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Post-mining dumps are a common sight in the industrial areas of Silesia (Poland). Despite several reclamation projects, many of them still constitute an unresolved problem. It is not only a matter of unaesthetic view - they often pose a threat to the environment and the people living nearby. Despite revitalization, some dumps are not properly maintained and are at the risk of slope failure. Such places require constant geodetic observation and stability control. In this article, the example of a dump located in the city of Gliwice was used to show the possibilities offered by the use of photogrammetry and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for cyclic checks of the embankment condition. The current state of the dump and the results of interventions after two incidents of slope failure, were observed. The main slopes of the terrain surface and at the selected cross-sections were determined in two flight missions. The obtained geometrical data were used in the further numerical analysis. Finite Element Method model representing one of the escarpment cross-sectionswas built to estimate the factor of safety and determine the main mechanisms responsible for the failure. Elastic-perfectly plastic Coulomb-Mohr model was used to describe the behaviour of the minestone and the 'c - tan ϕ reduction' - for calculation of the stability. The problem of reliable material properties' estimation was emphasized. The analysis included the impact of seepage and total head difference on the slope stability. It was concluded that the rainfall intensity had a decisive influence on the instability of the dump. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linked to important pillars of the Brazilian economy, studies related to mining and the use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) have been gaining ground in recent years, especially related to the geotechnics of dams and precision agriculture. However, the interdisciplinarity needed to carry out more robust analyses are still lacking in some areas, which brings up good opportunities to be explored. In this sense, the present study combined products obtained through different activities and methodologies, aiming at a solution that provides predictability to the mining dam management process, specifically linked to modeling and obtaining data on solid content in the tailings, arising from the processing of bauxite, based on geoprocessing. The activities necessary to achieve the sought objectives covered, briefly: 2021 tailings sampling campaign carried out in the Plateau Disposal System (RP1), laboratory analyses (humidity), aerial survey with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), geoprocessing for the extraction of luminosity values of images and statistical analysis of dispersion. As a result, it was observed that the increase in the number of drying cracks (highlighted in the images by dark pixels) is directly related to the drying of the waste (increase in the percentage of solids), whose quadratic model presents an excellent relationship between the values of the pixels in the images and percentage of solids from laboratory data, implying a determination coefficient of 91.74%. Furthermore, gains in security, predictability and economy for the processes stand out, when compared to the traditional methods applied, in addition to an excellent potential to be developed in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small mining towns are often single-industry towns that turn to ghost towns or face negative socio-economic impacts upon mine closure. This study qualitatively explores the roles that mining companies and other key stakeholders (should) play in the development of local economies of the small mining communities to bring about economic sustainability, employing a constant comparative analysis. A small mining town in South Africa is the case study. Legislative and policy frameworks were scrutinized for their effectiveness in promoting economic sustainability. In-depth interviews with key stakeholders were carried out. Key factors limiting the effective implementation of developmental strategies were also explored. The study finds that weak community involvement, lack of trust, poor collaboration, poor municipal capacity, and legislation and policy flaws impact economic sustainability. Sustainable local economic development efforts are reported though. However, such efforts are insufficient because of the legislation and policy frameworks that are promoting short-term growth. Also, the town's overdependence on the mining company, local government not optimally fulfilling their roles and responsibilities, and minimal community members' participation on local economic development are other hindrances. However, the fact that the mining company and local municipality do acknowledge the shortcomings in their efforts towards promoting economic sustainability is a promise in minimizing the socio-economic effects of mine closures. Plain Language Summary: Stakeholder perspectives of economic sustainability of small mining towns The purpose of this study is to find ways to minimize the socio-economic effects that bedevil small mining towns when the extraction of the mineral becomes unviable. Often, small mining towns are single-industry towns and so they turn to ghost towns or face negative socio-economic impacts upon mine closure. The current study qualitatively explores the roles that mining companies and other key stakeholders (should) play in the development of local economies of the small mining communities to bring about economic sustainability. The study uses a small mining town in South Africa as the case study. Legislative and policy frameworks were scrutinized for their effectiveness in promoting economic sustainability. In-depth interviews with key stakeholders were carried out. Key factors limiting the effective implementation of developmental strategies were also explored. The study finds that weak community involvement, lack of trust, poor collaboration, poor municipal capacity, and legislation and policy flaws impact economic sustainability. Sustainable local economic development efforts are reported though. However, such efforts are insufficient because of the legislation and policy frameworks that are promoting short-term growth. Also, the town's overdependence on the mining company, local government not optimally fulfilling their roles and responsibilities, and minimal community members' participation on local economic development are other hindrances. However, the fact that the mining company and local municipality do acknowledge the shortcomings in their efforts toward promoting economic sustainability is a promise in minimizing the socio-economic effects of mine closures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research on racial/ethnic differences in stress and coping is limited by small samples, single-item measures, and lack of inclusion of Mexican Americans. We address these gaps by analyzing data from the Texas City Stress and Health Study, a cross-sectional sample of Black (N = 257), White (N = 304), US-born (N = 689), and foreign-born (N = 749) Mexican Americans residing in proximity to a petrochemical complex. We compared active and avoidant coping by race/ethnicity and explored multivariable associations between coping and perceived stress. Black and foreign-born Mexican American respondents had the highest stressor exposure yet displayed different