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TECHNOLOGY
Trolley trucks on steep mining slopes
The technology from
Siemens to use grid electricity instead of from diesel
engines bring home the advantages of speed, control,
environmental friendliness and cost effectiveness to giant
trucks and equipment. The advantages of ease of braking and
speed regulation compared to gearbox and complex braking systems
as in internal combustion engines make these trucks attain
speeds that call for a reduction review of the number of units
deployed..
17052009
Caterpillar working together with
Computer scientists from
Carnegie
Mellon University plans to completely
automate its largest truck. The truck equipped with
necessary software is capable of haul loads up to 240 tons is powered by
a 3,550-horsepower, 24-valve engine will have a robot at the wheel. The
truck will be designed to move up to 42 miles per hour.
DRYING -
NEW TECHNOLOGY
n-house research is now concentrating to be energy efficient, need based
and split into smaller modules for greater control. “Scientific Design”
reports encouraging results in its efforts to develop calcining
technology to process ultrafine material and concentrates over the past
18 months and now plans a commercial model next year. The focus is
shifting to smaller modules with greater control as well as tackling
resource crunch. The research is also focused on separating sulphur
while treating acid-water.
TECHNOLOGY TO SEE MINERALIZATION AT DEPTH
Geoferret from EMIT
New technology to see through mineralization at depths with clarity.
VOCSIDIZER technology
The West Cliff Ventilation Air Methane Project (WestVAMP) attends to
the greenhouse
issue.
ZERO EFFICIENT PROCESSING
Zero effluent processing at Vanderbijlpark
effluent discharge facilities
01102005
PROCESS
SMALL PORTABLE MINING MILL TO PROCESS
COPPER, GOLD AND SILVER
17062008
A SERIOUS LOOK AT UNDERGROUND MINING
Imperial College London and Rio
Tinto bring to reality a "Research
Centre" to look ahead and eliminate some of the present mining
issues. The research is expected to focus on extraction methods,
transportation, processing and environment. The identified areas
indicated are study of rock mechanics and role of acids to dissolve
minerals, slurry pumping, sensing technology, energy consumption and
land use.
14062008
AUTOCATALYST-SILVER TO REPLACE PLATINUM?
Mitsui research is geared up for tougher emission rules
for diesel vehicles and reports success in making silver to withstand
heat up to 800deg.centigrade through additives with a view to replace
platinum as an auto
catalyst. The performance evaluation tests now on, could bring down
the costs substantially
TASMANIA - BOOST TO EXPLORATION
http://www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=23973
Detection of chemical elements, a vital clog in the mineral exploration
and rock sample analysis is likely to be more precise and efficient with
the addition of X-ray fluorescent spectrophotometer like in TasExplore
project.
Related:
TasExplore project
Infrastructure,
Energy and Resources
X-ray fluorescent
spectrophotometer
update on Simandou
from Rio Tinto
DEVELOPMENT
BI-DIRECTIONAL PERSONAL DEVICES FROM CSIRO
Personal Emergency Devices (PEDs) assist one way communication and at
present from the surface to the miner. CSIRO's research has come out
with bi-directional PEDs which will enable communication from both ends
and will be the first to fulfill the need to communicate with others
particularly when a rescue operation is in progress
20062007
AUSTRALIA - COMBATING DRIVER FATIGUE
Safety campaigns in mining urge that "Safety is everybody's business".
How far this is pervading to other areas hitherto unattended? The new
"Vehicle Fatigue Laws" agreed to, by the transport ministers in
Australia is said to be the first in the world to address the root cause
of driver fatigue. The issues like forced unsafe hours, planning the
work, enforced rest, as well as training and education are now getting
the focus. The responsibility is also pinned from end
ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY CEMENT
The success in producing cement at lower temperatures, reduced energy
levels and utilizing the ash from coal is reported from the team of
Spanish scientists at ‘Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas’
(CSIC). The possibilities are enormous when the success in production is
reported to have been achieved at a temperature between 60 to 80 degrees
centigrade. against the current 1450 degrees centigrade. Can this be the
answer to the call for reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from the
cement industry?
10032007
SOUTH AFRICA - RELATION BETWEEN MINING AND SEISMIC ACTIVITY
Seismic activities are monitored in South Africa from the gold mines and
sensitive areas. Though South Africa is not considered to be in the
earthquake zone, the relation between mining operations and seismic
activities are given the due importance.
SOUTH AFRICA INVESTIGATIONS
Expert panel to study impact on seismic activity related to deep
level mining
The concurrence of seismic activity related tremors and accidents
resulting out of falls, particularly in deep level mining has
always been a cause for concern. The constitution of an expert panel
comprising of officials from mines inspectorate and experts on rock
mechanics and seismic research is looked as a positive step in
understanding the complexities and look for possible solutions
19102005
QUEENSLAND - BILOELA PROJECT
The project is a demonstration plant and the world's first towards
making viable environmentally friendly coal=fired power plants.
