Mine Site Technologies is a solutions provider, specializing in the development and supply of technology, and services, to the mining industry. Our particular areas of expertise include underground communications, remote blasting systems, mine tagging & WiFi tracking systems and cap lamps; as well as high data wireless mesh systems for open pit and surface communications.

MinePhone & NS40 Access Point Achieve ATEX Approval

Mine Site Technologies, Sydney, N.S.W., Australia has confirmed that its MinePhone VoIP digital phone and NS40 Wireless Access Point for integrated underground mining communications have achieved ATEX certification, Group 1 Category M1. ATEX (Appareils destinés à être utilisés en Atmosphères Explosibles) certification is for equipment and protective systems which are to be used in potentially explosive atmospheres. It is the certification standard for the European Union. This certification is a confirmation of the equipments’ I.S. Intrinsically Safe) nature and certifies that it can be safely used in the environments found in underground coal mines. Formal testing of the MinePhone and NS40 was carried out by DEKRA-EXAM of Germany.

According to the EU, “A potentially explosive atmosphere is composed of mixtures of gases, vapours, mists or dusts, which can ignite under certain operating conditions.” All equipment used in these environments must be intrinsically safe (I.S.) insuring that they cannot create a spark.

Lloyd Zenari, CEO, announced, “These approvals open a new door of opportunity for Mine Site Technologies in Europe, with the installation of these technologies now being progressed in mines in Germany, Poland and Russia . We make modern and fit-for-purpose technologies vailable to our customers with a focus on enhancing safety and productivity through applied technology. We provide the opportunity for increasing productivity – safely”

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About Mine Site Technologies

Mine Site Technologies (MST) is a global leader in providing communications solutions to the mining industry. We have 23  years of experience in the design, manufacture, and deployment of critical, high quality, systems for in-mine communications, equipment and personnel monitoring, and production support. We target safety in all environments where we operate and support our customers in maximizing their mine production.  Global headquarters for MST is located in Sydney, NSW, Australia with offices and service support enters strategically located on six continents. For additional information contact Kent Henschen, VP-Global Marketing & Communications at k.henschen@minesite.us and telephone +1 720.633.3502.

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Underground Communications & Tracking: A Study in ImPact Technology

We have a new case study available titled, “Underground Communications & Tracking: A Study in ImPact Technology”. If you would like to receive a copy of this paper send an email with your request to solutions@minesite.us .

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Xstrata United Coal

Xstrata Coal has ordered a TRACKER Tagging System for their United Coal Mine in the Hunter Valley, NSW.
Similar to Springvale Coal Mine’s recent TRACKER installation, United have taken the opportunity to upgrade their cap lamp batteries and BeltPEDs to the new ICCL unit. These new ICCL’s will contain a PED Receiver to operate off their PED transmission system already in place, as well as including RFID Tags to work with the TRACKER System.
The installation consists of:

  • 204 x ICCLs with PED Receiver and RFID Tag.
  • 20 x Self Contained Tags on Underground Diesel Vehicles.
  • 12 Read Beacons.

United management’s justification was based on:

  • Tracking people for safety of people.
  • Vehicle fleet management, particularly access control into ventilation districts.
  • Go to ICCL’s because of light weight, and that the PED and Tag can be in one unit.

We are very appreciative of the continued support United Colliery and the Xstrata Group has shown for our safety and communication technologies. Particularly because of the enormous development effort that was required to make a tagging system that truly suits the underground mining environment, and work reliably as an overall system.
As a tagging system is just that, a “System”, simply testing one or two ‘off-the-shelf’ readers and a few tags, is not testing a working system. The leap from that simple test set up to a reliable system is large, and it is something that many people simply do not realize. Hence our appreciation of Xstrata’s support for our efforts to make such a system available to the underground mining industry.

