ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY

MINING AND MILLING

Bolter/Screener

Miller Technology has developed an improved bolter-screener that will get its first production workout in Falconbridge’s Craig mine.

A joint effort with Getman Corp. and Gardner-Denver Canada (as well as Falconbridge), the new machine is a more mobile diesel-powered, rubber-tired carrier that can work in stopes 6.5 m high and in development headings up to 4.6X4.6 m with grades of up to 25%.

The back, walls and face can be drilled, bolted and screened from the unit, which can be operated by one man, if needs be.

A Getman 800 XHD Scissor with sideshifting deck is the basic scissorlift. It has been substantially modified to accept the Miller-designed drill boom and screening systems. Boom extension has been increased and the feed actuators modified to install a 6X12-ft. sheet from one set-up. A new screen installation system allows an operator to simultaneously drill bolt-holes and install screen and bolts alone and with less physical effort and more safety than before.

The new screener/bolter also has a creep drive capability, letting the operator on the scissor deck move the carrier slowly between setups. The driving unit is a heavy-duty, air/hydraulic power pack with a hydrostatic motor and transfer case.

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Production Drills

Continuous Mining Systems has developed a new ITH production drill. The versatile CD-360M incorporates full features, including rod handling capabilities.

At 1.42 m wide by 3.5 m long, the CD-360M can easily fit down any shaft. It also offers diesel/hydraulic and electric/hydraulic operation. The diesel/hydraulic provides untethered mobility and drilling in remote non-electrified areas.

Set ups are made easy by crawler tracks, mast side shift and by the available Azimuth Laser and Jimco Inclinometer.

With a rod-handling system, the machine can drill 89-216 mm holes without manhandling drill steel.

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Nordberg WaterFlush Technology

Nordberg Inc. has developed a patented process called WaterFlush technology, which involves both crushing and grinding.

The method requires the addition of water to the WF cone crusher in such amounts to produce a product slurry on the order of 30% to 50% solids by weight. The crushing process, in the absence of fines (which are flushed through the crusher), produces a product with a significant proportion of flaky shaped particles.

These particles break very easily when subjected to ball milling, Nordberg says. In the case of a new milling installation, this reduced power requirement would mean smaller mills, reduced capital costs, as well as reduced operating costs over the life of the project.

With an existing mill, increased tonnage or throughput would be possible with WaterFlush Technology.

Nordberg has designed a WF cone crusher for use in a WaterFlush circuit. It incorporates special seals, internal components and lubricants to handle the large water flows involved. The WF cone crusher further utilizes special speed and throw combinations to maximize crusher performance.

Nordberg notes that the benefits of WaterFlush include up to 25% reduction in energy use, direct replacement of rod mills, a 50% increase in crusher throughput and an open-circuit of ball mills.

Nordberg can review either new or existing applications to determine the potential benefits of WaterFlush.

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Underground Truck

John Clark Inc. has designed a new underground truck to handle multiple containers. The JCI Model C1504, 15-ton truck is a low profile, centre-articulated, rear-dump that allows one container to be loaded while another is being trammed to the dump.

The truck features a unique J-hook that engages the container’s ball for fast hookups. In-cab controls pull the container to the prime mover and lift it into tramming position. At the dump, in-cab lift controls and hoist cylinders open the tailgate and the entire bed is lifted and dumped like a standard-end dump truck.

During normal operation, the operator never has to leave the compartment. The C1504 is ideal for one-way hauls of longer than 1,000 ft.; production, development and tunnelling projects; room-and-pillar, block caving, open or sublevel stoping and cut-and-fill methods.

Designed to provide specific benefits, the truck has a higher carrying capacity per horsepower than LHDs, and its lower loading height allows smaller LHDs to load it. The C1504 results in fewer vehicles, reduced in-place horsepower and lower ventilation requirements.

The new truck can reduce both operating and capital costs.

