North American Mining spoke to two raise borer OEMs and three drilling contractors about the current state and future direction of the raise boring sector. by Jonathan Rowland When you think of raise boring in underground mining, you probably think about the construction of ventilation and access shafts. But they are not the only application. With more advanced and increasingly…
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From its headquarters near Munich, Germany, Bind-X is a company focused on disrupting the world of dust control through sustainable biotechnology. North American Mining spoke with the CEO to find out more. by Jonathan Rowland Think sustainable mining and what comes to mind? Chances are it is not dust control. The generation of dust is, however, an inevitable consequence of…
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The NEXGEN SIMS research project is pioneering the use of virtual reality in mining education. North American Mining spoke to its Education Focus leader, Dr. Andreas Eitzenberger, for the details. by Jonathan Rowland Thanks to growing public awareness around the transition to a more sustainable, net-zero world, interest in mining is also rising. Politicians, companies, and others are realizing that…
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North American Mining discusses the current state and future development of mining education in North America with experts from some of the region’s leading mining engineering schools, the National Mining Association, and the Mining Industry Human Resources Council. by Jonathan Rowland Workforce and talent gaps are nothing new to anyone who has spent time around the mining industry. The Society…
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Heavy mobile equipment operating in the confined spaces of an underground mine poses a serious safety hazard. Proximity detection and collision avoidance systems can play an important role in mitigating that risk. By Jonathan Rowland One of the biggest safety risks in an underground mining operation is the interaction between mobile assets and personnel. “The risk exposure in this area…
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Hydrocyclones have been workhorses of mineral processing for over a century.But how is this venerable technology adapting to the needs of 21st century mining? By Jonathan Rowland Digital solutions, such as CycloneSense from Metso (pictured), help detect disturbances and optimize separation performance. Hydrocyclones have been around for a while; invented in the late 1800s, they were further developed and introduced for…
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Slurry pumps face very challenging operating conditions. An effective maintenance regime is thus critical for keeping them – and with them, the rest of the mine – performing as well as possible. We asked experts from Weir Minerals and KSB SupremeServ-GIW for their insight into some of the key issues. By Jonathan Rowland Slurry pumps face several challenges related both…
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There are thousands of diesel-powered vehicles in the mining industry. Decarbonizing this existing fleet is a key step in addressing industry’s carbon footprint. Alternative diesels may hold the answer. By Jonathan Rowland Hydrogen and electrification are often talked about in the context of decarbonizing mobility in mining. But both routes require significant investment in new technologies and infrastructure, as well…
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Mining tires represent a significant investment; they are also an opportunity to improve not only the efficiency of a mining operation, but also its sustainability. So how can a mine ensure it gets the most economic and environmental benefit from its tires? By Jonathan Rowland Even under the best of circumstances, tires wear out. But mining is about the most…
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Moving from open pit to underground operations is fraught with complications. North American Mining spoke to three experts about the considerations and risks involved. By Jonathan Rowland A majority of mining operations begin life as open pits; however, as mining progresses, ore reserves may be proved to extend to greater depths than originally anticipated. To continue exploiting these reserves, the…
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