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1
Naidoo, Kumendrie. "Considerations for stope gully stability in gold and platinum mines in South Africa." Diss., Pretoria : [s.n.], 2001. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11302005-123445/.
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Carroll, Sandy. "The viability of the Kaplats Platinum group element deposit." Access, 2006. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-07102008-080330/.
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3
Du, Pisani Petro. "The financial benefit of using borehole radar to delineate mining blocks in underground platinum mines." Diss., Pretoria : [s.n.], 2008. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-02092009-141519/.
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4
Mooney, David G. "An evaluation of small scale open cast mining of UG2 in the Bushveld complex." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005555.
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The current weak state of the platinum market, as well as the large inventory of platinum group metals held by Russia, necessitates that the South African platinum mining industry must carefully evaluate the benefits and disadvantage of small-scale mining of shallow, open castable ore resources. Until the late 1980's, these resources were ignored due to the metallurgical complexities of treating oxidized ore, as well as the mind set that existed within the South African mining industry which militated against open cast mining in the Bushveld. During the latter part of the 1980's and early 1990's, advances in the metallurgical treatment of oxidized ore, specifically the UG2, as well as operational problems, created the impetus to begin the exploitation of these resources. Small-scale open cast mining has become viable due to the development of suitable mining methods that facilitate mining practices acceptable to the Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs, in terms of environmental legislation. Metallurgical advances and growing experience, especially with respect to the UG2, enables reasonable platinum group metals recovery from oxidized ore. The problems experienced in doing this can, and are being overcome. With growing public awareness of environmental issues, particularly related to the mining industry, the requirement to ensure that the small-scale open cast mine site is well managed is paramount. A methodology for the evaluation is presented along with a case study of a small-scale UG2 open cast pit. Evidence is presented that shows that these small-scale open cast mining operations are extremely profitable and require minimal capital expenditure. However, caution is advised when evaluating Merensky Reef open cast operations because of the problems that they present.
5
Vos, Cornelius Francois. "The role of long-chain trithiocarbonates in the optimisation of Impala Platinum's flotation circuit." Pretoria : [s.n.], 2006. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-10182007-103419/.
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Williams, Stephen Bruce. "The effect of scale and shape on the strength of Merensky Reef samples." Diss., Pretoria: [s.n.], 2000. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11092006-132936/.
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Bonel, Kevin Anthony. "The mode of occurrence, recovery characteristics and petrogenesis of platinum-group and base metal sulphide minerals in the UG2 chromitite at Northam Platinum Mine, South Africa." Thesis, University of Exeter, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.297790.
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8
Moore, Bronwyn Ann. "Investigation into the technical feasibility of biological treatment of precious metal refining wastewater." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002013.
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The hydrometallurgical refining of platinum group metals results in large volumes of liquid waste that requires suitable treatment before any disposal can be contemplated. The wastewater streams are characterized by extremes of pH, high inorganic ion content (such as chloride), significant residual metal loads and small amounts of entrained organic compounds. Historically these effluents were housed in evaporation reservoirs, however lack of space and growing water demands have led Anglo Platinum to consider treatment of these effluents. The aim of this study was to investigate whether biological wastewater treatment could produce water suitable for onsite reuse. Bench-scale activated sludge and anaerobic digestion for co-treatment of an acidic refinery waste stream with domestic wastewater were used to give preliminary data. Activated sludge showed better water treatment at lab scale in terms of removal efficiencies of ammonia (approximately 25%, cf. 20% in anaerobic digestion) and COD (70% cf. 43% in digestion) and greater robustness when biomass health was compared. Activated sludge was consequently selected for a pilot plant trial. The pilot plant was operated on-site and performed comparably with the bench-scale system, however challenges in the clarifier design led to losses of biomass and poor effluent quality (suspended solids washout). The pilot plant was unable to alter the pH of the feed, but a two week maturation period resulted in the pH increasing from 5.3 to 7.0. Tests on algal treatment as an alternative or follow-on unit operation to activated sludge showed it not to be a viable process. The activated sludge effluent was assessed for onsite reuse in flotation and it was found that there was no significant difference between its flotation performance and that of the process water currently used, indicating the effluent generated by the biological treatment system can be used successfully for flotation. Flotation is the method whereby minerals refining operations recover minerals of interest from ore through the addition of chemicals and aeration of the ore slurry. Target minerals adhere to the bubbles and can be removed from the process.
9
Balakrishna, Manivasan. "An assessment of the economic viability of mining the UG2 Reef within the no. 12 Shaft lease area, Impala Platinum Limited." Diss., Pretoria: [s.n.], 2006. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-06262008-113235.
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Bonsu, Jude. "A sytemic study of mining accident causality : an analysis of 91 mining accidents from a platinum mine in South Africa." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14083.
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The mining industry is a very important sector of the South African national economy. A major factor threatening the sustainability of this industry is the worrying effect of mining accidents. These accidents usually lead to the destruction of property, injury/death of mine workers, and pollution of the environment. Although mining is generally seen as a hazardous operation worldwide, the accident rates in South African mines are still unacceptably high. Another worrying phenomenon is the fact that since 2003 reduction in fatalities and injuries has been 20– 25% short of annual targets set by stake holders. These factors make the safety of the industry a very important subject. The understanding of accident causality is a major step in the quest to reduce accidents. It is only with a good understanding of the accident process that effective remedies can be designed. Accident modelling techniques provide the necessary platform for the interpretation and understanding of accidents at workplaces. The Swiss Cheese Model of accidents has proven to be a very efficient way of analysing industrial accidents. In this model, an accident is seen as a combination of unsafe acts by front line operators and latent conditions in the organization. The model helps to identify factors in an organizational structure that influence human behaviour/performance at workplaces. This study is aimed at demonstrating how a systemic approach can be applied to the analysis of the causes of accidents in South African mines. In this study, an accident analysis framework has been developed from the Swiss Cheese Model, combining the Mark III version of the Swiss Cheese Model, the Nertney Wheel and safety management principles. The main section of the framework is made up of three layers of accident causality: proximal causes, workplace factors and systemic factors. The second section (metadata) of the framework incorporates contextual data pertaining to each accident such as age, experience, task being performed, and time of accident. These data enhance the understanding of accident causality. The third and final section of the framework incorporates information about accident causing agencies and the nature of barriers breached in the accident process.
11
Andrews, Lesley. "Base metal losses to furnace slag during processing of platinum-bearing concentrates." Diss., Pretoria : [s.n.], 2008. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-01222009-172643/.
