UNDERGROUND DRILLING
( Z3 category boom jumbo ). For the bolter , Komatsu will introduce the ZB31 ( pilot-hydraulic , diesel ( Tier 3 or Euro Stage V ), and the ZB31B ( pilot-hydraulic , battery tramming ).
All of these Z3 size mid-size rigs will launch in late August and will be complementary to its smaller size ZJ21 jumbos and ZB21 bolters . Many of the models have been extensively tested in various locations globally including at an undisclosed underground site in Canada .
Mine Master ’ s long hole solution
At the request of a customer in Uzbekistan , Mine Master has developed and produced a narrow long-hole drilling rig - the Production Master 2.1 . This is the first machine produced by Mine Master for drilling long holes of up to 20 m in length on a special narrow chassis of 1.3 m width enabling it to move in narrow workings of 2.5 m width .
This type of machine can be used in narrow tunnels and non-ferrous ore mines and other similar non-methane underground mines . It is equipped with a single telescopic boom , allowing drilling parallel holes as well as fans . The selfpropelled drilling rig is a very modern machine , in which the main design criteria are : optimisation of technical parameters , increased durability and operational reliability , maximum unification of assemblies and parts and ease of machine operation and maintenance .
The machine is equipped with a special working unit that consists of a lightweight B32 boom with an extension of 1.35 m and a specially developed short steel RZ4 feeder with a drilling rod clamp . The drifter ’ s feed is provided by chain drive to assure minimum feeder length as well as maximum feed force and system reliability .
In addition , for the first time in this type of machine produced by Mine Master , the working unit is equipped with a specially developed electronic inclinometer - a system that shows position of the feeder when drilling long holes in two planes forward / backward and side-to-side left / right . Accurate positioning of the drilling feeder through the use of the electronic inclinometer gives an unprecedented new quality when it comes to the precision of positioning in accordance with the drill plan prepared by the mining geological and blasting service .
The Production Master 2.1 meets the requirements of stability during tramming in headings with an inclination not exceeding : 10 ° down grade and 3 ° cross grade . The machine operator stays during both driving and blast hole drilling operations in a safe and comfortable FOPS / ROPS certified compartment .
The big brother of the Production Master 2.1 described above is the new Production Master 2.310M , designed for drilling parallel up and down holes , as well as fans and rings in vertical or inclined planes . The machine is designed for optimal drilling of long holes with a diameter of 64-76 mm and up to 20 m .
The Production Master 2.310M drilling rig is built on a 3.5 t lighter chassis ( compared to previous machines of this type produced by Mine Master ) and is equipped with a new drive system that allows it to negotiate ramps more quickly .
The rig has also been upgraded with a
New Sandvik drill factory in India
Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions recently inaugurated its new state-of-the-art underground drilling production unit in India in Hinjewadi outside Pune in Maharashtra on May 4 , it says underscoring Sandvik ' s commitment to the Indian tunnelling jumbo market and the ‘ Make in India ’ initiative . Sandvik ' s Underground Drilling President , Patrick Murphy and Sales Area India Vice President , Manojit Haldar were joined by Anna Lekvall , Consul General of Sweden in Mumbai to officially open the facility . The event was attended by over 125 guests including key tunnelling customers , investors , suppliers and Sandvik personnel . During the ceremony , two new made in India Sandvik DT820 tunnelling jumbos were officially handed over to two key customers . reinforced steel feeder . The feeder is now equipped with more wear resistant slides and chain drive , as well as stiffer front and rear stingers to provide the necessary stability for accurate drilling .
Minnovare technology has a major environmental upside
One of Australia ’ s leading decarbonisation and sustainability experts says Western Australian gold miners are not moving fast enough to reduce carbon emissions . “ Some are leading in the carbon space , but most are slow in implementation . It is time to see more action ”, said Adam Gangemi , Managing Director of Super Smart Energy , an environmental services company based in Perth .
Gangemi says there are cost-effective solutions to reduce emissions on mining sites that will impact the bottom line , but mining organisations aren ’ t taking advantage of the technology options that are available on their doorstep .
Speaking at a recent webinar , Gangemi said a West Australian innovation , Minnovare ’ s underground drilling optimisation technology , the Production Optimiser™ , was increasing drilling efficiency resulting in reduced CO 2 emissions , and enabling companies to drill faster , cheaper , and more sustainably .
“ Minnovare ’ s Production Optimiser is one of the better solutions that ’ s come across my desk ,” said Gangemi . “ Even small projects can get big bang for their buck . This drilling solution is one example where a small investment can deliver a ten-fold return through increased production , and significantly avoid those mine site emissions simultaneously ,” said Gangemi .
“ Not having to haul or process waste material is a smart way to do this and it is delivering huge results not only from an emissions perspective ( 1,000s t CO2 per year ) but also increasing production . If we start to look at opportunities that will both increase production and have the benefit of reducing emissions , this will be a no brainer for underground mining companies ,” he said .
Gangemi compared a range of WA Goldfields producers and found that most could be saving anywhere between 1,000 to 8,000 t of CO 2 emissions each year by using the Minnovare technology .
“ By using the Production Optimiser on-site , you drill more accurately and that means more gold on the trucks , less waste and a significant reduction in emissions ,” he said . “ If we talk about avoiding even 1,000 t of emissions , a WA gold producer could be taking the equivalent of 300 Hilux utes off the road every year .”
To demonstrate the emissions savings , Minnovare , now part of Hexagon ’ s Mining division , has launched a new Environmental
36 International Mining | JUNE 2023