Nearly every mineral and metal in use of today is the product of mining and demand is increasing day by day in the world market.
Even if we were to recycle all the freely available metals and minerals in the world today, we would only meet a small percentage of the total mineral and metal requirements of society. This is in part due to the demands of a growing global population but also the reality that metals and minerals can remain in use for many years and are therefore simply unavailable for recycling. For example, steel forms the framework of buildings; it can't be recycled until the building has been demolished.
Mining is, therefore, key to almost every facet of our lives, from construction to the technological innovations that improve our lives. But we need to be mindful of the broader balance of benefits and impacts and how mining operations should be managed.
The means to achieving that balance lies in the concept of sustainable development. Its central idea is that any human activity, including mining, should be undertaken in such a way that it provides a net positive contribution to people and the environment. This means that the benefits (which cannot be measured in purely economic terms) must outweigh the costs.
The growing demand for minerals and metals is sure to keep mining and the management of its impact and benefits front and center.
The mining industry can be dated as far back as 41000 BCE, to a mine in Swaziland. The mine, called the Lion Cave, is where natives mined hematite to produce ochre, a red pigment. Other mines found that existed during the same time frame were flint mines, which humans used for tools and weapons during the time.
The Ancient Egyptians developed quarry mining about 4,000 years ago in order to find gold, rock, and other ores that they needed. The Romans and Greek used similar techniques as the Egyptians in later times but further advanced how water was used in mining, as well as removed from mining pits, with the use of aqueducts.
In the medieval times, demand for metals such as iron, copper, and bronze further advanced the mining industry. This demand needed new techniques; including using pyrotechnics to blast away rock and earth to speed up the extraction and discovery of ores.
Mining eventually became very prevalent in the Western Hemisphere in the 19th century. The industry has continued to shape the lives of people who are often pulled from one location to another by the promise of work. Entire communities and towns have sprung up as a result mining opportunities.
Trends:
Technology has come to play a greater role in the industry, making way for better safety measures and reducing the amount of workforce needed for a job. The steel industry has especially benefited from this, with some companies reducing manpower by up to 90 percent.
Environmental effects have long been a concern for this industry. Many countries require mining companies to follow strict environmental guidelines to prevent erosion, sinkholes, groundwater contamination, and loss of biodiversity. There are provisions pertaining to the rehabilitation of the land to either its former or better condition. Gold mining companies often operate in fragile ecosystems, leading to charges of demand to the environment and the displacement or abuse of native populations. Environmental impact should be monitored in the near future since several national leaders have pledged to protect the environment, especially after the conference in Copenhagen where many of these issues were discussed. China, long maligned for their lack of regard for the environment, is now looking to decrease the carbon footprint by their steel mills according to their most recent five year plan.
Trade laws and international competition create a great deal of friction in the industry. Companies such as South Korea’s POSCO and Japan’s Sumitomo-Nippon Steel, two leading steel producers, export many of their products to countries such as the United States, where unions and steel companies complain of illegal dumping by offshore steel producers.
Recently there has been a large focus on rare earth metal mining due to ever advancing technology. The term rare, hints more at the difficulty of mining or extracting these metals than their actual abundance in nature. Their extraction ironically is being helped by newer technologies, exactly what they are needed to create and improve. China is the lead producer of rare earth metals, controlling 97 percent of production.
Future Outlook:
The current high levels of investment in new technology suggest that for large mining operations there is a focus on long-term value. Newer methods of exploitation will emerge to maximize production in a cost-effective way. Innovation along the entire mine production chain begins with drilling technology as can be seen in the new development of fracking. Investments in technology with result in more effective, durable and autonomous drills. These investments have already started to pay off in big ways, with new oil deposits in the Midwestern United States being discovered recently that were previously inaccessible with the mining technology available then.
Safety in the coal mining industry has moved up in the political agenda in both the Western and Asian markets. Mine safety is continually improving, and there is a growing willingness on the part of international organizations to support initiatives to improve health and safety. Mining is investing in long term growth. Since commodities are needed in every economy, this industry has a positive future outlook.
Some metals are held inside rocks as minerals. The rock or mineral that holds the metal is called an ore. An ore is heated with chemical until it melts and the pure metal separates out as a liquid. The liquid then cools and hardens. A few metals, such as gold, silver, and copper can be found in pure form as metal elements. Nuggets or flakes of these metals can be taken stra
ight from rock, but this is uncommon. Metals are used to make many familiar things around us, such as copper in electrical wires, aluminum in soda cans, iron in saucepans and solid gold in jewelry.
Classification of Metals
A) Classification by Iron Content
The most prevalent method of classifying metals is by iron content they have. A metal containing iron is called ferrous metal. The iron is responsible for magnetic properties of the metal and also makes them susceptible to corrosion. Metals not containing iron content are called non-ferrous metals. These metals do not exhibit any magnetic properties. Examples aluminum, lead, brass, copper and zinc.
