TECHNICAL AND ECONOMICAL ASPECTS OF CONTINUOUS MINING WITH BUCKET WHEEL EXCAVATORS

Continuously operating systems with conveyor transport like in-pit-crushing systems or bucket wheel excavators from Krupp are the most economic solution for mines which are able to plan for longer periods and which are able to finance the relatively expensive equipment. Modern bucket wheel excavators can cope with most of the problems which may arise in new mines. Nowadays a bucket wheel excavator is able to dig semi-hard material up to compressive strengths of 20 MPa and to dig also thin and inclined seams. Equipped with special devices of modern techniques mining operation becomes easier and manpower requirements can be reduced.