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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Teaching in VR

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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Challenges and opportunities in mining education

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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What’s old may be new again

How can older lithium mines help America achieve its alternative energy independence? By Gene Morgan The two big challenges facing lithium mining in the U.S. today are public perception and scaling up, and the first thing the U.S. industry needs to solve is public perception. Perception is at the heart of the current mine permitting reform debate in the U.S.…

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BLOWING THINGS UP – and breaking barriers

They are each helping to shape the next chapter of mining, advancing the industry and improving safety. Meet Nicole Henderson and Katherine Harman in this issue’s Women in Mining spotlight. By Sara Arola Only a few jobs have the ability to shape a career; fewer careers have the power to define a life. Truly life-defining careers are those workers fully…

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Countdown in motion for SME/PCMIA in Steel City

Annual two-day event has a packed schedule of presentations on safety, engineering projects, critical minerals and more. By Donna Schmidt The Pittsburgh chapter of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) and the Pittsburgh Coal Mining Institute of America (PCMIA) are putting the final components in place for their annual joint meeting and conference, set for October 26-27 in…

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Safe conveyor maintenance begins with proper training

Conveyor maintenance may be required for a mine to keep its uptime percentages high, but those numbers mean nothing if the work isn’t being done safely. Martin Engineering’s Jerad Heitzler and R. Todd Swinderman talk to North American Mining about how training is the bedrock of those goals. As with all industrial equipment, one crucial element of safe, efficient conveyor…

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