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The analysis of early studies and methods of land degradation assessment demonstrated that the existing assessment procedure does not reflect the real situation. The existing methods do not consider ecological aspects as loss of social-recreational and protective-restoration functions. The existing methods of assessing damage from the mining and processing enterprise require improvement with mandatory consideration of the environmental component. The object of the study is the land in mining and industrial regions, where minerals are extracted underground and industrial masses are formed on the surface. The main types of land use have been systematized, which makes it possible to apply an estimated aggregate approach. The loss of a number of functions of economic turnover is a classification sign of land degradation assessment. A three-criteria approach to the assessment of land degradation is proposed. This approach considers the impact of loss of social-recreational functions, loss of protective and restorative functions, and the impact of the main mining type of activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its numerous mineral resources, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) finds itself ranked among the poorest nations in the world, which fuels the paradox of ‘richer but poorer’. This work aims to highlight the relationship between the evolution of the mining sector and the economic growth of the country in order to respond to this paradox while formulating some recommendations for the sustainable development of the country. To do this, we acquired data from the annual reports of the mining cadastre and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative which we used to evaluate the evolution of the mining sector. Fraud, corruption, and mining smuggling are at the root of the shortfalls experienced by the Congolese government, but also the lack of appropriate tools and technologies for the local processing of natural resources in order to give them added value. To achieve concrete results for the sustainable development of DR Congo, the ministry of mines will have to act through its technical services for the control of the mining sector in order to resolve all the problems. It will also be important to implement a circular economy policy to maximize revenue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of technologies and technical means for the use of the phenomenon of the aqueous solution of natural bischophyte (RPB) in various branches of the national economy, in particular, the mining and mineral industry, ecology and medicine. Their use will improve the economic efficiency and environmental safety of the processes of blasting rock mass in quarries and storing waste from enrichment of ore raw materials in tailings storage facilities, freezing and freezing of ore mass during its transportation to enrichment plants. During the study, systematization, and generalization of technologies and technical means of using RPB, the analysis of research and publications, the results of industrial and experimental research at landfills using standard and new methods with the participation of authors and leading specialists in the specified fields were used. The main scientific, practical and social results of the assessment of technologies and technical means for the use of the phenomenon of water RPB in various sectors of the national economy, in particular, in the mining industry, ecology and medicine, are given. The functional dependence between the freezing temperature of the mining mass (tс, °С) and the content of the aqueous solution of natural bischofite in it (Сb, %) was established. The technology to prevent winter slippage on quarry roads using RPB has been developed and implemented. Recommendations are given for combating the release of dust during the transportation of rock mass by rail transport, during mass explosions in quarries, on quarry highways and on tailings piles of GZK, with the use of RPB and bitumen emulsion, which allow to effectively fix dust surfaces from blowing dust. To reduce dust emission into the atmosphere during mass blasts in quarries, it is proposed to wet the surface of drilling dust with RPB with a density of 1250 - 1270 kg / m3 and a consumption of 4.5 - 5.0 l / m2. When using RPB instead of water during blasting operations in quarries, BP costs are reduced by 1.4-1.5 times and emissions of harmful gases during blasting are reduced by 20-30%. In underground mining operations, when water is replaced with RPB for moistening BP granules, the release of gases during a mass explosion in the mine is reduced by 1.3-1.4 times. To prevent freezing or freezing of rock mass to the inner surface of open wagons during transportation in the cold, preventive treatment of the inner surface of RPB railway wagons is carried out. In order to prevent ice on highways in quarries, they are also pre-treated with RPB. The technology of preventing winter slippage and dusting of quarry roads with RPB reagents with the use of watering machines was developed and implemented in the conditions of PJSC "Southern GZK" (Kryvbas, Ukraine). Recommendations for fighting dust on highways, landfills and tailings storage facilities of GZK, using RPB and bitumen emulsion, which allow to effectively fix dusty surfaces from blowing dust, using specially developed equipment, are given. In particular, the cost of processing ragweed RPB with an average overgrowth density of 5.0 kg/m2 at the current cost of the solution of UAH 960/ton does not exceed UAH 40 per 100 m2 (acre). One of the promising areas of further research is the use of large volumes of man-made underground cavities, formed during the leaching of bischofite, for the storage of useful liquid substances or for the disposal of waste at a depth of more than 1500 