Browse

The first unmanned rover landed on the lunar surface in November 1970. Since then, more than a dozen vehicles of this class have operated on the Moon and other celestial bodies, yet none of them has been equipped with a tracked (continuous-belt) suspension, chiefly because of its mass, which significantly increases launch cost. In parallel, scientific instrumentation continues to be miniaturised, as exemplified by the growing adoption of CubeSat-class platforms. This paper presents the prototype of the #COSMOBOSS ...

The article presents the results of a statistically robust analysis of the level of value added (VA) achieved in terms of shift utilization in an underground mine operating a longwall system, with particular emphasis on long runs. It also identifies rules, methods and tools for increasing this value, using the Lean Mining methodology in this context. The final section of the article estimates the level of value added and its potential increase using the proposed improvements in an exemplary underground hard coal m...

Drilling fluids are essential for safe and efficient oil and gas well construction, performing critical functions such as cuttings transport, pressure control, borehole stabilization, and bit lubrication. Traditional manual testing according to API standards provides only intermittent data, often leading to delayed responses and increased risks of kicks, lost circulation, stuck pipe, or formation damage – especially in complex unconventional, deepwater, and high-pressure/high-temperature wells. This paper propos...

Today, the demolition process employing blasting operations has a demanding technological application, demonstrating that the employment of the blasting method is a suitable alternative in terms of efficiency, quality, and safety. This article describes the practical way and safety conditions of realizing the demolition process of a concrete bridge built over a width river and located in the area of a water dump and a power plant. The bridge was designed as a structure that crosses the river, continued with an acc...

Anthropogenic activities involve extracting the transformation and use of natural resources. During the process of extraction of useful mineral substances on the surface or underground, particles or gases appear in the working environment resulting from the removal or natural release from the rock mass. The process of transformation of useful mineral substances is carried out on the surface in closed enclosures, and involves the use of complex technological processes. During these technological processes, gases, m...

This paper describes the controlled demolition of a reinforced concrete water tower located in an industrial area in Lugoj, Romania. Due to advanced structural degradation and high rehabilitation costs, demolition was selected as the most viable solution. The adopted method combined blasting works with conventional preparatory operations, using a controlled toppling technique in a predefined direction. A detachment wedge was created by drilling and charging 196 boreholes arranged in eight horizontal rows, initiate...

The processing chain in open-pit mines is a complex and quite often a challenging procedure. With a multistage process to obtain a finished product which can be used later in aggregates or construction industry there also a need to create a compounded processing plant with heavy duty machinery and with a labyrinth of locations. That can be confusing and frustrating at first for new employees or for trainees. Moreover addressing the statistics the mining industry in Poland has one of the highest accident rates amon...

Methane emissions are a significant component of the global greenhouse gas balance, and reducing them is one of the key elements of strategies to combat climate change. A challenge facing Polish hard coal mines is controlling the level of emissions of this greenhouse gas. This problem is described in numerous scientific publications. This article presents the application of linear programming methods as a tool to support the management of methane emissions from hard coal mines. The aim was to develop an optimisati...

Ongoing miniaturisation of scientific instrumentation, combined with the development of autonomous research platforms, increasingly favours small, remotely operated vehicles capable of carrying out extensive geophysical surveys with minimal logistical overhead. This work presents the concept and prototype of Energetic Horizon, a mobile field module dedicated to preliminary geological reconnaissance and to assessing the resource potential of a surveyed area. The proposed solution integrates two complementary measur...

Blasting operations are an essential part of underground mining activities, but the seismic waves generated during detonation may adversely affect the stability of underground mining structures such as galleries, chambers, intersections, and support systems. Repeated blasting can lead to cumulative damage, increasing the risk of degradation of both the rock mass and the installed support. This paper presents considerations regarding the assessment of the seismic effects of blasting operations on underground mining...

