Mini excavators have become an indispensable and important equipment in mining production due to their advantages such as high flexibility, precise operation, significant cost-effectiveness, strong adaptability, multi-functional expansion, small environmental impact, convenient transportation, high safety and improved production efficiency.
Mini excavators have a variety of applications in mining operations, primarily in the following areas:
1. Tunnel Excavation and Widening
Mini excavators play a vital role in mine tunnel construction. Their compact design allows them to maneuver freely through narrow mine tunnels and tunnels, easily reaching areas difficult for larger equipment to access. For example, the Lipai Group's R15 mini excavator is less than 1 meter wide and only 1.6 meters high, enabling efficient operation in narrow tunnels. During tunnel excavation, operators can precisely control the depth, width, and direction of excavation to ensure that the tunnel meets design requirements.
2. Assisting Tunnel Support
In mine tunnel support, mini excavators can assist with tunnel support work by replacing accessories. For example, they can be equipped with drilling accessories to quickly drill holes in the tunnel rock wall, providing a foundation for the installation of anchor bolts and cables. Furthermore, it can be equipped with a grab or hook attachment to transport and install support materials, reducing the workload and safety risks associated with manual handling.
3. Ore and Waste Rock Handling
Mini excavators can be equipped with a large-capacity bucket or grab for loading and handling materials in mine sites, tunnels, and other areas. Their flexible maneuverability enables them to maneuver freely through narrow working surfaces and complex terrain, loading ore and waste rock onto transport vehicles or transporting them to designated storage areas. In some small mines, or in the corners of larger mines where large transport equipment struggles to access, mini excavators can fully utilize their advantages to efficiently carry out short-distance material handling.
4. Site Clearing and Leveling
Mine work sites are prone to the accumulation of large amounts of debris, such as crushed rock and soil, which can affect operational safety and equipment access. Mini excavators can be used with their bucket or bulldozer blade to clear and level the work site. During the cleanup process, the bucket quickly collects debris and transports it to the designated location; the bulldozer levelizes the ground, making it more solid and flat, creating favorable conditions for subsequent operations and equipment parking.
5. Mine Emergency Rescue
Mining operations face various unexpected risks, such as tunnel collapses and mudslides. Emergency rescue is crucial. Mini excavators, with their flexibility and speed, can quickly reach the disaster site and conduct rescue operations. In tunnel collapses, mini excavators can use their hammers to break up collapsed rock and concrete, creating a rescue path and buying valuable time for trapped personnel.
6. Broken Zone Ore Processing
In applications where ore particle size is critical, such as rare earth and precious metal ores, mini excavators can precisely control the bucket to avoid excessive crushing during handling. This helps maintain ore quality and improves the efficiency of subsequent processing.
7. Basic Ecological Restoration Operations
After mining operations are complete, mini excavators can be used for ecological restoration work. For example, waste materials can be leveled and piled in the mining area, covered with topsoil to create a terrain suitable for vegetation growth. Furthermore, environmental protection facilities such as sedimentation ponds and intercepting ditches can be excavated to complement site greening, reducing the mining impact on the environment.
8. Steep Slope Operations
Equipped with anti-slip tracks and a stability control system, mini excavators can operate stably on slopes with a gradient of 30° or less, eliminating the risk of rollover caused by the high center of gravity of larger equipment. This allows mini excavators to operate in complex terrain such as steep slopes, improving the flexibility and safety of mining operations.
9. Post-Blasting Site Preparation
After blasting, a large amount of rubble and boulders is left on the mining site. Mini excavators can be used to clear this rubble and smooth the surface of the blast pile, facilitating the positioning of subsequent mining equipment. Furthermore, they can be used to excavate temporary drainage ditches to prevent rainwater from eroding the site and causing mud. This function is particularly important during mining operations during the rainy season.