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the literature on the expansion of Chinese multinational corporations (CMCs) in Papua New Guinea (PNG) by comparing the operation of a Chinese mine to that of the German New Guinea Company. I start by looking at the two economic positions (helper and merchant) performed by early Chinese immigrants to New Guinea during the colonial era and the host hostility they encountered.1 Then, a case study of a Chinese mining company in postcolonial PNG illustrates how local employees learned to negotiate with Chinese management through unionization instead of striking. In the meantime, Chinese personnel became subject to PNG industrial regulations based on Australian standards rather than operating as a modernizing agent to educate local workers.2 These findings suggest that, despite specific new Chinese communities becoming investors, they must dedicate resources towards comprehending local customs and legislation, given the enhanced agency of local actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the health and ecological risks of natural radionuclides and heavy metals based on 23 sediment and water samples collected from some sediment at the Red Sea Coast in Egypt. The studied area is characterised old harbour used for shipping and processing phosphate ore. The results revealed that Cd and Zn contents in some water and sediment samples exceeded the standard limit, their concentrations reached (0.027–0.09) mg/L in water and (4.5–236) mg/Kg in sediment samples respectively. While the other analysed trace elements Fe, Mn, Ni, pb and Cu remain below permissible limits. The estimated contamination degree varied from low to considerable while the ecologic risk indices revealed that sediment ranged 10.8 to 466.6 as from low to moderately contaminate with trace elements. The average activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K were 3.4, 0.83 and 5.5 Bq/L in water and 63.5, 16.5 and 556 Bq/Kg in sediment samples which were below the recommended limits except for the activity concentrations of 238U and 40K in some water and sediment samples above the permissible limits. The total annual effective dose rates from the exposure pathway were 0.09 to 0.26 mSv y−1. The estimated excess lifetime cancer risk values for workers were slightly higher than that of the sediment world average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintenance activities are inevitable and costly in integrated mining operations. Conducting maintenance may require the whole system, or sub-units of the system, to be shut down temporarily. These maintenance activities not only disrupt the unit being shut down, but they also have consequences for inventory levels and product flow downstream. In this paper, we consider an interconnected mining system in which there are complicated maintenance relationships and stock accumulation at intermediate nodes. We propose a time-indexed mixed-integer linear programming formulation to optimize the long-term integrated maintenance plan and maximize the total throughput. We also devise an algorithm, which combines Benders decomposition and Lagrangian relaxation, to accelerate the computational speed. To validate our mathematical model, we perform simulations for a real-world case study in the iron ore industry. The results show that our method can yield better solutions than CPLEX optimization solver alone in faster time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Caucasus is characterized by the large and at the same time increasing load from exploited metal and non-metallic mines. The sanitary-hygienic and toxic danger to people and the environment is quite high. There are 44 metal ores in the Syunik Region, and more than 90 non-metal deposits. In 2018, 12 metal and 29 non-metallic deposits were granted with the use rights for the purpose of mineral extraction. Also, geological survey permission was granted for 12 metal deposits. Currently, there are 12 operating and conserved tailings filled with about 400 million m3 of tailings, which are equipped with many heavy metals and other dangerous substances, as the result of the exploitation of the metal mines in Syunik. The present study focuses on the ecological assessment of the waters of the Voghji and the Khalaj Rivers that are located in the technogenic polluted zone of the Caucasus. The research revealed that along with the increase of the volumes of the Kapan-Qajaran copper-molybdenum mines, as well as the increase of the rock dumps and tailings, the organoleptic-chemical indicators of the waters of the Voghji and the Khalaj Rivers had increased. The quantity of the suspended particles and the heavy metals in the waters of these rivers had increased 1.5 and 2.0 times or by 58–100 % and 19.5 − 29.8 %, respectively, in the last 10 years. The trends are also observed in the values of the sulfates, the total dissolved salts, and the electrical conductivity, which are due to the chemical composition of the ores and the improper management of the acid drainage. The content of the heavy metals in the waters of the mentioned rivers is 9 − 20 times higher than the permissible limit density, and the degree of the mineralization is above the permissible limit. Thus, the waters of these rivers, after mixing with the effluent from the mining industry, are not guaranteed to be used for irrigation. Considering that the mobility of the heavy metals decreases several times in the alkaline environment (pH 8.5 − 9.0), it is recommended that the mining industry constantly adds lime (CaO) to the acid drainage of the mines so that the pH of the water become lower: from acid to alkaline (pH 8.5 − 9.0) and only after that, the water could be used for irrigation of the agricultural crops. This is possible for many types of heavy metals, including when using other wastewater treatment measures: engineering, physicochemical and biological.

