Explosives Engineering Commons^™

Comparison Of Gravity Separation And Flotation For Pyrite Recovery From Tailings, Gülay Bulut, Gönül Göksu Gökçe, Dilruba Karamanlı, Oğuzhan Mert Gürkan, Ergin Sarp Zenzirci, Binnur Kırım, Alim Gül

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Tailings generated during the production of lead, zinc, and copper concentrates contain significant amounts of sulfide minerals, particularly pyrite. Pyrite, which remains in tailings after the recovery of other metals, is one of the main contributors to acid mine drainage (AMD). Therefore, recovering pyrite from tailings is environmentally and economically an important issue. In this study, pyrite recovery from tailings was investigated using flotation and gravity separation methods. Mineralogical characterization and liberation analyses were conducted by Mineral Liberation Analysis (MLA), indicating that pyrite is the major sulfide mineral with over 76% liberation degree even in the coarsest fractions. Flotation tests …

Hydrothermal Alteration Mapping Of The Northern Coongan Greenstone Belt Using Remote Sensing Imagery, Meaza Bogale, Elias Woldeyohanis

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Archean greenstone belts are well known for their ore deposits, diverse lithostratigraphy, and well-preserved evidence from the early Earth. The Northern Coongan Greenstone Belt is an Archean greenstone belt that is part of the Eastern Pilbara Craton of Western Australia. The rock units of this area have the potential to be sources of valuable mineral deposits, which could be economically beneficial for extraction. Studies have been conducted in the northern Coongan greenstone belt, mostly using geological field methods and geophysical interpretations, excluding remote sensing methods for mapping mineral indices. Therefore, this study aims at providing surface mineral distribution maps and …

The Evolution Characteristics Of Gas Pressure Around Coal Seam Directional Long Extraction Boreholes With Nonlinear Extraction Negative Pressure, Zhang Qi, Jia Jinlong, Li Zhiguo, Zhang Longgang, Qin Zhengyuan, Zhang Weizhong, Li Jin

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Nonlinear pressure of coal seam gas in the directional borehole and surrounding areas affects extraction efficiency. A multi-field coupling numerical model, including gas desorption, diffusion, fracture seepage, and borehole extraction, is developed for the No. 3 coal seam of the GJH mine. Using the numerical simulation method of control variables, extraction was developed to investigate the nonlinear evolution of axial pressure gradients in directional long borehole and the spatiotemporal response characteristics of gas pressure. Results show that coal seam seepage pressure exhibits a nonlinear radial gradient attenuation around the borehole, evolving through rapid pressure change, stabilization, and slow adjustment. The …

Monitoring System In The Georeactor Area During The Underground Coal Gasification Process, Aleksandra Tokarz, Jacek Grabowski, Krzysztof Korczak

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Safety control of the underground coal gasification (UCG) process involves ensuring that the process runs smoothly, monitoring changes occurring on the surface and in the rock mass, and counteracting the negative environmental impact of the process. The article presents the application of a monitoring system implemented in Poland, both in pilot tests conducted in shallow coal seams at the Barbara Experimental Mine and in deep coal seams at the Wieczorek mine, where a full-scale gasification process was tested. The analysis of the monitoring results carried out during the gasification experiment in an operating mine allowed for the identification of key …

Microwave Thermal Pre-Treatment To Improve Nickel Extraction From Lateritic Ore, Johana Borda, Daniel Sosa, Robinson Torres

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Two heat treatment processes for a nickeliferous laterite sample are presented, one by the conventional muffle route and the other by microwave. The heating was carried out in order to improve the dissolution of nickel in an acid medium. The study describes the changes observed in the mineral for the increase in temperature as a consequence of radiation in the microwave and in the muffle. The changes in the mineral crystalline phases were analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The leaching media consisted of a 1 M sulfuric acid solution at ambient conditions for 7 h. The interaction between the reagent and …

Explaining Safety Challenges And Their Relationships Using A Qualitative-Fuzzy Dematel Approach: A Surface Mine Case Study, Neda Molamehdizadeh, Gholam Hossein Halvani, Hossein Ebrahimi, Ali Asghar Farshad, Seyedeh Melika Kharghani Moghadam, Saber Moradi Hanifi

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Safety in surface mining operations is a major organizational management challenge due to the inherently hazardous nature of mining activities. This study aimed to explain safety challenges and identify their interrelationships through a combined qualitative-fuzzy DEMATEL approach in a surface mine in Yazd Province, Iran. The research was carried out in two sequential phases: first, key safety challenges were identified through qualitative interviews with employees, supervisors, and safety experts; then, the relationships among these challenges were analyzed and prioritized using the fuzzy DEMATEL technique. The main challenges identified included insufficient specialized training, inadequate safety equipment, weak organizational safety culture, and …

The Carbon Footprint Of The Hard Coal Sector In Poland In The Context Of The Evolution Of The European Union’S Climate Neutrality Policy, Katarzyna Widera

