Green and Sustainable Mining: Underground Coal Mine Fully Mechanized Solid Dense Stowing-Mining Method

绿色与可持续开采：地下煤矿综合机械化固体充填开采法

SUSTAINABILITY, No.8, Vol.9, AUG 2017

Huang, J (Huang, Jiu); Tian, CY (Tian, Chuyuan) ; Xing, LF (Xing, Longfei); Bian, ZF (Bian, Zhengfu) ; Miao, XX (Miao, Xiexing)

Abstract: China produces and consumes most of coal in the world. This situation is expected to continue within a certain period in the future. Currently, Chinese coal industry is confronted with several serious problems relating to land resource, water resource, environmental, and ecological sustainability. Coal resource exploitation causes the permanent fracture and movement of strata structure, which have caused the fracture and collapse of overlying strata and further led to the subsidence of ground surface as well as the seepage of water in aquifers around the coal seam, which has resulted not only in the loss of land and water resources, but also in serious threats and accidents to underground mining. On the other hand, mining and mineral-processing wastes are one of the world's long plagued concerns among solid wastes. Coal gangue, as the major waste with a huge amount of discharge, has not only occupied the land, but has also contaminated the ambient land resources and hydrological environment, and further led to ecological system destruction and degradation. What is more, in China there are large amounts of coallocated under railways, buildings, and water bodieswhich are unavailable with traditional mining methods. These problems are obviously threaten the concept of green sustainable development. This paper introduces a novel developed solid dense stowing mining method, which is able to significantly reduce or event eliminate the corresponding damages caused by underground mining behavior and realize green and sustainable development. The novelty of this research work is realizing the automation and synchronization of mining and material stowing with an appropriate compaction ratio for adequate support of goaf roof. It can improve the stability of rock strata and the safety and efficiency of underground mining. We also studied and designed a perfect stowing material by using coal gangue and fly ash with appropriate proportions under different particle size gradations. By implementation of the above-mentioned methods in China, the solid dense stowing rate of mined seam areas have reached more than 95% and the overburden strata movements have been reduced to extremely low level which had nearly no damages to above buildings. The solid dense stowing mining method has also realized the reuse and recycling of coal mine solid wastes. Meanwhile, considerable previously unavailable coal resources under buildings, railways, and water bodies have been made available for exploration, which could extend the life of coal mines and increase the sustainability for coal industry and the environment. Ultimately, this method is a reliable way to realize green and sustainable mining. The strata structure protection, the surface subsidence prevention, and coal mine solid waste disposal have been realized at the same time.

An evaluating system for scientific mining of China's coal resources

中国煤炭资源科学开采评价系统

Resources Policy, Volume 53, September 2017, Pages 317-327

Chong-Mao Li, Rui Nie

Abstract:Coal as the basic energy in China plays a pivotal role in supporting national economic development and protecting national energy safety. The sustainable development of China's coal industry is still a hot topic both in practice and research. In terms of the lack of theoretical researches and practical applications of scientific coal mining evaluation, we built an evaluating system to assess the current development activities of coal enterprises. In the present work, to evaluate the scientific basis for coal mining systematically, effectively and objectively, the key indexes for assessing the level of scientific mining of coal resources were established using the document analysis method and the expert consultation method. The evaluating system consisting of 5 dimensions (informatization, productivity, safe mining, full cost and green mining), 18 criteria, and 56 assessment factors was constructed. Then, the weight values at all levels in the evaluating system were calculated using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Finally, an evaluating model for scientific mining could be constructed based on the comprehensive index assessment method. The application of this evaluating system of scientific mining could be used for finding the existing problems in the coal production process. Therefore, the coal enterprise managers and the government regulators could make the appropriate policies to enhance the scientific exploitation level of coal mines.

Opportunities and Challenges in Deep Mining: A Brief Review

深部开采的机会与挑战：简要综述

Engineering, Volume 3, Issue 4, August 2017, Pages 546-551

Pathegama G. Ranjith, Jian Zhao, Minghe Ju, Radhika V.S. De Silva, Adheesha K.M.S. Bandara

Abstract:Mineral consumption is increasing rapidly as more consumers enter the market for minerals and as the global standard of living increases. As a result, underground mining continues to progress to deeper levels in order to tackle the mineral supply crisis in the 21st century. However, deep mining occurs in a very technical and challenging environment, in which significant innovative solutions and best practice are required and additional safety standards must be implemented in order to overcome the challenges and reap huge economic gains. These challenges include the catastrophic events that are often met in deep mining engineering: rockbursts, gas outbursts, high in situ and redistributed stresses, large deformation, squeezing and creeping rocks, and high temperature. This review paper presents the current global status of deep mining and highlights some of the newest technological achievements and opportunities associated with rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering in deep mining. Of the various technical achievements, unmanned working-faces and unmanned mines based on fully automated mining and mineral extraction processes have become important fields in the 21st century.

Green energy futures: Responsible mining on Minnesota’s Iron Range

绿色能源未来：明尼苏达Iron Range矿尽责开采策略

Energy Research & Social Science, In press, corrected proof, Available online 8 November 2017

Roopali Phadke

Abstract:Controversial mining projects are being proposed across the U.S. in the quest for supplies of precious and rare earth elements to fuel green energy technologies, like wind turbines and electric vehicles. This new prospecting is, in part, the result of geopolitical tensions over China's export limits. While the U.S. has ample resources of rare earths, the main challenge is a lengthy permitting process that pits environmental opponents, especially native tribes, against developers who claim a "responsible" mining agenda. The article examines these tensions through a case study of Polymet's proposal for an open pit mine along Lake Superior in Minnesota. Over 80,000 public comments were submitted for and against the project, making it the most contested project in state history. The research is based on interviews, field visits, media reports and participant observation at siting hearings. The article synthesizes two emerging areas of energy social theory, the geologic turn in geography/anthropology and STS interests in responsible innovation, to reveal the new vulnerabilities and opportunities that are being coproduced with the new energy economy. I examine how stakeholders are making sense of mining's landscape and livelihood impacts, while addressing the need for just energy futures that balance short-term resource needs with long-term sustainability.