Mining is an important yet dangerous activity that needs to be done as accurately as possible. The process of pulling resources from such enclosures in the Earth can be time-consuming and taxing, but the result is that you’re able to extract mineral deposits which can contribute to the lives of individuals across the world.
When performing mining operations it’s good to have the best tools and equipment for the job, such as advanced forms of drills. This can make sure that miners stay safe, while also allowing for work to be completed in a timely fashion with sometimes minimal manpower. At the end of the day, you don’t want to hold up the process of getting minerals and ore out to the Australian citizenry. Below are some essential items that every mining operation needs.
Mine Generators
Mine spec generators are generators that are specifically focused on mining activities. These generators run on diesel fuel power, are safe, powerful, and reliable sources of energy. They are easy to transport, are weatherproof, and can act as an emergency power source for many mining operations. These diesel fuel generators provide a good alternative to their natural gas counterpart, natural gas generators.
Bucket Elevator
Chain bucket elevators are used to move bulk solids vertically. The great thing about this type of bucket elevator is they include a completely enclosed and overlapping pivoting bucket that prevents spillage and keeps out foreign debris. This bucket is rectangular in shape, and rather the cylindrical shape which most buckets are associated with.
This allows for the mined materials to be transported in a safe and untainted manner through this bucket elevator chain. A bucket elevator is a great way of transporting such materials through each individual bucket.
Excavators
Excavators are one device that miners use frequently. These devices are mobile vehicles, which move on tracks or standard wheels. Traditionally miners used hand shovels and steam shovels to break and remove earth. Excavators have replaced those basic tools to help with mining activities. These devices feature a rotating platform, which includes a hinged arm. These come complete with a bucket or scoop attached to its end for digging.
Draglines
Draglines are earth moving machines which miners use to drag away dirt and expose underlying coal or mineral deposits. These devices are some of the largest machines which can be found on the planet. During regular use, they can remove several hundred tons of material.
Continuous Miners
Another item that is essential to mining operations is continuous miners. These are machines with massive, rotating sets of teeth, which are often made from tungsten carbide. These devices are used by subterranean coal miners to scrape coal from coal beds. In particularly dangerous situations, workers control robotic continuous miners remotely.
On the opposite side of these devices are longwall miners. These machines remove large, rectangular sections of coal rather than doing them in smaller increments.
Shuttle Cars
Miners also utilize electric-powered shuttle cars to transport coal from the coal bed to safer points in the mine. Mines can then use standard scoops (also known as haulage vehicles) to get the loads out of the mine. These are a bit more advanced and mobile than a conveyor which might be used to move such materials as broken cement, ore, or any pieces of bulk material which might need to be moved throughout a mine.
Longwall mining machines include numerous coal shearers mounted on a series of self-advancing hydraulic ceiling supports. The process associated with this machine is completely automated.
Rock Dusting
Coal miners use pressurized pieces of equipment for rock dusting to spray inert mineral dust over highly flammable coal dust. This inerted dust helps to prevent accidental fires and explosions from happening on-site in the mines.
Australian Mining Facts
Australia alone is the world’s largest exporter of coal, iron ore, lead, and diamonds. They are the second-largest exporter of gold and the third-largest exporter of aluminum. It’s estimated that about $206 billion is exported in minerals from the country or continent each year, which gives an idea of the number of minerals being pulled from each mine site.
With over 350 operating mines, Australia is a leading world producer of other materials such as lithium, rare earth elements, uranium, and zinc. Australia also has large mineral sand deposits of ilmenite, zircon, and rutile. Through its mining industry, Australia also produces sizable amounts of black coal, manganese, antimony, nickel, silver, cobalt, copper, and tin.