ICCL ICCL Cap Lamps come with RFID Tag and PED Pager

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Springvale Coal Mine

Centennial Coal Group has just ordered a TRACKER Tagging System for their Springvale Coal Mine. Springvale is about 2 hours west of Sydney in the Lithgow coalfield area.
At the same time they have taken the opportunity to upgrade their cap lamp batteries and BeltPEDs to the new ICCL unit. They already have a PED transmission system in place with old style BeltPEDs.
The installation consists of:

  • 250 x ICCLs with PED Receiver and RFID Tag.
  • 70 Self Contained Tags for Vehicles and Trailers.
  • 18 Beacon TRACKER System

Springvale’s justification was based on:

  • Tracking people for safety of people.
  • Vehicle fleet management.
  • Go to ICCL’s because of light weight, and that the PED and Tag can be in one unit.
  • It is also a very wet mine, so the sealed ICCL will prove a lot less maintenance than the older BeltPEDs. They have had five ICCL’s on trial for six months to prove this.
  • Interestingly, they are also going to use the Tags on vehicles to also automate the block light system in the travel roads at the mine. At the moment the block lights work by someone pulling a switch at either end of a block light section.

We are very appreciative of the continued support Springvale and the Centennial Coal Group has shown for our safety and communication technologies.

TRACKER Read Beacon Read Beacons will be set up at strategic points underground

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Baijigou Coal

Baijigou Coal Mine is the first coal mine in China to order our new ICCL cap lamp with both PED and Tagging electronics included. This will enable communication to personnel underground via the PED paging system, as well as tracking their location using the TRACKER tagging system.

Baijigou is operated by the Ning Xia Coal Group and is located in the Helan Mountains bordering Inner Mongolia. Though an extremely rugged landscape (see picture below), the engineers at Baijigou are planning to install the PED antenna on the surface by hanging it on poles, rather than the more typical method of trenching into the ground.

The PED System will use an 8 km (25,000 ft) surface antenna and start with 80 ICCL personal cap lamps. The TRACKER System will incorporate 20 Read Beacons at strategic points underground.

Baijigou Coal Mine is a very interesting mine, as it extracts all of a 20 m (66 ft) thick coal seam. This is achieved by using top coal caving longwall methods in two passes. The first pass uses the shearer to extract 3 m (10 ft) of coal above the middle of the seam, with the top 7 m (23 ft) of coal won by top coal caving. Then a second longwall pass is done in the bottom half of the seam, again by shearing 3 m and top coal caving the remaining 7 m.

Hence, it is a most impressive operation and we are very appreciative of their support for our communication technologies. We also look forward to our first installation in this Province of China.

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Newmont Leeville

ImPact Wireless Network Switches contain 4 fibre switches & up to 2 Wireless Radios

Newmont Gold is the world’s largest gold miner and as such is always looking for operational improvements to keep their mining operations the forefront of efficiency, as well total production. With this in mind, management at the Leeville mine in Nevada identified the opportunity to introduce a range of management tools and processes on the back of major upgrade in underground communication infrastructure.After developing a detailed scope and selection in a tender process, Newmont choose the Mine Site Technologies (MST) digital solution, based on our ImPact Wireless Network suite of technologies.The initial stage of the project has been commissioned and provides an extensive wireless network to the underground operation at Leeville and Carlin East. The underground network consists of a total of 88 wireless network devices, which consist of:
- 48 ImPact Wireless Network Switches (WNS): These are in various configurations to suit specific requirements at particular locations. Configurations include single or twin wireless radio cards, up to 4 fibre switches and 4 PoE outputs, within a single housing.
- These ImPact WNS units are connected together by MST’s composite fibre/power cable, joining the mine’s network at several key locations to form a number of redundant rings.
- 40 ImPact Wireless Access Points (WAP): These are connected to nearby ImPact WNS units by industrial CAT5 cable, to provide hotspots extensions in key locations. The initial applications to utilize this high bandwidth network include:
- Personnel tracking, using 400 RFID Tags mounted in the ICCL cap lamp.
- Equipment tracking, using 65 self contained tags for tracking vehicles.
- VoIP telephony using the installed network.
- Lap tops are being used at underground locations by being wirelessly connected to the network.The network use is planned to be expanded with other applications over time. The first of these will be Vehicle Intelligence. This will use the Vehicle Intelligence Platform (VIP) module to collect and upload in real time load and diagnostic data off a range of underground machines. This in turn will be used to streamline the management of these assets and automate the upload of information into the mine’s management software applications.It is the ability of a well designed underground wireless network to consolidate a lot of communication and data requirements into a single backbone that was the key driver in Newmont investing in the Impact Digital System. MST feels the engineering design and ease of deployment in the mine environment is what differentiated the ImPact solution from more standard network solutions that are really only practical to use in surface office environments.Once again, MST thank Newmont Gold for their continued support in choosing our communication technologies to contribute to meeting their operational objectives.More information on Digital Mine Communications can be seen at:
http://www.minesite.com.au/wi_fi_based_digital_communications

