Blogs
Study points to potential water pollution caused by iron mining in Wisconsin
Iron mining activities could be leading to pollution problems in the northern part of the state of Wisconsin. The conclusion in included in a new report disclosed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). According to the 97-page study, these mining operations might be responsible for loss of surface and groundwater due to a process known as acid mine drainage. However,
Mining the Moon [infographic]
Almost 45 years after we successfully landed for the first time on the moon, we are now considering the chance of mining Earth’s satellite. But what are we expecting to get from this ambitious project? Take a look at this fact sheet brought to you by Mining Examiner and you will find out the answer.
The 12 Coldest Canadian Mines
Table of Contents1. Meadowbank2. Ekati3. Diavik4. Snap Lake5. Raglan6. Minto7. Thompson8. Birchtree9. Rabbit Lake10. McArthur River11. Wolverine12. Elross Lake If you are in the Northern hemisphere and you think it’s cold outside, take a look at these Canadian mines and try not to freeze! 1. Meadowbank Average temperature in the mine during the coldest month: -35.4 This silver and gold mine, managed by
The 5 most colourful minerals on Earth [infographic]
Did you ever look at a painting and wondered where the artist got that specific shade? Well, the answer is probably in the mineral world. If you want to colour your day, take five minutes to learn more about the five most colourful minerals on the planet. From the valuable diamond to the abundant quartz, this list presented by Mining
Chile’s port strike affects copper exports
A two-week strike at the Angamos port is severely affecting Chile’s copper exports and the main companies operating in the country. Almost $130 million worth of Codelco’s December income has been sliced due to the tie-up, now joined by six other Chilean terminals. Workers at the seaports of Iquique, Antofagasta and San Antonio, for instance, stopped working this week in support
Yamana Gold’s Cerro Moro Mine by Numbers [infographic]
Despite the fact that the mining industry is living dark times, especially due to the downfall of gold’s price, the company Yamana Gold is definitely developing its Cerro Moro gold and silver project. The deposit, located in the southern Argentine province of Santa Cruz, will move forward thanks to an initial investment of $450 million. However, this is not the
Explosions kill four Chinese miners in three days
Different explosions in two mines located in Central and southwest China killed four workers during the weekend. The news agency Xinhua, quoted by Mining.com, reports the first accident happened on Friday (3) morning, in central China’s Wufeng county, Hubei province. A gas explosion made three victims. Two days after the first incident, on Sunday (5), a second blast killed one miner in the southwest
Top 10 deepest mines on the planet
Table of Contents1. Mponeng mine2. TauTona mine3. Savuka mine4. Driefontein mine5. Kusasalethu mine6. Moab Khotsong mine7. South Deep mine8. Kidd Creek mine9. Great Noligwa mine10. Creighton mine Did you know that eight of the ten deepest mines in the world are located in just one South African region? We bet you also didn’t know that most of these operations are focused on gold extraction. To increase your mining knowledge,
Illegal mercury used in small-scale gold mining damages Indonesian lands
Many developed nations hope 2014 can finally be the year when a real fight against the use of mercury in gold mining across the world starts. However, until then, several countries like Indonesia will continue to suffer the consequences of this and other dangerous techniques. The small-scale, and many times illegal, gold mining operations spread across the country are responsible
Commission report may trigger shutdown of mines in Indian state
A report released by the M. B. Shah Commission might change the face of the mining industry in the Indian state of Odisha. The exhaustive document with almost five volumes claims both the central and state governments are connected to illegal activities. Several mines are now likely to face temporary closure after the commission’s analysis on illegal mining of iron ore and manganese ore in the
Oklahoma demands companies to reveal all substances used in fracking operations
The virtual platform FracFocus.org and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission are the two entities that will gather information about the chemicals used in all the fracking operations going on in the state of Oklahoma. The local operators of oil and gas wells are now forced to report all substances used in the process of hydraulic fracturing. Both institutions will then add the information
Top 7 biggest mining excavators in the world
