Rowa Customer Day. Innovative Heading System for Mines. Concept study for Rio Tinto; Heading system for Resolution Copper Company

Transcription

1 Rowa Customer Day Innovative Heading System for Mines Concept study for Rio Tinto; Heading system for Resolution Copper Company Lecture: Arne Schibli September 13, 2007

2 Table of contents Table of contents Contents Rio Tinto, London Resolution Copper Company (RCC), Arizona USA Block Caving The principle Resolution Copper Company (RCC), Arizona USA Rowa s order... 8 D Handout-AS-e Seite 2 von 8

3 1 Contents Appache Leap in Arizona USA, near Phoenix, Site of the mine of the Resolution Copper Company (RCC) Presentation of the concept study for Rio Tinto: Analysis of different advancing systems in the copper mine of the Resolution Copper Company. D Handout-AS-e Seite 3 von 8

4 2 Rio Tinto, London Mine Grasberg in Indonesia (gold, copper) Open pit mine Going back to an old mine in Spain, the British Australian Rio Tinto group looks back upon 100 years of company history. Rio Tinto has steadily grown and in 2006, with its 7 billion USD net profit and approximately 35,000 employees, is ranked among the largest mine builders in the world with its head offices in London and Melbourne. Rio Tinto operates mines in the USA, Australia, Indonesia, Mongolia and South Africa and its portfolio includes aluminium, bauxite, coal, copper, gold, silver, iron, uranium, diamonds, various minerals, titanium oxide, talc, etc.. D Handout-AS-e Seite 4 von 8

5 3 Resolution Copper Company (RCC), Arizona USA Concept - Layout of the mine of RCC (Resolution Copper Company) near Phoenix, Arizona USA. Rio Tinto has a majority holding in the RCC project. It was planned well in advance and promises to become one of the largest copper mines in the world. At present, the project is being subjected to a pre-feasibility study with the aim of beginning production around The mine should deliver 100,000 tons of ore per day over a period of 25 to 40 years. The copper content is at 1%. The ROI depends on the price of copper. The mine is situated 2000 metres underground and has a 300 km tunnel system with supply and removal via shafts. The technical challenges are enormous, particularly since temperatures exceeding 80 and high convergements are expected. The project involves investment costs in the billions that can be compared with a NEAT. D Handout-AS-e Seite 5 von 8

6 4 Block Caving The principle Concept - Layout of the mine of RCC (Resolution Copper Company) near Phoenix, Arizona USA. Principle drawing of a Block Caving Mine (source: Atlas Copco) 1. The entire orebody is undercut with a close-meshed network of tunnels (Undercut Level, blue). From there, the removal shafts (brown) are blasted upward. 2. Underneath, another close-meshed network is constructed: the haulage level (Production Level, yellow / grey). From there, the connecting shafts (green) are constructed. 3. The undercut level (blue, brown) is gradually blasted. 4. The crushed material is removed downward through the removal shafts (green) and transported away. 5. The rock collapses over the resulting cavity (over brown). 6. The entire orebody sinks similar to an emptying of a silo. D Handout-AS-e Seite 6 von 8

7 5 Resolution Copper Company (RCC), Arizona USA RCC will be a Block Caving Mine with a honeycomb-like network consisting of tunnels extending 300 km. It has been shown that the challenges can be compared with those of AlpTransit High overburdens High convergements Elevated temperatures Logistics diagram with shafts In the Alptransit Project, these problems are handled with simultaneously considerably higher daily headways than in America. D Handout-AS-e Seite 7 von 8

8 6 Rowa s order Drill and blast heading With the study, Rowa provides bases for the layout of RCC of how the challenges can be handled and how the daily headways can be increased. One question is, for example, the optimal cross section: Until now, mines were made, in general, with small cross sections of 25m2. The study discusses the question of which cross section profile between 25 and 75 m2 is optimal for obtaining the highest daily headways. The study compares different advancing systems based on drill and blast heading and roadheader and compares the costs and daily headways. Course of action: 1. Step: develop bases for decisions 2. Step: develop special advancing systems for demanding challenges (convergements, temperatures) Advantages of Rio Tinto: Increase in efficiency Earlier start of production as a result Increase in productivity Assistance during the Rapid Development* project (project of Rio Tinto for increasing the efficiency of advancing systems) D Handout-AS-e Seite 8 von 8