UNDERGROUND DRILLING
Drifting along
Versatility is the name of the game in underground drilling today – allowing drills to be used for mining or tunnelling , and in some cases for drills to be able to perform both drilling and bolting . And of course new technologies are coming into play – such as battery electric powertrains but also drill optimisation technology .
Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has launched a highly-automated , compact , twinboom drill for underground development and small-scale tunnelling . The Sandvik DD322i is described as “ a versatile drill that can be utilised in mining or tunnelling applications , and provides a high level of performance , accuracy and reliability .”
The Sandvik DD322i has a new carrier and design , and can tram in small headings , tight corners and intersections thanks to its compact size , low profile cabin and Boom Control While Tramming option . “ Sandvik DD322i was very successful and well-received by our customer during the field testing in Finland ,” said Jari Talasniemi , Product Manager for Development Drills . “ The site reported that almost 60 % of their development drilling during the trial period was completed using Sandvik DD322i . It performed extremely well from day one and the Boom Control While Tramming feature was useful for their operation .”
The Boom Control While Tramming option allows the operator to simultaneously control the two booms while tramming , ensuring improved control when moving the drill and reducing
Drilling is at the heart of successful operation underground , from exploration to development , rock reinforcement and production . Paul Moore looks at some new options
Mine Master Production Master 2.1 narrow long-hole drilling rig
potential risk of boom damage . The new SB55i booms with two roll-overs ensure improved drilling performance and accuracy , as well as high flexibility to drill crosscut and bolt holes . Sandvik ’ s DD322i can also be equipped with features such as semi automatic drill bit changer and tele-remote drilling to make underground operations safer and more productive .
The Sandvik DD322i provides flexibility for operations , starting from small size drifts up to 58 square metre coverage area , reaching up to 6.8 m high and 9.5 m wide . The new SB55i booms provide 19.3 square metres of side coverage , which is over 48 % more than its predecessor , the Sandvik DD321 .
The low profile cabin has been redesigned and the new larger glass doors offer 55 % more visibility , maximising safety and improving operator comfort while creating a modern , spacious and ergonomic working environment . Larger displays provide an improved user interface and the Sandvik DD322i is compatible with Sandvik ’ s digital offering , including Sandvik DrillConnect , iSURE ® , AutoMine ® , OptiMine ® and My Sandvik .
Scalable automation packages and tele-remote drilling are available as options for the Sandvik DD322i , enabling better drill utilisation and continuous working hours over shift changes and during blasting and
ventilation hours .
“ Sandvik DD322i offers versatility and flexibility , and sets a new standard for automated features in Sandvik ’ s underground drilling portfolio ,” Talasmiemi said .
Moving to battery electric , Foran Mining and Sandvik recently unveiled the first Sandvik battery-electric jumbo drill , a DD422iE , to be used at its McIlvenna Bay project in Saskatchewan , Canada . The DD422iE is part of a 20-strong battery-electric vehicle fleet for the project and comes with drilling and bolting capabilities . When Sandvik announced the fleet order with Foran Mining last year – its largest BEV order at the time . It was to include seven Sandvik 18-t-payload LH518B loaders , six Sandvik 50-t-payload TH550B trucks , four Sandvik DD422iE jumbo drill rigs , two Sandvik DL422iE longhole drills and one Sandvik DS412iE mechanical bolter . Delivery of the equipment was scheduled to begin this year and continue into 2025 , Sandvik said .
In the post announcing the milestone BEV drill , Foran said : “ The innovative electric DD422IE , with drilling & bolting capabilities , reinforces our commitment to delivering carbon-neutral critical mineral production . As a company , we remain dedicated to developing and implementing ecofriendly solutions that will have a lasting positive impact on the environment and the communities we serve .”
Also in Canada , the Tanco Mine , operated by Tantalum Mining Corp of Canada Ltd in Lac Du Bonnet , Manitoba , recently commissioned Canada ’ s first battery electric DS412iE Sandvik bolter . This bolter is equipped with an electric driveline system including a battery package and electric motor for zero emissions while tramming . The i-Class platform offers various levels of automation for rock support drilling . The high level of data collection during bolting allows users to better know how drifts and tunnels are supported with possibility to document it .
Scalable automation packages and tele-remote drilling are available as options for the Sandvik DD322i
32 International Mining | JUNE 2023