Patent · US Active

Flow tracking in block caving mining

US8461831B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

11References

7Claims

0Family size

Assignee

CMTE DEVELOPMENT LIMITED · AU

Inventors

Barend Jacobus Pienaar · Brisbane, AU
Paul J.A. Lever · Brisbane, AU

Key dates

Filing date	Sep 13, 2011
Grant date	Jun 11, 2013
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Sep 13, 2031

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG01B7/003
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system for monitoring the flow of ore in block cave mining operations by inserting an active magnetic beacon 1 into an ore body 22 and generating an alternating magnetic signal with the beacon 1. The ore is monitored with a magnetometer (14, 15, 16, 17, 18) to detect the magnetic flux emitted by the beacon 1 thereby determining a position of the beacon. Successive recordings of the position of the magnetic beacon are taken as it moves along with the ore as it “caves”. In this way, flow patterns of the ore may be revealed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.