Australia: Surface mining takes over from conventional coal mining
The New Acland Mine (NAC), located adjacent to the township of Acland (Queensland), is part of the Australian based New Hope Group. Since opening of the mine, coal and interburden have been extracted by means of bulldozers fitted with ripper teeth and assisted by wheel loaders. However, a sharp drop in coal prices compelled the NAC management to look for alternative, more efficient mining methods.
A solution was soon found: the Wirtgen surface mining technology offers the ideal method for the challenging geological conditions in the mine, which comprise up to 27 mostly thin coal seams...
