Fully automated longwall operations have been dreamt about since the 1950s. Are they finally within grasp? by Jonathan Rowland Longwall mining has always been associated with significant safety risks for personnel. Reducing this risk through mechanization, automation, and remote-controlled operation has – alongside improving productivity and operational efficiency – been a “central driver of longwall innovation for more than five…
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Innovation in surface drill and blast operations is delivering measurable improvements in environmental performance, operational efficiency, community impact, and personnel safety. by Jonathan Rowland As the mining industry intensifies its focus on sustainability, surface drill and blast practices are undergoing a shift. Once viewed primarily through the lens of productivity and cost-efficiency, innovation is helping to reimagine these operations as…
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With innovative, digital technologies proliferating in mining, an intelligent future beckons. by Jonathan Rowland The global pressures mining operations face will be familiar to readers of North American Mining. The increasing demand for critical minerals, along with diminishing ore grades, tightening environmental expectations, the need for safer workplaces and skilled personnel, and fluctuating commodity markets, all place demands on this…
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In the early 1900s, horse manure threatened to inundate urban life. That problem wasn’t solved by upgrading the horse, but by shifting to a new mode of urban transport based around the latest technological innovation: the internal combustion engine. Is the mining industry about to go through its own paradigm-shifting experience? by Jonathan Rowland Zero-entry mining represents a radical departure…
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In an industry where uptime is critical and capital investment is high, mining companies are increasingly turning to equipment rebuilds as a strategic alternative to replacement, offering a pathway to enhance asset life and performance, optimize operating and capital costs, and improve sustainability. by Jonathan Rowland Mining’s punishing workloads and extreme environments place significant strain on equipment. Rebuilds offer a…
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Hoists are the backbone of most underground mines; without them, operations come to a standstill, threatening worker safety and mine productivity. North American Mining explores factors in the selection, operation and maintenance of this critical infrastructure. by Jonathan Rowland Underground mining is “increasingly trending toward deeper operations and larger payloads,” as Francis Lacasse, ABB’s local business line manager for hoisting…
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Recent developments are driving progress in surface mine electrification, sparking new opportunities to enhance productivity while also reducing emissions. by Jonathan Rowland The mining industry has “always been built on scale, strength, and certainty,” said Daniel Robertson, marketing/sales manager at Innomotics; however, the climate conversation has “shifted expectations” with global mandates calling for a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by…
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Slurry transportation systems rely on pumps to impart kinetic energy to the slurry. Without them, the slurry would not move; however, pumps do not exist in isolation. North American Mining examines two other critical elements in slurry transportation – valves and pipelines – with the help of experts from Emerson, The Lubrizol Corporation, Valmet and Weir. by Jonathan Rowland Efficient…
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North American Mining speaks to experts from Ausenco, Black & Veatch, SRK, and Stantec about the complex yet essential task of developing an effective water management plan. by Jonathan Rowland There is tension at the heart of any discussion about mine water management; rising demand for commodities is driving ever-larger mining projects. These projects carry greater impacts and risks related…
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Equipment and technology innovations offer the potential for faster, safer, and more accurate ground control; however, this should not come at the expense of a proper geotechnical understanding. by Jonathan Rowland As underground operations move deeper and face increasingly complex conditions, equipment development is focused on delivering faster, safer, and more consistent ground control. Meanwhile, advances in computer processing capabilities…
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