Heavy Equipment in Mining: 5 Essential Machines and Their Functions

No matter what kind of mining you do or the scale of your operation, if you are in this industry, you know well that heavy equipment is at the centre of such work. The kind of heavy equipment you have has a significant impact on the efficiency, productivity, safety, and cost-effectiveness of your task.

Mining involves the extraction of vast quantities of ore or minerals from the earth, and heavy equipment, such as excavators, loaders, and haul trucks, among others, plays a crucial role in managing such operations. These machines are designed to handle massive volumes of material efficiently, enabling miners to meet production targets and maintain economic viability. 

The machines built for mining applications are designed to perform tasks at speeds and capacities that far exceed what manual labour could achieve, making it possible to process more material in less time and leading to higher overall output. 

Additionally, heavy equipment can operate continuously, thereby reducing downtime and maintaining optimal efficiency in mining operations. This is crucial for meeting the market’s demands

Since mining environments are also often hazardous and full of perilous conditions for workers, such as unstable ground, harmful gases, and extreme temperatures, heavy machinery mitigates these risks by making it much easier and safer to perform tasks that would otherwise be quite dangerous.

Essential Types of Heavy Equipment for Mining

While many different types of heavy equipment and machinery could be used in mining operations, certain kinds of equipment are more essential than others for a successful task. At Nors, we offer a range of heavy equipment rental options that are ideal for any mining operation. Check out our collection here.

Moreover, these machines come with numerous advantages that can contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of your mining in various ways. The following are some of the most essential types of heavy equipment for mining, as well as descriptions of how they work:

1. Wheel loaders

Wheel loaders, which are also known as front-end loaders, are a critical component of most mining operations. Their extreme power makes them incredibly useful for lifting and transporting debris, soil, rocks, gravel, and other materials that need to be cleared from a mining site.

Wheel loaders can also generally perform a range of functions, from digging and scooping to breaking up materials, which makes them valuable during various stages of the mining process.

Wheel loaders feature a front-bucket tool that can lift and move heavy loads up and down. Various types of buckets can be attached to and used on a wheel loader, although the vast majority of these buckets serve a similar purpose in moving materials from one location to another.

As their name indicates, wheel loaders have four large wheels, on which the cabin sits, allowing the operator to maintain a clear view of the bucket at all times.

2. Track dozers

Another piece of heavy equipment commonly used in most mining operations is a track dozer. This shares some similarities with a wheel loader, but is also unique.

Unlike a wheel loader, a track dozer runs on tracks, which provides it with heightened manoeuvrability on uneven or rocky terrain. Instead of scooping and lifting materials at great heights, track dozers are predominantly used to push substantial amounts of material because their tracks provide superior pushing power. 

If you must rip and push coal, build roads, clear a path, or move heavy materials, a track dozer will be a valuable asset. Track dozers can also be used to scoop some materials that are low to the ground. However, since the front attachment on a track dozer is not as deep as a wheel loader, it does not have as significant a carrying capacity.

3. Motor graders

In many mining operations, it is necessary to level various surfaces, such as the roads used to access mining sites. One of the best machines for such tasks is a motor grader. Motor graders are also great for flattening surfaces of various types around a mine, and are much more precise than dozers when it comes to this kind of work. 

A motor grader has blades that drag along the ground, moving smaller amounts of dirt and debris with extreme accuracy. Therefore, in most cases, a dozer is used to do most of the heavy clearing work, and then a motor grader is brought in afterwards to clean things up and level the surface.

4. Excavators

A common type of machine with numerous applications in mining operations is the excavator. They have several different functions, including moving large objects, digging trenches, demolishing structures, and performing other earth-moving tasks. 

The excavators used in mining typically run on tracks, which allows them to manoeuvre freely in areas where wheeled machines are limited. Many excavators for mining include bucket-wheel excavators, backhoes, dragline excavators, and power shovels.

Digging is a necessity in most mining operations, and excavators enable the excavation of hundreds of cubic meters of material every hour. Additionally, their precision, speed, and flexibility contribute significantly to the overall efficiency of a mining operation.

5. Drill rigs

Drill rigs play an especially vital role in the exploration and extraction phases of mining, as they are used to drill holes into the earth to locate and access valuable mineral deposits. After drilling holes through rock, soil, or other materials, explosives can be placed and used to blast ores near the earth’s surface. 

One of the most common types of drill rigs in mining is a rotary drill rig due to its effectiveness, flexibility, and versatility. Such a rig can create holes that range from 6 to 22 inches in diameter and are up to 150 feet deep. Percussion and hammer drills are also often used in many mining operations.

How Nors Can Help You Build a Proper Fleet of Mining Equipment

If you are in the mining industry and you want to take your equipment fleet to the next level by adding some of the machines mentioned above or others like them, Nors can help you do exactly that with our plentiful heavy equipment rental options.

Regardless of the type of mining project you undertake, we are confident that we have a wide range of machines available for rent that can benefit you. Allow us to help you maximize the efficiency, speed, versatility, and cost-effectiveness of your mining operation by providing the equipment, parts, and service needed to execute tasks of every type.

Our flexible heavy equipment rental agreements will allow you to work within your budget and protect your bottom line. We also offer a large assortment of heavy equipment attachments for rent and a variety of parts for all makes to ensure you meet the needs of your applications.

​​For more information about our heavy equipment rental options or to learn about the various types of mining equipment we carry, please call Nors at 1-833-730-0613 or contact us here.