WORLDS FIRST ENGINEERING NEWS

FOR YOUNG ENGINEERS

NOVEMBER 2016 ISSUE NO. 009

A CLOSER LOOK AT
THE MINING INDUSTRY:
How Mining Companies Give
Back To Communities
10 Issues and Trends that Affect
the Mining Industry
The Role of Mining in Society
25 Awesome Things You Didnt
Know About Gold
Latest Trends in the Mining
Industry

FEATURE STORIES:
Filipino Electronics Engineer
Motivates Future Engineers
Through Song
Why Engineering Students
Hate Losing Their Calculators
The Six Engineers That We All
Have to Deal With
What Lies Ahead for
CATERPILLAR INC.
Construction Equipment A Look At The Company's
The Most Dangerous
Engineering Jobs Social Impact
Exclusive Interview with Jean Savage, a Vice President
and Chief Technology Officer of Caterpillar Inc.

NOVEMBER 2016
1
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 GINEERSNOW TEAM

Ems Bagatsing
Sales & Marketing Director
Ems@LincolnMartin.com
Robert Bagatsing
Editor-In-Chief
editor@GineersNow.com
Engr. Alice Hernandez
Senior Editor-At-Large

John Vauden Charity Bagatsing Raymond Gerard del Valle

Senior Editor Senior Editor Junior Editor
Asia-Pacific North America
Abhishek Tarafder
Hina Sapra Engr. Dion Greg Reyes Matrix Media
Senior Editor Junior Editor Information Technology
South Asia
Engr. Cielo Panda Aaron Kesel
Therese Matheren Junior Editor Contributor
Senior Editor North America
North America Lauren Lloyd Del Mundo
Video Editor Amanda Pelletier
Goran ulibrk Creative & Layout Contributor
Newsletter Specialist North America
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Contributor Contributor
Middle East United Kingdom
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 Editor's
Note
Mining is not exactly a favorable
topic in the public eye. Its
surrounded with controversies
and several issues that affect the
livelihoods of different people.
Some would argue that mining has a
negative impact on our environment
and different organizations and
agencies have focused on closing
down several mining operations.
Others would point out that
contrary to popular belief, mining
is essential to our daily lives. The
minerals and metals mined out
of the ground have played crucial
roles in the development of our
society - from manufacturing to the
advancement of our technologies.
This is why mining companies
have created initiatives that
would give the public a better
view of what mining and mining
companies can do and how different
communities can benefit from
them. Through their Corporate
Social Responsibility programs,
different mining companies make
an effort to improve the livelihood
of different people affected by
the operations. They incorporate
sustainable programs that would
help men and women make a living
even after the mining operation in
the area is closed.
We have to admit that not all
companies follow responsible
mining practices and they give
mining a very bad name. However,
we must not also ignore the benefits
the public got from the resources
extracted through these processes.
While mining has its cons, it surely
has plenty of pros. And through the
right campaign, we would be able to
inform and educate the public about
what mining can really do to us.
In the November issue of
GineersNow magazine, we are
sharing several stories about the
latest technologies developed for
mining, the latest trends in this field
and several interesting historical
facts involving it. Weve also featured
stories focusing on corporate social
responsibility programs - answering
the what, where, how and whys
of these programs. This is our
campaign to give the public more
information about this unpopular
field and why its important to
educate ourselves about it.
Our special cover story features
Caterpillar, Inc.s Chief Technology
Officer and one of its Vice
Presidents, Jean Savage. In this
exclusive interview, she discusses
the latest trends and the future of
equipment and heavy machinery
industry. She also discusses the
importance of their companys CSR
programs and how each program is
helping different individuals.
With so many stories that focus on
mining and its related fields, it is
our responsibility to deliver these
stories to you. By giving the public
the positive aspects of mining,
more people may be encouraged
to push for better programs, laws
and practices that not only stop
illegal mining process but also help
different communities have more
sustainable programs during and
after mining operations. As you can
see, the mining field is not really the
villain here. Its not.
CONTENTS
PAGE TITLE PAGE TITLE

06 42
COVER STORY 10 ISSUES AND TRENDS
CATERPILLAR INC.: MORE THAT AFFECT THE MINING
THAN JUST A BUSINESS INDUSTRY

14 THE ROLE OF MINING IN

SOCIETY
44 FOUR INCREDIBLE OPEN
PIT MINES

21 IS MINING ENGINEERING FOR

YOU? 47 THE SIX ENGINEERS THAT
WE ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH

23 WORLDS LARGEST
LAND VEHICLE 48 THIS IS MINING IN HELL
ON EARTH

24
10 BEST YOUTUBE
CHANNELS THAT FEATURE
THE MINING INDUSTRY 58 JHARIA, THE HOME OF
INDIAS BLACK DIAMONDS

26 60
FILIPINO ELECTRONICS WHAT LIES AHEAD
ENGINEER MOTIVATES FOR CONSTRUCTION
FUTURE ENGINEERS EQUIPMENT
THROUGH SONG

28 66
$30 BILLION MARKET FOR CIVIL ENGINEERS WHO
CONSTRUCTION ELECTRIC SHAPED THE CONSTRUCTION
VEHICLES INDUSTRY OF TODAY

31 25 AWESOME THINGS YOU

DIDNT KNOW ABOUT GOLD
69 EXPLORING THE DEEP SEA
FOR MINERALS

32 74
INSIDE THE
WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE THE WORLDS LARGEST
LARGEST GOLD RESERVES? UNDERGROUND MINE

34 78
HOW MINING
LATEST TRENDS IN THE COMPANIES GIVE BACK
MINING INDUSTRY TO COMMUNITIES

38 80
WHAT ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MINERALS AND
COMMONLY MINED STONES YOU WANT FOR
MINERALS AND METALS IN YOUR COLLECTION
AFRICA?
COVER STORY

CATERPILLAR INC.:
MORE THAN JUST A
BUSINESS
The company has given back to our communities
since before the Foundation was created in
1952--philanthropy is a part of our DNA.

6 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 NOVEMBER 2016
7
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
8 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance

A
mong the Fortunes
Top 100, there is that
one company whose
trademark is in the manufacture
of construction and mining
equipment, diesel and natural
gas engines, and industrial gas
turbines. For the past 90 years,
that company has committed
itself in providing machines and
solutions through its hundreds
of offices and facilities across
the world. It has proved to
be a global leader in creating,
building, problem solving, and
innovating, while answering its
call for philanthropy.
Caterpillar Inc., that company
which has shaped the world
we live in today, has more to it
than just business. It thrives in
an engineering industry with its
exemplar products and services,
at the same time focusing in its
sustainability.
Jean Savage, Chief Technology
Officer and a Vice President of
Caterpillar with responsibility in
the Innovation and Technology
Development division, tells us
more in this exclusive interview
on how the company instills
its universal mission to the
employees, what it can provide
to its customers, what it has
recently come up with, and the
companys social impacts and
corporate social responsibility.
About Caterpillar
Are you an educational
institution, social enterprise,
non-profit or private company?
How big is your company?
Caterpillar is a public company
among Fortunes Top 100. We
have about 100,000 full-time
employees globally. Caterpillar
operates hundreds of offices and
facilities across the world.
Describe your mission, vision
and values.
Our mission is to enable economic
growth through infrastructure
and energy development, and
to provide solutions to support
communities and protect the
planet. The 21st-century world
you see today has been built with
the help of Caterpillar machines
and solutions. Weve spent the
past 90 years creating, building,
problem solving, innovating,
testing, servicing and improving.
In the process, weve built a
global leader.
Our Values in Action unite us
as a company and serve as the
foundation that has helped us
succeed in the past and will
continue to help us succeed in
the future. Our Values in Action,
the Caterpillars Worldwide
Code of Conduct, is a guide
that defines how we work and
how we treat each other and
those with whom we work,
live, and serve. Caterpillar has
always taken a leadership role in
regards to holding itself to the
highest ethical standards.
Our core values remain constant-
Integrity: The Power of
Honesty
Integrity is the foundation of
all we do.
Excellence: The Power of
Quality
We set and achieve ambitious
goals.
Teamwork: The Power of
Working Together
We help each other succeed.
Commitment: The Power of
Responsibility
We embrace our responsibilities.
Sustainability: The Power of
Endurance
We are committed to building a
better world.
Where is this company headed?
Whats your future expansion
plans?
The enterprise strategy positions
Caterpillar to be the leader
everywhere it does business.
Everyday, Caterpillar employees
deliver sustainable solutions
for customers, enabling them
to succeed and drive positive
change around the world.
In return, this enables us
to consistently reward our
stockholders. Over the past
century, Caterpillar has made
progress possible. Looking to
the future, Caterpillar is poised
to respond to the challenges
and opportunities of an ever-
changing world and growing
global population.
COVER STORY
The enterprise
strategy positions
Caterpillar to be the
leader everywhere it
does business"
What the Company Can The company principally
Offer operates through its three
What are the most successful product segments - Construction
products that you have Industries, Resource Industries
launched and why were they a and Energy & Transportation -
success? and also provides financing
For 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. and related services through its
has been making sustainable Financial Products segment.
progress possible and driving
positive changes in every What kind of support do you
continent. Customers turn to offer to your clients?
Caterpillar to help them develop Our vast dealer network helps
infrastructure, energy and natural Caterpillar and our customers
resource assets. Caterpillar is the win around the world. Cat
worlds leading manufacturer dealers share our passion,
of construction and mining enhance our competitive edge,
equipment, diesel and natural gas and ensure that our customers
engines, industrial gas turbines receive maximum business value
and diesel-electric locomotives. from our products and services.
More About Jean Savage
Jean Savage is originally from
Ohio, now living in Peoria,
Illinois. She is a retired Military
Intelligence Officer for the U.S.
Army Reserve, who holds a
bachelors degree in electrical
and computer engineering from
the University of Cincinnati
and a masters degree in
engineering management
from the University of Dayton.
She has worked in engineering
and manufacturing for nearly
30 years. She joined Caterpillar
in 2002 and has held leadership
roles in the companys Rail
and Advanced Components
divisions. Prior to joining
Caterpillar Inc., Jean spent
14 years with Parker Hannifin
Corporation, a leader in motion
and control technologies and
systems.
NOVEMBER 2016
9
Mining Engineering and Its Importance

Sustainability is
part of who we
are and what we do
every single day"
Caterpillar provides employee
equipment training on job sites,
supplying aftermarket parts and
service support and offering
e-business and equipment
management solutions.
Where are these products made
or manufactured?
Our products are manufactured
globally.
The Trends
What are the latest trends
in equipment and machinery
industry?
Caterpillar has spent over 90
years committed to innovation
and technology that help our
customers succeed. Most of this
10 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
innovation has been, in the
iron. Now, our focus has to be on
making the iron smart.
What will be the future of
equipment and machinery
industry? How will the products
look like?
Making the iron smart, means
bringing digital solutions
designed to improve productivity,
efficiency, safety and profitability
to our customers. This is not
technology for technologys sake.
It is technology thats focused on
solving, and even anticipating,
customer problems. Were taking
the machines, locomotives,
engines and parts were so well
known for and making them
smarter, while also equipping
the people who operate them
with data that makes them more
productive, enhances safety and
improves sustainability. This
includes harnessing technology
like augmented reality,
autonomy, connectivity and light.
At Caterpillar, we win when our
customers can make more money
with our products, services and
solutions than they can with
any competitor. And thats what
Smart Iron is all about.
Caterpillars Social
Impacts
Describe the CSR history and
philosophy of the company?
The Caterpillar Foundation
started in 1952, and has
invested more than $650M
in communities worldwide.
Part of our Corporate Social
Responsibility is also our focus
on sustainability. Sustainability
is part of who we are and what
we do every single day. We
recognize that progress involves
a balance of environmental
stewardship, social responsibility
and economic growth.
What are the causes? Who do
you fight for? What do you
stand for?
Our Foundation's mission is to
alleviate poverty and put 50
million people on the path to
prosperity.
How many employees are
involved?
Giving back and being proactive
members of our communities is a
natural part of who the company
and our employees are. We
encourage our employees to give
back to their communities via
volunteering, and the Foundation
matches employee and retiree
donations dollar-for-dollar to the
United Way, colleges/universities,
arts & cultural, environmental
and policy organizations. We also
match their donations to the Red
Cross for disaster relief.
When did the company start in
this endeavor?
The company has given back to
our communities since before the
Foundation was created in 1952
- philanthropy is a part of our
DNA. Most recently, we pioneered
Corporate Social Innovation
(CSI) work. This is beyond
Corporate Social Responsibility-
-we believe this work is more
than something we ought to do,
Trivia
Caterpillar can give
customers visibility to
their global, mixed-fleet
of assets through an asset
management portal that
delivers real-time data
on location, shift-based
utilization, idle time, fuel
consumption and more.
This information helps
contractors improve
efficiency and drive
unproductive time, or
non-utilized time out of
their business.

but indeed something that can
address real human needs with
our innovation via products and
philanthropy. Giving back is not
an afterthought. The company
builds the physical and societal
infrastructure (roads, bridges,
energy access and more) and
the Foundation builds the
human infrastructure - ensuring
people have their basic needs
met (food, shelter, water, energy
and disaster relief), education
(literacy/numeracy, workforce
readiness and mentoring/
leadership) and environment
(restoring natural infrastructure
as it relays to poverty alleviation).
Which organizations or
individuals do you support? Do
you have a partnership with
other non-profit organizations,
government, international
agencies or schools? If yes,
why? What are the objectives?
Starting in 2009, the Foundation
moved from a transactional
model to one where we measure
outcomes (changes in knowledge
and behavior) in addition to
measuring outputs. We have to
measure our PROI - philanthropic
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
COVER STORY
return on investment. We run
the Foundation like a business.
We focus on the root causes of
poverty, which is why we added
policy work to our portfolio.
The best grant cannot achieve
efficient and effective success
if the policies behind it don't
support the work. For example,
if we invest in education in a
developing country, but there are
laws that exist making it legal
for girls to marry when they are
8 years old, it makes it almost
impossible for them to get an
education. So we invest in policy
in addition to our other initiatives.
We cannot do this alone - we
need foundations, corporations,
governments and non-profits
working collaboratively to
address the world's issues. We
call this approach "Together.
Stronger."
What are your most successful
CSR initiatives? Why were they
a success?
There are many different
investments we have made which
are very successful in alleviating
poverty. Policy investments can
affect millions and support larger
initiatives. We have invested in
policy work with:
One Campaign: investment in
Agriculture policy in Africa called
Do Agric! which has been highly
successful to ensure African
heads of state maintain or
increase their commitments to
investment in agriculture
One Campaign: investment in
energy policy - The Electrify Africa
act recently passed, impacting
more than 100 million on the
continent of Africa, to help them
get access to energy.
United Nations Foundation: Girl
Up policy grants - the Girls Count
legislation passed to ensure
children in developing countries
are registered at birth regardless
of their gender
Global Poverty Project: The
Water for the World Act passed,
helping millions get access to
water and sanitation
Global Poverty Project: the
Global Food Security Act recently
passed, helping ensure basic
NOVEMBER 2016
11
 COVER STORY

needs are met. sound silly, but as careers have

Agile is the All of these investments help

shifted from the storefront to
the office, engineers have lost

methodology alleviate poverty and make our

other grants more effective.
sight of what the customer needs
to be successful. Whether youre

and discipline to What are the social impacts of

designing heavy equipment or
kitchen sinks, you have to stay

harness innovation your CSR initiatives? Can you

quantify them?
focused on what the customer
wants and what they are willing

and drive, quickly, We have an outcome-based

measurement process that
to pay for. One tool that has
helped us in this focus is Agile

to a commercialized helps us measure the impact

of our investments. And we
development. Agile is the
methodology and discipline to

solution for expect a philanthropic return on

investment.
harness innovation and drive,
quickly, to a commercialized

customers" What are your future CSR

initiatives?
solution for customers. Cross-
functional Agile
collaborate leveraging their
teams

We hope to continue on the diverse knowledge, experiences

path to alleviating poverty. and skill sets to deliver products,
And, ultimately, we hope future in small increments, to customers
generations ask "What was and use their feedback to learn
poverty?" whether the solutions are
delivering the desired value.
Advice to the Young
Engineers
Always remember who rings
your cash register! This may

12 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 NOVEMBER 2016
13
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
THE ROLE OF
MINING IN
SOCIETY
By Engr. Prince Joseph Erneszer A. Javier and Engr. Mae Lean I. Langcay