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Ramushu, Mahlatse Rosinah. "The socio-economic impact of Modikwa Platinum Mine on the Maandagshoek Community with reference to the applicable mining law framework." Thesis, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/406.
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Machumele, Nkateko Jones. "A geological, petrological and mineralogical study of the UG3 chromitite seam at Modikwa Platinum Mine : significance to exploration and PGE resources." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013553.
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The UG3 at Modikwa Platinum Mine occurs as a platiniferous, planar chromitite seam. It is stratigraphically located in the Upper Critical Zone of the Eastern Bushveld Complex. Field work study comprise of underground mapping, sampling, surface mapping, borehole core logging, microprobing and microscopic investigations carried out at the Rhodes University. The UG3 at the Modikwa Platinum Mine is about 22cm thick chromitite seam underlain by a white fine grained anorthosite and overlain by a brown medium grained feldspathic pyroxenite. It is an incomplete cyclic unit consisting of chromite and feldspathic pyroxenite. The UG3 reef at the Modikwa Platinum Mine lease area represents a Platinum Group Metal resource of 300 million tons of ore at an in situ grade of 2.5g/t. Under the current market conditions the UG3 reef remains unprofitable to mine in an underground operation due to the operational cost involved. However, it has been illustrated that the UG3 chromitite seam can increase profit margins in an open pit operation provided it is mined together with the economic UG2 chromitite seam. The extraction of the UG3 as ore in the four Modikwa UG2 open pits would result in a combined operating cash profit of R330 million. The UG3 chromitite seam is platiniferous. The platinum-group minerals (PGM) range in size from less than 10μm to about 70μm. The PGMs are associated with sulphides and are both located in the interstitial silicates and are concentrated in the chromitite seam. The PGMs show a strong preference to contact boundaries of the silicate grains, the chromite grains and the sulphide phases. In some instances, they are enclosed within the chromite grains in association with sulphides. The general sulphide assemblage comprises pentlandite and chalcopyrite whereas, the PGMs assemblage comprises cooperite, ferroplatinum, laurite, FeRhS and PtRhS.
14
Van, den Berg Mader J. "Western limb tailings reclamation project." Diss., Pretoria : [s.n.], 2004. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-07272005-100249.
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Mnwana, Sonwabile Comfords. "Participation and paradoxes: community control of mineral wealth in South Africa's Royal Bafokeng and Bakgatla Ba Kgafela communities." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/526.
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Resource control as a form of community participation in the mineral economy has gained much recognition. One prevailing argument is that direct control of natural resources by local communities is an important precondition for equitable utilisation of the natural resource wealth, peaceful co-existence between mining corporations and indigenous communities, and congenial relations between local communities and the state. Studies have also shown that the absence of direct community control of mineral wealth remains a major factor in the communal resistance and socio-political conflict witnessed in the natural resource-endowed regions of countries such as Nigeria, Ecuador, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, little is known about mineral resource control at the community level. Does community control necessarily translate to equity? How does local involvement in the mobilisation of mining royalties benefit different segments of the community? Indeed, how do different segments of the community “control” the wealth? What is the specific model adopted to engender broad-based community participation in the utilisation of mineral wealth – and does it matter? These theoretical and practical questions were the impetus for undertaking this study in the Royal Bafokeng and Bakgatla Ba Kgafela – two platinum-rich ‘traditional’ communities in South Africa’s North West Province that have significant control over platinum resources in their territories. Utilising ethnographic data collected in the two study communities in 2008 and 2009, the thesis examines the character of community participation in platinum wealth utilisation; specifically, the conditions under which community participation promotes or hinders sustainable community development. The analysis uses a “three-dimensional participation ladder” conceptual scheme, based in part on Sherry Arnstein’s (1969) “ladder of citizen participation” and subsequent typologies of participation. Among the key findings of the thesis are that despite observed benefits, the interface of resource wealth and community development is fraught with tokenistic participation, elite-targeted grassroots anger, and local tensions – all linked to the contradictory nature of participation. The thesis further reveals that in some instances the challenge of platinum wealth-engendered community development tends to undermine existing customary and democratic spaces for participation, and that this is exacerbated by community-level issues such as poverty and inequality. The findings of the study compel a shift of analytical focus from conflict as an epiphenomenon of collective community exclusion and deprivation (as in the case of many natural-rich countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere), to conflict as also resulting from collective community inclusion (in natural resource utilisation). At the policy level, the study generates insights that will, hopefully, assist mineral resource-endowed countries, such as South Africa, in dealing with the challenge of developing appropriate policy frameworks for regulating business and social partnerships between local communities and mining corporations, and within resource-rich communities themselves.
16
Den, Boef Martinus. "Assessment of the national DSM potential in mine underground services / M. den Boef." Thesis, North-West University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/111.
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ESKOM is moving towards a price structure for electricity which reflects, as far as
possible, the real cost of generation. It is called real time pricing (RTP). ESKOM
developed this cost structure to coax customers to use more electricity in off-peak
periods (low cost of generation) and less electricity in peak periods (high cost of
generation). However, many industries do not effectively use these price offerings
from ESKOM to the detriment of themselves and ESKOM.
In previous research improvements to this situation for the South African mining
industry were investigated. ESKOM funded research to find the potential for load
shifting on mines using RTP. The RTP investigation focused on the supply side
management (SSM) in the mining context of underground services on gold and
platinum mines. Elements investigated included the ventilation, cooling and pumping
(VCP) systems. (Except for pumps, these plants are generally installed
aboveground.)
Previous research showed a national RTP and SSM potential to shift 500 MW of
electrical load for a period of 5 hours. Through the previous research it became clear that the mines were previously able to
react partially to the price signals. However, it was proved by the research that the
full load shift potential can only be realised through the use of integrated dynamic
simulation and optimisation.
An even higher potential exists for load shift and electricity efficiency through demand
side management (DSM) on the underground services. Therefore, if underground
DSM strategies are combined with SSM strategies, a further and much bigger
potential can be exploited to the benefit of ESKOM and the mines. Due to these
factors this study was undertaken.
Three case study mines were identified for this study. They are Kopanang and
Target, both gold mines, and Amandelbult, a platinum mine. The DSM potential on
each of these mines was calculated using simulation, calibration, verification and
optimisation.
