Mining For Beginners - How Does a Metals and Mineral Mine Work?
Summary
TLDRThis video offers an in-depth look at the mining process, from extracting raw materials to transforming them into valuable products like gold bars and copper wire. It covers both above-ground and underground mining, detailing the steps from blasting rock to refining ore. Highlighting modern advancements, the video also showcases how sensor data and computer systems are revolutionizing mining for greater efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
Takeaways
- 📍 The process of extracting valuable minerals from the earth involves both above-ground and underground mining, with the method chosen based on the location and richness of the deposits.
- 🔍 Geologists and engineers use core samples and modeling software to plan the mine, determining the best areas to extract minerals and the type of mine to build.
- 💥 Above-ground mining begins with explosions to break up the rock, followed by the use of trucks to transport the broken rock to a crusher.
- 🏭 The crushed rock is then processed in a series of plants, including ball mills and separation facilities, to extract the valuable minerals.
- 🚛 Haul trucks, which can be autonomous, transport the rock from the mine to the processing plants, with some trucks being as large as three-story houses and carrying up to 400 tons.
- ⚙️ Processing plants use various methods such as roasters, autoclaves, leach heaps, or bubble concentrators to separate the valuable minerals from the rock.
- 🔩 The extracted minerals are then sent to refineries or smelters for purification, resulting in products like pellets, bricks, or bars for industrial use.
- 📊 Modern mining operations are increasingly using sensors and data analysis to monitor machine performance, identify issues, and improve efficiency and safety.
- 🌐 The sensor data is transmitted through a sophisticated communication network, with companies like Cisco Systems providing support to ensure the right data is available to operators at the right time.
- 🌱 Mine planning includes not only the extraction process but also the restoration of the area back to its natural state once mining is complete.
Q & A
What is the process of extracting gold from the ground?
-Gold is extracted from the ground by digging up the earth and sluicing out the gold when it's close to the surface. For deeper deposits, prospectors look underground and use explosives to break the rock, which is then loaded into trucks and transported to a crusher. The crushed rock is further processed through various stages including pulverization in ball mills, separation, and purification in a smelter or refinery to produce gold bars.
How do geologists and engineers plan a mine before excavation begins?
-Before excavation, geologists and engineers drill holes to obtain core samples, which are then input into modeling software to determine the location and shape of the best deposits. Based on this information, they decide on the type of mine to build and create a comprehensive mine plan that includes everything from the initial excavation to the mine's closure and restoration.
What are the two main categories of mines?
-Mines generally fall into two categories: above ground and underground mines.
How is the rock broken in an above ground mine?
-In an above ground mine, a pattern of holes is drilled into the ground to place explosive powder. After wiring the holes for detonation, an explosion is set off, leaving a bed of broken rock that can be loaded into trucks.
What is the role of haul trucks in an above ground mine?
-Haul trucks in an above ground mine transport the broken rock from the excavation site to the crusher. They often form a circuit between the shovel that loads the rock and the crusher, and can be autonomous, driven by a programmed operating system without a driver on board.
What is the purpose of a rock crusher in a mine?
-A rock crusher in a mine is used to further break down the rock into smaller pieces that can be easily handled by a conveyor belt for transportation to processing plants.
How does the ore processing differ for hard rock in a processing plant?
-For hard rock, the first processing plant is typically a ball mill, which uses large metal drums with steel balls to pound the rocks into a fine dust. This dust is then transported to a separation plant where the valuable minerals are separated from the rest.
What happens to the separated valuable minerals after they leave the separation plant?
-The separated valuable minerals are sent to a refinery or smelter where they undergo purification using a furnace. This process produces small pellets, bricks, or bars that are then sold to industrial companies for further processing.
How is underground mining similar to above ground mining?
-Underground mining follows a similar process to above ground mining, starting with an explosion to break the rock, followed by loading the rock into trucks or chutes that lead to a crusher. The crushed rock is then transported to the surface and undergoes the same processing steps as in an above ground mine.
What role do modern data and computer systems play in the mining process?
-Modern data and computer systems, along with sensors on mining equipment, help to monitor and optimize the mining process. They can detect issues such as overheating bearings, identify fatigued operators, and sort ore by grade level for efficient processing. This data is transmitted across a sophisticated communication network, enabling more efficient, safer, and more sustainable mining operations.