14 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance

Mining as a process is arguably
one of two key foundations of
modern society -- the other one
being agriculture.The same way
we get crops and meat from
agriculture, we get raw materials
needed to create a whole range
of products that we use from
mining. Even during the stone
age, people have been collecting
stones and sharpening them
to make various tools and
weapons. Today, our demand for
stones, metals, and other mined
materials is higher than before
due to the technologies we use
-- cars, computers, appliances,
cell phones, houses, you name it.
Virtually everything we use today
need raw materials from mining
-- either as their components or
as components of the machines
that are used to make them.
Beyond this, mining can
contribute to social development
and development of science and
technology, while mitigating its
environmental impacts. Many
modern mining operations
contribute to national economies,
community development, and
environmental enhancement.
Satisfying the needs of
communities, following local
and national regulations, while
implementing environmental
programs to mitigate and even
improve the environment are
the hallmarks of what is called
"responsible mining." Science and
technology benefits from mining
as well. This is because the
challenges encountered in mining
operations encourage creative
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
Photo by RiskManagementMagazine
thinking in order to come up
with innovative solutions. Mining
also opens up opportunities
for more detailed study of the
Earth especially the crust. These
solutions can spill over to other
industries and aspects of our
lives. Society depends on mining
on plenty of things.
What is mining and how did
the materials from mining end
up in our smartphones? SME
Mining Engineering Handbook
defines mining as "the set of
the processes, the occupation,
and the industry concerned
with the extraction of minerals
from the earth." It involves four
major steps namely, exploration,
development, production, and
finally, closure and rehabilitation.
The first step in any mining
NOVEMBER 2016
15

Photo by InfoMine
project is to conduct geologic
investigations to locate the
deposit. This stage, called
exploration, involves surveying of
rocks on the surface and drilling
for rocks that are hundreds of
meters below the surface, among
other things. Based on the
information gathered, which are
called geologic data, a 3D model
of the mineral deposit can be
generated by a computer. The
possible economic value of the
mine based on all the geologic
data will then be evaluated.
The next stage of mining is
16 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
Afterwhich the ore will undergo
a series of processes of mineral
concentrating, melting, and
refining until the final product
is produced, like copper plates,
or gold bars. This product will
then be used by manufacturers
to make various tools, electronics,
and machines.
A mine can operate for decades
until it runs out of economic
mineral reserves. When the mine
closes, it must be rehabilitated
into the pre-mine environmental
conditions or into sustainable
income-generating projects like
resorts, agroforests, or parks.
development which involves Mining deals with extracting
construction of surface minerals from the earth. The raw
infrastructure, initial clearing materials dug up from the mine
of mining area, and initial undergo a series of processes until
excavation or tunneling to reach the final products are produced.
the ore deposit. Production will These final products are finally
commence after fully developing used to manufacture various
the mine. During the production things that we use everyday.
stage, either a large hole is Mankind has been mining for
gradually opened up on the materials since tens of thousands
ground creating an open pit of years ago. In fact, mining
or the minerals will be mined and the development of human
from underground tunnels. The civilization and culture are so
excavated ore will be transported intertwined that major stages
to the processing plant on in human history are identified
the surface near the mine. by various minerals or their
derivatives: Stone Age, Bronze
Age, Iron Age, Steel Age, and
Nuclear Age. During the Stone
Age, man used wood, stone, bone
and ceramics for shelter, weapons
and utensils. Other materials
such as ceramics, clay, salt and
meteoric iron were used as
ornaments, decoration, jewelry,
coinage, and components of
cosmetics.People eventually
used minerals to make various
components for shelters as well
as transportation equipment.
Photo by ALS Global Copper, discovered in Cyprus in
2700 BC, became a sought-after
component of tools, weapons,
and kitchen utensils. Uranium,
which was first extracted from
the Habsburg silver mines in
Bohemia in the middle ages,
was initially used to color glass
and ceramics. The radioactive
properties of uranium were then
discovered, eventually leading to
the development of the nuclear
bomb and eventually nuclear
power plants in the 20th century,
Photo by TheAusIMMBulletin signalling the beginning of the
nuclear age.
Metallurgy, the process of
separating or mixing metals,
began as early as 7000 BC
with copper being melted and
cast into objects, followed
by lead, silver, gold, and iron.
Advancements in metallurgy
made it possible to mix metals
into their alloys forming bronze,
iron and brass. During the 18th
century, iron metallurgy made
great strides and made Industrial
Revolution possible, a period
during which the economy of
an underdeveloped country
could be transformed into an
industrial economy, stimulated
by the availability of energy and
metal sources. This developing
technology was accompanied
by a revolution in science and
engineering. The machine age,
a product of the industrial
revolution, needed certain
minerals as raw materials and
as a source of energy, making
industrial power a measure of
nation's political and military
power, and economic wealth.
Today, our modern society
needs these raw materials for
machineries used in various
industries, electronics for
computers and communication,
and nuclear fission for warfare
and electrical power generation.
The demand for raw materials
from mining is ever-increasing
in order to sustain our growing
needs for infrastructure, goods,
and services.
Virtually all things we use today
are products of mining. Copper,
for example, is used to make
various kinds of products like
electrical wire, cookware, pipes,
car parts, paint, and electrical
appliances. Iron is a common
component of paint, cosmetics,
and fertilizers, and when
mixed with carbon forms steel.
Nickel when mixed with steel
produces stainless steel which
is used for various objects like
sinks, kitchenware, and musical
instruments. Gold is primarily
used for jewelry but is also used
for electronics and electrical
appliances. Chromite is used for
stainless steel production and
also in the tanning process of

leather. Aluminum is used for
cans, kitchenware, and airplane
parts, among others. Calcium
carbonate, fluoride, and titanium
are used for toothpaste. Lithium
is an integral component of the
batteries of our smartphones.
Plenty of things we use have
components that came from
mining. We can go on for hours
enumerating them all.
The raw materials that we need
to manufacture various products
come from several mines around
the world.
Copper for example comes
from mines in more than 50
countries, the largest of which
is the Escondida Copper Mine.
The Escondida Copper Mine in
the Atacama Desert of Northern
Chile, had an estimated 32
million tonnes of copper reserves
in 2012. In 2013, the mine
produced 1.1 million tonnes of
copper, equivalent to around five
percent of total global copper
production in that year.
Aluminum comes from the rock
called bauxite, with Australia as
the biggest producer, producing
almost 80 million tonnes of
bauxite in 2014. This is equivalent
to around 30% of the world's
total output for that year. The
largest bauxite mine in the world
is the Huntly Mine in Australia,
which produced 18 million tonnes
of Bauxite in 2006.
In the case of the Philippines,
copper, gold, and nickel are
mostly mined and exported. The
largest gold producers in the
Philippines are Masbate Gold
Project in Masbate Island, Didipio
Copper Gold Project in Nueva
Vizcaya, and Padcal Copper-
Gold Operation in Benguet. The
Toledo Copper Operation in Cebu,
meanwhile, is the largest copper
producer in the country. And the
largest direct shipping nickel ore
producer is the Rio Tuba Nickel
Project in Palawan.
There are more mines for
different materials around the
world including mines for coal,
diamond, graphite, gypsum,
lithium, natural gas, platinum,
salt, selenium, sulphur, talc,
titanium, and uranium, to name
a few.
Since mining involves intensive
earth excavation and use
of various chemicals for ore
processing, mining, if haphazardly
done, can negatively impact
the environment and local
communities where it operates.
But such impacts can be avoided
by practicing responsible mining.
A responsible mine follows the
law and uses best international
practices for its operations, social
programs, and environmental
management. Responsible mines
exist and they play a major role
in economic improvement and
community development.
Three examples of responsible
mining companies in the
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
Photo by Expatch
Philippines are OceanaGold
Philippines Inc. (OGPI), Rio Tuba
Nickel Mining Corp. (RTNMC) and
Silangan MIndanao Mining Co.,
Inc. (SMMCI).
OGPI, an open pit gold-copper
mine in Nueva Vizcaya, focuses on
improvement of local education
opportunities, community health
and infrastructure, cultural
preservation, business and
development opportunities,
conservation of the environment,
and local employment support
through its 'We Care" Program.
"OceanaGold is now ready to
construct our 18-classroom
building. They also provide us
with instructional materials, and
other supports such as special
trainings. With the support of
OceanaGold, I believe that
ENVHS will become a very good
school. We will meet the standard
given to us by the Department
of Education.", Osmundo Espejo,
school principal of Eastern Nueva
NOVEMBER 2016
17
 Photo by Phys.org

18 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance Photo by TIBCO
Vizcaya National High School.
With its exemplary efforts
to implement development
programs for the community and
environment, OGPI received a
gold award for best workplace
practice at the 7th Annual Global
CSR Summit and Awards held in
Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
RTNMC, a nickel ore mine in
Palawan, implements community
initiatives to modernize health
centers, eradicate malnutrition
and decrease infant and
maternal mortality rate. The
mine also regularly conducts
sanitation and health awareness
campaigns, and medical missions.
The company allotted funds for
its Indigents and Indigenous
Peoples hospitalization program,
giving 45,944 individuals free
hospitalization and treatment at
the companys hospital; Other
social projects include coffee
farming projects that provide
a stable source of income for
farmer-members from eight
impact barangays, financial
assistance to improve school
facilities, and provision of
education-related materials.
RTNMC restores mined-out areas
as close as possible to its pre-
mining condition or develop
them for other uses, where
the surrounding communities
will benefit. Because of these
initiatives, RTNMC was awarded
the Presidential Mineral
Industry Environmental Award
for environmental excellence in
2015.
SMMCI, a pre-operating mine in
Surigao del Norte, administers its
community assistance program
by involving the impacted
communities in activities that
enhance quality of life, imparting
them with entrepreneurial skills,
providing seed capital in small-
scale livelihood projects, and
creating organizational forums
to inform people about the
positive and negative effects
of the mining project. Narcita
Ajoc, a member of a People's
Organization in the province and
one of the beneficiaries of the
program said, "SMMCI provided
us with financial literacy,
bookkeeping, entrepreneurship
and leadership training." In 2015,
SMMCI selected and funded 11
academic researches, sponsored
80 out-of-school youths in their
Technical-Vocational training,
and built eight school buildings
benefiting 4000 students in the
province. SMMCI also donated
dormitory buildings, medical
equipment and ambulance to
the communities, while at the
same time improving their water
systems. Among the recognitions
and awards SMMCI received
are the Safest Mine Award
(Exploration Category) and First
Runner Up for Best Mining Forest
(Exploration Category) for its
reforestation efforts.
According to the Philippine Mines
and Geosciences Bureau, as of
January 2015, mining companies
in the country have committed
a total of around $130 million
for social and community
projects, which will benefit 711
barangays. And around $660
million have been committed
for environmental management
and rehabilitation programs. 95
companies participated in the
government's Mining Forest
Program, successfully planting
around 21 million trees over
20,000 hectares to date.
Responsible mining also exists in
other parts of the world. Sullivan
Mine, located in Northwest
Canada, developed a ski hill
and provided low-cost land for
a golf course, which were later
bought by the local government
after mine closure. The previous
mining area then became a year-
round resort, attracting major
investments. Another is a bauxite
mine, Alcoa of Australia Ltd, which
was listed for fifteen consecutive
years on the UN Global 500
Roll of Honor for Environmental
Achievement for its rehabilitation
works on the Darling Plateau. Its
rehabilitation works averages to
600 hectares yearly, and involves
best practices for landscaping,
pre-ripping, soil return, fauna
habitat return, final contour
ripping and seeding, recalcitrant
planting, fertilizing, ongoing
monitoring, and management
of rehabilitated area. Finally,
BHP Billiton launched in its
Science and
Technology also advances
through mining
Mozambique operations in 2014
the Leadership Enhancement
and Development (LEAD) Project,
pledging $8.8 million over five
years to the new agricultural
initiative to benefit farmers from
three districts in the area. The
project aims to work with more
than 50 producer organizations
that represent farms to
increase their income and
business opportunities, improve
production capacity through
farm-level training and provision
of facilities, access to financing,
BHP's project is expected to
directly benefit 6,500 households
in the area. To date, around 30
farmer field schools have already
been established.
Responsible mining, defined as
mining that utilizes best practices
in community development and
environmental management and
rehabilitation exists.
Some governments are now
acknowledging their role in
enforcing responsible mining
in their countries by ratifying
and implementing laws that
require companies to allocate
funds for social development,
environmental management,
and environmental rehabilitation.
In the Philippines, the Philippine
Mining Act of 1995 requires that
companies implement social
development, environmental
management, and rehabilitation
programs as applicable during
the exploration, development,
production, and closure stages.
During the development stage,
mines are required to allocate
10% of its total cost for
environmental management
programs. Mines in the
production stage must allocate
1.5% of their total operating
cost for social development
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
programs as well as 3% of their
mining and ore processing cost
for environmental programs.
Governments should be partners
in making responsible mining
a reality, through the laws that
they pass and implement.
Mining provides jobs that
improve the economies and
quality of life in the nearby
communities. According to the
Mines and Geosciences Bureau
of the Philippines, around
235,000 workers are employed
in the minerals industry in the
country. With a multiplier effect
of 4, which means that for every
job generated four more jobs are
indirectly created in the upstream
and downstream sectors, roughly
940,000 jobs are indirectly
generated by the mining industry.
A research paper published in
2014 examined employments
generated by mines in three other
countries, namely Escondida
Mine in Chile, Tenge Fungurume
Mine in Katanga, Democratic
Republic of Congo, and various
mines in Zambia. The study
found that 2810 workers were
directly employed in Escondida
Mine in 2003. And around 11,500
jobs were indirectly created by
the mine. In 2012, the Tenge
Fungurume Mine in Katanga,
Democratic Republic of Congo,
directly created 6,600 jobs and
indirectly created 10,500 more
jobs. In Northwestern Province,
Zambia, mining companies
created around 18,000 direct
jobs and 26,000 indirect jobs.
Thousands of jobs generated
directly and indirectly due to
large scale mining operations
can contribute to poverty
reduction. The paper concluded
that "the transformation of a
subsistence economy into one
that is at least partly monetary
also creates the conditions for
NOVEMBER 2016
19
economic diversification and
empowerment of the poor."
Aside from creating jobs,
implementing community
development programs and
implementing environmental
management and enhancement
programs, mining also tangibly
contributes to the national
and local economy through
various taxes and royalties. In
the Philippines, companies are
required to pay an excise tax
equal to 2% of revenue and
corporate income tax equal to
30% of net income, on top of
many other local and national
taxes. The taxes and fees
collected from mining amounted
to around $450 million in 2014.
40% of this fund goes to the
local government while 60% are
kept by the national government.
In Brazil, 3% of the net income
arising from sales of mineral
products constitute the Financial
Compensation for the Exploration
of Mineral Resources (CFEM).
The CFEM is distributed to the
states, municipalities and federal
government directly affected by
the mining industry.
Mining contributes to society
by providing jobs that can add
wealth to the communities,
by implementing social and
environmental programs using
best practices, and by paying
various taxes and fees to the
national and local governments.
Science and technology also
advances through mining.
The challenges encountered
in mining encourage creative
thinking to develop innovative
solutions to overcome those
challenges. Such solutions can
propagate to other industries
and to our daily lives. Take for
example the the steam engine
that propelled the Industrial
Revolution in Europe and
paved the way to the modern
combustion engine. This
technology was initially used to
quickly and cheaply pump water
out of British underground coal
mines in the 17th century --
replacing horses traditionally used
in dewatering systems. Because
of the challenge of dewatering
the mine, some people came up
with inventions to effectively
and cheaply drain the mines,
starting with a man named
Savery who invented the first
steam engine for water pumping.
The steam engine design was
further improved by others, most
notably Watt, who coined the
term "horsepower" when he was
calculating the number of horses
replaced by one steam engine.
In the 1800s, the steam engine
became portable enough to be
used in the first steam-powered
locomotive in Britain. The use of
the steam engine for locomotive
was then followed by the use
of steam engine to propel ships
in the United States. Initially
used as a water pump to drain
water from coal mines, the steam
engine quickly gained popularity
in other industries, especially in
transportation, which quickened
the trade of goods and propelled
the industrial revolution.
Mining opens opportunities
to gather information about
underground regions of the
Earth's crust either through
drilling or through excavation.
Such information can help us
better understand how the world
works. For example, geologic
data can help improve our
Photo by PhilippineLifestyleNews
understanding of how magmas
move and cool or how minerals
are deposited in the Earth's crust.
Exciting archeological and
paleontological findings are
sometimes unearthed because
of mining operations. In 2011,
a three-dimensionally preserved
fossil of an armored marine
dinosaur (either plesiosaur or
ichthyosaur) was discovered in
the Millennium Mine in Australia
while an excavator was digging
oil-rich sand. And just this year,
Namdeb Diamond Corporation in
Namibia unearthed a gold-laden
Portuguese ship that sank around
500 years ago by draining the
part of the sea where the ship
was submerged -- a feat made
possible because of the mine's
access to large equipment.
Mining can contribute to science
and technology by imposing
challenges that encourage
innovation, by opening up
opportunities to study the
Earth, and by sometimes
excavating artifacts and fossils
that can help archeological and
paleontological research.
Besides agriculture, mining is
arguably a foundation of modern
human society. We depend on
its products to maintain and
advance our quality of life. Since
the stone age, we have been
relying on mining to acquire raw
materials that we need to make
the products that we use.vIn the
modern world we live in, our
demand for raw materials is ever
increasing. We need to mine
for materials to make our tools,
weapons, gadgets, appliances,
vehicles, and communication
infrastructure, among others.
Mining also contributes to the
local and national economies
by generating jobs and paying
taxes and royalties. Beyond these
contributions, mining advances
science and technology by
encouraging innovation and by
aiding geological, archeological,
and paleontological research.
We can expect society to
continue to depend on mining
for years to come, with more
mines opening up to meet
the world's demands. The
vision then is a much more
responsible mining industry
that is increasingly disposed
to ensure mitigated impacts
and sustainable enhancement
programs in the communities
and the environment around it;
supported by fair and effectively
implemented government
regulations.
Do you think we can rise to
the challenge?

