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CONTENTS
SEPTEMBER 2021
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COVER : Caterpillar
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114
The cover image this month shows a Cat ® 7495 Electric Rope Shovel loading an autonomous Cat 797F truck — one of a fleet of 797Fs that are the first to be equipped with MineStar Command for hauling and the first to be operating autonomously in the rough conditions of the Canadian oil sands . Command for hauling mining trucks now span class sizes from 210 to 400 short tons and include the 789D , 793D , 793F , 797F and the 297 t ( 327 ton ) 794 AC with electric drive . In May 2021 , Cat autonomous trucks surpassed the 3 billion tons hauled milestone . www . cat . com / mining
www . im-mining . com
IM
MINE AUTOMATION NETWORKS & COMMS SHAFT SINKING MECHANISED COAL
REMOTE MINE SERVICES HIGH PROFILE : MICA
SEPTEMBER 2021
22 VENTILATION REPORTING South Africa-based VortexOHS is set to make ventilation and hygiene professionals ’ work a lot faster
24 HIGH PROFILE – MICA An influential program looking to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative autonomous and clean technologies in the mining sector
30 MINE EXPLORATION Dan Gleeson talks exploration – specifically directional drilling – with the Alamos Gold team after they hit Island Gold Mine ’ s best-ever drill intersection
34 MECHANISED COAL The move towards fully autonomous longwall operations continues apace , Dan Gleeson discovers
50 HIGHWALL MINING India ' s Gainwell continues to grow its innovative highwall miner business , having supplied two machines now with a third one ready to ship and a fourth set for delivery by Q1 2022
52 AUTONOMY SENSORS Paul Moore focuses on the key sensors used in AHS – LiDAR & radar – and how they are evolving as autonomous system capabilities evolve
70 INTERVIEW – First Mode Paul Moore spoke in-depth to Chris Voorhees , the President and Founder of the main technology partner on Anglo American ' s FCEV mining truck project , Seattle , Washingtonbased First Mode
72 MINING AUTOMATION Paul Moore spoke to five companies all playing different roles in driving automation in the mining industry forward from robotics to c omplete mine solutions
80 HIGH PROFILE – Sedna Paul Moore caught up with Darryl Mitchell , CEO at specialist mining autonomy project integrator and facilitator Sedna
82 NETWORKS As demands on mining networks continue to increase due to greater use of digital technologies , high resolution cameras and automation , Paul Moore reviews some key surface and underground solutions
100 REMOTE MINING SERVICES As border closures and COVID-19-related restrictions took hold over the last year , on-site suppliers of key services have risen to the fore , reports Dan Gleeson
106 SHAFT SINKING With greenfield and brownfield developments back on the agenda , Dan Gleeson looks at some of the shaft sinking projects and contractors set to unlock this new growth
114 INTERVIEW – Siemens Christian Dirscherl , VP for Mining , Excavation and Transport outlines how its technology powers some of the world ’ s largest mining c onveyors , grinding mills , hoists and trolley assist truck fleets
118 INTERVIEW – FLSmidth CEO Thomas Schulz on how the company is arming itself to compete in this brave new sustainable world
120 HIGH PROFILE – BELAZ The Belarussian mining truck major on its current and future roadmap for mining haul truck technology
AROUND THE WORLD 3 The Leader 4 World Prospects 123 Forthcoming Events IBC Classifieds
SEPTEMBER 2021 | International Mining 1