10. Step Site Construction
During step mining in open-pit mines, mini excavators can precisely trim the step slopes, ensuring that step widths meet safety regulations. This helps improve mining safety and efficiency.
11. Industrial Site Leveling
Mini excavators can also provide a level foundation for the construction of auxiliary facilities such as beneficiation plants and warehouses, with a leveling tolerance of within ±5 cm. This provides an excellent foundation for subsequent facility construction.
12. Ore Sorting and Stockpile Management
In the beneficiation plant's raw material stockpile, mini excavators can sort ore by grade and precisely stack it in designated areas, improving subsequent processing efficiency. This helps improve ore management efficiency and optimize production processes.
13. Temporary Road Construction
After paving gravel on soft road sections, mini excavators can be used to level the road surface, ensuring safe passage for transport vehicles. This helps improve the efficiency and safety of mine transportation.
14. Topsoil Removal and Base Leveling
Mini excavators use their buckets to remove surface vegetation and humus to a depth of 0.5-1 meter, laying the foundation for open-pit stripping operations. They can also compact loose soil to prevent larger equipment from getting stuck during operation.
15. Post-Blast Site Preparation
After blasting, mini excavators can be used to remove large boulders and level the blast pile surface to facilitate the positioning of subsequent mining equipment. They can also dig temporary drainage ditches to prevent rainwater from eroding and muddying the site.
16. Ore Handling and Site Leveling
During the mining process, mini excavators are used to move ore and waste rock, and to clear and level the site. Their flexibility and efficiency enable them to maneuver freely through narrow working surfaces and complex terrain, improving mining efficiency.
17. Ore Sorting and Stockpile Management
In the raw material stockpile of the concentrator, mini excavators can sort ore by grade and precisely deposit it in designated areas. This helps improve ore management efficiency and optimize production processes.
18. Temporary Road Construction
After laying gravel on soft-base roads, mini excavators can be used to level the road surface, ensuring safe passage for transport vehicles. This helps improve the efficiency and safety of mine transportation.
19. Topsoil Removal and Base Leveling
A mini excavator uses its bucket to remove surface vegetation and humus to a depth of 0.5-1 meter. It can also compact loose soil to prevent large equipment from getting stuck during operation.
20. Post-Blast Site Preparation
After blasting, mini excavators can be used to remove large boulders and level the surface of the blast pile to facilitate the positioning of subsequent mining equipment. They can also dig temporary drainage ditches to prevent rainwater from eroding and causing mud on the site.
21. Ore Handling and Site Leveling
During the mining process, mini excavators are used to move ore and waste rock, and to clear and level the site. Their flexibility and efficiency enable them to maneuver freely through narrow working surfaces and complex terrain, improving mining efficiency.
22. Ore Sorting and Stockpile Management
In the raw material stockpile of a beneficiation plant, mini excavators can sort ore by grade and precisely stack it in designated areas. This helps improve ore management efficiency and optimize production processes.
23. Temporary Road Construction
After laying gravel on soft roadbed sections, mini excavators can be used to level the road surface, ensuring safe passage for transport vehicles. This helps improve the efficiency and safety of mine transportation.
24. Topsoil Removal and Base Leveling
The mini excavator uses its bucket to remove surface vegetation and humus to a depth of 0.5-1 meter. It can also compact loose soil to prevent large equipment from getting stuck during operation.
25. Post-Blasting Site Preparation
After blasting, mini excavators can be used to remove large boulders and level the blast pile surface to facilitate the positioning of subsequent mining equipment. In addition, temporary drainage ditches can be dug to prevent rainwater from eroding and muddying the site.
26. Ore Handling and Site Leveling
During the mining process, mini excavators are used to move ore and waste rock, and to clear and level the site. Their flexibility and efficiency enable them to maneuver freely through narrow working surfaces and complex terrain, improving mining efficiency.
27. Ore Sorting and Stockpile Management
In the raw material stockpile of the ore processing plant, mini excavators can sort ore by grade.