, relacionando el desempeño de los procesos de mina a planta con las propiedades geotécnicas y geometalúrgicas, detectando en tiempo real minerales en la planta de procesos alimentación estéril, alta, baja Ley, mineral con Arsénico, entre otros.

Sep 29, 2023

By Juan Mayta

Dada la situación actual y escenario post COVID-19, es fundamental adoptar estrategias de Gestión Colaborativa e Integrada de Proyectos, este artículo es el resultado de la aplicación de Virtual Design Construction (VDC) y Building Information Modelling (BIM) en la etapa de Diseño de un proyecto de reemplazo de Equipos Críticos en la Parada de una Planta concentradora de Cobre (Cu) para Sociedad Minera El Brocal, operación minera ubicada en Cerro de Pasco, Perú.

Sep 29, 2023