patterns of coping and perceived stress patterns. Active coping may be particularly effective for African Americans but may not offset extreme stress disparities. For Mexican Americans, the lack of association between coping and stress underscores the need for more work focused on the culturally diverse coping experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial to enhance employee occupational health and well‐being (OHW) for the well‐run and prosperity of the industry, but there is very limited knowledge on the assessment of miners' well‐being that differs from person to person. Within this study, a new more direct method, as well as an instrument was constructed to measure the OHW through data analysis based on a representative sample of coal miners (N = 1037). Initially, the causal pathway of job stress and health consequences was characterized by the driving force‐pressure‐state‐impact‐response (DPSIR) model. The OHW index was represented by hazards, vulnerability, and severity through the data envelopment analysis and stochastic frontier approach method. The result was that the severity of the consequences of inadequate organizational response was the dominant factor. 75% of employees with poor OHW work in mining, and digging areas, including various drivers and support workers. This study provides an innovative and complete description of the interaction mechanisms among job stress, job burnout, and health outcomes. It demonstrates that a three‐level assessment method, namely hazards‐vulnerability‐severity, can effectively identify hierarchical management points. We provide metrics, objective data, and evidence‐based recommendations on stress and health management for miners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of the growing demands of the modern economy, 21stcentury technology, and the challenges of Industry 4.0, the classical management of mining enterprises is not sufficient, and it is transforming into a process approach to the organization. The usage of the process management concept creates a situation for improving the organization at many levels, both at the strategy and operational levels. This provides an opportunity for a comprehensive view of the organization, but it is necessary to define indicators that determine the flexibility of operations, the achievement of profitability, and effective operational management. These indicators, called key performance indicators, focus on crucial aspects of the organization's activity that are fundamental to its current and future success. The contribution goal of the presented paper is to propose a new index for assessing the efficiency of coal mines, called the labor intensity index. The proposal is based on a previous three-area strategic analysis, including production indicators of coal mining companies, the state of coal mining in Poland, and economic factors affecting the current situation of the Polish coal mining industry. The analysis covered the period from 1988 to 2020. The use of new KPIs to assess performance in process terms is necessary to develop better new strategies for mining companies. It is particularly important in light of the industry's restructuring plans to restructure the mining industry and the far-reaching vision of decarbonizing the Polish energy sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employment represents a comprehensive field in the mining and quarrying sector. It is related to many aspects of the macroeconomic situation. The two fundamental indicators explored in the analysis are in the forms of the production value and the value added at factor cost. The main employed methodology is a regression analysis technique, where the explained variable is represented by the value added in the mining and quarrying sector. The explanatory variables are the following ones: employment, labour productivity, wage, labour input in industry, and turnover. The examined area includes all the 27 European Union member countries with the other selected European countries. The data set covers the time period from 2011 to the year 2020. The Discussion section offers a comparison with the other research studies. The elementary findings are confirmed in the outcomes related to the research hypotheses and the research questions. All the research hypotheses are rejected, so all the five explored indicators are proved to be statistically significant. Moreover, the research questions demonstrate the potential indicators that will play a key role in future development of the mining and quarrying industry. They will serve as a basement for policymakers in order to create the policies for enhancement macroeconomic area of the examined industrial sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ironically, by sanctioning Russia, the West may actually make that country into a true petrostate that is dependent on a handful of extractive industries – making today's caricature of Russia come true in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Without peace, it is difficult for a country to witness economic development, as peace is the panacea for growth and development. Every nation strives to achieve a high level of peace and development by safeguarding its country from both internal and external attacks. The paper discusses the use of satellites as a tool for safeguarding a country from both internal and external forces in order to achieve peace and economic development. The paper uses Systematic review as a method to scoop up literature on related articles related to peace, development, war, and satellites in orbit. The paper discusses the use of satellites for counterterrorism, countering illegal mining and drilling, monitoring mineral exploration, and as a tool for air defence and early warning systems. The paper concludes with a recommendation on the acquisition, maintenance, and use of satellites for the economic development of a nation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the evaluation of wear of the abrasive load in a ball mill using basalt ore in the province of Manabí. These mills grind minerals wear out steel spheres and influence the operating conditions of the equipment. The basalt mineral was selected for its hardness and resistance. An exploratory, qualitative, descriptive, and experimental research methodology was designed to evaluate the wear using several tests, such as mass loss test and abrasive wear test. The results indicated that both the steel spheres and the basalt ore experienced low wear during the tests. Valuable information on the wear of the abrasive load of basalt ore in ball mills is gained by knowing the impact of wear. These findings may have significant implications in the mining industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outer space holds a special place in the geographical imagination of techno-utopianism. At a time of climate crisis, the mining of celestial bodies, including asteroids, is cast as a possible "tech-driven" response to the need for "green transition" mineral resources in a context of rising geopolitical tensions and concerns over terrestrial extraction. Although still a long way from commercial-scale implementation, outer space mining no longer appears as far-fetched science fiction within the context of a booming "New Space" industry and privatization of celestial commons. Drawing from a growing body of research and critiques of responsible mineral sourcing, we explore some of the legal, political, ethical, and environmental dimensions of outer