The Westray Mine Disaster is often remembered as a tragic moment in Canadian mining history. But for those of us working in mining, engineering, and high-risk industries, Westray is not just history. It is a warning that remains painfully relevant today. In 1992, 26 miners lost their lives at the Westray coal mine in Nova […]
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Dry Stacking: The Future of Safe and Sustainable Tailings Management
Akin Fadare, EIT | PMP®
One of the most important decisions a mine makes is how it handles its tailings Dry stacking is quickly becoming the answer when safety, water control, and long-term stability matter. Here’s the flow chart: 1️⃣ Tailings slurry from the processing plant enters the thickener, where the solids concentration is increased. 2️⃣ The thickened slurry is […]
Long-Hole Open Stoping: The Cycle, The Decision Point, & Why CPB Matters
Akin Fadare, EIT | PMP®
Long-hole open stoping is one of the most widely used underground mining methods in competent rock and steeply dipping orebodies. The concept is simple. The engineering is not. It lives in sequencing, stability management, and fill strategy. Quick terminology Long-hole: production drilling with long blastholes Stoping: excavating large chambers within the orebody Open: the stope […]
Mining’s Talent Crisis: Yesterday’s Warnings, Today’s Reality, Tomorrow’s Challenge
Akin Fadare, EIT | PMP®
For decades, the mining industry has been warned about its growing talent problem. Three reports — spread across three eras — paint a clear picture of where we’ve come from, where we stand, and where we may be heading. Yesterday’s Warning: McKinsey (2003) In 2003, McKinsey surveyed mining leaders worldwide. The results were stark: 71% […]