Technology and its ubiquitous nature have found their importance in all walks of life and the mining industry is no exception. The mining industry has adopted and implemented time and cost-saving technologies, to overcome challenges. These not only help in better recovery of ore, but also ensure that the operations are much more productive, safe, and cost-efficient.
The mining industry has become quite a competitive ground wherein ore recovery requires much more in-depth drilling than in previous times. This only means that the operations are becoming more expensive and the risk to miners is also an obstacle which needs to be overcome.
Past Challenges Of Mining Operations
Before the advent of technology, the mining industry faced a myriad of challenges, as listed below:
- Explosions due to the combustion reaction of methane gas which can envelop unknowingly over time have been one of the major causes.
- Additionally, there have been occurrences wherein miners have died due to cave-ins. Many times the structural integrity of huge mine shafts is not at par, which leads to gradual wearing out and finally complete crashing down of the entire mine shaft.
- Unalarmed course change of rivers can completely take over a mine site and the influx of water gushing into the mines can completely shake the concreteness of mining sites.
- Transformation processes of raw materials like ores to their industry-ready form, mineral, require ores to be exposed to all different kinds of chemicals. Unsupervised mishandling of the reactants can seriously cause many fatal conditions for the laboratory workers and staff. Radon poisoning and black lung are only a few examples that fall under this category.
These challenges are being overcome with the help of advanced mining equipment, processes, and technology.
Advancements Of Mining Technology
The mining industry has evolved a lot over the ages, and the technological aspect of it is perhaps one the most interesting aspects of it! Back in the day, miners used to employ primitive methods like stone tools, and fire to reach greater depths. However, the modern world has employed some nifty technologies of which are elaborated below!
There are many operational technologies that have been employed in recent times to not only speed up the mining process but also keeping in mind the hazardous environment that the miners are often exposed to.
Rock Drilling Tools
Rock drilling tools are tools or equipment with the primary application of rock hammering in the surface mining industry. Such a surface mining technology comes in two variants, hydraulic and pneumatic, which are divided based on the production needs and budget layering of the mining company.
Hydraulic rock drills offer great flexibility to the users to adjust various operational functions of the machines to steer clear of drilling deviation. These tools can be adjusted in terms of their rotation per minute and their percussion. These provisions come in handy specially in the coal industry, where the requirement for hole dia keeps changing.These drillers are a viable option for big companies that have high manufacturing needs.
However, for small companies with low manufacturing needs, the pneumatic tools work with energy produced by the compressed air. They are much more affordable, with low maintenance and high production rate in surface drilling, which is highly used in coal mining. The GME Pneumatic Jackhammer is an excellent tried and tested rock driller that can dig up to 6 meters.
Underground Drills
A reinvention of traditional mining equipment such as underground drills has been one of the recent revolutions in the field of underground mining. It has revolutionized the idea of performance so much so that breakdown problems such as overheating of mining equipment during underground mining due to prolonged utility is almost negligible now. Its lightweight quality along with increased efficiency has led to less exposure to dust and debris in the minefields.
Pusher leg jackhammers have a multi-functional aspect. Since these products come with a T-shaped handle, they have an added functionality that it can be used as a sinker drill too. Apart from the fact that it reduces the miners’ exposure to dust, it also saves the miners from being exposed to loud noises, thanks to its in-built noise-reducing muffler.
Crawler Drillers
These are highly efficient to penetrate through most strata. It has high stability while boring and provides penetration vertically, horizontally, and obliquely. These are mostly used in quarries and mines. According to your needs, you can opt for a down-the-dole or a top hammer version. These can be used in various pipeline projects such as installation and drilling and jet grouting.
Final Words
In order to sustain optimised mineral production and avoid minimum waste production during the manufacturing process, it requires industries to opt for advanced, state-of-the-art mining technologies and tools to ensure better outcomes. Advancement in mining technology has not only substantially decreased the amount of risks involved, but also implemented various environment-friendly efforts to positively reinforce a more sustainable future of the mining industry.
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