Underground Mining
A Global Industry Powerhouse
Underground Hardrock Mining
Underground hardrock mining is one of the most challenging and vital sectors within the global mining industry. It focuses on the extraction of valuable minerals and ores found deep within the earth.
Unlike surface mining, which typically occurs in open pits, underground mining requires navigating complex tunnels and shaft networks to reach deposits hundreds to thousands of meters below the surface. This form of mining is essential for accessing high-value commodities that are not economically feasible to mine from the surface.
Commodities
Key Commodities in Underground Hardrock Mining
Underground hardrock mining plays a crucial role in the extraction of several key commodities, including:
Gold
A primary target in underground mining operations, gold is often found deep below the surface and requires sophisticated underground techniques for extraction.
Zinc and Lead
Often mined together, these metals are vital for construction, batteries, and various industrial applications.
Copper
Critical for electrical wiring, copper is extensively mined underground due to the deep nature of many copper deposits.
Platinum Group Metals
These precious metals, used in automotive catalysts, electronics, and jewellery, are typically found in narrow veins deep underground.
Nickel
An essential metal for stainless steel and battery production, nickel is often mined from hardrock formations.
Iron Ore and Manganese
Though more commonly associated with surface mining, certain deposits of these metals, when located at extreme depths, are extracted through underground methods.
Locations
Main Locations for Underground Hardrock Mining
Underground hardrock mining is a globally dispersed industry, with key mining regions spread across continents. The distribution of these operations often correlates with the geology of the region:
Australia
One of the largest producers of gold, copper, and nickel, Australia is home to major underground mining operations in Western Australia (Kalgoorlie, Kambalda), Queensland, and New South Wales.
Canada
With its rich deposits of gold, copper, nickel, and PGMs, Canada is a global leader in underground mining, with significant operations in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
Russia
A major producer of nickel and platinum group metals, Russia’s underground mining industry is centred in regions like Norilsk and the Kola Peninsula.
United States
Home to diverse underground mining operations, from gold in Nevada to copper in Arizona and lead and zinc in Missouri’s historic mining districts.
Chile
Known for its extensive copper deposits, Chile’s underground mines contribute significantly to global copper production.
South Africa
Famous for its vast gold and platinum deposits, South Africa is a major player in underground hardrock mining, with deep-level mines that reach several kilometres below the surface.
Peru
Another top copper producer, Peru has significant underground mining operations for gold and zinc, particularly in the Andes.
Critical Factors
The Business of Underground Hardrock Mining
Underground hardrock mining is not only technically demanding but also capital-intensive. Several critical factors shape the business of underground mining
- High Initial Investment: Developing an underground mine requires significant upfront capital for exploration, tunnelling, infrastructure, and equipment. However, the high value of the commodities extracted often justifies the cost.
- Long Mine Lifespans: Unlike some surface mining operations that can be exhausted within a few years, underground mines tend to have longer operational lifespans, often spanning decades. This makes them critical long-term investments for companies.
- Commodity Market Volatility: The profitability of underground mining is closely tied to the global commodity markets, where prices for gold, copper, nickel, and other metals can fluctuate significantly. Mines must operate efficiently to remain viable through market cycles.
- Sustainability and Regulation: As with all mining activities, underground hardrock mining is subject to strict environmental and safety regulations. Companies are increasingly focusing on sustainability, reducing their environmental footprint, and implementing technologies to improve worker safety and reduce emissions.
- Automation and Technology Integration: With the growing importance of automation, remote monitoring, and data-driven operations, underground mines are adopting cutting-edge technologies to enhance productivity, safety, and cost-efficiency. Vernetzen’s network solutions play a critical role in enabling this technological shift.
Applications
Applications in Underground Hardrock Mining
As the mining industry embraces current and emerging technologies, the importance of robust, reliable networks becomes increasingly apparent. The applications used today, and those that will shape the future of hardrock mining, rely on high-performance connectivity to optimise safety, productivity, and cost-efficiency.
Vernetzen’s comprehensive suite of services, products, and training programs is designed to meet these evolving needs, ensuring that mining operations can fully leverage today’s technology while preparing for the future.
Current Applications in Hardrock Mining
Teleremoting and Autonomous Equipment
Remote-controlled machinery, such as loaders, trucks, and drills, is critical in underground mining. Teleremoting enables the safe operation of heavy equipment from remote locations, reducing worker exposure to hazardous conditions.
How Vernetzen can help:
- Wi-Fi Over Coax (WoC) ensures highly reliable and seamless handovers, maintaining uninterrupted communication between remote operators and machinery as they navigate long tunnels. This is crucial to avoid operational delays and accidents caused by communication dropouts.
- AI-Link Industrial Ethernet Switches provide the necessary backbone for these operations, ensuring high-speed, stable data transmission even in harsh underground conditions.
