With the continuous advancement of industrialization, the global demand for mineral resources is increasing day by day. Currently, both developed and developing countries have elevated resource ownership and development to a national strategic level. To adapt to this development trend, the mining industry is constantly innovating, with a large number of efficient, safe, environmentally friendly, and cost optimized mining technologies emerging. In this context, actively tracking and applying international advanced mining technologies is of great significance for achieving sustainable development and utilization of mineral resources.
Ⅰ. The current status of intelligent development in underground mines
Currently, underground mines worldwide are comprehensively promoting intelligent transformation, with the core goal of improving mining efficiency and ensuring operational safety, and achieving industrial upgrading through the deep integration of mechanization and automation technology. Taking the Kiruna iron mine in Sweden as an example, as a benchmark enterprise for high-grade iron ore (Fe content>70%) worldwide, the mine has completed a strategic transformation from open-pit mining to underground mining in more than 70 years of development. Its intelligent construction is mainly reflected in three aspects:
1. Intelligent mining equipment system
Development project: Adopting a vertical shaft ramp collaborative development system, equipped with three functional vertical shafts (ventilation/ore lifting/waste rock transportation) and trackless transportation ramps. By dynamically adjusting the mining face (6 times the main transportation system has been lowered), the current main transportation level has been extended to a depth of 1045m.
Perforation blasting: Atlas SimbaW469 intelligent drilling jumbo (hole diameter 150mm/hole depth 55m) is introduced, and laser positioning and driverless technology are integrated to realize the continuous operation capacity of 3 million tons of ore collapse throughout the year. The tunnel excavation adopts a rock drilling rig equipped with a three-dimensional electronic positioning system, and the drilling accuracy reaches centimeter level.
2. Unmanned logistics system
Loading and transportation: An unmanned loading system is constructed using the Toro2500E remote-controlled loader (500t/h single machine efficiency), and the transportation process adopts a dual mode of “tape conveyor+rail automatic driving”. The 8-group automated bottom unloading mining truck and intelligent metering system work together to achieve remote control of the entire process from the crushing station to the vertical hopper.
3. Intelligent support system
Innovatively applying remote-controlled concrete spraying units and anchor rod trolleys to form an integrated support solution of “spraying anchor net”, significantly improving the efficiency of tunnel reinforcement and construction safety.
This case demonstrates that the core of mine intelligence lies in building a technological ecosystem of “equipment intelligent control production system collaboration management decision optimization”. By replacing manual labor with intelligent equipment and optimizing production processes through digital systems, not only has the efficiency of traditional mining increased by over 40%, but the occurrence rate of major safety accidents has also been reduced to 0.08 incidents per million working hours, setting a new benchmark for the industry.
Ⅱ. Innovative application and development trend of leaching mining technology
As a revolutionary method for the development of low-grade mineral resources, leaching technology has been applied on a large scale in metal minerals such as copper, gold, and uranium, forming three major technical systems: in-situ leaching, heap leaching, and in-situ crushing leaching. This technology utilizes the principles of chemical biological metallurgy to efficiently recover resources with low economic value, significantly expanding the boundaries of recoverable resources.
1. Current Status of Global Technology Applications
In North America and Australia, this technology has become the standard process for processing low-grade ore bodies:
✓ Copper ore application: 0.15% -0.45% grade primary copper ore,>2% oxidized copper ore
✓ Uranium application: 0.02% -0.1% grade uranium ore
The United States has established the world’s largest leaching mining industry cluster, with over 20 mines adopting in-situ blasting leaching technology. Typical cases include:
✓ Mike Mine in Nevada and Zonia Copper Mine in Arizona: daily production capacity ≥ 2.2 tons of cathode copper
✓ Butte mining system in Montana: daily production capacity of 10.9-14.97 tons
2. Analysis of Industry Contribution
Immersion technology has reshaped the key metal supply landscape in the United States:
The proportion of copper production has exceeded 20%
Gold production accounts for over 30%
The proportion of uranium production is close to 100%
Ⅲ. Innovative Practice of Deep Mining Technology and Green Development of Mines
（1）Challenges and Breakthroughs Faced by Deep Resource Development
As shallow resources become increasingly depleted, global mining activities are accelerating towards depths below 1000 meters, resulting in a series of technical challenges:
1. Deep environmental characteristics
Rock stress: The original rock stress can reach over 40MPa
Ground temperature gradient: rock temperature generally exceeds 40 ℃ (Mponeng gold mine in South Africa reaches 60 ℃)
Disaster risk: 300% increase in rock burst frequency, 5-8 times increase in ventilation energy consumption
2. Deep mining practices in China
China has broken through the traditional mining depth limit of 700-800 meters, and typical deep well projects include:
Tongling Dongguashan Copper Mine: Mining depth reaches 1100 meters
Jinchuan Second Mining Area: Achieving Safe Mining of Kilometer level Nickel Ore
By introducing advanced international solutions such as South African deep well cooling technology and Canadian microseismic monitoring system, a preliminary deep mining technology system has been established.