In this paper we address governmentality and the politics of water rights by examining the Nevada Division of Water Resources (the Division)’s governance associated with water indicators and accounting practices. We are specifically interested in the political work of water indicators and accounting practices as they are produced, applied, and contested – work that generates advantages for Nevada’s mining industry. We focus on perennial yield, an important indicator used by the Division, and examine accounting practices in which mining water rights are designated as temporary and nonconsumptive. We examine how these water indicators and accounting practices are deployed in ways that 1) make groundwater legible and apportionable in ways that advantage the mining industry; 2) reduce the visibility of mining access to groundwater; and 3) enhance the resource state’s objectivity and legitimacy.

FEATURES / [Global Expansion] Where To Next? Opportunity on the Edge Doing business in regions considered less stable or developed can pay off for companies. But they must invest in [...]

Ore hauling operations are crucial within the mining industry as they supply essential minerals to production plants. Conducted with sophisticated and high-cost operational equipment, these operations demand meticulous planning to ensure that production targets are met while optimizing equipment utilization. In this study, we present an algorithm to determine the minimum amount of hauling equipment required to meet the ore transport target. To achieve this, a mathematical model has been developed, considering it as a parallel machine scheduling problem with different speeds and release times, focusing on minimizing both the completion time and the costs associated with equipment use. Additionally, another algorithm was developed to allow the tactical evaluation of these two variables. These procedures and the model contribute significantly to decision-makers by providing a systematic approach to resource allocation, ensuring that loading and hauling equipment are utilized to their fullest potentials while adhering to budgetary constraints and operational schedules. This approach optimizes resource usage and improves operational efficiency, facilitating continuous improvement in mining operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze the impact of corporate governance on corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) in Indonesia's mining sector during the 2014-2018 period. The study focused on 60 companies, selecting 30 through purposive sampling, resulting in 150 observations. Panel data regression was employed for analysis. Key findings include: First, board size (BSIZE) positively and significantly influences CSRD, suggesting that a larger board enhances diversity and improves oversight, aligning with agency theory. Second, board independence (IND) also positively impacts CSRD, indicating that independent directors encourage greater transparency in social and environmental responsibility disclosures, ensuring alignment with shareholder interests. Conversely, gender diversity on the board (DIV) and the audit committee (AC) do not significantly affect CSRD. The findings imply that the audit committee's focus on financial matters may limit its oversight of CSR activities. This study contributes to corporate governance and CSR literature in the mining sector, offering practical insights for companies to enhance CSR disclosure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mining industry poses significant risks, heavily influenced by human factors contributing to workplace accidents. PT Z, a mineral mining company in Papua, Indonesia, operates complex operations involving underground mining and diverse production equipment. With a workforce exceeding 29,563 as of February 2023, the potential for accidents involving moving vehicles, particularly light vehicles, is notably high. From 2018 to 2022, there were 513 reported incidents involving light vehicles, prompting PT Z's focused attention on mitigating traffic-related risks. This study conducted at PT Z aims to analyze light vehicle accidents using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification-Mining Industry (HFACS-MI) framework. Over a five-year period, qualitative data from accident cases at PT Z were collected and classified based on incidents logged in the company's management system. The HFACS-MI framework was applied to categorize and analyze these accidents, revealing that 88% occurred in highland operational areas. The analysis identified multiple layers contributing to light vehicle accidents: organizational influence factors (106%), unsafe leadership (9%), precondition for unsafe acts (109%), and unsafe acts themselves (77%). These findings underscore the critical role of human factors in mining accidents and highlight the potential for reducing incidents through improved error management strategies. Ultimately, the HFACS-MI framework proves effective for structured analysis of mining accidents, emphasizing human factors' significant impact on safety within the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acidic red soil is a typical agrotype in southern China, how heavy metal contamination introduced by mineral industry activities, i.e. mining, smelter, and tailings may impact metal soil speciation and bioavailability in acidic red soil farmlands is not well investigated yet. In this study, soil metal concentrations, speciation, corn grain accumulation, and environmental factors affecting corn metal accumulation were analyzed. All the study sites are moderately to heavily contaminated and the contamination level decreases in the order of Cd > Pb > As > Hg > Cr. Lands near smelters have higher mobile species, extractable, exchangeable, and carbonate-bound portions account for more than 20% of the total Pb and Cd soil concentration, indicating that the two elements can be readily accumulated by plants. The hazard quotient index indicates As in soil may pose a potential non-carcinogenic health risk, while the potential risk of cancer occurrence may be induced by Cd and As through soil ingestion and dermal contact. 