{"id":2134,"date":"2014-02-20T08:30:12","date_gmt":"2014-02-20T13:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/?p=2134"},"modified":"2026-08-19T13:25:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T13:25:18","slug":"innovators-in-mining-solutions-to-be-recognized","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/innovators-in-mining-solutions-to-be-recognized\/","title":{"rendered":"Innovators in Mining Solutions to Be Recognized"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"International<\/a> Mining produces many natural resources essential to everyday life. \u00a0It\u2019s also a significant source of employment in many countries. However, mining often gets a bad rap, due to sometimes questionable safety conditions and effects of the pollution it produces. Historically, mining has been a dangerous occupation.<\/p>\n

A wide variety of hazards and potential mishaps exist, from explosions and fires to falls, being struck by equipment, and other accidents involving electricity, cutting, welding, fire, pumps and pressurized lines. Mining produces large volumes of toxic pollution when waste rock is brought to the surface or exposed in an open pit. The damaging effects of mining include erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, and contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water from acid mine drainage. Thankfully, advanced research in recent years has produced procedures and technologies to protect the environment as well as the workers, and improve mining operations. Legislation has been enacted to monitor and enforce safe mining practices.<\/p>\n

Mining companies attempt to mitigate pollution caused by mining processes by undertaking pre-emptive studies to evaluate impact of mining on surface and ground water, soils, local land use, native vegetation and wildlife populations, by treating and reusing wastewater, managing acid run-off, and by monitoring elemental contaminants<\/a> at mine sites.<\/p>\n

Individuals who develop innovative technologies and programs to address these and other key issues to make mining processes more efficient are being recognized by the International Mining Technology Hall of Fame<\/a>, created by International Mining<\/em> magazine. According to the magazine\u2019s web site, the award honors the \u201cdedication and expertise of individuals or small groups that have pushed the boundaries of innovation and R&D to bring new solutions to the industry\u2026these leaps of progress have gone on to help make major increases in productivity and efficiency in mining<\/a>, as well as in some cases making operations safer through helping to remove operators and miners from high risk roles\u2026Nominees could be as varied as the developer of a fundamental improvement in crusher or drill rig design, to the introduction of a new process or mining method. Nominations should be individuals or small teams rather than companies.\u201d Awards will be given in 14 categories:<\/p>\n