2010: issue 6

A publication of Caterpillar Global Mining

Caterpillar produces
50,000th truck

Making mine sites safer by

reducing blind spots

Going underground
to create the second largest gold mine

in china
modern systems demand
clean fuel

Availability is key
CC&V demands
consistent production
from haulage fleet

Flee t m a n a g e m e n t:
Getting ready for the upturn

Film showcases
companies that are
mining right
 I’m pleased to present this edition of Viewpoint magazine—
the first issue in this new decade.
We’ve heard from a number of readers in the past
few months who find it a valuable resource for
information about the mining industry and who
eagerly await each new issue. Every day we get new
subscription requests from all over the world.
Like everyone in the mining industry, we have
been dealing with challenging times in the past year.
We hope you’ll find information in this issue to help
you be successful today and in the years ahead.
We address the industry’s response to the reduced
demand for commodities in an article about
fleet management, where we not only discuss
activities in the downturn, but also focus on the
ways manufacturers and mining companies are
preparing for the upturn.
In this issue, we feature Cripple Creek & Victor Gold
mine in Colorado, which recently completed a six-
month evaluation of new trucks for its haulage fleet.
We’re grateful for this mine’s participation in a field
follow on our new 793F trucks and we appreciate
their valuable feedback.
We take readers to China’s Jinfeng mine, a gold-rich
site that has moved underground and is now the
second largest gold mine in China.
Editorial Board: Tony Johnson, Editor. Glenn Morrison, Australia; Matt Turner, Canada; June
Tian, China; Martin Gill, CIS; David Mohr, Europe, Africa and the Middle
East; John Bergin, Southeast Asia; Keith Malison, Latin America; Brad
Beyer, United States; David Rea, Large Mining Trucks; Mel Busch, Large
Track-Type Tractors; Randy Aneloski, Large Wheel Loaders; Yon Chong,
Underground Machines; Kent Clifton, Support; Ken Edwards, Safety &
Sustainability; Tim Siekmann, Product Support; Greg Gardner/Dan Hellige/
Andy Trent, Global Accounts; Renee Balaco/Charlie Zimmerman, Mining
Marketing; Roschelle McCoy, Technology; Converse Marketing, Publisher.
c Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint / 2010: issue 6
This issue’s safety feature focuses on operator
visibility and how a new object detection system will
help enhance vision and protect against collisions
involving large mining trucks.
Our best practices story highlights the importance
of clean fuel and showcases a mine in Armenia that
realized outstanding results from the installation of
a fuel filtration system.
We also feature “Ground Rules: Mining Right for
a Sustainable Future,” a film that is the cornerstone
of a new educational program designed to help
improve public opinion about mining. It includes
a set of 75 lesson plans to help educators further
examine the themes and concepts presented in
the film.
We’re always looking for new ways—like
Viewpoint—to add value beyond the products and
services we provide to our customers.
Chris Curfman
President, Caterpillar Global Mining
Viewpoint is a publication of Cat Global Mining,
producer of one of the mining industry’s broadest
lines of equipment and technology. Caterpillar
serves the worldwide mining community through
its vast dealer network and a single division called
Caterpillar Global Mining, headquartered in
Peoria, USA, with additional offices worldwide.
 AUTOMATIC WATER DRAIN COALESCING FILTER ELEMENTS
Allows excess water to drain. Fibers attract water into large
droplets that fall to the bottom.
(view is simplified for illustration.)
OUTLET SAMPLING VALVE
Provides access for
filtered fuel samples.

SLUG CONTROL VALVE 4-MICRON PARTI

Slows down or shuts off fuel flow if Removes abrasive
the amount of water in the fuel
exceeds the flow capacity of the Gauges
water drain valve or if particulate or indicate filter INLET SAMPLING
coalescer filters start to plug. restriction. Provides access fo
unfiltered fuel sam
table of contents
WATER METER
GA

28
Continuously measures and Port for
caterpillar produces Sh
records volume of water removed. optional
50,000th Off-Highway Truck
heating du
element. rem

CLEAN, DRY FUEL

Object Detection:
Making mine sites safer by reducing blind spots 26
modern systems demand clean fuel

the dangers of contamination 2

Going underground
to create the second largest
gold mine in China:
Film showcases companies that are
mining right
JinFeng Mine
Getting ready for the upturn
16 6
22
CC&V demands consistent
production from haulage fleet

Availability is key 8
News from caterpillar 29
Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint 1
 Mine sites purchase, store and consume millions of liters of fuel each year—a major expense
and a leading contributor to machine performance. Today’s increasingly complex fuel injection
systems require fuel to be of a higher quality—especially when it comes to cleanliness—
than ever before.