Classification by Atomic Structure
The metals can also be classified depending upon their atomic structure according to the periodic table. Going by the periodic table a metal may be categorized as alkaline, alkaline earth, or a transition metal. Metals coming in the same group behave alike when reacting with other elements. Hence these metals exhibit analogous chemical properties.
Classification by Magnetic and Non-Magnetic Metals
Another means to distinguish metals is studying their behaviour or interaction with magnets. Analysing their behaviours towards magnets helps to classify them as magnetic or non magnetic.
The ferromagnetic metals are strongly attracted towards magnets; the paramagnetic metals display weak interactions. Diamagnetic metals on the other hand shows loose repulsion towards magnets.
Types of Metals
Metals are found to exist into 2 main types: ferrous metals are those that contain iron and non-ferrous metals that are those that contain no iron.
A) Ferrous Metals
The word ferrous itself comes from Latin in which the word is ferrum and means an iron containing compound of metal. Metals with considerably scarce amounts of iron in their composition aren’t classed as ferrous metal. The iron in ferrous metals tends to induce some properties in them namely magnetic, of high strength and hardness. However, their characteristics will disagree greatly looking on the wide range of alloying parts of that they’re created from. Metallic element metals are liable to rust once exposed to wet conditions as they need a high carbon content.
Some common metallic element metals embody steel, forged iron and iron. These metals are prized for his or her enduringness and sturdiness. Steel – additionally called structure steel – could be a staple within the industry and is employed within the tallest skyscrapers and longest bridges. Ferrous metals also are utilized in shipping containers, industrial piping, vehicles, railroad tracks, and plenty of business and domestic tools. Metallic element metals have a high carbon content that usually makes them liable to rust once exposed to wet. There are 2 exceptions to the current rule: Iron resists rust thanks to its purity and stainless-steel is protected against rust by the presence of metallic element.
Most of the metals which are ferrous in nature are hugely magnetic thus making them a very helpful material for making motors and electrical applications, etc. The utilization of ferrous metals in your icebox door permits you to pin your searching list on that with a magnet.
1. Steel:
Steel is created by adding iron to carbon that hardens the iron. Steel becomes even more durable as different parts like metallic element and nickel are introduced. Steel is created by heating and melting ore in furnaces. The steel will be broached from the furnaces and poured into moulds to create steel bars. Steel is wide utilized in the development and producing industries.
A) Stainless Steel
Stainless steel consists of elevated chromium content. This makes it 200 times more resistant to corrosion than low carbon steel. It is used in abundance for the manufacturing of kitchen utensils, piping, surgical and dental equipment.
B) Tool Steel
Tool steel is a special variety of steel used for forging cutting and drilling tools. The most important property is their high hardness making them an ideal choice for tool making. Tool steel comprises of molybdenum, vanadium, cobalt, and tungsten as its chief materials.
2. Carbon Steel:
Carbon steel incorporates a higher carbon content as compared to different sorts of steel eventually making it extremely hard. It’s usually utilized in the producing of machine tools, drills, blades, taps. It is capable of having a very sharp edge cutting.
A) Low Carbon Steel
The percentage of carbon is up to 0.25% in low carbon steel. The low carbon steel is also called mild steel. This steel variant is mostly used for tubing in moderate pressure applications. Reinforcing bars and in I-beams in construction are generally made up of mild steel only. Applications involving a hefty amount of steel without much forming or bending use mild steel. For example- Ship’s hull.
B) Medium Carbon Steel
The percentage of carbon is 0.25…0.6%. Medium carbon steel is used at places requiring high tensile strength and ductility. It is typically used in gearing and shafts, railway wheels and rails, steel beams in buildings and bridges, pressure vessels (Cold gases must not be stored because it cracks at low temperatures).
C) High Carbon Steel
If there is 0.6% of carbon, it is called high carbon steel. This steel is harder and more brittle of all. It is used in making chisels and cutting tools. It has ample of hardness and good resistance to material wear. Its other applications include uses in presses and for manufacturing drill bits.
3. Alloy Steel:
Alloy steels incorporate parts like metallic element- nickel and Ti to impart bigger strength and sturdiness while not increasing weight. Stainless-steel is a very important steel created with the help of chromium. Alloy steels are utilized in construction, machine tools, and electrical elements.
4. Cast Iron:
Cast iron is associate alloy made of iron, carbon, etc. Forged iron is brittle and exhausting and immune to wear. It’s utilized in water pipes, machine tools, automobile engines and stoves.
5. Wrought Iron:
Wrought iron is associate alloy with very little carbon content that it can be said that it’s virtually pure iron. Throughout the method of production, some addition of slag takes place which provides iron wonderful resistance to corrosion and reaction, however, it’s low in hardness and fatigue strength. Iron is employed for fencing and railings, agricultural implements, nails, wire, chains, and numerous ornaments.