These results were presented to mine management to negotiate the implementation
of the proposed strategies on one of the mines. Kopanang's management agreed to
the implementation of these strategies for a trial period of 3 months after which the
success would be evaluated.
The results of the implementation, together with the case study results, were used to
calculate the national DSM potential in the mining sector through extrapolation. The
DSM potential amounts to 650 MW of load per day as well as 5% on electricity
consumption. This amounts to a potential saving of R72.1 million per year using
current tariffs. This means that ESKOM can save about R5000 million on the
building of a new power station to supply the equivalent load to the DSM potential.
Now that the national impact has been calculated and discussed, all these findings
must be used to motivate the implementation of these strategies throughout the
mining sector. A similar project can be undertaken to look at possible DSM
strategies in the industrial sector.
This might prove to be more difficult as the electricity intensive systems are mostly all
linked to the final production. In the mind of management this out-weighs the
possible cost savings that can be achieved.
ESKOM and the NER will have to rethink their strategy. Through DSM and load
shifting actions alone the pending electricity crisis will not be averted. The current tariff structures should be amended to not only reflect the true cost of electricity but
also provide incentive for DSM and load shifting.
Another problem that must be addressed to achieve the DSM targets set for 2007 is
the time that it takes to complete the study as well as the implementation time.
Software can easily be created to help in the speeding up of the case study itself, as
the process and steps followed, as well as models used, are very generic (at least in the gold and platinum mining sector).Thesis (Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.
17
Venter, Johan. "Development of a dynamic centrifugal compressor selector for large compressed air networks in the mining industry / Johan Venter." Thesis, North-West University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/9540.
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Various commercial software packages are available for simulating compressed air
network operations. However, none of these software packages are able to
dynamically prioritise compressor selection on large compressed air networks in the
mining industry.
In this dissertation, a dynamic compressor selector (DCS) will be developed that will
actively and continuously monitor system demand. The software will ensure that the
most suitable compressors, based on efficiency and position in the compressed air
network, are always in operation. The study will be conducted at a platinum mine.
Compressed air flow and pressure requirements will be maintained without
compromising mine safety procedures. Significant energy savings will be realised.
DCS will receive shaft pressure profiles from each of the shafts’ surface compressed
air control valves. These parameters will be used to calculate and predict the
compressed air demand. All pipe friction losses and leaks will be taken into account
to determine the end-point pressure losses at different flow rates. DCS will then
prioritise the compressors of the compressed air network based on the overall
system requirement.
This software combines the benefits of supply-side and demand-side management.
Potential energy savings with DCS were proven and compressor cycling reduced. A
DCS user-friendly interface was created to easily set up any mine’s compressed air
network.Thesis (MIng (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013
18
Rademeyer, Brian. "The influence of environmental impacts on tailings impoundment design." Thesis, Pretoria : [s.n.], 2007. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-01292008-172436.
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Xulu, Celiwe V. "Exploring the application of strategic foresight in South African Mines : focusing on the platinum mines." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/52353.
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The purpose of this research was to investigate the extent to which strategic foresight was used by business leaders with a focus on the South African Platinum Mining Industry. The motivation for the research was the reports of prevailing conditions in the mining sector, which brought into question the level at which strategic foresight was used in planning. This raised a further question of whether academic research of the past 50 years was perceived as valuable by organisational leaders.
Because strategic foresight is a managerial tool that, among other things, takes into consideration the value of employees and other stakeholders, the researcher interviewed corporate Heads of Strategy, Business Development and Sustainability, and Risk, Assurance and Sustainability. Finance, Risk and Operations Managers in the operations were also interviewed.
Conclusions reached in this research were that use of strategic foresight, as explained by Rohrbeck & Gemünden, (2008), Slaughter, (1995) and Godet, (2008), seemed to be limited in the area of focus which was the South African Platinum Mining sector. This was due to the fact that all participating organisations seemed to have an idea of what it was but, either had no resources to properly implement it; lacked the understanding of the concepts; or simply felt that parts of the process, rather than the whole process, would be sufficient to guarantee success.Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.
ms2016
Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
MBA
Unrestricted
20
Wang, Quanxi. "Integrated stability mapping system for mines." Morgantown, W. Va. : [West Virginia University Libraries], 2005. https://eidr.wvu.edu/etd/documentdata.eTD?documentid=4287.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2005.Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 145 p. : ill. (some col.), maps (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 118-122).
21
Talhi, Korichi. "Aspects of blasting in surface mines." Thesis, University of Surrey, 1989. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.280422.
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22
Joubert, Barend Daniel. "Small-scale gold mining in southern Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005615.
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The general characteristics of gold deposits are reviewed, and a classification of gold deposits based on mineability is proposed. Evaluation, mlnlng and beneficiation methods are briefly discussed. It is concluded that the most viable targets for small-scale companies comprise deposits that require the least pre-production time and expense. Great potential exists for the small-scale reclamation of gold from tailings dumps and abandoned mines in Southern Africa. There is also potential for developing new smallscale gold mines in the Archaean greenstone terranes of the Zimbabwean and Kaapvaal cratons.
23
Forrest, W. "The development of new coal mines." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 1987. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.378766.
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Carr, Frank. "Government decision-making and environmental degradation: a study relating to mining activities in Papua New Guinea." Thesis, Carr, Frank (2007) Government decision-making and environmental degradation: a study relating to mining activities in Papua New Guinea. Masters by Research thesis, Murdoch University, 2007. https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/502/.
Full textAbstract:
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a country possessing abundant resources of gold, oil, copper, timber, and fish stocks. It is hampered in its development and management of these resources, however, by serious problems of governance and corruption. These problems are evident throughout the economy and also in the management of the environment. The level of environmental damage caused by the mining industry in PNG is now such that it will require extensive rehabilitation, if the areas affected can, indeed, ever be fully rehabilitated. The mining companies which precipitated this damage were licensed and encouraged by the PNG Government in the initiation and exercise of the mining operations. The resulting environmental impact has affected the lives of thousands of New Guineans to their detriment. The degradation caused remains
unredressed.
Compounding the problem, there is a growing reliance by Papua New Guinea on mineral exploitation for foreign direct investment, government revenues, and foreign exchange. Gold exports accounted for the biggest share of export revenues in 2002 representing 37.5% of the total. In light of this growing dependency on mining activities, there is a correspondingly urgent requirement to address the deficiencies in the administrative, monitoring, and policing aspects of the protection of its environment.