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Barrick Meikle

ImPact Access Point underground at Meikle Gold Mine

Barrick Gold has installed PED, Digital Communications and Tracking at their two mines in Nevada, Meikle and Rodeo.As Anton Meyer, Senior Control Engineer at Barrick Goldstrike Mines, explained at his presentation at the MINExpo Educational Sessions, Barrick had developed a project to raise the mine’s emergency preparedness, as well as utilize the features of the chosen systems to integrate their communication and management systems at the mine to increase productivity.The key technologies introduced, and the benefits they have brought to the Barrick operations, are:Personal Emergency Device (PED):
The through-the-earth paging system, PED, was installed to provide more reliable emergency warning to miners underground in event of an emergency. Due to the layout of the mine, the PED transmitting antenna was installed partially on the surface and underground, to form a vertical antenna. This single antenna approximately 2 miles long provides signal to the active working areas of Meikle and Rodeo Mines. An antenna extension to cover the new South Rodeo and Betze ore body developments is being assessed for 2009.The ultra low frequency PED signal travels directly through rock state, thus ensuring personnel can be contacted quickly in event of an emergency. This mine wide signalling ability also means the PED complements the mine’s two-way leaky feeder system, in day to day operations by filling in the gaps in signal coverage and assist in the general management of the mine.Wireless LAN:
Barrick has installed MST’s ImPact Wireless Access Points (Wireless Network Switches) to extend their Ethernet LAN underground, thus creating Wi-Fi hotspots at strategic locations underground. These hot spots are set up to detect RFID Tags, carried by miner in their cap lamps or attached to mobile equipment. Additionally, these Access Points receive information from vehicle mounted diagnostic/data logger units.Cap Lamps:
The mine upgraded their cap lamps with 700 Integrated Communications Cap Lamps (ICCL’s). The ICCL’s are optioned up with internal PED Text Messenger and RFID Tag electronics, to work with the PED transmission system and AeroScout based tracking system, respectively.Vehicle Interface and Tracking:
Self Contained RFID Tags are mounted on vehicles to allow their movements to be tracked. These tags are Wi-Fi Tags, based on AeroScout’s leading Wi-Fi tagging technology.Energy Management System:
Interfaces between the tracking systems, ventilation and gas monitoring systems, and Mine Control and Data Systems, is being developed to provide Ventilation on Demand (VOD). The intention being to automate the control of underground ventilation to suit what has personnel and machinery are in any given area, and thus reduce overall energy usage. In summary, Barrick Gold has a true vision for their Nevada operations using improved communication with miners, vehicles and fixed equipment, to improved safety and productivity by integrating:
- Real time tracking of miners and vehicles
- Quicker response in the event of mine emergencies.
- Access control
- Ventilation control
- Vehicle engine performance monitoring
- Dust, DPM and temperature control
- Energy management.Mine Site Technologies is appreciative of Barrick’s support in using a number of our key technologies as part of their Total Mine Control System project, and acknowledge the broad vision of their engineers on site.