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New Boltec series

Atlas Copco has launched a new series of Boltec fully mechanized rock bolting rigs, which can increase productivity by an average 20%.

A new compact, single-feed drilling/bolting unit allows simple switchover from drilling to bolting without moving the feed from the hole positions. With this development, the bolt never misses the hole and gives the operator full visibility.

With one fixed, light-weight aluminum feed, it requires less space, is easier and faster to manoeuvre and allows greater precision and accessibility. The reduced swinging mass substantially improves stability over units with two heavy steel feeds, the company says.

As well, uneven rock surfaces do not prevent holes to be drilled to the full depth. The bolt magazine is mounted low and out of the way to avoid interference with irregular rock surfaces.

Components of the proven Atlas Copco Boomer rigs, such as the carrier, boom, feed, rock drill and control system are featured on the Boltec. It also features full visibility and logical, straightforward controls with built-in automatic functions. Circle Reply Card #47

Hydraulic Pumps

Enerpac, a unit of Applied Power, has introduced a line of hydraulic pumps divided into two types — 70 Series Electric and 80 Series Gas and Electric.

The 70 Series Electric is designed for construction or continuous duty applications. They have a 7.5-hp electric motor and an optional heat exchanger. An oil level gauge, 10 micron return line filter and roll bars are standard.

The 80 Series is ideal for high-tonnage cylinders or multiple-cylinder hook-ups in construction, production or lifting applications. The gas pumps include a new built-in priming circuit that insures the pump is properly primed before the engine is turned on.

Standard equipment on the 80 Series also includes a V-152 pressure relief valve and gauge snubber.

All the Power Performer Pumps operate at 10,000 psi, and include a big 18-gallon reservoir, motor starter, on/off switch and 0-10,000 psi gauge.

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Anfo Loader

Rojak has developed a labor-saving kit for existing Anfo loader tanks with capacities from 60 to 1,000 lbs.

The one-man loading system incorporates a 3-way remote control valve which clips on to the operator’s belt and allows him to blow air only and Anfo separately. The second operator can perform other duties independently.

The kit can be fitted on-site from Rojak drawings or the Anfo tank can be forwarded to Rojak.

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Portable Pump

Flygt has developed a new submersible pump for small-scale construction and mining operations. The BS 2050 features a 0.80 KW motor, an integrated starter with capacitors, start relays and over-load protection for single-phase operation.

Since BS 2050 doesn’t require a separate starter unit and can be plugged into a 110-volt socket, the pump is a handy on-site tool. The 3-phase and 1-phase, without integral starter, versions will still be available.

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Filing

The Excel Activity Centre, marketed by Planon System Solutions, has four fully indexed, rack-and-pinion-driven compartments for document retrieval in less than 20 seconds.

Only one document need be handled. The drawings can be from 5.5 inches wide to up to 60 inches wide. The Activity centre has built-in casters, a pullout drawer for rolled drawings, a flip down step providing easy access and a pop-up reference shelf.

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Normet Scaler

Normet has developed a mechanized scaling unit, Scamec 2000, which is designed according to customers’ requirements.

The company says Scamec 2000 has replaced non-purpose designed machinery and it offers good stability, visibility, low noise level and mobility.

The scaling head is designed for all the impact energy to be used for scaling. The unit is equipped with Deutz F6L413 engine, hydrostatic transmission and hydraulic disc brakes.

Hydraulic power pack, hydraulically driven cable and hose reels, on-board compressor and driving controls for both directions are standard equipment.

The hammer can be fed 300 mm without moving the boom itself. This enables effective scaling because the tool can follow the fracture by using its full scaling power all the time, the company notes. A water spray effectively suppresses dust.

The noise level in the cabin is 70 dba. The unit can also be remote controlled.

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Yieldable roof trusses

Controlled back deformation is now possible underground with the new yieldable roof truss made by Dywidag Systems International. The roof truss has been designed to take advantage of the elongation characteristics of Dywidag Threadbar.