space mining, and compare them with land-based and deep-sea terrestrial mining. We then point to key areas for further geographical and social sciences enquiries into outer space extractive frontiers, including the uneven distribution of space mining wealth, the impacts on terrestrial mining communities in the Global South, and the reconceptualization of the mining enclave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1790 pantomime The Provocation!'s intervention into the Nootka Crisis may signal that what was to crystalize by 1871, when British Columbia entered Canadian Confederation as a settler colony, was already taking shape: the confluence of the development of a series of extractive industries, the establishment of settler colonies, and persistent imperial ambivalence about the territory that would eventually become a Canadian province. Given that the Nootka Sound Crisis is now relatively unknown, this article begins by briefly summarizing the crisis. After describing Nootka Sound and The Provocation!, The Provocation!'s apparent intervention in British diplomacy is discussed. Finally, after outlining how the public appearance of six Cherokee Chiefs at one of The Provocation!'s final performances was deployed by the press, the article addresses how the two plays built on pre-circulating British understandings of Indigeneity and of the Pacific Northwest, recycling and activating these performative and visual genealogies to lay the groundwork for the settler-colonial structures that followed in the nineteenth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information about Amar Kanwar's art installation, "The Sovereign Forest," which explores the impact of large-scale extractive projects in India's rural areas, particularly the consequences of mining operations in the Niyamgiri hills. Kanwar's ongoing research through this installation examines various dimensions of dispossession caused by such projects and highlights the resistance against dispossession.

In Sweden, a dry cover solution is commonly used to stop sulfide oxidation and the production of acid rock drainage from unattended sulfidic mine waste. Recycling a non-hazardous industrial residue, such as green liquor dregs (GLD) generated during pulp production, in this cover solution is beneficial for both the mining industry where there is a great need for cover materials and the pulp production industry. The objectives of this field study were to install and evaluate the instrumentation of sealing layers made of GLD- and bentonite-amended till, and to evaluate the practical aspects of two different methods of installation: monitoring wells and pits. This practical field study demonstrated that it is difficult to properly seal the drill holes after installing the probes in observation wells and suggests that a better (easier and less costly) alternative for future instrument installation in a sealing layer might be to excavate a pit in the protective layer after installation of the soil cover and then drill the probes into the sealing layer from that pit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mines and miners began to proliferate in Europe from the late twelfth century on, in lockstep with the region's accelerating economic integration and urbanization. Mining communities were often rural and remote, reflecting landlords' capacity to attract workers through freedoms that echoed the era's incentives for urban migration. If, according to the adage, "city air makes free," so apparently did the mine. Yet the specific affordances of mines' materiality, and the mobility regimes they fostered, shaped distinct social dynamics. These emerge in their complexity when mining ordinances—a new type of legal subgenre—are explored for their handling of matter and movement. Mining legislation attests that the composition of ores, the underground extension of seams, the quality of available tools, and the behavior of gas, water, and air across different topographies were salient factors over which elites had little control. The raw physical constraints on directing the flow of people and matter into, through, and out of mines thus created a network of subterranean agency that translated under certain conditions into exterranean power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sound corporate governance (CG) system in the mining sector ought to promote resource utilization while adhering to the principles of accountability and responsibility. In this case, it is curious that so little attention has been paid to understand the CG structures and practices of the mining industry. Therefore, this paper aims to unearth the CG practices of Indian mining through a uniform and structured CG Index. The paper develops a CG index to measure the CG performance across a range of CG structures. The data for this study was extracted from 2012–2013 to 2020–2021 for 11 mining companies in India. The sample companies constitute 78.23% of the total market cap of NSE 500 metal and mining companies. T-test was conducted to test the differences between the CG characteristics of the sample companies on various levels. This study highlights the CG practices within the mining industry of India. The findings of this study can come handy to assess the CG performance of mining companies in not just emerging economies but for the developed ones too. This study lays the foundation for future studies around CG practices, given its role in sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 11 March 2020, COVID-19, which started in Wuhan (China), was declared a pandemic. Since then, casualties have been increasing and have not ceased. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the Ecuadorian mining industry and to identify the capacities and weaknesses caused by the sanitary crisis. For this purpose, the study was structured in four stages: (a) bibliographic review of organizations at the international level; (b) collection of local data (surveys and interviews); (c) multi-criteria analysis, and (d) selection of social and economic indicators that can be replicated in Ecuador's mining sector. International data indicated notable progress in the social, health, and safety areas but less in the labor-economic aspect. Surveys and interviews showed the different impacts of COVID-19 in Ecuador's mining sector, and multi-criteria analysis along with social and economic indicators served as a reference for recommendations to improve the weaknesses detected and reinforcing the strengths of the sector. The Ecuadorian scenario is different from the one abroad; companies presented more social and economic information and less about health and safety than international companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study pinpoints three current factors that could be momentous in a possible transition to marine mining, namely reserve-dependent capital efficiency (accessibility and grade-dependent output per unit capital), cross-sector competition (competition between two separate mining sectors), and asymmetric mineral security considerations (e.g., the resource owner(s) and government(s) tied to a sector desires production for profit and security reasons). Moreover, four conceptual optimization problems are explored to specify the potential roles of said factors in a possible transition. The first problem considers a principal agent, who make decisions on behalf of resource owner(s), government(s) and producer(s), and invests and extracts to maximize the net present value