National Academies Press: OpenBook

Evolutionary and Revolutionary Technologies for Mining (2002)

Chapter: 8 Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations

« Previous: 7 Government-Sponsored Research and Development in Mining Technology
Suggested Citation:"8 Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations." National Research Council. 2002. Evolutionary and Revolutionary Technologies for Mining. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10318.
×

8
Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations

The Committee on Technologies for the Mining Industries has (1) reviewed information concerning the U.S. mining industry; (2) identified critical research and development needs related to the exploration, mining, and processing of coal, industrial minerals, and metals; and (3) examined the federal contribution to research and development in the mining process. The committee has atttended presentations and received information from representatives of government programs, industry, and academia. The committee also reviewed government documents, pertinent NRC reports, other technical reports, and published literature.

The previous chapters have discussed the importance of the mining industry to consumers and the U.S. economy (Chapter 2), presented technological gaps and research needs in exploration, mining, and processing (Chapter 3), and outlined the technological needs associated with health and safety (Chapter 4) and environmental issues (Chapter 5) in the minerals industry. The report has detailed the involvement of federal agencies in mining (Chapter 6) and the importance of federal involvement in mining research and development (Chapter 7).

IMPORTANCE OF MINING TO THE U.S. ECONOMY

Finding: Mining produces three types of mineral commodities (metals, industrial minerals, and fuels) that all countries find essential for maintaining and improving their standards of living. Mining provides critical needs in times of war or national emergency. The United States is both a major consumer and a major producer of mineral commodities, and the U.S. economy could not function without minerals and the products made from them. In states and regions where mining is concentrated, this industry plays an important role in the local economy.

TECHNOLOGIES IN EXPLORATION, MINING, AND PROCESSING

Mining involves a full life cycle, from exploration through production to closure with provisions for potential postmining land use. The development of new technologies has benefits for the mineral industries throughout this full life cycle and for every major component of the mineral industries: exploration, mining (physical extraction of the material from the Earth), processing, associated health and safety issues, and environmental issues. The committee recommends that research and development be focused on technology areas critical for exploration, mining, in-situ mining, processing, health and safety, and environmental protection (Table 8-1).

The mining industries are constantly undergoing incremental or evolutionary changes as uses are found for new technologies developed for other applications. Occasionally, revolutionary changes occur when new technologies, developed either inside or outside the industry, take hold. Chapter 3 provides examples of past evolutionary and revolutionary changes. Given the current rapid pace of technological development in broad areas (from information technology to microbiology), the committee envisions that mining industries will be able to take advantage of some of these developments to the benefit of consumers, producers, workers, and the environment. Progress towards these revolutionary changes will produce concrete developments for industry. These revolutionary changes can result from basic research, applied research, or technology development (Sidebar 8-1).

HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS AND BENEFITS

Finding. Advances in technology have greatly enhanced the health and safety of miners. However, potential health hazards arising from the introduction of new technologies, which may not become evident immediately, must be addressed as soon as they are identified.

Suggested Citation:"8 Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations." National Research Council. 2002. Evolutionary and Revolutionary Technologies for Mining. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10318.
×

TABLE 8-1 Key Research and Development Needs for the Mining Industries

Research and Development Needs

Exploration, Chapter 3a

Mining, Chapter 3a

In-Situ, Chapter 3a

Processing, Chapter 3a

Health & Safety, Chapter 4a

Environmental Protection, Chapter 5a

Basic Research

 

Basic chemistry – thermodynamic and kinetic data, electrochemistry

X

 

X

X

 

X

Fracture processes – physics of fracturing, mineralogical complexities, etc.

 

X

X

X

 

Geological, geohydrological, geochemical, and environmental models of ore deposits

X

X

X

 

X

Biomedical, biochemical, and biophysical Sciences

X

X

X

X

X

X

Applied Research

 

Characterization – geology (including geologic maps), hydrology, process mineralogy, rock properties, soils, cross-borehole techniques, etc.

