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Mining
Special Issues
Feature Papers in Sustainable Mining Engineering
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Feature Papers in Sustainable Mining Engineering

A special issue of Mining (ISSN 2673-6489).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 7535

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Mostafa Benzaazoua

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Guest Editor
Geology and Sustainable Mining Institute (GSMI), University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
Interests: inorganic industrial and mining wastes; environmental characterization; treatment and recycling of industrial and mining wastes; waste reprocessing; integrated management of mining wastes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yassine Ait-Khouia

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Guest Editor
Geology & Sustainable Mining Institute (GSMI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
Interests: mineral processing; geometallurgy; environmental desulphurization; integrated mine waste management; critical raw materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to announce the forthcoming release of our Special Issue, titled “Feature Papers in Sustainable Mining Engineering”. This edition will showcase a selection of exceptional papers, encompassing comprehensive reviews and original research articles, within the realm of mining engineering, sustainability, and the environment. We invite researchers to contribute cutting-edge developments and fresh insights pertaining to sustainable mining engineering, with a specific emphasis on innovative solutions addressing the contemporary challenges encountered by the mining industry.

We extend our invitation to researchers from diverse backgrounds, particularly younger scholars, who are keen on exploring groundbreaking practices and strategies to tackle the impending challenges of the mining industry. We encourage submissions covering a broad spectrum of topics related to sustainability in mining, which may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Sustainable mining practices and development;
  • Mining innovation;
  • Green mining technologies;
  • Reduction of carbon footprint in mining;
  • Sustainable mineral resource management;
  • Geometallurgical/geoenvironmental modeling;
  • Environmentally friendly mineral processing;
  • Critical and strategical minerals;
  • Digitalization and automation: Mine 4.0;
  • Life cycle assessment in mining;
  • Circular economy in mining;
  • Environmental impact assessments in mining;
  • Management of mine waste and water;
  • Planning for mine closure;
  • Adaptation to climate change in mining.

Join us in advancing sustainable mining practices for a more promising future in mining! Submit your work today without delay!

Authors for this Special Issue will include members of the Editorial Board and individuals invited by the editorial office and the Editor-in-Chief. Accepted papers will be published, free of charge, in open access following peer-review.

Prof. Dr. Mostafa Benzaazoua
Dr. Yassine Ait-Khouia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Mining is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable mining practices and development
  • environmentally friendly mineral processing
  • critical and strategical metals/minerals
  • innovation
  • digitalization and automation: Mining 4.0
  • green technologies
  • life cycle assessment
  • circular economy
  • geometallurgical/geo-environmental modeling
  • environmental impact assessments
  • sustainable resource management
  • mine waste management
  • mine water management
  • mine closure planning
  • climate change adaptation
  • reduction of carbon footprint

