SMALL MINING SITES: INNOVATION IN EXPLOITATION AND PROCESSING
DIM ESEE 2020
The total number of the deposits and geological occurrences increase exponentially with decrease of their size, and most of the mining operations are conducting within small mining sites. World class deposits are usually the largest in its class, containing high ore grade, with prediction of long life production resulting in a lasting impact on the industry usually under low production cost.
How often do we find world class deposits? Between two and four world-class deposits are found each year in the world. Europe overall hosts only several dozens of world class deposits, whereas most of the European deposits are small or intermediate in terms of their size and annual revenue.
DIM ESEE school for the second year continues to explore innovations applicable to small mining sites. This year we are focusing on the beginning of the mining cycle: exploitation and follow up processing. Within exploitation part of the school (2 days) we will explore innovation related to new drilling and blasting methods and innovative use of machines (mechanization). Processing part of the School (2 days) will focus on mineral characterization and supportive innovative techniques.
Under the 2020 topic Small mining sites – Innovation in exploitation and processing DIM ESEE project partners will discuss innovation in exploitation and processing for small and intermediate size deposits, currently representing vast majority of the European and the ESEE mining industry:
Innovation in exploitation (Drilling and Blasting)
- What to expect in future development of explosives and initiation system?
- How to reduce environmental effects of blasting?
- How to optimize blasting parameters and increase efficiency?
Innovation in exploitation (Mechanization)
- How to predict performance of mechanized excavation?
- How to optimize pit mining parameters?
- How to plan extraction and design pilot plant?
Innovation in processing (Mineral characterization)
- What is the importance of geometallurgy?
- Can we optimise processing routes using mineral mapping?
- How to increase effectiveness of flotation?
Innovation in processing (Techniques)
- What should we know about the development of new mining technology?
- What are the new methods in bioremediation and biorecycling of mining wastes?

