Abstract
This paper compares the methods of mechanical mining of rock in terms of their efficiency, energy consumption, and the durability of the tools they involve. It presents the advantages of mechanical heading-driving methods. In the first part, we described the methods used to assess rock workability, and the influence of rock types and parameters on mining efficiency. Furthermore, we discussed the compact-rock mining process in terms of the energy it consumes. We provided the description of the most common mechanical methods, such as milling, static crumpling and undercutting, including the tools involved, and the requirements and limitations for the use of these methods. The paper presents unique machinery solutions designed to reduce the energy consumed by mining processes. In the final part of the paper, we propose a solution to select the mechanical method of rock mining as a function of rock type and parameters.
Highlights
Heading driving is one of the core underground mining operations performed to uncover deposits and prepare them for exploitation
The costs incurred to uncover deposits and perform preparatory works have a significant effect on the economic efficiency of mining, especially in the case of deep deposits and more challenging geological conditions
High advance rates can be achieved only when the driving process is mechanized as much as possible. This involves comprehensive mechanization, in which the selection of all the machines and tools used on the mining site is based on the mining and geological conditions, and on the relationship between their technical and mining parameters
Summary
Heading driving is one of the core underground mining operations performed to uncover deposits and prepare them for exploitation. High advance rates can be achieved only when the driving process is mechanized as much as possible This involves comprehensive mechanization, in which the selection of all the machines and tools used on the mining site is based on the mining and geological conditions, and on the relationship between their technical and mining parameters. Tunnel and roadway driving is a very complex process due to considerable difficulties and limitations of geological and mining, as well as technical nature These works are considered among the most labor-intensive and time-consuming. The separation of rock from the solid, i.e., the mining process, is the first operation in a sequence of technological processes involved in heading driving or useful-mineral mining. Financial analyses warrant the assumption for a given technology that the greater the driving rate, the lower the unit cost of driving one linear meter of a working [1]
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