Rio Tinto to develop new systems for underground mines

Aker Wirth and Atlas Copco will individually work with Rio Tinto to develop two new tunnelling concepts and Herrenknecht will work with the group on the development of a new shaft boring machine.
Rio Tinto’s Mine of the Future™ programme was unveiled in January 2008 and initially focused on the Group’s Pilbara iron ore operations. The programme is designed to create next generation technologies for mining operations that result in greater efficiency, lower production costs, improved health, safety and environmental performance, and more attractive working conditions.
Projects such as Resolution Copper in Arizona and Oyu Tolgoi in Mongolia will use an underground block cave mining method. This method requires construction of significant underground infrastructure prior to ore production. In anticipation of this need, Rio Tinto Technology and Innovation has been engaged in a long-running development programme to improve significantly both the safety and speed of constructing underground infrastructure such as shafts and tunnels.
The two new tunnelling concepts from Atlas Copco and Aker Wirth will enable fast and cost effective tunnel creation. The shaft boring machinery being developed by Herrenknecht will combine rock excavation, rock transport and structural support - currently three separate processes - into a single system. All three new concepts are a result of civil tunnelling industry technologies combined with input from Rio Tinto mining experts and contractor partners Redpath and Cementation.
John McGagh, Rio Tinto Head of Innovation, said, “At the heart of our Mine of the Future™ programme is industry-leading work to pioneer new technologies. The partnerships announced today will help us fundamentally change the world of underground mining by further improving safety and allowing more rapid construction of new underground mines.”
The Rio Tinto, Atlas Copco and Herrenknecht teams will present information on their respective mining breakthroughs at the upcoming Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration conference in March in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Atlas Copco Modular Mining Machine (MMM) is a new tunnelling machine that utilises the learnings of the Atlas Copco Robbins Mobile Miner. This mechanical rock excavation system is anticipated to be able to achieve more than twice the performance of normal tunnelling methods in the expected ground conditions, according to Atlas Copco.
“We are excited to have this opportunity to work with a leading mining and mining development company, such as Rio Tinto, whose vision and solid knowledge will be vital in developing this machine,” said Björn Rosengren, business area president of Atlas Copco Construction and Mining Technique.
“Many of our best products result from close collaboration with customers like Rio Tinto who, as we, are always looking for continuous improvement. Developing the Modular Mining Machine demonstrates that we have the technical know-how to provide sustainable productivity under nearly any circumstances, and we are devoted to its successful realisation.”