Solution to the Horizontal Crossing Problem of Transportation System at Key Points in Open-Pit Mines

In order to reduce the horizontal crossing transportation problems between coal trucks and stripping trucks,large and small vehicles,and transport trucks and belt conveyors at key points of open pit mine in production,the separate transportation mode of underpass bridge and overpass steel trestle is proposed to optimize the open pit development transportation system,so as to solve the practical problems that the horizontal cross of transport vehicles causes vehicle blockage,affects production schedule and production safety.The results show that the horizontal crossing road can be changed into a separate type of overpass steel trestle,which can realize the classified transportation of large and small vehicles,reduce the traffic density,make vehicles with different functions go their own way,eliminate the hidden danger of traffic accidents,and improve the production efficiency.

Using deep neural networks coupled with principal component analysis for ore production forecasting at open-pit mines

Ore production is usually affected by multiple influencing inputs at open-pit mines.Nevertheless,the complex nonlinear relationships between these inputs and ore production remain unclear.This becomes even more challenging when training data(e.g.truck haulage information and weather conditions)are massive.In machine learning(ML)algorithms,deep neural network(DNN)is a superior method for processing nonlinear and massive data by adjusting the amount of neurons and hidden layers.This study adopted DNN to forecast ore production using truck haulage information and weather conditions at open-pit mines as training data.Before the prediction models were built,principal component analysis(PCA)was employed to reduce the data dimensionality and eliminate the multicollinearity among highly correlated input variables.To verify the superiority of DNN,three ANNs containing only one hidden layer and six traditional ML models were established as benchmark models.The DNN model with multiple hidden layers performed better than the ANN models with a single hidden layer.The DNN model outperformed the extensively applied benchmark models in predicting ore production.This can provide engineers and researchers with an accurate method to forecast ore production,which helps make sound budgetary decisions and mine planning at open-pit mines.

Optimization model of GNSS/pseudolites structure design for open-pit mine positioning

A new pseudolites （PLs） structure optimization model of global navigation satellite system （GNSS）/PLs integration positioning system used in deep open-pit mine was presented. Position dilution of precision （Pdop） and reliability were selected as the optimization indicators to build a multi-objective optimization model to decide the optimum PLs location. A scheme was designed by establishing a four-dimensional model taking azimuth （a）, elevation angle （e） and epoch （t） of satellites as the input independent variables and Pdop as the dependent variable to calculate the optimum PLs location zone considering the real circumstances. And then the ultimate PLs location can be fixed by testing the curves of Pdop along time. A field collected Trimble R8 GPS data set in China University of Mining and Technology （CUMT） campus was used for the model test to show the effectiveness, and the proposed PLs optimum design scheme was used at the west open-pit mine of Fushun mining group Co., Ltd., in China, better Pdop and reliability have been achieved for the integration system. Both experiments show that the proposed scheme is excellent in designing GNSS/PLs system which is helpful for improving the performance of the positioning system and reducing the cost.

Modified algorithm of combined GPS/GLONASS precise point positioning for applications in open-pit mines

A modified algorithm of combined GPS/GLONASS precise point positioning （GG-PPP） was developed by decreasing the number of unknowns to be estimated so that accurate position solutions can be achieved in the case of less number of visible satellites. The system time difference between GPS and GLONASS （STDGG） and zenith tropospheric delay （ZTD） values were firstly estimated in an open sky condition using the traditional GG-PPP algorithm. Then, they were used as a priori known values in the modified algorithm instead of estimating them as unknowns. The proposed algorithm was tested using observations collected at BJFS station in a simulated open-pit mine environment. The results show that the position filter converges much faster to a stable value in all three coordinate components using the modified algorithm than using the traditional algorithm. The modified algorithm achieves higher positioning accuracy as well. The accuracy improvement in the horizontal direction and vertical direction reaches 69% and 95% at a satellite elevation mask angle of 50°, respectively.

