Mine haul roads play a key and vital role in the mine operation and the production process. Downer has recently been commissioned to provide solution to the mine haul roads of major iron ore mining companies. This paper will discuss the details of the approach taken into stabilising the wearing course, dust suppressing and surface maintenance. Firstly the laboratory investigations on iron ore soil samples will be explored. The soil properties including particle size distribution, plasticity, dry density/moisture content relationships and pH were measured. A bituminous emulsion was nominated to treat and maintain the haul roads. The optimum amount of the product in the soil was determined by using indirect tensile modulus testing and moisture susceptibility assessment. The application rates for stabilising the wearing course were calculated based on this approach.
In order to sufficiently cap the treated surface, a capping spray using diluted emulsion was introduced and the dilution ratios were optimised for the application to be economically viable. These two treatments were followed by a daily surface maintenance spraying to provide a quality ride with minimum dust.
Finally the field application process will be discussed. CITATION:Haghighi, H, Tan, J, Eggleton, J and Smedley, A, 2019. Downers approach into mine haul roads treatment, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2019, pp 576587 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).