Underground Mine Expansion

Project Summary

Robinson Construction Company was awarded a contract to install foundations and conveyors for an underground mine expansion project. All foundations were designed and installed by Robinson and all conveyors were installed by Robinson. A total of 17,790 linear feet (or just over three miles) of conveyors were installed on this project, which was one of the largest material handling projects completed in an underground mine in 2009. All of Robinson’s work was completed approximately two miles from the entrance of the mine, creating the need for special arrangements and equipment such as a tag board for employee check-in/out purposes, individual self-rescuers, communication with the surface was highly limited, and only diesel vehicles and equipment could be used in the mine.

Equipment and conveyors installed include: a primary jaw crusher, belt conveyors, 7 stacker conveyors to feed stone piles of different gradations, 7 reclaim conveyors installed inside corrugated metal tunnels, 2 secondary cone crushers, 5 screens, 3 surge bins, and multiple belt transfer conveyors. Additionally, Robinson constructed a 44 ft tall, wire-reinforced MSE (Mechanically Stabilized Earth) wall to allow for haul trucks to dump into the primary crusher.