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Rodeo Gold Mine

ICCL cap lamp include RFID Tag and PED Text Receiver circuits

Barrick Gold has installed also installed PED, ImPact Digital Communications and Tracking at their Rodeo Gold Mine in Nevada for the mine’s emergency preparedness objectives, as well as utilize the features of the chosen systems to integrate with their communication and management systems at the mine to increase productivity.The key technologies introduced, and the benefits they have brought to the Barrick operations, are:Personal Emergency Device (PED):
The through-the-earth paging system, PED, was installed to provide more reliable emergency warning to miners underground in event of an emergency. Due to the layout of the mine, the PED transmitting antenna was installed partially on the surface and underground, to form a vertical antenna. This single antenna approximately 2 miles long provides signal to the active working areas of Meikle and Rodeo Mines. An antenna extension to cover the new South Rodeo and Betze ore body developments is being assessed for 2009.The ultra low frequency PED signal travels directly through rock state, thus ensuring personnel can be contacted quickly in event of an emergency. This mine wide signalling ability also means the PED complements the mine’s two-way leaky feeder system, in day to day operations by filling in the gaps in signal coverage and assist in the general management of the mine.Wireless LAN:
Barrick has installed MST’s ImPact Wireless Access Points (Wireless Network Switches) to extend their Ethernet LAN underground, thus creating Wi-Fi hotspots at strategic locations underground. These hot spots are set up to detect RFID Tags, carried by miner in their cap lamps or attached to mobile equipment. Additionally, these Access Points receive information from vehicle mounted diagnostic/data logger units.Cap Lamps:
The mine upgraded their cap lamps with 700 Integrated Communications Cap Lamps (ICCL’s). The ICCL’s are optioned up with internal PED Text Messenger and RFID Tag electronics, to work with the PED transmission system and AeroScout based tracking system, respectively.Vehicle Interface and Tracking:
Self Contained RFID Tags are mounted on vehicles to allow their movements to be tracked. These tags are Wi-Fi Tags, based on AeroScout’s leading Wi-Fi tagging technology.Energy Management System:
Interfaces between the tracking systems, ventilation and gas monitoring systems, and Mine Control and Data Systems, is being developed to provide Ventilation on Demand (VOD). The intention being to automate the control of underground ventilation to suit what has personnel and machinery are in any given area, and thus reduce overall energy usage. In summary, Barrick Gold has a true vision for their Nevada operations using improved communication with miners, vehicles and fixed equipment, to improved safety and productivity by integrating:
- Real time tracking of miners and vehicles
- Quicker response in the event of mine emergencies.
- Access control
- Ventilation control
- Vehicle engine performance monitoring
- Dust, DPM and temperature control
- Energy management.Mine Site Technologies is appreciative of Barrick’s support in using a number of our key technologies as part of their Total Mine Control System project, and acknowledge the broad vision of their engineers on site.

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Kittila Mine

RFID Tags are incorporated inside the ICCL cap lamp

Kittila Mine is in Finland and as the mine develops their engineers wanted to implement a communication backbone that would serve the mines current and future needs. Additionally Agnico Eagle are noted for their proactive adoption of technologies to improve the operating efficiencies, as well as contributing to their safety and environmental objectives.Hence Agnico Eagle have chosen MST’s ImPact Digital System to provide the backbone for their various communication and data requirements. Initially these requirements are:
- Two-way voice communications via VoIP phones
- Tracking via active RFID Tags worn by miners and attached to mobile equipment.To achieve the first stage, the installation consists of:

  • 16 x ImPact Wireless Network Switches (WNS)
  • 13 xPoE ImPact Access Points
  • 90 x ICCL Miners Cap Lamps, with internal RFID Tags
  • 10 x AeroScout T2 Tags, that will be powered from vehicles
  • 20 VoIP Telephones, and associated server and gateway software
  • ImPact TRACKER Engine and Viewer, for tracking software and operator display.

