Mining_Methods_UnderGround_Mining - Mining and Blasting

getting the best for Peñoles
Special operations
Industrias Peñoles’ Proaño and
Francisco I Madero mines are very
special operations. Both underground
mines, Proaño is a 450
year-old operation and the richest
silver mine in the world, and FIM
is just six years old and the largest
zinc mine in Mexico. Located
in the central state of Zacatecas,
both mines are key users of Atlas
Copco equipment, which includes
Scooptram loaders and Minetrucks.
Peñoles has decided to standardize
its whole mining fleet on Atlas
Copco equipment to obtain maximum
benefit from the service
and distribution centre in nearby
Caleras.
Mechanization pioneer
The official name of the Proaño mine
comes from Captain Diego Fernandez
de Proaño, who discovered the site and
developed the first mining works on the
hill that bears his name. The operation
is also known as Fresnillo mine because
of its proximity to Fresnillo city. It is
run by the Compania Fresnillo, SA de
CV, which is 100% owned by Peñoles.
With a history that can be traced as far
back as the 1550s in Pre-Hispanic times,
Proaño has gone through a number of
phases, which have left an important
mark on the mine. Its operations have
been stopped due to economical and
technical difficulties (1757 to 1830), as
well as during the Mexican Revolution
(1913 to 1919), and inevitably it has gone
through several ownership as well as
technological changes.
From employing basic manual tools
in the early days, the mine now employs
modern mechanized units, including
some of the most sophisticated mining
machinery available.
Embracing mechanization early on
has been one of the factors that has hel-
ped Proaño cement its position as the
world's largest and most profitable silver
mine. They started mechanizing operations
about 40 years ago, and during the
Setting up Simba 1254 for blast hole drilling.
last 30 years there has been a steady
increase in production. Products are
silver-lead concentrates and silver-zinc
concentrates. In 2005, Proaño produced
nearly 34 million troy ounces, or 1,055 t,
of silver.
Production expansion
During the mine's long history it has
had to adapt to changes in the geology
and work parameters. For instance, the
mining method has had to be fundamentally
changed several times, and
each time the appropriate technology
and equipment has had to be introduced.
Atlas Copco has worked alongside the
mine management for several years to
adapt and innovate with primary equipment,
service, training, inventory man-
agement and parts stock. The mine re-
cently implemented a substantial production
increase, going from 4,500 t/day
to 7,000 t/day. To support this production
expansion the company recently
zaCaTeCaS, MexiCO
increased its mining fleet with the pur-
chase of three Rocket Boomer 281 de-
velopment drill rigs additional to its
four existing units, another Simba M4 C
production drill rig additional to its ex-
isting three units, five Scooptram ST1020
loaders to complement its existing fleet
of 17 units, and two Minetruck MT2000
trucks to increase its fleet to seven units.
Atlas Copco has also started a service
contract for the Simba rigs, which re-
quires the presence of four technicians
on site, and offers similar assistance for
the loaders.
Currently, the Proaño mining fleet
represents a mix of old and new Atlas
Copco technology. Amongst the old units
are Scooptram ST6C loaders, BBC 16
pneumatic rock drills, BMT 51 pusher
leg rock drills and DIP & DOP pneumatic
pumps. There are also Diamec U6,
Diamec 262 and Diamec 252 exploration
drill rigs, Boltec 235 bolting rigs,
Rocket Boomer 104 drill rigs, Simba
1254 production drill rigs and Robbins
underground mining methods 133