Colorado Mines, USGS to share research goals

By Donna Schmidt Could projects like the one just announced between the Colorado School of Mines and the U.S. Geological Survey help drive research into a broader, deeper space for mining’s future by bringing together its brightest research experts – academia and minerals science? The Colorado School of Mines, located in Golden, Colo., said construction of a new $240 million…

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$1 million issued in Brookwood-Sago mine safety grant money

The U.S. Department of Labor announced $1 million in grants to nine organizations in seven states to support education and training initiatives that will help identify and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around the nation’s mines. Administered by the department’s Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety grant program will allow recipients to create training materials, promote…

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Orica ORBS takes remote blasting underground

Orica’s next-generation centralized blasting system ORBS has made a leap into the digital world, allowing customers in the underground mining segment to now experience its benefits. ORBS, or the Omni Remote Blasting System, is now available to i-kon and eDev customers. It is designed to provide operations with the ability to safely initiate multiple development headings and production blasts concurrently…

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Cummins approves renewable diesel use for industrial engines

Cummins confirmed it has approved the use of unblended renewable diesel, including hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), for all of its industrial high-horsepower engines across all ratings. The renewable diesel, often also called unblended paraffinic fuels (EN15940), has been shown to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emission by up to 90% compared to conventional diesel, dependent on the exact feedstock and…

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The legal right to mine

By Ramona Monroe and Wade Foster At its most basic level, to explore for minerals and develop a mine, a mining company must have three fundamental legal rights: (i) access to minerals (and secure mineral tenure), (ii) access to capital and (iii) governmental and social licenses. A well-trained mineral lawyer or landman who understands the industry is critical at each…

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A returning beauty

Former Rio Tinto mining site in Utah opens to the public as a stunning multi-use regional park. NAM finds out more about this reclamation triumph. By Donna Schmidt The E and S in ESG (environmental, social and governance) is not limited just to mining efforts while in production. That commitment extends long after the last shovel swipe and unloading of…

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Zooming in on the problem: A look at acoustic inspections

Teledyne FLIR global business development director Rob Milner talks to NAM about detecting compressed air leaks and how that can result in significant productivity gains and cost savings. Mining sites present a dizzying complex of industrial machinery, tools and varying operations for the many different processes that can require massive amounts of manpower, energy, along with precision and timing to…

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Sustainable mining in North America:  Confronting 3 major environmental challenges

This trio of hurdles may surprise you, according to Vaisala’s Frank DeFina in this NAM exclusive. Mining faces an era of reinvention, with decision-makers no longer depending on traditional portfolios and practices to create value. Almost 40% of mining CEOs believe their companies will not be economically viable in the next decade if they continue their current trajectories.  Given the…

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A straight route to success at Detour Lake

Northeastern Ontario, Canada open-pit Agnico Eagle gold operation Detour Lake had several lofty goals: achieving and surpassing environmental, social and governance (ESG) outlines while setting itself up for long-term efficiency through monitoring its most crucial metrics. Artificial intelligence technology from Symboticware was its answer. By Donna Schmidt Mining operations in the age of digitization have the ability to bring in…

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Unleashing the power of data ontology and knowledge graphs in mining: A deeper dive

The power of ontology hasn’t even scratched the surface of other industries. It might transform the mining industry in fundamental ways. By Barry Henderson The mining industry has historically encountered difficulties keeping up with the rapid technological advancements witnessed over the last few decades. In recent years, however, mining companies have faced additional challenges, ranging from the increase in demand…

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