Outlines
🏭 The Transformation of Dirt and Rock into Valuable Metals
This paragraph introduces the process of mining and ore processing, explaining how raw materials like dirt and rock are transformed into valuable metals such as gold. It outlines the journey from the mine face to the shipping port, using Gold Quarry as a case study. The process begins with mine planning, where geologists and engineers use core samples to determine the best deposits. They then decide on the type of mine to build based on the deposit's location and shape. The paragraph distinguishes between above-ground and underground mines, focusing on the former. It describes the mining process starting with explosions to break the rock, followed by loading the broken rock into trucks, and then crushing it. The crushed rock is transported via conveyor belts to processing plants. The paragraph also touches on the increasing use of autonomous haul trucks and the scale of the operations, with some trucks being as large as three-story houses and capable of carrying 200 to 400 tons of rock.
🔩 From Ore to Finished Product: The Mining Process
The second paragraph delves into the details of the mining process, focusing on the transformation of ore into marketable products. It describes the use of a ball mill to crush hard rock into fine dust, which is then transported to a separation plant. The separation can occur through various methods such as roasting, autoclaving, leaching, or using a bubble concentrator. The valuable components are separated from the dust and sent to a refinery or smelter for purification. The end product, which could be pellets, bricks, or bars, is then sold to industrial companies for further processing. The paragraph also contrasts above-ground mining with underground mining, noting the similarities and differences, such as the use of smaller loaders and trucks in underground mines. It concludes by discussing the modernization of mines with sensors and data transmission, which allows for more efficient, safer, and sustainable operations. The role of Cisco Systems in providing communication networks for mines is also mentioned, emphasizing the importance of data in modern mining operations.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Ore Processing
💡Gold Quarry
💡Explosives
💡Conveyor Belts
💡Ball Mill
💡Separation Plant
💡Refinery or Smelter
💡Autonomous Haul Trucks
💡Mine Planning
💡Sensors and Data
💡Restoration
Highlights
Exploration of gold deposits begins with digging and sluicing on the surface, transitioning to underground mining as high-grade gold becomes scarce.
Geologists and engineers use core samples and modeling software to plan the mine, selecting the best deposit and determining the type of mine to build.
Mine planning encompasses from the initial excavation to the mine's closure and restoration.
Above ground mines initiate the mining process with controlled explosions to break the rock.
Explosive powder is strategically placed in drilled holes, followed by detonation to create a bed of broken rock.
A fleet of trucks, some autonomous, transports the broken rock from the mine to the crusher.
Rocks are crushed into smaller pieces by large rock crushers before being transported by conveyor belts.
Conveyor belts can extend for miles, linking mines to processing plants or docks.
Processing plants use ball mills to reduce hard rock into fine dust for further separation.
Valuable minerals are separated from the dust using various methods like roasting, autoclaving, or heap leaching.
The final step involves purification in a furnace at a refinery or smelter, producing market-ready pellets, bricks, or bars.
Underground mining involves similar steps but is conducted within a network of tunnels.
Modern mines utilize sensors and data transmission to monitor machine health and optimize operations.
Data from sensors is crucial for decision-making, traveling across sophisticated communication networks.
Mining has evolved to be more efficient, safer, and sustainable with the integration of modern data and computer systems.
Transcripts
how does dirt and rock turn into gold
bars copper wire and iron pellets
this whole process happens in a mine and
in a series of ore processing plants
often near the mine
in this video I'll walk you through this
whole thing from the mine face all the
way to the shipping Port so let's get
started
in this area called gold Quarry
the gold is pretty close to the surface
so they just started to dig up the
ground and then sluice out the gold
but after a few years the high grade
gold was harder to find and Prospectors
started to look underground where they
found really rich deposits
over time this area has turned into a
collection of above ground mines
underground mines and many types of ore
processing plants
it's the perfect place to learn how
minds work
how dirt and rocks turns into gold bars
and copper wire
so for the next few minutes we'll use
this map to walk through each step in
the process
let's start with mine planning before
any bulldozers and Haul trucks show up
the geologists and Engineers are busy
making a plan they drill a lot of holes
to get core samples and then when they
put these samples into modeling software
they get a pretty clear picture of where
the best deposits are and they pick one
of those deposits to start with
based on the location and shape of the
posit they decide on the type of mine
they will build and the whole mine plan
is put together from the first shovel in
the ground all the way to closing the
mine and restoring the area back to its
natural habitat
generally speaking Minds fall into two
categories either above ground or below
ground let's start with the above ground
mines and I'll walk through the whole
process using gold Quarry
mining always starts with an explosion
if we look at this mine you might think