THE DANGERS OF CONTAMINATION:

MODERN SYSTEMS DEMAND CLEAN FUEL

While mines can’t always control the condition of
the fuel they receive, they can have an impact on
how clean it is when it enters the machine. Mines
around the world are taking steps to reduce fuel
contamination—extending the life of components,
improving machine performance, maintaining fuel
economy and increasing machine availability.
“There’s no question that the use of contaminated
fuel in modern fuel systems can cause a host of
problems with machinery,” says David Barker, a
product support consultant in Caterpillar’s Global
Aside from the cost Mining Division. “But there are things sites can do
of tires and fuel, to control the cleanliness of the fuel they use.”
and the wages of THE COST OF CONTAMINATION
machine operators, Cleanliness is critical to minimizing cost-per-tonne
about 70 percent through better care of machines. “Aside from the
of total machine cost of tires and fuel, and the wages of machine
operating cost operators, about 70 percent of total machine
is the life cycle operating cost is the life cycle costs of powertrain
costs of powertrain components,” explains Barker.
components.  n a typical large mining truck, the cost
O
distribution is:
 Engine 40%
 Transmission/Torque Converter 10%
Final Drive & Differential 40%
Miscellaneous 10%
Modern fuel systems use electronic unit injectors,
a component that delivers precise amounts of fuel
and controls injection timing to within thousandths
of a second. Electronic unit injectors control the
performance and fuel economy of the engine and
are expensive to replace when worn.
Component life cycle cost is roughly defined as
cost to rebuild the component divided by actual
component life in hours. Extending the life of
a component is the most important factor in
reducing its life cycle cost. This does not mean
simply extending overhaul intervals and allowing
components to wear more severely. It means
implementing a strategy to reduce the rate of
wear and achieve longer component life without
incurring excessive wear.
“Contaminated fuel can cause an unacceptable rate
of injector wear and resultant failure—and, as a
result, unnecessary repair costs,” says Barker.
FUEL CONTAMINANTS
The two most common contaminants in fuel are
excessive dirt and water. These contaminants
are typically introduced into fuel during the
transportation, mixing or storage process.
Water, the most common contaminant, may be
introduced when warm, moist air condenses on the
fuel tank walls and condensation builds up.
Excessive water can reduce the lubricating qualities
of the fuel and cause injector seizure and contingent
engine damage. In addition, fungus and bacteria
live in water. When they get into a fuel system, they
can plug fuel filters, reducing their life and causing
premature injector wear-out, all of which affect the
life of the machine.

