The need for sustainable technology diffusion in mining: Achieving the use of belt conveyor systems in the German hard-rock quarrying industry

The movement of raw materials can be one the most challenging tasks in open pit mining, with truck transportation representing largest factor mining costs and resulting major greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this study, methods bulk within German hard-rock mines were investigated. Approximately 450 quarries studied for their production tonnage, lease areas, mined rock type as well processing equipment. results demonstrate that 90% operations use truck-based methods, remainder relying partly or completely on continuous conveyor-based systems. installation conveyors compared to trucks represents a real alternative because reduced dead load, GHG emissions many cases even costs. Thus, in-pit haulage sustainable technology substitutions exist are yet adopted by quarrying industry. As study shows, future diffusion technologies requires site champions large-scale case studies successful introduction value chain.