Technological advances and innovations that have transformed mining

Vehicles that are driven remotely from specialized rooms, helmets that monitor the physical state of workers (measure their temperature and their pulsations, among others) and the reuse of leftover materials are just some of the advances in technology, science and innovation that are have given in recent years in the sector, following the line of sustainable mining.

 

“100 years ago in the mines of Colombia, people had a coin with a number and a hole. When the person came to work, they handed over the token and it was hung on a board with a nail. In this way it was known how many people were inside the mine and in the event of an accident it was possible to establish where they might be. But that was all the information that was available, ”said Juan Eugenio Monsalve, a mining and metallurgy engineer with more than 40 years of experience in mining.

 

Of those days of coins and nails, little remains, at least in large-scale mining projects, where technological advances have made it possible to ensure more health and safety for miners, as well as to reduce environmental impacts.

 

For example, in the case of vehicles that are responsible for collecting and loading material in a mine, there are two major advances that can be highlighted. The first is the ability to operate them remotely.

 

“These units, which are operated from a remote control room or cabin, provide security by eliminating the exposure of people to high-risk environments. This technology also facilitates the use of downtime, because it allows continuous operation and an increase in productivity ”, explained at Epiroc, a Swedish company dedicated to the development of mining and rock excavation equipment.

 

The second advance, in the field of mining vehicles, has to do with the engine, since those that run on gasoline or diesel are beginning to be displaced by electric ones with battery, which reduces pollution and avoids carbon dioxide emissions , which are risky and more if you work in an underground mine.

 

In addition, these vehicles are fitted with sensors to alert in case there is the possibility of running over someone, an accident that, according to Monsalve, is one of the most common in mines.

 

"The truth is that thanks to advances in technology, science and innovation, modern mining is done with high standards that translate into positive impacts for the environment and the health and safety of workers," they stated from the Colombian Mining Association (ACM).

 

"The truth is that, thanks to advances in technology, science and innovation, modern mining is carried out with high standards that translate into positive impacts", ACM.

 

Safety for miners

 

In the helmets or mining lamps, systems are incorporated with which the temperature and pulsations are measured, as well as positioning (GPS). With the latter, the worker's location in the mine can be tracked from a control center.

 

“People in the mine are equipped with different gadgets, which increase their safety. We are even developing an encephalographic band that allows us to monitor the conditions of a worker to predict when the person is going to enter a state of fatigue and thus avoid possible inconveniences in the operation ”, assured Andrés López, innovation manager of Minera de Cobre Quebradona .

 

In addition to these gadgets, sensors are installed in the mines that continuously measure the amount of oxygen, methane, monoxide, nitrous gases and even any leaks that may exist. In addition, there are other types of sensors that identify the place where a miner passed, offering their exact location at all times.

 

“Digitization plays an important role because it allows the real-time location of people, vehicles and equipment through sensors and interconnected mobile devices, for a safer operation, traffic control, emergency management and availability of online data for the decision making ”, according to Epiroc.

 

Precisely due to the amount of information that would be handled in these 'smart mines', greater speed is required for data transfer.

 

That is why different mining companies in Colombia have already begun to do tests and trials with 5G technology, which offers speeds 10 times higher than those currently handled by 4G technology, which is the one that currently predominates.

 

However, according to the Colombian Mining Agency (ACM), "to achieve the objective requires not only the will of companies and technological developments, but also the availability of industrial spectrum, which depends on the Government."

 

When hearing the word automation, there are those who imagine that machines will displace human talent, however, in the case of technological advances in mining beyond replacement, what will happen is a transformation of job profiles.

 

“What we are going to need is a different workforce as young people trained in programming, due to the digitization of equipment, data analysts, creators of algorithms for sensors, experts in repairing them and even drone pilots. It is the evolution of the traditional truck operator ”, explained Juan Camilo Quintero, manager of corporate affairs and innovation at AngloGold Ashanti in Colombia.

 

These technological advances, such as the case of remotely operated vehicles, open the door to people who were not previously considered for these positions.

 

"For example, a pregnant woman can operate a vehicle in an underground mine several kilometers deep, while she is sitting in a room controlling it with a joystick, almost as if it were a video game and without exposing herself to any risk," they highlighted from the ACM.

 

These equipments, which are controlled from a cabin, provide safety because they eliminate the exposure of people to high-risk environments.

 

Reuse of surplus

 

In mining projects, one of the main challenges is the disposal of the excess ground rock after separating it from the minerals of interest, this residue is called tailings and, in general, it is put in a deposit, which is then covered with vegetation .

 

However, in the field of innovation another use is being sought for this material.

 

In a mining project in the country, which is in the process of being licensed, it is proposed to use this ground rock to recover secondary and tertiary roads.

 

In addition, it is also planned to reuse vehicle tires, their oil, metal meshes and even the miners' staffing uniforms.

 

International cases

 

Countries such as Germany, the United States and Australia, benchmarks in the world for mining developments, are aware that technology, science and innovation are decisive for sustainable mining.

 

“In Germany, where there are important coal mines, in the 1950s they had manual operations, which evolved until they had mechanized operations, with this the level of risk exposure to people began to decrease. Today they are in a stage of automation, in which the workers are withdrawn from the exploitation fronts and carry out remote controlled operations ”, explained Juan Eugenio Monsalve, who is also a professor at the mining faculty of the National University in Medellín.

 

As for the United States, the process was similar to that of Germany, but it also added the tightening of control regulations, monitoring by the authorities, and drastic sanctions for mining operations that had accidents.

 

Australia, for example, with important reserves of iron, precious metals and coal, among others, has the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI), a research center of the University of Queensland, which has six locations in this country and one in Chile , recognized for its mining potential.

 

“SMI's goal is to develop research- and knowledge-based solutions to the complex problems facing the resource industry in its quest to reduce its impact on communities and the environment; in addition to reformulating its role for sustainable development ", reported from the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI).

 

Mechanized excavation

 

The Gotthard railway tunnel in the Swiss Alps, which at 57 kilometers in length make it the longest and deepest (600 meters) in the world, was made with a tunnel boring machine or mechanized excavation.

 

In Colombia, “it can be said that we are experts in blasting excavation processes, however, in my opinion, we must enter the world of tunnel boring machines,” explained Esteban Alarcón, a civil engineer for tunnels, geotechnical and PhD.

 

TBMs or TBMs for its acronym in English (Tunnel Boring Machine) are machines that perform almost the entire construction process of a tunnel: they explore the face to anticipate eventual changes in ground conditions, excavate and also install the support. A TBM could advance per day, about 15 meters.

 

"The construction of a tunnel, whether mining or road, is not done blindly since it has numerous examinations and studies, which provide engineers and geologists with the information for efficient elaboration," said Oswaldo Ordóñez, a geologist at the National University, PhD and master in geosciences.