Applying soft-rock mining concepts in hard-rock mining
mining.com
Caterpillar wants to replace conventional drill-and-blast operations in low heights. That's why it introduced its Rock Straight System, which is defined as "a fully mechanized longwall system designed for continuous mining of flat and tabular deposits and reefs of hard rock minerals."
The system's cutting machine uses CAT's Activated Undercutting Technology, which has been specifically developed for the extraction of bedded hard rock deposits.
In conversation with MINING.COM at MINExpo International 2016, CAT's Jens Steinberg, who is the Head of Product Management in Hard Rock Mining, explained that the equipment also includes a low-profile hard rock chain conveyor and hard rock hydraulic roof. This allows it to deliver simultaneous cutting, loading and hauling—controlled by the longwall automation system.
The machine, which represents the first continuous hard rock mining platform that can be operated in a fully automatic mode, is now commercially available.
MINING.COM: What is its application?
Jens Steinberg: It’s basically for customers that are mining tabular, hard-rock deposits, especially the lower-seam heights. You are looking at some of the reefs in South Africa, like chrome and platinum, some of the gold reefs… Around the globe, you’ll also find copper deposits where this rock straight system could be applied.