X

X

X

X

X

X

Fracture processes – drilling, blasting, excavation, comminution (including rock-fracturing and rubblization techniques for in-situ leaching and borehole mining)

X

X

X

X

 

Modeling and visualization – virtual reality for training, engineering systems, fluid flow

X

X

X

X

X

X

Development of new chemical reagents and microbiological agents for mining-related applications (such as flotation, dissolution of minerals, grinding, classification, and dewatering)

 

X

X

 

Biomedical, biochemical, and biophysical sciences

 

X

X

X

X

Water treatment

 

X

Closure

 

X

X

Alternatives to phosphogypsum production and management

 

X

Technology Development

 

Sensors – analytical (chemical and mineralogical; hand-held and down-hole), Geophysical (including airplane drones, shallow seismic data, and hyperspectral data), surface features, personal health and safety, etc.

X

X

X

X

X

X

Communications and monitoring

 

X

 

X

X

X

Autonomous mining

 

X

 

X

 

Total resource recovery without environmental impact

 

X

X

X

 

X

Fine and ultrafine mineral recovery (including solid-liquid separation, recovery of ultrafine particles, disposal)

 

X

X

X

In-situ technologies for low-permeability ores (includes some of the technologies under fracture processes as well as directional drilling, drilling efficiencies, casing for greater depths)

X

 

X

X

 

Biomining

 

X

X

X

 

Fracture processes – applications of petroleum and geothermal drilling Technologies to mining

X

X

X

 

aJustification for including these research and development needs are found in the following chapters indicated.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES

Finding. The need for a better understanding of the scientific underpinnings of the environmental issues and for more effective technologies to address them cannot be overemphasized.

Recommendation. Technologies that attempt to predict, prevent, mitigate, or treat environmental problems will be increasingly important to the economic viability of the mining industry. Improved environmental technologies related to mine closures present the greatest opportunity for increasing productivity and saving energy. Research is also needed on water-quality issues related to mine closures, which are often challenging and costly to address for all types of mining.

ROLE OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The committee agrees with previous NRC studies (e.g., NRC, 1995c) indicating that the federal government has important roles in nearly all areas of basic and applied research and in fundamental technology development (Sidebar 8-2).

Suggested Citation:"8 Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations." National Research Council. 2002. Evolutionary and Revolutionary Technologies for Mining. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10318.
×

SIDEBAR 8-1 Potential Revolutionary Developments for Mining

  • In-situ mining of a broader range of commodities

  • Biomining (using biological agents to extract metals, minerals, and coal)

  • Autonomous (fully robotic) mining

  • Geophysical techniques that can “see” through solid rock

  • Total resource recovery and/or waste utilization

  • Wasteless mining technologies

  • Minimal adverse environmental impacts

  • Rapid development of soils on mine wastes

Finding. The market will not support an optimal amount of research and development, possibly by a wide margin, without government support. The private sector tends to underfund research and development, particularly high-risk projects and projects with long-term benefits.

Finding. Although research in a broad range of fields may eventually have beneficial effects for the mining industry, the committee identified a number of areas in which new basic scientific data or technology would be particularly beneficial (Table 8-1).

Recommendation. The federal government has an appropriate, clear, and necessary role to play in funding research and development on mining technologies. The government should have a particularly strong interest in what is sometimes referred to as high-risk, “far-out,” “off-the-path,” or “blue-sky” research. A portion of the federal funding for basic research and long-term development should be devoted to achieving revolutionary advances with potential to provide substantial benefits to both the mining industry and the public.

Federal funding may be directed to agencies responsible for basic research, including the DOE, DOD, NSF, and the National Institutes of Health. In addition, the Mining Industries of the Future Program should allow for support of long-range, “frontier,” or “blue sky” projects. A side benefit of funding for basic research and long-term technology development, particularly in cooperation with universities, is the training of scientists and engineers in the mining sector and in other technology-intensive sectors of the economy.

AVAILABLE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES

For more than a century the federal government has been involved in research and development for our basic industries. In addition, a number of federal agencies are involved in science, engineering, and technology development that could be useful to the mining industry.

Finding. The committee recognizes that federal agencies undertake worthwhile research and development for their own purposes. Research and development that could benefit the mining sector of the U.S. economy is being pursued by many federal agencies. The problem is not the lack of skilled

SIDEBAR 8-2 Basic and Applied Research and Development

The Committee on Criteria for Federal Support of Research and Development (NRC, 1995c) developed the following characteristics for federally funded research:

  • Basic Research – creates new knowledge; is generic, nonappropriable, and openly available; is often done with no specific application in mind; requires a long-term commitment.