Capable of supporting loads of more than 35 tons, the roof truss transfers the load to the solid pillar abutments by using angled roof bolts.

Rapid assembly of the truss is easily accomplished, because the entire unit consists of seven parts.

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Wagner Axles

Wagner Mining and Construction Equipment has developed a new proprietary Rock Torque axle exclusively for underground mining vehicles.

The Rock Torque axle features as standard equipment the Spring Applied, Hydraulically Released (SAHR) brake system. Key components, such as the pinion bearings, pinion seal and spindle joint have been strengthened.

The Rock Torque axle is available in a range of lengths and sizes to fit Wagner Scooptrams and mine trucks. All ST-3.5 to ST-7 scoops can be equipped with the new axles. And soon a number of mine trucks can be equipped with them.

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Ram Pumps

R.B. Bolton (Mining Engineers) Ltd. has developed a range of high-pressure hydraulic ram pumps of advanced design called the S200 Trimax. It employs solid ceramic rams and a self-adjusting packing system to ensure reliable operation under arduous conditions.

It offers flow rates ranging from 77 litre/min. at 1035 bar to 590 at 170 bar. Skid-mounted, it measures 2.5 m long, 1 m wide, and 0.87 m high.

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Stope Surveying

Optech Systems Corp., a specialist in applied laser and electro-optical technology, has developed a stope surveying system that measures underground excavation volumes. Co-developed with Noranda Technology Centre, the Cavity Monitoring System (CMS) makes remote, non-contact, single-point measurements of hazardous or inaccessible underground openings.

In Noranda’s mines, CMS has aided in determining the contour and volume of excavations, investigating backfill failure and blast efficiency, monitoring rockburst effects and surveying orepasses and raises.

The Model G150 has a range of 0.2-100 m, a resolution of 1 cm and an accuracy of 5 cm.

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Rotary Gun

Allentown Pneumatic Gun has introduced its new GRH600 Hydrostatic Drive Rotary Gun for Gunite, Shotcrete and refractory gunning applications. It features one-valve control and a steeply inclined discharge spout providing excellent material flow and smooth feed for better wetting at the nozzle.

Rated at 1 to 6 cu. yd. per hour with optional rotors, its applications range from thin linings and repair work to production gunning.

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Polymer Grid

Dutem Enterprises is marketing a polymer grid for underground mine openings. Made by Tensar Earth Technologies, the grid is being sold as an alternative to conventional metallic meshes.

Available in large, light-weight rolls — a 13.1-ft. wide by 90-ft. wide roll weighs 95 lb. — the BX3316 grid is smooth, non-abrasive and will not rust or corrode.

It is economical, strong and, because it is chemically and biologically inert, durable even in the most alkaline or acidic environments, Dutem notes. Circle Reply Card #58

Filtrate Master System

TBI-Bailey has introduced the Filtrate Master System, an effective way of obtaining pH and other measurements in slurries or high solids liquid environments. The system prevents or substantially reduces measurement interference caused by coating or solids-based fouling.

The system is composed of a sintered stainless steel filter, a master control pump and a control timer. The Filtrate Master achieves “real-time” solids-free measurement by submersing the filter, complete with a TBI-Bailey Model TB551 sensor into the process.

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EXPLORATION EQUIPMENT

Boyles Multi-Purpose Drill

JKS Boyles International’s Universal Multi-Purpose Drill has been around for some time, but only recently has it “Canadianized” the format. Now, the 650 Model, with its core and DTH hammer capabilities, is available as a skid-mounted, unitized drill. Other larger models will follow as demand dictates, the company said.

The UDR 650 has been successfully tested in Sudbury by Falconbridge on a copper-zinc prospect.

Falconbridge project geologist James Ceccheto said the rig “gets you down to the target (through overburden and waste) very quickly.”