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The topic of the article is the carbon footprint of coal as a primary source of energy. In light of climate change and the energy transition in the European Union, it is increasingly important to analyse the carbon footprint of individual economic sectors. The aim of this review article is to present an analysis of the carbon footprint of the hard coal sector in Poland against the background of the EU’s climate neutrality policy. The paper reviews EU strategic documents, such as the European Green Deal, the ”Fit for 55” package, and the REPowerEU and Clean Industrial Deal initiatives, in …

Secondary Water Saturation Of The Rock Mass And Quality Of Rocks In Active Mine Areas Bordering The Flooded Workings Of Closed Mines, Mirosława Bukowska

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The goal of this paper was to inspect the influence of capillary water saturation on the specific strain energy of sedimentary rocks. The relationships between the determined specific strain energies in an air-dried state and in a state of capillary water saturation for detrital rock were exponential, with a strong correlation among the variables. For silt, the relationships were described by a second-degree polynomial function, and the correlation was medium or weak. The relationships for kinetic and dissipated energy were described with a linear function. Pearson correlation coefficients indicated a strong correlation among the variables for detrital rock and a …

Critical Assessment On Challenges And Advances In Coal Pillar Strength Estimation Techniques: A Focus On Geological Discontinuities, Abhishek Kumar Singh, Sahendra Ram

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Accurate estimation of coal pillar strength is essential for ensuring safety and operational efficiency in underground mining. Current assessment methods often face limitations in addressing time-dependent failure mechanisms, geological discontinuities, and dynamic loading conditions. This paper identifies future research directions aimed at enhancing the reliability of pillar strength evaluations. One important focus is the development of advanced numerical models that account for time-dependent behaviours such as creep and fatigue. Incorporating multi-scale modelling techniques, which connect micro-scale material responses to macro-scale structural performance, may lead to more precise predictions. The integration of real-time monitoring systems measuring stress, deformation, and environmental factors …

Aspirational Mirrors: A Conceptual Model Of Alumni-Led Near-Peer Outreach For Precollege Engagement In Ocean Engineering, Habibi Palippui, Juswan Sade

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

Precollege students in Indonesia, especially in rural and coastal regions, often lack exposure to engineering disciplines due to social, geographic, and informational barriers. This essay proposes a conceptual model of alumni-led near-peer outreach as an affective and culturally grounded mechanism to engage high school students in ocean engineering. Drawing from theories of social similarity, possible selves, and engineering identity, the model conceptualizes alumni as “aspirational mirrors” who influence students not merely through information but also through identification. The model outlines four primary mechanisms—social connection, narrative engagement, aspirational mirroring, and early identity activation—and also accounts for contextual variables such as school …

Discrete Fracture Network Application To Rock Slope Stability In An Open Pit Mine, Elvis Karikari Mensah, Erzah Ackah, Reginald Hammah, Hani Mitri

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The stability of rock slopes in open pit mines is crucial for the safety and efficiency of the mining operation. Conventional stability analysis methods, such as kinematic and limit equilibrium analyses, primarily focus on identifying structural failure mechanisms and evaluating their factors of safety. Although insightful, these approaches do not accurately estimate failure volumes and block locations due to their limited consideration of joint frequency and persistence, which are key parameters in understanding block geometries. Discrete fracture network (DFN) modelling addresses these limitations by explicitly simulating rock mass discontinuities in 3D, which automatically incorporates joint spacing and persistence.

This paper …

Optimization Of Cyanide Leaching Process Based On Grain Size And Slurry Density In Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining In Tatelu Area, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Dadan Mohamad Nurjaman, Harmin Sulistiyaning Titah, Adji Kawigraha, Ipung Fitri Purwanti, Wahyu Hidayat

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Tatelu Village, North Sulawesi, has shifted from mercury amalgamation to cyanide leaching. However, gold recovery remains inefficient, requiring process optimization. This study uses multiple linear regression analysis to evaluate the influence of grain size and slurry density on gold dissolution. The results indicate that grain size plays a dominant role in leaching efficiency, while slurry density, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), and cyanide concentration have statistically insignificant effects (p > 0.05). Laboratory tests show that finer grain sizes enhance dissolution, with the highest recovery rate of 89.08% achieved at 75% passing through 44 …

A Comprehensive Survey Of Artificial Intelligence Applications In Predicting Mining-Induced Subsidence, Deformation, And Landslides: Strengths, Limitations, And Future Trends, Long Quoc Nguyen, Dung Ba Nguyen, Minh Tuyet Dang

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Mining activities often cause mining-induced ground deformation, including subsidence and landslides, and related geo-environmental impacts, posing significant risks to infrastructure and safety. This study conducts a systematic assessment to identify, categorize, and evaluate AI-based methods (machine learning, deep learning, and hybrid models) for predicting and monitoring mining-induced ground deformation. The literature search was performed across major scientific databases, using predefined keywords and selection criteria, resulting in a final dataset of relevant peer-reviewed studies. The reviewed works were classified into three methodological groups: traditional machine learning, deep learning-based approaches, and hybrid methods. The results show that ML still dominates in terms …