The extractive industry is currently undergoing a transition toward operating models with reduced environmental impact and enhanced energy efficiency. This study aims to evaluate, through empirical data, the efficiency of an excavator equipped with a hybrid swing system compared to a conventional diesel-powered unit of the same class and performance level. The methodology involved a systematic monitoring period of 65 working days. To ensure a rigorous comparison, two crawler excavators in the 36-tonne class were d...

Off-the-shelf mining and fleet management system (FMS) software solutions are often not tailored to site-specific operational requirements and therefore fail to fully address the complexities of real-world mining operations; moreover, such solutions remain limited or unavailable for battery-electric haul trucks, creating a need for the development of a new, customized application aligned with sustainability objectives. This study aims to develop a conceptual Electrical Truck Fleet Management System (ETFMS) for the...

The depletion of reserves at mature hydrocarbon fields in Kazakhstan necessitates the development of new approaches for regional petroleum prospectivity assessment. The South Torgay sedimentary basin remains one of the most promising hydrocarbon provinces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, hosting several large and medium-sized oil and gas fields. However, despite its recognized petroleum potential, significant parts of the basin remain insufficiently studied, particularly with respect to the spatial relationships bet...

The Akshabulak and Aryskum structures, located within the Aryskum depression of the South Torgay sedimentary basin, are among the most thoroughly investigated hydrocarbon-bearing areas in Kazakhstan. The discovery of several oil and gas fields in these structures was facilitated by seismic surveys conducted between 1986 and 1988. The present study aims to develop predictive exploration models based on the analysis of density heterogeneities and the distribution of horizontal lithostatic pressure components derived...

In terms of sustainability of mining, one of the decisive factors, in addition to economics, is safety. This mainly includes minimizing the effects of safety risk factors such as noise, vibration and technical seismicity, dustiness, the occurrence of harmful gases, etc. From this point of view, it is necessary to pay due attention to this area in research and try to maximize the protection of workers, but also the environment, from the effects of these risk factors resulting from the mining and subsequent mineral ...

Underground coal mining (UCM) is a key component of Bangladesh’s energy sector, particularly for electricity generation, with major reserves in Barapukuria, Phulbari, and Khalashpir. However, its sustainability is constrained by land subsidence, groundwater degradation, soil deterioration, and biodiversity loss, especially habitat fragmentation. These impacts are intensified by longwall mining practices with inadequate ground control and insufficient post-mining land rehabilitation. As a result, aligning coal mi...

One of the most complex structural transformation processes currently unfolding in Europe is the phase-out of coal mining and coal-fired power generation. This transition is embedded within the broader framework of international and European climate commitments and the ongoing energy transition, particularly under the environmental policies promoted by the European Union and the European Green Deal. The process entails profound economic, social, technical, and geopolitical implications, especially for single-indus...

Starting in 1992, the Romanian mining industry underwent a restructuring process, which involved the closure of a significant number of mining perimeters. Without conducting a critical analysis of the causes that led to this extensive action and its resulting effects, it can be considered that some mining units, whose minimum geological reserves ensure exploitation for at least 10 years, could have real prospects for promoting solutions that guarantee economic efficiency, at least at the national level. In support...

The problem of industrial ventilation has arisen as a result of the serious pollution problems that arise both in the industrial and industrial environments. Before addressing an industrial ventilation study, the question should be raised whether there is no simpler means of reducing or eliminating the causes of pollution or of reducing pollution by modifying the production process or the design and construction of the actual ventilation system . The commissioning of an industrial ventilation system occurs wheneve...

The present study investigates the impact sensitivity of high explosives used for civilian applications, with the primary objective of assessing key safety parameters in accordance with the requirements of Directive 2014/28/EU and the harmonized European Standard SR EN 13631-4:2005. Using a RENAR-accredited methodology (Procedure PI-84), the sensitivity to mechanical shock was determined through a series of standardized drop-weight tests performed with the Soneta BFH 12A impact testing apparatus. The explosive mat...

