Current status and prospects of mining technology in metal mines

Metallic mineral resources are essential for human survival and development and serve as a critical material foundation for national security and economic prosperity. Among these, critical metallic minerals have become a focal point in the geopolitical competition between major powers in the contemporary landscape. To secure a stable and reliable supply of these strategic resources, leading mining nations are increasingly investing in scientific and technological initiatives aimed at advancing mining development, with a strong emphasis on improving mining technologies. In recent years, China has made significant strides in mining technologies; however, owing to its relatively late entry into the sector, a noticeable gap remains between China and more developed mining nations. The current study aims to review the state of mining technologies both domestically and internationally, analyze the disparities between China and leading mining powers, and provide strategic guidance for the technological development of China’s mining industry. This research offers a comprehensive analysis from three key perspectives: mining scale, process equipment, and software technology. The findings can be summarized as follows: (1) Owing to limitations in resource endowments and technological capabilities, Chinese metallic mines show considerable discrepancies in both production scale and mining depth compared with the world’s leading mines. This gap is particularly noticeable in ultra-deep mining, where practical experience is especially lacking. (2) Future mining technologies that require urgent attention can be categorized into four types based on their criticality and urgency: bottleneck technologies, foundational technologies, urgent technologies, and forward-looking technologies. (3) The current “bottleneck” technical challenges facing China’s mining sector include the development of intelligent and unmanned technologies for open-pit mining, advanced deep mining technologies for underground operations, and the research and application of specialized mining software. (4) The urgent technologies identified in this study include precise detection and safety management technologies for goaf areas, ultra-large-scale filling mining technologies for metallic mines, and intelligent ore grade detection technologies. (5) Foundational technologies encompass rock mechanics modeling for deep mining, multi-scale fracture simulation processes under geothermal system rock–hydraulic coupling, and dynamic control theories for managing disasters associated with deep mining activities. (6) Forward-looking technologies include a range of innovations, such as new transportation technologies for deep open-pit mines, advanced deep-well lifting techniques, novel efficient rock-breaking technologies, integrated mining and beneficiation technologies, co-extraction methods for both mineral and geothermal resources, and fluidized mining techniques for metallic minerals. To address these findings, it is recommended to develop systematic strategies for the four categories of technologies, prioritizing efforts to overcome bottleneck technologies. Accelerating research and development of urgent technologies is essential for achieving short-term breakthroughs while laying a solid groundwork for foundational technologies and fostering innovation in forward-looking technologies to drive future advancements in mining. The government should take an active role in promoting the establishment of high-level intelligent mining laboratories through collaboration among research institutions, universities, and industry leaders with technological expertise. These initiatives will expedite solutions to bottleneck technologies that hinder intelligent construction and support the development of advanced, high-precision mining equipment. Ultimately, these efforts will ensure the sustainable and high-quality development of China’s mineral resources, strengthen its mining industry, and enhance its competitive standing in the global market.