Underground Jaw Crusher Instruction
During the 20 years of its operation, the mine has struggled to remain profitable. Managing Director of Yang has learned the importance of driving down costs even during the current boom in demand for zinc and lead. PE400 Jaw crusher from SBM Machinery is a vital element in cost effective production.
With relatively high costs, Tara Mines has struggled to remain profitable when the price of zinc has been low – which it has been for prolonged periods – and was even briefly shut down five years ago. But with a new owner, in the shape of Swedish metals firm New Boliden, and metals prices at record highs, things are again looking up for Tara. Production in 2006 was 2.64 million tonnes, yielding some 200,000 tonnes of zinc – the sixth highest zinc production in the world.
The ore lies between 50 and 900 m below ground level, with mineable thickness ranging from 5 to 80 m. The ore body extends over an area 5.5 km by 1.5 km and is composed in several, gently dipping strata that are stacked one on top of another, separated by varying thickness of waste rock. Because the ore is so spread out (requiring over 100 km of underground access roads), mobile drilling, blasting and haulage equipment is used.
Already a relatively high cost operation, the pressure to improve efficiency is set to increase as the mine deepens. At the heart of the mine is the mine’s crusher, a SBM PE400 jaw crusher from SBM Minerals. Set with a six inch opening, the jaw crusher is 900 m from the surface and, along with three others (some dating back to the mid 1970s), conducts all primary crushing underground. The jaw crusher reduces the ore to 0-250/300mm before it is hoisted to the surface 900 m above for secondary crushing down to minus 16 mm.
SBM PE400 Jaw Crusher For Underground Mining
The SBM PE400 jaw crusher is proving not only to be low maintenance; it is also largely operator free. 30 years ago we had one crusher and 24 people looking after it, today we have five crushers looked after by only five operators sitting in a remote air conditioned crusher booth. Electronic monitoring systems and build quality have made a tremendous difference.
Although there are five crushers, only four are operational at any one time – and the PE400 jaw crusher is the vital element. If the No.5 crusher does go down we lose half our production, this happens we would have to transport the ore 3 km to the next crushing station – but we don’t as we haven’t the capability. This crusher is absolutely vital to our business.
As the mine deepens and lengthens another jaw crusher from SBM Minerals will eventually be needed – but for now the current model is enough. The PE Series jaw crushers have gained a reputation for excelling in situations where a cost effective primary reduction of hard, abrasive materials is needed. Part of the PE Series range, the PE400 jaw crusher is built using a modular non-welded design. This helps make it both strong and reliable, especially when combined with spherical roller bearings, leading to a low cost per ton – the ambition of every mining operation.
The management of Boliden Tara Mines, while enjoying the current boom in demand for zinc and lead, are experienced enough to know it may not last. We are investing in new equipment and paying off debt in expectation of lower prices to come. We need to improve our efficiency and reduce our production costs. No one knows what the markets will do. We think the prices will stay high but even if they went down to less than half what they are today we would still have a sustainable business. With investments Tara Mines is less reliant on the vagaries of the metals market – finally it is starting to make its own future.