Real-Time Monitoring Systems
Monitoring ventilation, gas levels, temperature, and equipment status is critical to maintaining safety and efficiency. These systems generate large volumes of data that must be transmitted to surface control rooms for real-time analysis and decision-making.
How Vernetzen can help:
- Element Management System provides centralised control and monitoring of all Vernetzen equipment, enabling real-time management of critical systems. It integrates seamlessly with underground mine plans, offering a purpose-built interface for mining applications.
- A Portable Network Analyser (PNA) helps ensure that monitoring networks function optimally, providing network engineers with powerful tools for testing, commissioning, and troubleshooting.
Personnel Tracking and Safety Management
Real-time location systems (RTLS) help track personnel, ensuring their safety and improving emergency evacuation procedures. Tracking systems are also used to optimise resource deployment and reduce downtime.
How Vernetzen can help:
- Wi-Fi Over Coax (WoC) ensures highly reliable and seamless handovers, maintaining uninterrupted communication between remote operators and machinery as they navigate long tunnels. This is crucial to avoid operational delays and accidents caused by communication dropouts.
- AI-Link Industrial Ethernet Switches provide the necessary backbone for these operations, ensuring high-speed, stable data transmission even in harsh underground conditions.
Environmental Control Systems
Systems that control ventilation, lighting, and water flow help maintain safe working conditions and optimise resource use. These systems are often automated and require reliable networks to function.
How Vernetzen can help:
- AI-Link Industrial Ethernet Switches provide the backbone for these systems, allowing real-time communication between underground sensors and surface control rooms.
- The Element Management System can push out network policies to all Vernetzen network elements, enabling operators to adjust environmental systems remotely and in real-time.
Future Applications in Hardrock Mining
Fully Autonomous Operations
The mining industry is moving towards fully autonomous operations where equipment operates without human intervention. This includes autonomous drilling, hauling, and transportation systems, drastically reducing the need for underground workers.
How Vernetzen can help:
- Wi-Fi Over Coax (WoC) and AI-Link Switches will be pivotal in providing the low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity required for fully autonomous systems. These networks will enable machines to communicate seamlessly with each other and surface control centres.
AI-Driven Predictive Maintenance
Predictive maintenance powered by AI will enable mining operators to identify potential equipment failures before they happen. AI systems will analyse real-time data from sensors to predict when maintenance is needed, reducing downtime and costs.
How Vernetzen can help:
- AI-Link Industrial Ethernet Switches provide the backbone for these systems, allowing real-time communication between underground sensors, meters and instruments, and surface control rooms.
- Wi-Fi Over Coax (WoC) delivers reliable Wi-Fi signals across the mine, ensuring that vehicle data and safety control systems communicate with fleet management systems.
Advanced Safety Systems with AI and Automation
AI-powered safety systems will revolutionise underground mining by detecting potential hazards faster than human-controlled systems, such as gas leaks or structural instability. These systems can automatically trigger safety protocols, such as evacuations, or adjust operational equipment to mitigate risks.
How Vernetzen can help:
- AI-Link Industrial Ethernet Switches are specifically designed to support the high-priority, low-latency traffic required by AI-driven safety systems. These switches ensure that critical safety data, such as sensor readings or emergency alerts, is transmitted to surface control centres in real-time. Their robust design and intelligent traffic management capabilities make them ideal for handling the demands of AI and automated safety solutions.
- Secure Remote Access for OT Networks provides secure and reliable connectivity to manage these systems from anywhere, ensuring compliance with cybersecurity standards for critical OT environments.
Expertise
How Vernetzen Helps the Underground Hardrock Mining Industry
Expert Consulting Services
Real-time location systems (RTLS) help track personnel, ensuring their safety and improving emergency evacuation procedures. Tracking systems are also used to optimise resource deployment and reduce downtime.
World-Leading Products
Vernetzen offers a wide range of products that can meet the needs and resolve the challenges the underground hardrock mining industry faces. These include:
- Wi-Fi Over Coax (WoC): This technology ensures seamless handovers and reliable linear Wi-Fi coverage in underground environments, which is critical for teleremoting and automation.
- AI-Link Industrial Ethernet Switches: Provide robust, high-speed networking to support both current and future mining applications.
- Portable Network Analyser (PNA): This device helps network engineers test, commission, and troubleshoot underground networks, ensuring optimal performance.
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Veto Suite:
- Network Planning: Enables engineers to design networks for underground mines, integrating with the PNA tool for seamless testing and troubleshooting.
- Element Management System: Manages and configures Vernetzen equipment, offering a purpose-built interface for underground mining operations.
- Secure Remote Access for OT Networks: Compliant with cybersecurity standards, ensuring safe and secure network access for critical OT systems.
Training
Our training programs are designed to upskill underground electricians and communications technicians, equipping them to design, install, operate, and support OT networks. This training ensures that your team can fully leverage the capabilities of Vernetzen’s advanced network solutions and be ready to adapt to future technologies.