Tag Archives: Kanmantoo

Master Builders Solutions reinforces decline work at Hillgrove’s Kanmantoo

Base metals, Explosives and blasting, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining techniques, , , , , , , ,

Master Builders Solutions has helped the team at the Kanmantoo copper mine in South Australia speed up the excavation of its new decline portal by supplying fast-reacting, instantly thickening anchoring resin.

Kanmantoo, owned by Hillgrove Resources, is currently going through the initial stages of developing an underground operation at the former operating open-pit mine. It has employed a Komatsu MC51 to excavate a circa-500 m decline, with the continuous cutting trial focused on demonstrating the commercial viability of the machine and trial new materials handling and ground support processes.

One of these new processes includes the use of Master Building Solutions’ MasterRoc RBA 380 anchoring resin, which, according to the company, reacts in just three minutes.

This resin has been injected into 10, 9 m self-drilling anchors (SDAs) at the decline portal of Kanmantoo since mechanised cutting operations recently started up.

Master Builders Solutions explained: “Traditionally, cementitious grouts are used to encapsulate the SDAs, which can pose hazards such as dust inhalation and burns to contractors. In waiting for these grouts to cure, mining teams also lose critical heading for approximately 12 hours.”

In choosing the MasterRoc RBA 380, Hillgrove Resources was able to continue the safe excavation with the Komatsu MC51 after just five minutes, according to Master Builders Solutions.

Also involved in this project are Strata Consolidation and PYBAR Mining Services (now part of Metarock Group Limited).

Master Builders Solutions recently announced a planned transaction with Sika that would see the Switzerland-based shotcrete major acquire the company, formerly referred to as BASF Construction Chemicals.

Komatsu MC51 gets cutting at Hillgrove’s Kanmantoo copper project

Base metals, Explosives and blasting, Mine operation news, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , , ,

The world’s first portal cut using “transformational continuous mining technology” is now underway with the help of Hillgrove Resources’ team at the Kanmantoo copper mine in South Australia and Komatsu’s MC51 machine, powered by DynaCut tech.

The underground decline at Kanmantoo commenced last Friday, just over a month after Hillgrove announced that the South Australian Government had awarded it a A$2 million ($1.5 million) grant to trial the new underground mining technology.

The continuous mining technology, which is also being tested at Vale’s Garson mine in Ontario, Canada, and has previously been trialled at Newcrest’s Cadia mine, removes the need for blasting, providing the potential to transform the traditional underground development process and result in improved safety and operational performance, Hillgrove said.

On top of this, the Komatsu MC51 technology is 100% electrically powered, providing a mine development option for companies pursuing zero-emission mining.

The Komatsu MC51 will be used to develop a portal and a circa-500 m underground decline at Kanmantoo, a former-operating open-pit mine that is transitioning to underground operations. This transition is permitted and benefits from having all existing infrastructure in place, including an operational 3.6 Mt/y processing facility and tailings storage facility, Hillgrove said.

The continuous cutting trial will focus on demonstrating the commercial viability of the machine and trial new materials handling and ground support processes. Ground support assistance is to be provided by PYBAR Mining Services.

“The underground decline has multiple benefits to Hillgrove, including the development of underground drilling platforms which reduce drilling cost as Hillgrove continues to expand and infill drill the existing Kanmantoo Underground resource,” the company has previously said.

It could also help bring forward potential first copper production and reduce future development costs, Hillgrove added.

Hillgrove CEO and Managing Director, Lachlan Wallace, said the development of the underground decline and establishment of underground drilling platforms was a key milestone in the Kanmantoo Underground development program.

“We are also excited to advance the mine development in a way that leads the industry towards zero-emission mining, which is without question the way of the future,” he said.

On top of the A$2 million grant from the South Australian Government, Hillgrove says it has secured favourable payment terms from Komatsu, which sees no payments until funding for the mine development is secured. The deferred and contingent nature of the agreement and grant funding results in minimal cash outflow to Hillgrove while the company focuses on the drilling program.