85% and 42% of the corn samples from the study sites exceeded the national food safety standard for Pb and Cd, respectively. The dietary intake of Cd in corn may pose a potential carcinogenic risk. The correlation analysis between the Pb and Cd accumulation in corn and the soil properties indicated that improved soil OM content may reduce the accumulation of Cd, while DTPA-extractable Pb can be used to predict the potential bioavailable Pb in soil. This work can support pollution control and aid the health risk management of mineral industry red acidic soil areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the mining industry can dramatically enhance the safety of workers while simultaneously decreasing monitoring costs. By implementing an IoT solution consisting of a number of interconnected smart devices and sensors, mining industries can improve response times during emergencies and also reduce the number of accidents, resulting in an overall improvement of the social image of mines. Thus, in this paper, a robust end-to-end IoT system for supporting workers in harsh environments such as in mining industries is presented. The full IoT solution includes both edge devices worn by the workers in the field and a remote cloud IoT platform, which is responsible for storing and efficiently sharing the gathered data in accordance with regulations, ethics, and GDPR rules. Extended experiments conducted to validate the IoT components both in the laboratory and in the field proved the effectiveness of the proposed solution in monitoring the real-time status of workers in mines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Caucasus is characterized by the large and at the same time increasing load from exploited metal and non-metallic mines. The sanitary-hygienic and toxic danger to people and the environment is quite high. There are 44 metal ores in the Syunik Region, and more than 90 non-metal deposits. In 2018, 12 metal and 29 non-metallic deposits were granted with the use rights for the purpose of mineral extraction. Also, geological survey permission was granted for 12 metal deposits. Currently, there are 12 operating and conserved tailings filled with about 400 million m3 of tailings, which are equipped with many heavy metals and other dangerous substances, as the result of the exploitation of the metal mines in Syunik. The present study focuses on the ecological assessment of the waters of the Voghji and the Khalaj Rivers that are located in the technogenic polluted zone of the Caucasus. The research revealed that along with the increase of the volumes of the Kapan-Qajaran copper-molybdenum mines, as well as the increase of the rock dumps and tailings, the organoleptic-chemical indicators of the waters of the Voghji and the Khalaj Rivers had increased. The quantity of the suspended particles and the heavy metals in the waters of these rivers had increased 1.5 and 2.0 times or by 58–100 % and 19.5 − 29.8 %, respectively, in the last 10 years. The trends are also observed in the values of the sulfates, the total dissolved salts, and the electrical conductivity, which are due to the chemical composition of the ores and the improper management of the acid drainage. The content of the heavy metals in the waters of the mentioned rivers is 9 − 20 times higher than the permissible limit density, and the degree of the mineralization is above the permissible limit. Thus, the waters of these rivers, after mixing with the effluent from the mining industry, are not guaranteed to be used for irrigation. Considering that the mobility of the heavy metals decreases several times in the alkaline environment (pH 8.5 − 9.0), it is recommended that the mining industry constantly adds lime (CaO) to the acid drainage of the mines so that the pH of the water become lower: from acid to alkaline (pH 8.5 − 9.0) and only after that, the water could be used for irrigation of the agricultural crops. This is possible for many types of heavy metals, including when using other wastewater treatment measures: engineering, physicochemical and biological. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we address governmentality and the politics of water rights by examining the Nevada Division of Water Resources (the Division)’s governance associated with water indicators and accounting practices. We are specifically interested in the political work of water indicators and accounting practices as they are produced, applied, and contested – work that generates advantages for Nevada’s mining industry. We focus on perennial yield, an important indicator used by the Division, and examine accounting practices in which mining water rights are designated as temporary and nonconsumptive. We examine how these water indicators and accounting practices are deployed in ways that 1) make groundwater legible and apportionable in ways that advantage the mining industry; 2) reduce the visibility of mining access to groundwater; and 3) enhance the resource state’s objectivity and legitimacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent African scramble has resulted in uneven and combined development (UCD) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) throughout