Recent productivity improvements in the surface coal mining industry in South Africa

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Prepr., Soc. Min. Eng. AIME; (United States)

OSTI ID:6956941

Chadwick, R W; Crosby, W A

This paper highlights some of the techniques used in South Africa to overcome problems and to improve dragline productivity. Tables present selected mine data from a number of South African surface coal operations which use draglines as their primary stripping equipment. A variety of dragline model types and sizes are included in an effort to present as full a picture as possible of the current mining practices. The basic coal seam, overburden depths and production data for the individual mines are presented. Stripping ratios are given in the form of bank cubic metres per tonne of raw runof-mine coal, (BCM/R.O.M. Tonne). The average pit dimensions as well as the total dragline production per year which includes the dragline rehandle being moved are listed. The drilling and blasting practices used are summarized as well as the corresponding dragline productivity. To overcome the difficulty of comparing the productivity of draglines having differing bucket sizes, the data is given in the form of total bank cubic metres dug per cubic metre of bucket capacity per operating hour. This unit, of course, does not take into account the variation in dragline swing and line speeds, operating technique, pit dimensions, or type of material being excavated. It does, however, give a basis for a reasonable comparison between the machines.

• Research Organization: Rand Mines Limited, Johannesburg
• OSTI ID: 6956941
• Journal Information: Prepr., Soc. Min. Eng. AIME; (United States), Journal Name: Prepr., Soc. Min. Eng. AIME; (United States) Vol. 82-387; ISSN PMAID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
AFRICA
COAL MINES
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
DRAGLINES
EARTHMOVING EQUIPMENT
ENGINEERING
EQUIPMENT
EXPORTS
GEOLOGIC AGES
INFORMATION
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MINES
MINING
MINING ENGINEERING
NUMERICAL DATA
OPERATION
PALEOZOIC ERA
PERMIAN PERIOD
PRODUCTION
SOUTH AFRICA
SURFACE MINING
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES