The mining industry employs 2.2 percent of the country's total labor force, an indication of its importance and its influence in the economy and immigration. All states see mining activities with the most mined ores and minerals being iron ore, nickel and bauxite or aluminum.
Catering to the demand means the steady supply of essential equipment, both small and large. These supplies are readily provided by vendors engaging in manufacturing all types of components from steel pipes and chutes to steel roof belts and drill bits.
Finding a supplier isn't difficult with every state having under its wing several established companies. They also undertake installation and maintenance services if required as well as undertaking tailor-made packages.
The key equipments in mining consist of huge machines such as excavators and draglines as well as rock dusters and scoops. These tools vary depending on what is being mined but several are considered standard at least where surface and strip mining are concerned. Take a look.
Excavators and draglines
Both pieces of machinery are massive and are required to unearth earth using hydraulic arms and buckets or scoops to haul earth and other heavy materials.
Similar to a vacuum cleaner with its many nozzles, excavators can be equipped with different attachments aside from buckets. Breakers and grapples are examples.
With draglines, much of the equipment is built on-site as it's too heavy and large to be transported. In fact, most draglines used in strip mining operations are among the largest land machines ever built and can weigh over 10,000 tons.
Continuous and longwall miners
Miners are also machines but with noticeable differences from excavators and draglines. Resembling something out of a movie, continuous miners have huge rotating teeth that are able to scrape coal from coal beds. Since coal mining requires drilling many meters the environment may not be safe for workers. In such cases, the machines are controlled remotely.
Longwall miners are similar to continuous miners but with a limited array of teeth. Resembling massive cogs they remove larger sections of coal. A hydraulic system allows the machine to support the mine's roof as the shears cut through the shaft.
Drilling rigs
Getting deep into the earth requires the help of drilling rigs, also massive machines, with drill bits attached to the head. As earth is drilled, it's transported back through pipes that lead outside. There's an array of these machines, each designed to perform specific work.
Feeders and loading chutes
Feeders and chutes may not have a lot of bulk but they're also essential pieces of equipment. Used for transporting materials from the mining site, they undergo heavy abuse by slurries and rocks which are highly abrasive. As such, they must be built with extremely hard metals, preferably steel fabricated, to withstand both abrasive and chemical abuse.
Pipes, valves and fittings
Pipe work is necessary for the transportation of gas and materials which cannot be contaminated by soil, water and other contaminants. A combination of several materials such as steel, rubber and plastic are needed to guard against wear and tear. As for valves and fittings, no machine or tool can be constructed without them. Like most pieces of equipment, steel is the most widely used material in their construction with the ability to endure high stresses.
