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Straigt drilling matters - regardless of mining method

Big picutre showing three differnt ways of mining
1.Block caving 2.Sub level caving 3.Open pit mining

With Wassara you can base your mining methods on the ore
bodies, rather than on the drilling limitations.

Drilling technologies over the years

The mining business is in need of new drilling solutions to meet the challenges of mining deeper, bigger and narrower - and at the same time protecting the environment and reducing overall costs. Many existing underground mines are reaching extreme depths that current mining methods cannot manage cost-efficiently.
New deposits lie deeper with leaner ores. These factors demand larger scale mining and resource planning based on facts, not assumptions – and new, more efficient and precise drilling. The straight forward drilling of Wassara delivers this.

Large-scale improvements

Wassara's water-powered technology is the biggest improvement in drilling since the air down-the-hole (DTH), providing accuracy that pushes mining boundaries and eliminates previous limitations. Wassara's technology is suitable for all types of mines and most drilling applications in mining operations. In short, it enables mining companies to scale up, improve safety, lower their energy consumption and minimize the impact on the environment.

How Wassara works

Wassara's technology uses high pressure water to power the DTH hammer. High-pressure water delivers high-frequency rate and high energy per blow. When the water leaves the hammer it has sufficient velocity to force cuttings and debris to the surface, while cleaning the hole. Besides smooth and straight holes, with a minimum of deviation, Wassara offers extensive benefits like high productivity, borehole quality and minimum impact on the formation being drilled.


The principles of water-powered drilling

 

Statement from LKAB:

When I joined LKAB straight from mining school, I believed that straight drilling and air DTH went hand in hand. I soon learned that there was a much better alternative available from Wassara. Today, drilling long and straight production blast holes is a requirement for the continuous improvement of our overall mining costs. And it’s with Wassara technology that we are achieving this...
Monica Quinteiro

Production Manager, LKAB Kiruna mine, Sweden