In this in-depth look at load and haul underground, Paul Moore looks in detail at trucks and LHDs, what the main issues are and how these are interpreted in product development by the major OEMs – from battery haulage potential to automation, and which mines are using the latest machines and where
In this month’s Spotlight article, Paul Moore reviews new machines and best practice across hydraulic excavators, rope shovels, wheel loaders and surface drills. There have been a number of new excavator launches, from Hitachi, Liebherr, Komatsu and others, while autonomous drilling is really advancing and moving from trials of single drills to full fleets managed[…]
John Chadwick reviews recent news from the comminution community, from HPGRs to mill liners. With liners, while sophisticated
modelling as well as operation and control systems are at the forefront of work towards maximising comminution efficiency, there are still basic things that can be done to minimise downtime of equipment, ultimately adding revenue the bottom line…
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Paul Moore reviews some industry advancements that benefit open pit miners, from rockfall hazard protection, to slope stability monitoring with radar, but also better identifying gaps in availability. In a paper entitled, Proactive controls for highwall stability, Mining Geotechnical Services Director at geohazard mitigation group GeoStabilisation International (GSI) states: “Periodic examination of highwalls and limiting access[…]
Paul Moore catches up with some of the key developments in automation and remote control operations, where massive strides are being made in making technology applicable to more sites beyond just test areas. Probably the most high profile part of autonomous mining is that of large haul trucks. And aside from the well documented progress[…]
A lot of the power provision that has to be made for mines beyond grid connection relates to bridging power, that is providing enough power as a mine ramps up to a full grid connection or to a more permanent solution; and where the grid connection is in place but for various reasons cannot be relied upon for 100% of the mines’[…]
With an ever increasing focus on safety, new approaches to develop safer mechanised machines to replace manual work in deep mines should be welcomed in the industry. In a paper presented at the 2015 SME entitled Improved safety for ground support installation in narrow vein mine conditions with a mechanised bolter, Bill Kendall, Manager of Research & Development at JH Fletcher & Co outlined[…]
Robert Pell looks at how fleet management systems are increasing efficiency and productivity at mining operations, and what the companies are offering Recording, reporting and optimising mining fleets is an important task for any mine operation. Maintaining equipment and having an active awareness of machine condition in real-time is now moving forward and companies now offer a range of solutions. The mining industry as a[…]
The need for innovation in exploration is greater than ever in these difficult economic times. John Chadwick examines the quest for ever deeper deposits and diverse targets in challenging environments. For early-stage exploration, Gedex says its high definition airborne gravity gradiometry data (HD-AGG™) “is the most significant new technology capable of transforming resource discovery to be developed in over 20 years. The HD-AGG[…]
New ways to raise productivity and provide safer operations in open pits, including fleet management and slope stability. Large open pit mines comes with unique challenges with regard to slope stability monitoring, slope strengthening, mine planning and even dealing with obstructions, reports Paul Moore.
