THE ISSUE
Vale was interested in investigating fragmentation optimization to develop a drill and blast stope process to deliver material meeting the size specification limit of the Rail-Veyor conveyance system.
THE SOLUTION
Acting on behalf of Vale, CEMI contracted MIRARCO’s Geomechanics Research Centre (GRC) to undertake a baseline fragmentation study at the Birchtree Mine in Thompson, Manitoba.
THE RESULTS
Block size distributions in two mining blocks were obtained through digital image analysis of muck at drawpoint muck piles and in LHD buckets.
Contact
- Sean Maloney, MIRARCO
- 705.675.1151 x 5086
- smaloney@mirarco.org
- www.mirarco.org
Solution team
- Al Akerman, CEMI
- Denis Thibodeau, Vale
- Bo-Hyun Kim, MIRARCO