In this issue
The October issue of Skillings Mining Review examines how advances in load, haul and processing equipment are reshaping mining operations. From autonomous haulage fleets moving beyond pilot projects to AI-enabled beneficiation, the focus is on the technologies changing how mines move material, process ore and manage costs.
Our cover stories explore two critical shifts across the mining value chain. Autonomous haulage is approaching a new industrial scale, raising questions about fleet economics, electrification, charging infrastructure and the investment decisions facing mine operators. Meanwhile, AI-driven processing highlights how digital systems can improve plant performance, optimise operations and extract greater value from existing assets.
We also examine the growing cost pressure caused by declining iron ore grades. As producers process more material to recover the same amount of iron, energy-intensive grinding, water use and tailings management are becoming increasingly important to project economics. New approaches — from high-pressure grinding rolls and vertical roller mills to early waste rejection — offer potential pathways to more efficient processing.
Together, these stories explore a mining industry where productivity depends not only on the scale of equipment or the size of the resource, but on how intelligently technology is deployed. From the haul road to the concentrator, the challenge is to move more efficiently, process smarter and protect operating margins in an increasingly demanding environment.
