The history of mining is replete with controversy, but in recent decades there has been increasing pressure to improve the environmental performance of mining operations, following from greater awareness of global environmental issues. Although Rachel Carson’s 1962 ground breaking text, ‘The Silent Spring’, focused on pesticide damage, it brought attention for the fi rst time to the worldwide scale of environmental degradation associated with the development of an industrial civilization. This introductory chapter will examine the many facets of the relationship between mining and the environment which follow from the demands of that civilization.

The first edition of this book covered those subjects that I believed were fundamental to acquiring sufficient knowledge about the mining sector to invest in it with confidence. In doing this I dipped into a wide number of subjects and tried to extract the points and issues most relevant to successful investing. Since then the mining and metals sector has experienced a massive bull market and this has led to a number of new or enhanced influences for the sector arising.

В пособии представлены сведения о детализации этапов выполнения курсовых и дипломных проектов, требования к оформлению текстовых и графических документов, примеры использования современных программных комплексов в проектировании для изучения вопросов автоматизации инженерных расчетов применительно к машинам и оборудованию для горнодобывающих производств и их конструктивным узлам.

The objective of this chapter is to provide a foundation for the rest of the Handbook. It does so by initially describing the history and outlining the purpose, which is then followed by a definition of its structure or organization, which is immediately succeeded by a Reader’s Guide for each chapter. Finally, it alerts the wader to the current rush of events that make for a short shelf life for some of the presented information, especially laws in force and controlling political events. Nevertheless, this Handbook is designed to be more a manual stressing basic principles that change little, rather than a textbook supplier of details that are constantly in transition. As such, the Authors and Editors have tried to focus upon more universal design concepts in the field. Even if specific examples become dated, the Handbook is meant to be an enduring repository of basic engineering theories that form the foundation of environmental protection in the mining industry.  <...>

The use of mineral resources has been fundamental to human activity: from housing to household goods, from industrial equipment to energy, and from high technology to space exploration, mining has provided the basics of life to the human race. The mining industry produces energy, metals, and minerals that are essential to economic prosperity and a better quality of life. As important as these benefits are, mining activity produces social and environmental impacts on communities, and requires a more responsible mining practice—it requires sustainable mine management.

The economics of the resources industry are unique. All mining is subject to uncertainties not applicable to other industries. Every mine is different. Industry economics are difficult to quantify and categorize. Information is very costly.
In major mining countries, there is now a real dichotomy.

Mining capital is capital required to develop mines from exploration, feasibility studies, mine design, construction, and commissioning to operation; capital to refinance and modernize old mines; capital to purchase mining, processing, and related mine infrastructure equipment; and capital to acquire mines. The supply of commodities remains vital to the development of modern society.

Te mining sector is essential in the economic development of many resource rich African countries as it has the potential to fnance infrastructural developments which are much needed in Africa. Tis is due to the fact that various minerals are used as raw materials in different sectors including construction and transport. Most importantly, mineral materials also play an important role in industrialization and urbanization which are now rapidly escalating on the continent.

Mining and mineral industries information is broadly based, from exploration for ore deposits to processing and marketing the ores. In recent years mining has become continuously more international, and economic and political impacts of mineral industries are worldwide. Informed business decisions require both technical and management data, so both types of information are covered in this bibliography of information sources.