  • Applied Research – uses research methods to address questions with a specific purpose; pays explicit attention to producing knowledge relevant to producing a technology or service; overlaps extensively with basic research; can be short-term or long-term.

  • Fundamental Technology Development – develops prototypes; uses research findings to develop practical applications; is of general interest to a sector or sectors, but full returns cannot be captured by any one company; is usually short-term, but can be long-term; is not developed for one identifiable commercial or military product; often makes use of new knowledge from basic or applied research.

Suggested Citation:"8 Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations." National Research Council. 2002. Evolutionary and Revolutionary Technologies for Mining. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10318.
×

researchers but the lack of direct focus on the problems of most interest to the mining industry. It would be helpful if progress in these programs were systematically communicated to all interested parties, including the mining sector.

Recommendation. Because it may be difficult for a single federal agency to coordinate the transfer of research results and technology to the mining sector, a coordinating body or bodies should be established to facilitate transfer of appropriate federally funded technology to the mining sector. The Office of Industrial Technologies has made some progress in this regard by organizing a meeting of the agencies involved in research that could benefit the mining industry.

Office of Industrial Technology Mining Industries of the Future Program

The OIT is utilizing a consortia approach in its Industries of the Future Program. This model has proved extremely successful (NRC, 1997a). In programs focused on technologies for the mining industries such consortia should include universities, suppliers, national laboratories, and any ad hoc groups deemed to be helpful, as well as government entities and the mining industry.

The Mining Industries of the Future Program is subject to management and oversight by the Department of Energy and receives guidance from the National Mining Association and its Technology Committee. The committee recognizes that the research and technology needs of the mining industries draw upon many disciplines, ranging from basic sciences to applied health, safety, and environmental concerns.

Recommendation: Consortia are a preferred way of leveraging expertise and technical inputs to the mining sector, and the consortia approach should be continued wherever appropriate. Advice from experts in diverse fields would be helpful for directing federal investments in research and development for the mining sector. The Office of Industrial Technologes should institute periodic, independent program reviews of the Mining Industries of the Future Program to assure that industry needs are beinrg addressed appropriately.

Suggested Citation:"8 Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations." National Research Council. 2002. Evolutionary and Revolutionary Technologies for Mining. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10318.
×
Page 70
Suggested Citation:"8 Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations." National Research Council. 2002. Evolutionary and Revolutionary Technologies for Mining. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10318.
×
Page 71
Suggested Citation:"8 Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations." National Research Council. 2002. Evolutionary and Revolutionary Technologies for Mining. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10318.
×
Page 72
Suggested Citation:"8 Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations." National Research Council. 2002. Evolutionary and Revolutionary Technologies for Mining. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10318.
×
Page 73
Next: References »
Evolutionary and Revolutionary Technologies for Mining Get This Book
×
Buy Paperback | $38.00 Buy Ebook | $30.99
MyNAP members save 10% online.
Login or Register to save!
Download Free PDF

The Office of Industrial Technologies (OIT) of the U. S. Department of Energy commissioned the National Research Council (NRC) to undertake a study on required technologies for the Mining Industries of the Future Program to complement information provided to the program by the National Mining Association. Subsequently, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health also became a sponsor of this study, and the Statement of Task was expanded to include health and safety. The overall objectives of this study are: (a) to review available information on the U.S. mining industry; (b) to identify critical research and development needs related to the exploration, mining, and processing of coal, minerals, and metals; and (c) to examine the federal contribution to research and development in mining processes.

  1. ×

    Welcome to OpenBook!

    You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website.

    Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features?

    No Thanks Take a Tour »
  2. ×

    Show this book's table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name.

    « Back Next »
  3. ×

    ...or use these buttons to go back to the previous chapter or skip to the next one.

    « Back Next »
  4. ×

    Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. Also, you can type in a page number and press Enter to go directly to that page in the book.

    « Back Next »
  5. ×

    Switch between the Original Pages, where you can read the report as it appeared in print, and Text Pages for the web version, where you can highlight and search the text.

    « Back Next »
  6. ×

    To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter.

    « Back Next »
  7. ×

    Share a link to this book page on your preferred social network or via email.

    « Back Next »
  8. ×

    View our suggested citation for this chapter.

    « Back Next »
  9. ×

    Ready to take your reading offline? Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available.

    « Back Next »
Stay Connected!