Wirtgen SA demonstrated the capabilities of the 2200SM, its smallest machine, in
supporting and enhancing profitable mining operations in South Africa.
of trials with the 2200SM at three different
coal mines in the Delmas and Ogies area. The
demonstrations began at two open cast coal
mines in Mpumalanga. At both sites, blocks
of about 50m x 100m directly on the coal
seam were cleaned out to give the miners
enough space to work. The 2200SM cut and
crushed the coal, loading it directly onto the
mines’ 40-ton ADTs.
Ninety-six percent of the material
mined at these two mines was <53 mm,
with fines content (<1 mm) comprising
less than 14% without the need for drilling,
blasting and primary crushing – well within
expected result parameters. Instantaneous
production rates reached over 800tph in
most cases, and the average production
rate was more than 400tph. “The machine
was also put to the test in sandstone
interburden and with great results,” says
Newby. “This means that thin seams of coal,
waste and interburden can be effectively
mined selectively, easily separating the
product from the waste,” he says.
The third demonstration took place at
an open cast coal mine in Delmas, with the
primary objective of improving the yield at
the production plant. “The 2200SM surface
miner mined highly selectively, separating
coal from waste and ensuring that good,
clean coal was sent to the plant with
minimal contamination and no crushing
required,” says Newby.
“Overall, on coal we were able to get
instant cutting and loading times of up to
Wirtgen surface mining leaves precise and
stable slopes behind as well as flat, easily
manoeuvrable areas.
18 _ QUARRY SA | MAY 2017
about 650 tonnes per hour (tph) and our
effective production – including stoppages,
truck exchanges, turnaround times,
reversing times and so on – was about
420tph,” he continues. “So if you think about
it, a small machine doing 420tph straight
to the plant, there’s no need for drilling
and blasting, you don’t need to even wash
the material. And they eliminate a lot of
stoppages – the machines can work while it’s
raining, and when there’s lightning you don’t
have to evacuate the pits. At the end of the
day, it’s a lot safer and more cost-effective
than conventional mining methods.”
Mining other materials
The ability of the surface miners to
selectively mine is particularly beneficial
for mines with thin seams, for example.
After the successful use of two Wirtgen
2200SMs at the Kavkazcement limestone
mine, three Wirtgen 2500SMs were
purchased to extend capacity.
The machine can be set to cut to a specific
depth, and material can be cut and hauled
with precision, significantly reducing
contamination. This has additional
benefits on the wash plant side, because
it significantly improves yields. “A perfect
example is our operation in Australia, at
Fortescue Minerals Group (FMG), an iron
ore mine,” says Newby.
“The iron ore there is not the same as
what we find in South Africa. Our iron
ore is massive, like Sishen, it’s extremely
hard, the surface mining machines
won’t work here in those conditions.
At FMG it works because the iron ore
there is more of a weathered and friable
material, and there are thin seams in
riverbeds. You’ve got kilometres of iron
ore interlaced with interburden and