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An electric personality
Max Planck once said that “science advances one funeral at a time”. His point was that for any progress to be made in scientific endeavours, old thinking must be put to rest. Such is the case with electrification. Dr Nesimi Ertugrul, an associate professor at the University of Adelaide’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, shares his thoughts on why the time is ripe for the change to electric at mine sites.
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A fair chance for everyoneMeet the peopleA fair chance for everyone
Rebecca Roper is mine manager for Glencore’s George Fisher Mine, an underground zinc, lead and silver mine in Queensland, Australia. She is passionate about ensuring that talented individuals are recognized in the operation, regardless of their gender. -
All in the familyMeet the peopleAll in the family
From trainee truck operator to shift boss and training manager, Arlene Johnston parlayed her love of mining into a career underground at QME Ltd, distinguishing her as the first female miner in Ireland. She took time to share with Solid Ground online the challenges and opportunities she faces on a daily basis.
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175 years at mining’s cutting edge
In 2026, Sandvik’s Mechanical Cutting division will mark 175 years since operations began at its site in Zeltweg, Austria. Few industrial operations can point to such continuity. Fewer still have remained relevant by consistently adapting to new technologies, materials and mining methods over nearly two centuries.
High yield and safety in the Andes
El Teniente, located in the Chilean Andes, is one of the largest underground copper mines on the planet. It is also one of the most complex, with many geotechnical challenges. By using automated solutions, the mine has significantly improved safety and productivity. Now, together with Sandvik, state-owned company Codelco is creating the mine of the future. In the next few years, the goal is for El Teniente to only have automated trucks and loaders.
Continuous convergence monitoring
As underground mines continue to push deeper, ground stresses rise and so do the safety challenges that come with them. Operators are increasingly looking for monitoring solutions that are not only accurate and dependable, but also simple to deploy and safe to operate in demanding environments.