Mining Gear Pics

[traxs]

There finally...

 

[Water-N-Mine]

Man those are some earthmovers!! :notworthy
I am curious about the pictures of the front shovel in the first series of pictures. I have heard in equipment that large, that there is two operators on the stand at all times, plus, a full time greaser. Is that correct?

 

[PSDF350]

Man some of you guys get to play in the big sandbox.

Looking at these shall we say large shovels? Remined me I saw a show where one I think it was even bigger it was powered by electricity. It dragged it's power cord as it moved. I think it used the energy of a small city to power. But all the ones I see posted seem to be diesel powered. Why??? Sorry off topic.

 

[traxs]

more pics...

 

[equipment fan]

great pics:notworthy this is a big shovel!I like also the truck.

 

[traxs]

Man those are some earthmovers!! :notworthy
I am curious about the pictures of the front shovel in the first series of pictures. I have heard in equipment that large, that there is two operators on the stand at all times, plus, a full time greaser. Is that correct?

Well in that one theres only one operator, per shift, 12hr shifts w/breaks & lunch. Oh, and I don't know about the full time greaser. You mean that it shoots grease non-stop?? I doubt that, imagine the amount of grease! man, that be a dirty machine...

 

[traxs]

Man some of you guys get to play in the big sandbox.

Looking at these shall we say large shovels? Remined me I saw a show where one I think it was even bigger it was powered by electricity. It dragged it's power cord as it moved. I think it used the energy of a small city to power. But all the ones I see posted seem to be diesel powered. Why??? Sorry off topic.

Well this one is working in the bottom of a deep pit, middle of nowhere(300km from nearest city), no access to power. 5 industrial diesel generators produce power for the camp.(and they are far from the pit) It moves around quite alot, blasting, sharp rock; that power cord would get destroyed and would not be reliable. But in a sand quary, electric shovels should be better(less maint.).

 

[PSDF350]

Thanks traxs.

 

[Lashlander]

Looking at these shall we say large shovels? Remined me I saw a show where one I think it was even bigger it was powered by electricity. It dragged it's power cord as it moved. I think it used the energy of a small city to power. But all the ones I see posted seem to be diesel powered. Why??? Sorry off topic.

Heres a pic for ya! I'd hate to have the two guys wrestling the power cords job.

 

[Wulf]

Heres a pic for ya! I'd hate to have the two guys wrestling the power cords job.

There must be some struggling and cursing to connect the power cord to the shovel (especially at -40) but there are some neat attachments available to handle the cable, such as the reel and cable grapple at the top of the link below:

http://imac.ca/products/cable.htm#Cable Reelers

 

[Wulf]

If I am not mistaken, that is the unit they flew into Diavik. Have you seen the rest of the pictures of the fly in and assembly? If not, let me know

alco or Traxs I'd love to see those pics of the airlift of the RH200 they needed because of the fire on their original one (see the story in the link below)
http://www.riotinto.com/library/reviewmagazine/79/article2-5.aspx

...After reviewing all the local, Canadian, and even North American options, the airlift answer for Terex O&K RH200 came from Russia’s Rostervol company in the form of the world’s largest and most powerful helicopter, the MIL type Mi-26. Powered by two 11,400 horsepower engines driving an eight blade rotor with a 31m diameter, this workhorse is capable of lifting 20 tonnes and comes with a crew of eight.

The Mi-26 arrived in Yellowknife in May and completed the job in 22 lifts over four weeks. It was the first time this helicopter had been used in Canada. Nine lifts were required for shovel components alone, with the heaviest being the bucket clam weighing about 18 tonnes...

 

[PSDF350]

Heres a pic for ya! I'd hate to have the two guys wrestling the power cords job.

You and me both. That cord must be heavy and stiff and just no fun.

 

[traxs]

alco or Traxs I'd love to see those pics of the airlift of the RH200 they needed because of the fire on their original one (see the story in the link below)
http://www.riotinto.com/library/reviewmagazine/79/article2-5.aspx

I seen it coming in, heard it, but I dont have any pics of it. The only thing I have is a cut-out newspaper article from YK. I have pics of the hitachi that burned. Also of the terex parts as they were coming in. But not the lift. It flew to the airport.

 

[traxs]

wulf, what part of the coutry are you from?

 

[murray83]

Looking at all these pictures makes me wanna head out west even more.

If it wasn't for the cost of living.............

Most of your pics Traxs are from the Yukon no? Hows it like to work up in there? expensive to live?

 

[Water-N-Mine]

Traxs,
Those are amzing photos! Is there anything special you guys do with your equipment during the winters up there?. I have had excavator tracks freeze to the ground before but for a day or two. I can't imagine what it would be like at 30-40 below. Do you leave your equipment run all night?

 

[traxs]

Looking at all these pictures makes me wanna head out west even more.

If it wasn't for the cost of living.............

Most of your pics Traxs are from the Yukon no? Hows it like to work up in there? expensive to live?

The pics are from the NWT, 300km NE of yellowknife. The site is on an island in the middle of Lac De Gras.

We were contractors so we did 4 or 6 weeks on and 2 off. The employees of the mine itself do 2 on 2 off. At the time I lived in Quebec so lots of flying.

In the winter time(sept-mid may), it gets pretty cold, an average of -35c. We've seen -70c with wind. Sun comes up at 11am and goes down at 2:30pm. Whiteouts are happen a few times thru the winter, you have to stop where you are if your driving/operating because you can't see 6 feet ahead of you. Theres ice 'till july on the lake.

This summer we had record breaking temperatures, 25c. It's like a desert up there, only rock and flat. Lots of mosquitos. And daylight thru most of the night, so garbage bag over the dorm window! I've seen the nicest sunsets/sunrises up there.

Work is 12hrs, day or night shift, 6-6. Work never stops.

Here are some pics of the site:

 

[PSDF350]

Nice sunset/sunrise traxs. Not going to be much left of that island when you guys are done huh.

 

[traxs]

Traxs,
Those are amzing photos! Is there anything special you guys do with your equipment during the winters up there?. I have had excavator tracks freeze to the ground before but for a day or two. I can't imagine what it would be like at 30-40 below. Do you leave your equipment run all night?

Winter is rough up there. Average of -35(without wind) -50 is common. Machines that don't run everyday are plugged in and are started by the on field mechanic a few hours before the shift. Most machines only stop for service. Ether and boosting is a good help. Gotta watch for snow accumulation in the air filter, especially after a whiteout. They blew an engine like that in the first fase.

Last winter the 5130 broke down at the bottom of the pit. It took 5hrs to get it started, we had 2 frost fighters with tarps, boosted it and we used ether as a last resort, we didn't really want to use it. It was -30. Big engines are the worst.

Half of the guys leave their pick-up running all night (1/4 fuel tank). Or else there plugged in.

 

[traxs]

Nice sunset/sunrise traxs. Not going to be much left of that island when you guys are done huh.

The pit itself is off the island, so they'll blow the dike and let it fill in. It will create natural habitat for fish. As for the material that the took out, they'll leave it there, they say that it's natural for caribou to migrate over hills. They have work up there for the next 15-20 years.