FUTURE MINING AND UNDERGROUND AUTOMATION
Artisan Vehicle Systems’ core technology is its proprietary battery packs, electric motors, power electronics, software and control systems. Artisan ' s underground mining machines are designed from the ground up around its high powered, highly reliable, field proven battery electric powertrains
Vehicle Systems has made further progress, delivering two battery-powered zero emission 1 5 3 loaders to Hecla ' s Lucky Friday mine.“ I’ ve never operated a machine that’ s this powerful in the muck pile,” said David Konsbruck, Head of Equipment Maintenance at Lucky Friday. " The ergonomics and visibility are much better than our other loaders."
Hecla is addressing ventilation and cooling issues related to the depth of its Lucky Friday operation. Diesel equipment exacerbates the problem with its exhaust and extremely hot powertrain.“ Battery equipment lets us continue operations without costly upgrades to our ventilation and cooling infrastructure,” said Clayr Alexander, Lucky Friday ' s Mine Manager.“ We are excited about the promise of battery technology to deliver increased performance while reducing emissions and increasing worker safety, and are confident in our choice of Artisan and its new loader.”
Artisan has designed the 1 5 3 around its cutting edge electric powertrain, battery, and advanced operator control system. The 1 5 3 is smaller in all dimensions than a comparable diesel LHD,“ but,” says Artisan,“ has 300 % of the power. It loads quicker, hauls up steep grades faster, and is more precise and responsive to operator commands. Operators prefer our battery powered units over diesel because of their higher productivity, more tonnes moved per shift, zero diesel emissions, extremely low heat, and quiet operation. Moreover, the total cost of ownership is comparable, and in many cases lower, than diesel.”
“ We are very excited about working with Hecla. Our mission is to increase their production and decrease their costs,” said Mike Kasaba, CEO of Artisan.“ Of course, battery power saves on ventilation and cooling expenses, but we expect much more from our machines. We are
determined to beat diesel equipment on every key performance indicator. Power, productivity, drivability, reliability, and total cost of ownership. Diesel ' s days are numbered in underground mines and we are doing everything we can to finish it off.”
Laser mining
Merger Mines Corp says it“ is the global leader in the development and use of lasers for mining. This innovative use of lasers and robotics has the potential to change the way mining is done worldwide. Merger’ s innovative mining methods will lower mining costs significantly, and reduce miners’ exposure to dangerous situations they typically encounter when using explosives and traditional mining equipment.”
Laser aperture
Inflatable scatter shield
Horizontal knuckle
Vertical Knuckle
SCAN
Video camera and LED illumination
The Merger Miner
Rotating scan head
Elevation drive
Material scoop
Video camera and LED illumination
Inflatable scatter shield
Laser warning label
The Merger Miner makes use of a commercial kilowatt power fibre laser in a patented device for mining in narrow veins of precious metals. See also August 2016 issue of International Mining, pp66-77.
Merger has world class technical experts overseeing the design and manufacture of its robotic laser vein miner arrays, and Merger says it“ has one of the finest mining engineers in the US to assist the Laser Vein Miner design team with his mine design and operational expertise.” They will be working closely at any mining location where Merger is testing and fine tuning the laser arrays, and they will be available to assist mining companies that purchase or lease the mining arrays from the company.
Merger’ s design and manufacture of high tech, state-of-the-art laser vein miner arrays which incorporate the use of robotics and highly sophisticated computer programs are specifically designed to achieve maximum production.
Merger anticipates having its first scan head ready for laboratory testing within the next 12 months. Computer modelling of the narrow( 762 mm wide) vein miner is well underway and will see detailed engineering drawings completed within the next 15months, with fabrication, system integration and performance evaluation to follow soon after.
Merger has signed an agreement with Groundhog Mining and Milling of Dillion, Montana to form a working partnership wherein Groundhog will be the prime field operator of the Merger Laser Miner in its mine rock density characterisation function.
After characterisation parameters are set, Groundhog will act as installer and trainer for purchasers and lessors of the Merger Miner at their respective mine sites. Groundhog will continue its
Auxiliary video operations as a contract mine display operator and will install and operate the Merger Miner for those who purchase or contract for its services.
“ Signing this agreement with Groundhog Mining marks an important milestone for Merger,” stated Merger President Lex
Auxiliary Smith.“ We have known Del and control
Nathan Hunt( key Groundhog executives) for years and their mining expertise will be invaluable to any party that purchases or leases one of our Merger Miner laser mining units. Further, our working partnership with Groundhog gives Merger the ability to actively mine properties we acquire with our Merger
Miners and by conventional means as well.” IM
Electrically driven skid steer
Self-contained, Remote control Narrow vein Mining machine
28 International Mining | APRIL 2017