Types of Mining Equipment – Exploring the Industry’s Iconic Machinery

Types of Mining Equipment – Exploring the Industry’s Iconic Machinery

There are a lot of different types of mining equipment, each serving a specific purpose in the quest for faster and more productive mining. These machines are the backbone of the industry, serving to efficiently extract and process the minerals and resources that make up the modern world. We explore some the industry’s most iconic machines.

 

CMQ Engineering are mining equipment manufacturers, serving many of the great mining firms across Australia and around the world. We specialise in custom engineered and fabricated equipment that help mining operations achieve peak performance. We are based in Queensland and are capable of Australia wide shipping. Contact us today on 07 3879 3288 and let’s discuss what we can do for you. Alternatively, reach out via our online form for ordering information.

 

The Different Types of Mining Equipment

 

Earthmovers

A big part of mining is moving earth – lots of earth. Excavators, bulldozers, loaders, and other heavy machinery of this kind are a common site at any mining project. You will see these pushing around dirt and rock, as well as lifting and loading ore and coal into trucks. Graders can be found at the more remotely located mines, being used to create the access roads, and to maintain those roads after their constant and heavy use.

 

Drills

Mining drills come in many different shapes and sizes, from small hand drills all the way up to jumbo drills. Blasthole drills are used in drill and blast mining to create holes in rock where explosives can be inserted and blasted, creating small pieces of rock that can be easily excavated and processed. Jumbo drills, like the name implies, are huge drills capable of creating tunnel sized holes that are used as mine shafts. Small hand drills are used for gathering ore samples or for other small-scale application that require a more surgical approach to drilling.

 

Trucks

Hauling ore and rock from the excavation site to the processing location is commonly done by truck. But these are no ordinary trucks. A mining truck looks like a conventional dump trunk that has been massively scaled up. These trucks are big, often the size of a small building and with tires that are twice the height of the driver. Despite the large size, mining trucks are fast and surprisingly nimble, allowing for the quick transport of materials. Larger mines will have a fleet of these trucks in constant rotation, going to and from the excavation location with load after load, around the clock.

 

Conveyor Belts

As one of the essential types of mining equipment, conveyor belts create a continuous flow of bulk material. They can be seen moving coal or ore from the excavation site, above rough terrain or up impassable slopes, to processing locations. Concrete conveyor belt systems are utilised in the production of concrete for use in cut and fill mining. Conveyor belts, in many ways, lead to a more productive and efficient mine.

 

Concrete Production Machines

It is difficult to build in the often tight spaces of a subterranean mine. But support structures are necessary for structural integrity of mining tunnels and shafts. Mixed concrete is the solution. It can be pumped unground in slurry form, sprayed on tunnel walls, and easily formed into supports by skilled workers. The use of concrete in mining revolutionised the industry, and today you will find concrete batching plants in use at mining sites around the world.

 

Material Handling

This is a catchall phrase for the machines and types of mining equipment used to move and store large amounts of bulk materials. Mining material handling equipment includes conveyor belts, crushers, sifters, screeners, storage silos, and more. All of these are used to move, store, control and protect the valuable materials extracted from and used in mining. Effective material handling is essential for maximising mining efficiency, as well as for maximising profit.

 

Learn More About CMQ Engineering!

For concrete, agriculture, quarry and mining engineering equipment, contact our team today. We proudly work with mining firms across Australia, and we are ready to work with you. Contact us today to get started – call us on 07 3879 3288, or get in touch through our online form with questions or for purchasing information.