International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 10 | Oct 2025
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
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Integrated Perspectives on Modern Mining: Global Evolution, Operational Research Advances, and Artisanal Challenges Ubai M. Bubere1, Dr. Uma S. Kale 2, 1Student, Department of Civil Engineering, MHSSCE Mumbai, Maharashtra , India
2Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, MHSSCE Mumbai, Maharashtra , India
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Abstract - Mining underpins modern economies but faces
introduced explosives, mechanized drilling, and large-scale open-pit methods. Today, mining supplies essential inputs for energy transition technologies, including rare earth elements and battery metals.
rising technical, environmental, and social pressures. This paper combines three complementary strands of recent scholarship: (i) a historical review of global mining development, (ii) advances in operations research (OR) applied to mine design, production and transportation, and (iii) the socio-economic realities of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in Tanzania. Together these insights highlight the sector’s technological progress, the importance of mathematical modelling for sustainable mine planning, and the urgent need to formalize small-scale operations to enhance safety, economic returns, and environmental stewardship.
2.2. Operations Research in Mine Planning Modern mines are complex systems where profitability depends on optimal design and scheduling. OR methods— linear and mixed-integer programming, network flow models, and stochastic optimization—are now standard for: Mine Design: determining ultimate pit limits via maximumclosure network models.
Key Words: Mining industry ,Operations research ,Mine planning ,Open-pit design ,Underground mining ,Block model ,Mine production sequencing ,Artisanal and smallscale mining (ASM) ,Tanzania ,Sustainable mining ,Resource management ,Environmental impact
Production Sequencing: deciding which ore blocks to extract each period to maximize net present value while meeting geotechnical constraints. Transportation Logistics: optimizing truck fleets, haulage routes, and train schedules to cut cost and emissions.
1.INTRODUCTION
Benchmark algorithms such as the Lerchs–Grossmann approach for open-pit design and Steiner-tree models for underground layouts illustrate the growing mathematical sophistication of the field.
From Paleolithic ochre pits to twenty-first-century multinational corporations, mining has evolved into a capital-intensive, technology-driven industry. Yet small-scale extraction persists worldwide, employing millions and often coexisting with highly mechanized operations. Integrating historical, operational, and community-level perspectives provides a richer understanding of how mining can meet future resource demands responsibly.
2.3. Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) in Tanzania Contrasting sharply with high-tech operations, Tanzania’s ASM sector employs an estimated 0.5–1.5 million people. Gold extraction occurs mainly in the Lake Victoria greenstone belt, where miners use hand tools and mercury amalgamation. Challenges include unsafe shafts, rudimentary processing, limited access to finance, and weak enforcement of licensing and environmental standards. Nevertheless, ASM contributes up to 10% of national gold output and remains a crucial livelihood strategy. Policies that formalize property rights, provide training, and introduce cleaner technologies (e.g., gravity concentration, retorts for mercury capture) could significantly raise incomes and reduce ecological damage.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW Irjet Template sample paragraph .Define abbreviations and acronyms the first time they are used in the text, even after they have been defined in the abstract. Abbreviations such as IEEE, SI, MKS, CGS, sc, dc, and rms do not have to be defined. Do not use abbreviations in the title or heads unless they are unavoidable.
2.1. Global and Historical Context Archaeological evidence traces organized mineral extraction back over 40,000 years. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans developed sophisticated techniques such as hydraulic mining and fire-setting. The Industrial Revolution accelerated demand for metals, while the twentieth century
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