Tennessee-headquartered Clinch Resources has commenced mining operations at its Lanes Branch Property surface operation in Wyoming County, W.Va. It will begin producing from the first of two spreads of equipment, with the first shipments of met coal projected to begin in May. “The commencement of operations at Lanes Branch is a major milestone in the overall development of Clinch’s mining…
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Optimizing dry dust collection across the supply chain
Mines should not approach dust control as a necessary must, but rather a strategic element of business. by Veronica Caponio No matter your material, dust is an unavoidable byproduct of mining. From the moment material is drilled, blasted or excavated, airborne particulates are released into the environment and persist through crushing, conveying, screening and final material handling. While dust has…
Read MoreMaking tailings and water decisions count
Tailings water management is a critical challenge for mining operations, though the precise nature of that challenge varies dramatically from one operation to the next. by Jonathan Rowland Tailings dams account for the most water losses at most mining operations. Recovering that water can significantly reduce both environmental impacts and freshwater costs. Yet the feasibility of tailings water recovery depends…
Read MoreGreenbrier Minerals to close several WV operations
Greenbrier Minerals, a subsidiary of Coronado Global Resources, has announced plans to idle seven mining operations in southern West Virginia, eliminating 530 jobs, reported West Virginia MetroNews. The company issued a WARN notice that stated the layoffs would begin on April 14 and be permanent. The company blamed the decision on “sustained weakness in the U.S. High-Vol markets.” It said…
Read MoreFirst gold pour at Heliostar’s San Agustin
Heliostar Metals announced that the first official gold pour from restarted mining operations at its San Agustin mine in Durango, Mexico, occurred in late January. The mine is on track to meet production guidance of 30,000–32,700 ounces of gold in 2026. “It is an extraordinary time in the gold market to bring new production online. Bringing San Agustin online has…
Read MoreEnvironmental enforcement: When EPA comes knocking
by Krista K. McIntyre and Wade C. Foster The mining industry is no stranger to environmental regulation and enforcement. Federal environmental laws shape mine development and regulate operations from the first drill hole to final reclamation. Despite the friendlier attitude toward mining in Washington D.C., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is still inspecting mining operations and initiating enforcement actions…
Read MoreDRIVE SYSTEMS: BEYOND THE HARDWARE
Maintenance, safety, reliability: we know already that these are three crucial elements to the success of drive systems at the mine site. NAM digs down to the details with Hägglunds on how to keep a system at the top of its operational game – and it starts with an industry staying out of its own way. by Donna Schmidt Drive…
Read MoreThe rise of visual intelligence
From the pit to control room, how video analytics is streamlining mining operations in North America. by Gary Ng There was a time when mining oversight meant standing at the edge of a pit with a clipboard, hoping the dust did not hide the data. But today? The pit watches itself and reports in real-time. What previously relied on radios,…
Read MoreMining 4.0
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…
Read MoreIn with the new
As we close the books on another year, it is easy to say, “Out with the old, in with the new.” But do we really want to be out with the old entirely? In some ways, we absolutely do. Overall, this year has been an unsafe one for mining. Even one fatality is one too many, but our year is…
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