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EQUIPMENT

18052009

Underground pipe Conveyer to transport iron ore for over 100 kms.
The clearance from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for transporting iron ore in the form of a thick slurry to Port hedland is expected to be cost effective while avoiding truck transport, The underground pipe conveying is also expected to be environmentally friendly. The added water for making slurry is to be separated before shipment.
Related:
Guideline if you live near an underground pipeline
About the pipeline project from Australian Mining
On conveying pipe lines
Pilbara
17052009
 

"Hydrofracing" and Horizontal drilling

The focus is now on the development of horizontal wells using hydrofracing technology where water mixed with sand and chemicals is pumped at high pressure to fracture the rock and release the gas. While this process is considered efficient and safe the issues of sourcing, and handling the “flowback” water is getting serious attention  due to the necessity to source huge amounts of water and handle the flowback which is contaminated and look at the whole issue in a larger scale of protection to watersheds. As in the case of Marcellus, The Susquehanna River Basin Commission has already initiated regulatory measures.  While the implications and remedial measures are getting in place, methods like “closed loop system”,  which handles the processing, and recycling of the water at site are being developed.
related:
Horizontal drilling
Horizontal and vertical well production
How Oil And Gas Wells Are Drilled Horizontally 

30122008

AUSTRALIA
VACUUM EXCAVATION

In operations like drilling, like Horizontal Directional Drilling, removing sludge for further advance is messy, time consuming and often impede desired progress. The evolving "Vacuum excavation" using pressurized water or air performs non-destructive digging and providing an alternative to conventional excavation methods. These units being compact and easily maneuverable bring in "Safety Infrastructure" and are capable of handling multiple jobs.
More at:
Model
Multiple jobs
Vacuuming

TASMANIA- Boost to mineral exploration
http://www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=23973
Detection of chemical elements, a vital clog in the mineral exploration and rock sample analysis is likely to be more precise and efficient with the addition of X-ray fluorescent spectrophotometer like in TasExplore project.
Related:
TasExplore project 
Infrastructure, Energy and Resources
X-ray fluorescent spectrophotometer
update on Simandou from Rio Tinto16012008

P&H Payload™ and Payload™ Plus Systems
Mining shovel payload weighing
The weighing systems are indicated as accurate and responsive to changing conditions. 
Payload plus also comes with a load cell measuring hoist, dig and suspended load directly

21st century communications in coal mines
Two accidents one at the Sago mine and another at the Mexican each following one another highlighted the necessity for effective communication in coal mines and the inadequacy of the existing systems. "SMARTReverse" has been tested in small mines and moves into larger mining operations to fill the gap.
17072006

Electric Drive Mining Trucks 
from Caterpillar with Mitsubishi Electric's high- power semiconductor technology 

Undersea drilling in the Pacific.
The Solwara project  is considered to be the first in commercial exploitation of deep sea drilling for sampling

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