UNDERGROUND DRILLING
By using electric energy from an onboard
battery during tramming, Sandvik’s DD422iE
produces zero emissions while manoeuvring
between headings drilling cycle. The battery will even recharge
while Sandvik DD422iE is tramming downhill,
using energy generated by the braking system.
“When we purchased the fleet, one thing we
were extremely attracted by was the fact that a
lot of the mechanical components are
removed,” Joncas says. “No more diesel
engines, no more oil changes to be done.”
Goldcorp bought Borden from a junior
explorer for $526 million in 2015. With current
gold reserves of 950,000 ounces, the operation
figures to produce more than 100,000 ounces
per year over at least a seven-year mine life.
“We are confident that our exploration will
extend that,” Joncas says. “The longer our mine
life, the more cost-effective our initial capital
investment in an all-electric fleet.” Ore will be
trucked 160 km (100 miles) to Timmins for
processing at the Dome mill at Goldcorp’s
Porcupine Gold Mines. “Using an existing
facility that operates extremely efficiently and
not having to permit and build a new mill and
tailing facility minimises our cost and our
environmental footprint,” Joncas says.
Decline construction at Borden began in mid-
2017 and a 30,000 t bulk sample is expected to
be extracted and analysed by the end of this
year with production expected to begin in 2019.
The Sandvik DD422iE is an electric
development jumbo designed to drive down
production costs while reducing the
environmental impacts of drilling and
tunnelling. By using electric energy from an
onboard battery during tramming, Sandvik
DD422iE produces zero emissions while
manoeuvring between headings. This improves
health and safety for miners working
underground. Less diesel usage in a mine
thanks to diesel-free drilling can ease
ventilation requirements, while also reducing
associated diesel logistics and maintenance
expenses. Using a mine’s existing electric
infrastructure, the Sandvik driveline technology
enables the battery to recharge during the First Boomer S2C in Canada
34 International Mining | JUNE 2018
Eldorado Gold Lamaque is the first mining
company in Canada to receive the new Epiroc
Boomer S2 C. The rig has been hard at work
since January 2018 at its gold project in Val d’Or,
Quebec. The size of the Boomer S2 C face
drilling rig makes it ideal for mining or narrow
tunneling applications up to 56 square metres.
With BMH 6814 feeds, the 4WD articulated rig is
12.2 m long and 2 m wide with a 42-degree
turning radius. Optional BMHT telescopic feeds
are available for bolting operations.
Coverage area at the face with BUT HD29
booms is 45 square metres, reaching up to 6.2
m high by 9.3 m wide. Optional, true top-
mounted robust BUT S booms give the Boomer
S2 a reach of up to a 6.6 m by 9.4 m with faster
Eldorado Gold Lamaque is the first mining
company in Canada to receive the new Epiroc
Boomer S2 C
boom and feed movements. Top-mounted
booms are easier to position, improve operator
visibility, offer better crosscut functionality and
reduce over-break and costs. The carrier is
powered by a powerful Deutz 90 kW TCD 3.6
Tier 4 Final diesel engine.
Eldorado Mine Superintendent Gilbert
Bouffard said the smaller rig gives the two-year-
old project versatility for both ramp
development as well as production blasthole
drilling.
“Technology is continuously revolutionising
the mining field,” Bouffard said, “and this
generation of Epiroc face drilling rigs can play a
huge role in helping a mine like Eldorado reach
its objectives.”
“There is no other rig like it,” said Ghislain
Macameau, Epiroc Account Manager. “It’s the
only computer-optimised jumbo of its size in the
world right now.”
The Boomer S2 C operates on Epiroc’s
proprietary Rig Control System, currently RCS 5.
Blaine Vatcher, Epiroc Canada Product Manager
Underground Equipment, said: “RCS 5 is simpler
for the operators to learn and use. The modern
GUI with touch screen allows operators to
adjust drilling patterns on the fly and onboard
manuals really help customers get more meters
of advance every day.”
Automated options include ABC Regular drill
plan handling, enabling precise control over
drilling and the use of longer feeds for longer
rounds; measure while drilling (MWD) for
logging and analysing drill data; Bolt View; and
Rig Remote Access.
Blasthole engineers create patterns at the
surface that are exactly reproduced by the drill
at the face. Precision ground control helps mines
establish and maintain a high-quality cut-off
value, minimise over-break, reduce waste and
dilution. It also creates smooth, competent walls
and ceilings that require fewer rock bolts to
control ground movement. The result is
significantly increased productivity and efficiency.
Vatcher said: “The Boomer S2 was designed
to update the Boomer 282 with features and
benefits for today’s demand for improved
accuracy and efficiency. The automation options
can also assist when skilled manpower is at a
premium.”
Boomer S2 C rig comes standard with the
new COP MD20 underground hydraulic rock
drills, designed for blastholes 43 mm to 64 mm
in diameter on T38 rods.
The 20 kW MD20 rock drills not only give the
Boomer S2 C the power of a larger drill without
larger electrical motors, they also run longer
between servicing thanks to improved hose life,
sealed mating surfaces and fewer housing
parts. A 1,000 percussion-hour recommended
service interval means more time is spent