By using a Wi-Fi based underground digital network as the backbone, the mine can add other applications over time without the need to install any other type of data highway. An example will be the introduction of the Vehicle Intelligence Platform (VIP) modules to vehicles to allow the real-time monitoring of engine diagnostics, payload and location data to enhance efficiencies in the production system as the mine grows.

The system is being supplied and installed by our Canadian office. This Sudbury office was one of the first of MST’s branches to get involved in digital based communications, and the quality of their skills in this area has been acknowledged with this deployment in Finland, and we are appreciative of Agnico Eagle’s support of our mine communication & tracking technologies.

More information on Digital Mine Communications can be seen at Underground Wi-Fi Mine Communications

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Vale Integra

Integra Coal has chosen Mine Site Technologies’ for site wide digital communications and tracking for both their open cut and underground mines. A description of the underground part of the installation follows.

Background
Located 8 km north of Singleton in the Hunter Valley, NSW, Brazilian mining giant Vale, operate the Integra Coal complex, with both an open cut and underground coal mine. These two mines produce a mixture of premium coking, semi-soft and thermal coals for the export market.

The Underground Requirement
The underground mine was looking for a tracking system that would monitor and record the movements and position of equipment, particularly during longwall moves. It can take several weeks to move a longwall and during this period there are a multitude of external factors and unforeseen delays which make it exceptionally difficult to keep track of stored item locations.

The mine also wanted to improve communications by introducing a two-way mobile solution to complement the one-way paging functionality of their existing PED System. This was required to streamline communications with maintenance and repair personnel whilst they are on the move underground. If there was a major equipment malfunction this would take priority and the closest maintenance staff would need to be identified and directed to remedy this immediately.

Additionally, from a safety perspective, Integra management wanted to streamline their access control procedures in ventilation zones, by limit the number of personnel to within the limits governed by available emergency breathing apparatus. Similarly, more accurate monitoring and controlling access of vehicles into ventilation zones was seen as advantageous from an Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) perspective.

The Solution
At the heart of the solution are:

  • 20 of MST’s ImPact Wireless Network Switches (WNS), each with one or two Wi-Fi radio cards and a 4 port fibre switch.
  • 17 ImPact Wireless Access Points (WAP), operating from PoE links to their nearest WNS unit.

This basic network infrastructure offers Wi-Fi access, active RFID tag reading and VoIP telephony capability. Additionally power distribution to the communication infrastructure is simplified by using composite power/fibre cable between access points. This custom designed cable contains up to four optic fibres and two power cores, allowing a single power supply to power a number of WNS units.

To allow tracking of the longwall components and development implements, each of these components has an active RFID tag attached, allowing its position to be recorded every time it passes either a WNS or a WAP. This ensures the process of location and identification for each component is greatly simplified.

To identify personnel the mine is upgrading its entire cap lamp fleet and has chosen to invest in 300 of MST’s lightweight ICCL’s (Integrated Communications Cap Lamps) with integrated RFID tag and PED text message receiver. The ICCL solves both the problem of locating and communicating with underground personnel in one integrated unit, whilst the reduced weight of the Lithium Ion battery offers OH&S improvements by reducing each miner’s belt weight. People can be located quickly and easily with the tracking system and operational dispatch messages can be sent directly to the required person via the PED one way pager, ensuring efficient communication.

This tracking and communication cycle will be enhanced further once MST’s VoIP telephone handset is approved for use in coal mines, by allowing more complex two-way communication to occur when required. The Wi-Fi network has been set up to provide seamless VoIP coverage along the travel road from the surface to the longwall, as the ImPact WNS units provide continuous Wi-Fi coverage along the underground roadways.

The Future
Apart from the introduction of the VoIP telephones following their approval, the installation will be extended into hazardous zones areas within 12 months after the Intrinsically Safe version of the Impact WNS units become available.

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Minesite Technologies: 25 27 Whiting St Artarmon NSW 2064 AUSTRALIA Phone: +61 2 9437 4399 Fax: +61 2 9437 5688 Email: mst@minesite.com.au