Progress in the Improvement of Methods and Equipment at Open-pit Iron Mines on the Lake Superior Iron Ranges

PRESENT equipment and practices in open-pit mines of the Lake Superior iron ranges have been described recently in some detail by A. H. Hubbell.1 It is anticipated that any further improvements will be the result of gradual evolution of present methods and equipment, just as those now used have been gradually evolved from earlier methods. An exception to the process of gradual evolution during the last decade has been the adoption of electric power for operating shovels and trains in open-pit mines, but it is not expected that any such revolutionary changes will be made in the future. The use of Diesel, engine equipment will gain considerable headway, no doubt, and will find favor in certain lines of operation as improvements and adaptations are evolved to meet particular requirements. The question of installing belt conveyors for handling material from deep mines of restricted area, where haulage grades become a serious consideration, or even for transferring earth, rock, or ore material for distances of several miles, is now being studied and some very interesting data are being obtained.