the 21st century due to unequal exchange. South Africa plays a sub-imperial role in this scramble in SSA. It both exploits and is exploited. The mining industry in South Africa has attracted interest from colonial powers, English-speaking businesses, and foreign investors, making it a highly lucrative sector. Furthermore, most black South Africans have been employed in the mining industry since the late 19th century. Over the past 25 years, the African National Congress government has utilised the mining industry to achieve economic transformation through black economic empowerment policies. This study proposes that the mining sector in South Africa is responsible for the ongoing UCD, despite receiving new investments and empowerment policies. South Africa's inclusion in BRICS has broadened its range of international partners beyond its traditional Western or African counterparts. However, South Africa's decision to join the BRICS group in 2011 has not yet yielded the expected transformation in the country's economy and growth. As a result, it is uncertain whether South Africa's BRICS membership has addressed the country's persistent problem of UCD. This study argues that South Africa's BRICS membership has exacerbated UCD in the country. This study proposes that Trotsky's UCD analytical framework is useful for analysing South Africa's policy choice to join BRICS, which strengthens its sub-imperial role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the paper is to identify factors associated with operational factor (OF), geo-environmental factor (GEF), and managerial factor (MF) from the literature. After identification, the study intended to assess the impact of geo-environmental factors and managerial factors on operational factors of the mining industry. The study also tests the indirect effect of managerial factors between GEF and OF in the Indian environment. The geographical boundary of the study was 06 large mines of Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh of India. Three hundred and twenty nine number of purposive samples were collected via email and filtered and processed through the SPSS package. To find out the complex role and inter-relationship of GEF and MF on OF, the study adopted the structural equation modelling technique. The finding reflects that MF plays a partial mediation among GEF and OF. This phenomenon is completely novel in its field when it comes to the geo-environmental and management difficulties confronting mining operations. This research can aid managers in identifying key geological and environmental concerns in mining operations, as well as providing data for regulatory compliance. Overall, this study's findings can help management create policies and manage the environmental concerns of the mining sector. The study's findings provide important directions for future Indian mining research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mining industry faces the challenge of incorporating advanced technology to explore new ways of increasing productivity and reducing costs. Our focus is on integrating drone technology to revolutionize mining tasks like inspection, mapping, and surveying. Drones offer a precision advantage over traditional satellite methods. To this end, we have created a dataset consisting of 373 aerial images captured by a DJI Phantom 4 drone, which depict a mining site in the Benslimane region of Western Morocco. These images, with a ground resolution of 2.5 cm per pixel, are the basis of our research. Our study aims to address the challenges posed by traditional mining techniques and to leverage technological innovations to improve segmentation and classification. The proposed approach includes new methodologies, particularly the combination of K-Means clustering and mathematical morphology, to overcome limitations and deliver better segmentation results. Our findings represent a significant step forward in advancing mining operations through the effective use of modern technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While digital twins (DTs) have recently gained prominence as a viable option for creating reliable asset representations, many existing frameworks and architectures in the literature involve the integration of different technologies and paradigms, including the Internet of Things (IoTs), data modeling, and machine learning (ML). This complexity requires the orchestration of these different technologies, often resulting in subsystems and composition frameworks that are difficult to seamlessly align. In this paper, we present a scalable compositional framework designed for the development of a DT-based production management system (PMS) with advanced production monitoring capabilities. The conducted approach used to design the compositional framework utilizes the Factory Design and Improvement (FDI) methodology. Furthermore, the validation of our proposed framework is illustrated through a case study conducted in a phosphate screening station within the context of the mining industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: With the recent increasing relevance of sustainability, multinational enterprises are faced with divergent stakeholder demands and persistently shifting priorities. This study aims to examine stakeholders' perceptions of the sustainability performance of a gold mining subsidiary in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach: Using a purposive sampling technique, the authors interviewed managers and employees of the case enterprise, officials of regulatory institutions and host community members on their perceptions of the case enterprise's sustainability