Happy this is happening, I hope this helps in anyway. This is something that worked pretty well(links below.), and was pretty fun for the dwarves when we were mining. Just when dealing with mining just who ever obtains the perms has to be responsible with it. As much as people want to obtain ores, there will always be those who want to abuse and x-ray to obtain ores. Making the mines organized as well as having an organized workforce can be fun and also catch those who x-rays, and can definitely provide some work economy if you know what you're doing. You can even have some thievery within those mines, that's if security is bad. I hope the links in anyway helps with the new mining system. It sure was one of the main things I tried to improve with the Dwarves when I was around. Good luck:
http://www.lordofthecraft.net/forum/index.php?/topic/43450-roleplay-mining/
http://www.lordofthecraft.net/forum/index.php?/topic/71282-yemekarrs-workforce/
The links are old, but hopefully I put them in the order from oldest(top)-newest(bottom). I believe you have to be logged in to see them.