2 Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint / issue 6

Particles of dirt, sediment and other solids have
a similar effect on fuel injectors, causing them to
wear out prematurely and leading to unnecessary
failures.
Clean fuel does more than just reduce problems,
however. Added benefits include improved fuel
economy and longer component life. In addition to
reducing the replacement frequency of fuel filters
and injectors, clean fuel prolongs injector life.
“What it really boils down to is availability of the
machine,” says Barker. “When machines are not
in for repairs, they are at work on the site. Less
downtime means greater productivity.”
IMPROVING CLEANLINESS
The two critical factors leading to fuel quality are the
cleanliness of the fuel delivered to the site, and the
storage and handling practices used after it arrives.
“Fuel suppliers, of course, indicate to mine sites
that the fuel they deliver is clean,” says Barker. “And
many times it starts out that way. But that fuel isn’t
going directly into machines; it’s going into bulk
storage tanks that may be contaminated or have
high levels of condensation built up.”
In order to maximize engine life, diesel fuel
supplied to the fuel tank should have a maximum
particulate level of ISO 18/16/13 with a maximum
water content level of 0.1 percent (1,000 ppm).
In some geographic areas, fuel suppliers to mines
have the infrastructure and discipline to deliver
relatively clean fuel. However, in the majority of
mining applications, that is not the case. Fuel
leaving the refinery is transported to remote
locations through ships, pipelines, barges and
trucks, and is often stored in intermediate storage
tanks. Each time the fuel is stored or moved, it
has the opportunity to attract contaminants. In
some cases gross amounts of water and/or dirt can
contaminate the fuel. Much of this can be removed
through proper storage and handling.
Fuel Storage Capacity
Given adequate storage time, much of the dirt and
water in fuel will settle to the bottom of the storage
tank if the fuel is left undisturbed. Fuel storage
capacity on the site should be adequate to let new
fuel deliveries settle for two to three days before
drawing the supply fuel from the tank.
“The most common problem on mine sites is lack
of tank capacity,” says Barker. “Mine capacity and
haulage fleets often grow faster than their fuel
storage facility. This usually results in fuel being
added to tanks while it is being consumed. This
practice stirs up contaminants and keeps them in
suspension in the delivery fuel.”
Storage tank design
Regardless of size or shape, best practices
recommend that fuel storage tanks have the
following:
Sloped tank floor. Water which settles out of the
fuel will flow to the lowest spot in the sloped tank.
Tanks should have a drain at the lowest point and
be drained frequently to minimize the presence
of water.
Well-located suction pipe. A suction pipe located well
above floor level will ensure that only clean fuel is
drawn in, and water and dirt that have settled to the
bottom of the tank remain undisturbed.
Desiccant vent filters. These filters remove any
moisture from air entering the tank.
Non-corrosive tank lining. At a minimum, the tank
floor and the bottom 1 meter (3 feet) of the tank
should be epoxy coated to resist corrosion from Fuel leaving the refinery is
trapped water. transported to remote locations
through ships, pipelines, barges
and trucks, and is often stored
Fuel handling in intermediate storage tanks
like the ones above. Each time
the fuel is stored or moved, it
Once the proper steps have been taken regarding has the opportunity to attract
storage, it’s important to also have a fuel contaminants. In some cases
gross amounts of water and/or
maintenance policy, with adequate personnel in dirt can contaminate the fuel.
place responsible for proper fuel handling. This
includes using particle counters and water detection
tests to measure cleanliness and sampling incoming
shipments and outgoing fuel.
SUPPLEMENTING WITH FILTRATION
The fuel filters on machines are designed to provide
final filtration for moderately clean supply fuel.
Machine filtration is not intended to clean fuel
contaminated with large amounts of dirt and water.
Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint 3
 If contaminated fuel is used, the capability of the
onboard filtration is overwhelmed and injectors
either wear out prematurely or seize.
One way to reduce the burden on machine fuel
filters is to install a bulk fuel filtration system. Bulk
fuel filtration consists of high capacity filters that
remove both excess dirt and water from the supply
fuel before it is put into the machine.
Caterpillar has engineered a packaged system
to remove both dirt and water. The Cat Bulk ®
Fuel Filtration System is intended for use in any
application where users store fuel for machines
or engines. It requires very little maintenance and
contains safeguards to prevent contaminated fuel
from passing through the unit.
How it works
“Bulk fuel filtration The self-contained unit is mounted on a skid,
has been used in the and is placed between the fuel storage tank and
aviation industry for fueling station.
more than 50 years The 4-micron, beta 200, full synthetic particulate
to address these filter elements remove dirt in a single pass and
same problems. effectively hold large volumes of debris. Filter
change intervals are about once a month, depending
Now, Caterpillar on the level of contamination. Filter elements may
has adopted this
proven technology SEPARATOR CANISTER
Repels smaller water droplets
to help our mining suspended in moving fuel flow and
customers.” prevents them from escaping.
–David Barker, Product AUTOMATIC WATER DRAIN
Support Consultant Allows excess water to drain.
OUTLET SAMPLING VALVE
Provides access for
filtered fuel samples.
SLUG CONTROL VALVE
Slows down or shuts off fuel flow if
the amount of water in the fuel
exceeds the flow capacity of the
water drain valve or if particulate or
coalescer filters start to plug.
WATER METER
Continuously measures and
records volume of water removed.
CLEAN, DRY FUEL
4 Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint / issue 6
be quickly and easily replaced without the need for
hand tools.
The coalescer unit contains multiple elements
capable of removing up to 3 percent water by
volume to 1,000 ppm (0.1 percent) or less at the
rated flow. Water removed by these elements falls to
the bottom of the coalescer unit and is automatically
drained to an external water storage vessel. A float
mechanism in the bottom of the unit monitors the
water level. The coalescing elements do not plug
and usually require changing only once a year.
An automatic flow control valve slows down or stops
fuel outlet flow if particulate filters plug or there are
massive amounts of water in the fuel. This ensures
only clean fuel leaves the unit.
The maximum fuel flow rate of the user’s fuel
supply system determines the size of the coalescer
filtration system. Four different units are available.
The smaller units are sized at 190-liters-per-minute
(lpm) (50 gallons-per-minute) (gpm) and 379 lpm
(100 gpm) units. They are intended for day tank
applications or for portable use on a fuel truck
where fueling is done manually. The 757 lpm (200
gpm) unit is intended for fuel stations using fast-
fill, where maximum flow does not exceed 757 lpm
(200 gpm). This unit will handle truck sizes up to
COALESCER UNIT
COALESCING FILTER ELEMENTS
Fibers attract water into large
droplets that fall to the bottom.
(view is simplified for illustration.)
4-MICRON PARTICULATE FILTER
Removes abrasive particles.
Gauges
indicate filter INLET SAMPLING VALVE
restriction. Provides access for
unfiltered fuel samples.
Port for GATE VALVE
optional Shuts off flow
heating during service or
element. removal of unit.
the 218-tonne (240-short-ton) Cat 793. The largest
unit, 1136 lpm (300 gpm), is intended for fast-fill of
327-tonne (360-short-ton) Cat 797 size trucks.
Permanent installation is simple, says Barker. “All
you need is a small concrete pad downstream of the
fuel storage tank and supply pump. And a water
container is required nearby to store the wastewater
removed from the fuel.” The system doesn’t require
electric power unless it’s used in extremely cold
climates. An optional electric fuel heater is available
for cold climates where water removed from the fuel
may freeze.
SEEING RESULTS
“You might wonder why, if mine sites could see
the value of fuel cleanliness, they aren’t all using
filtration systems,” says Barker. “Truth is, they are
now beginning to understand how important it is—
and what a difference it makes in the life of their
components and their equipment.”
For example, Zangezur mine in Armenia had faced
ongoing problems with injectors and engines in
all types of equipment on site. The installation of a
Cat Bulk Fuel Filtration system has had a dramatic
impact at the mine, which is operated by Zangezur
Copper and Molybdenum Mining Company and
owned by German company Cronimet.
Zangezur mine, established in 1952, is the largest
mining enterprise in Armenia and is the site of one
of the biggest deposits of molybdenum in the world.
In 2009, the site produced an estimated 41000
tonnes (45,000 short tons) of copper and about
8200 tonnes (9,000 short tons) of molybdenum
concentrate. The site operates about 30 machines,
including Cat 785 trucks, 992 and 993 wheel loaders,
several track-type tractors and an excavator.
Injector problems have a negative impact on any
mine site, but that impact is even more significant
in a remote location like Zangezur. The mine
operates at an altitude of 2200 meters (7,217 feet)
and is surrounded by mountains.
FUEL WITH DIRT AND WATER
“Replacing parts is a challenge in Armenia,” says “The impact it had
Ivan Glushankov, a Caterpillar mining product
on our site was
support specialist based in Moscow. “Not only is
it costly to replace parts, it’s also a challenge to
immediate and
get them. It can sometimes take 30 days to repair significant. We have
a machine—and when that machine is down, seen improvements
productivity is down.” in every machine
Caterpillar and Zeppelin Armenia representatives we operate.”
–r ubik abramyan,
visited the site, evaluated the problem and
zangezur mine, armenia
recommended the site install the bulk fuel filtration
system. The results were impressive.
“All the problems disappeared,” says Rubik
Abramyan, head of the mine’s transportation
department. “I have recommended to every mine
site that they install this system. The impact it had
on our site was immediate and significant. We have
seen improvements in every machine we operate.”
Glushankov estimates that the improved
performance and longer component life resulting
from using clean fuel has allowed Zangezur to pay
for the fuel filtration system in just a few months.
“They’re relatively inexpensive, especially when
compared to the cost of a mining machine,” says
Barker. “If you eliminate the need to replace a
couple sets of injectors, you’ve paid for it.”
Sites in the United States have seen similar results,
says Barker. “These customers are no longer dealing
with plugged fuel filters. We had one mine manager
tell us that he had been replacing a fuel filter every Injector problems have a
negative impact on any mine
day prior to installing the bulk fuel filtration system. site, but that impact is even
more significant in a remote
In the 10-day period after that, he didn’t make one
location like Zangezur. The
replacement. Customers are also reporting that mine operates at an altitude of
2200 meters (7,217 feet) and
they’re not forced to replace injectors at the half- is surrounded by mountains.
life of the engine. And as always, less downtime
translates to higher productivity.”
Barker predicts bulk fuel filtration will become a
more common process on sites throughout the
world. “We have one customer that is so impressed
with the benefits of clean fuel that they’re filtering
the fuel when it goes into the storage tank, and
again when it comes out,” he says.
Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint 5