B) Non-Ferrous Metals
Non-ferrous metals don’t contain a major quantity of iron and are a lot more fascinating as they need semi conductive, non-magnetic, and low weight properties. The ever-increasing demand for non-ferrous metals means that they’re usually dearer than metallic element metals (ferrous metals). Non-ferrous metals may also be distinguished by their plasticity. This implies they will be reshaped and reused, typically while not losing their valuable properties. This makes them ideal for an in depth vary of economic industries.
Some of the most common examples of Non-ferrous metals are zinc, tin, lead and copper and even highly valuable metals like gold and silver. Their main advantage over metallic element materials is their plasticity. They even have no iron content, giving them a better resistance to rust and corrosion, and eventually making them ideal for gutters, liquid pipes, roofing and out of doors signs. Lastly, they’re non-magnetic, that is very important for several electronic and wiring applications.
1. Aluminum:
Aluminum is light-weight, soft and low strength. Metal is well solid, forged, machined and welded. It’s not appropriate for high-temperature environments. As a result of metal is light-weight, it’s a decent alternative for carrying out the production of craft and food cans. Metal is additionally utilized in castings, pistons, railways, cars, and room utensils.
2. Copper:
Copper is red in color, extremely ductile, malleable and has high physical characteristics for electric conductivity and thermal conductivity. Copper has its main utilization in the electrical business within the sort of wire and different conductors. It finds its use even in cartridge cases, sheet roofing, bearings and statuses. Copper is additionally accustomed to create brass, associate alloy of zinc and copper.
3. Lead:
Lead could be a soft, heavy, malleable metal with a comparatively lower melting point and low enduringness. It will face up to corrosion from wet and plenty of acids. Lead is wide utilized in power cables, batteries, building construction and fastening.
4. Zinc:
Zinc could be a medium to low strength metal with an awfully low melting temperature. It will be machined simply, however sometimes heating is also done to avoid cleavage of crystals. Zinc is most generally utilized in electric purposes like galvanizing, the method of applying a protecting zinc coating to iron or steel to forestall rust.
5. Tin:
Tin is incredibly soft and malleable, ductile with low enduringness. It’s typically accustomed to coat steel to forestall corrosion. Tinplate steel is employed to form tin cans to carry food. Within the late nineteenth century, tin foil was usually accustomed wrap food merchandise, however has since mostly been replaced by aluminum foil. Tin may also be alloyed with copper to provide tin brass and bronze.
6. Brass:
Brass is basically an alloy made of copper and zinc. The amount of each of the metals may differ based upon the electrical and mechanical attributes sought of the metal. Brass also comprises of slight amounts of other metallic elements such as aluminum, lead, and manganese. Brass is generally used for low friction uses like locks, bearings, plumbing, tools and fittings. It is a crucial metal in inherently safe applications to stop sparks and grant usage in flammable environments.
7. Bronze:
Bronze is another popular alloy of copper. The only difference is that bronze contains tin and not zinc. When other elements such as phosphorus, manganese, silicon, and aluminum are added to bronze, it may improve its attributes and appropriateness for a particular application. Bronze has following characteristics- it is brittle, hard, and resists fatigue skillfully. It also exhibit adequate electrical and thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance. Bronze is mostly used manufacturing of mirrors, reflectors, electrical connectors etc. Owing to its remarkable corrosion resistance, it is used in submerged parts and ship fittings.
8. Titanium:
Titanium is a principal engineering metal because it is strong and at the same time significantly lightweight. It also has requisite thermal stability even at elevated temperatures going up to 480 degrees Celsius. Owing to such important attributes, it finds application in the aerospace industry, manufacturing of military equipment is one use-case, medical applications (due to low corrosion resistance). Titanium also finds wide applications in the chemical and sporting goods industry.
9. Cobalt:
Cobalt finds its applications in making blue pigment in paints and dyes from the ancient times. In modern times, this metal is chiefly used in making wear-resistant, high-strength steel alloys. Cobalt is generally a by product of mining of copper and nickel and its own mining is rarely undertaken.
10. Nickel:
Nickel is one of the most customary metals used in a variety of places. Nickel is mostly used for making stainless steels, in order to elevate the metal’s strength and corrosion resistance. Almost 70% of the nickel manufactured in the world finds its application for making stainless steel.
11. Tungsten:
Tungsten metal is known for its topmost melting point and the highest tensile strength among all the pure metals. These two properties make tungsten an extremely useful metal.
Around 50%of all the tungsten manufactured is used to make tungsten carbide. This is a very hard material used for making cutting tools (for mining and metalworking), abrasives, and heavy equipment.
Our experienced engineers would make an excellent planning for any kind metal mining in any part of the World.