High precision slope deformation monitoring model based on the GPS/Pseudolites technology in open-pit mine

As the number and geometric intensity of visual satellites are susceptible to large slopes in open-pit mines, we propose integration of GPS/Pseudolites (PLs) positioning technology which can increase the number of visible satellites, strengthen the geometric intensity of satellites and provide a precision solution for slope deformation monitoring. However, the un-modeled systematic errors are still the main limiting factors for high precision baseline solution. In order to eliminate the un-modeled systematic error, the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) theory is employed. The multi-scale decomposition and reconstruction architecture are defined here on the basis of the EMD theory and the systematic error mitigation model is demonstrated as well. A standard of the scale selection for the systematic error elimination is given in terms of the mean of the accumulated standardized modes. Thereafter, the scheme of the GPS/PLs baseline solution based on the EMD is suggested. The simulation and experiment results show that the precision factors (DOP) are reduced greatly when PLs is located suitably. The proposed scheme dramatically improves the reliability of ambiguity resolution and the precision of baseline vector after systematic error being eliminated, and provides an effective model for high precision slope deformation monitoring in open-pit mine.

Key factor analysis and model establishment of variation of rock face temperature in a deep open-pit mine

In recent years, with the increase of the depth of open-pit mining, the pollution level has been on the rise due to harmful gases and dust occurring in the process of mining. In order to accelerate the diffusion of these air pollutants, the distributed regularity of the rock face temperature which is directly related to the air ventilation in deep open-pit mines should be studied. Here, we establish the key factors influencing the rock face temperature in a deep open-pit mine. We also present an empirical model of the rock face temperature variation in the deep open-pit mine, of which the performance is interestingly high compared with that of the field test. This study lays a foundation to study the ventilation thermodynamic theory in the deep open-pit mine, which is of great importance for theoretical studies and engineering applications of solving air pollution problem in deep open-pit mines.

Effect of digital elevation models on monitoring slope displacements in open-pit mine by differential interferometry synthetic aperture radar

Displacement monitoring in open-pit mines is one of the important tasks for safe management of mining processes.Differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar(DInSAR),mounted on an artificial satellite,has the potential to be a cost-effective method for monitoring surface displacements over extensive areas,such as open-pit mines.DInSAR requires the ground surface elevation data in the process of its analysis as a digital elevation model(DEM).However,since the topography of the ground surface in open-pit mines changes largely due to excavations,measurement errors can occur due to insufficient information on the elevation of mining areas.In this paper,effect of different elevation models on the accuracy of the displacement monitoring results by DInSAR is investigated at a limestone quarry.In addition,validity of the DInSAR results using an appropriate DEM is examined by comparing them with the results obtained by global positioning system(GPS)monitoring conducted for three years at the same limestone quarry.It is found that the uncertainty of DEMs induces large errors in the displacement monitoring results if the baseline length of the satellites between the master and the slave data is longer than a few hundred meters.Comparing the monitoring results of DInSAR and GPS,the root mean square error(RMSE)of the discrepancy between the two sets of results is less than 10 mm if an appropriate DEM,considering the excavation processes,is used.It is proven that DInSAR can be applied for monitoring the displacements of mine slopes with centimeter-level accuracy.

Development and characterization of formulation of dust-suppressant used for stope road in open-pit mines

The components of dust-suppressant were determined based on the analysis on characteristics and mechanisms of road dust raising in open-pit mines. The components were initially selected from moisture agent, coagulation agent and surfactant. The optimal formulation was determined based on orthogonal test and using the water loss rate as the evaluation index. The performances of moisture releasing and adsorption, wind resistance of optimal formulation in the natural environment were tested. The results show that the formula obtained in experiments provide a good performance of moisture absorption and water retention, and it also had a good dust preventing and controlling performance due to its high surface strength and consolidation under dry conditions. It has good application prospects considering the wide variety of sources for materials and the simple preparation process.

Parameter inversion and location determination of evolutionary weak layer for open-pit mine slope

In light of the complex and dynamic mechanical properties of evolving weak strata in open-pit mines,and the consequent difficulty of determining their mechanical parameters,this study uses the ultimate balance theory,along with the back analysis method combined with monitoring data on field displacement,to carry out parameter inversion using the FLAC3D numerical simulation software.The edge slope of a working pit of the Weijiamao open-pit mine was used as research object to this end.As the results obtained by the constitutive model were consistent with the field monitoring data,the evolving weak strata in the slope and the position of the landslide in the mine could be obtained.The landslide was directed northeast.The mechanism of the edge slope of the working pit was identified as unloading shear failure,and the feasibility of the method of parameter inversion was verified.The internal friction angle φand cohesion C of evolving weak strata in the slope of the open-pit mine were also obtained,where this compensated for the deficiency of laboratory tests and enabled the transformation from qualitative to quantitative analysis.This can provide a reliable basis for the safe operation of open-pit mines.

Sensitivity analysis for parameters of a monitoring system for steep slopes of open-pit mines

Monitoring the stability of steep slopes of open-pit mines is a major issue relating to production safety in mines.In order to determine the technical parameters of a new type of supervising system applied in monitoring steep slopes of open-pit mines,the MSARMA method was used to establish analytical models for the monitoring system,given various parameter settings based on the description of mechanical monitoring principles.We used this sensitivity analysis to conclude that the setting of the most sensitive location of a mechanical monitoring system should be within a range of 1/5～1/2 of the lower part in a vertical direction of steep slopes,with a rational and feasible range of the dip angle setting between 0°～20°.Given the analytical results of our on-site experiments,we have shown that the parameters determined reflect the stability of steep slopes accurately and effectively.These conclusions provide a basis for the application of a new type of steep slope stability monitoring technology in open-pit mines.

Optimization model of truck flow at open-pit mines and standards for feasibility test

In order to increase production efficiency at open-pit mines, on the basis oflinear programming, a practical mathematical model for optimizing truck flow was developed, whichimproved the traditional fixed manual schedule method. The model has advantages from linearprogramming and objective programming, makes most handling points working at full capacity and keepsan optimized ratio between trucks and excavators. For ensuring feasibility of the model inpractical production, four standards for feasibility test were proposed. The model satisfied all thestandards. The application in a large scale open-pit iron mine indicated that the model reduced thenumber of required trucks by 10 percent compared with the fixed manual schedule method.

Circle geometric constraint model for open-pit mine ore-matching and its applications

The circle geometric constraint model （CGCM） was put forward for resolving the open-pit mine ore-matching problems （OMOMP）. By adopting the approaches of graph theory, block model of blasted piles was abstracted into a set of nodes and directed edges, which were connected together with other nodes in the range of circle constraints, to describe the mining sequence. Also, the constructing method of CGCM was introduced in detail. The algorithm of CGCM has been realized in the DIM1NE system, and applied to a short-term （5 d） program calculation for ore-matching of a cement limestone mine in Hebei Province, China. The applications show that CGCM can well describe the mining sequence of ore blocks and its mining geometric constraints in the process of mining blasted piles. This model, which is applicable for resolving OMOMP under complicated geometric constraints with accurate results, provides effective ways to solve the problems of open-pit ore-matching.

Stability analysis of the sliding process of the west slope in Buzhaoba Open-Pit Mine

To study the stability of the west slope in Buzhaoba Open-Pit Mine and determine the aging stability coefficient during slide mass development, the deformation band of the west slope and the slide mass structure of the 34,600 profile are obtained on the basis of hydrology, geology, and monitoring data.The residual thrust method is utilized to calculate the stability coefficients, which are 1.225 and 1.00 under sound and transfixion conditions, respectively. According to the rock damage and fragmentation and the principle of mechanical parameter degradation, the mechanical models of the slide mass development of the hard and soft rock slopes are established. An integrated model for calculating the slope stability coefficient is built considering water, vibration, and other external factors that pertain to the structural plane damage mechanism and the generating mechanism of the sliding mass. The change curve of the stability coefficient in the slide mass development is obtained from the relevant analyses,and afterwards, the stability control measures are proposed. The analysis results indicate that in the cracking stage of the hard rock, the slope stability coefficient decreases linearly with the increase in the length Lbof the hard rock crack zone. The linear slope is positively correlated to rock cohesion c. In the transfixion stage of the soft rock, the decrease speed of the stability coefficient is positively correlated to the residual strength of the soft rock. When the slope is stable, the stability coefficient is in a quadratic-linear relationship with the decreased height Dh of the side slope and in a linear relationship with anchoring force P.

