Applications include
There are few innovations that have given miners as many benefits as modern raise drilling. By reaming rather than blasting, smooth-walled bores are created that may need little or no ground support. Diameters can range from 0.66m to over six meters, with pinpoint accuracy delivered up to 1,000m in depth.
The implications for safety and manning levels are just as impressive. By using non-entry methods, no personnel enter the hole during boring, no blasting takes place and there is limited exposure to falling rocks or harmful exhaust fumes. With only two operators generally required per shift, cost benefits are obvious: raise drilling is by far the safest and most cost-effective approach to creating vertical and sub-vertical openings in mines and construction projects.
RUC Mining holds the record for the largest completed raise drilling excavation in Australia of 930m at 6m diameter.
We are the leading contractor in the industry when it comes to drilling long raises at large diameters
RUC Mining constantly strives to create new industry benchmarks for accuracy and precision in raise drilling.
Short holes < 350 metres are generally drilled using standard tri cone drilling techniques where accuracies of 1% are achievable.
| QTY | ASSET NUMBER | RUC RAISE DRILLING EQUIPMENT | Ø DIAMETER | DEPTH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RB01 | Wirth HG330 SP Raise Drills | 6000 mm | 1000 mtr |
| 4 | RB20/21/23/24 | Strata 960 R Raise Drill | 6300 mm + | 1200 mtr |
| 1 | RB17 | Strata 950 R Raise Drill | 6000 mm | 1000 mtr |
| 1 | RB15 | Strata 850 R Raise Drill | 6000 mm | 850 mtr |
| 2 | RB02/07 | Robbins 85R Raise Drills | 5500 mm | 500 mtr |
| 1 | RB25 | Strata 400 Multi-Purpose Raise and Box hole borer | 3500 mm | 100 mtr |
| 1 | RB22 | Strata 150 Multi-Purpose Raise / Boxhole Borer | 1800 mm | 100 mtr |
| 2 | RB26/27 | Strata 80 Boxhole boring machine, rods and reamers | 1100 mm | 75 mtr |
| 2 | RB10/14 | RBM 7 SP Raise Drills | 4000 mm | 250 mtrs |
| 1 | RB08 | Robbins 53R Multi-Purpose Raise and Box-hole Borer | 1800 mm | 100 mtrs |
| 1 | RB03 | Robbins 71R Raise Drill | 2400 mm | 300 mtrs |
| 2 | RB04/16 | low profile Robbins 61R Raise Drills | 1500 mm | 100 mtrs |
| PROJECT | CLIENT | DESCRIPTION | COMPLETION DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Ives Gold | Goldfields Mining | Boxhole and escapeways | ongoing |
| Golden Grove Boxhole Escape Works | EMR Golden Grove | Boxhole and escapeways approximately 250m/month | ongoing |
| Waroonga/ Agnew RB16 | Agnew Gold Mining Company Pty Ltd | Escapeways | ongoing |
| George Fisher 6800N Raiseboring and Shaft Lining | Mount Isa Mines Glencore Australia | Ventilation shafts ranging between 750m and 400m deep at 5m and 4m diameter | ongoing |
| Jundee | Northern Star Resources Limited | Ventilation shafts of 100 -200m deep at 5m diameter | 2021 |
| Renison | Bluestone Resources | Ventilation shafts of 500m deep at 5m diameter | ongoing |
| KCGM | Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd | Ventilation shafts of 200m deep at 5m diameter | ongoing |
| Tropicana Slots | AngloGold Ashanti | Boxhole and escapeways approximately 120m/month | ongoing |
| Dolinny Mine Kazzinc | 2021 | ||
| Cosmos Odysseus | Australian Nickel Investments Pty Ltd | Hoisting and ventilation shafts ranging from 680m and 360m deep at 5.8m diameter | 2022 |
| Tropicana | AngloGold Ashanti | In-pit Vent rise 1 x 250m at 5000mm dia & 1 x 250m at 2400mm dia, drill simultaneously | 2019 |
| Venus Vent | BHP LNO | Surface Vent rise, RVDS pilot drill 1 x 700 m at 5000mm dia & numerous internal 3000mm raises | 2019-2021 |
| Dacian Gold | Mt Morgans | Slot raising in 4m x 4m drives with specially built Strata 80 Borers | 2019-2020 |
| De Grussa | Sandfire | Boxhole and Escape raises 120m / month | ongoing |
| Golden Grove | EMR Golden Grove | Surface Vent rise 1 x 370m at 4500mm dia & internal raises, 3 x 300m at 4500mm | 2019-2020 |
| Savanah Nickel | Panoramic | Surface Vent rise 1 x 900 at 5000mm dia & 2 x UG extensions, 150m at 4000mm dia | 2019-2020 |
| Sunrise Dam | Anglo Gold | Underground, 3 x 220m at 5500mm dia | 2018-2019 |
| Rubicon | EKJV | Underground, 120m at 5000mm dia | 2018 |
| Agnew Gold | Goldfields | 1 x 360 meters @ 4500mm dia vent raise | 2020 |
| Callie TEP 2 | Newmont | Hoisting shaft, RVDS pilot drill, Surface 765m at 6430mm dia & UG extension (RVDS) 656m at 6430mm dia. | 2020-2021 |
| St Barbara | Gwalia | RVDS pilot drill, Surface raise, 2 x 925m at 5000mm dia plus U/G extensions 1 x 350m & 560m at 5000mm dia | 2018-2020 |
| Wallaby VR 8 | Goldfields | Surface in-pit raise, RVDS pilot drill, 2 x 245m x 4500mm dia | 2018-2019 |
| Jundee | Northern Star | Raise Drill surface and U/G Vent raises totalling 550m at 5000mm dia | 2017 |
| Nova | IGO / Barminco | Sink and Raise Drill 3 x ventilation systems at 5500mm diameter including internal raises and escapeways | 2017-2019 |
| Karari | Saracen Gold | Slot and escapeways raising, est 1000 metres per annum | 2017 |
RUC Mining Contractors Pty Ltd (RUC) is part of Redpath (Australia) Holdings Pty Ltd (Redpath), a wholly owned subsidiary of Redpath Mining Inc. To learn more about Redpath, visit redpathmining.com.
Since 1996, Nick’s career to date has predominantly involved underground metalliferous mining.
His experience gained during this time has been from the ground up, having spent years working underground at the ‘coal face’ through to statutory and senior management positions on site and at corporate head offices. This has given Nick an in depth knowledge of all aspects associated with underground mining.
Tracey is a CPA qualified Accountant with over 22 years’ experience, 9 of which have been with RUC Mining Contractors as Financial Controller. Prior to her tenure with RUC Mining, she worked in various industries including engineering and construction, property and telecommunications across Perth, Melbourne and London. Tracey leads the Finance, Procurement, and supply chain functions, supporting internal and external stakeholders, while also managing company secretarial obligations for RUC Mining and its subsidiaries.