20 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 IS MINING ENGINEERING
FOR YOU?
When choosing the course youll
be taking in college, theres
a lot to consider before you
finally settle with an answer
for yourself. First, theres your
interest in a certain field.
Then you have to consider the
opportunities available once
you graduate.
Mining engineering involves
extracting different metals
and minerals in the most
efficient way possible. Given
the concerns people have for
the environment nowadays,
mining engineers not only have
to think of the efficiency, one
must also consider finding the
process which least affects the
environment negatively. Lastly,
mining engineering involves
safety as well. So if you decide
to be involved in mining, your
role as a mining engineer involves
finding the safest, most efficient
and responsible mining methods
for your company.
However, before you worry about
those things, you may want to ask
yourself these questions:
1. Do you like being outside
the walls of an air-conditioned
building?
2. Do you excel (or even
understand) different math and
science lessons?
3. Are you curious on how things
work?
4. Do you love solving problems?
5. Are you interested in natural
resources?
6. Would you even consider
Photo by GurukulVidyapeeth
working underground?
7. Can you communicate well with
other people?
If youve thought long and hard
and answered Yes! to all the
questions mentioned above, then
mining engineering may be for
you! Mining engineering can be
fun if your interest generally leans
on math, sciences and outdoors.
For more details about the course,
you may want to ask the local
mining engineers in your area
or ask your guidance counselor
to help you decide whether you
should pursue this or not.
NOVEMBER 2016
21
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 CANADAS
URANIUM
MINING
CONSIDERED
CLEANER
THAN MOST
Almost every material now is
being utilized to be recycled. From
paper, plastics, tin, and wood, these
materials compose new products
that are useful to mankind. But
how about recycled aggregate for
concrete? That we havent found
yet.
Well, until the research led by
Yahya Gino Kurama, a professor
of civil and environmental
engineering and earth sciences
from the University of Notre Dame
will produce significant results in
finding alternatives for recycled
aggregate, civil engineers will
have to deal with the conventional
structural concrete with natural
22 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
Canada is one of the worlds
largest producers of uranium
with an estimated 582,500
tonnes of it found in the country.
Most people would give mining
a bad name. Mining uranium
has always been looked down
on by environmentalists due to
the bad reputation of producing
high amount of greenhouse
gases. However, researchers from
the University of Saskatchewan
believe that the amount of
greenhouse gases produced
from uranium mining and milling
aggregates.
Much has been developed about
partial replacement of the binding
element in structural concrete,
which is cement, with industrial
by-products such as fly ash, slag,
and silica fume. But no research
has been forwarded towards the
replacement of coarse aggregates,
which Kurama and his team have
found ground on.
Their concern lies on the
conservation of coarse aggregates
such as crushed rock and gravel,
which composes a large part
of a given concrete volume.
The mining, processing, and
is little compared to the total
emissions produced by nuclear
power generation.
The study states that only a gram
of greenhouse gases is produced
from mining and milling uranium
for every kilowatt-hour of power
from the power generated by
uranium. According to the author
of the paper David Parker from
the University of Saskatchewan,
"This is the first rigorous look at
greenhouse gas emissions from
uranium mining and milling in
Saskatchewan. And its more
THE SEARCH IS ON
FOR CONCRETE
WITH RECYCLED
AGGREGATES
transportation operations for
these aggregates consume large
amounts of energy and adversely
affect the ecology of forested areas
and riverbeds. They are devising
ways to find a substitute for natural
aggregates.
Of course this wont be as easy as it
looks. Initial research of the team
had studied 16 recycled aggregate
sources in the Midwest of the
United States to evaluate their
capacity as a structural material,
but to no avail. The study has to be
expanded to many more sources
from the eastern, southern and
southwestern U.S. with the help of
the University of Texas at Tyler and
Photo by Cameco
detailed than the few studies that
have been done before.
If compared to the production
of power from coal and natural
gas, uranium produces 12 grams
of CO2 emissions per kilowatt
hour from nuclear power, while
coal produces 800 grams of CO2
per kilowatt hour and 500 grams
from natural gas. This study was
presented and published last July
29, 2016. Its supported by the
Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre
for Nuclear Innovation.
New Mexica State University.
Factors like durability and life-
cycle costs are being looked at
to ensure this upcoming new
aggregate as a viable alternative.
More importantly, it will be
tested to its effects in pre-stressed
concrete and also in pre-cast.
There are already existing
applications of recycled aggregate
in concrete but they are merely used
in non-structural construction like
sidewalks and roadways. Thats an
old age development. What were
looking for now is a new material to
be used as an alternative aggregate
for structural concrete, to be used
in buildings and bridges.
Photo by WikipediaCommons

WORLDS LARGEST
LAND VEHICLE
If you think youve seen the worlds
largest land vehicle and its not an
excavator, think again.
Currently holding the worlds biggest
land vehicle is the Bagger 288
excavator which is built by Krupp
(now ThyssenKrupp) of Germany
and now owned and operated by
RWE AG, a large utility company.
The bucket wheel excavator is
intimidatingly humongous at 311
feet in height, 705 feet in length and
46,600 tons in contrast, Titanic was
46,328 tons. It takes five people to
operate it having a 70-foot diameter
bucket wheel, with 20 buckets that
can scoop earth material of over 530
cubic feet. In a day, the Bagger
288 can process 100,000 cubic
yards of material equivalent to
2,500 truckloads.
The original function of this earth
digger is to work in open-pit coal
mines in Germany, which might
be in halt with country mandating
a shutdown of all German coal
mining by 2018. Its design and
manufacture took five years, not
including the assembly which is
another five years, totalling to a
cost of $100 for its production.
Being a huge vehicle has its
downsides it can only go one-
third of a mile per hour on 3 rows
Photo by TwisterSifter
of caterpillar track assembles.
Moreover, every highway it
crosses needs to be fully rebuilt
because of its weight, basically
destroying everything that is in its
path. It needs tons of people for
its mobility too, a good 70 men
to prepare the way. Its preferred
transferring was through
caterpillar treads rather than
disassemble-and-reassemble
because it is less expensive.
The Bagger 288 replaced NASAs
Crawler-Transporter in the throne
of the worlds largest land vehicle.
NOVEMBER 2016
23
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 10 BEST YOUTUBE
CHANNELS THAT FEATURE
THE MINING INDUSTRY
In the millions of videos uploaded
to YouTube everyday, there is
that very small percent dedicated
for people who like to study
and know more about mining.
Companies and groups involved
in the mining industry have taken
to YouTube to educate and reach
more people through presenting
videos containing information,
operations, initiatives and future
plans.
If youre one who likes to discover
the world of mining, this list of
YouTube channels is for you (all
embedded videos are owned by
the respective channels:
Newmont Mining
This YouTube channel features
videos that range from their
involvement in the news, the
history of mining ad Newmont,
and more importantly the
economic impact of mining.
Barrick Gold Corp.
Being the largest gold producer in
the world, Barrick Gold has got to
spread the news through videos.
They have a small collection of
video features that might interest
24 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
mining enthusiasts.
The National Mining
Association
If you are looking for Mine Expo
coverage over the years, this is it.
The National Mining Association
has a rich collection of videos,
including CoreSafety Modules
that will help you in mining
management, and personal
interview that will make you
understand more about mining.
NSW Mining
Making it in this list is another
association called the NSW
Minerals Council. It is the leading
mining association for New
South wales in Australia, with
a YouTube channel filled with
videos on a variety of mining
topics, with focus on women
in mining, new technological
advances and updates for mining
in Australia.
International Council on
Mining & Metals (ICMM)
With more than 40 videos in their
channel, International Council on
Mining & Metals (ICMM) is true
to its commitment in meeting
mining with sustainability.
Its YouTube displays a variety
of workshops, programs and
updates on the mining industry,
which reflects the organization
composed of 22 large mining
companies and 32 most
distinguished association in the
sector.
World Gold Council
The YouTube channel of
World Gold Council boasts of
insights about the gold market,
empowered by interview with
members of the council. This
is your go-to channel when it
comes to gold trends.
Joy Global
Joy Global takes their
manufacturing of mining
equipment to YouTube. Featured
in their channel are videos about
their products and systems
that can be eyegasmic worth
mentioning is the conveyor
systems.
Sandvik Mining
This YouTube channel by Sandvik
Mining is rich of uploads about
mining processes. One could
learn so much through their
channel with their lots of videos,
plus its more engaging because
of the organized selections.
Anglo American
Probably one of the most
important YouTube channels
about mining in this list, Anglo
American presents videos that
justify their mark in the world
of mining. They claim to be one
of the largest diversified mining
companies in the world, and their
uploads align so well with that.
Caterpillar Mining
Save the best for last, they say.
Caterpillar Mining provides
YouTube users the finest viewing
experience there is for followers
of mining, with their growing
video collection. This channel
just proves how Caterpillar leads
in this industry, through their
videos featuring new equipment,
updates, and innovative videos.
3 SIMULATION
GAMES ABOUT
MINING
WORTH A TRY
Mining is known to be a
dangerous and dirty work,
usually involving long shifts.
Some people might be
interested in exploring this
world regardless of that, but
it can be unsafe because of
the unfamiliarity of work
environment. So what better
way can mining be more
of a personal experience?
Simulation games, of course!
Plunge into the underground
or open-pit deposits using
simulators that will give you
an idea of how life is like
being a miner or a mining
engineer. These three games
will definitely help:
Underground Mining
Simulator
Published by Excalibur
Publishing, the Underground
Mining Simulator explores
mining of coal, iron, salt and
gold mines. In this application
for PC, one can experience
mining through explosives,
drilling equipment, and face
tunnelling machine.
Mining and Tunneling
Simulator
Also available on PC, the
Mining and Tunneling
Simulator focuses on blasting
Photo by StartSelect
rocks and drill tunnels. You are
going to excavate materials
through a shovel dozer, with
other operations involving
cranes and trains. You also
have to steer all vehicles like
the maintenance van, crane,
tunnel drilling machine or the
fire brigade. This is made by
Libredia.
Surface Mining
Simulator
This PC application embarks
you on tasks involving mining Photo by Youtube
on the surface of minerals like
coal, turf, gravel, sand and
rocks using wheel loaders,
bulldozers, crushing machines
and conveyors. You are allowed
to create, edit and exchange
machines, if you like; but the
greatest takeaway of this
Ingress simulator game is you
will feel like youre running
your own mining business.
Photo by Youtube
NOVEMBER 2016
25
Mining Engineering and Its Importance

FILIPINO ELECTRONICS
ENGINEER MOTIVATES FUTURE
ENGINEERS THROUGH SONG
By Cielo Panda
So, how bad do you want that
engineering license?
Youve done your best in engineering
school and finally graduated, but
it doesnt end there. After that,
theres another challenge to face
that will complete the first step
towards professionalismtaking
your licensure examination.
Reviewing for your licensure
examination can be very stressful
mentally. This isnt just any
normal exam wherein you could
procrastinate reviewing for a week
or two. Usually it takes a few
months to cram 4 (or more) years
of your engineering knowledge into
your brain before you can say that
youre ready to take the licensure
examination. The anxiety is real!
Thats why Emanuel Gabriel, a
Filipino engineer, created a cover
26 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
of Travie McCoys and Bruno Mars
hit song, Billionaire, to motivate
future licensure examination
takers everywhere.
Engr. Emanuel got the top
spot in the Philippines 2014
Electronics Engineering Licensure
Examination, and was one of the
5th placers in the 2013 Electronics
Technician Licensure Examination.
He was also Magna Cum Laude
in the course BS Electronics
Engineering at the Polytechnic
University of the Philippines-
Maragondon. Currently, he is an
instructor at Excel Review Center,
a licensure examination review
center in the Philippines.
According to Emanuel, he already
had the feeling that he would pass
both exams, and he was aiming to
be at the topand he succeeded
Photo by youtube
on both examinations.
He created the cover because he
was inspired by his students. I also
did it to lessen the nervousness
of all engineers-in-the-making
who will take the exam, especially
my students, Emanuel said. I
want to be part of an engineering
students success thats why Ive
decided to choose a teaching
career. I feel very happy that I will
always be part of their success.
He added.
Heres a piece of advice from
Emanuel for the future batches
of engineers around the world:
Always have a timeline, put more
effort on your studies, but make
sure that you also have your
leisure time. Always take notes, it
will surely help you.

A BIOLOGICAL
EXTRACTION
FOR MINING AND
BIOENERGY
Juan Enriquez, a futurist
who professes the changes
that genomics will bring in
business, technnology and
society wants us to change
how we approach fuel or
bioenergy. Genomics, or
a branch in genetics that
deals with the analysis
and sequencing of an
organism's genome, is a
way in order to deal with
how bioenergy should be
utilized. Bioenergy on the
other hand, is what you get
when you use agricultural
or forest residues, organic
wastes and crops as a means
of extracting energy to
produce heat, electricity and
fuels. And genomics come
into play when the DNA
component and the biology
of the biomass resources are
altered to produce energry
instead of the usual massive
extraction (and destruction).
According to Enriquez,
mankind has always
resorted to brute force in
acquiring natural resources
and it would be better if
the thinking jumps from an
engineering approach, to
a chemical and to finally a
Photo by TEDTalks
biological one. Let's say
for example the works
of the Nobel Prize and
Congressional Medal of
Honor winner Norman
Borlaug. He developed
and taught people a
more efficient war of
growing grains as part of
the Green Revolution. So
in order to grow plants
with just massive land
cultivation and employing
machineries for faster
production, the biology
behind the grains must
be utilized first. Enriquez
said that a huge part of
the destruction brought
about by coal mining
will be lessened if a
more biological way of
extracting it is developed.
How is coal produced?
How can the gases be
collected? Bioenergy
should transition from
a brute force method
of acquiring biomass
resources into a biological
force.
Photo by Minicab
HUGE GOLD
NUGGET FOUND BY
LUCKY AUSTRALIAN
Imagine having the shock of The lucky Australian has been
your life when you find a real doing this during weekends
gold nugget using a metal for the past ten years. As
detector. This Australian soon as he discovered the
prospector thought he gold, he went out for a few
was just looking at an old drinks with his friends (whom
horseshoe when he saw a hell be sharing the money
4.1kg gold nugget at the theyll get with), wrapped
southern edge of Central the gold in foil and placed it
Victorias Golden Triangle. It inside an oven.
is located in South Australia.
How much do you think the
He said, I thought it was discovered gold will sell?
rubbish at first, maybe an old Minicab reports that it is
horseshoe. About 12 inches expected to sell for more
below the ground, I could than US$190,000. It was a
just barely make out the top lucky find indeed.
of something. Later on, he
realized it was real gold as
he dug deeper. It wasnt
an old piece of steel in front
of me. I had just unearthed
a colossal gold nugget a
once in a lifetime find! ()
I didn't think nuggets of this
size were still around.
He then named the gold
Fridays Joy.
NOVEMBER 2016
27
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 Photo by komatsu
$30 BILLION MARKET FOR
CONSTRUCTION ELECTRIC
VEHICLES
Electric vehicles for
construction, agriculture and
mining will be a $30 billion
market in 2025. Komatsu, John
Deere, Caterpillar, and others
manufacture the big vehicles
- mainly hybrid - while other
manufacturers offer smaller,
pure-electric versions.
Pure electric is a legal requirement
indoors. Outdoors, fuel saving
and better performance attracts.
Cranes and man lifters have
many applications. Their
production volumes are larger
28 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
than most people realise. So it is
with the electric versions set for
253,000 to be sold in 2025.
This is an industry about to
change radically. For example, in
mining, over 90% of the world's
mines are open cast. They are
often in remote places up to 4000
meters above sea level, where
shipping diesel can cost more
than buying it. Consequently,
there is now a move to have 350
kW giant haul trucks working
the floor and separately the top of
the mine with electric rail-veyors
lifting the ore from bottom to
top. In an all-electric solution
new pollution laws can be met,
image improved and money
saved, the electricity coming
from the mine's own wind
turbines and photovoltaics.
Battery swapping and fast
charging of those batteries
means 350 kWh batteries
suffice - big but no larger than
those in other EV sectors.
Photo by CleanAgency
SCOTTISH RESEARCHERS
FOUND BETTER WAY TO
RECOVER GOLD FROM E-WASTE
Gold can be found in todays printed
circuit boards (PCBs) so it makes
sense that researchers would find
a way to extract them from used
PCBs.This recycling method is crucial
in todays gold recovery processes
as mining companies are having a
hard time in exploring new sources
of this precious metal. According
to researchers, around 7% of the
electrical waste the world produces
is gold.
Now, Scottish scientists from
University of Edinburgh have
released their new findings on a
better way to extract gold from
old gadgets. Published in the
journal Angewandte Chemie,
their method of recovering gold
is safer and more effective than
current techniques. They have
estimated a total of 300 tonnes
of this precious metal recovered
from used electronics each year
if implemented.
Funded by the Engineering
and Physical Sciences Research
Council, the method involves
dissolving the metal parts of the
PCBs in a mild acid, then adding
an oily liquid, which contains a
chemical compound from the
team. This allows the gold to be
extracted from the other metals.
Professor Jason Love, the
research leader, said, "We are
very excited about this discovery.
We have shown that our
fundamental chemical studies on
the recovery of valuable metals
from electronic waste could have
potential economic and societal
benefits.
NOVEMBER 2016
29
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
FIND OUT WHAT
DRONES SEE
WHEN FLYING
THROUGH A
MINING STOPE
Drones find another purpose as miners
develop their own mining drones.
by Cielo Panda
Photo by Rio2016

