The surface miners firstly were used for the construction purposes like milling of asphalt. The idea that this technology can be used in the surface mining came to exist in the mid-70s with the development of a cost effective and new open cast method called surface mining technology. Wirtgen is the one and only firm that produces and exports the surface miners. The first machine that Wirtgen sold to the market in 1983 was 1900 SM Surface Miner. [34] Currently, about 300 surface miners exist in the world and 150 of these surface miners are working in coal mining industry in India. This machine is not only used in India but also in USA, Russia, Bosnia, and Australia. Surface miners can be used in a variety of rock taken from soft to medium hard rock …show more content…
Pros and Cons of Surface Miner One of the most important pros is replacing D+B, ripping, loading and primary crushing. Selective mining is the other pros that Surface Miners has, it decreases the dilution of ore and increases the yield of handle and preparation plant. High production rate is the third advantage of surfaces miners and it is already experienced in New Acland Coal mine. Less health, safety and environmental impacts caused by surface miners. Cost effectiveness only for soft rock is another criterion that this machine has. [34] some other pros of surface miners are the following: • less amount of stress and strain on trucks due to less impact of the excavated material. • Capacity for coal washing/preparation plant is reduced. The only drawback is the surface miners are used mostly in the extraction of coal, limestone and other soft to medium hard material. Cutting ability of surface miners depends on the unconfined compressive strength of rock which will be cut. By increasing UCS of rock, the ability of surface miners decreases and effectiveness of machine will drop down dramatically. Figure 4.1‑11 illustrates the issue very clearly: