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Mining_Methods_UnderGround_Mining - Mining and Blasting

Mining_Methods_UnderGround_Mining - Mining and Blasting

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introduction<br />

Codelco, renowned for its refined copper<br />

output, is also the second ranked world<br />

supplier of molybdenum, as well as being<br />

a major producer of silver <strong>and</strong> sulphuric<br />

acid, both of which are by-products of its<br />

core copper production.<br />

The El Teniente mine, located high<br />

in the Andes at an elevation of 2,100 m,<br />

has been producing copper since 1904.<br />

The orebody is 2.8 km-long by<br />

1.9 km-wide, <strong>and</strong> is 1.8 km-deep, with<br />

proven reserves of some 4,000 million t,<br />

sufficient for a mine life of 100 years.<br />

Approximately 2,800 miners work<br />

seven levels on a 24 h/day, 7 day/ week<br />

operation.<br />

El Teniente production increased si-<br />

gnificantly in 2005, when its new Es-<br />

meralda section came on line, using the<br />

pre-undercut panel caving method. Over-<br />

all mine output has increased by 31,000<br />

t/day, with 45,000 t/day coming from<br />

the Esmeralda Project, making it the<br />

most important sector in the mine. The<br />

two new boxhole boring systems supplied<br />

by Atlas Copco Robbins are a<br />

vital part of this production system.<br />

BOxHOle BOring aT el TenienTe<br />

Boxhole boring at el Teniente<br />

The lieutenant<br />

marches on<br />

State owned Codelco is Chile’s lar-<br />

gest company <strong>and</strong> the world’s lar-<br />

gest producer of refined copper.<br />

The Codelco-owned El Teniente<br />

(The Lieutenant) mine is presently<br />

the world’s largest underground<br />

mining operation. The mine ave-<br />

rage production rate is currently<br />

126,000 t/day. Boxhole boring be-<br />

tween the production <strong>and</strong> haulage<br />

levels using Atlas Copco Robbins<br />

machines is a major component in<br />

achieving such high outputs.<br />

Recently, two raise borers modified<br />

to suit the El Teniente mine<br />

conditions were commissioned by<br />

Atlas Copco. They were evaluated<br />

for three months, during which<br />

time the crews were trained in<br />

their operation. Both exceeded the<br />

set target performance criteria.<br />

<strong>Mining</strong> method at El Teniente.<br />

Loading, LHD<br />

Dumping<br />

Ventilation shaft,<br />

1.5 m diameter<br />

35 m long<br />

Robbins<br />

53RH<br />

BASiC FACTS in nEw OPERATiOn<br />

Main caving level<br />

Level: 2,210 m above sea level.<br />

Drifts: 15 m. Section: 3.6 x 3.4 m.<br />

Caving with horizontal cut: 4 m in height.<br />

Production level<br />

Level: 2,162 m above sea level.<br />

Drifts: 30 m. Sections: 4.0 x 3.6 m.<br />

Draw Bell: 17.3 m<br />

Robbins<br />

34RH<br />

Orepasses<br />

Tapping<br />

Orebody (narrow cut)<br />

Slot hole<br />

0.7 m diam/15 m long<br />

Production level<br />

Ventilation<br />

shaft, 1.5 m<br />

diameter<br />

45 m long<br />

(max: 75 m)<br />

Transportation level<br />

Ventilation level<br />

The 3.6 x 3.6 m operating limits at<br />

the mine work sites dem<strong>and</strong>ed an<br />

extremely low reamer design with<br />

a quickly detachable stinger.<br />

This reamer is bolted onto the<br />

machine when not in use.<br />

When piloting, the stinger is<br />

removed from the reamer, to allow<br />

the drill string to be fed through.<br />

In reaming mode, the stinger is<br />

refitted using the pipe loader,<br />

<strong>and</strong> the locking bolts are<br />

tightened manually.<br />

underground mining methods 91

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