that we're working at the bottom of the
hole but digging always starts at the
top and then Works its way down the side
of the hole one level at a time so we
should we could be working anywhere
along the side of that hole
first they drill a pattern of holes into
the ground to put explosive powder into
you can see the drills here and how
they've already drilled a lot of holes
once they're done drilling a special
crew comes to the area and they put in
specific amounts of powder into each
hole and then they wire up each hole for
detonation
after all the preparation they clear the
area and they set off a beautifully
orchestrated explosion
after the explosion they're left with a
bed of broken rock that can be loaded
into trucks typically there's a whole
Fleet of trucks that forms a circuit
between the shovel that's loading the
Rock and the crusher
in this mine that trip looks pretty
short but it's not uncommon for Haul
trucks to travel 45 minutes from the
time they're loaded to where they unload
today most trucks are driven by human
drivers but an increasing number of Haul
trucks are becoming autonomous that
means their route is programmed into the
truck's operating system and the trucks
can drive from one location to the next
without a driver on board
in an above ground mine these trucks are
often the size of a three-story house
and can carry between 200 and 400 tons
of Rock
the rocks in the bed of these trucks can
be still be quite large even though
they've been through an explosion
because of that trucks often dump their
load into a large Rock Crusher that
breaks apart the rock like a coffee
grinder working on coffee beans coming
out the bottom of the crusher the rocks
are smaller and small enough to be
easily handled by a conveyor belt
conveyors are an efficient way to move a
large continuous amount of crushed rock
some conveyors transport The Rock from a
Crusher like this one all the way to a
processing plant nearby
but in extreme cases conveyor belts can
be many miles long like from the
processing plant to the dock or from one
mine to another the longest conveyor
system is at a mine in Morocco at 61
miles long
now at the other end of this conveyor
The Ore reaches a series of processing
plants
if the ore is made up of hard rock the
first plant is a ball mill this is a
system of large metal drums with steel
balls inside that rotate and pound away
at the Rocks until they turn into a fine
dust
as you can imagine this makes a pretty
big rocket
next the dust is transported to a
separation plant of some kind
separation can happen in a roaster an
autoclave a leech Heap or a bubble
concentrator I'm sure there are other
kinds of Separation but you get the idea
the valuable bits of the Dust need to be
separated away from all the other parts
of the dust and then they're sent to a
Refinery or smelter
in this last step the refinery or
smelter does a purification of the
product using a furnace
this step produces small pellets or
bricks or bars that industrial companies
buy for further processing at this point
we have a product that the General
market buys for manufacturing or some
other type of commercial Enterprise
okay deep breath
that was above ground mining
underground mining is surprisingly
similar but in underground tunnels let's
have a quick look so that you have a
reference of that as well
hang on here we go deep under the ground
through a maze of tunnels and then you
get to the face where the mining starts
same as above ground it starts with an
explosion
in this case the drills put holes into
the Rock in multiple directions because
the tunnel is surrounded by valuable ore
when the explosion experts have wired up
the explosives into the holes they clear
the area and Kaboom the loaders pull in
and load up the rocks and put it into
trucks the loaders and trucks are much
smaller though because they need to fit
into these tunnels
the trucks haul the Oar to a Crusher
nearby or they dump it in a chute that's
been carved out of the Rock and that
takes it to while closer to the crusher
and then once the rock goes through the
crusher it drops onto a conveyor belt
just like before and takes the rock to
the surface
from there the r goes through the same
processing steps that we had before
Hard Rock gets pulverized in the ball
Mills and then separated in some kind of
separation process and then off to the
smelter or refinery
from there it's off to a shipping yard
where it's loaded and sent off to an
industrial customer
and that is how a mine works
but there's one more thing I think
you'll find interesting
for many years all the vehicles and
machines in the mine were set up to
deliver on the designed mining process
right from the beginning
operating the mind to capacity and
Performing maintenance was heavily
dependent on the ears and eyes of the
Mine Workers
they were the ones who knew when things
started to go wrong but this is all
about to change increasingly every
machine in the mine is being measured by
sensors that transmit data back to the
operations center when a bearing starts
to heat up or vibrate
sensors pick it up computers are helping
to identify fatigued operators flag ore
that's been dumped in the wrong location
and even sort or by grade level for
efficient processing and there's so many
more things
the sensor data that's required to make
these decisions travels across a
sophisticated Communications Network in
the mine
Cisco Systems the company that I work
for helps mining companies every day to
ensure that operators get the right data
at the right time
in summary
Minds start with Rock and dirt sometimes
deep below the Earth's surface and then
they transform it into products that we
use every day
thanks to Modern data and computer
systems this process can happen more
efficiently safer and more sustainably
than ever before
take care
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