Mining Engineering Commons^™

Technologies And Typical Cases For The Prevention And Control Of Water Hazards Associated With Burnt Rocks In The Yushenfu Mining Area, Wang Shidong, Wang Hai, Ji Zhongkui, Zhu Kaipeng, Han Qiang, Xue Xiaoyuan, Chen Pan, Zhao Kaixing

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Brunt rocks are widely distributed in the Yushenfu mining area, predominantly occurring along rivers and gullies. These rocks are characterized by well-developed pores and fractures and weak to extremely strong water-yielding capacity, posing serious threats to roadway tunneling and mining for coal in the same layer or underlying them. Methods This study aims to effectively prevent and control water hazards associated with burnt rocks and reduce their threat. Through field surveys, statistical analysis, field experiments, and exemplary applications, along with exploration and monitoring and related analyses, this study analyzed the distribution of burnt rocks in the Yushenfu mining area …

Progress And Prospects Of Geothermal Resource Monitoring Technology, Hao Wenjie, Li Shengtao, Wang Huang, Liu Donglin, Wang Wanli, Qin Junsheng, Jin Xianpeng, Shen Jian, Liu Shuai, Yao Yahui, Hao Shuli, Ren Tao, Liu Zhe, Meng Xianwei, Hou Deren, Ren Xiaoqing, Jia Xiaofeng, Wen Dongguang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Geothermal resources represent a renewable energy source characterized by abundant reserves, extensive distribution, high stability and reliability, and green and low-carbon attributes. China has led the world in the direct utilization of geothermal energy for many years. Geothermal resource monitoring, which lays the groundwork for geothermal exploration, exploitation, and utilization, provides critical data required to determine dynamic changes in geothermal reservoirs and their surrounding geological environments, ensure long-term sustainable geothermal exploitation and utilization, and achieve the refined management and protection of geothermal resources. Advances In the narrow sense, geothermal resource monitoring technology is primarily applied to individual wells. In …

Multi-Objective Optimization And Performance Investigation Of Cementing Materials With High Thermal Conductivity Based On Response Surface Methodology, Zhao Yongzhe, Li Wenhao, Wang Yijie, Han Yongliang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Geothermal energy has emerged as a strategic clean energy for the low-carbon transformation of the world's energy mix. Correspondingly, its efficient exploitation and utilization are crucial to the early achievement of the goals of peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality. For geothermal resource exploitation, the thermal conductivity of cementing structures determines the efficiency of heat transfer from strata to geothermal well casings, establishing it as a key factor influencing the efficiency of geothermal energy extraction. Therefore, the research and development of cementing materials with high thermal conductivity can provide robust support for efficient geothermal resource exploitation.Methods The …

Key Technologies For Artificial Intelligence-Based Inversion Of The Borehole Transient Electromagnetic Method In Coal Mining Areas, Fan Tao, Hao Yue, Zhang Peng, Li Ping, Zhao Zhao, Zhao Rui, Liu Qiang, Yan Junsheng, Song Xianzhe, Liu Borui, Chen Changyuan, Li Bo

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Using directional boreholes, the borehole transient electromagnetic (TEM) method enables near-field excitation and the simultaneous reception of three components within a borehole. This method can effectively avoid interference from ferromagnetic materials in roadways, thereby significantly enhancing the detection accuracy and range. Therefore, this method is widely applied to the detection of underground concealed water hazards in coal mines. However, there is a conflict between the accuracy and efficiency of current inversion methods for borehole TEM data, and existing technologies are insufficient to simultaneously meet the demands for high efficiency and high precision in the detection of concealed water hazards. …

Development And Prospects Of Underground Intelligent Drilling Rigs For Coal Mines, Yao Ningping, Li Quanxin, Lu Qianhai, Peng Guangyu, Zhang Gang, Zhang Youzhen

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background In coal mines, underground intelligent drilling rigs serve as critical equipment for gas extraction and water hazard prevention and control. With increasing mining depth, extreme operating conditions, including elevated gas concentration and high in situ stress, pose challenges to conventional drilling modes. Progress This study presents a systematic review of the evolutionary history of intelligent drilling rigs in China from the 13th to the 14th Five-Year Plan, dividing it into three stages: semi-automated operation, whole-process automated operation, and initial intelligent drilling. In the semi-automated operation stage, technologies for remote control within a viewing distance and automatic loading and unloading …

