Hilton / George Fisher Mine

BeltPED Receiver

AutoPED

USE PED FOR EMERGENCY WARNING & REMOTE BLASTING

MINE: HILTON/GEORGE FISHER MINE
OWNER: MT ISA MINES
TYPE: SILVER-LEAD-ZINC
LOCATION: MT ISA, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

BACKGROUND

Hilton Mine has undergone expansion with the development of the George Fisher ore body to the north. As part of this expansion, it was identified that the existing communication systems did not meet all the mine’s requirements. In particular: – Communication to all personnel needed to be achieved to enhance the mine’s management and safety systems. – The blasting system required upgrading to maintain reliable, safe blasting throughout the mine. The existing mains firing system was seen to have some shortcomings, so the BlastPED System was chosen for remote, cen-tralised, blast initiation. As PED provides signal coverage to the whole mine, via its “through-the-earth” transmission characteristics, it was chosen to meet the above requirements.

COMPOSITION

Transmission System with 2.9km underground loop antenna at Hilton with a 4km extension to cover the George Fisher area. 250 BeltPED Personal Receivers 25 AutoPED Vehicle Mounted Receivers. 10 Modified AutoPED for Mounting at all Emergency Refuge Bays to trigger sirens. 10 BlastPED Receiver/Exploders

DESCRIPTION

An underground antenna of 2.9km (10,000 ft)provides coverage to Hilton mine. A 4km extension runs, via an u/g de-cline, to George Fisher to provide signal coverage in this new development area. Thus, the whole mine complex is covered with a single transmitter located at the Shift Boss” office at 10 L Hilton. The computer for inputting messages in located at the Hilton Surface Control Room. The PC and Transmitter are linked via the mine”s optic fibre network.

JUSTIFICATION

PED was chosen because of its success at other MIM mines, both metal and coal. The BlastPED System was installed for the cost and safety benefits to be gained from eliminating the need to install and maintain mains firing cables.