02112006
ENERGY
New LifePO4 batteries made from non-toxic materials for battery
operated vehicles
Developed by Université de Montréal researchers, LifePO4
is a material used in advanced lithium-ion batteries said to be
more stable, safe and requiring shorter recharging time. The
black LifePO4 powder is available in tightly sealed containers
in powder form. With advantages of using non-toxic material for
manufacture and being cost effective, this could auger well for
the personal as well as commercial transportation in the future.
Related:
More Review
Safety
of lithium batteries
LifePO4 batteries 17052009
NEW SOURCE OF BIO-FUEL
ENERGY SCENARIO IN SOUTH AMERICA
17062008
ULTRA CLEAN COAL
Ultra Clean Coal - the task of bringing the ash
level to less than 0.2%. From the clean coal the move is to ultra
clean coal. What is ultra clean coal? What makes the ultra-clean
coal exciting? The promise of power generation with 50% increased
efficiency and reduction of emission by one-third.
also:
Ultra clean coal process Ultra
clean fuels
“The Nottingham process for ultra-clean coal”
Australia/Clean coal technology / also
Role of selenium in water.
Concerns over switching base of standards in the EPA draft.
White bio-tech
THE FUSION POWERED FUTURE
Blog postings
Hawaiian geology gets update
Ecological solution for village thoroughfare reconstruction
Serious thinking allows for long term gains and the decision to provide
a budget for detailed engineering to consider paver stone system instead
of asphalt by the village elders reflect the direction.
28102006
COAL BASED FUEL CELL POWER
The Department of Energy (DOE)'S third project is to conduct research
for the development of near-zero emission fuel cell power plants that
efficiently convert coal to electricity.
PURE
DRINKING WATER FROM AIR
Daniel R Engel is a resident of Cleveland Ohio and Matthew E. Clasby Jr.
is a resident of Orange Texas realized the possibility in 1987 and theirhard
work and research has led them to develop a commercial proto type.
The water project is a success in that "The Rainbow water
generator" is now a reality
08032006
PGM NANO-TECHNOLOGY
PGM Nano technology could make a breakthrough in display hardware
Bio
diesel-increasing acceptance to B20
Role of titanium in
hydrogen storage Hydrogen
from water
06092005
The properties of the new Nickel
Aluminide Composite material developed at Southern Illinois
University scientists ,could be a boon for mining and other industry
using industrial tools.
AHEAD
MINING THE OCEAN- CSIRO
related: China - atLongkou,
Shandong Province
31082005
BIO MINING
Biomining trends
could be far reaching
trends in the future. Known for the capacity of microbes for separating
metals, current research points
to handling
toxic wastes as well as handle effluents from abandoned workings and
water bodies.
related:
toxic wastes
07042005
RESEARCH NETWORKS
New LifePO4 batteries made from non-toxic materials for battery
operated vehicles
Developed by Université de Montréal researchers, LifePO4
is a material used in advanced lithium-ion batteries said to be
more stable, safe and requiring shorter recharging time. The
black LifePO4 powder is available in tightly sealed containers
in powder form. With advantages of using non-toxic material for
manufacture and being cost effective, this could auger well for
the personal as well as commercial transportation in the future.
Related:
More Review
Safety
of lithium batteries
LifePO4 batteries
Automation and communication in harsh conditions.
Profibus network in draglines in coal mines.
In an attempt to improve the communications between the motion
drives on a dragline and control monitoring, BMACO took
the initiative said to be the first of its kind in the world to
implement Profibus network communication protocol on its
dragline. The trials resulted in success to the extent of
adapting the system as a standard for communicating between the
controlling PLCs and motion drives and implementation on more
draglines.
Research on acid production by microbes at mining sites
Alfred Spormann, a co-principal investigator feels that the microbial
oxidation behavior is a puzzle. The link points to the research work
being carried at Stanford University.
Mining and Energy Research Network (MERN)
A very useful site with links to the current and recent research
Projects
Research in CSIR
CSIR is a premier industrial research organization in Africa committed
to innovation, supporting sustainable development, economic growth and
creating value for clients, partners and stockholders. Highly
recommended.
Florida Institute of Phosphate Research
The focus of the Florida Institute of Phosphate Research is mining of
phosphate rock. The priorities include technology transfer and efficient
land use. The institute has invested more than $3 million on 22
completed projects since 1978. It is educative to note the steps taken
by the Institute to increase the efficiency in Phosphate Rock mining.
Core Science Areas
Read all about the Core Science Areas for the next five years identified
by CSIRO (Exploration and Mining) in consultation with the industry A
wealth of stimulating information on each area awaits you here
particularly when the identified areas include processes of
mineralization, advanced instrumentation, data management, geological,
exploitation, material handling processes and optimizing mining
equipment.
On Diesel engines and emissions
On Radiation
More at
India- Directorate General of Mines Safety
United States-United States Mine Rescue Association (USMRA) Canada-Canadian
Environmental Assessment Agency
Australia-Natural Resources and Mines, Queensland Government
Resources
Safety Alerts from Mineral Resources NSW -PDF
Safety Tips from NIOSH
(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
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