The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reported that on February 28, a contract miner died when he was crushed between the rib and a single boom face drill. The victim was alongside the drill using the onboard tram lever controls when the accident occurred because the remote control was inoperable.
Read MoreDay: April 4, 2022
Advanced process control for ore processing improves throughput, efficiency, and sustainability
Optimizing all the variables related to comminution and separation requires sophisticated control strategies. By Devin Marshman, Spartan Controls and David Harrach, Emerson Ore processing operations connected with mining sites are a critical but costly step in the larger effort to produce refined metals. Regardless of the final purification process, ore must be prepared to meet refiner composition specifications, create optimal…
Read MoreHistory to today: CoalProTec 2022
CoalProTec returns to Lexington, Ky., with an in-person exhibition and conference. Read about its history and its plans for the 2022 event. By Donna Schmidt and Peter Johnson It’s a true meeting place for the coal preparation community that has been almost 40 years in the making. As we struggle to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it…
Read MoreA look within: Clintwood JOD No. 2
What’s old is new again, even in coal preparation, and this Kentucky facility is outlining its own legacy. By Donna Schmidt The heart of the eastern Kentucky and southwestern Virginia coalfields are dotted with coal operations large and small, as well as their respective coal preparation plants. With that comes competition, of course, but also results in many miners seeking…
Read MoreAI: Sci-fi becomes reality
Artificial intelligence has long appeared in science fiction. But it’s now coming to a mine near you (if it’s not already there). By Jonathan Rowland In the early years of the 20th century, American author L. Frank Baum created the Land of Oz – and with it, two contrasting examples of living, intelligent machines. The first and most famous of…
Read MoreNew labor agreement for Rio Tinto Kennecott workers
After seven weeks of talks, Rio Tinto has confirmed that a new five-year labor agreement for the 1,300 workers at its Kennecott copper complex near Salt Lake City, Utah has been ratified.
Read MoreSpotlight from SME 2022: Maestro, Exyn partner for worker safety
Exyn Technologies announced in March during SME MINEXCHANGE 2022 that it has come together in partnership with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) device group Maestro Digital Mine to boost safety and production with the use of the fully autonomous ExynAero drone. Specifically, according to the companies, the ExynAero can be utilized for exploring and mapping GPS-denied environments, and since it…
Read MoreSpotlight from SME 2022: FLSmidth introduces pair of new products
FLSmidth used SME 2022 in its U.S. hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah, to introduce two new products in flotation optimization in March, the WEMCO II and REFLUX Cell (RFC). The WEMCO II flotation cell, the successor to the original WEMCO, features rotor and stator/hood optimizations for boosted power consumption, air flow and pumping. The new release’s design features full…
Read MoreLetting the sunshine in
As this magazine is being completed, spring in the northern hemisphere is just days old. Spring always signals rebirth, another start and ongoing growth – and we’ve got that in spades both here at North American Mining and in the industry. First, as this edition is being examined by our growing number of readers, NAM is celebrating its first birthday.…
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