Rock Fragmentation and Handling Program
Program Overview
Rock Fragmentation and Handling will deliver technologies that improve rock-breakage and reduce dilution to lower energy consumption in digging, handling and comminution. System inefficiencies – over-break, ore dilution, secondary breakage, and low-throughput for energy-intensive milling – are caused by lack of knowledge of the rock mass. Key activities involve drill sensing to measure rock mass properties in real-time, technologies to monitor and control caving processes, and a pulsed water-jet system to break boulders. The outputs include improved fragmentation, loading and transportation systems. SMEs will deliver these new technologies to the mining company end-users.
Rock fragmentation is the first step in the mineral extraction process. This program will reduce emissions by: (i) reducing ore dilution by measuring the in situ rock-mass to facilitate better control of size distribution and breakage to the orebody/coal-seam boundaries; (ii) efficiently reducing oversized rock in order to be able to utilise energy-effective materials handling and provide better mill feedstock; (iii) improving energy efficiency in mechanical rock cutting; and (iv) reducing energy consumption by optimising bucket designs.
Program Leader
Professor Paul Lever
p.lever@crcmining.com.au