Selected Papers from the 2nd International Conference on Mining in Europe

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 August 2017) | Viewed by 35921

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Institute of Mineral Resources Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
Interests: digital transformation in mining; critical raw materials; sustainability; mine wastes; environmental indicators
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Dear Colleagues,

The global mining community faces significant challenges, ranging from technological to social, environmental and economic issues. The mining community has confronted and solved such challenges over the centuries and has thereby delivered important contributions to the use and development of our mineral resources. This Special Issue aims to collect high quality research papers, short communications, and review articles that focus on the following three topics: mineral resources; mining technologies; and responsible mining. The Special Issue will publish selected papers from the 2nd International Conference on Mining in Europe (http://www.aims.rwth-aachen.de), 7–8 June 2017, Aachen, Germany. The key objective of the 2nd International Conference on Mining in Europe is to share the latest developments on mining expertise, activities, developments and research in Europe and beyond. We invite professionals from the mining industry and practitioners from consulting companies, equipment suppliers and software providers, people from research institutions and government agencies, as well as academic scholars and researchers to attend this conference. We are cordially inviting you to join us at the conference and also to submit your manuscript to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Bernd Lottermoser
Guest Editor


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Keywords

  • mineral resources
  • mining technologies
  • responsible mining

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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Article
Remote Sensing for Mineral Exploration in Central Portugal
by Ricardo Manuel, Maria Da Graça Brito, Martim Chichorro and Carlos Rosa
Minerals 2017, 7(10), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/min7100184 - 29 Sep 2017
Cited by 45 | Viewed by 14389
Abstract
Central Portugal is well known for the existence of Sn-W and Au-Ag mineral occurrences primarily associated with hydrothermal processes. Despite the economic and strategic importance of such occurrences, the detailed geology of this particular region is poorly known and there is an obvious [...] Read more.
Central Portugal is well known for the existence of Sn-W and Au-Ag mineral occurrences primarily associated with hydrothermal processes. Despite the economic and strategic importance of such occurrences, the detailed geology of this particular region is poorly known and there is an obvious absence of geological mapping at an adequate scale. Remote sensing techniques were used in order to increase current geological knowledge of the Góis–Castanheira de Pêra area (600 km2) and to guide future exploration stages by targeting and prioritising potential locations. Digital image processing algorithms, such as Red, Green, Blue (RGB) colour composites, digital spatial filters, band ratios and Principal Components Analysis, were applied to Landsat 8 imagery and elevation data. Lineaments were extracted relying on geological photointerpretation criteria, allowing the identification of new geological–structural elements. Fieldwork was carried out in order to validate the remote sensing interpretations. Integration of remote sensing data with other information sources led to the definition of locations possibly suitable for hosting Sn-W and Au-Ag mineral occurrences. These areas were ranked according to their mineral potential. Targeting the most promising locations resulted in a reduction to less than 10% of the original study area (50.5 km2). Full article
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2214 KiB  
Article
Further Investigations on Simultaneous Ultrasonic Coal Flotation
by Safak Gokhan Ozkan
Minerals 2017, 7(10), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/min7100177 - 22 Sep 2017
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 7111
Abstract
This study investigates the flotation performance of a representative hard coal slime sample (d80 particle size of minus 0.2 mm) obtained from the Prosper-Haniel coal preparation plant located in Bottrop, Germany. Flotation was carried out with a newly designed flotation cell refurbished [...] Read more.
This study investigates the flotation performance of a representative hard coal slime sample (d80 particle size of minus 0.2 mm) obtained from the Prosper-Haniel coal preparation plant located in Bottrop, Germany. Flotation was carried out with a newly designed flotation cell refurbished from an old ultrasonic cleaning bath (2.5 L volume) equipped with a single frequency (35 kHz) and two different power levels (80–160 W) and a sub-aeration-type flotation machine operating at a stable impeller speed (1200 rpm) and air rate (2.5 L/min). The reagent combination for conventional and simultaneous ultrasonic coal flotation tests was Ekofol-440 at variable dosages (40–300 g/t) with controlling water temperature (20–25 °C) at natural pH (6.5–7.0). The batch coal flotation results were analyzed by comparing the combustible recovery (%) and separation efficiency (%) values, taking mass yield and ash concentrations of the froths and tailings into account. It was found that simultaneous ultrasonic coal flotation increased yield and recovery values of the floated products with lower ash values than the conventional flotation despite using similar reagent dosages. Furthermore, particle size distribution of the ultrasonically treated and untreated coals was measured. Finely distributed coal particles seemed to be agglomerated during the ultrasonic treatment, while ash-forming slimes were removed by hydrodynamic cavitation. Full article
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Review

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1203 KiB  
Review
A Review of the Carbon Footprint of Cu and Zn Production from Primary and Secondary Sources
by Anna Ekman Nilsson, Marta Macias Aragonés, Fatima Arroyo Torralvo, Vincent Dunon, Hanna Angel, Konstantinos Komnitsas and Karin Willquist
Minerals 2017, 7(9), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/min7090168 - 13 Sep 2017
Cited by 56 | Viewed by 13601
Abstract
Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) with their unique properties are central for economic growth, quality of life, and the creation of new jobs. The base-metal producing sector is, however, under growing public pressure in respect to energy and water requirements and needs to [...] Read more.
Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) with their unique properties are central for economic growth, quality of life, and the creation of new jobs. The base-metal producing sector is, however, under growing public pressure in respect to energy and water requirements and needs to meet several challenges, including increased demand and lower ore grades, which are generally associated with larger resource use. The development of technologies for metal production from secondary sources is often motivated by increased sustainability, and this paper aims to provide further insights about one specific aspect of sustainability—namely, climate change. The paper presents a review of carbon footprints (CF) for Cu and Zn produced from primary and secondary raw materials by analyzing data taken from scientific literature and the Ecoinvent database. Comparisons are carried out based on the source of data selected as a reference case. The data available in the literature indicate that secondary production of Cu and Zn has the potential to be more beneficial compared to primary production regarding the impact on climate change. However, the technologies used today for the production of both metals from secondary sources are still immature, and more research on this topic is needed. The general variation of data suggests that the standardization of a comparison is needed when assessing the environmental benefits of production in line with the principles of waste valorization, the zero waste approach, and circular economy. Full article
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