Photo by Youtube

WHAT THE
2016 RIO
OLYMPIC
MEDALS ARE
Newmarket Gold has
designed their own drone
to inspect open stopes for
misfires and to map the
industry. It can be used
to aid with operator
training during field work,
where a live feed can be
MADE OF
surrounding walls inside sent to the trainer while What you see is not always what The bronze medal, on the other
a mine. Ion Hann,Mine operator plans a heading. you get. hand, is made in part from the
Manager of the Fosterville Hann commented that same copper that are in Brazilian
Gold Mine, said that the their ultimate goal is to The most-coveted medal for the coins.
2016 Summer Olympics to be
mine had already been get the drones into an held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil The gold and silver medals have
built and developed last autonomous state so the is not exactly what its name their silver coming from mirrors
year and is providing risks of site inspections and implies: the 500-g gold medal and plates. A total of 1.6 tonnes
remarkable advances in re-entries would lessen as barely contains the precious of silver was used in 812 gold
mining today. They hope operators would be able to yellow metal, only about 6 grams, medals and 812 medals. On the
with the rest, 494 grams, as silver. other hand, about 172 ounces of
to reach the stage where do it on the surface. But its maker assures that the gold were used to create all 812
drones enter the mining gold is to have a certain amount gold medals.
industry as a standard of purity and of very high quality
for emergency responses, amid the lustrous coat. This In total, the makers Brazilian
medal costs US$568.02. Mint spent over $228,000 worth
which includes search of gold and over $1 million worth
and rescue scenarios The other medals also have the of silver at current prices.
underground. same weight. The silver medal is
There are numerous 92.5% pure silver, according to Best of the best athletes in this
the production manager of the years Rio Olympics will take
possibilities of this type Olympic medals at the Brazilian home medals 85 mm in diameter,
of technology being Mint, Victor Hugo Criado 11 mm high in the center and 6
introduced in the mining Berbert. It is worth about $315. mm high on the edges.

30 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 25 AWESOME THINGS YOU
DIDNT KNOW ABOUT GOLD
by Cielo Panda
Gold was used as a currency of choice in the past, but even though it isnt used as currency anymore, it still
retains its value. Here are 25 awesome things you didnt know about gold.
Gold is one of the substances
that are equated with
extreme value. Have you
ever wondered why? Why is
gold considered one of the
most valuable metals in the
universe? One of the reasons
could be because its one of
the rarest metals on earth,
but there are other metals
that are even rarer. So whats
the deal? Well, out of all
the rare elements like silver
and platinum, gold has one
distinction that makes it
stand outits yellowish.
Also it doesnt react with
other elements so it doesnt
tarnish. All the others are
grayish. Gold was used as a
currency of choice in the past,
but even though it isnt used
as currency anymore, it still
retains its value. Here are 25
awesome things you didnt
know about gold.
#25 A ton of old cell phones
will give you more gold than 1
ton of gold ore
#24 If all the gold in the
ocean was taken out, there
would be enough for every
person on Earth to have 9
pounds.
#23 Hungarian chemist
Photo by Envirotect
George de Hevesy melted
down the gold Nobel Prizes
of German physicists Max
von Laue and James Frank
so that Nazis wouldnt
confiscated them. They were
recast after the war.
#22 Have you ever
wondered why sailors often
wore gold earrings? Its so
that if they drowned and
washed up on the beach,
the earrings would serve
as payment for a proper
Christian burial.
#21 The Olympic gold
medal is only 1% gold.
#20 In Dubai, there are
ATMs that dispense gold
bars!
#19 Most of the gold that
is found in the Earths crust
was placed there by asteroid
strikes.
#18 Most of the gold on
Earth is in the core because
it sank to the center while
the Earth was being formed.
#17 In 1859, gold miners in
the Rocky Mountains woke
up at 1am to eat breakfast
because the aurora was so
bright that they thought it
was morning.
#16 Did you know that
ice cream testers use gold
spoons so that they would
avoid the after taste of using
regular spoons?
#15 Roman politician Gaius
Gracchus has a bounty put
on his head of its weight in
gold. The head was delivered
but the bounty wasnt paid
because the person who
captured the head filled it
with lead.
#14 Did you know that
aluminium used to be the
most valuable metal on
Earth? Rich people would
eat using aluminium cutlery
will poorer people would use
gold!
#13 Mansa Musa, the ruler
of the Mali Empire, spent
so much gold in Egypt that
he devalued it and almost
destroyed the economy.
#12 According to list25,
Chinese prisoners are forced
to mine gold in the game
World of Warcraft. There are
sources that report nearly
100,000 virtual gold farmers
throughout the country.
#11 LEGO used to give a
25.65 gram brick of gold to its
employees who completed
25 years of service.
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
#10 Did you know that gold
is actually edible?
#9 Gold can be found on
every continent.
#8 Gold is usually forcibly
extracted from water during
earthquakes because of the
pressure deep within the
Earths crust.
#7 The leaves of the
eucalyptus tree have been
found to contain some
traces of gold.
#6 All the gold ever mined
in human history can fill
up three Olympic-sized
swimming pools.
#5 Almost half of the gold
came from Witwatersrand,
South Africa.
#4 The fear of gold is called
Aurophobia.
#3 Indian housewives hold
almost 11% of the worlds
gold. Thats more than the
US, Germany, Switzerland
and the International
Monetary Fund combined.
#2 The largest gold bar in
the world weighs 250 kg or
551 pounds.
#1 Your body contains
around .2mg of gold which
is mostly found in your
bloodstream.
Photo by MIT
NOVEMBER 2016
31
WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE T
LARGEST GOLD RESERVES?

Photo by Mining

32 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
THE
?
Who owns most of the
worlds gold?
When this question was
asked by the people
behind Karus Chains, which
obviously uses so much gold
that asking where most of
the gold comes from matters
so much to them, it only
opened to more questions
about our resources of gold.
Should it be a question of
which countries mine the
most gold and not just who,
as if a person? Or a question
of which countries buy the
precious metal? Maybe of
the export and imports of
gold? But when the company
who offer high quality silver
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
and gold chains for men got
to their senses, they found
the perfect question: which
countries have the largest
gold reserves? And so they
also found the best answer.
With data coming from
International Financial
Statistics 2016, Karus Chains
detailed a map to that will
determine which nations
hold the most gold reserves.
In the map, one can find 20
countries, which hold 88%
of the total gold reserves,
with their corresponding
share in the worlds gold.
Check the map:
NOVEMBER 2016
33
34 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance Photo by IndustrySA
LATEST TRENDS
IN THE MINING
INDUSTRY
Latest Trends in the Mining Industry
GineersNow Feature Admin 28.03.2016 76
Share minus Via Mining Your Future TV
Show The new Certiq machine monitoring
system from Atlas Copco Rock Drills AB
is now the standard for the company's
construction and mining machines. The
Certiq system is based on telematics, i.e.
wireless data transmission. It allows the
owners and operators of above and below-
ground drilling equipment for example to
monitor the performance of their machines
at any time and from any location. With
the real-time data available, owners and
operators can optimize their machines'
equipment to ensure that they achieve
maximum productivity and profitability.
The Certiq software collects and records a
huge amount of data while a machine is
operating. These data are then shown on
a special web portal in the form of easy-
to-understand graphics. Users can easily
log on to the portal with their unique login
data in order to monitor an individual
machine or an entire fleet. The system not
only tells users how a machine is currently
being used or was used in the past but
also gives details of machine availability
rates, maintenance requirements and
much more. The system even produces
performance reports automatically and
sends them via e-mail to the owner or
operator of the machine.
Bell Equipment has complemented its
E series generation of articulated dump
trucks with a total of four new models.
With the current Bell B25E and B30E dump
trucks, the new mid-range B35E and B40E
models and the new B45E and B50E large
dump trucks, Bell continues to focus on
the classic categories and still offers the
world's largest 6x6 program. The Bell B35E
and B40E models are following the general
market trend with considerably higher
nominal loading capacities. Bell Equipment
has made the step towards EU4/Tier4
final with new six cylinder engines from
Mercedes-Benz optimized by MTU for off-
road operations.
Trackman rubber caterpillar tracks from
Continental AG help to ensure safe driving
in the construction sector. They resemble
closed drive belts with a tread profile
on which heavy equipment and traction
machines such as transporters or road
building machines run. Thanks to the new
Armorlug technology, the rubber caterpillar
tracks offer even better performance and
last longer. A number of layers of material
embedded in the drive studs strengthen the Photo by Siemens
material and thus increase its durability.
The conveyor belt solutions for the efficient
transport of goods are reliable, economical
and environmentally friendly too.
Visitors to the trade fair will be able to
find out about the latest product solutions
in the area of inclined conveying, closed
belt systems, heat-resistant conveyor
belts, energy-optimized transport or
lightweight PVC belts. Cummins Inc.,
Columbus, Indiana, USA, will present the
next generation of ultra-clean engines
which meet the EU's Stage V emissions
regulations for construction machines and
mining/materials handling equipment
which are due to come into force in 2019.
The engines which produce anything from
55 to 300 kW not only satisfy the virtually
zero emissions requirement of the Stage
V regulations but also offer an increase in
power and torque of up to ten percent. The
improvements in engine power for Stage
V are achieved thanks to an innovative
approach when it comes to combustion,
airflow and fuel injection systems which
allows Cummins to exploit the full potential
of the four-cylinder QSF3.8 and QSB4.5 as
well as the six-cylinder QSB6.7 and QSL9
with no increase in cubic capacity.
Zetros is a range of HGVs from Daimler AG's
Mercedes-Benz brand. They are primarily
designed for heavy off-road use. With their
NOVEMBER 2016
35
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 conventional bonnet design, they offer
very good off-road performance and are
low in height. To allow easy maintenance,
the engine is accessible without having
to tip the driver's cab. The Zetros has
a long-bonnet design and is available
exclusively with permanent all-wheel drive.
Its standard wading depth is 800 mm,
while 1,190 mm is optionally possible. The
Zetros features an OM 926 LA six-cylinder
diesel engine with a cubic capacity of 7.2
l and a power output of 240 kW. Engines
with Euro3 and Euro5 emissions values are
available. The drivetrain has permanent
all-wheel drive as well as a transfer case
with an off-road gear ratio of 1:1.69. The
Zetros comes as standard with a nine-
speed manual gearbox. However, it is also
available with a fully automatic gearbox
from Allison.
Construction machines, vehicles and
equipment as well as mining machines are
the principal applications for engines from
Deutz AG. The manufacturer will unveil its
newly developed TCD 2.2 diesel and gas
engine as well as the established TCD 2.9 in
a gas version. With up to 55 kW, the TCD 2.2
is a further option for materials handling
and compact construction machine
applications in particular. Unusually, the
engine will be launched in both a diesel and
a liquid gas (LPG or fuel gas) version. The
gas version will produce 42 kW and is an
innovation within Deutz's otherwise diesel-
driven product range. The TCD 2.2 will go
into production in 2019 to coincide with
the EU Stage V emissions norm coming
into force. All TCD 2.2 and 2.9 models use
the same engine platform. This means
36 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
numerous synergy effects for customers
when it comes to integration, for example
with regard to connections or the supply of
spare parts.
With the LF-21H, GHH Fahrzeuge GmbH
is launching a high-performance LHD with
a 21 t loading capacity. The so-called
Efficient Drive System (EDS) was optimized
specially for mining applications. The
environmentally friendly Deutz engine
satisfies the highest EU Stage IV emissions
norm, as a result of which the need for
underground ventilation is minimized. In
addition to the standard version, the LHD
is available in various cab versions, thus
allowing it to be used even in situations
with a roadway height of just 2.5 m. A
Z linkage designed for ore mining allows
the very highest breakout forces and is
designed for loading corresponding dump
trucks.
The Hazemag Group develops and
manufactures machines and other systems
for the construction and mining industries.
The products and systems are used to
prepare and enhance raw materials in
the construction industry and to travel
underground routes in coal, salt, potash, ore,
platinum and diamond mines for example.
The Lehigh Cement Company (Heidelberg
Cement Group) has ordered a semi-mobile
limestone crusher from Hazemag for its
Union Bridge site. The system will process
up to 2,500 t of limestone per hourwith a
feed size of up to 2,000 mm. The material is
discharged from a 400 t feed hopper using
an HAF 25160 apron feeder. The fines in
the feed material are screened at 100 mm
using an HRS 2638 roller screen.
Herrenknecht AG supplies tunneling
machines with diameters of 0.10 to 19 m
for all geologies worldwide. The company
also supplies deep drilling rigs and drilling
machines for vertical and inclined shafts.
One innovation which is to be presented
at bauma is a slant directional drilling
(SDD) rig. Slant directional drilling is an
alternative drilling technique which allows
shallow, conventional or unconventional
oil and gas deposits to be exploited. It is a
symbiosis of horizontal (HDD) and vertical
directional drilling (VDD). While the entry
angle with HDD is between eight and 18
degrees, it is 90 degrees with respect to
the earth's surface with VDD. Deposits at
low depths for example can be reached
quickly using an angle of 30 degrees, while
the angle allows a horizontal deflection for
further drilling.
Keestrack N.V. will present the new H4
caterpillar mobile cone crusher (35 to 50
t transport weight). At the heart of the
model designed for high-quality secondary
or tertiary production with a handling
capacity of between 120 and 200 t/h
is the proven cone crusher technology
which was optimized specifically for
mobile use. According to Keestrack, the
innovative crusher control and monitoring
solutions which have a direct influence
over the output capacity and product
quality are particularly groundbreaking.
As the successor to the Galleon range,
the Keestrack H4 has a completely new
frame design which allows not only high-
performance pre- and post-screening
Photo by ResolveImmix

equipment but also the use of innovative
drive technologies. As a result, the Keestrack
H4 is the world's first mobile cone crusher
to offer a highly efficient three-deck post-
screening module with an oversize material
recycler for the production of three high-
grade end products in one pass. Keestrack
is offering a choice of two economical drive
combinations: direct diesel drive of the
crusher with electrical or electro-hydraulic
peripherals (conveyors, screen units etc.)
or the fully hybrid/plug-in version with
an electrical crusher drive system powered
by an on-board diesel generator or mains
electricity.
With the Mobicone MCO 11 PRO mobile
cone crusher, Kleemann GmbH, a Wirtgen
Group company, is heralding the launch of
its newly developed PRO Line. It offers quarry
operators particularly robust machines
for high-performance applications. The
machine is driven by a powerful yet
economical diesel-electric drive system
which allows operation with an external
power supply. The cone crusher with a
maximum feed capacity of up to 470 t/h is
equipped with the innovative Continuous
Feed System (CFS) which ensures efficient
use of crushing capacity. The MCO 11 PRO
is also ideal for use in linked combinations
of machines. In addition, the machine can
be transported in one piece and can be
quickly put into operational position thanks
to hydraulic moving machine components.
Kgel Trailer GmbH & Co. KG will present
the new Kgel Multi. This versatile trailer is
particularly suitable for transporting building
materials and for weather-resistant freight.
The platform semi-trailer has a reinforced
chassis and a semi-trailer load capacity of
15 t to meet the heavy-duty requirements
in the construction industry. Depending on
the application, the trailer's aluminum walls
can be removed. This makes the Multi ideal
for transporting various building materials.
In response to customers' requirements,
Komatsu Mining developed the new
PC7000. Komatsu designed the 677 t
machine with a view to creating the safest
and most efficient large hydraulic excavator
in its class. The PC7000 is powered by two
1,250 kW diesel engines and is optionally
available with an electric drive system. With
its 36 m shovel or backhoe bucket, the
PC7000 is designed for use in a range
of conditions. The PC7000 is tailored to
the 240 to 290 t 830E and 860E dump
trucks from Komatsu. Drivers will notice the
machine's improved control system. After
Photo by Africa
all, Komatsu has optimized both the shovel
design and the hydraulic system. As a result,
the machine can swing around more quickly
and the shovel can penetrate the material
more easily.
To coincide with bauma, Liebherr-
International Deutschland GmbH will
launch the Liebherr PR 776, the first
infinitely variable hydrostatically powered
crawler tractor in the 70-ton category.
Designed for the most demanding mining
and quarrying applications, it is powered
by a Liebherr twelve-cylinder diesel engine
with a maximum power of 565 kW. It
has a maximum operating weight of 74
t and can be equipped with blades with
a capacity of 18 m (semi-U blade) or 22
m (U blade). Thanks to its modern drive
concept, the new PR 776 crawler tractor
is extremely economical. The infinitely
variable hydrostatic drive system which
is used in all Liebherr crawler tractors is
an innovation in this class of machines.
Another advantage of the modern drive
concept is the needs-based feed pressure
supply. If, for example, the full feed pressure
supply is not required during operation, this
is automatically returned.
NOVEMBER 2016
37
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 WHAT ARE THE MOST
MINERALS AND META
While there are people who object to mining, Gold Photo by MarketWatch
those who support it are actively campaigning
for responsible mining in their areas. The world is
full of resources that we can use to advance our
technology and provide a supply to our daily needs,
so people should see that there is importance
in mining. However, governments and private
companies should only allow practices that includes
rehabilitation of the mine. If they tolerate mining
companies who just leave mines as they are after all
the resources have been taken away, communities
will have to suffer from different consequences later
on.