Despite the public evidence of the damage to the environment and the ensuing affect on the people of Papua New Guinea by mining activities; and despite universal condemnation of these activities and the companies responsible; the companies continue to conduct these activities without official hindrance and with little apparent concern for the long-term ramifications of their actions.
This thesis will examine the degradation resulting from the mining activities of companies in Papua New Guinea over the last three decades - particularly those of Placer Dome's Porgera gold mine, BHP's Ok Tedi gold and copper mine (the waste from both of which is dumped into the Ok Tedi and Strickland rivers which are tributaries of the Fly River and form part of the Fly River system) and Lihir Gold Limited's gold mine on Lihir Island. It will examine the extent to which the Government of Papua New Guinea may have wittingly (in the sense of a prescience as to the possible or probable likelihood of deleterious impact) or unwittingly contributed to that degradation as a result of its actions or omissions.
Studies of available literature suggest that there has been little attention paid to the subject of culpability on the part of successive PNG governments in matters of environmental damage. This research will contribute to reducing this gap in the literature by focusing on possible motives of the PNG government and its actors which precipitated those decisions and which resulted in environmental degradation. The discussion will examine the likely motivation of the PNG government in its deliberations and decisions and the extent to which corruption and incompetence may have played a role.
25
Carr, Frank. "Government decision-making and environmental degradation : a study relating to mining activities in Papua New Guinea /." Carr, Frank (2007) Government decision-making and environmental degradation: a study relating to mining activities in Papua New Guinea. Masters by Research thesis, Murdoch University, 2007. http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/502/.
Full textAbstract:
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a country possessing abundant resources of gold, oil, copper, timber, and fish stocks. It is hampered in its development and management of these resources, however, by serious problems of governance and corruption. These problems are evident throughout the economy and also in the management of the environment. The level of environmental damage caused by the mining industry in PNG is now such that it will require extensive rehabilitation, if the areas affected can, indeed, ever be fully rehabilitated. The mining companies which precipitated this damage were licensed and encouraged by the PNG Government in the initiation and exercise of the mining operations. The resulting environmental impact has affected the lives of thousands of New Guineans to their detriment. The degradation caused remains
unredressed.
Compounding the problem, there is a growing reliance by Papua New Guinea on mineral exploitation for foreign direct investment, government revenues, and foreign exchange. Gold exports accounted for the biggest share of export revenues in 2002 representing 37.5% of the total. In light of this growing dependency on mining activities, there is a correspondingly urgent requirement to address the deficiencies in the administrative, monitoring, and policing aspects of the protection of its environment.
Despite the public evidence of the damage to the environment and the ensuing affect on the people of Papua New Guinea by mining activities; and despite universal condemnation of these activities and the companies responsible; the companies continue to conduct these activities without official hindrance and with little apparent concern for the long-term ramifications of their actions.
This thesis will examine the degradation resulting from the mining activities of companies in Papua New Guinea over the last three decades - particularly those of Placer Dome's Porgera gold mine, BHP's Ok Tedi gold and copper mine (the waste from both of which is dumped into the Ok Tedi and Strickland rivers which are tributaries of the Fly River and form part of the Fly River system) and Lihir Gold Limited's gold mine on Lihir Island. It will examine the extent to which the Government of Papua New Guinea may have wittingly (in the sense of a prescience as to the possible or probable likelihood of deleterious impact) or unwittingly contributed to that degradation as a result of its actions or omissions.
Studies of available literature suggest that there has been little attention paid to the subject of culpability on the part of successive PNG governments in matters of environmental damage. This research will contribute to reducing this gap in the literature by focusing on possible motives of the PNG government and its actors which precipitated those decisions and which resulted in environmental degradation. The discussion will examine the likely motivation of the PNG government in its deliberations and decisions and the extent to which corruption and incompetence may have played a role.
26
Stewart, Penelope Clair. "Minimising dilution in narrow-vein mines /." [St. Lucia, Qld.], 2005. http://www.library.uq.edu.au/pdfserve.php?image=thesisabs/absthe18948.pdf.
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Sellami, Moncef. "Recoverable reserve estimation in multiple seam mines." Thesis, This resource online, 1993. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-09192009-040606/.
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Harvey, Harvey Blevins Madison D. Soyini. "Mines-bodies a performance ethnography of Appalachian coal mining /." Chapel Hill, N.C. : University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2006. http://dc.lib.unc.edu/u?/etd,187.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2006.Title from electronic title page (viewed Oct. 10, 2007). "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Communication Studies (Performance Studies)." Discipline: Communication Studies; Department/School: Communication Studies.
29
Bétournay, M. C. "The stability of shallow stopes of hard rock mines." Thesis, McGill University, 1995. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=28678.
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Canadian hard rock mine extraction practices have commonly created shallow stopes, 12% of which have caved to surface, from instabilities originating from stope hangingwalls, crowns or footwalls. To date, however, mine operators have applied few of the available data gathering and design tools to strike a balance between maximum economic excavation dimension and stope viability. The preference has been to use personal mining experience.Several common rock mass environments are surveyed as well as the various ways in which shallow stopes have failed. It has been found that these rock masses develop gravity-induced movement in the form of plug failures, ravelling of rock blocks, strata failures, chimneying disintegration, and rock mass block caving.
New failure-specific analytical equations are developed here for these common failure mechanisms. They address the mechanics of the failure process and incorporate the capability to arrive at the ultimate failure outline, for comparison to the location of the bedrock surface.
This research has shown that: plug failures occur along steep, uninterrupted discontinuities bounding large blocks. Plug failure potential reduces substantially with confining compressive stress, discontinuity inclination, the absence of low friction surfaces and shearing of intact rock interrupting the discontinuity. Ravelling requires little peripheral confining stress for stabilization and prevention of block falls or slides. However, inherent conditions such as shallow dipping or vertically dipping joints can cause block falls to develop to surface. Low confining stresses, resulting from multiple stope extraction in orthogonal horizontal directions, would offer conditions suitable for plug and ravelling failures. Strata failures are caused by excessive stope spans, but the limited loading received from above strata is such, that the failure cavity created is of limited vertical extent, some 25% of the stope width. Chimneying disintegration occurs in weak rock masses with low cohesion, over narrow openings that can be as deep as 275 m. The onset of chimneying disintegration can be created by compressive stresses, but develops as a result of mobilization of the rock mass by gravity in active shear. Block caving requires large spans to develop, and stabilizing could be overcome from arching stresses overcoming bulk arching strength. Controlling instability elements are tabulated for these failure mechanisms. A limit equilibrium correlation between span and cohesion for chimneying disintegration is presented, and the controlling limits between the occurrence of chimneying disintegration and block caving is discussed. Ravelling and chimneying disintegration are the most expected failure mechanisms for shallow stopes of hard rock mines. Although failure of the shallow stope may start around its periphery, stope failure to surface would likely occur in or close to the surface crown pillar.