of extraction from onshore and offshore reserves while facing reserve-independent capital efficiency. The second problem considers the same as the first, except here, the principal meets reserve-dependent capital efficiency. The third problem considers two principals, each representing resource owner(s), government(s), and producer(s) tied to a sector, who invest and extract to maximize the net present value of extraction from the respective reserves subject to the decisions of the other principal. Finally, the last problem considers a duopoly setting in which the marine principal values both financial gain and mineral security. The results illustrate that reserve-dependent capital efficiency, cross-sector competition, and mineral security considerations can, in different ways, drive a possible transition to marine mining. Possible counter effective factors are highlighted and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mining industry is one of the sectors that play an important role in the economy, but mining activities often produce hazardous waste for the environment, such as mine wastewater. This research aims to optimize mine wastewater management by applying the sump water circulation treatment method. This research uses an experimental research method in the PT Antereja Mahada Makmur mining area, which operates in the mining area of PT Multi Harapan Utama, Loa Kulu District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, and East Kalimantan. Data collection techniques were carried out by field observation. The data that was collected is then analyzed qualitatively. The results showed a higher decline than planned in the remaining volume of sump 90. The impact of this decline was the achievement of the coal exposure target in November 2022. This shows that using the sump water circulation treatment method has successfully optimized the treatment of mine wastewater and has a positive impact on reducing the remaining volume of sump 90 so that the coal exposure target can be achieved effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acceleration in political support for critical minerals industry development is linked to securing resource supply chains essential to low carbon futures. This commentary reviews the Australian critical minerals agenda, scrutinising urgency claims engulfing the 'rush' to extract critical minerals. First, we define critical minerals and examine their 'criticality' in relation to decarbonisation and geopolitical motivations. The idea that the emergent industry is premised on an ethics of climate action conflicts with evidence that reputational risk and market shifts are driving companies. Second, we problematise urgency claims, arguing that crisis narratives and regulatory fast-tracking mask serious socio-environmental justice concerns, while neglecting material blockages. We distinguish the production of materials central to low carbon futures from localised social and environmental impacts of their extraction and processing, raising concerns over the absolution work performed by urgency claims. The burgeoning critical minerals industry presents an epochal moment to reconstitute mining differently to meet socio-environmental justice goals. Instead, as currently imagined, it extends a frontier mentality and existing models of extractivism, reproducing colonial-capitalist legacies. We conclude by advocating for counter-urgencies that foreground materiality and view critical minerals as policy commons, enabling debates on the shape of the critical minerals industry before it is fully established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid advancements of the mineral industry, the data generated by this industry chain have increased dramatically. To reduce the growing pressure of data storage and security risks, we design a credible on-chain and off-chain collaborative dual storage system that integrates blockchain technology and Interplanetary file system (IPFS), also construct a traceable and revocable multi-authority ciphertext-policy attributed-based encryption (CP-ABE) algorithm to meet the demand of privacy protection and dynamic fine-grained access control. Furthermore, the multi-authority layered authorization with a central authority model distributes system overhead while enabling the platform can be regulated. More importantly, our scheme achieves accurate trace of the malicious users by white-box traceability and capable of implementing indirect immediate user and attribute revocation without requiring key or ciphertext updates. Finally, the proposed scheme is indistinguishably secure under chosen-plaintext attack (IND-CPA) in the standard model. And the performance analysis demonstrates that our scheme is feature-rich, practical and efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around the same time, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) issued a series of recommendations regarding the rights of Maroons and Indigenous peoples, including the need for the state to recognize their collective rights to their traditional territories. Indeed, in 2023, Suriname still retains the shameful distinction of being, as the Forest Peoples Programme put it back in 1998, "the only state in the western hemisphere in which Indigenous Peoples and Maroons live that does not in some way legally recognize their rights to own their ancestral territories." Maroons and Indigenous Peoples versus the State in Suriname: Since independence, extractive industries and government corruption have threatened traditional territories and autonomy. The official restoration of peace in 1992 came at a price, as the Maroons were forced into signing a treaty giving up their rights to land, minerals, and other natural resources - all of which are now claimed unambiguously by the Suriname state. [Extracted from the article]

This essay explores how the analogy between vegetable, animal, and mineral growth—common in early modern Europe—informed economic thinking. It proceeds by analyzing a scholarly text emerging from Central European mining, the Berg-Chronica of the Saxon court historiographer Petrus Albinus, within two contexts: natural philosophy (both learned and vernacular) and the management of mines. The provision of precious and useful metals by Nature/God was thought to occur slowly. Taking a long view on mineral provision was fostered by the increasingly bureaucratic management of mines in Central Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like many other natural resources, sand has become integral to technologies that symbolize modernity and development, but that depend upon an imperative of low cost. In India, sand began to be commoditized in the early twentieth century as an input in a powerful new building technology, reinforced cement concrete (RCC). With the expansion of cities and major infrastructure projects since independence and especially since the 1990s, sand mining has nonetheless remained characterized by small-scale enterprises and small technologies; it is also controlled by regional powerholders who operate on the legal margins, widely referred to as 'sand mafias'. This article draws upon archival and ethnographic research on sand mining for construction in the city region of Bombay/Mumbai to show that the sand mining industry there has effectively come to operate over time through various methods of drawing marginal value from devalued labour techniques and delegitimized or tactical modes of operation. These destructive-productive activities, at a broad level, constitute micro-practices of contemporary capitalism (modes of flexible accumulation) on a resource frontier. But equally, for many of the people involved in them, their value lies in their unpredictable excesses and terrains of resource-making that likewise buoy changes in the technological assemblage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Few birth cohorts in South America evaluate the joint effect of minerals and toxic metals on neonatal health. In Madre de Dios, Peru, mercury exposure is prevalent owing to artisanal gold mining, yet its effect on neonatal health is unknown. