Atlas Copco Drilling Solutions has released the 2011 edition of Blasthole Drilling in Open Pit Mining. This second edition blasthole reference book focuses primarily on the rigs, tools, bits and techniques of rotary blasthole drilling, as well as 17 case studies from copper, gold, iron and coal mining in various conditions around the world. The first edition was released in 2009. The second edition has been updated with a number of new application stories, case studies and product specifications that are designed to address current challenges faced by Atlas Copco customers. The new reference book Blasthole Drilling in Open Pit Mining will be available through local Atlas Copco customer centres and distributors: The new book is also available as a pdf file at www.atlascopco.com/blastholedrills.

Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company, is host the 12th International Conference on Mineral Processing Technology at Udaipur between 20-22 October. The conference will focus on various mineral processing issues and initiatives to promote more efficient extraction of metals from mineral resources as well as better waste management. The theme for this year’s event is “Recent Advances [...]

Metso will supply railcar dumper technology to Westshore Terminals Limited Partnership, which operates a coal storage and loading terminal located at Roberts Bank, Delta, British Columbia, Canada. The terminal is the largest coal export facility and the largest dry bulk terminal on the west coast of the Americas. Metso's delivery includes equipment for railcar unloading lines. Metso will provide three new 240 kip wire rope positioners and a new rotary railcar dumper and a replacement rotary railcar dumper, both to include all new hoppers, feeders and gates. The contract comprises the design, supply, installation and commissioning of all equipment. Metso's delivery will be completed during 2012. "What makes the project special for us is that this will be the first Gemini positioner system with positioners on both the exit and entrance ends of the dumper. In this way the system can automatically index trains with mid-train locomotives. Each line will be able to handle 64 cars per hour," says Tim Sexton, Manager, Product Support, Metso. Westshore Terminals has been the leading name in coal exporting facilities in Canada since 1970. It is Canada's No. 1 coal export facility, and this project will raise its throughput capacity to an anticipated 33 Mt/y of coal.

In a September 2011 article, the Casper Star-Tribune gave details of the world’s largest truck body by volume, which was manufactured by Casper-based Western Technology Services (Westech) and is known as the Flow Control Body. It has a massive volume of 470.4 m3 at a coal density of 0.86 t/m3. It was installed on a Liebherr T282C truck, while [...]

As the first year anniversary of Immersive Technologies’ PRO3 Advanced Equipment Simulator launch comes to pass, the company has announced “the global mining industry’s strong acceptance and commitment to this next generation technology. During the past 12 months Immersive Technologies has shipped 44 PRO3 Simulators together with 74 interchangeable machine modules known as Conversion Kits® into 15 countries around the world, making up 65% of its Advanced Equipment Simulator unit sales during the period. Many of these simulators have been deployed to existing customers who recognise the additional value the new technology can bring to their training and continuous improvement programs.”

Chinese company Liugong, best known as a major manufacturer of wheel loaders, has acquired a 42% share in mining truck manufacturer Beijing Capital Steel Heavy Duty Truck Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Beijing Capital Steel Mining Co. The deal is described as a strategic co-operation that will allow Liugong to add construction and mining trucks [...]

ICMM has welcomed Codelco - Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile - as its latest member company. Diego Hernández, President and CEO of Codelco, took part in his first meeting of ICMM’s Council of CEOs in London on Wednesday this week. “We are pleased to have Codelco aboard as an ICMM member,” said Marius Kloppers, CEO of BHP Billiton, who that day took over from Richard Adkerson, CEO of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, as Chair of ICMM. “It signals the company’s commitment to working with their peers to advance the sustainable development performance of the sector in an open and collaborative manner.”

The recent demand on global steel production has prompted the development of new techniques for the reliable measurement and characterisation of iron ore minerals such as hematite (Fe2O3), magnetite (Fe3O4), goethite (FeO(OH)), and limonite (FeO(OH).n(H2O)).

BHP Billiton has completed its acquisition of a series of HWE Mining contract mining subsidiaries from Leighton Holdings. This follows on from a previously announced Heads of Agreement, signed on 9 August 2011.

During the AIMEX mining exhibition in Sydney, SAFEmine presented Thiess Australia with an award to mark the delivery of the 10,000th SAFEmine unit.

Sandvik Mining and Construction (SMC) has entered into an agreement with BHP Billiton for the conceptual design of a mechanical cutting system for use at BHP Billiton’s Jansen potash project.

The new Cat® 789D incorporates new features to boost performance and productivity and to enhance safety and serviceability. A number of new options provide customers the flexibility to configure the truck for each application.