Mining is the process of extracting minerals from different parts of the world. The mined materials are then processed, and they make up the important components of the infrastructure and construction projects. Most industries, including; smartphones, offices, computers, transport, homes, and the automotive industry, use the direct or the byproducts of the different mined materials.
Mining has become a major earner of income, attracting many investors in the industry. Most countries have invested in the industry to earn capital to run their economies. Most of the minerals mined from the least developing countries are exported for further processing.
Underground mining
Underground mining involves the various underground techniques used in the extraction process of minerals like metals and ores below the earth’s surface. There are two underground mining technologies: soft and hard rock underground mining. Hard rock mining technologies are used to extract hard minerals like nickel and zinc, and soft rock mining technologies are used when extracting soft minerals like coal.
Underground mining has two main phases in mining including development and production. The development phase involves exhumation of waste rock to secure entrance and, finally, access to the valuable minerals and rocks involving the following steps: blasting, scaling, installing, reinforcement, and explosives. The explosive stage consists of short and long hole mining, wherein short-hole mining occurs with the real ore. Long-hole mining involves various excavations within the ore found below its surface.
Future projections of underground mining and successive technologies
Technological advancements from companies like Newtrax in recent times have digitized almost all sectors in the world, including underground mining. The mining industry has a lot of impact on the country’s economies hence directly affecting the livelihoods of many people.
Researchers could not evade conducting multiple kinds of research to develop the traditional mining technologies to meet the rising standards in the society in machine automation. Some technological advancement that has occurred in the mining industry include;
Mining and the internet of things
The Internet of things (IoT) helps maximize and contribute positively to the efficiency of the mining process in the current times. It works by collecting the generated data from the different mining processes. The collected data is useful when remotely monitoring the mining operations, increasing the safety, productivity, and sustainability of the operations. The collected data is also used in assessing the amount of time spent by trucks in the mines during the material loading process and the level of maintenance needed, among other factors.
Smart mines
Smarts mines are among the recent developments in the underground mining industry. For successful mining, until recently, required human labor and perfect mathematical determinations. However, with smart mines, the dire need for human labor during mining is reduced, reducing the total costs required for the success of each single mining process. Machine automation has made smart mines a success reducing the dangers that mine workers faced during the extraction process.
Mining and blockchain technology
Concerns around costs and efficiency influencing the mining sector have led to the discovery of sustainable and effective alternatives to the traditional mining methods. Blockchain technology has been a big supporting factor that contributed to the success of the industry. Using blockchain technology creates a clear and efficient supply chain, security, and tracking through sharing of data in the mining process.
Main underground mining procedures
Sub Level Caving
It is considered to be the most innovative method in the current mining processes. The mining method I considered when open mining method could not be viable. The mining procedure involves vertical and downwards drilling to reach the ore directly. Sub-level horizontal drilling follows at the proceeding intervals.
After completing sub-leveling, circular patterned blasts series are carried out through explosions at the created levels to excavate the demolished ore.It is designed to increase the mining works efficiency through excavating maximum ore quantity without tampering with the already set-up projects on different sub-levels.
Open Stopping
It involves extracting ores through an explosion and leaves a stope. The structural integrity of the surrounding rock is required to determine if the process is required. A single stope has the capacity to produce twenty-five thousand ore tons and over monthly. The mining method is considered relatively safe, but it increases the chances of diluting the ore, but with the innovative technologies in place, such risks are minimized.
Cut and fill mining
It is among the commonly used underground mining procedures, and it works by cutting the ore, excavating, and filling. The ore set for mining is subdivided into various sections then extracted through controlled explosions. The created voids during the extraction process are then filled with different recommended materials like cement and waste rock. The ore extraction process is expensive.
Some of the other underground mining processes are;
- Block caving
- Shrinkage
- Room and pillar
- Longwall mining
In conclusion, advancement in underground mining technologies has revolutionized the mining industry, increasing the mined ore quantity while saving on costs and time.