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine whether toxic metals are associated with lower birth weight and shorter gestational age independently of antenatal care and other maternal well-being factors. METHODS: Data are from the COhorte de NAcimiento de MAdre de Dios (CONAMAD) birth cohort, which enrolled pregnant women in Madre de Dios prior to their third trimester and obtained maternal and cord blood samples at birth. We use structural equation models (SEMs) to construct latent variables for the maternal metals environment (ME) and the fetal environment (FE) using concentrations of calcium, iron, selenium, zinc, magnesium, mercury, lead, and arsenic measured in maternal and cord blood, respectively. We then assessed the relationship between the latent variables ME and FE, toxic metals, prenatal visits, hypertension, and their effect on gestational age and birth weight. RESULTS: Among 198 mothers successfully enrolled and followed at birth, 29% had blood mercury levels that exceeded the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention threshold of 5.8μg/L and 2 mothers surpassed the former 5-μg/dL threshold for blood lead. The current threshold value is 3.5 μg/dL. Minerals and toxic metals loaded onto ME and FE latent variables. ME was associated with FE (β= 0.24; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.45). FE was associated with longer gestational age (β= 2.31; 95% CI: -0.3, 4.51) and heavier birth weight. Mercury exposure was not directly associated with health outcomes. A 1% increase in maternal blood lead shortened gestational age by 0.05 d (β= -0.75; 95% CI: -1.51, -0.13), which at the 5-μg/dL threshold resulted in a loss of 3.6 gestational days and 76.5 g in birth weight for newborns. Prenatal care visits were associated with improved birth outcomes, with a doubling of visits from 6 to 12 associated with 5.5 more gestational days (95% CI: 1.6, 9.4) and 319 g of birth weight (95% CI: 287.6, 350.7). DISCUSSION: Maternal lead, even at low exposures, was associated with shorter gestation and lower birth weight. Studies that focus only on harmful exposures or nutrition may mischaracterize the dynamic maternal ME and FE. SEMs provide a framework to evaluate these complex relationships during pregnancy and reduce overcontrolling that can occur with linear regression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the New Order regime, access to tin mines has been a disaster for the Mapur Tribe. The desire to live in prosperity from tin mining led to a prolonged structural agrarian conflict and problems of political recognition. This study aims to analyze agrarian conflicts and the recognition debates that surround them and analyze the visibility of discourses on the recognition that is adaptive to the interests of indigenous peoples. Through qualitative research with case studies, this study found that structural agrarian conflict gave rise to social rupture and acts of mutual exclusion between groups. The counter-movement can unite the group and continue the resistance. After the agrarian conflict, indigenous peoples were faced with debates about the legal product of recognition through sectoral laws which gave rise to different interpretations at the Regional Apparatus Organization (OPD) level. This condition gave rise to the phenomenon of split recognition, due to the lack of political will to include the agenda for recognition of Indigenous Peoples (MHA) in regional planning policies. A comprehensive law with a general function is needed as a middle ground for the unification of arrangements regarding MHA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the new characteristics of safety risk management in the context of intelligent mining, this study designs a framework for an intelligent comprehensive control system for safety risk in underground gold mines, based on a comprehensive analysis of the functional requirements of the system, The intelligent elements of safety risk management within the system are analyzed, and the data interaction methods of the system are planned, By leveraging machine vision, Internet of Things (IoT), and intelligent identification technologies, the acquisition and standardized processing of key data such as personnel and equipment are realized within the system, This ultimately leads to the construction of a safety risk control system for underground gold mines and the integration of human-machine-environment management functionalities, The implementation and application of the system significantly enhance the standardization, informatization, and intelligence level of safety risk management in the mining industry, demonstrating considerable value for promotion and application in the field, [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior consultation (PC) has been an internationally enshrined norm for indigenous peoples' rights since the 1980s. Indigenous peoples have called for PC for decades, but when governments finally begin implementation, a paradox results: previous advocates increasingly turn away from consultation processes. I argue that only with the perspective that norms are and should be contested "on the ground," we are able to understand this contradiction. Therefore, the article presents a new conceptual and methodological interpretive framework for studying indigenous grassroots contestation. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in the Peruvian Amazon (2013–2016), I hone in on three layers of contestation—explicit contestation, attitudes and perceptions, and political implications—and demonstrate that (1) non-contestation confirms state monologues and is an alarming sign for silenced voices, not for norm support; (2) contested consultations reproduce asymmetries within indigenous groups replicating negotiations about extractive industry projects; and (3) opposition to consultation may be the most powerful tool for indigenous peoples to change narrow state interpretations and make use of veto rights. Scaling up these insights, the structure of PC accommodates two irreconcilable understandings: PC is either interpreted as an end in itself or as a means of indigenous self-determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rich body of literature has established the importance of activist framing in environmental controversies. This research suggests that framing and framing contests are nested within broader discursive opportunity structures, which have significant implications for frame resonance and success. While significant research on environmental activism has investigated how activists can fight against new industrial projects, comparatively less is known about how activists can fight against these initiatives in areas that have been historically dependent on extractive industries. We utilise the case of a proposed gold mining project in Western Romania to investigate how environmental activists were able to successfully tap into broader national and international discursive opportunities to forestall the mining efforts in the region. Our data come from in-depth interviews and document analysis. We contribute to this body of research by shedding light on the dynamics surrounding activists' shifts in framing strategies to reflect changes in discursive opportunity availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors analyze the control circuit of the work process-related parameters of a hydraulic impactor with the piston retention before the back stroke phase. Retention is implemented via the throttle control of pressure in the hydraulic cell of the slide valve. The physical model of such hydraulic impactor is tested, and its energy characteristics are determined. The tests included re-tuning of throttles and slide homing spring, and variation in fluid flow rate. The article presents oscillograms of the hydraulic impactor dynamics and the slide performance versus throttle parameters, fluid flow rate and the spring pre-tension. The curves of the hydraulic impactor energy, retention pressure and fluid flow rate illustrate the energy adjustability using the proposed performance control circuit. The oscillograms of the slide motion during its work cycle are plotted, the features and shortages of the process are determined. The proposed design of the throttle valve provides the steady-state performance of hydraulic impactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors developed a pilot project to test different preparations of cemented rock fill, determine the appropriate mix design, and check necessary mix strength. The article presents the required resistance studies and the research method used to determine feasibility, cost performance and increased mine productivity and safety. The study achieved a resistance peak of 1.6 MPa, reduced dilution of the ore, and increased pillar stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compressibility of strong and structurally disturbed rocks is determined for predicting land subsidence and stability during operation of transport machines. The plate-bearing tests are carried out on a large bench tester at different normal pressures and different densities of strong overburden rocks. The method to estimate deformability of strong overburden rocks using a plate and a station rod is described. The results were used to assess passability of transport machines during damming, and for the damp stability calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the pseudo-discontinuum modeling technique, called continuum Voronoi block model (CVBM), was applied to represent the behavior of hard-rock pillars from underground mines subjected to high field stresses. The CVBM's ability to produce numerical results consistent with the observed behavior of pillars is demonstrated through the numerical analysis of a hypothetical case and a back analysis of the Creighton mine pillar. The results show that the model can capture convergence displacements and explicitly show the formation of macro-fractures parallel to excavation walls, intact rock slabs, and V-shaped notches. These components are characteristics of brittle failure induced by highly stressed ground conditions. The studies presented in this work confirm the CVBM as a convenient tool for the numerical modeling of intact rock pillars excavated in deep underground mines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the pre-employment median hearing threshold level (HTL) distribution from a population of coal miners from New South Wales (NSW), Australia, to an otologically normal, age-matched population described by the International Standards Organisation (ISO) ISO 7029:2019, to determine any differences. This was an observational, retrospective, repeated cross-sectional study. De-identified audiometric records of 59,601 male employees entering NSW coal mining in three representative five-year periods between 1991 and 2015 were utilised. The median HTL deviation of the mining population was statistically significantly different (p < 0.05) from the ISO population, for almost all analyses. Overall, the mining population cohorts have higher (worse) median HTLs compared to the ISO population. The greatest difference occurs at 4 kHz in older age groups, likely indicating noise-induced hearing loss. These findings indicate that some NSW coal mine workers commence their careers with evidence of pre-existing hearing loss (HL), in an industry with excessive noise exposures. These results provide Australian mining and other noisy industries with evidence to support a review of hearing conservation strategies to improve mitigation of hearing loss across the working lifespan. The coal mining industry in Australia typically employs 20,000–30,000 workers annually. These workers are potentially exposed to noise levels between 80 dB(A) and 120 dB(A) whilst at work, and thus at high risk of developing noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). NIHL is the most compensated, occupational disease for coal mining in Australia, costing the Australian State of New South Wales (NSW) up to $4 million each year. And yet: NIHL is entirely preventable. This is the second of two studies of Australian coal mining, analysing a database containing de-identified mandatory audiometric testing results. Evidence of hearing loss within this population was determined in the first study, and the aim of this follow-up study was to determine if there were differences in the median hearing threshold levels in the mining population compared to an otologically normal, international population (ISO7029). The results indicate that the mining population HTLs for males are significantly different (worse) compared to an age and gender matched otologically normal population, specifically at 4 kHz for older workers. Evidence of age-related hearing loss was also found. From a workplace perspective, employers need to consider appropriate workplace interventions to promote hearing loss prevention strategies across the workforce. This information can be used to inform future noise and hearing policies and procedures within this, as well as other noisy industries, to prevent and reduce further exposure of workers to excessive noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 71% of deaths in 2021. The chronic and pervasive nature of these diseases spurs the need for novel treatment approaches, including using the workplace as a front for the promotion and dissemination of health messages and activities. Taking this into consideration, this study aimed to assess the efficacy of a workplace health promotion program that targeted nutrition, physical activity, and obesity outcomes in a New South Wales (NSW) coal mine site. Design: A 12-week quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test study. Setting: A coal mine site in rural NSW, Australia. Participants: At baseline there were n = 389 participants, with similar numbers at follow-up (n = 420) as well as 61 participants from both timepoints (8.2% repeated measures), with 89% of participants being male. Intervention: A multicomponent wellness intervention was implemented incorporating aspects of education, goal setting, and competition. Outcomes: Physical activity, nutrition, and weight. Results: The mean BMI at baseline was 30.01 kg/m2, and at follow-up 29.79 kg/m2 (p = 0.39). At follow-up, participants reported 81% lower odds of engaging in the exercise category 'no moderate physical