Periodic Reporting for period 2 - DINAMINE (Digital and innovative mine of the future)
Berichtszeitraum: 2024-07-01 bis 2025-06-30
The project aims to transform and modernise the raw materials value chain by demonstrating technological solutions for more selective, efficient, and sustainable mining practices. The project developed an integrated mine management approach using data analytics tools for real-time monitoring of the performance, risks, mine productivity and recovery rates, and a new drilling machine. Data gathered are analysed in a modular software system that will enable mine operators to more accurately plan and manage mine production, predict ore grades and recovery rates, and optimise safety and maintenance requirements. The project will identify best practices for carbon-neutral transportation, energy-efficient processing, and sustainable handling and reuse of mining waste.
The approach is demonstrated at two small-medium scale European mining operations: an underground graphite mine in Senja, northern Norway and an open-pit pegmatite mine in Guarda region, northern Portugal, and in their associated processing plants.
The approach is demonstrated at two small-medium scale European mining operations: an underground graphite mine in Senja, northern Norway and an open-pit pegmatite mine in Guarda region, northern Portugal, and in their associated processing plants.
The project is developing a set of nine technology modules in support of a holistic mine management system. All technologies are being demonstrated in operating conditions at the mine pilot sites, including (i) sensor technologies and middleware, (ii) a short-term and long-term analytics module, which will support near-future prediction of mine productivity, emissions and performance monitoring, (iii) near-mine geophysical exploration campaigns, (iv) a real-time updateable geomodelling algorithm, (v) mine information, mineral processing, and tailing information models, and an automated excavation design module for performing rock excavations, (vi) a semi-automated drilling jumbo, (vii) processing plant (feed, laboratory) and on-mine chemical analysers, (viii) waste rock and tailings have been characterised and analysed for valorisation potential, and (ix) a dynamic life cycle analysis module.
DINAMINE aims to set a new benchmark for digitalisation in the mining industry by demonstrating the potential of a modular mine management system. The approach to digitalising mineral exploitation includes fusing data from sensors with uncertainty propagated geomodels, as well as mining equipment and processing plant interaction with the ore.
DINAMINE will contribute to safe and environmentally friendly, resource- and production efficient mining by enabling decision-making to improve recovery rates, while optimising efficiency, increasing safety, and reduce environmental impacts. Achieved through more selective mining (reducing energy consumption, transportation volume, CO2 emissions) and optimisation of the value chain. DINAMINE technologies can decrease the cutoff grade of ores, making poor quality resources more economically attractive. DINAMINE will improve safety of mines using real-time monitoring. A full life cycle analysis is evaluating the environmental impacts of the project’s approach, while recommendations on optimal low-emission transport solutions has the potential to decrease environmental footprint. Through use of advanced geophysical exploration methods, DINAMINE goes beyond the state-of-the-art by demonstrating applicability of the methods in both project pilot sites, and beyond. The pilot sites represent deposits that present challenges for exploration methods and therefore novel approaches are required to reduce exploration risks.
Successful implementation of the DINAMINE approach will decrease the environmental footprint, while improving productivity and economic margins of small-medium mining operations. This enables European mine operators to take advantage of poor resources with low grade ores by making the mining more economically feasible, while fostering the attraction of further investments and stimulating a reshaping of the current practices, technologies, and approaches used in mining operations. This is especially important for REE resources, which typically have irregular geometry, low ore grades, and which are economically marginal. This is achieved through improved productivity of mines and more selective mining, paving the road for future precision mining. The approach will also make currently active mines more resilient toward market fluctuation. Additionally, DINAMINE embeds circularity and sustainability aspects of the raw materials supply chain through waste and tailings monitoring and studying their valorisation potential.
The demonstration of the technologies is tailored to the needs of small-medium mining operations. However, in large and complex mining activities involving mining and processing of several types and qualities of ores and orebodies, the DINAMINE products can be implemented in a limited scope of mine-to-mill for a specific section of an orebody at the current stage of development. The federated architecture of the mine management system allows for flexibility to be tailored to most mining operations. Future additions, outside of the project’s scope, would ultimately support more complex and larger mining operations.
DINAMINE will contribute to safe and environmentally friendly, resource- and production efficient mining by enabling decision-making to improve recovery rates, while optimising efficiency, increasing safety, and reduce environmental impacts. Achieved through more selective mining (reducing energy consumption, transportation volume, CO2 emissions) and optimisation of the value chain. DINAMINE technologies can decrease the cutoff grade of ores, making poor quality resources more economically attractive. DINAMINE will improve safety of mines using real-time monitoring. A full life cycle analysis is evaluating the environmental impacts of the project’s approach, while recommendations on optimal low-emission transport solutions has the potential to decrease environmental footprint. Through use of advanced geophysical exploration methods, DINAMINE goes beyond the state-of-the-art by demonstrating applicability of the methods in both project pilot sites, and beyond. The pilot sites represent deposits that present challenges for exploration methods and therefore novel approaches are required to reduce exploration risks.
Successful implementation of the DINAMINE approach will decrease the environmental footprint, while improving productivity and economic margins of small-medium mining operations. This enables European mine operators to take advantage of poor resources with low grade ores by making the mining more economically feasible, while fostering the attraction of further investments and stimulating a reshaping of the current practices, technologies, and approaches used in mining operations. This is especially important for REE resources, which typically have irregular geometry, low ore grades, and which are economically marginal. This is achieved through improved productivity of mines and more selective mining, paving the road for future precision mining. The approach will also make currently active mines more resilient toward market fluctuation. Additionally, DINAMINE embeds circularity and sustainability aspects of the raw materials supply chain through waste and tailings monitoring and studying their valorisation potential.
The demonstration of the technologies is tailored to the needs of small-medium mining operations. However, in large and complex mining activities involving mining and processing of several types and qualities of ores and orebodies, the DINAMINE products can be implemented in a limited scope of mine-to-mill for a specific section of an orebody at the current stage of development. The federated architecture of the mine management system allows for flexibility to be tailored to most mining operations. Future additions, outside of the project’s scope, would ultimately support more complex and larger mining operations.