10 Cool Things To Know About Mining Vehicles 

What do you know about the mining industry? If you’re like most people, it’s not much. But, in recent years, people have become curious about this industry. 

The reasons for this interest vary. Some people like to know where their jewels or precious metals come from. Others play a lot of Minecraft and want to learn more. 

Regardless, many people wonder about this industry and the mining vehicles that help it run. Mining vehicles are an essential part of the industry and find several applications for miners. 

If this topic interests you, you’re in luck! We’ll explore ten fun facts about mining equipment in the guide below. Let’s jump right in!

1. Eco-Friendly Mining Vehicles

Many people think mining is an environmentally harmful process. However, the mining industry also makes efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. 

One way it does so is through environmentally-friendly electric drive trucks. These vehicles help carry mined minerals across surface mines and haul them up steep slopes. 

Mining vehicles also help the environment by taking fewer trips. A single truck can carry as much as 400 tons of payload.

2. Rotary Drill Rigs

There’s a natural excitement people feel when they get to break things or blow them up. If you feel that excitement, then you’ll love rotary drill rigs! 

A rotary drill rig is a device used to break up rocks and soil by creating holes in them. Once they make these holes, miners can place charges inside to blast open the mine.

How does this work? A rotary drill rig turns its drill bit under pressure to cut into the rock.

As the bit turns, it grinds the rock down. Then, compressed air sends it up the drill.

From there, the rock fragments exit from the top of the hole. Usually, these drills create holes that range from 6-22 inches in diameter. The holes are typically between 30-60 feet deep. 

3. Percussion/Hammer Drills

Rotary drill rigs are only one of the standard mining equipment drills. The other type is a fun toy called the hammer drill. 

Hammer rock drills have another way of creating holes in the ground. These drills use pressure to force the drill bit into the ground to form a gap. From there, compressed air blows dirt out of the way.

This process allows the drill to hit new ground. Although this process may seem messy or imprecise, these drills usually form smaller holes of 5 inches or less in diameter.

4. Mining Vehicles Build Roads To and From the Mine

Have you ever seen a mine as you were driving down the road? Most likely, the answer is no. Most mines are far-removed from highways to ensure greater access to minerals. 

But, mines also need a way to get mined minerals to their other facilities. As such, they need roads to and from the mine. 

That’s where motor graders come in. This mining equipment creates accessible roads for mines, complete with grading and drainage!

5. Underground Mining Trucks

Mines extend deep underground. So, how do miners get tons of dirt and minerals aboveground from these locations?

One method is through underground mining trucks. These subterranean vehicles meet specific parameters that let them function in confined spaces. 

These vehicles also cannot produce emissions in these enclosed environments. Doing so could damage the health of miners. So, these vehicles have unique engines that do not produce emissions. 

6. Powering Mines Through a Nuclear Powerplant

Another fact about mining vehicles is that new technology is causing them to need fewer fossil fuels. New developments indicate that a nuclear powerplant can power and heat remote mining operations. 

In doing so, mines can cut down millions of liters of diesel fuel used in powering their operation. This process also saves mines money since they won’t have to deal with fluctuating prices in fossil fuels.

7. Transporting Minerals and Digging For Them

So far, the vehicles we’ve discussed either transport minerals or dig for them. But, some vehicles can both dig and transport materials. One example of these vehicles is the large wheel loader.

These versatile vehicles are excellent options for quickly moving materials across the mining site. Large wheel loaders vary in size; some are more compact, while others are significantly bigger. The bigger the wheels, the more its bucket capacity and load handling increase. 

8. Dozers in Mines

No mining operation is complete without dozers. These vehicles move materials across a mining site. However, they can also perform other tasks, such as raking land around mining sites. 

They can also rip plants out of the ground, which impedes the digging process. Furthermore, they push dirt away from working areas and build mine sites by removing dirt. 

Finally, these dozers can reclaim land around mining sites. As you can see, these vehicles perform a critical function for mines. You can check out vehicles like these on supashock.

9. Using Ropes and Electricity

Another awesome vehicle is the electric rope shovel. These vehicles use a series of pulleys and ropes powered by electricity to dig out material. Their electrical power source makes them perform more efficiently. 

These vehicles can also remove overburden from a site, dig through hard materials, and remove boulders. However, there is another system that does similar work using hydraulics. We’ll talk about these in the final section.

10. Hydraulic Mining Shovels

Hydraulic mining shovels developed from steam shovel designs used in times past. These models use hydraulics to move a shovel and power through dense materials. These systems perform similar tasks as electric rope shovels but use different power sources. 

Learn More About Mining Vehicles

Mining vehicles use brilliant techniques to make mines run more efficiently. They can do several things, such as clearing away dirt, digging deeper into the earth, or transporting mined minerals. 

This mining equipment is fascinating to vehicle lovers and amateur miners everywhere. Use these tips to learn more about mining equipment today!

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