performance. The authors triangulated the opinions expressed by these stakeholders with data from annual reports. The data were analysed through the lens of stakeholder theory. Findings: The authors found that while members of the host community and the regulatory institutions were keenly interested in the case enterprise's social and environmental activities, they perceived their performance as unimpressive, considering the economic benefits derived from the mining operations. On the contrary, the managers and employees of the case enterprise were satisfied with their environmental compliance and social intervention programmes, even though the company's economic position had declined. The authors submit that the variations in the sustainability performance perceptions among the stakeholders are due to the lack of a deeper understanding of the other stakeholders' expectations. Practical implications: To equitably satisfy diverse stakeholder expectations, the study highlights the role of stakeholder collaborations in understanding the expectations of more salient stakeholder groups such as community members and employees, as well as the lesser salient groups such as academics. It also demonstrates the fluidity of sustainability and its benefits in designing a consensual sustainable management strategy. This implies that managers of the case mining enterprise make the necessary efforts to meet the diverse stakeholder needs while attaining their primary objective of creating wealth for shareholders. Originality/value: Compared to advanced economies, studies on sustainability performance in emerging economies are limited. Nonetheless, these limited studies leave out stakeholder perceptions, focusing more on quantitative performance indicators. Using thematic and content analyses, the authors investigate stakeholder perceptions on the sustainability performance of a case mining subsidiary operating in Ghana. The study focused on Ghana because it is ranked with South Africa as the top two producers of gold in Africa. Nonetheless, unlike South Africa, Ghana faces more sustainability challenges from the mining sector due to weak institutions in enforcing sustainability standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the role of the mining industry in promoting positive peace in post-conflict West Aceh, using qualitative content analysis of secondary data sources such as media and documentation. The findings reveal a significant gap between the current trajectory of the mining sector and aspirations for long-term peace. While the mining industry has transformative potential, its progress is marred by ecological damage and social injustices, particularly conflicts between local communities and mining companies over land tenure and environmental impacts. This study proposes a socially inclusive approach to mining development that balances economic benefits with sustainable peacebuilding. Key recommendations include stronger environmental regulations, increased community participation in all phases of mining projects, and robust conflict resolution mechanisms. This study is limited by its reliance on secondary data, which may not fully capture local nuances and may be biased by media sources. Further research with primary data collection is recommended to validate and extend these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition and structure of the largest companies among Russia's top 10 mining organizations are considered. Detailed economic information is given regarding the revenue and assets of those companies. Stages in implementing the production chain that moves resources in the coal industry are outlined. The cost structure at coal mining and processing companies is compared. The results of such analysis support management decisions in the Russian coal industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The topics of digitalisation and project management have received increasing attention in the 21st century due to the important role they play in organisational success. Objectives: The article makes use of an exploratory approach to determine the push factors and challenges disrupting digitalisation as well as the key success factors that influence the use of digitalisation to support project managers in a mining organisation. Method: A qualitative approach was undertaken in this study, categorised by an interpretive lens. Twelve authoritative capacity participants were purposively selected and interviewed face-to-face to identify the subjective nature of reality and phenomena. Results: The study findings strongly suggest that, in order to improve project management digitalisation within the organisation and improve organisational efficiency, consideration should be given to the push factors for digitalisation. However, challenges such as resistance to change and infrastructure limitations disrupt the digitalisation process. The findings also revealed that key success factors include leadership and organisational support, which should also be taken into account when implementing digitalisation. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the aim of the study has been met and the research objective reached. Contribution: Given the importance of project management digitalisation, especially in the mining sector, the study makes a unique and meaningful contribution through empirically determined findings. Specifically, this study contributes to the body of knowledge by providing influential factors for digitalising project management. In addition, the development of the conceptual project management framework provides sound contributions to further advance the field of study.

