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A Rock Star emerges at Tara

July 11, 2016

Reaming the raise

Boliden Tara mine is an underground mine, Europe’s largest zinc mine. The world’s ninth largest. It has been in operation since 1977 and produces approximately 2.6 million tons of zinc and lead concentrate annually. With proven reserves of 17 million tons, and an extensive exploration program, Boliden Tara mines plans to operate for many more years. Hence the need for upgraded ventilation.

It fell upon raiseboring contractor Bergteamet Europe AB to pilot and ream the fresh air intake no:5 raise. Bergteamet has vast experience in raiseboring. Their history stretches back to the mid-70’s when Skanska raiseboring where formed. Bergteamet acquired Skanska raiseboring in 2005. Later the raiseboring part of NCC was incorporated into the company. Lately Master Drilling, based in South Africa, has stepped in as a major shareholder in Bergteamet. The head office of Bergteamet is located in Boliden, Sweden. The same town where the Boliden group has its roots.

Bergteamet utilized the Atlas Copco Robbins 91RH-C raiseboring machine, the RXL reamer and MVKC6 cutters to complete the raise.

The Robbins 91RH-C

The RXL reamer

The MVKC6 or 6-row cutter

Piloting sequence

Reaming the raise

At the start of the raise the initial loading was less than 8 tons per cutter, but the Atlas Copco 91RH-C raisedrill still managed to ream an average of 0.5m/hour at 5 rpm. As the weight of the drill string was reduced the rate of penetration picked up. The average penetration rate for the full raise length was 0.88 meter/hour at just over 9 tons of load per cutter on average. The greatest advancement in reaming achieved in a 24 hour period was 26 meters. In the harder sections loading was increased to 15 tons /cutter to keep the rate of advancement.

The 848 meters was completed in a short period of time. The raise was reamed from November 28^th 2015 to February 9^th 2016. This time period included a break during the Christmas period and some down time required to change out a gearbox.

Epiroc operated under the trademark “Atlas Copco” prior to January 1, 2018.

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