IoT Fundamentals: Networking Technologies, Protocols, and Use Cases for the Internet of Things

Chapter 14. Mining

The term mining is often associated with old black-and-white images of hard-working men carrying pick axes and carbide lamps into dark underground tunnels and loading ore or overburden into small rail cars. While those pictures are historically accurate, technology has enabled significant progress in the mining industry, specifically around safety, production optimization, and Operational Expenses reduction.

At the most basic level, mining is the process of extracting minerals from the earth. Many types of minerals are extracted today, including copper, gold, silver, lithium, molybdenum, iron, salt, potash, coal, uranium, and precious gems. Most of these minerals, especially precious metals, are rarely just lying on the ground ...