As mines around the world adjusted their production
levels to meet the reduced demand for commodities,
mining companies continued to make a number of
important decisions that impact their equipment fleets.
Whether machines were idled completely, operated less
frequently, used for parts or moved to other locations,
it’s important that equipment managers think about
the future while dealing with the downturn.
fleet
management:
getting ready for the upturn
“The mining industry was significantly impacted by
the economic downturn that hit in 2009,” says Chris
Curfman, president of Caterpillar Global Mining.
“Since then, we’ve continued to work alongside our
dealers and our customers, making adjustments
to weather tough economic times. However, a lot
of our focus has been not on the current situation,
but on the future. We believe the upturn is going
to be just as severe as the downturn. And when
it happens, we want to make sure our customers
and dealers have the right equipment, in the best
condition, ready to go to work. And we want to
make sure we’re ready to support them.”
6 Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint / issue 6
DEALING WITH THE DOWNTURN
When the downturn hit, mining companies around
the world responded in different ways in regard to
their haulage fleets. Some took trucks completely
out of production; others reduced their number of
shifts, yet continued to use their entire fleets for
fewer hours. In some cases, parked trucks were
used to supply parts for the active fleet.
Empire Machinery is one of the many Cat dealers
whose customers were impacted by the tough
economy. The dealership has been supplying
equipment to mines in Arizona, USA, for more
than 50 years. “Some of our customers used parked
equipment to meet their need for parts,” says Larry
Kitto, Empire’s director of mining. “Another method
to reduce costs was to leave trucks idle while they
are waiting for a component.” In times of high
production, dealers use “exchange” components
so the truck is down only long enough for the
component to be installed. Cost reductions are the
driver when commodity prices are low, he explains,
so customers have chosen to stand the trucks down
and repair components instead of immediately
replacing them with another pre-built component.
The downturn had an effect on dealerships as well.
“When customers stop purchases and cancel orders,
it’s very painful for us,” says Kitto. “But in the long
run, if they ignore the situation, we will all be in
worse shape. Our approach is long-term. We are
partners with our customers in this business. Our
job is to help them be successful. And when they
succeed, they buy our products and services. It’s a
win-win.”
MEETING EQUIPMENT NEEDS
From offering do-it-yourself maintenances tips to
promoting cost-effective rebuilds, Caterpillar also
looked for ways to help customers deal with their
equipment fleets during the downturn. “Given
that more machine owners were taking on routine
maintenance of their machines, Caterpillar put
together some on-demand videos that provide
practical, detailed advice on various procedures,”
says Tim Siekmann, a Caterpillar product support
manager. “The videos cover topics like proper
replacement of air filters, identifying hose-
abrasion points, battery maintenance or preventing
contamination.” Videos are available at www.cat.
com/maintenance-and-support.
“A downturn isn’t the time to stop taking care of
machines,” Siekmann continues. “In fact, it’s a good
time, while production levels are reduced, to do
some of those routine maintenance items or safety
enhancements that you haven’t wanted to take the
truck out of production for.”
The need for work-ready machines is a pressing
concern no matter the economic climate. “To
address that concern, Cat dealers provide an
excellent starting point—Technical Analysis
inspections that assess the health of a machine and
identify potential problems,” says Siekmann. These
inspections give machine owners an objective look
at machine condition and allow them to balance
machine capability against impending work.
Economically restoring existing machines to reliable
condition is one “other-than-new” option, but that
option can be complemented with used equipment
and rental equipment. Cat dealers offer a wide range
of used machines for purchase or rent.
IMPROVING PERFORMANCE
Another way to reduce costs is to become more
efficient—getting more performance out of the
equipment and people on site. “Continuous
Improvement activities are a service Caterpillar
and Cat dealers have provided for a long time, but
their importance was even more apparent when
the downturn occurred,” says Curfman. “Over the
past several years, we’ve invested millions of dollars
in these activities at mines around the world, and
we’re continuing to fund this vital work through the
downturn.”
Activities cover every aspect of a mine’s operation,
from maintenance and repair to applications and
component life management. These projects can
have a significant impact on a site’s productivity.
Helping employees work more efficiently is another
cost-cutting objective. Caterpillar Equipment
Training Solutions offers a practical means to help
achieve these goals by equipping machine operators
to perform their jobs competently and confidently.
Today, the method for teaching operating skills can
be tailored to the individual operator’s situation—
whether class-room instruction, on-site training,
“e-learning” or simulators.
PREPARING FOR THE UPTURN
There’s no question that the mining industry has
faced some difficult times. But when asked to pick
one word to describe his company’s outlook on the
situation, Curfman chose “ready.”
“We and our dealers are moving forward with
confidence and optimism,” he says. “We’re
planning, organizing, preparing and executing.
We’re working together with a sense of urgency to
help make sure our mining customers are ready.
Ready to overcome today’s challenges—ready to
capitalize on tomorrow’s opportunities. “ As mine managers
prepare for increased
Mining companies adjusted their workforces, demand, here are some
inventory and support levels for the current questions they have
economic conditions. As they prepare for an considered:
upswing, Siekmann suggests it’s time to begin
evaluating the status of their fleets, forecasting the >W
 hat is the status of my fleet?
Have idled trucks been used
need for service and components and evaluating the for parts? How do I make sure
skill sets of their employees. they are ready to be put into
production again?
Caterpillar, too, has developed a plan for the upturn. > Should I be planning rebuilds?
“We’re working with mine sites to confirm we’re > Do I have my Planned
going to be ready with what they need from us,” Component Replacement
Forecast updated?
says Siekmann.
> How can I use the Caterpillar
Future Dated Order (FDO) and
“We don’t want long delays from the factory to
Committed Planned Repair
stand in the way of anyone’s success,” Curfman Order (CPRO) to make sure
my parts and components
says. “So we have fine-tuned our forecasting
are available when I have
systems, evaluated inventories, took waste out of scheduled needed repairs?
the supply chain and identified leading indicators > Am I forecasting and placing
orders so I can match them
that will serve as trigger points for our production
with my capabilities and
processes and systems.” capacities?
Curfman says Caterpillar is confident in the mining > Have I reviewed my personnel
and their skill sets? Have I cut
industry’s ability to overcome these difficult times employees in the downturn and
lost some of the skill sets I’ll
and not only survive, but flourish in the years to
need in the upturn?
come. “Commodity prices are relatively strong and
still at investment thresholds, and we’re starting
to see signs of life again in the mining business,”
he says. “The message here is clear: We’ll not only
survive this particular downturn, but we will be
better than before.”
Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint 7
Availability
is key
CC&V demands
consistent production
from haulage fleet
Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company operations
run around the clock on every day of the year. About 300
full-time employees and 50 contractors work 12-hour
shifts to produce 163000 tonnes (180,000 short tons)
of ore per day. Four crews in each department are
required to provide coverage throughout the year.