Minerals mined are used for different purposes, but

they all have one thing in common: everybody needs
them. These minerals are mined and processed Silver Photo by Wikipedia
later on so that the public can use them for the
production of the latest technology, for vanity
purposes and even for the toothpaste we use to
brush our teeth with. You see, mining is crucial for
human kind and these minerals mined have played
important roles in our lives now.

In this list, well be giving you the minerals commonly

mined in Africa.

Quartz Photo by UniversityOfPittsburgh

38 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
T COMMONLY MINED
ALS IN AFRICA?
Cobalt Photo by Roger'sMinerals Bauxite Photo by Geology

Tin, tantalum and tungsten

Photo by Emaze Platinum Group Metals
Photo by SpecialtyMetals

Fluorspar Photo by Minmat

NOVEMBER 2016
39
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
AUSTRALIAN
MINING ACTIVITY
INCREASES URANIUM
CONCENTRATION IN
THE ANTARCTIC

Photo by ABC

40 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
Researchers from the University of
Maine believe that the increasing
mining activity in Australia
causes the increase of uranium
concentrations in the Antarctic
today. The mining activity involved
is the open pit mining in Australia.
The results of this study will be
published later on in the next
issue of Atmospheric Environment
Journal.
Australia has around 40% of the
worlds uranium reserves but
despite the high percentage of
reserves, this industry is not a
major employer in Australia. The
country exports almost 7,000
tonnes of yellow cake annually.
According to the lead researcher
Mariusz Potocki, who is a doctoral
candidate and research assistant
with the Climate Change Institute:
Uranium concentrations in the
ice core increased by as much
as 10^2 between the 1980s and
2000s, accompanied by increased
variability in recent years.
He and his team also adds:
Since other land-source dust
elements dont show similar
large increases in the ice core,
and since the increased uranium
concentrations are enriched
above levels in the Earths
crust, the source of uranium is
attributed to human activities
rather atmospheric circulation
changes.
If the uranium concentration
continues to increase, this will
surely affect a lot of health issues
including genetic mutations,
cancer and other major health
problems.
NOVEMBER 2016
41
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
10 ISSUES AND TRENDS THAT
AFFECT THE MINING INDUSTRY
by Dion Greg Reyes
The mining industry has
been in a complicated
position in recent years.
Several mining companies
have been affected by
many trends that have been
inconsistent, causing fears
that the business might
collapse anytime. Some
days, there is hope for them;
but mostly they fall to the
downward spiral.
That is the reality in mining
right now. Down cycles in the
industry have been endless,
with commodity prices
getting weak, declining
grades, and demand falling
off. This causes companies
to come short in capital and
42 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
slow down in exploration
spending. On top of that
are the regulations, tax
burdens and stakeholder
expectations which are
nowhere near the end.
Yet amid all that weight
on the shoulders of these
mining companies, they
continue to operate. They
look at opportunities of
growth, and track the trends
to change the way things
are.
Deloitte, a company that
provides business insights,
listed the top 10 issues
mining companies had
and still to face with the
rest of this year. It tackles
Photo by Decanter
trends that cover all aspects
affecting the mining
industry.
Operational excellence
If mining companies want
to survive, they have to
maintain the good parts in
their industry. They need
to push strategies including
energy efficiency programs,
adoption of lean practices,
investment in innovation,
and data integration.
Efforts should also be done
in supply chain optimization,
back office outsourcing,
operating model review,
improved capital allocation,
working capital efficiency,
greater collaboration, and
accountability.
Innovation
There is new technology
everyday and mining
companies seem to not
embrace modernization.
But when they do, if at all,
they dont engage with it
externally and only adopt
with the old techniques.
Mining companies need to
take advantage of networks,
machine learning, genomics,
wearables and hybrid
ships that will drastically
improve operations. In the
manufacturing side, its
possible to have collaborative
ecosystems, digital workforce
engagement, improved asset
management, 3D printing
and modularization.
Chinas pivot
Being a powerful nation
with a global impact, China
has domestic trends that
change the miners markets
especially now that they
decided to change the way
they manage currency
value. Large-scale mining
companies should be
aware of the repercussions
of Chinas decisions, and
develop plans relative
to Chinas investment
initiatives and leveraging
Chinese expertise in design,
construction, and financing.
Adjustment to the new
normal
Its likely that the trends
wont change for a while,
so miners should be able to
adopt somehow. One way
to do that is to ramp up
in production, in an attempt
to reduce unit costs and to
consolidate market shares.
Finding that balance
between current and future
demand factor require the
ability to scale production,
labor and other inputs and
outputs.
Global energy mix
The biggest threat for mining
companies is renewables. Its
flourish has been apparent in
recent years, losing the gains
of miners.
But ironically, fossil fuels are
needed in the production of
alternative power sources.
What mining companies
could do is pay close attention
to global energy demand
patterns and shift to the likely
stronger demand for uranium
(for nuclear generation) and
commodities used in battery
storage (to address the
intermittency of renewable
generation).
Stakeholder dialogues
Miners are also affected by
the increased expectations
from stakeholders, making
it harder to survive in the
thriving industry.
The challenge is to find a
way for new tactics that
work, because the old ones
will no longer do. They need
to explore a new form of
stakeholder engagement to
meet demands of multiple
groups
Capital crisis
For an industry going
downwards, its difficult
to attract capital. Mining
companies will be at
risk if they dont seek for
alternative sources of
financing to push through
their operations.
They have to be creative for
sure in finding new financing
options. Suggestions include
commercializing dormant
assets, pooling resources,
pursuing debt reduction
strategies, considering
crowdfunding, and seeking
government funding.
Tax management
There are new regulations
that change the tax
implications associated with
a range of business activities.
This affects miners through
heightened scrutiny of their
tax compliance, substance
and transfer pricing policies.
Miners could assess their
operational and corporate
structures, on top of
understanding the financial
implications of the new tax
rules.
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
Photo by Bolour Kavir
Mergers & acquisitions
Contrary to predictions,
the mining M&A has been
disappointing. Deals in the
mining industry are mostly
divestments and rescue-type
deals in the recent years.
But amid the situation,
today is the best time to
make acquisitions, especially
uncontested assets.
Safety, security, and
health
Workers should never be
discounted in the equation.
Actually they have to
be empowered, through
expanding their safety,
security and health. Mining
companies need to enhance
safety records and security
postures, by strengthening
their safety analytics,
adopting more robust mental
health policies, improving their
security protocols, employing
risk monitors, conducting risk
assessments and improving
crisis management.
NOVEMBER 2016
43
FOUR
Mining is a demarcated topic. Do
you know the reason behind it?
Just because on one hand mining
provides you with all the essential

INCREDIBLE
materials that are needed for the
civilization to move forward, while
on the other hand, it can lead to
some damaging effects on the

OPEN PIT MINES

environment. No matter what
effect it has, you will just be awed
if you take a look at some of the
mines that have been listed here.

The Moab Mine

This mine is situated 20 miles
west of Moab in Utah. This is a
distinctive mine. You might ask
why. Because it has a unique
method to extract out potash. This
mine began operating in 1965 as
a conventional underground mine
which later transformed into an
amalgamating solution mining
in order to extract potash. It also
uses solar evaporation in order to
re-crystallize the product that was
taken out.

Photo by jpgmag

Diavik Diamond Mine

This mine started its production in
the year 2003. Whats incredible
about this is its location. It is
situated in the island just in the
center of Lac de Gras. You will be
able to travel to this mine through
the seasonal winter road only
for two months of the year. The
amazing fact is that this winter
road is build over a frozen lake. If
not by road, you can access this
mine through air.

Photo by Mining.com

44 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 Bingham Canyon Mine
This mine is in operation since
1906 in USA and has a pit of more
than 0.6 miles depth and about 2.5
miles width. It is absolutely hard
to believe that this mine covers an
area of about 1,900 acres. This is
such a significant development of
USA that it has been designated
as a National Historic Landmark in
the year 1966.

Photo by SquareSpace

Mir Mine
This is an open pit diamond mine
which is presently inactive. This
mine located in Mirny of Russia
covers an area of 525 meters and
has a depth of 1,22 ft and width of
1,200 meter.

Photo by AmusingPlanet

NOVEMBER 2016
45
Mining Engineering and Its Importance

Photo by PicsArt
Photo by PaulAllenEngineering
Why
Engineering
Students
Hate Losing
Their
Calculators
If it was just an ordinary day
for a student who majors
in business or art, it really
wouldnt ruin his day if he left
his calculator with him. In fact,
if theres any calculations he
needs in the university, he really
wouldnt need a calculator. He
can just pull out his smart phone
and tadaaa, he can move on to
the next problem easily.
But if you ask an engineering
student what he/she cant
survive without, without a doubt
one will answer a scientific
calculator. Amazing how one
scientific calculator can make or
break an engineering students
academic path. One wrong
input and boom! youre going
to have to tell your parents
that they will have to wait for
the next year to see you march.
Clearly, engineering students
are synonymous to a scientific
calculator.
I remember taking an exam
once. Before the exam started, I
was outside the room panicking
heavily as soon as I figured
out that I wasnt able to
bring my calculator with me.
I could feel myself sweating
hard because failing this
exam was going to take a toll
on my academic status. If I
didnt bring a calculator with
me, I was doomed. And just
like any engineering student
who badly wants to pass an
exam, I started running around
the halls and randomly asked
people if they have a handy-
dandy calculator they can
let an unfortunate student
borrow. Luckily for me, most
students that day knew what
ones fate will be if one forgets
a calculator in an engineering
exam so people were willing to
let me borrow theirs. Of course,
I was able choose one.
You see, our scientific calculators
are considered the most
important thing we can ever
have in our bags. We all know
we cannot leave and start the
day in class without one. This is
why every engineering student
absolutely hates it when its
left in the house. This is why
engineering students dreads
losing it. Scientific calculators
are LIFE. The more complicated
the buttons are, the better the
chances of an engineering
student gets in passing
maybe. But it doesnt give
away the fact that a scientific
calculator is an engineering
students best friend.
So if you happen to see a poor
unfortunate soul looking for a
calculator to borrow, pity the
student and let him/her use
yours. Remember, it could
happen to you and you need
someone to help you as well.

46 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
Photo by SheKnows
Working at an engineering
firm is like living in a tiny
microcosm of society filled
with unique and unusual
characters. No matter
where you work, weve all
experienced these folks. Some
weird, some funny, some
goofy, some brilliant, some
annoying, some adventurous,
some opinionated, and the
list goes on. Here are some of
the most common caricatures
that youll find at the office.
1. The young, overachieving,
go getter. Well call this person
Arnold. This guy is new to the
working world having recently
graduated from college or a
graduate program. He takes
his work VERY seriously. His
hobbies include studying,
asking questions, and working
unpaid overtime. Regardless
of how much his boss puts
on his plate, he asks for
more. This person is always
on the phone, always gets
flustered when you interrupt
his critically important train
of thought, and never misses
an opportunity to suck up to
management.
2. The overpaid, lazy, one foot
out the door retiree. This ladys
name is Cathy. You know this
person very well because
youre always having to do
her work. She overpromises
and underperforms. But what
does she care. Shes about
to retire and play with her
grand kids all day. Shes only
hanging around the office
to collect that sweet life
insurance and those delicious
health benefits. Only one
more year until she reaches
full pension and then SHES
GONE. No one is quite sure
why the supervisors dont
demand more from Cathy.
She no doubt collects one of
the largest paychecks, but the
value she adds just isnt there.
Who can blame her? Shes
been working at the company
for over 30 years. Shes put in
her time. She knows exactly
what she needs to get done
and doesnt do a lick more.
3. The oversocial, oversharing,
chatty Cathy is actually not
named Cathy. This persons
name is Gary. Have you
ever been crushing your
work, getting things done,
feeling motivated and full of
energy from that Starbucks
you treated yourself with,
then everything comes to
a screeching halt. In comes
Gary. Well at least you got a
lot done this morning because
now you find yourself in a
never ending conversation
with the guy that doesnt
know when to stop. No matter
how many ways you try to
exit the conversation, this guy
just wont take a hint. How
can he continue to weather
through the storm of your one
word responses? Wait, whats
he doing now? Oh no, hes
busting out family pictures of
their most recent trip to the
Colorado Railroad Museum
Lets see if I can text someone
THE SIX
ENGINEERS
THAT WE
ALL HAVE TO
DEAL WITH
by Randy Williams
and have them call me so I
can escape the torture that is
this conversation.
4. Harold is the office weirdo.
No one is quite sure whats
going through his mind. Hes
creepily quiet and never
speaks up unless directly
spoken to. Its painful to go to
his office because you know
there will be at least three
and a half awkward silences
every time. His empty stare
is haunting and often causes
you to avert your gaze and
look at the ground. Everyone
wonders what this guy does
in the evenings or on the
weekends. Is he sitting quietly
reading on the couch, playing
dungeons and dragons
with a Meetup group in his
basement, or simply watching
Game of Thrones reruns with
his wife. He is the mystery
man of the office. The only
mystery is that you dont
want anything to do with him.
5. Then theres the cool guy.
He knows the office gossip
and knows how to work the
system. This guys name is
Nick. Nick is a great coworker.
You get along, work well
together, and youve even
hung out a couple of times on
the weekend. One time you
even went on an overnight
camping trip with his wife and
a handful of their friends. It
seems like everyone in the
office likes Nick. How could
you not? Hes friendly, funny,
adventurous, and always
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
comes into the office on
Monday with entertaining
stories. Its funny that on one
hand you wish everyone in
the office were as cool and
easy going as Nick, but what
a boring world it would be
if that were the case. Weird
coworkers are the spice of life.
6. Rounding out the list is
the over enthusiastic parent.
This ladys name is Barb.
Barb loves her life, but mostly
loves her family. She works
the minimum hours so she
can always pick up her kids
from school, take sick days
whenever its needed, and
participates in all of her
childrens activities.
In addition to fondling over
her kids, she also enjoys taking
care of her fellow coworkers.
Shes the office mom. She
sets up the lunch platter
whenever food is brought into
the office. She refills the paper
in the printer. She makes sure
everyone is having a great
day. Theres nothing better
than having a kind and loving
office mom around.
Disclaimer: All characters and
events portrayed here are
entirely fictional. No feelings
were hurt during the creation
or reproduction of this article.
About the author: Randy
Williams: Student of Life.
Professional Engineer. Skeptic.
Explorer. Reader. Listener.
NOVEMBER 2016
47

