Mining tools and equipment are crucial to the industry and assist in getting the job done efficiently and cost-effectively. There are five major sections in the mining industry; coal mining, metal ore mining, gas and oil extracting, non-metal mineral mining, and other supporting activities like resource transportation. Each segment requires the specific use of mining equipment. But there is certain mining equipment that is used throughout the industry. These are listed below:
Mining Drills
Mining drills are one of the most common machinery and are an essential part of the underground mining operations. Mining jobs WA will be hard without mining drills. Drilling is typically done to create an extensive series of holes, which they then fill with explosive charges to liberate the minerals from the overburden material. Drills are also used to ensure that the holes are large enough to serve as a portal for miners to enter.
Blasting Tools
Blasting tools are vital equipment in the mining industry. It is used to break down large materials, usually rocks, with the use of a calculated amount of explosive. Blasting is also used to remove pockets of unwanted elements that are blocking or preventing miners and mining machines from getting a specific piece of rock or material they need.
Crushing Equipment
From the name itself, this equipment is used to crush rock and stone. Crushing equipment is configured to break down hard rock or matter or gravel to a manageable size for easy transportation. This equipment is vital in the process of mining because it reduces the use of precious excavated resources and eliminates the amount of material on site.
Highwall Miner
Highwall miner is operated from a bench. It is used for removal of overburden material and coal by contour surface mining around the perimeter of a coal seam. This machine is capable of mining coal seams ranging from thirty inches to sixteen feet in thickness and to depths of up to one thousand feet. The ability of this machine to mine the stated range of coal seam heights is accomplished by fitting low, medium, or high interchangeable cutter head modules.
Continuous Miners
A continuous miner is a machine with a large rotating steel drum equipped with tungsten carbide teeth that scrape coal from coal beds. Continuous miners account for about 45% of underground coal production for it can mine as much as five tons of coal a minute. This machine also utilises conveyors to transport the removed coal from the seam.
Read this: Mining Careers: Understanding the Different Types
Trucks and Loaders
A loader is commonly used to move a stockpiled material from ground level and deposit it into an awaiting truck. The truck then transports the fragmented material from the production area to the desired location. Filling of trucks can be at the face or separate loading areas.
Roof Bolters
Another machine in the mining industry are roof bolters which are large and hydraulically-powered, and it functions as forcing bolts into roofs. A roof bolter is a primary tool to ensure safety in the mining industry. Roof bolters support tunnel roofs and prevent underground collapses and accidents.
Rock Dusters
Rock dusters are pressurised pieces of equipment that coal miners use to spray inert dust over highly flammable coal dust. The purpose of rock dusting is to arrest flame propagation when the pressure wave from an explosion disperses dust. Inert sand helps prevent accidental fires and explosions.