The ability of these employees to meet their

production targets is largely dependent on the
availability of the mining machines they operate.
The site relies heavily on consistent production
from its haulage fleet and work can come to a
standstill if a machine breaks down. The mine
operates a fleet of Cat 793D trucks, and as it
began looking to expand its fleet,
agreed to be a field follow
site for the new
Cat 793F.

A HISTORIC GOLD MINE

Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining

Company mine (CC&V) is a joint venture
majority owned and operated by AngloGold Ashanti
(Colorado) Corp. The current mining operation,
started in 1994, is called the Cresson Project. The
site south of Denver, Colorado, USA, had been
mined using underground methods since the late
1890s and into the 1950s. The area is famous for the
great gold find of the district, the “Cresson Vug,” a
cavity in the rock, lined with crystals somewhat like
a geode, where gold was essentially picked from the
walls of a room-sized void encountered about 366
meters (1,200 feet) below the surface in 1914.

Engineering for the modern Cresson mine began

in 1993. Obtaining the various permits necessary to
mine was completed in 1994. The first Cresson gold
was poured in 1995, and an expansion construction
began in 2000. In late 2003, CC&V reached its
planned expansion capacity of 18.1 million tonnes
(20 million short tons). The mine poured its two
millionth ounce in 2004.

Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint 9

 As of December 2009, the mine reported a proven
ore reserve of about 112.5 million tonnes (124
million short tons), containing approximately 1.6
million ounces (45.5 million grams) of recoverable
gold. The annual gold production rate from the
Cresson Project varies somewhat with about 250,000
troy ounces produced in 2008. Currently, the mine
life is estimated to last until 2016.