THIS IS MINING IN
HELL ON EARTH
by Robert Bagatsing
Can you imagine yourself carrying
90 kgs of sulfur three to four
kilometers away from the mining
area everyday?
Nope, I dont think so.
In Java, Indonesia, miners put
their lives in danger in order to
collect sulfur at the Kawah Ijen
Volcano. These miners place long
pipes to allow the liquid sulfur
to drip out of the volcano and
solidify once it comes in contact
with the air. There is smoke almost
everywhere in this place. Using
crowbars and metal poles, they
break off huge chunks of solidified
sulfur and place them in baskets
using only their hands. They carry
these baskets down to the base of
the volcano twice (or thrice a day)
to earn $8-15 each day.
The sulfur collected is commonly
used for different manufacturing
companies such as production of
48 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
batteries, sugar, cosmetics and
insecticides.
The working environment in this
mining site is so dangerous that
the average life expectancy of a
miner only reaches up to 50 years
old. Lack of personal protective
equipments may contribute to
the poor health of these miners.
It has been reported that around
70 miners have died in the past
four decades due to work-related
accidents.
If you reach the age of 70 working
here, consider yourself lucky.
How about this: Can you imagine
yourself taking a dip in the largest
(very) acidic lake on Earth? Of
course not! Nobody in his right
mind would swim in a pond with
a pH of 0.5.
Inside the volcano, a sulfuric acid
lake can be found in the middle of
the crater. This lake is said to be
Photo by Wikipedia
highly acidic that the pH obtained due to the reaction of the sulfuric
is around 0.13 0.5. What makes gases emerging at high pressure
it more interesting is the turquoise and the air at a temperature of
color of the lake, which makes the 360oC. At night, this sight would
place look very picturesque. leave anyone at awe.
If you want to know how
dangerous this lake can be, So, if you still want to visit this
imagine a tin can soaked in the place, go ahead. Be very careful
lake. It can be easily dissolved in thoughl. Avoid taking selfies.
less than thirty minutes. Now,
imagine yourself swimming in the
lake for thirty minutes. Nope, just
dont.
Despite its hazardous
environment, the Kawah Ijen
Volcano attracts a lot of tourists
daily.
You must be thinking, why would
anybody want to go to hell?
This volcano, despite its terrible
working conditions, produces a
bright blue glow (only obvious
when seen during night time)
RICHEST DIAMOND
MINES IN THE WORLD
As the saying goes, Not all
that glitters is gold, but it may
very well be a diamond, or a
diamond mine. There are quite
a few diamond mines in the
world. However, how much do
you know about them? There
can be some pretty fantastic
stones waiting to be found in
some of the richest mines of
the world.
India was once home to the
richest mines in the world.
This is no longer the case. Now,
the richest mines are located
in Africa and Russia. Want to
know about the richest mines
in the world? Read on then.
The Catoca is located in
Angola, Africa and it comes
fifth in the list of largest
diamond mines in the
world. It has been estimated
that the mine contains 130
million carats of diamonds
Mir Mine Photo by Amusing Planet that can be mined. Sounds
a whopping quantity? Thats
nothing compared to the
rest. The mine in Argyle,
Australia supposedly contains
more than 140 million carats.
Production started in 1983
and its set to continue till
2020.
Russia, on the other hand, is
home to the top three largest
diamond mines in the world.
The Mir mine was once the
largest in the world but it has
dropped to the third largest.
Estimates put the carat count
at 141 million. The second
largest in the world is the
Udachny mine, with an
estimated capacity of more
Photo by SEALSwimSafe than 152 million carats. The
trophy for the largest diamond
mine in the world, goes to
the Jubilee Diamond Mine
which contains more than 153
million carats of diamonds. In
2012 alone, 10.4 million carats
were produced by this mine.
Udachny Mine Photo by Mining Thats a lot of shiny stones for
sure!

NOVEMBER 2016
49
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 AUSTRALIA ADVANCES CHANGE:
FROM MINING TO DINING
A multitude of people attended
a lunch meeting at Sydneys
Randwick Racecourse on
Saturday to discuss Chinas
demand for Australian produce
and Australias desire to supply
it.
This event was hosted by the
Australian Turf Club (ATC),
as part of its inaugural Chinese
Racing Festival, a new strategy
to attract the lucrative Chinese
market for its long term viability.
According to the ATC Executive
Darren Pierce, Chinese like
luxury experiences and fashion.
While watching the racetrack,
Australia-China Primary
Industries Council headed
the discussions between the
two countries government
dignitaries and businessmen,
Photo by AustralianTurfClub
50 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
they also included Federal Trade
Minister, Andrew Robb.
Since the mining resource
industry in Australia has come
to a halt, a kick-start for the
Australian economy is needed.
Their next best bet is agriculture.
According to organizer Edmund
So, Australian farmers have the
capacity to produce more but
arent, because they dont know
how to sell overseas. He added
that the key concerns from the
Chinese perspective were secure
supply chains so buyers can
depend on a constant flow of
produce and secure prices.
This will be a great opportunity
for the Australian economy. More
job opportunities will be available
for the masses.
MAN-MADE DIAMONDS:
TURNING THE DEAD
INTO GEMS
The diamonds evolution has
ended says the successful
company behind the man-
made diamonds now trending
in the market. In the Forbes
interview of the companys
leader, Harry Burl, he detailed
how he have come up with
the business idea and shared a
quick overview of the company.
In 2010, while looking for
domains to purchase and
engage lucrative ventures,
he came across to a not yet
registered domain man-
madediamonds.com. From
there, he researched a lot about
it and figured out to keep the
domain for himself. After six
years, he is running the most
successful business in the
diamond making industry in
the country.
As we all know, diamonds are
purely carbon based crystals
and we can get it naturally
from diamond mines mostly in
Africa. But did you know that
we can now make diamonds in
the lab that are as pure as the
natural ones?
Yes! You will need a carbon seed
and blast them with hydrogen
and methane gas to grow
the crystal. Voila! Diamonds
produced will be just like long
lost twin of the mined ones!
These synthetic diamonds can
be grown in the laboratory for
about eight to twelve weeks.
Some say that these diamonds
also cost 30 percent less than
that of the natural ones.
But what if we say that they get
these diamonds from the dead?
Would you wear it?
Harry Burl says that the
company gets its feed from
the cremated ashes from the
funeral homes. Basically, we
can extract carbon from our
hairs and dead ashes. In fact,
it is more economical and
environment friendly especially
to anti-mining movements. It
is also more ethical than the
blood diamonds made out of
Photo by forbes
child labor and exploitation.
Although creating diamonds
from our loved ones is a
sensitive market, Burl said that
they have a special approach
that us both intellectually and
emotionally appealing when it
comes to their customers. They
are cautious in the process with
the customers peace of mind as
the uppermost priority.
Diamonds should be as pure
as their own content, the
company says.
They are also producing
diamonds for wedding and
engagement rings. You can
also order a conflict free ring
with no personal carbon ashes.
Designs and orders of these
diamonds are available on their
website. And I can say that they
really protrude adamantine
luster.
Indeed, diamonds are forever.
NOVEMBER 2016
51
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
NICKEL VALUE
TO LESSEN
IN 2017, BMI
REPORTS
Experts predict the decline in nickel value in the
next 3 months.
Business Monitor International
or BMI released a research
report indicates that the nickel
market will loosen in 2017.
They also predicted that refined
nickel prices will reach $10,000
- $11,000 per tonne in the
upcoming quarter. This is due
to the shortage of 3.1 thousand
tonnes from the Philippines and
other contributing factors from
high Chinese imports. Analysts
commented that the best price
that nickel would reack then
would be at $12,000 - $13,000
per tonne.
That said, BMI forecasts that
as soon as 2017 starts, the
value will start to lessen as
the global market moves into
52 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
27.2 thousand tonnes over.
The study also mentions that
Chinas consumption will grow
lesser in the next year for two
reasons. First, nickel pig iron
from Indonesia serves as a
more economic alternative as
compared to refined nickel.
Second, the effects of the losing
hype from the housing stimulus
in 2017 will cause deterioration
in steel production causing it to
revert to its previous lows.
Photo by Imgur
QUEBEC SAYS
HELLO TO THEIR
FIRST DIAMOND
MINE
Curtains rise as Quebec welcomes their first
diamond mine.
Stornoway Diamond
Corporation has announced
the opening of their Renard
diamond mine in Quebec
last week. Although the
mine has already been in the
production stage since mid-
July, it wasnt until Thursday,
Oct 20, when they opened
their curtains officially. The
ceremony was attended by
Quebecs minister of energy
and natural resources,
Pierre Arcand, who is also
responsible for the plans
of revitalizing northern
Quebecs infrastructures,
Plan Nord.
The ceremony marks the 20
Photo by flickr
Photo by flickr
years of work on the Renard
Project, which started from
a green-field exploration to
a full operational mining
system for diamonds. Other
dignitaries that attended the
event were Richard Shecapio,
Chief of the Cree Nation of
Mistissini, Manon Cyr, mayor
of Chibougamau, Jean
Boucher, member of the
Quebec National Assembly
for Ungava, and Steve
Gamache, mayor of Chapais.
The mine is situated 250km
north of the Cree Nation of
Mistissini and 350km north
of Chibogamau in north-
central Quebec.

Photo by ABCAustralia
The Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal
Commission is positive that
South Australias uranium
exports could triple by
2040, if they could simply
maintain its market share of
the global uranium supply
sector. The commission
also predicts that it would
potentially increase by a
factor of three as nuclear
energy had doubled.
The findings of the
commission indicate an
increase in uranium mining
and milling would add
more than $300 million to
state GSP; and despite that
increase, job generation
would go high as much; only
Photo by LucaraDiamond
Last year, Lucara Diamond
- a Canadian mining
company - was able to
discover the three-billion-
year old diamond at the
Lucaras Karowe mine. The
diamond was called Lesedi
La Rona which means our
light. The diamond was
said to be the largest type
IIa diamond discovered in
100 years.
Its a huge 1,109-carat stone
that is the size of a tennis
ball. The company expected
URANIUM EXPORTS IN
AUSTRALIA MAY TRIPLE
BY 2040
about 800 jobs on a full-
time basis are expected to
be created over the next 14
years.
If the growth in value of
the uranium mining industry
steadies at 32% by 2029-
2030 in South Australia, it
would represent significant
growth in activity in regional
areas, but little effect on real
gross state product on an
economy-wide basis.
South Australian uranium
production in 2014-2015
amounts to about $346.5
million, with associated
royalties of $15.9 million. Photo by AustralianInvestmentEducation
NOBODY WANTED TO PAY
$70 MILLION FOR THIS
DIAMOND
to earn $70 million from it
however, the bid was lower
than what was expected
during a Sothebys auction
in London last Wednesday.
The highest bid it received
was only $61 million. Reports
say that trading with Lucara
was 16% down in Toronto
recently.
Photo by LucaraDiamond
NOVEMBER 2016
53
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT
WILL TAKE OVER
Will Hodgman
AUSTRALIAS OLDEST MINE
Photo by TheAdvocate

The Tasmanian government support to Vedanta, the

has seen a new opportunity
to bring back to life an
Australias oldest mine. In
an interview with NDTV, the
premier of Tasmania Will
Hodgman announced that
the Tasmanian government
plans to restart a copper
mine that was once the
property of Australia. This
announcement came after
Hodgman's trade mission to
India.
The Mt Lyell copper mine
is set to restart next year.
He said, "It is a sizable
operation and at its peak
could employ well over
300 Tasmanians. So it is
an important opportunity
for us to demonstrate our
Copper Mines of Tasmania.
The copper mine started
operating back in 1896 as a
gold mine. It has produced
around 62 tonnes of gold,
1,300 tonnes of silver and
over 1.8 million tonnes of
copper. Hodgman said
the mine has the capacity
to produce around 30,000
tonnes of copper per year.
The Mount Lyell mine has
been under maintenance
two years ago due to the
accidents which led to the
deaths of three workers. One Photo by TheMercury
died from a mudslide while
the other two were killed in a
mine shaft accident.

TURNING ASTEROIDS INTO

SPACECRAFTS FOR MINING
Since our mineral resources are starting
to run out, a lot of companies are looking
into the possibility of asteroid mining.
But wait, its not that easy. There are still
a lot of challenges ahead as companies
develop the right technologies for outer
space mining. At least the US has already
worked on the legal aspect of mining in
asteroids though.
But how is it possible for asteroid mining
to occur when its not very economical
for companies to send spacecrafts to
space and collect minerals?
A 3D printing company (based in
Mountain View, California) just had a
brilliant idea. Made In Space suggested
that wed let the asteroids come to
us instead. According to Mike Wall
from Space.com, this concept is called
Reconstituting Asteroids into Mechanical
Automata, RAMA. This technology uses
3D printing that turns asteroids into self-
flying vehicles. An unmanned spacecraft
would be launched into space and
goes to an asteroid. Itll mine minerals
and uses these samples into a 3D print
simple propulsion, then sends them to
our planet. As soon as its done with the
asteroid, itll move on to the next one.
NASAs Innovative Advanced Concepts Photo by Space.com
program gave $100,000 to the concept
to provide funds for its feasibility studies.
Well just have to see if this becomes a
reality for all of us.

54 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
10 SURPRISING
TRIVIA ABOUT THE
MINING INDUSTRY
When people hear about the mining industry, the first thing that comes into their mind is, yes, youve guessed itgold and
diamonds. Well, youre not wrong, but it isnt simply limited there. Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals, and other
useful geological materials from the earth that our world uses for different applications. Its a profession that has helped
and given work to countless countries for hundreds of years. The mining industry has a rich history, and there are a lot of
aspects about the mining indu`stry you might not yet be familiar with.

#1 #7
Mining has been proven to have occurred as far Along the Lake Superior are, there are several
back as 4000 B.C. early copper mines that are estimated to be
around 5000 years old.
#2
The oldest mine in the world, Lions Cave
is located in Swaziland. By using radiocarbon
dating, they were able to find the age of this
iron oxide mine43,000 years old.
#3
The gold mines of Nubia were not just the
largest in ancient Egypt, it was also the most
extensive. 3-ton copper nugget found in Lake Superior
Photo by Blogspot

Gold mine to expand in Nubian Desert
Photo by Blogspot
#4
The Romans were the ones to develop mining
on a larger scale. They devised methods such as
hydraulic mining and hushing.
#5
The first record of the usage of black powder
for mining was in the year 1627, in what is
now Bansk tiavnica, Slovakia. Back then, the
location was called Selmecbnya, Kingdom of
Hungary.
#6
The first academy for mining was established in
in Selmecbnya, Kingdom of Hungary in 1762.
#8
Did you know that Spanish gold was not
necessarily from Spain? There was a great deal
of gold and silver that came from the colonial
Americas and then was brought to Spain.
#9
The most commonly used form of excavation
type in mining today is surface mining.
#10
The Bingham Canyon Mine located in Utah is
the largest man-made excavation in the world.
Its pit is greater than 0.75 mile in depth and
it is 2.5 miles in width. It was turned into a
National Landmark in 1966.
Bingham Canyon Mine
Photo by Wikimedia

NOVEMBER 2016
55
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
MECHANICAL ENGINEERS WHO
SHAPED THE MECHANICAL
INDUSTRY OF TODAY
Mechanical engineering is known as one of the oldest and broadest disciplines that applies and connects
the fields of engineering, physics, and material science to be used in design, manufacturing, analysis as
well as maintenance of mechanical systems.
This field of engineering requires a deep understanding of mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics,
material science, structural analysis as well as electricity.
Here are some notable mechanical engineers who shaped the mechanical industry of today.

