In the deep underground tunnels of Jinchuan Nickel-Cobalt No.3 Mine, a white boom-type roadheader is roaring into action. Its massive cutting teeth rotate into the rock face, and ore flows steadily out along the conveying system.
This scene marks a departure from the traditional mining method reliant on explosives and heralds a new era of safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly mechanical blast-free mining. As a future direction for metal mining technology, the successful implementation of blast-free mining at Jinchuan Nickel-Cobalt No.3 Mine not only addresses multiple long-standing challenges in mine production but also establishes a replicable and scalable "Jinchuan Model," setting a new benchmark for industry transformation.
Zhu Daming, Director of the Technology and Quality Office at Jinchuan Nickel-Cobalt No.3 Mine, stated that eliminating the blasting process to achieve low-disturbance, risk-free intrinsically safe mining is an inevitable trend in industry development. Traditional blasting mining requires strict control over the entire process of transporting, storing, and using explosives--from specialized explosion-proof transport vehicles and isolated sealed storage facilities to certified management and operating personnel, along with professional detonation devices. Behind this complex control system lies inherent risks.
Moreover, a complete operational cycle--including drilling, charging, blasting, ventilation, and ore removal--requires continuous optimization to meet the mine's needs for low-cost, large-scale production. However, mature industrial applications for blast-free mining were lacking. Just as hesitation prevailed, the boom-type roadheader caught the technical team's attention. Widely used in tunnel engineering and coal mining, this equipment has well-established supporting processes, machinery, and workflows--needing only targeted adaptation to Jinchuan's complex geological conditions.
To maximize the effectiveness of advanced equipment, site selection must align precisely with geological conditions. The industry's standard economic cutting parameters for boom-type roadheaders were far below the theoretical uniaxial compressive strength threshold of the rock at Jinchuan Nickel-Cobalt No.3 Mine. At this critical moment, the mine's solid geological research provided answers. Long-term geological logging revealed that while ore rocks in some areas exceeded hardness standards, their high degree of fracturing matched the cutting principle of the roadheader perfectly. Unlike drill bits that grind ore, the roadheader uses powerful mechanical force to "peel" rock apart. Fractured ore rock significantly reduces cutting difficulty--much like handling crumbly bread is far easier than biting into a hard steamed bun. Moving forward, Jinchuan Nickel-Cobalt No.3 Mine plans to establish a rock cuttability classification system, dividing the ore body into blast-free mining zones and blasting zones. This will ensure precise alignment between mining methods and geological conditions, fully leveraging the technical advantages.
Furthermore, the cost benefits of this technology are particularly significant. The number of workers per shift has been reduced from six to three, cutting labor costs by 50%. Material and energy costs have dropped substantially, with ore breaking costs decreasing by approximately 51.91%. Environmental benefits are also notable: the equipment is electrically driven and effectively controls underground dust through water spray suppression devices, significantly improving the working environment.
Written by Cora Ji, jiruyan@mysteel.com
