| Abstract | The rate of advancement since World War II, in the field of electronics and microbiology (genetics) been exponential. The quantum leap experienced in the field of electronics caused by the,
now-relatively-simple-to-understand device - the transistor, has changed the whole materialistic life of people. The impact of this development is so great on human life that there is no field left which does not have an electronic device. The
sophistication achieved by this advancement is mind-boggling. Although, mining is a late corner to this assault, the strides made in its application to equipment design is catching up with other commercial fields. It is not that mining engineers are
slow to understand, or are very conservative, but raining by its nature is not so prone for adaptation. Mining has got inherent problems which do not allow the ready application of this sophisticated technology. Despite these drawbacks, tomorrows
mines will not be recognizable to to-days raining engineers. The concept of having a mine without a miner underground might seem farfetched, but tomorrows mines will come close to that concept. A very high degree of automation of development
machines, material handling and transport systems, environmental monitoring and control, raining methods requiring a minimal amount of ground control, mineral processing and total waste rock handling underground, fully instrumented mine to give full
managerial support and even automated decision making using knowledge based systems will virtually eliminate middle management. Record keeping using paper and pencil will be obsolete. Electronic portable key pads or voice recorder will give direct
input to interpreting machines eliminating manual data entry to computers. The whole mine will be displayed on large electronic screens to give underground superintendents up to the minute status of the mine. It will also form the communications
centre for the whole mine. If the present day mine engineers, mine operators, Government and university research organizations, mining associations, hi-tech companies and mine equipment manufacturers set such an objective, it is within the reach of
Canadians to have such a mine. |