Mining Drill

This is one of the most commonly used mining instruments. It is used for drilling underground for finding minerals which can be quite deep under the surface. They are also used to create pathways for miners underground, resembling a hallway or portal to the minerals. These drills can also be used for making tunnels in mountains and wells.

Blasting Tools

Similar to mining drills, they are also used to clear away unwanted rocks and cave walls, but the difference is that with blasting tools, it’s done manually. It’s important to mention that blasting tools, more than any other mining equipment, create a hazardous environment and are to be used by trained professionals with great care. After blasting, an excavator can be utilised to clear away any left over debris.

Earth Movers

Earth movers are primarily used for above ground, surface related mining work. Their main purpose is to carry soil from one destination (where you plan on digging) to another. They require a professional specialist for operation since they include a lot of functions like digging, pushing the ground around and transporting it. They also help sort debris and create a more organised work space.

Rock Pick

This is a hand held tool, which features a strong, pointy chisel and a grip (usually made out of rubber that reduces the stress put on the hands by the squeezing). It is used to manually split small to medium sized rocks, usually for the purpose of extracting a sample of the rock, which can later be used to gather information on how to easily break through the particular type of rock.

Big Paint Brush

A miner should always carry a paint brush with them and use it to remove the dust from rocks and expose the minerals. An example why this is important is the case of Don Swenson – a field collector who discovered a rare mineral by simply cleaning up the rock it was in. The rock’s previous owner had overlooked the mineral, simply because there was dirt on it.

Hammer and Pry-Bar

These mining instruments are used for extracting minerals by hand, since for this task a rock pick simply won’t do. The hammer should be paired with a strong pry, the form of which looks like a hole, with one side having a flat end and the other a pointy one. For usage, the pointy end of the ply-bar is placed near the mineral and then the user must hit the flat surface of the ply-bar with the hammer.

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Area mining is a method used on flat terrains. It starts with a box cutting through the overburden to expose only a part of the coal seam, which is later extended to the maximum limits. After the coal removal, this mining method applies a second parallel cut and the overburden materials from this cut are placed in the void of the first cut. The fourth basic mining method is the auger mining. Although auger mining is similar with contour strip mining, this method involves different approaches.

Now when you know the basic mining methods, it is the right time to learn more about the mining machines which are used, starting with the mining shovel:

Mining Shovel: The mining shovel is an essential piece of mining machinery, used for scooping ore, overburden material, coal and sand. Powered by diesel fuel or electrically powered, the mining shovel is used for moving large amounts of ground materials for various applications. Overburden removal is a very important operation in the mining sector. This operation can only be performed by using a mining shovel. This machine comes with a heavy-duty boom, and it is equipped with a bucket to cut the ground quickly and efficiently.

Bulldozer: The bulldozer is a specific type of heavy-duty machine with a quite important role in the mining industry. The bulldozer is usually used for surface mining operations like clearing sand, removing soil and preparing a mining area for another operation. Featuring wide tracks, the bulldozer is capable to push materials in all ground environments, including rough terrains.

Scraper: This large mining machine is also used for removing materials from mines, but it can also be used for other applications. The scraper is suitable for leveling, digging and hauling applications, and just like the mining shovel, it is an essential part of every mining operation. It can be powered by one or two engines, and the two-engine configuration is used for more complex operations.

Articulated Truck: Last but not the least is the articulated truck. The articulated truck is a versatile machine that is used for hauling extremely large and heavy loads, and to move them over rough terrains with minimal effort. The articulated truck is an excellent addition for every mining company.

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What makes the ball mill so popular machine around the world is its incredibly simple but highly efficient working principle. It works on the impact principle. First, the materials that need to be reduced in size are loaded into the rotating barrel of the ball mill which is composed of grinding balls, also known as grinding media. The grinding balls are usually ceramic or are made from stainless steel. When the ball mill is turned on, the grinding balls in the rotating barrel crush and reduce the size of the materials inside.

When the barrel rotates, the grinding balls are lifted and dropped down on the materials, crushing them into smaller parts. By rotating continuously, the grinding media and materials grind each other and this process continues until the desired size is achieved. Once the material meets the operator’s needs, it is discharged from the discharge gap at the bottom of the ball mill.

For smooth and efficient grinding process, the ball mill should be operated at low operating speed, especially if the material needs to be crushed into fine powder. Therefore, most manufacturers design ball mills with low operating speed, because a very slow operation is the main advantage of this grinding machine. When using a ball mill, it is very important to grind only smaller materials in the barrel, since bigger materials may cause some damages to the grinding media.