exercise' (OR = 0.09, p < 0.001), as well as 111% higher odds of meeting physical activity and exercise guidelines (OR = 2.11, p = 0.057). There were no changes to diet outcomes and no association between employment characteristics and participating in physical activity. Conclusions: Workplace health promotion programs can be an efficacious strategy in improving physical activity outcomes and marginally improving weight outcomes in those in the mining industry. Further research is needed to determine the true effectiveness of these programs long-term, particularly in an environment as challenging and dynamic as the mining industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposing workers who perform extended night shifts for prolonged periods of time to blue-enriched white light can alleviate the decrement in nocturnal alertness. Objective: The aim of the study is to assess whether a blue-enriched light intervention improves nocturnal alertness and daytime sleep of night workers. Methods: Thirteen miners performing 12-hour night shifts for 12 consecutive nights were exposed to a baseline and a blue-enriched light condition. All subjects wore an actigraph and completed a Psychomotor Vigilance Task at the beginning and at the end of each shift. Data were analyzed with linear mixed models. Results: In the blue-enriched light condition, the daily increase in median reaction time (RT), mean RT, slowest 10% of RT, and fastest 10% of RT was lower than that observed in the baseline condition between day 1 and 12 (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: The addition of blue-enriched light during a long period of extended night shifts counteracts most of the daily decline in nocturnal alertness observed in the standard lighting condition, irrespectively of sleep duration and sleep efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Mexico, the State policy in favor of mining extractive -based on the idea that the exploitation of the subsoil will generate sufficient resources to achieve well-being and progress- has caused irreparable environmental damage to the mining populations, generating a paradox of abundance at the local level. This situation is analyzed here in economic, social, and environmental terms in the mining community of Valdecañas, in Fresnillo, Zacatecas; corroborating the environmental impact of mining, the scarce resources it generates for the economy, and the risk it has on the well-being and health of people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The great majority of workplace respirator efficacy studies have measured total inward leakage (TIL) for particulate contaminants. One of the first such studies, designated the Harris study, was conducted in the early 1970s in US underground coal mines. As in other particle-based studies, inside-the-facepiece dust sampling was continuously conducted across the inhalation and exhalation phases of the breathing cycle, although unlike in other studies, respirable dust cyclones were used in air sampling. Because exhaled air was partially depleted of dust particles due to deposition in the respiratory tract, the measured time-averaged dust concentration inside the facepiece underestimated the time-averaged dust concentration inspired into the facepiece. In turn, the reported TIL values underestimated the true TIL values experienced, which is to say, overestimated respirator efficacy. This paper describes a method to correct the Harris study's reported TIL values for respiratory tract deposition while accounting for particle size-selective sampling by the cyclone devices. Given the estimated coal mine particle size distribution outside the respirator, it is shown that the reported TIL values should be increased by the multiplicative factor 1.69. This paper also discusses the assigned protection factor (APF) of five for the quartermask respirator class and shows that 4/5 quartermasks in the Harris study did not meet the criterion for complying with this APF value when using the corrected TIL values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithification is important to diluvial geology and the mineral industry, especially petroleum. Lithification can be used to determine the amount of eroded overburden, which we apply to North Central Montana. There are also five other ways to determine erosion and, using these, secular scientists have estimated immense continental erosion. We delve into the variables affecting lithification, emphasizing diagenesis and, in particular, mechanical and chemical compaction of sandstone. Despite many difficulties, the study of lithification has produced some data useful in inferring burial depths for sandstones from compaction microtextures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the influence of transformational leadership style on work engagement mediated by motivating language in mining industry. Mining work is a type of heavy work requiring work engagement from the employee in order to achieve the goals of the company, therefore needed a leader who is able to move or direct the employees to be involved in their work, besides that with the existing of a motivating language, it is hoped that employees will be more involved in their work. This research was conducted on 222 mining company employees working in four regions of Indonesia, results obtained that transformational leadership style has a negative and insignificant influence on work engagement, futhermore transformational leadership style has a positive and significant influence on the three motivating language, namely direction-giving language, empathetic language, and meaning-making language, whereas from the third motivating language only direction-giving language has a significant influence on work engagement. Based on the research, it was found that only direction-giving language was able to mediate transformational leadership style on work engagement, Therefore, in order for employees to be more involved in their work and the goals of the company can be achieved, it is important for the leader to maintain and increase direction-giving language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few decades, the demand for energy-efficient mineral-processing methods has continued. The necessity to develop energy-efficient technologies for the mineral industry will increase in the future, considering the exhaustion of high-quality resources and severe environmental limitations. The subject of this study is crushing equipment. It is a complex of units designed to reduce the fraction of ore and non-metallic solid materials. It is also designed to make them more symmetrical in order to facilitate their transport and later use in production. Thus, the urgency of using crushers in mining and processing plants is clear, so it is relevant to find ways to optimize their operation and reduce energy consumption. This article presents a systematic review of the task of improving the energy efficiency of crushing units. This is achieved by studying modelling methods and results, the automation of crushing and grinding processes, and the wear reduction of crusher components. On the grounds of the reviewed sources, the main methods of increasing the efficiency of crushing units are identified. A mathematical model of the cone crusher was designed. The simulation error is less than 6%. A simulation experiment was carried out on the mathematical model. The dependences of the current and power of the crusher electric drive on the feeder capacity are determined; the graphs have a symmetrical position relative to the approximating curve (R2 ≈ 0.9). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective/Context: The paper provides a comprehensive overview of Latin American mining history, exploring cross-pollination opportunities between mining historians and scholars of the emerging field of the new history of capitalism. The analysis spans from the region’s integration into global markets during the 1500s to the twilight of export-led growth in the early twentieth century. Methodology: The study builds on an overview of both classic and contemporary literature, offering new insights into understanding existing data on mining history within a global context. By incorporating perspectives from geology, ecology, and economics, the article investigates the connections between specific mineral deposits and different paths of capitalistic development across Latin America. Originality: The paper sketches some of the gaps in the analysis of global and local flows of minerals and comments on notable contributions to the broader field of Latin American history. It introduces innovative approaches for the study of output cycles, geological and ecological endowments, technological spillovers, and mining economics. Conclusions: First, the existing literature has predominantly focused on precious metals, with few scholars studying non-precious metals and non-metallic minerals. Second, the narratives surrounding mining history have been primarily centered on silver, overshadowing the significance of bimetallism in understanding the emergence of global capitalism. Thirdly, examining the microeconomic dynamics of mining in the region may present fresh opportunities to explore the impact of mining on sectoral and managerial transformations. Finally, studies of the two-way interaction of capitalism and mining need to include research on the energy and environmental systems that underpinned mineral extraction and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The previously unknown remnants of old mining activity were recently found at the locality Ruda-hájenka in the SW part of the Horní Město Ore District (Northern Moravia, Czech Republic). Partly weathered fragments of baryte mineralization in association with acid metavolcanites of the Vrbno Group (Devonian, Silesicum) were found in the dump material. Baryte mineralization exhibits a fine-grained marble-like appearance and locally contains minor disseminated pyrite. A detailed mineralogical study also revealed the presence of trace amount of other hypogene sulphides (galena and sphalerite), whose chemical composition is similar to those reported from the Horní Město Ore District. In addition, baryte also contains individual grains or aggregates of quartz, K-feldspar, and muscovite, which are often corroded and replaced by baryte. The silicates contain negligible amount of Ba (up to 0.02 apfu), which is only slightly higher than those in the same mineral phases from the host metavolcanic rock. The isotope composition of sulphur in baryte and pyrite indicates at least two different sources of sulphur (marine sulphate and likely sulphur leached from wall rocks) and isotope disequilibrium between co-existing minerals. The texture and mineral composition of the studied mineralization resemble metamorphosed baryte mineralizations occurring in the wider area (including local stratiform baryte bodies), but the absence of elevated contents of Ba in feldspars and especially in mica contradicts with an idea of Variscan metamorphic re-crystallization of the studied mineralization together with its host rock environment under the greenschist facies conditions. Therefore, one cannot exclude the possibility that it can be a post-metamorphic vein mineralization, which experienced intense deformation and recrystallization at very low temperatures, associated with rejuvenation of fault-related tectonic activity. The supergene mineral phases are represented especially by limonite, less frequent are minerals of the hollandite group (hollandite, coronadite, cryptomelane), anglesite, cerussite, and a not very well identified Ce-mineral, most likely cerianite-(Ce). Supergene origin is also presupposed for rarely found acanthite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation action plans need to be devised and implemented if we are to reduce the extinction risk faced by globally threatened plants. However, most plant species categorized as threatened globally on the IUCN Red List lack conservation action plans. In West Africa, Guinea is one of the most diverse countries in terms of botanical species. In total, 273 plant species in Guinea have been assessed as being threatened globally, reflecting increasing pressure from the extractive industry and a growing population requiring food and fuel. In parallel with the implementation of an Important Plant Area programme in Guinea, we developed conservation action plans for 20 threatened plant species through a pilot study. We outline the methods we used and demonstrate the importance of adopting a collaborative approach and having up-to-date field information. The need for such plans is urgent, with recent estimates suggesting that one-third of African plants are threatened with extinction. Based on our experience with the first 20 conservation action plans for Guinea species, we suggest that the preparation of multi-species conservation action plans would be an efficient use of the limited resources available for species conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most illnesses and deaths in industry workers are associated with occupational diseases (ODs). In recent years, mining has grown rapidly into a major driver of the Mongolian economy. In this study, the organization-based registry data on OD incidence and mortality from the archival data of the 'Erdenet' Copper and Molybdenum Concentrator Plant in Mongolia were used. We estimated the ODs burden in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) loss between 1999 and 2019. A total of 72,802 DALYs were lost over 20 years, of which 97.5% were due to years lived with disability and 2.5% for years of life lost. The disease burden was high in men, accounting for 76.8% of total DALY. In terms of age groups, among people aged 46–55, DALY accounted for the largest percentage of losses. We found that workplace dust, noise, ergonomics, and vibration were the main factors attributed to the DALYs during the past two decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to test and to prove whether companies that have adopted information technology (IT) governance mechanisms have improved their financial performance, by measuring profitability, productivity and market value pre and post adoption. Manufacturing and mining companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange are the population of the research by using event study methodology. Researcher employs secondary data in the form of corporate annual reports that gotten by firm's official website. The SPSS 26 application used to process the data by testing hypotheses through descriptive statistics, normality tests and paired sample t-test. According to the study's findings, there were no appreciable changes between the financial performance of mining and manufacturing companies before and after adopting IT governance. Two of the eight indicators--asset turnover and share repurchase--have a considerable divergence from one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]