The DMU represents the radical marriage of underwater track crawler technology with high-capacity skid-mounted materials handling and sand pumping systems, into a single remotely controlled mobile sand processing machine.
The unit allows for large tonnage run-of-mine (ROM) material to be efficiently pumped at high densities to processing facilities, reducing tramming distance and therefore decreasing the use of front-end loaders (FELs), excavators, articulated dump trucks (ADTs) and consequently the consumption of diesel fuel on site.
The remotely operated tracked unit receives mineral sand ROM in excess of 1,500 tph from cycling FELs into a ROM bin. This material is drawn out via a feeder at a controlled tonnage, discharged via a pulping chute, fluidised, and screened into a wet bin. Thereafter it is drawn out and pumped up to two kilometres by a centrifugal pump and booster stations to the wet concentrator plant. The DMU is mobile and relocated every seven days to follow the mining face.
The technology represents an innovative operating cost saving asset for clients in the mineral sands environment and could also be used in other operations where sand or fine overburden material can be slurried and pumped to either a concentrator plant or a tailings facility.
