Mining_Methods_UnderGround_Mining - Mining and Blasting

Mining TrendS
Trends in underground mining
Boom time in
mining
The mining boom continues
unabated. After a difficult ending
to the 20th century, with metal
prices trending downwards
for almost 30 years, the global
mining industry recovered in
the early 2000s. Some observers
claim that the industry will see a
long period of increasing metal
prices and, although developments
will continue to be cyclical,
there are predictions of a “super
cycle”. Already it is obvious that
the present boom is something
extraordinary in that it has lasted
longer than previous booms in
the late 1970s and the early 1950s.
An almost insatiable demand for
metals has been created by the
unprecedented economic growth
in several emerging economies
led by China, with India and
Russia trailing not far behind. The
distribution of the value of metal
production at the mine stage is
shown in figure 2 on page 4 page.
China and Australia are competing
for first place with roughly 10 per-
cent each. Some economic theoretitians,
active during the late
1980s, who claimed that economic
growth could take place with-
out metals have been proved utterly
wrong.
Stable growth
Investments into new mines have increased
dramatically and all indicators
point to a continued high level of project
activities during the next couple of
years, see figure 1.
Whatever the investment activities
or metal prices, the amount of metal
produced every year in global mining
is fairly stable and increasing slowly but
steadily. Total volumes of rock and ore
handled in the global mining industry
amount to approximately 30,000 Mt/y.
This figure includes ore and barren rock
and covers metals, industrial minerals
and coal. Roughly 50% are metals, coal
about 45%, and industrial minerals
account for the remainder.
Dynamic growth in China.
Figure 1: Mining projects under construction. (Raw Materials Data 2007)
M USD
30 000
25 000
20 000
15 000
10 000
5 000
Trends
Trends
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
underground mining methods 3