The ball mill is the most cost-efficient grinding solution for every construction or mining company. Composed of only few components that can be easily maintained and serviced, this grinding device is capable to ensure high-quality grinding results with at low operating costs.

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Design – The scraper is one of the most powerful earth-moving machines which are used in the mining and construction sites. A typical scraper is consisted of a hopper that can be lowered and raised hydraulically. That same hopper comes with a sharp horizontal front edge that can cut through soil. These machines are perfect for moving materials on short hauls, but you can find models which are designed for long cut areas as well.

Capacity – When you buy a certain machine, it’s important to determine the load capacity you need for a certain task. This rule applies on all machines. For example, the bowl capacity of the Cat 621 scraper is 8-cubic meters, but you have other models that have even greater loading capacity. The capacity of a scraper depends mostly on the bowl size and the material that you plan to load.

Selection – A scraper is a better choice than a dozer for a medium-distance movement of materials. That’s because the scraper offers travel-speed advantages. It’s even better than a truck, if you take into consideration the fast load time. Unlike other machines, the scraper is faster, and it is capable to complete the dump cycle faster than any other machine.

Loading – The scraper is capable to load certain materials without assistance. But, if you want to reach its maximum, then this machine will require a push-tractor assistance. This will reduce the loading time and will prolong the life span of the tires. Such assistance is needed when you use the scraper for straddle, straight or downhill loading. Just keep in mind, not to push the scraper during loading because you can damage the loading elevator.

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The feed hopper is designed to load and unload bulk materials from a dump truck directly. It uses a slow out-feed belt to create forward movements towards the out-feet end. The rate of slow out-feed ensures a continuous flow to the rest of the processing line. A typical feed hopper features:

• Heavy-duty construction with a roller chain bed and a heavy-duty conveyor fixed to the bed;
• Out-feed moderator for even-out and out-feed speed;
• A speed drive to control the conveyor speed;
• Easy access for service and maintenance;

These heavy-duty machines are designed for a vast range of applications. With a wide choice of wet and dry models, each operator can choose a feed hopper according to its needs. The main parts of a typical feed hopper are: a heavy-duty conveyor chain, and a bed covered with a heavy-duty rubber belt. The slope of the hopper can be adjusted, and it needs to be adapted to the line before every operation. Also, the height at the discharge end must be set to the correct height for unloading materials or products on trucks or bin tippers.

The newer feed hopper models come with electrical controls which automatically adjust the speed of the conveyor and the height at the discharge end. Thus, the “dead time” between changeovers is minimized and the efficiency of the operation is increased. The newer feed hoppers also come with easily removable and replaceable health and safety guards. They ensure reduced maintenance time and increased plant running time.

In the key areas, the feed hoppers have rubber lining for maximum wearing out resistance, increased durability and reduced repair and maintenance costs. The integrated belt mechanism provides an extremely efficient transfer of materials to the discharge end, increasing in this way the productivity. Some feed hopper models are equipped with modular sections for increased capacity. These hoppers ensure greater flexibility and operation efficiency.

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As the technology is advancing, the mining machines on the market today come with a lot of innovative and new technologies, both in terms of safety and efficiency. Business and workers risks minimized, efficiency of mining equipment maximized, the new mining machines allow the miners to complete any type of mining in a safe and efficient way. Assuming that you are in need of a mining equipment, we explore your best options in addition.

Excavator – Excavator is a type of mining equipment with a huge role in both surface and underground mining. If you need to break, remove soil or other digging application, you need to consider an excavator. A machine that runs on either wheels or tracks and has a boom, a bucket, a stick and a comfy cabin for you. The cabin is positioned on a rotating platform to allow you a 360-view. The best thing about this mining equipment is that you can match with an array of attachments and use it for a lot of mining applications. But before making your final choice, keep in mind that there are many different types of excavators.

Articulated Dump Truck – Articulated dump truck is a specialized type of truck used for transporting loose material in both types of mining. This mining equipment features an open box bed to load materials and using hydraulic pistons to lift the front part, the material is deposited on ground behind the truck. The articulated dump truck has a hinge between the operator’s cabin and the dump box, but the trailer is a permanent feature. If you need a vehicle to load and transport materials from a rough terrain, consider an articulated dump truck.

Track Loader – Bulldozers, excavators, dump trucks, wheeled loaders, scrapers, mining shovels and drills, there are many different mining machines you should consider, but track loader is suitable to almost every mining task. The track loader, or multi-terrain loader, is the most versatile piece of mining equipment and is able to replace the work of a lot of mining machines on the roughest terrains. Since the track loader is suitable to any task, it is definitely a machine you want to consider.

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