equipment

The core of Barminco’s business is underground mine development utilising rubber tired, diesel engine powered equipment, commonly referred to as jumbo development. Development equipment consists of a jumbo drill and a load-haul-dump (LHD) unit.

We have years of expertise and well-trained operators to achieve high productivity. The key is to achieve the highest possible utilisation of equipment and labour resources to obtain a good return on the capital investment.

State of the art equipment provides high productivity rates and low per unit maintenance costs. Jumbo drills are all electric powered, hydraulic operated and vary in size with single boom and twin boom models available. LHD’s or loaders range in size according to the drive profile required. LHD sizes vary from 1.5 to 8.0 cubic metre units. The newest LHD’s have electronic engines and larger capacities to provide even greater productivity. They are equipped to a high standard to provide operators with a better working environment and improved safety features.

material handling

An integral part of the mining process be it development or production, is the loading and transport (trucking) of broken rock to designated stockpiles. This is achieved with the LHD’s and a fleet of trucks specifically built for underground mines.

All units are diesel powered rubber tired machines, and later models have electronic engines to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions to the mine air and atmosphere. Truck sizes vary according to the mine dimensions and have capacities ranging from 25 tonne to 50 tonne.

Where mining methods require non-entry mining techniques, remote control LHD’s are utilised in the bogging process to ensure personnel are not exposed to hazards.

diamond drilling

Barminco operate an underground Diamond Drilling division for exploration and definition of ore resources. A large fleet of electric-hydraulic diamond drills is maintained along with air powered Kempe and Bazooka drills.

All core sizes are available along with state of the art hole survey and core orientation techniques to ensure the highest quality of geological information is provided.

production drilling

In addition to development work, Barminco also provide mine production services consisting of production or long-hole drilling, charging and blasting.

Barminco’s drill rigs are electric-hydraulic or diesel-hydraulic, capable of hole sizes from 57mm to 102mm and larger if necessary. We have drills capable of drilling down-holes as well as up-holes to approximately 40 metres in length. Tube drilling techniques are used when hole accuracy is important.

Modern high-tech explosives are utilised in all blasting operations to ensure optimum fragmentation and minimal ore loss and dilution. Engineers are available for drill and blast design and optimisation.

maintenance

We have well established maintenance procedures, which are adhered to by our very competent workshop teams. All mechanical personnel are Barminco employees and our Foreman are on staff. The electricians are subcontracted from Hahn Electrical Contractors.

All equipment is serviced in accordance with original equipment manufacturer’s recommendations, however on analysis of operating conditions and failure frequencies, service time may be reduced.

vertical development

Barminco has the capability, equipment and expertise to develop rises and shafts by several different methods. These include Shaft Sinking, Alimak Rising, GIG Rising, Ladder Rising and Longhole (or VCR) Rising. We have a relationship with a raise drilling and box-hole boring contractor and can provide this service when required.

Equipment owned includes a shaft sinking headframe with hoists, winders and super vacuum sucker; an STH 5LL Alimak raise climber, and a Gig, tripod and hoist ‘sled’ arrangement.

project activities

In addition to contract mining and drilling Barminco can provide expertise in Mine Management, Mine Design and Feasibility Studies, Geology and Surveying.

Barminco’s project activities include exploration, owner mining and operation of some assets, joint venture operations and tribute agreements. Assets include mining leases, mines and gold processing plants.

An active exploration program is in place with the view to developing and mining prospects. Toll Milling of gold ores is available for interested parties.

Shotcreting

Barminco provides shotcreting as a superior surface support alternative to conventional meshing. The shotcrete ground support cycle is made up of three components ... batching, spraying and bolting.

Barminco use the latest technology in concrete batching. All batch plants are built to Australian Standards and Industry best practices. They are engineered to enable extremely safe and efficient operation. Designed and optimised by geotechnical engineers, all products are tested prior to their application. Each batch of shotcrete is predetermined and entered into a sophisticated computer system which tracks and calculates all the inputs.

This enables the exact quantities of products added in the mix and ensures Barminco's rigid quality assurance program of testing and control are fulfilled.

Shotcrete can support all types of ground and is considered extremely versatile. The mix design can be specifically designed to cope with each ground support requirement.

Barminco is currently providing shotcreting as the primary support to a number of their development contracts throughout Australia. This has enabled Barminco to become market leaders in this field and this system has dramatically improved development cycles.