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Sustainable Low Impact Mining solution for exploitation of small mineral deposits based on advanced rock blasting and environmental technologies

Fact Sheet

Reporting

Results

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Objective

The main economic, technological and environmental challenges of small mining include reducing high investment costs, reducing generation of waste and large tailings, identifying and addressing environmental impacts, and improving flexibility, automation and safety of operations. However, at the moment, there is no quick-fix available to reduce the environmental impact from mines, and it is neither realistic to expect production solutions very distant from today’s technologies. Considering that the present mining technology is based on rock blasting and mobile mining equipment for loading and transportation, the major challenge is to generate a new sustainable systemic solution that affects positively the relevant mining value chain.

SLIM aims to develop a cost-effective and sustainable selective low impact mining solution based on non-linear rock mass fragmentation by blasting models, airborne particulate matter, vibration affections and nitrate leaching mitigation actions for exploitation of small mineral deposits (including those with chemically complex ore-forming phases) through a new generation of explosives and an advanced automatic blast design software based on improved rock mass characterisation and fragmentation models for optimum fragmentation and minimum rock damage and far-field vibrations.

SLIM consortium is led by UPM (es), with LTU (se), MUL (at) and TUG (at) as Research Insitutions, 3GSM (at - Rock fragmentation and blasting software), MAXAM (es - Explosives), ORGIVA (es - Fluorite mine) and ERZBERG (at - Iron mine) and ARNO (es - Quarry) as validators in relevant environment. BRGM (fr), INVESTORNET (dk), MINPOL (at), and ZABALA (es) complement the Environmental and Economic assessments, the Communication and Dissemination activities and Social Awareness actions.

SLIM addresses the following issue: a) Sustainable selective low impact mining (2016), it has a planned duration of 48 months and a budget of €6,979,200 requesting €6,979,200 of EU funding.

Programme(s)

H2020-EU.3.5.3. - Ensuring the sustainable supply of non-energy and non-agricultural raw materials

Topic(s)

SC5-13-2016-2017 - New solutions for sustainable production of raw materials

Call for proposal

H2020-SC5-2016-OneStageB

See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Leaflet | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, Credit: EC-GISCO, © EuroGeographics for the administrative boundaries

Coordinator

UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID

Address

Calle Ramiro De Maeztu 7 Edificio Rectorado
28040 Madrid

Spain

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU Contribution

€ 798 212,50

Website

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Participants (12)

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3GSM GmbH

Austria

EU Contribution

€ 424 050

BENITO ARNO E HIJOS SA

Spain

EU Contribution

€ 373 250

BUREAU DE RECHERCHES GEOLOGIQUES ET MINIERES

France

EU Contribution

€ 241 180

VA ERZBERG GMBH

Austria

EU Contribution

€ 518 002,50

INVESTORNET-GATE2GROWTH APS

Denmark

EU Contribution

€ 276 875

LULEA TEKNISKA UNIVERSITET

Sweden

EU Contribution

€ 800 362,50

MAXAMCORP INTERNATIONAL SL

Spain

EU Contribution

€ 951 250

MINPOL GMBH

Austria

EU Contribution

€ 424 392,50

MONTANUNIVERSITAET LEOBEN

Austria

EU Contribution

€ 1 173 812,50

MINERA DE ORGIVA SL

Spain

EU Contribution

€ 307 000

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET GRAZ

Austria

EU Contribution

€ 199 500

ZABALA INNOVATION CONSULTING, S.A.

Spain

EU Contribution

€ 491 312,50

Project information

SLIM

Grant agreement ID: 730294

Project website

Status

Ongoing project

Start date

1 November 2016
End date

31 October 2020

Funded under:

H2020-EU.3.5.3.

Overall budget:

€ 6 979 200
EU contribution

€ 6 979 200

Coordinated by:

UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID

Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SLIM (Sustainable Low Impact Mining solution for exploitation of small mineral deposits based on advanced rock blasting and environmental technologies)

Reporting period: 2016-11-01 to 2018-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The project develops technological solutions for increased productivity of small mining operations, helping difficult mines balance sheets fall into profit. Technologies include characterization of explosive and pre- and post-blast rock mass characterization (e.g. fragmentation measurement and muckpile properties) and numerical modeling of the rock/explosive interaction.

The SLIM solutions will be validated downstream in some mines by monitoring processing plant key performance indicators so as to ensure both its performance and its integration capacity within the mining and processing value chain.

Besides technical aspects, SLIM addresses environmental, social and economic dimensions, including workers safety and environmental impact (nitrates leaching, vibrations and airborne particulate matter). Dissemination, communication and social innovation actions are also included.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

SLIM project

Project information

SLIM

Grant agreement ID: 730294

Project website

Status

Ongoing project

Start date

1 November 2016
End date

31 October 2020

Funded under:

H2020-EU.3.5.3.

Overall budget:

€ 6 979 200
EU contribution

€ 6 979 200

Coordinated by:

UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID

Deliverables

Deliverables not available

Publications

Conference proceedings (9)

Sustainable Blasting Strategies for Long-term Mining Projects

Author(s): P. Couceiro, M. Lopez Cano, A. Jafa, S. Burgada & J. Fresnillo

Published in: 45th Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique, Issue Jan. 27–30, 2019, 2019

Effects of in-situ stresses on the fracturing of rock by blasting

Author(s): C. Yi, D. Johansson and J. Greberg