JKS Boyles’s UDR SM650 Super features an all-hydraulic top head drive. Mounted on a skid it measures 5.6 m long, 2.6 wide and 2.75 m high. The mast has a 9-m rod pull capacity. The angle drilling range is fully variable from 90-45deg. The rotation head is top drive, direct coupled, fully hydraulic and with a high/low manual gear selection.

It has the following capacities:

— 4 1/2-inch DTH hammer, 300 m

— 4 1/2-inch DTH reverse circulation, 200 m

— 4 1/2-inch rotary air or mud flush, 300 m

— HQ Wireline Coring, 575 m

— NQ Wireline Coring, 870 m

— BQ Wireline Coring, 1,000 m

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Advanced GPS

Magellan Systems Corp. and Corvallis MicroTechnology have introduced an advanced GPS data collection system that combines the power of CMT’s hand-held MC-V microcomputer with the precision of Magellan’s NAV 1000 PRO Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

This intelligent mass-storage data collection package can accurately locate thousands of position points and record related attribute data, the companies say.

CMT’s 1.384-megabyte RAM MC-V computer powers the system. The menu-drive software enables the field user to collect and analyze position and attribute data and then easily transfer files to the user’s personal computer for post-processing and linkage with Geographic Information Systems.

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Towed-bird Magnetometer

Geoterrex Ltd. has introduced a towed-bird magnetometer as an option with its Geotem electromagnetic surveys. It uses a cesium-vapor sensor housed in a second bird, rather than in the usual stinger-mounted arrangement.

In the stinger, the sensor is 120 m above ground and has a sampling interval of once per second. Using a bird, the sensor is only 70 m above ground and, because time-sharing with the Geotem system is not necessary, the sampling interval is 10 times per second.

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Survey System

Geotronics has developed the Geodimeter System 500, a surveying system that lets the surveyor custom-design to specific requirements.

System 500 is based on three total station core units of differing accuracy classes. After the core unit has been selected, the custom-tailoring begins with a wide range of internal and external memory capacities, mechanical (manual) or servo drive, numeric and alphanumeric keyboard, software modules for a wide variety of general and specific tasks and functions, and RPU 500 (Remote Positioning Unit).

Internal memory capacities of 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 point sizes are available. Numerous software modules can serve the System 500 to simplify and speed virtually every surveying operation.

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Garmin International

Garmin International has developed the Garmin GPS 100 Personal Surveyor, the smallest, most lightweight GPS receiver available, the company said.

Smaller than a paperback book, the Personal Surveyor can record more than 17 hours of data or continuously track a surveyor’s position with updates every second.

It contains 100 map datums and one user-definable datum, enabling the surveyor to define the way the job is done. The Personal Surveyor is based on the same design as that used by NATO forces during Operation Desert Storm in the Middle East.

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OPEN PIT EQUIPMENT

Wheel Loader

Caterpillar has introduced the new 980F wheel loader, giving new choices in the 3.8-cu.-m to 5.5-cu.-m bucket range.

The 980F is powered by a turbocharged Cat 3406 diesel engine producing 275 flywheel Hp, a 5 Hp improvement from the previous model. Also standard is a multi-row modular radiator that increases airflow and reduces plugging.

An improved power shift transmission with 25% more clutch plate and disc wear material gives longer life.

The new operator compartment features reduced sound levels, adjustable contour seat and computerized monitoring system.

An optional material handling arrangement produces 300 flywheel Hp (224 kW) in second through fourth gears for better performance in stockpiling, truck loading and load-and-carry.

Other options include Caterpillar’s Ride Control System, a hydraulic system that absorbs shock loads caused by bucket motion when travelling. The system reduces fore and aft pitching during high-speed travel.

Cat’s payload measurement system ensures trucks are filled to rated loads before going to scales. Fourteen general purpose and rock buckets match the machine to the application.

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Dresser Loader

The Dresser 4000 wheel loader, the largest mechanical drive loader in the industry, is designed specifically for fast, efficient loading of 85-240-ton mining trucks.

