Novel technologies for deep sustainable mining

这项提议是在申请者之前的探索赠款之后提出的，旨在解决加拿大采矿业在未来深度开采中面临的技术挑战。将继续强调创新、HQP的产生以及可持续发展的经济和社会意义。为了保持加拿大矿业的全球竞争力，它需要不断创新和自动化。主要矿业利益相关者举行的多个论坛得出的结论是，需要“未来矿山的游戏规则改变技术”。本提案侧重于开发自动化、连续采矿系统的基础研究，以实现可持续的深部采矿，称为“钻孔充填”采矿。本研究计划涉及三个综合和跨学科的关键研究重点，如下：*主题1)优化坚硬岩石连续机械破碎的岩石预调节：该研究重点是在岩石切割盘攻击之前削弱岩石(或降低其强度)。在缺乏高效、耐磨的圆盘切割材料的情况下，这将提高生产率并降低钻头更换成本。微波能的应用(能够通过差热引起微裂纹，从而产生膨胀)是一项潜在的重大应用，不仅在新开发的连续采矿挖掘机上，而且在全断面掘进应用中。*主题2)矿山充填技术：该技术旨在开发一种用于“钻孔充填”采矿的超强矿山充填(SSMF)。为了保证围岩的稳定性，将这种单轴承压桩放入并填充钻孔后的岩石空间。此外，它还将解决硫化物矿物含量高的回填土中的自热问题，特别是磁黄铁矿，它会迅速氧化并导致自热。由于自热可能导致地下的危险情况，有可能导致矿山关闭，本研究专题将继续探讨其过程及其缓解方法。*专题3)可再生能源在采矿作业中的应用：其重点是开发从地下钻探和充填的采矿场中提取地热能的新技术。这将通过一种新的模拟代码、物理模型以及淡水河谷萨德伯里矿场的试点地下现场试验来优化。这一概念在地下矿山中可以在矿山寿命期间和最终关闭后可持续地产生相当数量的地热能。这种可再生和廉价的热回收将为当地矿业社区的可持续性发展新的当地企业。*从长远来看，拟议的三个相互关联的研究主题旨在为突破性技术铺平道路，这些技术将提高加拿大采矿业的可持续性和竞争力。

This proposal follows the applicant's previous Discovery Grant in aiming to address technical challenges that the Canadian mining industry is facing in future mining at depth. Emphasis will continue to be given to innovation, generation of HQP and the economic and social significance of sustainable development. In order for the Canadian mining industry to maintain its global competitiveness, it continuously needs to innovate and automate .The conclusion made by a number of forums, held by major mining stake holders was that there is a need for “game changer technologies for mines of the future”. This proposal focuses on research fundamental to the development of automated, continuous mining systems for sustainable deep mining, termed “Bore and Fill” mining. This research program addresses three integrated and interdisciplinary key research priorities, as follows: ***Theme1) Rock pre-conditioning for optimizing continuous mechanical breakage of hard rocks: This focuses on weakening the rock (or lowering its strength) prior to attack by rock cutting discs. This, in the absence of efficient and wear resistant disc cutting material, will increase production rates and reduce bit replacement costs. The application of microwave energy (capable of inducing micro cracks through differential heating and therefore expansion) is a technology with potentially significant application not only to newly developed continuous mining excavators but also for full face tunneling application.***Theme2) Mine backfill technology: This aims at the development of a Super-Strength Mine Fill (SSMF) for “Bore and Fill” mining. This SSMF will be placed into and fill the bored rock space for stability of the surrounding rock mass. Furthermore, it will address the issue of self-heating in backfills with high of sulphide mineral content, particularly pyrrhotite, which can oxidise rapidly and cause self-heating. As self-heating can lead to dangerous situations underground with the potential for mine closure, this research theme will continue to address its processes and its mitigation methods.***Theme3) Application of renewable energy in mining operations: This focuses on the development of novel techniques for extraction of geothermal energy from underground bored and filled stopes. This will be optimized by a novel simulation code, physical modelling, as well as pilot underground field trials at Vale Sudbury mine sites. This concept in underground mines can sustainably produce considerable amounts of geothermal energy during the mine life and after its eventual closure. This renewable and inexpensive heat recovery will develop new local businesses for the sustainability of the local mine communities.***In the long term, the proposed three inter-related research themes are intended to pave the way for breakthrough technologies which will improve the sustainability and competitiveness of the Canadian mining industry.