Análise e proposição de dimensões para as bancadas de trabalho a partir do porte dos equipamentos de mineração

Abstract

There is a natural tendency that open pit mines search seek to increase their production level with new technologies and larger equipment in order to achieve lower unit costs and higher productivity. In contrast, the use of large equipment causes the projected benches to be high and wide, implying in a greater dilution and smaller selectivity of the ore. For this reason, in order to maximize profitability in unit loading and transport operations, it is relevant that the size of the loader and the truck are in accordance with the dimensions of the working benches in operation and that these dimensions respect the geological restrictions of the deposit. The proposal of this study is to analyze and, if necessary, propose the adjustment of the dimensions of the working benches so that they are in harmony with the size of equipment used in a limestone mine - located in the city of Caçapava do Sul - RS, aiming to improve the work space for all machines. Generally the dimensions of the benches should be defined periodically to verify if they are in accordance with the equipment used in the tilling or when the older equipment has already been replaced, but the dimensions of the benches have not been updated. Thus, in order to reduce the costs of the company, we must adjust the dimensions of the working benches to the operational characteristics of the existing equipment in the mine, since the purchase of new equipment would require a large investment. As a conclusion, the current scanned working benches are larger than the estimated working benches, guaranteeing safety, productivity, availability of more equipment and it may imply in less flexibility in operations.