Abstract Mining processes in the iron ore mine of Boukhadra, Tebessa (NE Algeria) generated thousands of tons of mining wastes every year, which represents a real threat to the environment, leading to hazardous effects for the resident population of the region. The aim of this study is the selective sorting of the Boukhadra mining wastes for valorization. This will facilitate the recycling of the mineral substances (limestone, iron, marls) on the one hand and it makes it possible to minimize the volume of stocks and their environmental impacts on the other hand. To do this, and taking into account the chemical properties of wastes, we recommend an optical separation management using a color camera and a microprocessor linked to the ejection system (valve or pump), the color measurement tests performed on Boukhadra waste rocks samples using Matlab codes converted from Algorithms showed that each rock has a specific color (Red Green Blue value) or RGB. For this purpose, the use of three optical separators that sort according to algorithmic commands (RGB interval) will contribute to the separation of the Boukhadra mining wastes and consequently simplify their reuse.

Abstract Several research works have been done to assess the effect of the cutting depth on the cutting forces when using picks. In this case, the cutting tests need im-portant equipment to cut rocks, to register the cutting force and to determine the cutting force value. The purpose of this research work is to simulate the laboratory rock cutting tests to determine the cutting force, using commercial software; and to compare the cutting force values to those obtained in the la-boratory. In the simulation, we took a gypsum rock sample as the specimen,. We simulated the separation of the rock chips from the specimen and the sub-sequent breakage into multiple fragments. In the simulations, a cutting pick was compared with a stationary rock sample. The simulations were conducted at a same constant velocity for different cutting depths. The simulations showed that the depth of cut has a significant effect on the cutting force, and the values of the cutting force in the simulation are very close to those obtained in the laboratory.

Abstract The present article is devoted to the development of a hematite-poor ore mine in Ouenza, which does not meet the steelmaker's requirements. Significant volumes are stored at the pithead of the mine, and the reserves are estimated at over 100 million tones. This enormous quantity of mining waste occupies an important space and poses a real threat to the environment as well as for the mining city of Ouenza. In order to solve these socio-economic and environmental problems, a sustainable development and a better quality of life for inhabitants of this region is needed. For this, representative samples were taken at the level of the dumps. Taking into account the natural characteristics of the stock namely; mineralogical composition, iron content, particle size of the rock mass, as well as the release mesh of iron minerals from the gangue. Firstly, tests are conducted on the recovery by radiometric separation of iron-rich pieces and graded. Then the rest of the ore was subjected to mechanical preparation followed by enrichment, which will be the subject of another study. The research is conducted on samples to determine the optimal parameters of the g-rays absorption tested by radiometry; these parameters were the velocity of the conveyor belt and the time of exposure to g-rays. The obtained results by this valorization process are very significant: iron content 53.5% and 8.3% recovery.