Although the analytical equations developed require input of in situ stresses defined by numerical modelling in order to yield a precise answer, conventional numerical modelling or empirical methods are shown to be unable to predict stope failures as the analytical equations have. A step-by-step stability analysis procedure is presented, incorporating rockmass environment, expected failure mechanism(s), and applicable data gathering and anlytical methods. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
30
Mamurekli, Deniz. "Blast-induced ground vibration modelling in open-pit mines." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 1993. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.357797.
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Hadjigeorgiou, John. "Studies of machine-ground interaction in surface mines." Thesis, McGill University, 1993. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=41124.
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Ground preparation design encompasses problems of ground characterization, equipment selection and performance. Ground characterization has in the past been the subject of empirical diggability classification schemes based on case studies. A new system is proposed for evaluating the ease of excavation of different ground conditions, is put forward. This has been applied successfully in different field studies. While such empirical schemes are useful to mining design, there still remains a basic lack of understanding of machine-ground interaction in the excavation process. This will be essential for long term machine and method advancement.This thesis reviews the approach and methodology adopted for the development of predictive digging models in mining. Past theoretical attempts to model soil-rock cutting processes are critically evaluated and an analytical digging model applicable to fragmented rock is proposed. Physical modelling studies, concentrating on the interaction between machine and spoil characteristics, are reported. These considered in particular the digging profile propagated by cable shovel operation, the impact of geotechnical parameters on the profile, and the efficiency of digging in fragmented rock. These were undertaken in a controlled laboratory environment based upon an instrumented scale model and photographic studies. The salient parameters influencing the efficiency of the digging processes are identified and a bucket filling model for cable shovels is proposed.
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Caddy, Irene. "A platinum life cycle assessment : potential benefits to Anglo Platinum / I. Caddy." Thesis, North-West University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/6279.
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There has been an increased awareness of the inter-dependence between man and the environment since the 1960’s. Environmental awareness has evolved from representing fairly radical views opposing all development, to a current emphasis on sustainable development between development and the environment.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is defined as the identification and quantification of the environmental impacts of a product, process or service during the entire life cycle being studied. The life cycle starts at the extraction of raw materials and the production of energy used to create the product through the use and final disposal of the product. LCA therefore considers the production, use and disposal of a product, which constitutes the life cycle of the product.
LCA can be combined with methodologies that study other parameters such as costs in order to optimise the benefits from LCA. It is suggested that cost implications of processes to reduce environmental impacts should be included in a methodology used for a Platinum LCA.
A comment that is consistently raised in the case studies is that the minerals industry regards LCA as an effective tool to determine the impacts of the industry, however extraction & beneficiation of minerals are often grouped together, with accurate data not being available, and databases either not available or not updated.
The case studies indicated several benefits from the various LCA’s conducted. A Platinum LCA should clearly define and group the environmental impacts being studied into categories such as greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, acidification, and resource consumption.
A Platinum LCA will be resource- and time intensive due to the large scale of the processes involved. It is suggested that a Platinum LCA firstly focuses on the production phase, i.e. cradle-to-gate, with potential future work done on the use and end-of-life stages.
It is suggested that individual facility-based LCA’s for AMPLATS and other platinum producers are conducted in order to get a true reflection of the environmental burden of each company, and then selectively share technological improvements to reduce the environmental burden without disclosing sensitive information.
The benefit of LCA in the case of platinum will be optimised if it can be used to make business decisions, together with consideration of financial and production benefits in addition to anticipated environmental benefits of alterations to processes. It is essential that LCA is seen as a business tool that will assist the company to make informed business decisions about process improvements, as well as new projects and design of new facilities.
LCA on its own will not determine which product or process is the most cost effective or works best. The information developed in a LCA study should be used as one component of a more comprehensive decision making process assessing the trade-offs with cost and performance. The results from a LCA could be used to make informed decisions about optimisation between costs and reduced environmental impacts.Thesis (M. Environmental Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.
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Madalane, Thembi. "The obligation to rehabilitate mining areas : post mining activities." Thesis, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/905.
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Thesis (LLM) -- University of Limpopo, 2012The study focuses on rehabilitation, since absence of proper rehabilitation process result in indelible damage to the environment. South Africa, like many other countries, is faced with many environmental problems caused by mining. These problems are particularly caused by, inter alia, abandoned mining areas without rehabilitation, inadequate environmental impact assessment after closure, inadequate financial provision for rehabilitation, and lack of monitoring and aftercare system after post mine closure. The study found that many Companies ignore laws governing prospecting, extraction and rehabilitation. The main purpose of this research is to investigate and recommend guidelines in the rehabilitation process so as to instil respect for the environment. The study therefore recommended strict legislation relating to environmental protection against mining.
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Brendliner, Robert Lee. "Toxicity analysis of coal mining industry NPDES discharges in Southwest Virginia /." This resource online, 1991. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-01122010-020036/.
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Griffin, Kenneth R. "Design Criteria for Wireless Mesh Communications in Underground Coal Mines." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/76759.
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The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006 was enacted in response to several coal mining accidents that occurred in the beginning of 2006. The MINER Act does not just require underground mines to integrate wireless communication and tracking systems, but aims to overall enhance health and safety in mining at both surface and underground operations. In 2006, the underground communication technologies available to the mining industry had inherent problems that limited communication capabilities. Since the passage of the MINER Act, there have been several developing applications for underground wireless communications. Underground wireless communications allow signals to propagate and take multiple paths to destinations providing a survivable, redundant, and adaptable means of communication and tracking. An underground wireless communications allow underground and surface personnel to directly correspond to one another without being as restricted as hardwired systems. Communication systems also allow miners to be tracked underground to provide a real-time or last known post-accident position, and ensure a more efficient rescue operation.
In order to increase the overall efficiency of developing communication systems there is a need for modeling of wireless signal propagation in underground mines. Research, modeling, and analysis of wireless signal propagation in underground mines ongoing and developing with underground communications systems as the systems progress. The work on this project is based upon the Accolade system from L-3 Communications Global Security and Engineering Solutions but applies to all underground wireless mesh systems currently available. A general approach is taken to solving underground wireless communications networks to allow the design criteria to be adaptable to other communication systems belong the Accolade system.
