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…
Read MoreCategory: Features
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…
Read MoreUnleashing 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…
Read MoreTeaching 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…
Read MoreChallenges 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…
Read MoreWhat’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.…
Read MoreBLOWING 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…
Read MoreCountdown 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…
Read MoreSafe 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…
Read MoreBasic design for better maintenance
A conveyor belt is only as good as its design, and then only as good as it is maintained. Superior Industries’ chief conveyor engineer Travis Thooft outlines vital design considerations allowing successful maintenance. Dry bulk material producers and handlers spend millions every year maintaining conveyor systems. Oftentimes, conveyor design does not provide the means for ease of maintenance, and as…
Read More