Modern theories that make up the paradigm of sustainable development, and the best practices derived from them, are based on the consistency of individual and public needs, factors of economic growth and ecosystem conservation

The paper discusses the results of a study carried out to determine the thermal condition of a conveyor power unit using a thermal imaging camera. The tests covered conveyors in the main haulage system carrying coal from a longwall. The measurements were taken with a thermal imaging diagnostic method which measures infrared radiation emitted by an object. This technology provides a means of assessing the imminence and severity of a possible failure or damage. The method is a non-contact measuring technique and offers great advantages in an underground mine. The thermograms were analysed by comparing the temperature distribution. An analysis of the operating time of the conveyors was also carried out and the causes of the thermal condition were determined. The main purpose of the research was to detect changes in thermal state during the operation of a belt conveyor that could indicate failure and permit early maintenance and eliminate the chance of a fire. The article also discusses the construction and principle of operation of a thermal imaging camera. The findings obtained from the research analysis on determining the thermal condition of the conveyor drive unit are a valuable source of information for the mine’s maintenance service.

Operating life of a mine lasts from a few years to several decades. Mine closure occurs once the mineral resource is exhausted, or operations are no longer profitable. Mine closure plans are required by most regulatory agencies worldwide before a mining closure permission is granted, and must demonstrate that the site will not pose a threat to the environment and health of the society in future. The article describes a new tool, the brownfields methodology, which can help to promote the revitalization of old mining areas as a part of their technological modernization and subsoil full extraction with environmental damage reduction.

This paper aims to develop a method that could serve as a tool for evaluating extracted raw materials in terms of use by considering the place of extraction and consumption. Dijkstra´s algorithm solves many of the shortest path problems observed in the production planning of raw materials. The algorithm requires knowledge of the relative distance between the vertices and the definition of the Euclidean distance of the vertices from the target vertex. The algorithm scans all of the paths and chooses the one with the minimum distance. At the same time, it would be able to identify the places of sale of raw materials and transport sites for the transportation of raw materials. It would have a database of point and line sources of occurrence (mining, deposit), places of transport (transmission network), and points of sale (seller). At present, geo-statistics is becoming an essential tool for solving various problems in modern deposit geology. Its results are used to calculate reserves and the economic valuation of the deposit. In the process of production planning, it is necessary to constantly process and analyze the geological information obtained during the mining survey.