A Short Review on Mining and Mineral Engineering: From System Integration to Green and Intelligent Technologies

Abstract

Driven by the continuously growing global demand for strategic mineral resources and the progressive depletion of easily accessible ores, the mining and mineral engineering sector is undergoing a profound transformation from traditional high-energy, extensive models toward intelligent, refined, green, and low-carbon directions. This paper systematically reviews the core development trends in the field in recent years, covering three major aspects: the design and application of Integrated Mining and Mineral Processing (IMM) systems, which optimize overall energy consumption by breaking the boundaries between mining and processing; the horizontal empowerment of artificial intelligence (AI) across the entire chain of exploration, mining, and mineral processing, promoting intelligent decision-making and unmanned operations; and green extraction technologies for complex resources (refractory ores and electronic waste), along with key technological breakthroughs in energy-efficient comminution, intelligent sorting, novel reagents, and tailings resource utilization. The coupling of multiple technologies and whole-process intelligent control is becoming the core driving force for promoting efficient, safe, and green development in the mining industry.