In many mining applications the focus is on using the biggest equipment available to provide economies of scale. However some operations profit from employing the sort of mid-size machines in production roles that are more commonly used for construction. The reasons for this approach may vary though. Mid-size machines can be useful at operations with difficult geology or where climate rules against larger items of equipment. The La Emilia mine operated by Mineria in Venezuela is running a fleet of JOB machines, using excavators and a wheeled loader for digging at the face and articulated trucks for haulage. This surface gold mine is in a remote location, some 1,300 km or so from the capital Caracas and around 514 hours by road from the nearest industrial town of Puerto Ordaz but the high gold content of the ores in this area makes it ripe territory for mining.
NSTL
