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Evaluation Index System of Green Surface Mining in China

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Abstract

The concept of green mining is to improve the mining industry in a holistic way so that it is safe, efficient, and environmentally sustainable. The purpose of this study was to develop an evaluation index system of green surface mining based on the theory of green grades. The evaluation model is comprised of three attributes (safety, efficiency, and environment), nine criteria, and 35 indicators. The fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method was used to determine the weights of indicators by taking into consideration degree centrality, closeness centrality, and betweenness centrality. Findings indicate that the environment is the most critical aspect of green surface mining, followed by efficiency and safety. The top five ranked green mining success indicators were the application of new technology, starting-off-rate of equipment, science and technology input to total investment, the number of accidents (decreased), and the production (increased). It was observed that more improvements are needed to overcome water, air, waste, and sound pollution. Attention should also be paid to land reclamation and post-mining land uses, which are key factors in green mining. The proposed model can be applied to evaluate and improve the level of green surface mining in other regions. This study provides a tool for decision-makers that can offer technical assistance to green mining.

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Funding

This research was supported by the Independent Research Project of the State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China (SKLCRSM18X001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin, 123000, Liaoning, China

    Yongli Zhou

  2. Shenhua Zhungeer Energy Co., Ltd., Ordos, 010300, Inner Mongolia, China

    Yongli Zhou

  3. School of Mines, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, China

    Wei Zhou, Xiang Lu, Izhar Mithal Jiskani, Qingxiang Cai & Peng Liu

  4. State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, China

    Wei Zhou, Xiang Lu, Izhar Mithal Jiskani & Qingxiang Cai

  5. School of Energy and Mining Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing, 100083, China

    Lin Li

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  1. Yongli Zhou
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  2. Wei Zhou
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Correspondence to Xiang Lu or Izhar Mithal Jiskani.

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Zhou, Y., Zhou, W., Lu, X. et al. Evaluation Index System of Green Surface Mining in China. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 37, 1093–1103 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-020-00236-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-020-00236-3

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