Improving performance of open-pit mine production scheduling problem under grade uncertainty by hybrid algorithms

One of the surface mining methods is open-pit mining,by which a pit is dug to extract ore or waste downwards from the earth’s surface.In the mining industry,one of the most significant difficulties is long-term production scheduling(LTPS)of the open-pit mines.Deterministic and uncertainty-based approaches are identified as the main strategies,which have been widely used to cope with this problem.Within the last few years,many researchers have highly considered a new computational type,which is less costly,i.e.,meta-heuristic methods,so as to solve the mine design and production scheduling problem.Although the optimality of the final solution cannot be guaranteed,they are able to produce sufficiently good solutions with relatively less computational costs.In the present paper,two hybrid models between augmented Lagrangian relaxation(ALR)and a particle swarm optimization(PSO)and ALR and bat algorithm(BA)are suggested so that the LTPS problem is solved under the condition of grade uncertainty.It is suggested to carry out the ALR method on the LTPS problem to improve its performance and accelerate the convergence.Moreover,the Lagrangian coefficients are updated by using PSO and BA.The presented models have been compared with the outcomes of the ALR-genetic algorithm,the ALR-traditional sub-gradient method,and the conventional method without using the Lagrangian approach.The results indicated that the ALR is considered a more efficient approach which can solve a large-scale problem and make a valid solution.Hence,it is more effectual than the conventional method.Furthermore,the time and cost of computation are diminished by the proposed hybrid strategies.The CPU time using the ALR-BA method is about 7.4%higher than the ALR-PSO approach.

Cut slope reinforcement technique in open-pit mines

The design and practice in supporting the cut slope of an open-pit mine wereintroduced, in which the high pressure grouting method was used in reinforcing the weak formation inthe slopes. Based on a detailed geological survey of the slope, a theoretical analysis was carriedout, and the design parameters were proposed, where the Tresca or Mohr-Coulomb yield criteria wasemployed. A patent technology, named 'Technology of high pressure and multiple grouting in differentlevels within a single hole', was employed in the construction. Anchor bars were also installed asgrouting proceeds. This method combines anchoring and grouting comprehensively and was foundsuccessful in practice.

Availability-based simulation and optimization modeling framework for open-pit mine truck allocation under dynamic constraints

We present a novel system productivity simulation and optimization modeling framework in which equipment availability is a variable in the expected productivity function of the system. The framework is used for allocating trucks by route according to their operating performances in a truck-shovel system of an open-pit mine, so as to maximize the overall productivity of the fleet. We implement the framework in an originally designed and specifically developed simulator-optimizer software tool. We make an application on a real open-pit mine case study taking into account the stochasticity of the equipment behavior and environment. The total system production values obtained with and without considering the equipment reliability, availability and maintainability (RAM) characteristics are compared. We show that by taking into account the truck and shovel RAM aspects, we can maximize the total production of the system and obtain specific information on the production availability and productivity of its components.

Study on the Application of Real-Time Drone Monitoring in Ordos Open-Pit Coal Mine

In the process of intelligent mine construction in open-pit mine, in order to improve the safety monitoring ability of mine transportation system, solve the problems of large human interference and blind Angle detection by existing conventional monitoring methods, this paper establishes an open-pit mine monitoring data set, and proposes a real-time intelligent monitoring model based on UAV. The reasoning component with strong computing power and low power consumption is selected, and the lightweight object detection model is selected for the experiment. A quantitative standard of dynamic energy consumption detection by evaluation algorithm is proposed. Through experimental comparison, it is found that YOLOv4-tiny has the highest comprehensive grade in detection accuracy, speed, energy consumption and other aspects, which is suitable for application in the above model.

基于无人机技术的露天矿山越界开采监测与评估方法

高效快速评估露天矿山越界开采对开展矿产卫片执法检查和推进严格保护矿产资源策略、推动区域高质量发展具有重要意义。基于无人机飞行技术、传感器技术、通信技术和影像处理技术,结合卫星遥感、地理信息系统应用,采集无人机航测数据与飞控系统数据,快速获取了疑似违法矿山二维场景图像(SIM),动态飞行展示矿区全貌和精细地物;进一步建立了矿山三维数字高程模型(DEM),定性研判违法类型与性质;针对需求建立了矿山的三维数字表面模型(DSM),定量估算违法采矿资源量;利用四维数字表面模型(DSM),查明矿山历史时期的违法过程,测算违法开采的资源量。无人机航测技术实现区域矿产资源开发秩序的快速监测和精细评估,为矿产资源的卫片执法检查工作提供理论支撑和决策依据。在江南某地进行试验的实例表明,基于无人机技术的露天矿山越界开采监测与评估方法技术具有时效性强、操作便捷、精细高效等优势,在支撑服务自然资源领域的卫片执法检查工作方面可以更加广泛地应用。

