NARROW VEIN AND LOW
PROF ILE MINING
Ore chasers
Narrow-vein and low-profile mining may still represent niche underground markets, but that hasn’ t stopped the innovations, according to Dan Gleeson
It’ s been a big 12 months for Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions when it comes to both the narrow-vein and low-profile mining sectors. In the former, the company has released what it claims is the industry’ s most advanced underground drill of its type, as well as introduced a drilling performance upgrade package for another one of its drill rigs; in the latter, it has embarked on a pioneering deployment of autonomous trucks in a lowprofile, room-and-pillar mining environment.
The Sandvik DD212i is Sandvik’ s first intelligent i-series narrow-vein drill, being a compact single-boom jumbo with a new carrier and updated design. It offers improved productivity, drilling accuracy, intelligence, versatility and easy integration into operations, the company claims.
Optimal in narrow-vein and medium-sized drifts, the Sandvik DD212i ensures more tonnes and maximum profitability, as well as operational efficiency with precise electronic positioning and instrumentation for hole measurements, the company says.
Jean-Christophe Goiffon, Low Profile and Narrow-vein Product Manager for Underground Drilling at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, said:“[ The ] Sandvik DD212i was developed for mines looking for compact equipment with better connectivity and data collection capabilities. Despite its small size, [ the ] Sandvik DD212i offers increased productivity and drilling accuracy in challenging operations with deeper and narrower orebodies.”
New features available with the Sandvik DD212i include intelligent drilling control, a new
narrow-vein carrier, SB20i instrumented boom, Sandvik RDX5 rock drills, safer ROPS / FOPS cabin and canopy, and versatility in drilling applications. Scalable automation packages will offer a wider range of features for automatic drilling and will help maximise the data collected, according to Sandvik, starting with one-hole automation, up to an on-board drill plan visualiser.
These combined features enable increased penetration rates, better advance and better pullout results compared with predecessors in Sandvik’ s narrow-vein offering. The total cost of ownership can also be reduced thanks to lower parts and consumables costs.
Operator feedback during field testing in Austria emphasised the short start-up period required thanks to the user-friendly control panels and display. Operators were impressed by the high productivity offered within such a compact footprint, Sandvik added.
Sandvik is simultaneously introducing a new module of its Digital Driller™ training simulator for the Sandvik DD212i to train and upskill operators.
Confined innovation
This is not the only narrow-vein rig within Sandvik’ s portfolio to receive a recent upgrade.
The company has just introduced a drilling performance upgrade package for the DD210 narrow-vein underground drill rig.
The Sandvik DD210 is a compact and versatile single-boom electro-hydraulic jumbo for tunnelling and mining development in cross sections up to 24 sq. m.
The Sandvik DD212i is Sandvik’ s first intelligent i-series narrow-vein drill, being a compact single- boom jumbo with a new carrier and updated design
The DD210 upgrade features es the THC561 control system, which, together er with RDX5 rock drill, offers higher drilling performance, with a 15 % gain in penetration rate when compared with the previous version. Operators can also enjoy extended component lifetime with reduced wear on the rock drill and rock tools, Sandvik says.
The upgraded version of Sandvik DD210 is more robust, featuring a new carrier while retaining the same versatility and mobility in confined tunnels. The new carrier offers better serviceability and maintenance from the ground level, plus improved safety for operators with options such as Access Protector and EU Stage V engine.
The optional narrow-vein package offers a boom fitted with double roll over and telescopic feed for face drilling, cross cutting, bolting or longhole applications.
AutoMine advances In Zimbabwe, meanwhile, Sandvik has been collaborating with a mining company client to introduce automation using its AutoMine ® system into a low profile, room-and-pillar environment.
The trials focused on testing 45-t payload Toro TH545i underground dump trucks in certain main haulage areas of the mine.
According to Brian Chitenderu, Sandvik
58 International Mining | APRIL 2025