The data is based upon measurements and field work that took place July 2007 through December 2008 in International Coal Group's Sentinel Mine in Philippi, West Virginia. Comms, a computer method developed at the Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research at Virginia Tech, allows underground mine communication networks to be solved and analyzed. Comms was developed to solve and analyze underground wireless communication networks. The method which Comms solves communication networks is not mine specific and may be adapted to predict the performance of a system(s) in another mine.
The developed model discussed in Chapters 3 and 4 highlights the general signal loss parameters that are encountered by wireless signals in a mine. The model predicted the signal strength observed when encountering those categorized signal losses within 16 percent of the data measured during a mine survey. The model has been developed in a general manner to allow future investigation and pinpointing of additional interferences that occur within the underground environment.
Wireless communications have proven to be the way of the future and will continue to be integrated into underground coal mines as mandated by the MINER Act. Wireless communications systems are a redundant and survivable means of communication that will be utilized in not only emergency and rescue efforts but daily operational communication as well.Master of Science
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Abbasy, Farzaan. "An investigation into application of geothermal energy in underground mines." Thesis, McGill University, 2014. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=123077.
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Energy conservation is an important policy for every nation. Exploiting sustainable energy resources has gained ground due to shortages and increasing prices of fossil fuels. Mining represents a significant portion of Canada's resource-based industry sector and consumes a huge amount of energy for operation and post-mining activities. Therefore, any cut in energy consumption lowers costs and increases profits. Underground mines have excellent potential for implementation of geothermal energy systems using one of two methods. In the first, underground mine water that has flowed through warm layers of the ground and found its way to mine openings is pumped to the surface for use in open loop geothermal cycles. In the second method, underground openings and spaces that provide easy access to low-to-medium temperature rock formations are used in closed loop geothermal cycles. This research primarily focuses on providing guidelines for using geothermal energy in underground mines and comprises two main parts. The first involves surveying 12 underground mines across Canada to evaluate operation of open loop geothermal system in these and similar mines. The second part investigates the potential of heat recovery from backfilled mine stopes. For this purpose, thermal properties of cemented mine backfill are investigated, the significance of influential parameters is quantified and a thermal conductivity prediction model is introduced. In addition, an experimental physical model is built to study heat transfer in mine backfill and evaluate different arrangements and influential parameters. An analytical model is developed based on the cylindrical coordinate system with finite length and the model is validated for heat transfer in backfill. Finally, a case study of a backfilled stope is presented.L'économie d'énergie est une politique importante pour tout pays. L'exploitation des ressources énergétiques durables est devenue plus importante en raison des pénuries et la hausse des prix des combustibles fossiles. L'exploitation minière représente une partie importante du secteur de l'industrie basée-sur-les-ressources au Canada et consomme une énorme quantité d'énergie pour l'opération ainsi que les activités post-extraction minières. Pour cette raison, toute réduction de la consommation d'énergie réduira les coûts et augmentera les profits. Les mines souterraines ont un excellent potentiel pour la mise en œuvre des systèmes d'énergie géothermique en utilisant l'une des deux méthodes suivantes. Dans la première méthode, l'eau dans les mines souterraines qui coule et passe à travers les couches de sol chaudes trouvant son chemin vers les ouvertures, est pompée vers la surface pour être utilisé dans des cycles géothermiques en boucle ouverte. Dans la seconde méthode, des ouvertures et des espaces souterrains qui offrent un accès facile aux formations rocheuses ayant une basse ou moyenne température sont utilisés dans les cycles géothermiques en boucle fermée. Cette recherche se concentre principalement sur la fourniture des directives pour l'utilisation de l'énergie géothermique dans les mines souterraines en comprenant deux parties principales. La première partie, comprend l'enquête de douze mines souterraines à travers le Canada afin d'évaluer le fonctionnement des systèmes géothermiques en boucle ouverte. La deuxième partie examine le potentiel de récupération de chaleur sur des remblais miniers cimentés. À cet effet, les propriétés thermiques de remblai minier cimenté sont étudiées, la signification des paramètres influents est quantifiée et un modèle de prédiction de la conductivité thermique est introduit. En plus, un modèle physique expérimentale est construit pour étudier le transfert de chaleur dans les remblais miniers et d'évaluer les différents arrangements et les paramètres influents. Un modèle analytique est développé sur la base du système de coordonnées cylindriques avec une longueur finie; et le modèle est validé pour le transfert de chaleur dans le remblai. Finalement, une étude de cas d'un chantier remblayé est présentée.
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Hlapho, Tseko. "Key drivers of employee engagement in the large platinum mines in South Africa." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/52407.
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The growing importance of managing employee relations and productivity in the platinum mining industry - one of South Africa s most significant employers - has made investigating employee engagement imperative, particularly in light of the 2014 platinum strike, the longest and most expensive in the country s history. As employee engagement is viewed as crucial for business success, this study aimed to ascertain the current levels of employee engagement in the large South African platinum mines, what the key drivers of engagement are, and whether these drivers differ between management and employees.
This was a cross-sectional study where a questionnaire was utilised. Data was collected from the two largest platinum companies with operations situated in North West province of South Africa. The questionnaire was based on the literature review, particularly the theoretical employee engagement model of Rana et al., (2014), to determine the drivers of engagement and to measure the degree of employee engagement. The study was based on 301 responses which equated to 75% response rate.
The study found that the majority of the respondents were engaged at work. Job design and characteristics, supervision, relationship with co-workers, workplace environment and human resource development (HRD) practices were confirmed as being the key drivers of employee engagement on the platinum mines. The study also revealed that drivers of engagement differ between the levels of employees. Operators and middle managers were found to share a similar view of drivers of engagement compared to supervisors and junior management. Female mineworkers were found to be less engaged than their male counterparts. These findings may benefit companies to better their understanding of employee engagement and consequently strengthening their employee engagement strategies.Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.
ms2016
Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
MBA
Unrestricted
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Maritz, Liezl. "Ecological role of mining ponds in Southern Coastal Mines, Namibia." Master's thesis, Faculty of Science, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32833.
