Engineering & Mining Journal

APR 2017

Engineering and Mining Journal - Whether the market is copper, gold, nickel, iron ore, lead/zinc, PGM, diamonds or other commodities, E&MJ takes the lead in projecting trends, following development and reporting on the most efficient operating pr

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UNDERGROUND HAULAGE 54 E&MJ; • APRIL 2017 www.e-mj.com What sets one mine apart from another are the site-specific conditions. These are dictated largely by geology and to a lesser degree by mining methods. When it comes to hauling ore with rubber-tired equipment, sometimes a smaller truck is more advantageous. Reverse the situation with no restrictions, then economies of scale rule and the largest truck provides the greatest advantage. Two recently introduced underground mine trucks cover both ends of the size spectrum: the French company Aramine just unveiled its smallest mine truck, the T500D mineDumper designed for nar- row-vein operations; while Atlas Copco rolled out its massive Minetruck 65 at MINExpo 2016. Narrow vein mining requires less capital investment and allows faster return on the investment. Compliance with regulations in terms of safety and ergonomics is also motivating mining companies to develop narrow vein min- ing. These are important considerations with the recent swings metal prices and raw material costs. Aramine engineers and manufactures a lot of mine-development equipment for narrow vein applications. The com- pany's complete range of narrow vein machines integrates the latest technolo- gies such as battery-powered loaders and radio remote control. It believes the T500D is ideal for this type of mining — a simple and reliable dump truck for underground mining, espe- cially suited for narrow vein applications. Based on the power frame and compo- nents used in the L150D mineLoader, the T500D miniDumper will help miners sim- plify parts inventory and fleet rationaliza- tion. Aramine believes the T500D will al- low miners to increase productivity without the need for any special, additional skills. Designed with four-wheel drive, heavy duty articulated frame and oscillating axle, the T500D will smoothly carry loads over the tough road surfaces and short turn radius conditions often found in nar- row vein operations. The 1,500-millime- ter (mm) dump box has a safety raised locking device and can be equipped with a wide-opening automatic rear tailgate. With safety and comfort in mind, the operator's compartment offers a comfort- able seat with adjustable suspension, a safety door and a ROPS/FOPS certified canopy with back protection. Plus, the operator is side seated for better visibility in both directions. The T500D can can carry 2.1 cubic meters (m 3 ) (2.8 cubic yards [yd 3 ]), or three times the capacity of the L130D/E miniLoader at top speed. According to Aramine, the miniDump- er is the perfect complement to the L130/ L150 miniLoader range, and could take narrow vein mining to a higher level of mechanization. Two 15 Tonners Aramine also decided to manufacture not one but two different 15-metric ton (mt) mine trucks and after much research and development, it has put on the market the T1601C and the T1601M. Developed for small- to medium-scale underground operations, these machines would work well for sections between 12 to 18 m 2 and even 3 x 3 m galleries. While the operator's compartments in the two trucks are quite different, they have both been designed to offer the highest comfort and ergonomics for the driver. The trucks feature strong welded boxes with angled corners for better protection, smooth interior for easy material unloading, and rear duck tail configuration to avoid spillage during tramming. Customers can choose to add an optional rear mechanical Size Matters Recent truck launches cater to both ends of the underground haulage spectrum Aramine's T500D miniDumper can haul 2.1 m 3 and is built with many of the same components used in the compa- ny's complementary L150 miniLoader line. Aramine's T1601C comes Canbus equipped with a Cummins Tier3 CE CMSHA Engine.

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