（2）A new model for environmental governance throughout the entire lifecycle of mines
1. Evolution of international environmental standards
The EU Mine Tailings Management Directive requires:
✓ Wastewater reuse rate ≥ 85%
✓ Dust emission concentration<10mg/m ³
✓ Noise control: ≤ 55dB during daytime
2. Zero emission mining model
Innovative application of Waltham coal mine in Germany:
Solid waste recycling technology: using coal washing mud, fly ash, and underground waste rock to make filling materials (with a compressive strength of up to 28MPa)
Closed loop system: PM pumping filling process achieves 100% underground disposal of waste materials
Energy cycle: supporting waste heat power generation system to meet 60% of the electricity demand in the mining area
3. Progress in the construction of green mines in China
The newly revised “Green Mine Construction Standards” in 2023 will for the first time:
Carbon footprint tracking
Biodiversity Restoration
Intelligent monitoring platform
Incorporate mandatory standards and promote the industry’s transformation towards an integrated model of “mining restoration monitoring”.
Ⅳ. Innovation and Engineering Practice of Modern Filling Mining Technology
（Ⅰ） Optimization of filling technology system
1. Key directions of technological development
(1) System integration innovation
Establish a mining filling intelligent collaborative system (Kidd Creek mine in Canada achieves a 40% increase in cycle efficiency)
Develop a full process automation control system (error rate<0.5%)
(2) Optimization of process parameters
Particle size control: using three-stage cyclone classification (-20 μ m content<10%)
Transportation technology: HSD wear-resistant pipeline system (with a service life of up to 10000 hours)
Material ratio: The new cementitious material enables the filling body to have a 3-day strength exceeding 3MPa
2. Comparison of international mainstream processes
| Process type | Solid content | Transport method | Representative case | Advantages and features |
| Full tailings paste pumping | 78-85% | Piston pumping | Creighton mine in Canada | Zero surface discharge |
| High concentration cemented filling | 72-78% | Self flow transportation | Jinchuan Nickel Mine in China | Cost reduction of 35% |
| Segmented tailings filling | 65-70% | Gravity self sliding | Olympic Dam mine in Australia | Suitable for deep well mining |
（Ⅱ） Breakthrough in deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining technology
1. Technological Evolution Path
(1) First generation technology (1960-1980)
Continuous Chain Bucket (CLB) System
Maximum homework depth: 4000m
Defect: Recovery rate<25%, daily production capacity is only 100 tons
(2) Second generation technology (1990-2010)
Fluid lifting system
China’s Jiaolong test depth: 5188m
Efficiency improvement: 2000m ³/h
(3) Third generation technology (2020 present)
Intelligent mining robot+modular lifting system
DEME Group in Belgium completes 3000m level commercial testing
Collection accuracy: tuberculosis damage rate<5%
2. Key technological breakthroughs
High pressure environment operation technology (>50MPa)
Deep sea precise positioning system (error<0.1m)
Ecological protection technology (reducing disturbance area by 60%)
Ⅴ. International Mining Technology Development Trends
（Ⅰ） Key technical areas
1. Innovation in natural collapse method
Microseismic monitoring accuracy improved to 0.5m
Expansion of application scope to low-grade mineral deposits
2. Intelligent blasting technology
The delay accuracy of electronic detonators reaches 0.1ms
The digitalization rate of blasting design exceeds 90%
（Ⅱ） Interdisciplinary development
New progress in mining rock mechanics:
✓ Deep rock mass constitutive model
✓ Application of digital twin technology
Real time stress monitoring system