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Targeting marine diamondiferous deposits along the south-western Namibian coastline has involved the construction of seawall berms to advance the coastline and permit mining in previously subtidal areas. Large areas are mined out to bedrock level by the removal of overburden (sand and gravel), and after mining is complete, areas behind the seawalls fill with seawater, creating a series of coastal marine ponds that have the potential to function as saline wetlands corresponding to closed estuaries. The study site lies north of the Orange River mouth, within the Tsau//Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park, to which the public has restricted access due to diamond mining in the area. Consequently, there is a focus on biodiversity conservation and the overall objective of this thesis was to determine the ecological value of the mining ponds by investigating whether they harbour sufficient biodiversity to qualify as a viable alternative ecological habitat, rather than restoring them to their original state as backfilled, revegetated dune areas. The study area, approximately 75 kilometres in length, was divided into north, middle and south sections, according to the age and status of mining activities, and I first assessed whether ponds in these three areas differed in their physical properties (Chapter 1). To determine whether the ponds serve as a useful ecological role worth preserving, I then investigated the diversity and amount of saltmarsh vegetation (Chapter 2), bird species (Chapter 3) and fish (Chapter 4) currently benefiting from these mining ponds. Ponds in the north are older and hypersaline whereas the south and middle ponds are younger and closely approach physical conditions in the sea. Diurnal fluctuations in oxygen concentration took place, but oxygen levels never dropped below 80% and were thus not limiting. After about 15 years, ponds developed salinities in excess of 80‰, which is likely to set limits on their ecological viability. Most ponds supported saltmarshes, but only a single species, Salicornia natalensis, grew around them. Its abundance was greatest around old ponds, but its health decreased with salinity. Wind emerged as a likely means of dispersal among ponds. The ponds supported a rich avifauna, averaging 11028 birds per count for all ponds combined; 36 species were recorded, ten being endemics, and five being listed in Namibia's Red Data Book. Numbers were highest for ponds that were being ‘dewatered' to remove water prior to mining, as this exposed a rich benthic epifaunal source of food. Blacknecked Grebe, Cape Cormorant, Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Kelp Gull and Common Tern were the most abundant birds. Salinity did not limit bird numbers or diversity, so the northern high-salinity ponds may continue to serve as bird habitat for periods of time much greater than the 15 years after which they become hypersaline. In comparison with nine other wetlands in the region, the ponds had great numbers, diversity, densities, and numbers of threatened species than about half of these wetlands, many of which are considered Important Bird Areas (IBAs). In many cases, they also supported more species that had numbers in excess of 1% of the southern African population than these IBAs. Only two species of fish commonly occurred in the ponds, the west coast steenbras Lithognathus auratus and the southern mullet Chelon richardsonii, although small numbers of two other marine species were recorded. The diversity of marine fish was thus low, even by the impoverished standards of west-coast estuaries. Unexpectedly, there were no significant differences between the ichthyofauna of ponds in the north, middle and south, nor was there any relationship between total fish numbers and salinity. Body condition of steenbras was lowest in the hypersaline north ponds, and their stomach contents contained a low diversity of food items there. The presence of recruits and the range of gonadal states suggested that both species bred in the ponds. Steenbras proved to be protandrous, with females dominating larger size classes. Growth rates of both species were faster in the ponds than in the adjacent sea, and mullet achieved substantially greater sizes in ponds. Thus, the ponds do serve as viable ecosystems, albeit with a limited range of saltmarsh and fish species, and support an impressively diverse avifauna. Their long-term viability will, however, become limited by rising salinity as their age increases.
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Kieck, Charles. "Asteroid Mining and the Market for Platinum, a speculative analysis." Master's thesis, Faculty of Commerce, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33817.
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The potential existence of a high-volume asteroid-derived platinum supply is examined from an economic perspective to assess the possible impact on long-term platinum supply. It is hypothesized that space-mined resources will increasingly become available over the next 30 years to 2050, driven by growing human activity in near-Earth space. Forecasted asteroid platinum supply under 3 scenarios is compared to forecasted terrestrial platinum supply. The thesis finds that, depending on the speed at which the size of an asteroid practical to mine up-scales, space-mined platinum has the potential to significantly impact on the terrestrial platinum market.
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Crellin, David J. "Ground instability associated with mineworkings and groundwater in opencast coal mines." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 1989. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.375916.
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Nüchter, Andreas, Jan Elseberg, and Peter Janotta. "Towards mobile mapping of underground mines." Technische Universitaet Bergakademie Freiberg Universitaetsbibliothek "Georgius Agricola", 2018. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:105-qucosa-231186.
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Mobile laser scanning systems automate the acquisition of 3D point clouds of environments. The mapping systems are commonly mounted on cars or ships. This paper presents a flexible mapping solution mounted on an underground vehicle that is able to map underground mines in 3D in walking speeds. A clever choice of hard- and software enables the system to generate 3D maps without using GPS (global positioning system) information and without relying on highly expensive IMU (inertial measurement unit) systems.
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Hudyma, Martin Raymond. "Analysis and interpretation of clusters of seismic events in mines." University of Western Australia. School of Civil and Resource Engineering, 2009. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2010.0054.
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Spatial clustering of seismic events in mines has been widely reported in literature. Despite obvious visual correlations between spatial clusters of seismic events and geomechanical structures in mines (such as pillars, dykes and faults), very limited research has been undertaken to utilise this information to filter seismic data. A linkage between spatial seismic event clusters and discrete rockmass failure mechanisms is tenuous and not well established using current seismic analysis techniques. A seismic event clustering methodology is proposed. The first component of the methodology uses a complete-linkage (CLINK) clustering routine to identify relatively compact clusters of seismic events. The CLINK clusters are then subjected to a singlelink clustering process, which uses spatial location and seismic source parameters as similarity measures. The resultant
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Abolfazlzadeh, Yousef. "APPLICATION OF SEISMIC MONITORING IN CAVING MINES." Thesis, Laurentian University of Sudbury, 2013. https://zone.biblio.laurentian.ca/dspace/handle/10219/2110.
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Comprehensive and reliable seismic analysis techniques can aid in achieving successful inference of rockmass behaviour in different stages of the caving process. This case study is based on field data from Telfer sublevel caving mine in Western Australia. A seismic monitoring database was collected during cave progression and breaking into an open pit 550 m above the first caving lift.
Five seismic analyses were used for interpreting the seismic events. Interpretation of the seismic data identifies the main effects of the geological features on the rockmass behaviour and the cave evolution. Three spatial zones and four important time periods are defined through seismic data analysis.