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review, Other

25 pages, 54905 KiB  
Article
Cross-Hole Full-Waveform Inversion—A New Approach for Imaging Quartz Vein-Hosted Gold Deposits
by James B. Bell, Rebecca E. Bell and Michael Warner
Mining 2025, 5(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining5010002 - 26 Dec 2024
Viewed by 583
Abstract
To enhance the efficiency of mine planning, mining companies wish to understand the structure and extent of ore-bearing rocks as well as possible. Conventional seismic reflection surveys are not well suited for this purpose as they provide an image containing only the location [...] Read more.
To enhance the efficiency of mine planning, mining companies wish to understand the structure and extent of ore-bearing rocks as well as possible. Conventional seismic reflection surveys are not well suited for this purpose as they provide an image containing only the location of reflectors, and do not provide physical property information to discriminate between ore and gangue material. Full-waveform inversion (FWI) is a powerful inversion technique, which is able to recover the physical properties of the subsurface at a far greater spatial resolution and accuracy than conventional seismic methods. In this study, we synthetically examined the feasibility of using FWI to image quartz vein-hosted gold deposits. We utilised the Curraghinalt gold deposit in Northern Ireland to parameterise our models, where mineralisation is bound entirely to thin (1–3 m) and steeply dipping (>45°) quartz sulphide veins. Firstly, we demonstrated that a conventional surface seismic reflection survey geometry alongside FWI is infeasible for imaging quartz vein-hosted gold deposits. Secondly, we explored a cross-hole seismic survey geometry consisting of sources and receivers placed down vertical boreholes. This cross-hole survey geometry is capable of generating synthetic datasets such that FWI can recover the position of the veins in space accurate to within 0.5 m relative to their true positions, and recover their physical properties with an accuracy greater than 90%, beginning from an entirely homogeneous starting model. We conclude it is essential the source and receiver boreholes be positioned such that both transmitted and reflected arrivals are present in the datasets, otherwise FWI will fail to accurately recover the position and physical properties of the veins. This opens a new avenue for FWI to play a major role in the planning stages and development of gold mines around the world. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Sustainable Mining Engineering)
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11 pages, 2066 KiB  
Article
Application of Blast-Pile Image Analysis in a Mine-to-Crusher Model to Minimize Overall Costs in a Large-Scale Open-Pit Mine in Brazil
by Vidal Félix Navarro Torres, Fabiano Veloso Ferreira, Victor Albuquerque de Carvalho, Eltton Veras and Felipe França Sitônio
Mining 2024, 4(4), 983-993; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4040055 - 22 Nov 2024
Viewed by 855
Abstract
Amazon rainforests have many hidden treasures; thus, a balance between mine activities and the environment must be maintained. In the northern region of Brazil, there is a large diversity of metal ore deposits, the exploitation of which requires innovative and sustainable mining operations. [...] Read more.
Amazon rainforests have many hidden treasures; thus, a balance between mine activities and the environment must be maintained. In the northern region of Brazil, there is a large diversity of metal ore deposits, the exploitation of which requires innovative and sustainable mining operations. Historically, mining operations have caused various environmental issues, such as landscape deterioration, damage to natural structures due to detonations, and soil and water pollution, and have also contributed to CO2 emissions from diesel trucks. Here, to estimate and minimize the operating expenses of a large-scale open-pit iron mine, a mine-to-crusher model was developed. The calibration of the mine-to-crusher model was based on rock fragmentation from the blasting phase through the primary crushing phase from an analysis of pictures of the fragmented pile. A reduction in cost was determined for an optimum 90% passing size (P90). The calibration was performed with technical and economic parameters from 2 years before. For the studied iron ore mine site, an optimum P90 value between 0.29 and 0.31 m was determined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Sustainable Mining Engineering)
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17 pages, 10890 KiB  
Article
Data-Supported Prediction of Surface Settlement Behavior on Opencast Mine Dumps Using Satellite-Based Radar Interferometry Observations
by Jörg Benndorf, Natalie Merkel and Andre John
Mining 2024, 4(4), 926-942; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4040052 - 1 Nov 2024
Viewed by 741
Abstract
To ensure the safe repurposing of post-mining landscapes, understanding and managing geotechnical risks, particularly ground movements such as settlements on opencast mining dump surfaces, is critical. Satellite-based radar interferometry (InSAR) technology offers highly detailed data on vertical ground movements with a high spatial [...] Read more.
To ensure the safe repurposing of post-mining landscapes, understanding and managing geotechnical risks, particularly ground movements such as settlements on opencast mining dump surfaces, is critical. Satellite-based radar interferometry (InSAR) technology offers highly detailed data on vertical ground movements with a high spatial and temporal resolution. By combining a data-driven approach, using InSAR-generated high-resolution datasets, with model-driven methods such as inverse modeling and classic time–settlement models, the efficient monitoring and prediction of opencast mine dump settlements can be achieved. This dual approach—leveraging advanced data analysis tools and precise modeling—yields valuable insights into spatial settlement behavior. In particular, classic time–settlement models are applied to the InSAR data through least square regression and Taylor approximation. The integration of both approaches enables the more robust, data-validated forecasts of key geotechnical indicators, such as the time to settlement stabilization and the expected maximum settlement over large areas. An application at a mine in central Germany illustrates the method by generating spatial predictions of the settlement behavior over more than 200 ha. In general, the results provide a comprehensive dataset for investigating other factors influencing the settlement behavior of opencast mine dumps. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Sustainable Mining Engineering)
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14 pages, 5319 KiB  
Article
Toxicity of Iron Mining Tailings and Potential for Revegetation Using Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi Based on the Emergence, Growth, and Anatomy of the Species
by Poliana Noemia da Silva, Carlos Henrique Goulart dos Reis, Vinícius Politi Duarte, Evaristo Mauro de Castro, Maxwell Pereira de Pádua and Fabricio José Pereira
Mining 2024, 4(3), 719-732; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4030040 - 23 Sep 2024
Viewed by 905
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the emergence, early growth, and anatomy of Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi cultivated in iron mining tailings. The seeds were obtained from trees used in urban afforestation and cultivated on two substrates: sand and iron mining tailings. The chemical composition [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the emergence, early growth, and anatomy of Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi cultivated in iron mining tailings. The seeds were obtained from trees used in urban afforestation and cultivated on two substrates: sand and iron mining tailings. The chemical composition of the mining tailing was characterized. The experiment was conducted in a growth room for 60 days. The emergence rate, seedling survival, height, number of leaves, chlorophyll content, and leaf and root anatomy were evaluated. The analysis of the composition of the mining tailings indicated that macro- and micronutrients were present, as well as potentially toxic elements such as Al, Cd, Cr, and Pb. The mining tailings reduced the emergence rate, and 25% of the seedlings died in this substrate. In addition, the mining tailings promoted a significant reduction in all parameters investigated, including seedling height, number of leaves, chlorophyll content, total leaf thickness, abaxial and adaxial epidermis thickness, palisade parenchyma thickness, and the length and width of the seeds. Additionally, the chloroplasts, the metaxylem vessel diameter, and the phloem proportion were evaluated. Interestingly, the tailings promoted an increase in the secretory channel. In the roots, no significant changes were observed in the parameters analyzed. Thus, the seeds of S. terebinthifolia germinated in the iron mining tailings, and 75% of the seedlings survived, showing their potential for reforestation. Nonetheless, iron mining tailings exhibited toxicity to S. terebinthifolia seedlings, reducing their photosynthetic tissues and, consequently, their growth; this toxicity is likely related to potentially toxic elements present in tailings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Sustainable Mining Engineering)
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20 pages, 25147 KiB  
Article
Kinetic Model Evaluation of Arsenic and Selenium Sources in Waste Rock of the Powder River Basin, USA
by Jeff B. Langman
Mining 2024, 4(3), 469-488; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4030027 - 12 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1159
Abstract
Groundwater quality can be impacted by the backfilling of coal pits with waste rock containing new mineral surfaces and nanomaterials. This study was implemented to identify newly available arsenic and selenium sources in waste rock from the Cordero Rojo Mine in the Powder [...] Read more.
Groundwater quality can be impacted by the backfilling of coal pits with waste rock containing new mineral surfaces and nanomaterials. This study was implemented to identify newly available arsenic and selenium sources in waste rock from the Cordero Rojo Mine in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming, to highlight the alteration of contaminant sources with the transition from an overburden geologic state to the mined waste rock. Basic kinetic models were constructed to replicate the possible weathering modeling scenario derived from published sources of arsenic and selenium in the Powder River Basin overburden—pyrite and gypsum, respectively. These basic prediction models were unable to capture the arsenic and selenium trends recorded for a saturated column loaded with waste rock from the Cordero Rojo Mine. Enhanced kinetic models were tested through trial and error to capture newly available sources created by the mining of the waste rock. The incorporation of new source contributions produced modeled arsenic and selenium trends similar to the observed trends in water extracted from the column. The identification of newly available contaminant sources in backfill waste rock is necessary to evaluate the potential release of contaminants and the exceedance of water quality criteria for overburden formations that have not previously shown the potential for water quality contamination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Sustainable Mining Engineering)
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Review

