The 5th Mining 4.0: North America Summit was organized by Future Bridge in Toronto, Canada on April 10-11, 2024. The event attracted more than 100 attendees representing various mining industry segments. The Summit was vital for the industry’s key players to exchange views, learn about the latest trends, and consider existing opportunities and threats experienced by mining due to digital transformation. This article will provide details of the sessions as well as the event’s sponsors. So, let’s delve in. 5th Mining 4.0: North America Summit: Sessions Covered at the Event The 5th Mining 4.0: No ..read more

Mining operations frequently include laboring in difficult and dangerous settings. This includes open-pit mines with steep walls and uneven terrain or unstable subterranean tunnels. Furthermore, the safety and well-being of employees may be seriously jeopardized by these circumstances. As a result, mining businesses must look into creative ways to lessen the hazards. Drones are one piece of technology that has shown to be revolutionary in this regard. In the mining business, drones, or UAVs, have completely changed how we approach dangerous settings. These flexible and adaptable devices may be ..read more

Mining has always played a major role in the economic progress across the world. This is particularly the case in resource-rich developing nations. Nevertheless, chasing mineral wealth has always had a cost. In this case, the cost stands to be the society and the environment. So, as developing nations strive to use mining operations in growth, socially responsible mining is an absolute necessity. The crucial imperative is not just limited to ethical considerations but moral ones as well. It holds the key to equitable and enduring prosperity. As a result, developing nations can strike the right ..read more

The extraction of economic minerals from the earth’s crust relies heavily on a detailed understanding of subsurface geology. Geological modeling and ore body delineation are crucial to effective mine planning and profitability. However, traditional manual logging and analysis of drill cores is a time-consuming and subjective process. The adoption of automated AI systems for lithology identification in drill cores offers transformative potential. It enhances efficiency and accuracy in mining exploration. Recent advancements in computer vision and deep learning are enabling the development of AI ..read more

Ventilation is the lifeblood of an underground mine. It provides fresh air to workers and removes harmful contaminants. However, manually adjusting ventilation systems reactively based on periodic sensor data is inefficient and risky. This article will explore how mines can shift to an intelligent proactive ventilation approach. It leverages real-time monitoring, automation, and data analytics. We will examine the critical importance of adequate ventilation for health, safety, and productivity in underground mines. The limitations of conventional ventilation control will also be discussed. So ..read more

Tailings storage facilities (TSFs) are an essential part of mining operations. It provides safe storage for the waste material generated during mineral processing. However, tailings dam failures can be catastrophic. It can result in loss of life and extensive environmental damage. It can also lead to severe financial and reputational impacts for mining companies. Recent high-profile failures like those at Brumadinho and Mariana in Brazil have highlighted the risks associated with conventional tailings management approaches.   In response, the mining industry is increasingly looking t ..read more

The mining industry is rapidly adopting virtual reality (VR) technology. It is revolutionizing safety training for its workforce. So, by creating hyper-realistic simulations of hazardous environments, VR provides miners with immersive, risk-free training opportunities. These are more engaging and effective than traditional methods. As mining companies aim to prevent accidents and enhance emergency preparedness, VR is emerging as a transformative solution for safety education in the digital age. So, let us know more about mine safety with VR in the article. The Evolution of Safety Training in M ..read more

The mining industry is continuously seeking new technologies and innovations. This is to improve productivity, efficiency, and ultimately profitability. One area garnering increasing interest is optimizing the logistics of moving raw ores. This is from mines to downstream processing facilities. Traditionally, mines have transported the total run-of-mine material, regardless of ore grade. It results in the movement of large amounts of waste rock. Moreover, new sensor-based ore sorting solutions now make it possible to separate waste from value minerals during transit. So, it provides an opportu ..read more

Mine productivity and efficiency heavily rely on the optimized execution of core activities. It includes drilling, blasting, loading, and hauling. While practices in these areas have improved incrementally over decades, modern data analytics and physics-based simulation tools open new possibilities for step-change gains. By leveraging real-time operational data feeds and high-fidelity 3D simulation modeling, mines can transform how they design and conduct blasting and digging operations. This unlocks substantial increases. This is in throughput, resource recovery, and cost savings throughout t ..read more

The mining 4.0 industry is rapidly evolving as new technologies emerge and companies seek more sustainable, efficient resource extraction methods. One innovative approach gaining significant traction is trackless electric mining, which eliminates conventional diesel equipment and ventilation infrastructure underground.  This transition to battery-electric zero-emission vehicles and associated systems brings immense cost savings and environmental benefits to mines willing to undertake the operational transformation. Why Go Trackless? The Advantages Over Conventional Mining Underground mine ..read more