The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Worker’s Compensation Programs has issued a final rule revising the regulations under the Black Lung Benefits Act related to self-insurance by coal mine operators. Under the new standard, self-insured coal mine operators will be required to post adequate security for their Black Lung benefit liabilities. It also will protect the Black Lung Disability…
Read MoreCategory: Latest News
DoE investing millions for domestic essential mineral production, recovery
The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) has confirmed an earmark of $17 million across 14 projects that will accelerate critical materials innovation while promoting safe, sustainable, economic, and efficient solutions to meet current and future supply chain needs. The projects, which span 11 states, are strengthening and streamlining manufacturing for high-impact components and technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, magnets…
Read MoreMetso to expand Arizona campus
Metso broke ground December 11 on a significant expansion to its service center and a new advanced training facility in Mesa, Ariz. The enhancements, the company said, will serve the increasing demands of mining customers by offering a wider range of repair services, advanced competence development capabilities, and improved safety and sustainability. “Our expanded service center and innovative training facility…
Read MoreImperial Metals, Mount Polley handed Fisheries Act charges
Imperial Metals and its Mount Polley Mining arm, which suffered a high-profile tailings storage facility failure in August 2014, has been served a notice of charges alleging violations of the Fisheries Act in Canada. Engineering firm Wood Canada was also named in the allegation notice involving the British Columbia operation. The charges are outlined in an indictment filed with the…
Read MoreVoisey’s Bay is now mining underground
Vale has completed construction and commissioning of the Voisey’s Bay mine expansion project, transitioning the Canadian nickel mine from open pit to underground mining. The project involved the development of two underground mines – Reid Brook and Eastern Deeps – which will deliver ore for processing at the company’s Long Harbour, Newfoundland, refinery. Vale said full ramp-up is expected by…
Read MoreMSHA reports two more fatalities
MSHA reported that on Nov. 5, a miner at Samuel G. Hurworth in Crane County, Texas, died when the haul truck he was operating over travelled a dump point. The edge of the dump point failed, causing the haul truck to travel backwards, overturn and land on the roof of the cab. This is the 26th fatality reported in 2024,…
Read MoreMSHA final rule promotes innovative, advanced technologies
On Dec. 10, MSHA published a final rule that allows the use of eight voluntary consensus standards approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for electric mining equipment approvals. This final rule allows product manufacturers and designers seeking MSHA approval to follow either the ANSI-approved voluntary consensus standards or the existing MSHA-specific technical requirements. This final rule updates MSHA’s…
Read MoreRamaco’s Brook mine deemed commercially, technically feasible
A newly released independent interim techno-economic report by Fluor has revealed that Ramaco Resources’ Brook mine in Wyoming – acquired as a coal operation but found to be prolific for rare earth elements – is both commercially and technically feasible. Ramaco is hoping to extract valuable rare earth elements (REEs) and critical minerals from unconventional coal and carbonaceous ore deposits…
Read MoreNewmont sells Colorado operation to SSR Mining
Newmont has agreed to sell its Cripple Creek & Victor operation in Colorado to SSR Mining for up to $275 million in cash consideration. The mine is expected to add 170,000 ounces in annual gold production to SSR’s platform. “The acquisition of the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold mine represents a rare opportunity to add a high-quality producing asset in…
Read MoreSleipner dollies ‘significantly’ reduce exposure to whole-body vibration, per vibration measurements
According to a study by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, the exposure of drivers to whole-body vibration and the resulting health risks when moving excavators can be significantly reduced by using Sleipner dollies instead of driving on the excavator’s own tracks. The vibration measurements were conducted at a Finnish mine at the end of May 2023. The aim of…
Read More