Mining For Beginners - How Does a Metals and Mineral Mine Work?

Summary

This 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.