Label-Flip Attack Detection Via Trust-Weighted Aggregation In Federated Learning For Underground Mine Security, Md Sazedur Rahman, Sanjay Madria, Samuel Frimpong

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Underground mining operations are increasingly dependent on autonomous vehicles, robotic drilling systems, and intelligent inspection platforms operating in confined, GPS-denied tunnel environments. These systems rely on distributed perception models to interpret navigation cues, hazard warnings, and environmental signals in real time. While centralized deep learning can enhance model performance, transferring raw operational data across mining sites introduces serious confidentiality and security risks. Federated Learning (FL) offers a privacy-preserving alternative by enabling collaborative model training without sharing local datasets. However, deploying FL in underground mining introduces several critical challenges: (i) Training labels may be modified either maliciously by compromised clients or …

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 …

Public Preferences For Critical Mineral Mining In The U.S.: Evidence From A Discrete Choice Experiment, Bamidele Ajiga, Kwame Awuah-Offei, Mahelet G. Fikru

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Even though there is widespread recognition that we need to mine more critical minerals for national security and energy needs, concerns about environmental impacts often lead to public opposition to proposed new mining projects. The literature lacks sufficient data from communities with proposed mineral projects to assess drivers of differences in support. This study investigates public preferences for mining projects in three states in the United States with proposed critical minerals projects, using a discrete choice experiment. Respondents evaluated projects that vary in job creation, state tax revenue, tailings reprocessing content, groundwater impacts, and surface water impacts. We also randomly …

Effect Of Allocation And Allocation Avoidance Methods On Life-Cycle Impact Results For Tellurium Production From Copper Anode Slimes, Ioanna Paschalidou, Kwame Awuah-Offei, Michael Moats

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The global transition toward green energy has increased demand for metals and intensified the need for sustainable supply sources. Tellurium (Te), an essential metal for photovoltaics technology, is produced primarily as a by-product of copper refinery slimes treatment. This study conducts a life-cycle assessment (LCA) study of Te production to investigate the effect of environmental impact allocation choices on LCA results in multi-product metal systems. A cradle-to-gate LCA model of the Te product system was developed in SimaPro v9.5.0.1 software by combining industrial data, Ecoinvent v3.7.1 datasets, and literature information. Environmental impacts were quantified using the ReCiPe v1.04 Midpoint method …

Low-Cost Path-Loss Characterization For Underground Mine Tunnels Using Lora Transceivers At 915 Mhz, Hilary Kelechi Anabi, Samuel Frimpong, Muhammad Azeem Raza

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Accurate path-loss models are essential for planning reliable wireless networks in underground mines, yet existing characterization studies rely on specialized channel sounders and vector network analyzers costing tens of thousands of dollars, placing them beyond the reach of most mine operators. This paper demonstrates that LoRa transceivers costing approximately US $15 per node can serve as a self-contained path-loss measurement instrument, logging the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) directly to a CSV file over a standard USB serial connection. A measurement campaign conducted at the Missouri S&T Experimental Mine on 31 March 2026 collected 4801 packets …

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% …

Exploiting Underground Mine Topology For Resilient Concurrent Lora Mesh Emergency Communications: Architecture, Protocol Design, And Performance Analysis, Hilary Kelechi Anabi, Samuel Frimpong, Muhammad Azeem Raza

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Underground mine emergencies compromise fixed communication infrastructure exactly when situational awareness is most critical for effective rescue operations. Existing LoRa mesh protocols fail in underground mines because they ignore the structured topology of tunnel networks, specifically the waveguide effect along straight galleries, severe signal discontinuity at junctions, and the dead-end geometry of working faces. This paper presents the Topology-Aware Concurrent LoRa (TACL) mesh protocol, in which each node autonomously infers its structural role from local RF observations and packet header information, without GPS, pre-loaded mine maps, or central coordination. Role classification resolves the contender estimation problem (Formula presented.) left open …

A Carbon Fiber-Based Self-Sensing Approach For Monitoring Damage Evolution In Coal Pillars, Shan Ning, Weibing Zhu, Jie Gao, Wei Qin, Guang Xu, Jingmin Xu