This thesis also investigates correlations between the seismic event rate, the rate of the seismogenic zone migration, mucking rate, Apparent Stress History, Cumulative Apparent Volume rate and cave behaviour, in order to determine failure mechanisms that control cave evolution at Telfer Gold mine.
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Noppé, Mark Adrian. "Geological controls for coal exploration and mining." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005566.
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The identification and interpretation of geological features is essential for the planning and ultimate success of any mining venture. Examples of geological features significant for mining are presented, and their identification during exploration discussed. In particular, the importance of coal qualities, seam thickness and seam elevation are emphasised in relation to longwall mining. Geostatistical analysis provides a powerful tool for improving the prediction and decision-making capabilities of both exploration and mine geologists. The availability of geostatistics, and the benefits resulting from its application, are demonstrated using actual data for calorific value, seam thickness and seam elevation. Contamination of run-of-mine coal is a common problem on highly-mechanised collieries. The problem generally arises from over-cutting of the designated mining horizon. A practical system for monitoring and controlling contamination on a mechanised bord-and-pillar and longwall colliery is presented. The results and benefits of applying such a system are cited for an actual longwall colliery. Numerical geological predictions are not always reported in terms of the reliability of such estimates. Many of these values can be reported in terms of confidence limits, particularly for routine grade control purposes. The methods and benefits of such reporting are described and illustrated by way of examples for calorific value and contamination levels.
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Mawdesley, Clare A. "Predicting rock mass cavability in block caving mines /." St. Lucia, Qld, 2002. http://www.library.uq.edu.au/pdfserve.php?image=thesisabs/absthe16404.pdf.
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El-Mherig, A. M. "A study of the stability of jointed rock slopes in surface mines." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 1986. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.371279.
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Young-On, Harold. "An economic evaluation of backfilling in Virginia's coal mines." Thesis, This resource online, 1990. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-02132009-172231/.
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Zhao, Yixian. "Algorithms for optimum design and planning of open-pit mines." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/185842.
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A graph theory oriented algorithm for optimal ultimate pit limit design is developed. Mathematical proofs of optimality and convergence are given. The algorithm works on a 3-D block mine model and formulates the model into a directed graph consisting many trees. The vertices in the graph are identified with the blocks in the model and the imposed arcs in the graph represent pit slope constraints. The formation of each directed tree is based more on the ore-waste support concept than geometric constraints alone. The algorithm efficiently handles the joint support and re-allocation problems. The theoretical proof shows that the new algorithm is consistently faster than the well known Lerchs-Grossmann's (LG) algorithm, which is the only algorithm developed in the past one-quarter century capable of producing a true optimum pit limit. The case study results show that the new algorithm is able to generate the optimal ultimate pit limit for a model with 80 columns x 80 rows x 40 levels on an IBM PC AT 80286 microcomputer in 115 minutes. The indirect comparison was made between the results of the new algorithm and the results obtained by P. Huttagosol (1988, 1989) using the LG algorithm. P. Huttagosol optimized a smaller mine model than the one optimized by the new algorithm in 535 minutes of VAX8600 CPU time. The comparison between 535 minutes of VAX8600 CPU time for a smaller model with 115 minutes PC AT processing time for a bigger model clearly indicates that the new algorithm is significantly faster than the LG algorithm. This study also investigates both proposed mathematical optimization approaches and the popular trial and error "pushback" approach to long range mine planning. Both the theoretical analysis and numerical examples demonstrate it is impossible to obtain the optimal solution to mine production scheduling by the approach combining the Lagrangian relaxation with the ultimate pit limit algorithm. The non-convergence due to redundant optimal solutions and the non-convergence due to the requirement of advanced stripping are identified with the proposed approach. The investigation clarifies the long-time misunderstood concept and proves the impossibility of such a research direction itself. Finally, some problem solving techniques which play important roles in the computerized mine planning and grade control are developed and discussed. Specifically, they are: (1) point-in-polygon algorithm, (2) polygon area algorithm, (3) polygon clipping algorithm, (4) blast hole data collection, validation and database maintenance, and (5) the interactive graphics ore-waste delineation.
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DeLeon, Sarah Wade Dickinson. "Jewels of Responsibility from Mines to Markets:." ScholarWorks @ UVM, 2008. http://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/65.
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Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) are important sources of income for impoverished rural populations in many developing countries. Poor labor and environmental conditions often prevail because governments lack the capacity and sometimes the will to responsibly control ASM. At the other end of the supply chain, corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies increasingly require jeweler’s suppliers to control social and environmental aspects of mining. In a sense, jewelry and mining corporations are voluntarily taking the issue of governance into their own hands. A combination of CSR and revenue-centric development strategies has the potential to further marginalize poor, rural populations who depend on ASM. It is therefore important to examine how ASM has been affected by global social responsibility trends, why it is often left out and to find ways that ASM populations can be successfully integrated into planning for sustainable development and socially responsible business. Gemstones and gold are economically the most important global commodities for ASM populations and precious colored gemstones are rarely mined on a large-scale. Ethnographic research was undertaken to explore how global social responsibility strategies interact with local realities of ASM colored gemstone and gold production. Burma, Madagascar and Colombia each present cases with clear interaction between global CSR trends and ASM, and combined provide a range of public policies with regards to rural populations who depend on ASM. Informal interviews and industry observations were conducted with a range of stakeholders in the global precious mineral trade and mineral development sector. Semi-structured interviews were recorded with key informants for each case study and these were triangulated with internal documents, press releases and articles. Burma illustrates a case where global CSR is attempting to halt ASM because of poor governance and human rights violations. Madagascar illustrates a case where governance and education are improving but widespread poverty and a legacy of corruption has so far prevented the direct integration of ASM into CSR strategies. In the case of Colombia, one region has successfully connected ASM with the global CSR dialogue by designing and implementing a certification program to effectively valorize and govern ASM production. Major findings reveal that (1) CSR in the mineral sector is a contentious and political issue with a range of stakeholder viewpoints; (2) a bottom-up, process-oriented approach can successfully drive economic and social improvement in ASM commodity chains; and (3) community empowerment, education, youth leadership and social networking appear to be key factors for driving production of ASM minerals that can comply with social and environmental standards.
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Zahiri, Hani. "A predictive GIS methodology for mapping potential mining induced rock falls." Access electronically, 2006. http://www.library.uow.edu.au/adt-NWU/public/adt-NWU20060725.120628/index.html.
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