Rio Tinto has partnered with CRCMining, Newcrest Mining and Elexon Electronics in the development of a cutting-edge real-time cave flow tracking system of caved material within block caves, on target to be operational in 2014. CRCMining’s ground-breaking cave tracking technology uses unique 3D position systems to enable real-time monitoring of sensors in the block cave, which move along with the ore, optimising the flow of caved material and minimising ore dilution.
“The Cave Tracker system is a step-change technology that will deliver significant benefits to the mining industry. It will enable real-time mapping of cave material movement, which can be used to minimise dilution and maximise recovery from caves,” stated Dihon Tadic, CRCMining’s Hard Rock and Surface Mining Program Leader. “Monitoring the material flow in block caves has not been possible previously, leading to poor control of block cave operations and sub-optimal outcomes. The technology will assist in development of improved caving models, which will enable miners to design better cave layouts, ultimately improving mine safety and productivity.” Andre van As, Rio Tinto’s General Manager of Geotechnical Engineering and Cave Management for the Copper Group, believes there is value for the caving industry and the mining industry as a whole: “We now have a way of remotely and wirelessly tracking rock mass movements in real-time, and preserve the integrity of the resource. It has application in every method.”
He adds: “The real value is in preserving the security and integrity of the resource. By monitoring the flow of material in real-time we can potentially minimise the dilution in recovering ore from the block cave, thereby improving performance. The technology will also significantly improve safety, and enable better management of the mine.” CRCMining established the concept for the Cave Tracker before inviting Newcrest Mining and Elexon Electronics to develop the concept into a commercial cave tracking system. Commercial development of the Cave Tracker technology remains on track with Rio Tinto recently joining the partnership between CRCMining, Newcrest Mining and Elexon Electronics. This will allow continued progress towards cave deployment testing as a first generation commercial product in multiple operational mines by mid 2014.
More information about CRCMining’s Cave Tracker project can be found on the CRCMining website www.crcmining.com.au/breakthrough-solutions.