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Under long-term high stress and dynamic disturbances, damage accumulation within underground coal masses can induce sudden instability, posing a considerable threat to coal mine safety. Real-time acquisition of coal damage information is essential for disaster prevention and control. This study proposes a coal damage and fracturing monitoring approach based on a carbon fiber composite mortar (CFCM) coating. By applying the CFCM coating to coal specimen surfaces and monitoring resistance changes, the dynamic evolution of damage can be tracked. The study combines experimental mechanical loading, continuous electrical resistance monitoring and acoustic emission recording with detailed numerical modelling to comprehensively evaluate sensing …

Review Of Recovery Processes Of Palladium, Platinum, Gold, And Silver From Metallurgical Wastes, Luis Sanchez-Calderon, Marthias Silwamba, Lana Alagha

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Gold (Au), silver (Ag), platinum (Pt), and palladium (Pd) are precious metals with high economic value and critical industrial significance. Platinum and Pd, in particular, are classified as critical metals by major economies such as the United States, European Union, Japan, and South Korea due to their limited supply and essential roles in clean energy and high-technology applications. The rising market value and criticality of these metals have generated interest in their recovery, not just from primary ores and traditional source materials but also from secondary sources, such as metallurgical wastes. This review provides a thorough evaluation of current and …

Mechanism-Based Assessment Of Respirable Dust Exposure In Miners: Integrating Cfd-Dpm Simulation With Personalized Monitoring For Occupational Health Risk, Jiajun An, Fan Geng, Yuqing Feng, Changgeng Gui, Shihang Li, Xinjian He, Guang Xu, Zheng Zhang, Yibao Wang

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Respirable dust in confined mine environments represents a significant environmental and occupational health challenge, requiring advanced monitoring and risk assessment methodologies. Current area-level monitoring overlooks the heterogeneity of personal exposure fields and the critical influence of human-ventilation interactions on local contaminant dispersion. This study develops an integrated monitoring-simulation method to quantify multi-worker dust exposure, assessing how worker position and orientation modulate risk under forced ventilation in narrow roadways. Occupational-specific dust sampling provided validation data for a three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics-Discrete Phase Model (CFD-DPM) incorporating human-ventilation interactions. The model integrates a MATLAB-developed breathing function to dynamically couple respiratory cycles with particle …

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 …

Geological Environment’S Dynamic Responses And Damage Reduction-Oriented Geological Guarantee In Coal In-Situ Conversion, Wang Shuangming, Geng Jishi, Sun Qiang, Shi Qingmin, Liu Lang, Wang Shengquan, Yang Yuru, Yuan Shihao, Zhang He, Hu Xin

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Coal in-situ conversion (ISC) emerges as an important transformative technology for clean and efficient utilization of coal resources. However, safe and stable coal ISC is currently restricted by two major bottlenecks: an unclear understanding of the mechanisms underlying the geological environment’s dynamic responses and a lack of damage reduction-oriented geological guarantee. Methods To construct a damage reduction-oriented geological guarantee system for safe and green coal ISC, this study, from the perspective of the geological environment’s dynamic responses throughout coal ISC, elucidates the scientific connotations of both the dynamic responses and the geological guarantee in coal ISC. Based on the …

Theory And Key Technologies Of Collaborative Management And Control For Groundwater Protection, Treatment, And Utilization In Coal Mining Areas, Dong Shuning, Wang Hao, Guo Xiaoming, Dong Xingling, Qiao Wei, Wang Xiaodong, Zhang Xiyu, Zhang Wenzhong, Zhu Kaipeng, Hu Yunhao, Zhou Zhenfang, Duan Jianhua, Miao Hechao, Wang Tiantian, Wang Hai, Xue Jiankun

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background and Methods To mitigate the contradiction between abundant coal resources and scarce water resources in China, this study proposes a collaborative management and control solution for groundwater protection, treatment, and utilization in coal mining areas. From a theoretical perspective, this study investigates the propagation chains of both the coal mining disturbance to groundwater and the responses of groundwater systems to engineering interventions. Furthermore, it elucidates the core idea, scientific connotation, and technical architecture of the collaborative management and control and explores key technologies involved. Results and Conclusions A technical system based on accurate prediction and precise monitoring, covering treatment-protection …