Slot Hole Drilling
Slot hole drilling is a specialised technique used primarily in the mining industry, particularly for underground operations. It’s a form of drilling that is employed to create a “slot” or a large void in the rock, which is an essential part of the process for block caving — a mining method used in large-scale underground mining.
Application
- Crucial for initiating the caving process in block caving mining methods by creating large voids for ore collapse.
- Facilitates the gravitational flow of ore to draw points, enhancing efficiency in large-scale underground mining.
- Used for precise and controlled rock fragmentation, ensuring safety and effectiveness in ore extraction processes.
- Efficiently constructs small diameter passes for transferring ore and waste between different levels of a mine.
Benefits
- Accurate drilling is required to ensure that the holes are correctly aligned and spaced to achieve the desired outcome upon blasting.
- It is an efficient method for creating large voids in rock, facilitating the subsequent extraction of ore.
- Block caving with slot hole drilling can be safer as it requires less worker presence in hazardous areas.
- Efficiently constructs small diameter passes for transferring ore and waste between different levels of a mine.
