Multiple Tasking in Western Australia
Diamonds and Gold
According to official statistics, the annual export value of minerals and metals accounts for nearly 30% of the total exports of goods and services from Australia. The remote Kimberley region of Western Australia makes a valuable contribution, with diamonds and gold high on the list, from open pit mines that have some of the toughest working conditions on earth.
In such difficult locations, the client places more reliance on manufacturers, not just to supply the most flexible, robust and reliable equipment, but to assist in commissioning, training, ongoing maintenance, and the resolution of any abnormal parts and service problems that may occur. Atlas Copco engineers and fitters regularly visit each mine, and the client can call them for advice at any time. They have demonstrated a high degree of product and industry knowledge, and are proving to be a valuable source of information, keeping the clients up to date on product developments. Access to such relevant expertise helps keep the machines working at their very best.
Rock Engineering at Argyle
Australian company Rock Engineering specializes in the contract supply and installation of ground support products in underground and open pit mines and civil construction applications, and is one of the first to offer this service.
Rock Engineering has a large portfolio of projects, both in Australia and overseas. These include the ground support programme at the Argyle Diamond Mine, located 130 km south of Kununurra, in the isolated Kimberley region of Western Australia. The Rock Engineering fleet on site was strengthened by the addition of an Atlas Copco ROC F9 surface drillrig in May, 2002. As the first Atlas Copco machine to be used by the company, there was great interest in its performance.
The Argyle mine was commissioned in 1985, following a long period of exploration that initially commenced in the Kimberley more than a decade earlier, in 1972. It now produces more diamonds than any other mine in the world, and is renowned for being the only source of the rare and valuable pink diamond.
For what is now a large open pit mine, Argyle has relied on Rock Engineering to provide ground support and pre-splitting of the final walls for nearly four years. Currently eighteen months into the two-year second phase of the ground support fixed-price contract, Rock Engineering has been on site for around three years in total, having completed Phase One prior to the current contract. Mine life for the open pit is predicted for another four years, with the potential to commence underground operations after that time.
To perform its work on site, Rock Engineering owns and operates a fleet of underground and surface equipment.
Rugged and Reliable
The ROC F9, along with all of the machines in the Atlas Copco Open Pit Series, has been designed for rugged conditions, with enough strength and flexibility to handle the most demanding tasks. Thanks to its folding boom, the ROC F9 boasts the longest vertical and horizontal reach of any similar machine. It is also equipped with the most powerful top-hammer in its class.The rig is powered by a 231 kW engine and an Atlas Copco screw compressor delivering 188 lit/sec.
The design facilitates more holes per rig set-up, because less time is spent on tramming, making more time available for drilling.
Rock Engineering's decision to purchase the ROC F9 was based heavily on its versatility, because the folding boom is suitable for both drilling cablebolt holes, and for presplitting. At Argyle, cablebolt holes are drilled at 89 mm-diameter to a depth of 23 m, while pre-splitting is carried out to a depth of 25 m. As well as these two main functions, the machine is also occasionally used for drilling
blast-holes, and pit holes for dewatering. The company appreciates this versatility, but has also found that the ROC F9 outperforms its predecessor on all functions. This is partly credited to the angling capability of the drillrig's mast, which allows the operator to insert bolts quickly, and with minimal manoeuvring of the unit.
The operators are also able to see all of the rods from the cab, which they report has led to more efficient drilling.
Good Company
The ROC F9 drillrig is used at Argyle on a 10 h shift basis and, even in the site's variable rock conditions, is meeting all requirements placed upon it. It was recently joined by a ROC L8, another machine from the current Atlas Copco series, which arrived on site during May, 2003.
This latest addition is being used to drill 150 m-long dewatering holes at a 5-degree upward angle, and 200 m-deep vertical holes, although it is also capable of pre-split and production drilling. The rig uses a 5 in hammer, 89 mm drill pipes, and 140 mm bits, and the carousel has been modified to allow for re-load of pipes every 48 m.
The Australian drilling contractor market has a reputation of being one of the most demanding in the world, with some of the toughest working conditions. In summertime, the operators face ambient temperatures above 55 degrees C in the pits. The rock stores the heat, and radiates it at night. The Atlas Copco rigs have been customized to handle these sorts of conditions, together with the contractors' specific needs.
Widened application range, exceptionally low running cost, and enhanced reliability are the main reasons for the rapid acceptance of the ROC L8 in Australia.
Fitted with a Caterpillar C12 317 kW engine, the ROC L8 provides powerful down-the-hole drilling with COP 44, 5-i and 64 Gold hammers, which are among the fastest on the market.
Combining manoeuvrability, strength and precision, the rig can drill accurate throughout a large range of angles. An optional electronic inclination instrument and depth controller ensures perfectly aligned and orientated holes to a preset depth.
Heavyduty tracks, a fuel-saving device, and a dust collector and preseparator are among the many standard features of the unit. Many other options are available, including an electronic refuelling pump, engine preheater, and hydraulic support leg.
Lists of words
1. ground suuport – відповідно до
2. rock – скеля, порода
3. diamond - алмаз
4. gerew compressor – гвинтовий
компресор
5. reliable - надійний
6. boom - стріла
7. drilling - буріння
8. combining -об'єднання
9. contractor -підрядник
10. demanding -вимогливий
11. equipped - обладнаний
12. mast – щогла, опора
13. orientated – орієнтований
14. including – включаючи, в тому числі
15. electronic– електронний
16. ensure – гарантувати
17. production -виробництво
18. commissioning – здача в експлуатацію
19. appreciate -цінувати
20. maintenance - обслуговування
Trends in Underground Mining
Low Price, High Output
Once again metal prices are low, and mining industry profits are generally poor. The market capitalization of the entire mining industry is falling, and is currently valued at less than 1% of the global figure for all industries. In fact, some of largest non-mining companies have an individual market capitalization exceeding the sum of all mining companies. At a cursory glance the situation is gloomy. However, despite the current economic downturn, the demand for mined products, such as metals, industrial minerals, construction materials or energy minerals, has not reduced in the same way as in economically difficult periods in the past. Paradoxically, the production of metals and minerals is steadily growing.