Explosives are used in a wide range of industrial, military and civil applications, and their behavior under extreme temperature conditions is a key aspect for safety and reliability. The present study analyzes the influence of extreme temperatures on the stability and reactivity of explosive materials, highlighting the critical factors that can lead to degradation, changes in sensitivity or accidental triggering. In the research, experimental methods and numerical modeling were used to evaluate the thermal behavi...

This study presents the controlled blasting method used to excavate the buffer zone between a new connection tunnel and an active sewage tunnel operating at full capacity at the Tuzla Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant in Istanbul, owned by ISKI. Treating up to 650,000 m- of wastewater daily for a population of 2.6 million, the plant required new treatment units to be connected to the existing system due to increased capacity needs. Since the existing 2,200 mm-diameter sewage tunnel, built in 1998, cou...

In line with global trends and concerns regarding pollution and climate change, the transition towards non-polluting energy sources is on the rise, favoring clean/renewable energy while reducing reliance on fossil fuels, particularly coal. This shift is essential for lowering carbon emissions and mitigating climate change. Governmental efforts, through policies and regulations (such as carbon taxes and subsidies for renewables), focus on decarbonizing the energy economy. Meanwhile, companies are investing in renew...

This study presents a comparative analysis of the performance of three gas measurement devices used to detect toxic gases generated by the detonation of ANFO explosive. The study was conducted following the operational procedure PI-102, which complies with the requirements of the SR EN 13631-16:2005 standard for detecting and measuring toxic gases produced by explosions. The aim was to evaluate the accuracy, reliability, and consistency of the devices in monitoring key toxic gases released during detonation. The e...

The aim of this paper is to present a multi-criteria analysis of three software tools for simulation and design of conveyor systems: ExtendSim, Sidewinder Conveyor Design and Tecnomatix Plant Simulation. The evaluation is based on five key criteria: hardware requirements, visualization and 3D animation, functional breadth, user-friendliness, and level of proficiency. The decision-making process identified Tecnomatix Plant Simulation as the most suitable tool, achieving the highest score of 51.91%. A dynamic simula...

The article examines the issues of effectiveness improving of use of geopotential of solid mineral deposits based on increasing knowledge about geological resources. The authors reveal the theoretical basis of the category -geopotential-. Special attention is paid to the features of cluster structure of deposits, where in the contours of the mining there are up to fifty and more percent of empty rocks and substandard reserves. The article proposes to keep account of natural patterns of mineral matter distribution,...

Ensuring safety from the point of view of the air is determined by the importance of re-ducing the risks of untimely appearance of toxic and explosive gases in the underground workings of the salt mine, while maintaining safety and security sanity at work by monitoring and foreseeing possible failures and voluntary conscious actions under-ground. Still keeping in mind the context of the society from the socio-political-economic point of view and for the development of knowledge in the problem studied the following...

This article is based on an analysis of how sustainability and environmental protection are communicated in the form of product symbols. The aim is to explore Polish consumers' awareness and preferences regarding environmental labelling on products and, in a broader context, society's approach to protecting the environment by choosing products created in a sustainable way. Through empirical research, including a self-completed online questionnaire and secondary data sources, the study addresses the key research ob...

The working environment specific to underground activity under normal operating conditions refers to the type and concentration of gases specific to the underground atmosphere (O2, CO2, CH4, CO, N2, CnHn), the humidity present in the underground atmosphere, the type and concentration of suspended dust, barometric pressure, air temperature, air speed, flow rates, etc. In order to know the normal environmental conditions specific to an underground workplace, specialized measurements and laboratory determinations are...

The paper explores the utilization of modern measurement technologies, particularly drones and GPS systems, in the process of mineral resource exploitation. These technologies have revolutionized the way topographic surveys are conducted, providing efficient and precise solutions for land mapping and mineral deposit evaluation. Drones, equipped with RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) modules, enable rapid collection of geospatial data, facilitating the acquisition of high-resolution aerial images and digital terrain models...