This low-grade, open-pit operation produces doré

that is 70 percent gold and 20 percent silver. CC&V
processes about 22 million tonnes (24 million short
tons) of ore per year. The ore is treated using a
valley-type, heap-leach process with activated carbon
used to recover the gold. The resulting doré buttons
are shipped to a refinery for final processing.

EVALUATING HAUL TRUCKS

Buying a mining truck is serious business. Not only

is there the substantial outlay of money to consider,
but there are also the myriad ways that truck will
impact operations on the site. From matching with
shovels, to fitting on the haul road, to handling high
altitudes—many variables combine to determine the
right truck for the site. And it’s imperative to strive
for the lowest cost-per-tonne possible to succeed in
the competitive gold mining business.

When it was time to add some new trucks to the

CC&V fleet, the site began an evaluation process
that lasted nearly six months. “We did extensive
studies on a number of manufacturers’ trucks,” says
Vivien Hui, a senior engineer in mine operations
for AngloGold Ashanti (Colorado) Corp.
“We looked at everything you can
think of—from evaluating the engine
block material to gauge its ability to
handle our site’s rough terrain, to
evaluating the ease of maintenance
on the drive system.”
The site evaluated dozens of variables, including
how the truck options matched the site’s current
shovels and how the truck fit with the site’s
infrastructure, which requires travel from the shop,
to load-out, to bin, to crusher. The site considered
the overall capital cost for each truck, the costs for

10 Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint / 2010: issue 6

planned maintenance and major components, and
the cost for labor required to maintain them.
The mine looked at all variables first by cost-per-
hour, then used a modeling program called Q’PIT
to measure each option on a cost-per-tonne basis.
“We fed the details into the model and it told us
the cost-per-tonne over the life of our specific
mine,” says Hui.
CONSIDERING SIZE OPTIONS
One might think that in order to get the most
production from a site, the haulage fleet should be
the largest size trucks possible. That wasn’t true in
the case of CC&V.
“We evaluated the ultra class trucks over 360 tons,”
says Hui. “And we found that for our mine, the
larger trucks would actually result in a higher cost-
per-tonne than a smaller truck.”
There are a number of reasons why:
Haul profile. The site has both uphill and downhill
loaded haul roads and judged the trucks by the cost-
per-tonne based on both of these profiles.
Infrastructure. Going with a large truck would have
made it necessary to expand the road width in order
to meet the CC&V standard requiring roads that are
just over three times the width of the truck.
Dilution. Considering the dilution in its average ore
grade, it was determined that the additional waste
material would reduce the advantages gained from
using a larger truck.
Tires. As trucks get larger, exponentially the tires get
more expensive. CC&V considered its relationship
with tire manufacturers and the allocation of
available tires.
Shovels. Shovels currently on site were not the right
size to be the most productive with larger trucks.
TESTING A NEW MODEL
When Caterpillar approached CC&V to consider
being a field follow site for its new F-Series trucks,
the timing couldn’t have been better. The site was
able to evaluate this new and improved truck in
the midst of its search for new trucks to add to its
haulage fleet.
The site was happy with its existing fleet of
227-tonne (250-ton) 793D trucks and agreed to
test two of the 793F trucks. The fifth generation
of the 793 has a powerful new engine, choice
of power train options, choice of body systems
and a completely redesigned operator station.
Serviceability has been updated with more ground
level service points and 1,000-hour hydraulic filter
service intervals. Other changes promote safe
operator and technician access—wider walkways,
flat upper deck, rear access ladder and three-way
below/ Vivien Hui, a senior
lock-out tag-out box mounted on the bumper. engineer in mine operations for
AngloGold Ashanti (Colorado) Corp.,
“We short-listed down to three trucks that we championed a six-month project to
evaluate new mining trucks.
were considering, and then we narrowed it even
further to the Cat 793 trucks,” says Hui. “We had a
combined 15,000 hours to study the new F-Series,
and after the field follow we purchased both trucks.”
Hui reports that the F-Series met the site’s cost-per-
tonne criteria and the capital cost comparison was
favorable. While all of the F-Series enhancements
are important, there are several that are of particular
importance to CC&V.
Performance
The 793F’s new engine is a great match for the
environment in the Cripple Creek mining district,
reports Bruce Neldner, parts and service manager at
Cat dealer Wagner Equipment, which is responsible
for the Cat equipment at the Cresson Project.
“This mine is on the side of a mountain,
and there is a huge elevation change
from top to bottom,” he explains.
“They’re working at 3048 to 3350 meters
(10,000 to 11,000 feet) altitude. The
less air there is, the less fuel you can
use, which means less power. But with
this engine, you don’t have to cut the
fuel in the higher elevations.”
Hui agrees that it’s very important that the engine
doesn’t derate at the mine’s altitude. “We get the
same horsepower at 2 miles high as we do at 1 mile
high,” she says.
Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint 11
 The 16-cylinder, 1976-kilowatt (2,650-horsepower)
Cat C175-16 diesel engine displaces 5.3 liters (323
in3) per cylinder, for a total displacement of 85 liters
(5,187 in3). The 793F delivers 174 kilowatts (234
horsepower) more than its predecessor, the 793D.
The engine redesign was done in part to meet Tier 2
emissions requirements; however, CC&V has found
a number of additional benefits. “We found that,
yes, they redesigned the engine to be better for the
environment,” says Hui. “But we’ve also learned that
the new block material is stronger, which is great for
our hard rock environment. And performance went
up in the process.”
The 793F delivers more power to the ground,
explains David Rea, a product marketing specialist
in Caterpillar’s Global Mining division.
“It’s faster on grade, and because
mining trucks spend the majority of
their time on grade, it can travel faster,
move more tonnes, and deliver a lower
cost-per-tonne,” he says.
retarder set are really nice—I use them every round.
It works like a cruise control going downhill.”
Cat uses oil-cooled multiple disc brakes on all four
wheels. They provide immediate, fade resistant
braking and retarding and with proper attention
to oil temperatures, the brake discs and plates
experience virtually no wear. Four-wheel balanced
braking improves handling and machine control.
Another advantage is that unlike some trucks,
the Cat engine and truck are made by the same
manufacturer. “They’re designed to work well
together and we only have one manufacturer to
deal with if there is an issue,” Hui says.
Safety and comfort
The new cab in the Cat F-Series trucks features
a number of improvements to make it a more
comfortable working environment, including
controls and gauges that are positioned to maximize
productivity and minimize fatigue.
Hines says he appreciates the smooth, comfortable
ride and the improved visibility due to more window

