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).