According to the top-priority trends and challenges in the mineral sector, and as per the mining science strategy, it is highly critical to arrange enhanced control, prediction and safety of production objects and their functioning for the preservation of automation sustainability. Improved control of databases, regulatory bonds, management, logistics and principles of sustainable development in mining makes it possible to reduce technological deviations and accidents at large mining and processing plants. Most procedural violations and accidents in surface and underground mines occur because of the unskilled actions of process flow operators. Damage in this case can be considerable, especially as compared with the expenses connected with qualitative training and persistent development of personnel engaged with supervisory control and data acquisition for the efficient operation of SCADA-systems within the automation framework of mining and processing plants. Definition of digital systems and their interrelation with multilevel automated control can be incorrect. The review of new principles can awaken interest in the conceptual assessment of digitalization processes using such notions as: numerical models, simulator, and artificial intel-ligence. Often applied formulations and principles of a digital model are substituted without justification of functional connections. On the other hand, a digital system today can be assumed as robotic lines and other numerical models and smart technologies, for instance, machining sta-tions with numerical program control. It is necessary to define the practical significance of conceptual modifications and digital transformation regarding objects of the mineral sector, using Big Data; to understand how a digital twin can influence a changeable process situation; to provide prompt prediction; to eliminate an accident; and to preserve the physical balance in the whole production system. Such intelligent and flexible productions particularly need computer-based simulators and digital twins based on technologies of Industry 4.0–extended and virtual reality on the basis of digital twins. Digital twins allow maximal simulation of real-life activity of process flow operators. The skills acquired by personnel after such simulation training enable operators to master the optimized procedure for functioning in emergency situations in mineral mining and processing. This paper exemplifies the remote training and control of process flows, which is of concern in the current international situation.

Рассмотрена проблематика формирования добычного комплекса при глубоководной разработке уникальных твердых полезных ископаемых. Проанализированы горно-геологические условия месторождений, минеральный состав полезных ископаемых, выполнен экономический анализ стоимости одной тонны сухой массы железомарганцевых конкреций, кобальтоносных марганцевых корок и глубоководных полиметаллических сульфидов. Выполнен обзор международных проектов по добыче уникальных твердых полезных ископаемых, анализ предлагаемых способов разработки, а также представлен типовой добычной комплекс, на основе анализа. Среди рассматриваемых вариантов были выведены общие тенденции в формировании добычной машины, а также описаны испытания прототипов перспективных проектов, таких как Mine-Ro (Южная Корея), Apollo-II (Голландия), Patania II (Бельгия) и др. Проанализированы варианты формирования вспомогательного судна, выполняемые им вспомогательные операции, а также способы размещения оборудования для обслуживания и диспетчеризации машин. Также было отмечено, что основной проблемой комплекса является отсутствие эффективного способа подъема. В этой связи был выполнен анализ рациональных способов подъема. Среди рассматриваемых вариантов выделены цикличный, поточный, эрлифт, двухстадийный подъем и циклично-поточный способ. Определены энергозатраты и производительность каждого варианта, представлен график зависимости удельной производительности от глубины разработки. Выполнен анализ циклично-поточного способа подъема твердых полезных ископаемых, оценка производительности и ограничивающих факторов.

An analytical review of the effect of high-temperature thermomechanical treatment on the structure and properties of steels as a possible effective method of strengthening the teeth of excavator buckets. It is shown that the application of this method can have a positive effect not only on the hardness, but also on the entire complex of their mechanical characteristics, such as plasticity, impact toughness and fatigue resistance. In relation to Hadfield steel as the most frequently used material of the bucket teeth, it is noted that with increasing deformation grade of billets from 1 to 5, tensile strength of steel increases from 570 to 1030 MPa, yield strength – from 480 to 790 MPa, relative elongation – from 14.3 to 17.9 %, relative contraction – from 17.2 to 20.1 %, impact strength KCU – from 1.51 to 2.14 MJ/m2. This article presents the results of metallographic analysis and comparative tests for abrasive wear of Hadfield steel samples after typical heat treatment practiced at bucket teeth manufacturers and thermomechanical treatment. It is established that high-temperature plastic deformation of steel samples before quenching increases their wear resistance by 1.7 times. The authors attribute the detected increase in wear resistance to the formation of fine martensite in the surface layers of steel with a needle size of 3-10 nm, which increases its hardness by 47%. It is concluded that the presence of fine martensite in the structure of Hadfield steel can increase the service life of excavator bucket teeth made of this material. The results of this study are planned to be used in the development of an improved technological process for manufacturing bucket teeth of excavators.