1 / The operator environment in the Cat

F-Series trucks has been improved to be
more comfortable, with ergonomically
designed controls.

2 / The Cat high-strength frame is designed

to last in rugged mining applications like
the hard-rock environment at CC&V.

3 / Making service points easy to access,

like these gauges, means less downtime
for maintenance.
1 1 2

Hui reports the truck is a good match for the site’s
haul profile. “It goes fast uphill and fast downhill.
It has great retarding going down and good torque
and speed going up. This reduces our cycle time.”
Operator Vic Hines, who has been an operator at
CC&V for eight years, is impressed with the truck’s
performance. “The new engine and torque converter
are super,” he says. “It takes the hills great and
takes off good on the grades. The throttle locks and
area. “The cab is roomy and all the controls are
reachable,” he says. “The comfort is great.”
The safety enhancements of the new truck, such as
improved access and eggress, are also appreciated
by the operators. “Caterpillar definitely thought
about safety when they designed the F-Series,” says
Hui. “It’s a number one goal for us and they are
helping us achieve it.”

12 Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint / 2010: issue 6

Serviceability
A number of the changes in the 793F were done to
make it easier to service—a welcome improvement
for the dealer and site technicians who work on the
trucks. The operators also appreciate that walk-
around inspections are easier.
“The oil checks and hubs are nice and the air bleed
system is easy to access,” says Hines. “The sights on
the tanks are also improved.”
Wagner performs most of the maintenance
on the Cat equipment at the Cresson Project,
although CC&V does much of their own planned
maintenance on site. “Overall we’ve found the new
truck easier to service,” says Neldner. “A lot of the
improvements are concentrated on the service
points. Having as many at ground level as possible
makes them easier to access. It’s also safer because
the less you crawl around on the machine, obviously
the safer you are.”
Durability
CC&V also was impressed by the new frame on
the 793F. Cat frames use a high strength, low alloy
(mild) steel with castings in highly stressed areas.
A key advantage of mild steel frames is that they can
be easily welded in the field. They’re designed to last
in rugged mining environments.
“The percentage of castings went up, so the
frame has more durability,” says Hui. Frame life
is important because it dictates the long-term
economic life of the machine. “We know we can
Field follow program tests
new trucks in real applications
Companies that purchase a new Cat F-Series truck may be buying a new model—but they’re
getting a truck that has been tested for thousands of hours. And it hasn’t just been tested
in a controlled environment. It has been put to work in a real-life environment on an actual
customer mine site.
The Caterpillar Tucson Proving Ground is a one-of-a-kind testing facility for Cat trucks.
But there’s nothing quite like the real-world environment, where different altitudes and
climates, haul profiles and operator skill levels all have a different impact on a truck.
“We want to put trucks in all applications and run them in a variety of environments—
the cold of Canada, the coal fields of Wyoming, the high altitudes of South America,”
says Jeff Lester, Caterpillar service engineer. “From deep pits to shallow grades, high
speeds to high temperatures. We want the complete story of the performance before
we go to production.”
The answer is Caterpillar’s field follow program, during which Cat dealers and customers
test developing trucks in real applications.
“Caterpillar benefits by getting a truck that is validated in a real-
world application with a real customer,” says Lester. “We are
able to tell the marketplace, ‘Yes, this is a new product. But it
has been validated on a customer site.’”
The program is a benefit to customers as well, as they get an early look at new technology
and an opportunity to train operators and
maintenance people on the new trucks. And those
that participate in a field follow program are able
to use the truck for actual production for a low fee,
then get a good deal on the truck if they choose to
purchase it.
“Customers also get the advantage of giving their
input about new models directly back to Caterpillar,”
Lester says. “The operator is in the cab 12 hours a
day and he knows if he is fatigued or if he has good
visibility. We give his input back to the factory and
that can influence change. Field follow customers are
3
impacting the future of our trucks. When customers
make comments, we look at every single one.”
Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company (CC&V) in Colorado, USA, has partnered
on several field follow programs with Caterpillar and recently tested the new 793F. While
it can be a challenge to operate a truck that is still being proven, the benefits outweigh the
negatives, says Vivien Hui, a senior engineer in mine operations at AngloGold Ashanti
(Colorado) Corp., majority owner and manager of CC&V.
“We do field follow as part of our good neighbor policy,” she says. “We agree to show
other mines what has been learned, and to show Caterpillar how the trucks are performing.
It’s good for us and it’s good for the industry.” (continued on next page)
Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint 13
 keep rebuilding this truck and its components as long as the frame lasts,”
she says. “This new frame gives us confidence that we can run the truck to
or even past the life of our mine.”

