Abstract

The Board of Directors of the Magma Copper Company has recently approved investments for the development of a new orebody. Mine Management’s decision to go in for excavating the new main drifts by means of a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) is expected to lead to a new era in fast mechanical rock excavation in hard rock mines: from the moment a machine was ordered until the completion of a tortuous 10.5 km long drive no more than 30 months will elapse. The project is certain to be followed with great interest by the mining industry the world over. This paper describes the background of the investment decision, the geological and geotechnical conditions and presents the TBM to be used on the project.

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