Massive machines. This is the least we can say about the world’s heftiest mining excavators out there. Some of these beasts can weigh more than 800 tonnes, especially the models we have to show to you today. Meet the top seven biggest hydraulic mining excavators on the planet and once you are done go view some of our small gold mining equipment including a cone
Chile might implement mandatory use of desalinated water in mining processes
The use of desalinated water in mining processes might become a mandatory action in Chile, after the submission of a new draft bill. The action was carried by the country’s lower house members, who want to fight the decreasing supply of the vital element, as well as provide a solution to the industry mounting power needs. According to the lawmakers, the bill
New website about abandoned mines in Ireland gathers amazing pictures
Who said that something abandoned can’t be beautiful? That’s exactly the case when we talk about the Irish abandoned mines. Some adventurous explorers have been exploring these pits and decided to gather all their photos in a new website, called Abandoned Mines of Ireland. The virtual platform catalogues pictures taken by these brave volunteers, taking the visitors into a real journey. “We
Top five countries that lost most gold in 2013
Table of Contents1. Portugal2. Greece3. United States4. Venezuela5. Germany Each country’s central bank is usually known to hold gold reserves that basically just sit in vaults for years. However, the amount of gold each nation possesses represents, in most cases, a big part of its fortune. The United States, for instance, has more than 8,000 tonnes of gold. But 2013
Children in the Philippines are damaging their health while mining for gold
There are currently 115 million children with ages from five to 17 years old who work in hazardous occupations worldwide, the United Nations International Labor Organization estimates. Among them, about a million children work in the mining industry. Hundreds of maybe even thousands of them live in the Philippines. Recently, the Center for Investigative Reporting, in collaboration with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting,
7 Dangerous Minerals
Not all minerals are used to make jewelry or included in the latest technological devices. Some of these substances and minerals are just dangerous, really dangerous. So much they can even kill you. However, this is unlikely to happen unless an external action like heating or grinding happens, provoking an extreme reaction. Nevertheless, because your safety is the most important,
Gold: the ultimate store of value [infographic]
Gold has been going through a tough time with the downfall of its price, but that doesn’t make it any less valuable. Actually, gold is still the commodity that helps us define the value of things, despite the fact that it is extremely rare. Did you know that? Maybe not… And there are probably a lot of other facts about
Arctic ocean might be “hiding” rare earth element
The potentially good news for the mining industry was revealed during the recent American Geopysical Union Fall Meeting, which occurred in San Francisco. Considered “the largest worldwide conference in geophysical science”, the event attracted more than 20,000 attendants, who were able to participate in a few sessions dedicated to the Arctic ocean and its hidden treasures. According to the Alaska
Scientists test new technique to mine water on Mars
With an apparent and significant amount of water locked up in ice, Mars is being studied by the scientists that want to understand how to extract the precious liquid. And the answer is via some very different mining techniques. Recent exploratory missions have found that water ice exists on the planet’s poles and just beneath its surface. This discovery is
Goa inhabitants still getting used to less polluted environment after mining ban
The people living in the Indian state of Goa have now started adjusting their lives to a less polluted environment, but it’s not easy. According to a survey conducted by Goa’s EIA Resource and Response Center, quoted by The Times of India, the inhabitants of the mining-affected areas are still adjusting themselves to a new social and economic order. Apparently, learning
5 Rarest gemstones on Earth
A complex and natural process is responsible for creating the five rare types of gemstones we are about to show you. Later on, the prowess of some masters uses the beauty of these materials to create amazing pieces of jewelry.
6 Amazing Facts about the Mponeng Gold Mine; World’s Deepest
The search for gold has always been one of mankind’s most amazing adventures, since the beginning of this activity. So it’s not really surprising to think about the curious secrets hidden by the deepest gold mine in the world: the Mponeng mine, in South Africa. Here are some of the most exciting, but also terrifying, facts about this mine. Fact 1