We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Machinery

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Mining Conveyor?

By Christian Petersen
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,772
References
Share

A mining conveyor is a type of machine used to move ore or waste material generated by mining operations. These types of conveyors, while similar to smaller conveyor machines, are much larger and designed to carry very large loads. Some types of mining conveyor may carry hundreds of thousands of tons of raw ore per day over long distances, in some cases more than a mile (1.6 km). One mining conveyor is 4.7 miles (7.5 km) long. Mining conveyors are typically of the belt type, but other types are possible.

The mining industry relies on mining conveyor machinery to quickly and efficiently move huge amounts of ore and waste materials, often over long distances. These machines are much more efficient than traditional forms of transportation and can provide a continuous flow of ore to processing plants, refineries, or distribution stations. Mine conveyors are fairly easy to modify and move as necessary, adapting to changing conditions at the mine site.

Not all mining conveyor machines are the extremely long, overland types and may be much shorter. Many mines with on-site processing facilities use mining conveyors to move ore or waste materials from the mine to other facilities on, or adjacent to, the mine site. Many of these, while constructed to withstand extremely heavy use, may be much shorter than the huge overland conveyors.

High angle mining conveyor machines are a specialized type of mining conveyor that are designed to lift or lower materials at a steep angle. These types of conveyor may be used in open pit mines, for example, to lift material from the bottom of the mine to the rim. Sandwich conveyors use belts underneath and above the material to be moved, a configuration which allows for extreme angles and curves in the conveyor path.

While many conveyors have flat surfaces, a typical mining conveyor has a trough shaped cross section, with sides angled upward. This increases the amount of material the conveyor can hold per linear unit. Such conveyors have rollers directly under the belt as well as on the sides of the belt as well.

Some tunnel boring machines, such as the huge machines used to dig the tunnels under the English channel, have their own integral mining conveyor systems. These systems are designed to carry away the waste material created by the tunneling process. These conveyors begin at the very front of the machine and actually extend through the center of the machine itself, carrying the waste material away, sometimes for 2 miles (3.2 km) or more, where it is transferred to another conveyor or to other forms of transport for removal from the tunnel.

Share
About Mechanics is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.aboutmechanics.com/what-is-a-mining-conveyor.htm
Copy this link
About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.