Mining activities, as essential components of industrial development, play a crucial role in the economy. However, they often entail significant environmental consequences, notably soil contamination by heavy metals. This article aims to comprehensively review the issue of soil pollution with heavy metals resulting from mining operations, focusing specifically on the ions of arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and zinc. It begins by examining the sources and impacts of this pollution on soil, water, vegetation, wildlife, and human health. Various methods for monitoring and assessing soil contamination with these heavy metal ions are then discussed, including sampling, chemical analysis, remote sensing, and modeling techniques. Finally, a range of management and control strategies for addressing this form of pollution are presented, encompassing biological, chemical, and physical approaches, alongside innovative and sustainable practices within the mining sector. In conclusion, soil contamination with heavy metal ions from mining activities poses a significant environmental challenge, necessitating the implementation of diverse monitoring, assessment, and mitigation measures to safeguard human health and ecosystem integrity. Future research should prioritize developing innovative technologies for mitigating and remediating contamination from lead, zinc, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic, leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning for predictive modeling and risk assessment, and promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly mining practices.

Life in che Antarctic requires capabilities that sound nearly mythical--powers of flight, swimming endurance, and fecundity--in an environment that is remote, cold, and windy. Here we present three animals that [...]

Abstract The mining industry confronts significant challenges in mitigating airborne particulate matter (PM) pollution, necessitating innovative approaches for effective monitoring and prediction. This research focuses on the design and development of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based real-time monitoring system tailored for PM pollutants in surface mines, specifically PM 1.0, PM 2.5, PM 4.0, and PM 10.0. The novelty of this work lies in the integration of IoT technology for real-time measurement and the application of machine learning (ML) techniques for accurate prediction based on recorded dust pollutants data. The study's findings indicate that PM 1.0 pollutants exhibited the highest concentration in the atmosphere of the ball clay surface mine sites, with the stockyard site registering the maximum levels of PM pollutants (28.45 µg/m3, 27.89 µg/m3, 26.17 µg/m3, and 27.24 µg/m3, respectively) due to the dry nature of clay materials. Additionally, the research establishes four ML models—Decision Tree (DT), Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR), Random Forest (RF), and Linear Regression (LR)—for predicting PM pollutant concentrations. Notably, Random Forest demonstrates superior performance with the lowest Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) at 1.079 and 1.497, respectively. This comprehensive solution, combining IoT-based monitoring and ML-based prediction, contributes to sustainable mining practices, safeguarding worker well-being, and preserving the environment.

The European Union's energy policy has necessitated a reduction in coal mining, with significant consequences for occupational safety within the industry. This study investigates the correlation between employment reduction and accident risk within Poland's mining sector during 2006-2020, a period marked by over a 40% decrease in coal extraction and a corresponding 30% decrease in mining employment. An escalation in the relative risk (RR) of accidents was observed, increasing from 1.28 to 2.33. More critically, the RR of fatal accidents rose from 2.54 to 8.22 by 2019. Analysis revealed a critical employment threshold: a fall in mining employment below 140,000 is associated with a marked increase in accident risk, particularly fatal accidents. A linear model was developed to suggest that a reduction in the RR of accidents to 0.7 is requisite to achieve a national average risk for fatal accidents (RR = 1). The findings advocate for targeted safety interventions and propose a preventive strategy model. The implications are vital for policymakers and industry stakeholders aiming to improve worker safety in response to employment changes within the mining sector.