On the other side of the equation is the investment cost involved in equipping a narrow-vein mine with new machines, and the need for high-quality maintenance to ensure that they work efficiently. Development, stoping, mucking and hauling have traditionally been labor-intensive operations in narrow-vein mining, with each of these operations fair game for mechanization that can make the job lighter and the individual miner more productive. “It’s a two-pronged approach: making working conditions safer for the mining workforce, and getting better productivity by using specialist machines.”Īnd the rationale does not stop at bolting, of course. “Our aim is to help operators that are using jackleg drills for installing roof support to mechanize-to get rid of as much of the ‘grunt’ work as possible,” Hardman added. “We believe that focusing on roof bolters is the best way to help,” he said. Fletcher & Co., Ben Hardman, told E&MJ, the company is concentrating on helping customers with narrow-vein operations to cut mining dilution rates. As the vice-president for domestic sales at J.H. Yet conversely, this is precisely the rationale for equipment manufacturers to develop ranges of machines that answer the needs of narrow-vein deposits, by providing mechanization that helps to improve productivity and reduce the physicality of drilling and mucking in tight spaces. True, lower commodity prices-particularly for gold-have hit producers where it hurts, and this has particularly been the case for companies that work higher-cost narrow-vein operations. In the year that has passed since the last review of equipment designed specifically for narrow-vein mining environments, it has become clear that there is still strong demand from the industry worldwide for these machines.
E&MJ looks at recent developments in specialist machines for narrow-vein mining
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