It comes with six bucket choices ranging from a 40-cu.-yd. light material coal bucket to a 13-cu.-yd. iron ore model. It can also be configured in a standard or high-lift linkage system.

Significant features include an advanced modular-design power train, constant operation at 1,900 engine rpm, a modulating clutch that increases efficiency by apportioning power to the ground as needed, built-in modulating retarding which reduces dependence on service brakes, full powershift planetary transmission with soft shift and all-wheel wet disc brakes with spring apply/hydraulic release for emergencies.

The structure includes “Z” bar loader linkage geometry, high-quality, high-yield strength steel and castings, box-beam boom design, and central auto lube system.

The longer wheel base provides better fore/aft stability and the wider tread improved side stability.

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Geocomposite

National Seal Co. has announced its TEX-NET geocomposite in a new width — 15 ft., the widest in the world.

TEX-NET is composed of a core of high-density polyethylene POLY-NET drainage net and a geotextile heat-laminated to one or both sides. Together they provide rapid transmission of liquid and higher friction angles for steep slope designs.

It is lightweight, flexible and requires less seaming than typical geocomposites.

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Conveyor Fasteners

Flexible Steel Lacing has introduced the portable Alligator brand Skiver/Cutter that removes top or bottom layers of conveyor belts, allowing for the countersinking of belt fasteners. The tool eliminates the dangerous, crude results of hand-knife skiving, and is faster and cleaner than using a router.

No electrical power is needed and the entire skiving and cut-off procedure takes only minutes, the company said.

The Alligator Skiver/Cutter has a track-mounted cutting head drawn across the belt by a winch. A special U-shaped blade adjusts in 1/16-inch (1.6-mm) increments to a maximum depth of 1/2 inch (13 mm).

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MINE DECOMMISSIONING

(Editor’s Note: With the recent rise in government regulations involving mine closings, we introduce a new section to our annual coverage of new products by focusing this portion on companies in the business of mine decommissioning. We do not pretend that this is a complete list by any means, but it is a starting point for you, the reader, if you are looking for help in decommissioning.)

Mindecom

Mindecom Industrial Constructors offers a complete mine-decommissioning package. This single-source responsibility includes closure plans, environmental and geotechnical engineering, project management and project engineering, equipment and material salvage, used equipment sales and reconditioning, and civil remediation and revegetation.

Mindecom, a joint venture between Eastbrook Industrial Constructors (part of the PCL companies) and Nordecom Industrial Constructors, can draw on a large pool of engineering and deconstruction expertise.

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Mine Closers

Mine Closers Inc, which calls itself the pioneer of mine decommissioning in Ontario, recently was involved in closing the Renabie mine near Wawa, Ont., the first mine to close under the province’s new mining act.

The closure involved capping two shafts, revegetating a tailings area, monitoring groundwater and demolishing 21 buildings, including the headframe and mill.

Mine Closers employs environmental, civil and mining engineers, and land reclamation specialists.

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Environmental software

Surpac Software International and AGC Woodward-Clyde have developed an integrated environmental software system called Entec.

Entec combines the modelling software from Surpac with existing environmental programs. These include four groundwater modelling programs, atmospheric emission software, a waste deposition program and a site rehabilitation program.

The core of Entec consists of a graphical 3-dimensional design module and an embedded SQL database. The system allows information about geology, soils, groundwater and its seasonal variations, atmospheric factors, topography and site facilities to be brought together into a consistent data structure and co-ordinate system to develop a complete site model.

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Park Corp.

Park Corp., Mine Equipment Division, purchases the complete assets of a closed mine and then liquidates them — warehouse material, loaders, drills, dozers, process equipment, and so on.

It will also take responsibility for the complete demolition and cleanup of mill buildings and the restoration of the site.

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Reclamation

Practical Mining, a division of R-Home Security, has set up shop specializing in mine closures, reclamation and the abatement of mine hazards.

The company works closely with the Ontario ministries of Labor and Environment and can make mine closings less costly and confusing, manager Ron Short said.

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