James Watt FRS FRSE
1736-1819 James Watt,
was a Scottish inventor,
mechanical engineer,
chemist and scientist who
significantly improved
Thomas Newcomens
1712 Newcomen steam
engine with the Watt
steam engine in 1736.
His new team engine
was a very important to
the changes that were
brought about by the
Industrial Revolution in
both Great Britain and the
whole world. He is now
called the Father of the
Steam Age, as well as the
Founder of Mechanical
Engineering.
He is responsible for the
concept of horsepower,
and the SI unit of power,
Watt, was coined after
him.
Photo by Britannica
James Hall Nasmyth
1808-1890 James Hall
Nasmyth was a Scottish
engineer, artist and
inventor who is well known
for his development of
the steam hammer. He
was the co-founder of
Nasmyth, Gaskell and
Company manufacturers
of machine tools.
Photo by TodayInSci
William George
Armstrong
1810-1900 William George
Armstrong, 1st Baron
Armstrong CB FRS was
an English industrialist,
scientist, inventor and
philanthropist who is the
founder of Armstrong
Whitworth manufacturing
concern on Tyneside.
He worked together
with the architect
Richard Norman Shaw in
building the Cragside in
Northumberland, which
was the first house in
the world that was lit by
hydroelectricity. He is
the inventor of modern
artillery, the hydraulic
crane, hydroelectric
machine, accumulator,
as well as the Armstrong
Gun.
Photo by
WondersOfWorldEngineering
Nikola Tesla
1856 1943 Nikola Tesla
is more well known in
the field of electricity, but
he is a great mechanical
engineer as well. He is
also an electrical engineer,
physicist as well as a
futurist. He is well known
for his contributions in
the design of the modern
AC (alternating current)
electricity supply system.
He has designed and
invented numerous
machines that has helped
the world, some of these
are the induction motor,
rotating magnetic field,
the Tesla coil, as well as
the Radio remote control
vehile (torpedo).
Photo by Wikimedia

56 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
Kate Gleason
1865-1933 Kate Gleason is
known as the first female
member of the American
Society of Mechanical
Engineers. She did not
have any detailed training
in the field of engineering,
but she was able to make a
name for herself as one of
the very few accomplished
women engineers in
her era. She is also
known to be a successful
businesswoman, and is a
role model for many other
career women in the 19th
century America.
Photo by EngineerGirl
Gustaf Daln
1869-1937 Gustaf
Daln was a Swedish was an engineer and
Nobel Laureate who
is responsible for the
invention of automatic
regulators, AGA cooker,
the Daln light, and scientific fields. He spent
many others. He founded
the AGA company, an
industrial gas company
which later was combined
into Line AG. His automatic
regulators were used with
gas accumulators that
were used for illuminating
lighthouses and buoys.
He then was called "the
benefactor of sailors." In
1912, he won the Nobel
Prize in Physics for his
work.
Aurel Stodola
1859-1942 Aurel Stodola
the Father of Railways,
inventor in Slovakia. A lot
of his work centered on
thermodynamics and has
contributed to several
The British inventor led
almost half of his life
teaching at the Institute
of Technology in Zurich
and during that time was
consulted for help on the
improvement of the gas
turbine. His work as an
educator has helped a
lot of young minds into
engineering, including
those of the greatest
minds of our age.
Photo by Wikimedia
George Stephenson
1781-1848 Known as
George Stephenson
was a pioneer inventor
in the fields of civil and
mechanical engineering.
to the creation of the
worlds first inter-city
railway line that ran using
steam locomotives which
was available for public
use. Aside from that big
innovation, Stephenson
is also credited with the
creation of Rocket, the
most famous railway
locomotive of his era.
Photo by History

Photo by Wikimedia

NOVEMBER 2016
57
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
JHARIA, THE HOME
OF INDIAS BLACK
DIAMONDS
Jharia, The mining central
of India in the Dhanbad
district of Jharkand, is
responsible for the highest
concentration of coal in
India. Although this region
is considered one of the
wealthier parts of the
country due to the quantity
of natural resources, the
locals who live here are one
of the most underprivileged
in the country, and are
trying to adapt with the
consequences that Indias
rapid growth has brought.
58 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
According to state
government, because of
Jharias uncontrollable
coal mine fires, the town of
Jharia will be shifted. These
coal mine fires have led to
loss of property and lives.
The government thinks that
shifting the town will help
in exploiting coal, which still
remains unmined, worth
around RS. 60,000 crores
($12 Billion)
Since the fire started
burning in Jharia, the whole
town has been shrouded in
a cload-mix of toxic fumes.
This has put the lives of
nearby villages and towns in
danger. A number of people
have already died and been
displaced, but some are still
stubbornly staying in the
town.
Photographer Seb Heseltine
visited Jharia town in 2015,
to complete his photo
portfolio project for London
College of Communication.
His photo shows the lives of
the towns people in Jharia.
Photos by SebHeseltine
 NOVEMBER 2016
59
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
WHAT LIES AHEAD
FOR CONSTRUCTION
EQUIPMENT
by Dion Greg Reyes

construction equipment systems are engineered

Photo by WalleniusWilhelsemLogistics
Every Caterpillar, Komatsu, industrialization began,
Case, Volvo, and Deere builders and engineers sought
equipment in use at for advanced construction
construction sites today equipment and machines
are products of a careful that will render smooth site
developmental study in operations at minimum costs.
manufacturing. Ever since Today, we have all the basic
we need. Using excavators,
backhoes, loaders, cranes, and
rollers, among others we have
formed and built engineering
marvels. Engineers always
find a way to maximize the
use of these equipment.
And yet, we could take
advantage of modern
technology to further exploit
the use of these equipment,
and to develop more machines
that will help in forwarding
construction methods.
There are essentially three
areas which are the focus
of construction equipment
manufacturers in relating
its past, present, and future.
Once these three hydraulics,
engines, and computer
to be better than its current
state, they lead to lower
maintenance costs, decreased
operation costs, improved
efficiency and reliability, and
longer machine life.
Excavators, backhoes, and
loaders have hydraulics
embedded in them to lift,
load and unload materials
and objects. Mobility of
these equipment relies in
this system. What emerging
hydraulic technologies can
do is optimize both hydraulic
flow and pressure, including
the ability to modulate both.
They will largely affect the
equipments efficiency,
versatility, and lifting
capabilities.

60 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance

There are still so much to
forward with engine controls,
fuel injection systems, and
the engine combustion
process. When engineers
work to improve these
areas about the engines in
construction equipment,
it will yield increased fuel
efficiency and decreased
amount of harmful emissions
into the air. The greatest
impact in redesigning the
engine is in the environment,
being a critical issue in the
construction equipment
industry.
Computer systems are only
a recent integration with
construction equipment,
but they make waves for
enhanced site performance.
Digitization, including GPS
navigation, allows more
effective monitoring in
machine operations, more
analyzed fuel efficiency, much
controlled hydraulics, and
reliable reporting of machine
performance all of which
are in the end part of the
construction process.
While these three are existing
areas that seek improvement,
there is also a room for
creativity in the manufacture
of construction equipment by
producing hybrids and using
3D printing.
There are already existing
hybrid excavators and hybrid
bulldozers, which will continue
to flourish as manufacturers
look in this area to accelerate
Photo by HSCBSG
site operations.
But theres a more current
technology, the 3D printing
or additive manufacturing,
which takes production of
construction equipment to an
entirely new level. It allows
modelling of equipment parts
like cabs, booms, and buckets,
as 3D printing provide design
allowances not found in
conventional manufacturing.
Efficiency, quality, and safety
are the cores of construction
equipment. And they remain
to be so in the future, just
catching up with modern
technology.
NOVEMBER 2016
61
Mining Engineering and Its Importance

GETTING TO KNOW:
THE WORK OF A
MINING ENGINEER
The field of mining engineering is
all about searching for deposits of
natural resources and extracting
them efficiently while minimizing
risks. It is that discipline in
engineering where natural
resources like gravel, coal, copper,
iron, tungsten, gold, and silver are
unearthed.
Other than what the name
suggests, it is the job of mining
engineers to ensure the safe
and efficient development of
mines and other surface and
underground operations. Mining
engineers should be familiar
of these structures on their
surrounding environment paired
with the technical knowledge and
management skills.
The scope of work of mining
62 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
engineers covers assessment
of mining ventures up to the
site operations, and even
distribution. Mining engineers
undertake feasibility studies,
model or design potential mine
sites, and prepares plans for
mines like tunnels and shafts
for underground mines. In the
operations, mining engineers are
tasked to ensure that procedures
run smoothly, activities are being
monitored, and more importantly
the safety of the workers and
the site or mine is upheld. This
job has high risks especially
when underground, so mining
engineers have the responsibility
to oversee underground issues
like lighting and ventilation.
Being able to work as a mining
Photo by SaskatchewanPolytechnic
engineer, one needs to have a
degree in one of these courses:
civil engineering; geology; mine
and quarry engineering; minerals
surveying; and mining and mineral
engineering.
Mining engineers can be
employed in mining companies,
mining finance and consultancy
companies, environmental
consultancies, quarrying and
extraction companies, and major
manufacturing and construction
companies. They can earn a
median annual salary of $90,160
in May 2014 according to U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Most Dangerous
Engineering Jobs
Photo by Linkedin
Photo by SRMax
Photo by FirstPeopleSolutions
All jobs have its potential dangers,
and with developing technology and
computers in our workplaces, injuries
and accidents at work are decreasing.
However, some jobs in the
engineering and technology field are
more dangerous than others. Many
engineering jobs still involve huge
machinery which needs to be used
safely to avoid accidents.
Heres a list of some of the most
dangerous engineering industries.
Construction
The construction industry is known
for its strict approaches to health
and safety. If proper safety rules are
not followed or are taken for granted,
accidents may happen and this can
lead to injuries or even death. In the
construction industry, one has always
have to be alert when working. Most
injuries and deaths was due to falling
from heights and being trapped by
something collapsing.
Manufacturing
The manufacturing industry can be
dangerous if process manuals are
not followed or if manufacturing
machines are not operated properly.
Accidents like electrocution, falling
debris, and machine overload could
lead to injuries or worse, death.
Such accidents can also happen
if employees do not wear proper
protective equipment.
Mining and quarrying
This sector can be considered as
one of the most dangerous jobs for
engineers. Different accidents can
happen, such as cave-ins, flood, gas
explosions, chemical leakage, and
even electrocution.
These days, it is important to be able
to work proficiently with both heavy
machinery and computers while
making sure that health and safety in
the workplace is a top priority.
NOVEMBER 2016
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Mining Engineering and Its Importance

THIS IS HOW MUCH A MINING AND /
OR GEOLOGICAL ENGINEER EARNS
What exactly is the difference between a
mining engineer and a geological engineer?
What does each one of them do? Do they
get paid enough? How much do they earn
annually? Does working as a mining or
a geological engineer mean working in
isolated areas in mountains? Will one still
have a social life when working?
A geological engineer usually does the
research in order to locate where the
possible mineral deposits are. They go to
these sites and evaluate them. If any of
the places becomes a site where they can
extract valuable minerals, a geological
engineer plans how to extract them in the
most efficient and most environmental
friendly way.
The mining engineer specializes in one
particular mineral and also does the same
job as the geological engineer in finding the
most efficient way to extract the minerals
from the mining site.
Their work may sound easy but in real life,
the work is hard and dangerous. Mining
sites can go deep down under the ground.
With lack of ventilation, power and water,
64 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
its the engineers job to plan also a safe way
of getting the work done efficiently. These
engineers also work with geoscientists and
metallurgical engineers.
To become a mining and /or a geological
engineer, one must earn a bachelors degree
in an accredited engineering program and
pass the licensure exam (which vary from
state to state and country to country). There
are states that require engineers to continue
earning education credits to keep their
licenses.
One must hone in on their analytical skills,
decision-making and problem solving skills.
These engineers also use a lot of advanced
math principles, so thats a lot of math for
them. They also need to develop their writing
skills since they must prepare reports and
instructions for everyone in the company.
These engineers work in offices of consulting
companies or mining firms so they most
likely live in urban areas. Some of them have
to work in remote areas where minerals are
usually found. Dont worry, locals from the
community will entertain them.
Photo by ETHZrich
How much are they earning?
Engineers earn different annual wages
in different fields. For those who offer
engineering services, the median annual wage
is around $78,560. Those who are part of the
metal ore and coal mining industry, they earn
around $85,000. While engineers who work in
the oil and gas extraction field are earning the
most with $115,860.
For the mining and geological engineering
students, the future is bright for them because
by the year 2024, many engineers will retire
by then. Also, not everyone can easily become
one because of the educational and licensing
requirements, so there wont be too many
competition in the field.
HOW DO I BECOME A MINING
ENGINEER?
Mining engineering is one of the smallest fields in engineering but it is one of the
most important jobs in our world todayand it is still growing.
Photo by forbes
Mining Engineering jobs are projected
to rise in the next years, thats why
many are pursuing a course in this
field. Relatively, mining engineering
is one of the smallest fields in
engineering but it is one of the most
important jobs in our world today
and it is still growing. To understand
the nature of this field more, here
is a short description about mining
engineering.
What is a Mining Engineer?
Mining engineers are responsible for
designing safe and efficient mines
for removing coal and metals. They
are responsible for optimizing mines
for extracting resources in the most
efficient and effective way that is
possible. They also make sure that
they extract as much of the resource
as possible.
Mining engineers, more often than
not, have their own specialization
in a certain metal or mineral. There
are those that work together with
geologists so they will be able to find
and evaluate new ore deposits. On
the other hand, there are those that
specialize in developing or improving
mining equipment, manage
processing operations that segregate
and refine minerals.
There are mining safety engineers
as well. They implement the best
practices in the field, conduct mine
and equipment inspections, monitor
the air quality, and make sure that
their company complies with all
the safety regulations to keep the
workers safe.
What do Mining Engineers Do?
Mainly, mining engineers design
underground mines as well as
open-pit mines, they supervise the
construction of structures in the
mines, planning of transportation
of minerals to processing plants,
monitor production, and do reports
as well.
These professionals assess the
geological characteristics of mining
sites to find the best structures and
equipment as well as process that fit
the mine best.
They also make sure that the
operations conducted are
environmentally sound.
Get a Mining Engineer Degree
To become a mining engineer,
the first step you have to take is
to finish a bachelors degree in
mining engineering or geological
engineer. Since there are very few
schools around the globe which
offer mining engineering programs,
students who do not have access to a
university that offers such may need
to specialize in this area from within
general engineering programs. Some
programs in mining engineering
include geology, mine design and
safety, physics, and mathematics.
Where do Mining Engineers Work
Many mining engineers work in
mining operations in locations
that are remote. However, there
are some that work in sand-and-
gravel operations that are found
nearby cities. As time goes by, some
may work their way up to office-
based positions in mining firms or
consultation companies which are
in business districts or metropolitan
areas.
Most mining engineers work full time.
Those who work in remote locations
have schedules with different shifts
that exceed 40 hours per week.
NOVEMBER 2016
65
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
CIVIL
ENGINEERS
WHO
SHAPED THE
CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY OF
TODAY
From sturdy bridges to
enormous skyscrapers,
all these are here in
our modern world
thanks to the efforts
of civil engineers.
Civil engineering has
been one of the oldest
professions in the
world, their roots date
back to between 4000
and 2000 BC in Ancient
Egypt, the Indus Valley
Civilization, as well
as Mesopotamia,
when nomadic people
decided to settle and
build permanent homes
as their shelter.
Many civil engineers
have revolutionized
the world with their
creations, and though
a lot of people take
these creations for
granted, everyone
should recognize that
almost every modern
day structure you see
today are all thanks
to the genius of these
engineers.
Here are some civil
engineers who shaped
the construction
industry of today.
66 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
John Smeaton Benjamin Wright Squire Whipple Isambard Kingdom
Brunel
1724 1792 John 1770 1842 Benjamin 1804 1888 Squire
Smeaton was an English Wright was an American Whipple was a civil 1806 1859 Isambard
civil engineer (the civil engineer who was engineer who was Kingdom Brunel, an
first self-proclaimed the chief engineer of born in Hardwick, English mechanical and
civil engineer) who the Erie Canal and the Massachusetts, USA. civil engineer, has been
was responsible Chesapeake and Ohio He has become well- considered to be one
for the design of Canal. He started his known as the Father of of the most ingenious
numerous bridges, career as a surveyor and iron bridge building in and prolific figures in
canals, harbours as planner before being the America. His designs engineering history",
well as lighthouses. chief engineer of these have been used across "one of the 19th
He is commonly canals construction. the globe, including century engineering
called as the Father In the year 1969, the Benjamin Wrights Erie giants", and "one of the
of Civil Engineering. American Society of Canal. His patents are greatest figures of the
Thanks to his research Civil Engineers declared as follows Industrial Revolution,
and innovations on Wright as the "Father U.S. Patent 2,064 [who] changed the face
waterwheels and of American Civil Bowstring iron-bridge of the English landscape
windmills, he was Engineering". He had truss (1841) with his groundbreaking
able to contribute to 9 children, wherein 5 U.S. Patent 134,338 designs and ingenious
the efficiency of the of them followed his Lift draw bridge constructions". He
industrial revolution. footsteps and became built dockyards, the
Smeaton was also a civil engineers as well. Photo by Great Western Railway,
mechanical engineer Oneidacountyhistory numerous steamships
and a well-known Photo by which include the
physicist. ConnecticutHistory first propeller-driven
transatlantic steamship,
Photo by Wikimedia and a number of
important bridges and
tunnels. His designs
have revolutionized
public transport as well
as modern engineering.
In 2002, a public poll
named Brunel the
second greatest Briton.
Photo by PrimaryFacts
Ellen Swallow Dr John Job Crew Emily Warren William LeBaron "Kate" Gleason
Richards Bradfield Roebling Jenney
1865 1933 Catherine
(1842 1911) Ellen 1867 1943 Dr John 1843 1903 Emily 1832 1907 William Anselm "Kate"
Swallow Richards was Job Crew Bradfield is a Warren Roebling is LeBaron Jenney, an Gleason was an
an American pioneer in prominent Australian considered as the American architect American engineer
engineering. She was engineer who worlds first female field and engineer, is well- and entrepreneur who
the first woman ever supervised the design engineer. She is known known for building the is known for being an
to be admitted into a and construction of for her contribution to first skyscraper in the accomplished woman
school of science and the famous and iconic the completion of the year 1884. He became in the engineering
technology she was also Sydney Harbour Bridge. famous Brooklyn Bridge to be known as the field where males
the first woman to earn after her husband, Father of the American were dominant.
a degree in chemistry. Photo by Newsapi Washington Roebling, Skyscraper. She is responsible
She was a key founder had developed caisson In the year 1998, he for inventing mass-
of environmental disease. Her husband was ranked as number produced, low cost
engineering. Her was a civil engineer, 89 in the book 1,000 housing built out of
contribution in the field as well as the Chief Years, 1,000 People: concrete.
of civil engineering is Engineer during the Ranking the Men and
her efforts in research construction of the Women Who Shaped Photo by Wikimedia
on soil quality. Brooklyn Bridge. Emily, the Millennium.
who studied alongside
Photo by What-when-how her husband and Catherine Anselm
Photo by Pinterest
capable of the task
at hand, took over as
chief field engineer of
the construction of the
Brooklyn Bridge.

