IM 2021 July 21 | Page 54

NARROW VEIN & LOW PROFILE MINING
Years of innovation and experience in the underground space have positioned BME – part of the JSElisted Omnia Group – as an important player in mines where low-profile , bord-and-pillar methods are employed , the company says .
As a blasting and explosives leader in the open-cast mining sector , BME has steadily moved into underground mining with a range of innovations based on tried-and-tested products , services and technologies . According to Neil Alberts , International Underground Business Manager for BME , the company has seen its participation grow in several commodity segments including platinum .
“ The low-profile platinum operations are particularly well suited for the application of our emulsion pump technology ,” Alberts said . “ Our versatile emulsion charging units can be custom-built to fit carriers – from low-profile or high-profile – from any of the suppliers or manufacturers in South Africa .”
He highlighted that emulsion pumping technology for underground operations has been an important focus for the company as the safety , reliability and costeffectiveness of emulsion explosives represent the future of South Africa mining . What makes the BME mobile pump system so unique , he said , is its ease of use – with its compact design taking up less than half the space of other pumping configurations on the market .
“ This is the result of our prolonged investment in research and development , to design and commercialise versatile solutions that can be applied across all underground mining methodologies ,” he said . “ The three-inone design with its double-pumping system gives the BME pump its own emulsion chamber , sensitiser chamber and water chamber – reducing costs and raising reliability . Competitor systems tend to require three to
BME ’ s mobile pump system takes up less than half the space of other pumping configurations on the market , according to the company
four separate pumps to deliver the same duty .”
These advances mean charging times can be reduced by 30 % or more , raising the number of faces that can be charged for blasting within a single shift – an important driver of mining efficiency , BME says .
A particularly significant benefit for bordand-pillar platinum mines is the pump ’ s variable density capability , Alberts said . This assists mines in achieving smooth wall blasting conditions and reducing fall-of-ground hazards – through giving the operator the ability to choose between two different blasting densities . “ Low emulsion density can help to reduce over-break and optimise hanging wall and side wall strata control , while the pre-set , high-density function allows for maximum face advance ,” he said . “ Previously , mines would have to apply different types of explosives to achieve this level of strata control , but now the BME pump technology provides the same functionality on one emulsion charging unit .”
State-of-the-art control and reporting systems on the BME emulsion charger are customisable to specific mine requirements and give users immediate control over crucial variables like powder factor . This is vital when operational adjustments need to be made in response to inevitable changes in mining conditions over time , BME says .
Augmenting BME ’ s offerings is its BLASTMAP Underground software for tunnelling operations and shaft designs , allowing the blaster to interact with 2D and 3D views of complex designs to manage burden size , drilling angle , dimensional compliance , and other factors .
The company ’ s AXXIS™ Centralised Blasting System ( CBS ), designed to allow simultaneous underground blasts to be initiated from surface , is based on its wellproven AXXIS GII detonator . Including a centralised control box on surface and centralised blasting boxes underground , the system can accommodate up to 100 detonators per blasting box . The AXXIS CBS can even be used to initiate non-electric detonators where mines are still using shock-tube technology , BME claims .
“ The user interface records a wide range of valuable information on each blast , storing data in a ‘ single source of truth ’ format for accurate and safe retrieval ,” Alberts said . “ It monitors constantly whether the system is in stand-by or blasting mode and tracks key indicators of the system ’ s health – immediately reporting any detected fault .” incoming requirement for mines in South Africa – as well as driver access control , product monitoring , partial- or full-speed brake interlocks , anti-roll back , a black box recorder , engine protection , operational monitoring and a communications “ router ”.
“ This visibility into the daily ‘ health and performance ’ of the machine gives end users the ability to better manage their underground mining operations , significantly improve safety and efficiently manage performance ,” GHH said .
Mine Master ( MM ) provides drills and bolters for the low-profile and narrow-vein markets . The MM offering includes the Face Master 1.4 and Face Master 1.7 low-profile drill rigs . The mechanised FM 1.4 is designed for ultra-low seams , while the FM 1.7 comes equipped with a more advanced feeder guiding system ( FGS ) where an on-board computer helps the operator achieve accurate drilling patterns as well as generate 24-hour reports populated by relevant operational data .
MM , together with Fletcher , provide two mechanised roof bolter models with rotary dry drilling systems and dust collection for ultra-low and low seam mining to the market – the Roof Master 1.4 and the Roof Master 1.7 .
More recently , the MM team has launched its new battery-electric drill and bolter , the FM1.7LE and the RM1.8KE , with an aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions , improve safety and reduce maintenance cost and efforts .
The RM1.8KE machine is designed to work in
50 International Mining | JULY 2021