Stress field evolution law of mining environment reconstructing structure with change of filling height

For improving global stability of mining environment reconstructing structure,the stress field evolution law of the structure with the filling height change of low-grade backfill was studied by ADINA finite element analysis code.Three kinds of filling schemes were designed and calculated,in which the filling heights were 2,4,and 7 m,separately.The results show that there are some rules in the stress field with the increase of the filling height as follows:(1) the maximum value of tension stress of the roof decreases gradually,and stress conditions are improved gradually;(2) the tension stress status in the vertical pillar is transformed into the compressive stress status,and the carrying capacity is improved gradually;however,when the filling height is beyond 2.8 m,the carrying capacity of the vertical pillar grows very slowly,so,there is little significance to continue to fill the low-grade backfill;(3) the bottom pillar suffers the squeezing action from the vertical pillars at first and then the gravity action of the low-grade backfill,and the maximum value of tension stress of the bottom pillar firstly increases and then decreases.Considering the economic factor,security and other factors,the low-grade backfill has the most reasonable height(2.8 m) in the scope of all filling height.

The environment of coal mining areas and the economic evaluation of the land reclamation

The environment impact of the coal resources mining was analyzed. The method of economic evaluation for the coal mining was established to analyze land destruction. The opportunity cost method was used to quantitatively analyze and estimate the economic loss of the land destruction by coal mining. At the same time, the dump land reclamation of the Yuanbaoshan Open Pit was taken as an example to evaluate environmental and economical benefit with the method of economic evaluation for the coal mining areas land reclamation.

Geochemical characteristics of illite clay rocks from the Shihezi Formation in the Hanxing mining area and its sedimentary environment

We studied the geochemical characteristics of illite clay rocks and their importance from the 5hihezi Formation of Late Permian in the Hanxing mining area by means of ICP-M5 and sequential X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The results show that the amount of SiO2 is between 53.37% and 61.58% （by weight） and that of Al2O3 22.40% and 31.31% （by weight）. The ratio of SiO2/Al2O3 lies between 1.71 and 2.75. The amount of K2O ranges from 1.11% to 2.56% （by weight）. The amounts of Fe and Ti are higher than the theoretical values in illite clay rock would indicate. The amounts of some trace elements, such as Ga, As, Ba, Cu, Th and U are higher than their Clark values, while that of another 23 trace elements are found to be dose to their Clark values. The amounts of REE range from 22.59 to 570.54 μg/g, with an average of 163.23μg/g. The ratios of LREE/HREE range from 5.41 to 21.82, with an average of 8.87. These characteristics show that LREE are much richer in content than HREE. The REE distribution patterns of our samples were characterized by clearly negative Ce and Eu anomalies. We analyzed the sedimentary environment of the Hanxing mining area in Late Permian by the characteristic element ratio method. The ratios of Mn/Fe range from 0 to 0.0168, which are lower than those in a marine sedimentary environment. The ratios of Sr/Ba （0.20-0.41） are less than 1. These are all indications that the sediments of the Hanxing mining area in Late Permian form largely a continental sedimentary environment. The sedimentary water is freshwater, a conclusion reached on the basis of the ratios of Th/U （2.66-6.62） and of Ca/（Ca ＋ Fe） （0.01-0.059）; the average ratio of Fe2＋/Fe3＋ is 4.8. The sedimentary water condition is weakly acidic and weakly oxidative-weakly reductive, a conclusion reached on the basis of ratios of Fe2＋/Fe3＋ （4.8） and of Ceanom （-0.08）.

Longwall automation: Delivering enabling technology to achieve safer and more productive underground mining

The ongoing need to deliver improved safety, productivity and environmental benefit in coal mining presents an open challenge as well as a powerful incentive to develop new and improved solutions. This paper assesses the critical role that enabling technologies have played in the delivery of remote and automated capability for longwall mining. A brief historical account is given to highlight key technical contributions which have influenced the direction and development of present-day longwall technology. The current state of longwall automation is discussed with particular attention drawn to the technologies that enable automated capability. Outcomes are presented from an independently conducted case study that assessed the impact that CSIRO＇s LASC longwall automation research has made to the longwall mining industry in Australia. Importantly, this study reveals how uptake of this innova- tive technology has significantly benefitted coal mine productivity, improved working conditions for personnel and enhanced environmental outcomes. These benefits have been widely adopted with CSIRO automation technology being used in 60 per cent of all Australian underground operations. International deployment of the technology is also emerging. The paper concludes with future challenges and opportunities to highfight the ongoing scope for longwall automation research and development.

LoRa Sense:Sensing and Optimization of LoRa Link Behavior Using Path-Loss Models in Open-Cast Mines

The Internet of Things(IoT)has orchestrated various domains in numerous applications,contributing significantly to the growth of the smart world,even in regions with low literacy rates,boosting socio-economic development.This study provides valuable insights into optimizing wireless communication,paving the way for a more connected and productive future in the mining industry.The IoT revolution is advancing across industries,but harsh geometric environments,including open-pit mines,pose unique challenges for reliable communication.The advent of IoT in the mining industry has significantly improved communication for critical operations through the use of Radio Frequency(RF)protocols such as Bluetooth,Wi-Fi,GSM/GPRS,Narrow Band(NB)-IoT,SigFox,ZigBee,and Long Range Wireless Area Network(LoRaWAN).This study addresses the optimization of network implementations by comparing two leading free-spreading IoT-based RF protocols such as ZigBee and LoRaWAN.Intensive field tests are conducted in various opencast mines to investigate coverage potential and signal attenuation.ZigBee is tested in the Tadicherla open-cast coal mine in India.Similarly,LoRaWAN field tests are conducted at one of the associated cement companies(ACC)in the limestone mine in Bargarh,India,covering both Indoor-toOutdoor(I2O)and Outdoor-to-Outdoor(O2O)environments.A robust framework of path-loss models,referred to as Free space,Egli,Okumura-Hata,Cost231-Hata and Ericsson models,combined with key performance metrics,is employed to evaluate the patterns of signal attenuation.Extensive field testing and careful data analysis revealed that the Egli model is the most consistent path-loss model for the ZigBee protocol in an I2O environment,with a coefficient of determination(R^(2))of 0.907,balanced error metrics such as Normalized Root Mean Square Error(NRMSE)of 0.030,Mean Square Error(MSE)of 4.950,Mean Absolute Percentage Error(MAPE)of 0.249 and Scatter Index(SI)of 2.723.In the O2O scenario,the Ericsson model showed superior performance,with the highest R^(2)value of 0.959,supported by strong correlation metrics:NRMSE of 0.026,MSE of 8.685,MAPE of 0.685,Mean Absolute Deviation(MAD)of 20.839 and SI of 2.194.For the LoRaWAN protocol,the Cost-231 model achieved the highest R^(2)value of 0.921 in the I2O scenario,complemented by the lowest metrics:NRMSE of 0.018,MSE of 1.324,MAPE of 0.217,MAD of 9.218 and SI of 1.238.In the O2O environment,the Okumura-Hata model achieved the highest R^(2)value of 0.978,indicating a strong fit with metrics NRMSE of 0.047,MSE of 27.807,MAPE of 27.494,MAD of 37.287 and SI of 3.927.This advancement in reliable communication networks promises to transform the opencast landscape into networked signal attenuation.These results support decision-making for mining needs and ensure reliable communications even in the face of formidable obstacles.