论露天矿区近自然生态修复

露天矿区生态修复面临着重建生态系统自维持力低、维持成本高,尤其是修复后“采矿痕迹”明显等问题,亟待协调好人工修复与自然恢复的关系,升级发展传统生态修复模式,促进露天矿区人与自然和谐共生。在长期的理论方法研究和应用实践经验总结基础上,①提出了露天矿区近自然生态修复的必要性及其理论内涵与技术框架。近自然矿山生态修复是参照本地自然地貌、水文、土壤、植被、景观及其演变规律,使修复后的矿业斑块达到与周边自然生态系统近似的结构与功能状态,并与周边自然地貌、水系、景观相融合的修复模式,是对传统生态修复模式的升级,逼近“采矿无痕”是其追求的理想状态。②近自然生态修复是露天矿生态化设计的重要构成,其技术环节主要包括,参照生态系统学习、近自然地貌重塑、水文衔接与调控、矿山活土层重构、植被重建与多样性重组等。参照生态系统学习为后续各个修复环节提供修复目标与参数。近自然地貌重塑是近自然生态修复的核心与基础,包括内排土场全生命周期近自然地貌重塑、外排土场近自然地貌重塑、邻近自然问题地貌协同重塑等。水文衔接与调控要解决河道沟道的优化布局、矿区上下游水系的衔接、以蓄代排径流调控等。矿山活土层重构包括矿山土物理结构重组、微生物和养分循环过程重构等内容;植被重建与多样性重组包括近自然的植物群落与多样性配置,以及近自然的植株空间布局等。③实践分析表明,露天矿近自然生态修复有助于减少土壤侵蚀,提高地貌稳定性,增强重建生态系统的自维持能力,有利于实现露天矿区“采矿无痕”,促进人与自然和谐共生。

中国露天煤矿70年成就回顾及高质量发展架构体系

露天煤矿作为我国煤炭工业的重要组成部分,具有生产能力大、开采成本低、安全条件好等优势,近年来在建设规模、生产总量、开采工艺及技术装备等多方面均取得了跨越式的发展,有力保障了煤炭作为国家能源安全稳定供应的“压舱石”地位。首先回顾了新中国成立后我国露天煤矿70年来的发展历程,将其划分为起步恢复阶段(1949—1979年)、快速发展阶段(1980—1999年)、综合发展阶段(2000—2020年)和智能化初级发展阶段(2021年以后)4个时期;系统总结了每个时期的产量与数量规模、开采理论与技术、开采工艺与装备、资源开发与环境保护方面取得的突出成就。然后,探讨了现阶段露天煤矿发展面临的4个方面的主要问题,包括发展布局不均衡、可持续发展面临瓶颈、关键技术难题需深入攻关、人才短缺培养机制不完善。最后,提出构建以“安全、高效、绿色、低碳、智能”为总体目标的全链条、全周期、全要素露天煤矿高质量发展架构体系,其内涵特征包括以时效边坡理论、开采扰动指数理论、绿色开采理论、生态型开采理论、零碳负碳开采理论、智能化开采理论6种学术思想为理论基础,以灾害安全监测防控、复杂条件协同保障、生态源头减损开采、节能减污清洁利用、数字-自动-智能同建5类技术体系为核心支撑,以透明地质模型动态重构、边坡蠕滑全程精准预测、深大孔低扰动控制爆破、采空区超前探测与处置、粉尘抑制及煤自燃防治等30项关键技术为重点突破,以设计理念先进化、安全保障标准化、建设规模大型化、生产工艺综合化、开采装备智能化、核心制造国产化、矿区生态绿色化、煤炭利用清洁化、组织管理科学化、人才队伍国际化的“十化型”露天矿山为建设任务;同时给出了以规划引领为基础,以科技创新为驱动,以人才培育为保障的露天煤矿高质量发展实现路径。最终为推动我国露天煤矿向持续健康高质量方向发展提供指导。