Photo by Wikipedia

NOVEMBER 2016
67
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 NOVEMBER 2016 Photo by: Express
68
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
EXPLORING
THE DEEP
SEA FOR
MINERALS
We already have lots of
mines on land to meet
the demands of mankind
when it comes to mineral
resources. But it seems
that they are not enough,
and so many countries and
companies now look at the
deep seafloor as new sites
of mining.
Seabed mining is perhaps
the youngest form of
mining. There are only few
technologies that explore
the deep seafloor, under
the permission of a special
body concerned in seabed
mining exploration called
the International Seabed
Authority.
This organization is created
by the United Nations
to control the activities
of countries interested
in mineral riches in the
ocean. It has so far granted
over one million square
kilometers of claims for
mining exploration in the
high seas of the Pacific,
Atlantic and Indian Oceans
to at least 16 countries. There
are parts of the seas, most
of which have the minerals
and biodiversity, which are
outside the legal jurisdiction
of countries and therefore
considered heritage global
resources over which we
are all trustees. The group
is responsible for delegating
the protection of these areas.
Deep sea mining is a relatively
new industry, and there are
fears that this will be abused.
With the use of robotic bulk
cutters and other heavy
mining machines, it is likely
that the marine environment
will be affected once the
seabed mining activities
will not be regulated or
monitored. The worst things
that could happen with the
marine ecosystems are the
loss of unique species and
the destruction of sensitive
deep sea habitats.
But ocean scientists around
the world are suggesting
precautions, like explore
current and future areas of
mining interest as to identify
proactively which species are
at risk; plan out which mining
regions need to be preserved
at most; and carefully observe
the intensity and scale of
the disturbances caused by
seabed mining once they start
operations.
If mining companies will not
be careful with the rich, fragile
marine life that exists deep
in our seabeds, the damages
are irreversible. The challenge
is to take out the minerals
from the seabed, while still
preserving the marine life
and that can only be done if
we understand how species
and ecosystems on that part
of the Earth work.
NOVEMBER 2016
69
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 THIS COMPANY
WANTS TO MINE GOLD
AND PLATINUM ON
ASTEROIDS
70 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance

We all know that our resources of
gold and platinum are only limited so
scientists and engineers want to mine
these elements inside asteroids. Yes,
you read that right. People are planning
to mine asteroids!
The Deep Space Industries (DSI) is
teaming up with the Luxembourg
government to work on its project,
Prospector-X. This project involves
designing and deploying a hunting
spacecraft for mining explorations.
Although the project doesnt have a
specific date for release, the people
behind the project wants it to launch
soon.
Prospector-X isnt exactly the giant
space vehicle youd expect it to be. Its
as small as a size of a loaf, about 30 cm
long. It really wouldnt be landing on
any asteroids though. What scientists
and engineers plan to do is to have
Prospector-X spend time around a low-
Earth orbit and tests the system designs
provided by DSI. Equipped with a dual-
camera optical navigation system and an
electrothermal thruster, it will test the
technologies developed by DSI.
Photo by PlanetaryResources
Aside from Deep Space Industries (DSI),
another popular company known for its
space projects is Planetary Resources. It
launched a similar project called Arkyd
3R from the International Space Station
last year.
Although both companies dont have
the technology to mine from an asteroid
yet, it is legally prohibited to do so as
well. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967
bans countries from launching weapons
of mass destruction on space.
NOVEMBER 2016
71
Mining Engineering and Its Importance

WORLDS 40
BIGGEST MINING
COMPANIES
Listed in PwCs report called Mine
2015 showed the largest mining
companies in 2015. Not only
that, the report also presented
devastating statistics about the
mining industry.
Mine 2015 indicated that the
top companies suffered their first
collective net loss in history which
accounts to $27 billion; a decline
in collective market capitalization
of 37%; the lowest return on
capital ever; asset impairment
72 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
totalling $53 billion; record high
leverage of 46%, and operating
expenditure cuts of $83 billion.
The top 40 list is composed of
re-entries, that moved up and
down, and new entrants. The
market capitalization threshold
of the companies remained
consistent at $4.5 despite the
said declining statistics.
Twelve Chinese companies are on
the list and six are from Canada.
Two notable companies that fell
Photo by ProjectsIQ
off the list are Canadas First
Quantum and Teck Resources.
Its not entirely bad news
though, as there is a sector that
had an increase in market value,
which was the rare earths with
the world's top producer of the
17 elements jumping 23 places
in the ranking.
Here are the top 40 biggest
mining companies as of 2015:
Photo by PwCMine2015

NOVEMBER 2016
73
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
INSIDE THE
WORLDS LARGEST
UNDERGROUND
MINE

74 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 In the Chilean community of
Machali in Cachapoal Province,
in the Andes mountain
range, lies the worlds largest
underground mine. Called the El
Teniente, it holds underground
copper operations, which is the
sixth biggest in the world by
reserve size. Codelco, the state-
owned copper miner and the
worlds largest copper producer,
owns and operates El Teniente.
As of 2015, the underground
mine has more than 3,000
kilometers of tunnels and about
1,500 kilometers of underground
roads. It yields more than
400,000 metric tons of refined
copper per year in 2013, they
managed to reach a 450,000-
tonne output; and in January
to November of 2014, about
423,100 tonnes of copper were
mined. It comprises six mining
blocks around the Braden Pipe
at different elevations including
the Esmeralda, Reservas Norte,
All Photos by CodelcoViaMining.com Mining Engineering and Its Importance
Diablo Regimiento and Pipa
Norte.
The operations of Codelco are
divided into seven, namely
Chuquicamata, Radomiro
Tomic, Ministro Hales, Andina, El
Teniente, Salvador, and Gabriela
Mistral.
Massive ores are hauled daily
through a railroad system,
leading to the surface. They are
crushed in plants and conveyed
to a concentrator where a
copper concentrate is produced.
This is sent to a nearby smelter.
This underground copper mine
boasts as one of the first mines
to deploy a semi-automated
load haul dumpers for ore
extraction. They did it in 2004.
El Tenientes huge copper
deposit was discovered early in
the 19th century. It was in 1905
when U.S.-based Braden Copper
Company started operations on
the site, with block caving used
for extracting ore.
NOVEMBER 2016
75
 OLD COUPLE WOKE UP TO
SINKHOLE CAUSED BY OLD
MINING SHAFT
What if you wake up one day to find
out that your simple garden had a
huge sinkhole on it?
That is exactly what happened to
a retired couples backyard one
Monday where a sinkhole suddenly
appeared and grew to a diameter
of 15 meters on Tuesday night. This
was the result of an old mining
shaft which wasnt used for decades
already.
Lynnette McKay and her husband
had people from the mines
department review the sinkhole to
find out who should be responsible
in repairing the hole. According to
McKay, people were bringing in
pumps and other things to check
the situation. She adds, We were Photo by QuietCorner
seriously shocked. It was 1885
apparently all the mining started out
around these areas. I just got that
bit of information from a person
[whose] father worked in the mines.
While the sinkhole happened
because of a shaft used for mining
below the ground, this isnt the first
time that sinkholes and collapsed
surfaces have occurred in Ipswich.
The place used to be known for its
underground mines but has been a
residential suburbs for some time
already.
According to Jim Leggate, a former
mines department environmental
officer, The engineering of those
mines was pretty good but part of
their operations was the collaptive
roof supports [timber pillars and
beams that inevitably rot] and in
certain locations that would cause
surface subsidence. And it was an
inevitability that was conveniently
ignored in the [mining leases].The
problem is a lot of those underground
mines there were operated under
mining leases that didnt extend to
the surface.
These days, Ipswich no longer has
a mining industry. But it definitely Photo by BrisbaneTimes
shows everyone that the past finds a
way to haunt us.

76 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
LITHIUM DEMAND
BOOMS AHEAD
Lithium Australia mulls deeper
project and funding in lithium as
potential demand grows in the
emergence of renewable and
portable storage technology. The
Pilgangoora project in Western
Australia is expected to expand
its scope for mining lithium as
the area was confirmed to be a
pegmatite zone. Pegmatite is the
ore containing lithium
I think were talking about a
Photo by EarthsPhysicsTeaching paradigm shift in the way people
think about power, Adrian
Griffin, Managing Director of
Lithium Australia, said pertaining
to renewables and storage like
lithium-ion batteries.
The company recently completed
a $6.55 million share replacement
Photo by Weebly
by Farrel Pinto
in one of the worst weeks in the
trading history. This however
added potentials to its business
model for a $29 million fundraising
drive. Lithium Australias stock
trading jumped 13.3% higher,
representing 80% more since the
mid-January.
The companys confidence for plan
expansion was led by its recent
successful production of lithium
hydroxide. Lithium hydroxide is an
added chemical used in production
of batteries and represents a big
market at the back of increased
electric car manufacture. Adrian
Griffin believes that lithium can
be traded either as carbonate or
hydroxide and that the market is
hungry for both.
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
He also added that the lithium
carbonate is at $10,000 per ton
and the lithium hydroxide at
$14,000 per ton spotting a very
significant price increase in the
late 2015. For instance, Lithium
carbonate was at low trade in
early December for $10, 0540 but
increased highly late in December
at $14,362.
It is expected that more
companies will be investing in
lithium production as stocks have
been increasing due to forecasted
demands of lithium batteries in
the future.
NOVEMBER 2016
77
 Photo by ResolutionPossible
Photo by BritanniaMining
How Mining Companies
Give Back To Communities
Mining companies get a bad reputation
for most people who do not understand
the importance of what they are doing.
For anti-mining activists, the extraction of
minerals and metals from different lands
lead to the destruction of the environment.
This is what some people would like to
believe. Forget the importance of the
metals and minerals extracted to supply
societys demands - mining is bad for the
environment, mining is bad for us. Thats
exactly what anti-mining organizations
want us to believe.
But through responsible mining and
proper information dissemination, mining
companies can shed some light on the
benefits of the activity and how its not
necessarily bad for the environment at
all. Another thing they do is to involve the
communities where mining companies
are located in their activities through
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
programs. These are voluntary actions
that will help benefit the communities
78 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
involved. Whether it benefits the locals
socially, economically or environmentally,
mining companies would take the initiative
to offer programs that could help people
and have a better relationship with them.
As we all know, the future of a mining
company depends on the relations
between the company and the locals. If
the locals dont support a mining company,
chances are there will be delays on future
projects and problems in getting permits
for an operation to push through.
So what exactly do these companies offer
in their CSR programs?
There are a lot of choices for different
communities. The most common
program involves development of
different infrastructure. Roads will be
built to provide better transportation
while hospitals and schools will become
available for the community as well. Since
mining companies are found in rural areas,
electricity may also be prioritized for the
Photo by SMI
Photo by RoyalBafokengPlatinum
community.
Jobs are also given to the locals. Not
only are the jobs available to provide
people with income, some companies
offer jobs that involve training to prepare
these people for a sustainable living.
These programs may be beneficial to the
community even if mining companies
leave them after operation.
Lastly, CSR programs may involve building
social capital. To give back to communities,
companies can provide free education
for the children to go to school to. They
can provide families on different types
of information including family planning,
HIV prevention, proper hygiene and many
more.
While some people still question the
ulterior motives of mining companies in
having the initiative to do these programs,
we really cant help but approve of these
CSR programs. After all, they still get to
help different communities improve their
way of life.
South Africa
Photo by 911Metallurgist MINING
DISASTERS YOU
NEVER WANT
TO WITNESS
Working in a mining site is not an easy job. In fact, working in one means
knowing you may never get to live to see the bright skies and your families if
youre not too careful at your job. Sometimes, unfortunate accidents happen
and cause a lot of consequences to different mining companies. Given the risks
involved in mining, a lot of companies make sure that they practice safe work
ethics.
Of course, one still couldnt avoid an accident. The world witnessed a lot of
France horrifying accidents that caused a lot of lives. If theres one thing people can
Photo by Wikimedia
learn from these events, its that companies should invest a lot on making sure
everyone who works for them are safe in the workplace. It also pays to hire the
best crisis management team in case of emergencies.
In this article, we list down some of the mining industrys worst accidents that
ever happened:

In South Africa
The mine disaster in Coalbrook, South Africa urged the South Africans to change
the way companies dealt with the work safety issues. Back in 1960, 437 miners
were trapped in a section of the Coalbrook mine because of a rock fall. Due to
methane poisoning, only 20 people survived because no equipment was able to
take the workers out of the mine. This lead the companies to invest on a suitable
China rescue drilling equipment.
Photo by 911Metallurgist
In France
Around 1099 people died when a coal-dust explosion destroyed the Courrieres
mine in 1906. Two-thirds of the miners working there died. Children also died in
the explosion. Those who survived suffered from burns and got sick by the gases.

In China
In the Benxihu Colliery, a coal-dust explosion occurred back in 1942. The
accident cost 1,549 lives and it took around 10 days to remove all the bodies.

In Wales (United Kingdom)

Back in 1913, the famous Senghenydd Colliery disaster happened. A methane
Wales (United Kingdom)
Photo by WalesOnline explosion occurred which ignited a coal dust. Around 439 miners were killed and
is considered the most deadly mine accident in United Kingdom.

In Japan
An accident occurred in the Japanese Mitsubishi Hojyo coal mine. Back in 1914,
a gas explosion killed around 687 workers. Another accident occurred in 1963
which killed 458 miners in the Mitsui Miike coal mine from carbon monoxide
poisoning.

Japan NOVEMBER 2016

Photo by 911Metallurgist 79
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 BEAUTIFUL
MINERALS
AND
STONES
YOU
WANT
FOR YOUR
COLLECTION
Contrary to popular belief, not
everything you dig out of land
is dirty and ugly. Some of the
jewelry most powerful men and
women wear came from the
ground. Before it went through
all the refining and polishing
processes, miners, scientists and
engineers had to use different
processes to extract these
minerals and gemstones from
the deepest parts of Earth.
Back in college, we had to
identify different types of
minerals and stones in order for
us to pass. What was once an
assumption that these types of
classes would be boring turned
into one of the best classes
weve ever had. You see, most of
us believed that these minerals
and stones would only be boring
to look at. We expected to see
different shades of gray and
black. When the professors
started showing us the minerals
and stones theyve collected
around the world, we were
amazed at how beautiful they
are. Some of my classmates even
wanted to steal them given their
value and beauty.
Now, we see more of them on the
internet. As we surf the internet
and search for beautiful minerals
and stones, we see beautiful ones
that really exist! Here are some
of the most beautiful minerals
and stones we found on the
internet.

80 NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
 Azurite Rose Quartz Geode Uvarovite
Photo by BoredPanda Photo by BlazePress Photo by BlazePress

Bismuth Opal Fossil Fluorite

Photo by BoredPanda Photo by BoredPanda Photo by BoredPanda

Titanium Quartz Amethyst Geode Tourmaline

Photo by BlazePress Photo by BoredPanda Photo by BoredPanda

Opal
Chrysocolia in Malachite
Photo by BlazePress
Photo by BoredPanda

NOVEMBER 2016
81
Mining Engineering and Its Importance