INNOVATION NEWS

Mechanised narrow vein mining

Aramine is strong and developing a wide range of specialised narrow vein machines

arrow vein mining operations are an important part of the international mining industry. Their importance varies geographically, with Latin America being a particularly strong area, but narrow vein mines are found the world over. For example, many historical goldfields are now being reworked or redeveloped. Increasingly, even these operations are becoming mechanised and Aramine is becoming a world leader in this area. The equipment required to mine in these conditions is highly specialised, and must be able to cope with complex geology and geometry. Machines also need to help the mine reduce dilution and maintain high selectivity, while perhaps contending with high stress conditions and/or low tonnes per vertical metre. Unlike many mining equipment suppliers, Aramine (IM, January 2009, pp48-49) achieved good growth in 2009, at 9%, and is aiming for 15% growth this year. Keys to its success include a very strong and innovative engineering team, its close ties with Atlas Copco and a rather unique position in the world of narrow vein mining. Aramines L130 miniLoader (empty weight 4,400 kg) is currently its best known product. This is a 1,040 mm wide, 1,985 mm high LHD equipped with a 0.6 m3 bucket. Other specifications include a tramming capacity of 1,200 kg, static tipping load 5,500 kg, breakout force 3,200 kg. This potent little package, offered with diesel or electric drive (380V 50Hz or 440V 60Hz), is designed for recommended drift sizes of 2,200 mm wide by 2,300 mm high. A number of improvements have been made to the L130 for 2010. The engine
L110 overview

compartment is shorter, of more modern design with a bevelled rear end. The results are easier maintenance, better component access and an improved centre of gravity. The engine tub is less exposed to damage from hitting drift walls. The chassis is less exposed to collision damage, reduced by 50 mm compared to older models, with easier tramming on high grades and better ground clearance. The potential for collision damage is also reduced by the narrowing of the unit by 60 mm on each side. There is a new dashboard that is simple, easy to read and easy use. The new safe operator compartment features better ergonomics, new joystick controls for the bucket and steering, a new pedal floor with heel rest, large entry handles welded onto the body and front/rear lights. Greater manoeuvrability is just one result. The new canopy offers better protection to

An L130D with the bucket raised

the back of the operator. It is ROPS/FOPS certified and mounts the front and rear light arrangements. It is demountable. There is also a new safety interlock gate, new bucket design, with EOD option and a new central hinge lock system. One of the developments for the future is an L130 powered by a Li-Ion battery pack. As of September this year, 71 miniLoader units had been sold within three years of its launch. The first machine, sold in 2007, is in Morocco and now has over 7,000 operating hours. The largest fleet (14 machines) is in Australia, followed by nine in Morocco, five in Macedonia and six each in Papua New Guinea and Russia. Peru will soon be up there among the leading countries, but with a fleet of an even smaller machine of which, more later. Aramine estimates the world population of LHDs less than 1.4 m wide in operation to be (except the Chinese market) 250 to 300 units. Annual sales of all makes are 75 to 125 (again not including those made in China). Aramine is expecting to sell about 50 L130s this year. Aramine is now developing a range of narrow vein trackless machines, all powered by the same two-engine choice of the Deutz F4L912W or the Perkins 804D-33, delivering 43 kW. Electric drive versions are available. The L130 miniDrill has just been launched. This can be a dedicated drill jumbo or an L130 which can be an LHD or a jumbo depending on which equipment package is mounted. Marc

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Melkonian, one of Aramines Presidents, points out that this is not a QDS system, though it does not take too long to change the front end. The main advantage is that all the models are based on the same carrier and power train and this gives narrow vein mines the ability to load and drill with the same basic machine. The MiniDrill, equipped with stabilisers, is offered with a choice of two drifters: an Atlas Copco Lifton LHD 23 (1.4 kW) or Montabert HC20 (4 kW). The feed length is 3,000 mm and rod length 2,100 mm (H22, H25 or R32 rod diameters). Aramine is working closely with Atlas Copco in the development of this range of narrow vein machines. It is advantageous to Atlas Copco to have such a line of small machines and it will be advantageous to Aramine to tap into the global Atlas Copco marketing network for this range. Some of the principles involved in the design are: Simple design to obviate the need for high technology knowledge and reduce maintenance Superior product compared to the current market offering Safe design to comply with todays regulations

Narrow vein mines now have the ability to load and drill with the same basic machine

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Available with diesel or electric power and of modular design to allow conversion from diesel to electric, even at site Large variety of options: remote control, GET bucket, Lincoln Autolube, Ansul fire suppression system, safety interlock gate, To be introduced in mines at a first level of mechanisation, by offering a very compact and simple machine that will replace hand tools without requiring highly skilled maintenance teams and tools Ability to offer the full range of underground mining equipment with the Atlas Copco range. Two units of the L130 MiniUtilift have already been sold. This is a utility lift vehicle with a basket capacity of 1,200 kg. This can be a machine on which the basket is installed in place of the bucket. However, Aramine has also come up with a very clever gear basket (with a removable guard rail) that locks into place in the bucket of an L130 LHD, offering great versatility. The basket can be equipped with Anfo loading equipment. A mine truck just 1.48 m wide and 5.45 m long with a capacity of 4 t is available and Aramine is developing larger trucks for capacities of 7 t, 12.5 t and 16 t. The T700 will be 1,350 mm wide and the T1600, Minetruck 2,000 mm wide. There is even an L130 MiniPersocarrier on the drawing board, but it will only be built to order. It is 1.4 m wide and 6 m long, capable of carrying 10 people. Beyond the L130 narrow vein line, there are new loading machines also. The larger L130XC has a standard 0.7 m3 bucket. It is slightly wider at 1,200 mm, and is 2,300 mm high. It can still operate in drift widths of 2,200 mm and heights of 2,300 mm. Its tramming capacity is 1,400 kg and the breakout force is the same 3,200 kg. stoping drive development. There has also been a reduction in ventilation requirements due to the use of the smaller Aramine loaders. Production is 5,000 t/month and a goldbearing stibnite concentrate is produced by standard flotation methods. The Costerfield project and associated tenements are centred on the small settlement of Costerfield in Central Victoria, located some 10 km northeast of Heathcote, 50 km east of the city of Bendigo and 100 km north of Melbourne. Then there is the L110, which is just 880 mm wide, and 5,104 mm long, but has a true 1 t capacity, equipped with a 0.5m bucket. One of the keys to this very small machine is the axles, which are of Aramines own design. The recommended drift size is 1,800 to 1,900 mm wide (2,300 mm high). Its inner turning radius is 2,197 mm, and 3,514 mm outer. Electric versions are equipped with a hydraulic power cable reel with automatic tension for 85 m capacity of 4 x 10 cable. For the future the company sees a niche in the market for a larger LHD, the 2.6 t capacity L270, 1,350 mm wide. IM

Cutting Costerfield costs

In Australia, Mandalay Resources has taken delivery of special L130s equipped with pushplate ejector buckets for its cut and fill (CAF) operations in the Costerfield mine, which is currently exploiting the steeply dipping Augusta lodes at the south end of the main Costerfield zone. Ore is accessed by a spiral 4 m x 4 m decline grading 1 in 8 from the surface. Mining in the upper levels consists of extraction of remnant ore and pillars left by underground mining prior to 2009. Four new levels have been accessed, where the CAF mining was carried out at a 1.8 m minimum width. The Aramine equipment has allowed the minimum to reduced to 1.4 m, with an almost 20% reduction in waste from the

62 International Mining OCTOBER 2010