Mineral development is an important land use within the BLM’s multiple-use mandate. In communities across the country, mining provides jobs, economic activity and important commodities that are essential to maintain a high quality of life.
Overview
STREAMLINE WORKFLOWS AT MINERAL PROCESSING PLANT TO IMPROVE REGULATION COMPLIANCE
Processing at mining plants requires a delicate balance of physics, chemistry, and metallurgy working in unison to maximize recovery of the tons of minerals processed. In recent years, efforts to reduce energy, ensure chemicals are contained, and reduce carbon footprints now require contribution and collaboration from all organizational levels.
Increasing competitive pressure due to smart plant technologies and evolving environmental regulations are also recent challenges to this final stage of the mining value chain. Greenhouse gas emissions, waste management, water resource management and preserving biodiversity are all becoming major considerations in the optimization of processing plants to comply with new regulations.
After considerable efforts and investments throughout the mining value chain, the mineral processing plant represents the final opportunity to manage or miss the margins.
While the processing phase is the last stop in the mining value chain, many hurdles can make or break your bottom line including the risk of non-compliance with regulatory changes.
SILICA SAND
IDENTIFY DRILL & BLAST OPPORTUNITIES & RISKS HIDDEN BENEATH THE SURFACE
While compliance to the burden and spacing of a drill pattern can be assessed visually, the real risks and rewards of drilling and blasting often lie hidden beneath the surface. If drill holes go too deep, or not deep enough, the subsequent bench might be uneven – resulting in unplanned site work, an uneven base for excavators, and cycle times disrupted due to blocked access between haul trucks and excavators.
In most mining functions, visual cues on-site are used as red flags for leadership to determine if immediate support is required. However, these visual triggers are lagging indicators, and a more proactive approach is needed in drilling and blasting to accurately assess the performance of your operations.