Nanobubble Flotation Strategy Of Fluorite Integrating Experimental And Dft Analysis, Ahmed Sobhy, Hadeer El-Shamy, Nourhan Ahmed, Mohsen Farahat

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The conventional froth flotation of fluorite from quartz-rich ores is reagent-intensive and faces selectivity challenges, impacting its economic and environmental sustainability. This study presents a novel green intensification strategy through the synergistic integration of nanobubble (NB) technology with Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations. Systematic optimization of sodium oleate (collector) and sodium silicate (depressant) dosages in conjunction with hydrodynamic parameters (air/wash water velocity, NB generation rate) was conducted in both mechanical and column flotation systems. The incorporation of nanobubbles yielded transformative improvements: in mechanical flotation, collector and depressant consumption were reduced by over 50% while maintaining a concentrate grade exceeding 90% …

Mining And Sustainable Development In Sierra Leone: The Role Of Institutional Quality, Ibrahim Massaquoi

Journal of Sustainable Mining

While mining can drive economic growth, create jobs, and promote infrastructural development, it also poses risks to the environment, human health, and social well-being. Therefore, to achieve sustainable development, responsible mining is crucial. This study empirically examines the role of institutional quality in the mining-sustainable development nexus in Sierra Leone. With the use of the planetary pressures-adjusted human development index (PHDI) as a comprehensive measure of sustainable development, the study is able to integrate economic, social, and environmental dimensions. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model confirms the existence of both short-run and long-run dynamics. The results of the study show …

Stoker-Fired Laboratory Boiler As A Tool For Optimising The Solid Fuel Combustion Process, Przemysław Rompalski, Justyna Guzy-Proc, Mariusz Kieczek

Journal of Sustainable Mining

This paper presents the results of quality testing performed on a stoker-fired laboratory boiler to present the technical potential of the boiler as a tool for optimising the combustion process of prepared solid fuels (granulate, energy blend) in the context of current demands related to the decarbonisation policy. The comprehensive testing of such fuels at a laboratory scale makes it possible to gain deep insights into the quality parameters of the fuel, flue gas and combustion waste, as well as to determine the combustion process parameters before the fuel is introduced for combustion in broader power engineering and household boilers. …

Karstic Cavities Underground Investigation: Gpr And Geotechnical Data Correlation, Mehrez Jamei, Mabrouk Abdelkader, Anwar Ahmed, Yahya Alassaf

Journal of Sustainable Mining

This paper focuses on the methodology involving ground penetration radar (GPR) for detecting and localizing random cavities in underground limestone soil, in conjunction with geotechnical data. A GPR survey was conducted alongside field and laboratory geotechnical tests at a field where mining activities are now promoted (Saudi Arabia Northern Borders Province). The paper presents correlations between the instantaneous amplitude of the reflected electromagnetic (EM) waves and rock quantification distributed (RQD), recovery rock parameter (REC), and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS). The GPR investigation proved to be an efficient nondestructive geophysical method for determining: 1) the …

Image Processing Technique To Find The Burden Rock Velocity And Its Interdependency On Bench Blasting Parameters – A Case Study, Channabassamma N, Akhil Avchar, Sahas V Swamy, Vedala Rama Sastry, Hemant Agrawale

Journal of Sustainable Mining

In any rock engineering or excavation project, optimizing blast design is essential for controlling post-blast phenomena such as flyrock, burden throw, and burden rock velocity (BRV). This study investigates the dynamic response of BRV in bench blasting operations by employing a high-speed camera and ProAnalyst software to quantify rock displacement. The relationships between BRV and key blast parameters, number of holes (NH), explosive charge per hole (EPH), total explosive charge (TEC), stiffness ratio (K), and stemming ratio (STR), were analyzed to identify linear or non-linear trends. Non-linear trends, …

Sex-Based Effects Of Shock Energy Exposure In Warfighters, Melissa Sutter, Catherine Johnson

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Personal armors were initially designed to fit against the male torso, as men previously filled roles requiring them, thus not made to accommodate the female anatomy. As a result, armor worn by female warfighters tends to have non-form fit in the waist, armpit, bust, and collarbone areas, causing reduced coverage. Shifting, riding up, air gaps, breathing difficulty, and physical discomfort have also been observed. Although this has been documented, the impact on the armor's protective capabilities has not been well studied. To address this, this study compared the protective capabilities of unisex armor for male and female warfighters from shock …

A Method To Accelerate Rock Breakage With Soundless Chemical Demolition Agents, Patrick A. Darko, Hani S. Mitri

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Soundless chemical demolition agents (SCDA) are recognized as a safe and sustainable alternative for rock breakage, with the potential to reduce reliance on explosives in mining. However, their mechanical performance is considerably hampered in the extreme cold climate, with slow or no rock fracturing observed. To overcome this deficiency, two methods were developed in recent studies by 1) electric heating the SCDA borehole with high-temperature wire, and 2) increasing the SCDA mixing water temperature. Good results were obtained with both methods. This paper explores the merits of a hybrid approach combining the two methods to further enhance the SCDA efficiency …