Dyno Nobel’s Titan ∆E 1000 was trialed over a period of four (4) months at AngloGold Ashanti's Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Co. (CC&V) in Cripple Creek, Colorado. Performance of the Titan ∆E 1000 product was measured against typically loaded production blasts of similar size, in similar geology. Blast designs (drill pattern and blast hole sequence) for the performance and baseline blasts were not altered during the trial, and all blasts, except for one, were initiated using Dyno Nobel’s DigiShot® Plus electronic initiation system. Measured results confirmed that significant value in productivity, cost and blast performance were delivered. The mine reduced its overall powder factor by 18%, realized an 8% increase in shovel productivity in both waste and ore, and in the case of ore, experienced no reduction in crusher throughput. Additionally, they completely eliminated visible NOx after blast fumes in even the wettest areas of the pit.

Mining is an expensive business. The costs of equipment, fuel, payroll and maintenance add up quickly, and every dime spent detracts from the mine’s profits. You want to get the most out of your mining operation, so it’s in your best interest to make sure all aspects of your operation are performing as cost-effectively as possible. Caterpillar understands this challenge, and we have the expertise and technology to help you meet it. We asked our customers to identify their biggest sources of increased costs, and many of them gave us the same five answers: process variability, unscheduled repairs, fuel costs, collisions and shift change. In this paper, we’ve gathered brief explanations of each of these challenges and offered our advice on how you can measure and respond to them. In addition, we’ve included information on how Cat® technologies can help you get the lowest possible cost per ton from your mining operation.