Abstract:The worldwide mining industry consumes a vast amount of energy in reduction of fragment size from mining to mineral processing with an extremely low-energy efficiency, particularly in ore crushing and grinding. Regarding such a situation, this article describes the effects of rock fragmentation by blasting on the energy consumption, productivity, minerals' recovery, operational costs in the whole size reduction chain from mining to mineral processing, and the sustainability of mining industry. The main factors… Show more
“…In addition to the intrinsic characteristics of the uranium deposit, the effectiveness of permeability modification by the BEP technique is influenced by blasting-related parameters such as shock wave [139,140], blasting stress [141,142], and water-decoupling coefficient [143,144]. Therefore, it is necessary to customize the blasting-related parameters according to the specific conditions of each uranium deposit.…”
Section: Permeability Modification Technique For In Situ Leachingmentioning
Uranium, a cornerstone for nuclear energy, facilitates a clean and efficient energy conversion. In the era of global clean energy initiatives, uranium resources have emerged as a vital component for achieving sustainability and clean power. To fulfill the escalating demand for clean energy, continual advancements in uranium mining technologies are imperative. Currently, established uranium mining methods encompass open-pit mining, underground mining, and in situ leaching (ISL). Notably, in situ leaching stands out due to its environmental friendliness, efficient extraction, and cost-effectiveness. Moreover, it unlocks the potential of extracting uranium from previously challenging low-grade sandstone-hosted deposits, presenting novel opportunities for uranium mining. This comprehensive review systematically classifies and analyzes various in situ leaching techniques, exploring their core principles, suitability, technological advancements, and practical implementations. Building on this foundation, it identifies the challenges faced by in situ leaching and proposes future improvement strategies. This study offers valuable insights into the sustainable advancement of in situ leaching technologies in uranium mining, propelling scientific research and practical applications in the field.
“…In addition to the intrinsic characteristics of the uranium deposit, the effectiveness of permeability modification by the BEP technique is influenced by blasting-related parameters such as shock wave [139,140], blasting stress [141,142], and water-decoupling coefficient [143,144]. Therefore, it is necessary to customize the blasting-related parameters according to the specific conditions of each uranium deposit.…”
Section: Permeability Modification Technique For In Situ Leachingmentioning
Uranium, a cornerstone for nuclear energy, facilitates a clean and efficient energy conversion. In the era of global clean energy initiatives, uranium resources have emerged as a vital component for achieving sustainability and clean power. To fulfill the escalating demand for clean energy, continual advancements in uranium mining technologies are imperative. Currently, established uranium mining methods encompass open-pit mining, underground mining, and in situ leaching (ISL). Notably, in situ leaching stands out due to its environmental friendliness, efficient extraction, and cost-effectiveness. Moreover, it unlocks the potential of extracting uranium from previously challenging low-grade sandstone-hosted deposits, presenting novel opportunities for uranium mining. This comprehensive review systematically classifies and analyzes various in situ leaching techniques, exploring their core principles, suitability, technological advancements, and practical implementations. Building on this foundation, it identifies the challenges faced by in situ leaching and proposes future improvement strategies. This study offers valuable insights into the sustainable advancement of in situ leaching technologies in uranium mining, propelling scientific research and practical applications in the field.
“…The degree of blast fragmentation significantly influences the overall productivity and economics of these industries. Rock fragmentation is a crucial aspect of mining and quarrying, influencing various downstream processes and overall operational efficiency [20,21]. Efficient fragmentation ensures optimal ore recovery and processing, reducing energy consumption and operational costs.…”
This study investigates the rock explosive properties in selected Lokoja quarries, Nigeria, with the goal of characterizing fragmentation for optimized downstream operations. The analysis includes porosity, UCS values, and permeability assessment in Gitto quarry, highlighting advantages in material application. Comparisons between rock formations (Q1 and Q2) reveal varying compressive strengths, crucial for determining appropriate explosive energy for efficient fragmentation. Blast design parameters from Q1 and Q2 indicate consistent values, aiding in operational planning. Fragmentation analysis, conducted using WipFrag software, delineates size ranges and classifies the blast as having a moderate distribution. Correlations between blast fragmentation size and powder factor underscore the impact on efficiency. A classification chart and table are presented for convenient interpretation of results, providing valuable insights for enhancing blasting practices in Lokoja quarries and ultimately improving productivity. The fragmentation analysis result carried out in this study using WipFrag software shows that the 50%, 80% and Maximum block size passing size ranges from 539.94 – 1349.53 mm, 690.07 – 1907.81 mm, 808-2280 mm respectively. The blast fragmentation sizes are classified as moderate distribution blast based on the uniformity index value ranging from 1.95 to 2.4. The relationship between blast fragmentation size and powder factor was evaluated using linear correlation coefficient. It was noted that, X20, X50, X80 has high R2 values greater than 60% respectively
“…The function of pyrotechnic devices 1 is to initiate their own explosion and transfer the explosion to the next explosive component in the explosion sequence. Electric pyrotechnic devices 2 are currently the most widely used type of pyrotechnic devices, with extensive applications in mining, 3 construction, 4 weapons, [5][6][7] aerospace, 8,9 etc. The technical principle of electric pyrotechnic devices is to pass a sufficiently strong current pulse through a metal bridge, causing the bridge wire to heat up and ignite the initiating charge.…”
In order to improve the safety and energy exchange efficiency of electric thermal pyrotechnic devices, a new energy exchange element technology of high energy metal (W) film/aluminum nitride ceramic was explored by taking advantage of the high thermal conductivity of aluminum nitride ceramic materials. High-temperature co-fired ceramics were used to prepare the new system energy exchangers, and the prototype of the new system energy exchanger of high-energy metal (W) film/aluminum nitride was obtained. Through infrared microscopic test and ignition performance test, the new system energy exchanger of high-energy metal (W) film/aluminum nitride can satisfy the 1A1W5min non-ignition test, and the ignition current of 50% is 2.80 A. The response current of 99.9% is 3.54 A, and the response current of 0.1% is 2.06 A, which provides technical support for the application of a new type of passivated electric thermal pyrogenic product.
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