Mining_Methods_UnderGround_Mining - Mining and Blasting
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