The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved S. 912, also known as the Mining Schools Act of 2023, in a move that will boost the nation’s mining schools’ ability to recruit and train the industry’s next generation of mining experts. The act will establish a grant program for mining schools at four-year public institutions of higher education; authorize $10 million for…
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G7 needs to adopt balanced coal approach: FutureCoal
The following is a statement from FutureCoal, formerly known as World Coal Association, and has been edited only for style and clarity. Following the announcement to “phase out existing unabated coal” by 2035 at the G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Climate, Energy, and Environment, FutureCoal insists that world leaders must embrace a balanced, pragmatic, and responsible approach to energy policy. Chief…
Read MoreRio Tinto awards $875,000 for critical minerals research
A Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) professor has been awarded $875,000 from Rio Tinto for a two-year project to examine new techniques to recover critical minerals in the waste byproducts from copper extraction and refining. “Our project will test new chemical dissolution strategies and purification techniques to produce pure gallium and germanium compounds from these waste materials,”…
Read MoreCoal-Based Product Could Replace Sand in Concrete
By Mark S. Kuhar A study by Rice University researchers found that graphene derived from metallurgical coke, a coal-based product, could serve not only as a reinforcing additive in cement but also as a replacement for sand in concrete. “This could have a major impact on one of the biggest industries in the world,” said James Tour, Rice’s T. T.…
Read MoreNMA urges caution on energy transition
According to new polling by the National Mining Association, conducted by Maru/Blue, the vast majority of Americans support an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes coal and are concerned that the rush to transition to renewable energy is going to sacrifice our ability to keep the lights on. The data show growing concern for the impact of the speed of the…
Read MoreLink between mine permitting reform, national security
The following is an op-ed from Minerals Make Life and has been edited only for space and style. Lithium. Copper. Nickel. What do you think of when you hear those minerals? Most people hear “lithium” and immediately think of electric vehicles – in particular, the batteries that power them. However, well-known minerals often have uses beyond what most people expect.…
Read MoreCritical minerals expertise makes Missouri S&T top tech hub
U.S. Economic Development selected MS&T as one of the nation’s more than 30 new ‘tech hubs’ for its critical minerals research work. Missouri University of Science and Technology’s expertise in critical minerals and materials research has led to its selection as one of 31 Regional Innovation and Technology Hubs (Tech Hubs) funded through the CHIPS and Science Act. The 31…
Read MoreColorado 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…
Read MorePronto, Whittle release autonomous haulage report
Pair finds that, at least when it comes to mining trucks, bigger isn’t always better. By Donna Schmidt While haul trucks have generally gotten bigger over time, reflecting better economics in many applications, the opposite is true when trucks are automated – this according to a new report from Pronto and Whittle Consulting. Pronto and Whittle recently released their joint…
Read MoreVirginia Tech researchers use autonomous technologies
to make mines safer
How do you use drones and robots to make underground mining less risky for workers? Virginia Tech researcher Richard Bishop and his West Virginia University collaborators are working to answer this question. A recent two-year, $569,149 Alpha Foundation grant will allow the team to study ways to use autonomous drones to predict and prevent roof collapses underground. It’s urgent work.…
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