The future mine includes autonomous and electrified haulage, with approaches to mining selected with a systems-thinking approach. Mine-to-mill simulations and selective mining techniques will support mine plans optimised for lower energy consumption, lower waste volumes and maximised revenue.

Simulation & Technology Developments in Extraction & Haulage

Sedgman has partnerships with experts in blasting, mining, ore sorting, mechanical cutting equipment and haulage. Our collaborative approach and expertise in mine-to-mill simulation can support identifying optimised mining and processing approaches.

Emerging themes in extraction and haulage include:

  • More selective mining through precision mining and mechanical cutting equipment
  • The impact of selective mining on downstream elements, including reduced top size (reduced top size and comminution energy demand, and reduced tailings volumes)
  • Simulating mining to mill as a system, to allow optioneering to determine the optimum approach to mining, ore sorting and mill sizing for maximised NPV (net present value) and minimised emissions.
  • Use of hydrogen/electrification in haulage to reduce emissions
  • Autonomous haulage, removing people from high-risk environments

Enabling Technologies will be Available Across Current, Short and Long-Term Timeframes

  • Mine-to-mill
  • Mine plan optimisation
  • High intensity blasting
  • In pit crushing and conveying
  • Optimised blast fragmentation
  • Mechanical cutting
  • Selective/precision mining
  • Predictive sampling/measure while drill ore body identification
  • Autonomous haulage
  • Electrification of haulage
  • In-pit bulk ore sorting systems
  • Hydraulic hoisting 
  • Hydrogen hybrid vehicles