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16 pages, 2431 KiB  
Review
Enhanced Measurement and Verification Practices in Deep-Level Mines: The Current State
by Frans J. L. Matthee, Johan H. Marais and Jean H. van Laar
Mining 2024, 4(2), 401-416; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4020023 - 24 May 2024
Viewed by 1293
Abstract
This article explores operational challenges in mining, with a focus on energy management amid depleting ore grades and rising costs. The urgent need for innovative energy management systems and strategies is highlighted by analyzing the unexplored landscape of mine energy budgeting and forecasting [...] Read more.
This article explores operational challenges in mining, with a focus on energy management amid depleting ore grades and rising costs. The urgent need for innovative energy management systems and strategies is highlighted by analyzing the unexplored landscape of mine energy budgeting and forecasting and identifying gaps in current practices. Drawing from the literature, this paper offers new insights into energy budgeting and the evaluation of energy efficiency initiatives by integrating traditional and advanced measurement and verification (M&V) techniques. M&V practices are crucial for energy management, particularly in deep-level mines, with a focus on practical knowledge and advanced methodologies. Key findings from this study show that integrating advanced M&V techniques with unplanned events is crucial to improve the financial management of mines. By leveraging these key findings, this article proposes a roadmap of the next seven milestones needed in advanced M&V research to aid effective energy management in a mining environment. If executed successfully, a practical method for applying advanced M&V processes to deep-level mining operations can be constructed. Such a generic method will enhance mining companies’ energy efficiency initiatives and improve financial management practices on a global scale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Sustainable Mining Engineering)
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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

26 pages, 2423 KiB  
Systematic Review
Social Acceptability of Critical and Strategic Minerals (CSMs) Development: A Systematic Review with a Particular Focus on Quebec, Canada
by Kossivi Fabrice Dossa, Fifanou G. Vodouhe and Damase P. Khasa
Mining 2025, 5(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining5010004 - 6 Jan 2025
Viewed by 440
Abstract
The social acceptability (SA) of mining projects is a crucial issue for the sustainable development of territories and local communities. This article aims to identify the issues and examine the factors influencing the SA of exploration, exploitation and processing projects of critical and [...] Read more.
The social acceptability (SA) of mining projects is a crucial issue for the sustainable development of territories and local communities. This article aims to identify the issues and examine the factors influencing the SA of exploration, exploitation and processing projects of critical and strategic minerals (CSMs) in Quebec. A systematic review guided by the PRISMA approach was conducted, selecting 57 relevant documents after excluding several others. The results reveal that between 2000 and 2024, the publication of studies on SA in the mining sector has increased significantly, particularly since 2013. Research is mainly concentrated in North America, with a predominance of case studies. Their critical analysis indicates that the SA of mining projects is based on various issues, including the need for greater consideration of the perspectives of local communities, as well as open and inclusive communication between all stakeholders. However, SA is affected by various factors, including demographic, economic, environmental and governance, which can have positive or negative effects depending on the context. Following this analysis, future research should explore the complex interactions between these factors, determining how some may act as mediators or moderators in various contexts through real case studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Sustainable Mining Engineering)
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