The role of a ventilation system is to establish or maintain conditions of temperature, humidity, dust content and gaseous products compatible with a certain degree of comfort [2], in the presence of various external inputs, respecting the noise level and air speed compatible with this comfort. In order to obtain prescribed (previously fixed) temperature, pressure and humidity conditions in ventilated premises, the air must first be subjected to a complex treatment process, a process that may include heating, cool...

To investigate the reactivity of various mineral groups with oxalic acid, a series of long-term beaker experiments were conducted using a saturated solution of oxalic acid dihydrate (~50 g/100 mL) in distilled water, heated to >100 -C to enhance dissolution efficiency. The selected samples represented a broad range of mineralogical classes: brochantite (hydroxy-sulfate), malachite (carbonate hydroxide), pyrite (sulfide), chrysotile (silicate), and a Fe- and Cu-rich metallurgical slag containing complex, heterogene...

With three units of laboratory equipment (jaw and roller crushers, as well as rotary ore divider) operating simultaneously, numerical modeling research was performed to examine the effect of dust emission area on air pollution in a laboratory crushing room. The modeling was performed in a three-dimensional setting using the COMSOL program. The room ventilation process was modelled based on a previously developed two-stage methodological approach: calculation of aerodynamic parameters in the incompressible fluid ap...

The recycling of old extractive dumps as filler and aggregate in civil and road construction is considered a conventional recycling method. In contrast, the use of extractive waste as an admixture in cement or as a precursor additive in clinker manufacturing represents an upcycling approach. Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 has shifted the paradigm of waste upcycling by highlighting the dissipative loss of critical raw materials contained not only in extractive waste but also in other waste types when recycled without aw...

Propellant powders represent a very important category of explosive substances that enter into the composition of ammunition, with military and civil purpose, in general in all systems where it is necessary to perform a progressive mechanical work. Propellant powders are widely spread in the military field and deflagration is the main form of explosive transformation. Propellant powders, also called colloidal powders, are homogeneous mixtures containing one or more energy-providing substances. Due to their imprope...

The mining industry is facing increasing pressure to enhance efficiency, reduce operational costs, and adapt to modern technological trends. One of the key challenges is the effective management of logistics, particularly the transportation of raw materials within mining operations. This paper addresses the application of simulation software as a strategic tool for solving logistics problems in the mining sector. Using event-based simulation, the research analyzes transport processes in the Hradova quarry in Kosic...

This paper starts from an economic reality regarding the transportation situation and aims to introduce a scientific approach in a field that, in our country, has received more interest from a legislative perspective than a technical one. Transportation, in its broadest sense, has developed alongside human civilization and has incorporated throughout history all elements of its technical and scientific progress. However, in addition to the major benefits that have established transportation as a standalone and hig...

This paper begins with an analysis of the constructive-functional characteristics of hazardous goods transport systems, as required by legislation [3]. It is observed that safety elements primarily concern the materials from which parts or subassemblies in direct contact with or in close proximity to the hazardous substances being transported are made, as well as the general measures applicable to the vehicle-s electrical system, which aim to prevent overheating or to shield and prevent the transmission of heat to...

The intensification of mining requires the increasingly widespread use of a high-performance transport system, i.e. the conveyor transport. At the same time, the requirements for its basic traction and load-bearing element, namely the conveyor belt, which is used in the extraction of mineral raw materials by applying both underground and surface methods, are rising. Increasing the productivity of those transport systems and longer transport distances lead to an increase in the load to which conveyor belts are expo...

The continued development of human society, from the technical and economic point of view, has led to the need for the increasingly widespread use in the various existing industrial branches of chemical substances and compounds in the form of combustible dust and dust. The processing, handling and storage of these pulverized substances often leads to the emergence of complex explosive mixtures whose explosiveness characteristics cannot be assimilated with the data available in the literature. In places where the p...

