Zijin Mining’s experience in the development of small, portable equipment for mining thin veins has been promoted across China by the National Mine Safety Administration.

Thin veins are one of the main forms of metal deposits in China, yet there is a shortage of mature equipment for mining them in the market. To fill the gap and enhance safety and profitability, Zijin Mining, which operates several mines with thin veins, has developed small, portable mining equipment.

In February 2022, the company set up a team to drive the development and application of small equipment. The team collaborated with various research institutes and manufacturers in China, and adopted a strategy that follows the sequence of “technological research, equipment development, piloting and rollout”. Based on field trials at Guizhou Zijin, a subsidiary of the company, six types of equipment were developed for drilling, ore movement, tunnel support, and hazard mitigation. Multiple patents were also obtained in the process. To date, ninety-two sets of small equipment have been deployed at mine sites, proving effective in real-world applications.

Translator:Jian   Reviser: Li Yuanxing   Editor-in-Chief: Wang Jie