Open Cut Mining
Combating dust in open cut mines is never entirely easy or straightforward. With so many different dust generation points to contend with all at once, mine operators cannot rely on a single dust control measure alone. Without effective strategies in place, dust can quickly become widespread and unmanageable.
For these reasons, DUST-A-SIDE HINCOL specializes in holistic, site-wide dust solutions. We are the only Indian company that provides complete and integrated dust control services as well as haul road management and erosion control solutions. These services combined have been proven to increase productivity and safety, unlock cost efficiencies and benefit the environment.
Additionally, our dust control measures are designed to target and subdue PM10 dust (respirable dust smaller than 10 microns) which has been proven to lead to adverse health effects if exposed to long term.
Learn about our specialised services for open cut mines:
Dust Control
Our tailored dust control measures can be used from pit to port. From processing plants to ROM transfer points to stockpiles, we have all your dust problems covered.
Haul Road Management
We provide a full-service turnkey solution incorporating the manufacture, supply, installation, maintenance and management of haul road performance and associated dust control products. This service has a positive focus on ROI and has been proven to yield water savings of 90+% as well as tyre savings of 7+%.
Erosion Control
DUST-A-SIDE HINCOL offers much more than just dust control measures. The binder content of our specially formulated erosion control products help to cost-effectively reduce wind erosion, while the addition of a sealing agent will also reduce water erosion.
Sources of dust in open cut mines
Because airborne dust comes in different types and sizes throughout an open cut mine, innovative solutions are required for each dust generation point. Here’s how DUST-A-SIDE HINCOL can help address specific dust concerns throughout a mine site.
Haul roads
By their nature, open cut operations have extensive road networks that generate huge dust plumes in large uncontained areas. In fact, 50-60% of all dust generated within an open cut mine comes from haul roads. Because of the vast areas road networks cover, it’s often perceived by mine operators that effective dust control is too expensive or difficult to ever truly manage. However, this is not the case.
Solution: DUST-A-SIDE HINCOL’s Road Management services have helped many open cut mines achieve operational dust reductions of 90+%. As part of this service, we offer the best dust suppression product for haul roads on the market – DASProduct. DASProduct is a bespoke dust control product developed especially for the mining industry, using proprietary bitumen emulsion technology. It has been proven to control fugitive dust, as well as stabilize the wearing course layer on permanent haul roads at mining sites throughout the world.
Tipping and transfer
Additional sources of dust in open cut mines are generated from transfer and processing points such as tipping at ROM feeds into crushers. PM10 dust generation from tipping is often excessive at ROM bins where no dust control is present. Further dust is then generated from crushing, and once the crushed material is put onto a conveyor belt, even more and finer dust particles become airborne.
Solution: DUST-A-SIDE HINCOL’s dust suppression systems use low volumes of water at high pressure (above 50 bar) to add humidity/moisture to the air, usually at transfer points such as conveyor belts and tipping areas to capture and subdue dust particles that are already airborne. These systems reduce airborne PM10 dust by 80+%.
Digging activities
Open cut mines rely on controlled explosives to accelerate digs which generate enormous dust plumes. On-going mining at the dig face will continue to further generate dust. All of this visible dust can potentially have negative impacts on any surrounding communities (e.g. visibility issues for motorists on local roads).
Solution: DUST-A-SIDE HINCOL’s fog cannons are ideal in scenarios where visible dust, rather than respirable dust, is a major problem. As they are completely mobile, the cannons can be strategically placed near sources of dust in open cut mines, such as at dig and dump zones and sensitive receptors at lease boundaries.
Why water alone won’t cut it
Dust control measures in open-cut mines typically center on the use of water carts to wet haul roads as well as low pressure watering systems to pre-wet materials. Even though water itself is sometimes considered to be ‘free,’ wetting roads and materials in this way is actually expensive and also not entirely effective.
Roads that have been overwatered create a number of safety concerns such as reduction in tire traction, degradation of road quality and increased risks of collisions. Additionally, low-pressure watering systems for pre-wetting materials do not actively subdue dust particles that are already airborne or PM10 dust particles.
As industry leaders in the field of dust control, DUST-A-SIDE HINCOL has championed the development of highly innovative solutions and products which do not rely solely on water. Instead, our patented dust control products and holistic services are designed to help mines achieve significant water savings. With water scarcity becoming such a worldwide concern, particularly in India, our services are leading the way in assisting mines in achieving better sustainability outcomes.
A full range of proven solutions
With well over 40 years of global research and refinement to rely on, DUST-A-SIDE HINCOL has everything it takes – the experience, the personnel and in particular the products – to provide quantifiable results on every level.
DUST-A-SIDE HINCOL has a complete range of dust control products to provide the most operationally and cost effective solution across any operation.
They can be used – effectively and economically – in a wide range of applications such as semi-permanent roads, temporary roads, underground work areas, laydown facilities, exposed areas, stockpile/embankment areas, veneering and construction areas.
Our products include bitumen and polymer-based emulsions, as well as organic binders, surfactant technologies and a range of blended products. Each product is designed and developed to perform a specific task and can be applied in different ways to achieve your desired outcomes.
For more information about any of our proven products, simply call us on +91-22-23023250.