The article analyzes the mineral and raw material base of coal deposits of the Arctic zone of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), all of them were explored in the Soviet time in the middle of 40-50 years. The paper presents a comparative characteristic of the geographic and economic, mining and geological and geotechnological conditions of coal deposits in the basins of north rivers Jana and Indigirka. The qualitative characteristics of the coals have been studied, which showed that from the point of view of consumer...

The paper describes the practical solutions and safety conditions of realizing the demolition of an industrial chimney and a cooling tower located in a former thermal power plant, having in the very close vicinity several civil constructions. The chimney has a height of 208 m and consists of the outer tubular structure of reinforced concrete and as well as of the inner chimney made of refractory brick masonry. The cooling tower height was 108.0 m and the base diameter of 82.00 m. For chimney, the chosen solution o...

An attack with a "improvised" explosive device (IED) is when someone uses a bomb and/or destructive device to cause damage, render someone helpless, harass, or divert attention. Terrorists, criminals, vandals, suicide bombers, and rebels all utilize IEDs. IEDs can take many different shapes because they are improvised; they can be as simple as a pipe bomb or as complex as a sophisticated weapon that can inflict significant damage and casualties. IEDs can be transported or carried in a car; they can also be deliver...

Reducing the risk of occurrence of phenomena such as poisoning, as a result of the untimely penetration of a certain amount of toxic gases, inside a ventilation installation, is a priority, regarding the health and safety of workers, material assets and the negative influence on the environment, due to the possible problems caused by the occurrence of toxic atmospheres, formed by mixing air with toxic gases and vapors. In closed or semi-closed industrial and non-industrial buildings, effective ventilation is the p...

Safety protection against detonation due to accidental initiation of stored fireworks is of particular interest for safety because such detonations endanger the life and health of workers as a result of the uncontrollable effects of deflagration and pressure, the presence of toxic reaction products and the consumption of oxygen in ambient air which workers must breathe. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that material losses caused by explosions can be particularly high. The existence of the danger of ac...

In the case of dangerous incidents produced in industrial technological processes, where hydrogen is used, their mastery requires, in addition to a personnel servicing the facilities properly trained for such situations, the participation of professional staff for interventions in dangerous environments. The activity of intervention and rescue in special conditions, in potentially explosive areas due to the appearance of hydrogen can be carried out exclusively by specialized personnel trained and authorized in thi...

This research paper explores the advancement of computer simulation techniques to improve the safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability of civil explosives in various engineering applications. The study emphasizes the critical role that computer simulations play in modeling and optimizing blasting techniques, allowing for precise predictions of explosive behavior under diverse conditions. By simulating the detonation processes and their impacts, engineers can develop safer and more efficient blasting pr...

Gases released because of accidents and events that cause the contamination of certain indoor spaces with methane have become more frequent recently. These gases endanger the lives of people who are inside the contaminated spaces, and there is a need for more and more in-depth research on the dynamic behavior of certain substances with a toxic effect, such as methane, once it begins to accumulate in a closed space, for to develop new detection systems and especially for its evacuation in the shortest possible time...

The evaluation of computer simulation and modeling methods of pull processes carried out in open pit mines is a broad and complex topic, which involves the analysis and comparison of different techniques and tools used to simulate and model pull processes in quarries and open pit mines. The importance of computer simulation and modeling of recovery processes plays a crucial role in optimizing resource extraction, reducing costs, minimizing environmental impact, and ensuring worker safety. These technologies make i...

The basic structural and functional element of a belt conveyor is the conveyor belt, which is supported by carrying rollers. Research in this area is important for increasing the service life of mining belt conveyor components. The rollers are subject to various forms of wear. Tribological interactions between the roller, the conveyor belt, and the particles of the transported material or impurities from the environment that enter the tribological system cause various forms of mechanical wear. Abrasion is the pred...