Technology

Technology also weighed heavily on CC&V’s decision to purchase the

F-Series field follow trucks—in particular, the upgraded VIMS technology.
VIMS collects and transmits machine data and turns it into valuable
information used to track productivity, machine performance, service
scheduling, trends, diagnostics and equipment condition monitoring.

“There were third party technologies that do the same

thing, but we like that it’s integrated into the truck,”
says Hui.
The third generation of the system—VIMS3G—offers enhanced
convenience and functionality, along with updated communications
capabilities. A real-time browser allows users to view machine data on up
to 10 machine parameters in an easy-to-access Web browser. “Plenty of
technologies can capture the data, but this is realtime, which makes it much
more useful,” says Hui. CC&V partners with Wagner to analyze the data,
review trends and develop predictive maintenance plans.

guaranteeing Availability
1

Many variables are weighed when considering the purchase of a new truck,
and one of the most important is availability. “We need our trucks to be 2
running in order to meet our production goals,” says Hui. CC&V counts
on Wagner’s existing support structure to make sure the fleet delivers
high availability.

“Our mine superintendent would agree that the support of the dealer is one
of the most important things in our decision to purchase Cat trucks,” says
Hui. “This consistent support—from both Caterpillar and the dealer—helps
us stay on budget. We could maybe buy products with a slightly lower cost-
per-tonne on paper, but if we can’t count on them, then they’re not giving us
that consistency we need to meet our targets.”

Wagner’s Neldner says the dealership has worked hard to earn the mine’s
trust. “They have to know that their trucks are going to be supported,” he
says. “We have a lot of Cat equipment there and our support is proven to
them. We have a good, healthy relationship.”

Hui says the support the mine receives from Wagner is second to none.
“We’ve built a relationship where we are working together to make things
happen and to fix problems,” she says. “There’s no finger-pointing when 3

something goes wrong. It’s Caterpillar, Wagner and us, working together.”

14 Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint / 2010: issue 6

 (continued) Cat dealers see benefits in participating as well. During the field follow process,
they are responsible for the trucks just as they would be if they sold them to the site. They
do inspections and updates, gather the truck feedback on performance, keep parts working
and develop preventive maintenance processes.

“We like it because it involves us with the process,” says

Bruce Neldner, parts and service manager at Wagner
Equipment, a Cat dealer in Colorado, New Mexico and Texas,
USA. “We can be a part of the changes to make it not just a
good truck, but a great truck.”
How field development works

Caterpillar has field follow engineers on every new product team. They are responsible
for a certain location and have daily contact with the dealer about the performance of the
machine. They travel a minimum of one week a month to visit the site, ride along with the
operator and gather feedback from everyone who interacts with the truck.

Internal reports are issued every day and are included in an online diary called the Pre-
Production Reliability Database (PPRD). ”Any time the dealer technicians touch the truck,
perform an inspection, do maintenance, deal with an operator performance issue, gather
operator comments—everything goes into this database. Engineering groups responsible
for every component or part have access to PPRD and can see exactly what is being done.”

What is learned in the field directly affects the development of the truck and its
components. “For example, operator input has influenced design enhancements for
production,” says Lester. “The seat goes back further than it used to and there is greater
head room. If operators tell us they need a little more power when pulling out from under
the shovel, or when they are traveling fully loaded up a grade, we take that information back
to the factory and work with our software or engine group to resolve the problem.”

1 / CC&V has both uphill- and downhill-loaded
haul roads, which require trucks with good
retarding as well as good torque and speed.
Dealer feedback is also important. “Their service work ultimately affects the customer
because it has an impact on reliability and availability,” says Lester. “Say there are hoses
rubbing, or the routing of a tube could be better. All these little things add up to affect the
time necessary for service and maintenance. More reliability means greater production for
the customer.”

2 / The site counts on service and support from A validated truck

Wagner Equipment to keep its fleet running
around the clock.
3 / CC&V’s leach pad is used to treat about
22 million tonnes (24 million short tons) of
ore per year.
Caterpillar will not put a truck into production without adequate testing, but the real-life
operation of the field follow program goes a long way to convince customers that these
trucks are ready to go to work.

“The Proving Grounds are great, but real life helps sell the truck,” says Hui. “We wouldn’t
want to be first to buy a truck. But if these trucks have 48,000 hours at three or four real
mines, that would put me more at ease. The reputation of these trucks will be proven
over time. I hope we have helped with a big chunk of that—working together to get this to
be a reliable truck.”

After thousands of hours of field development, two
models of the new Cat F-Series large mining trucks
are now in production. Nearly 20 retrofit 797F and
793F retrofit trucks were tested in four U.S. states,
Canada and Chile, in a variety of applications, haul
profiles, altitudes and climates. Production studies
have proven their improved performance in head-
to-head comparisons with older Cat models as well
as against competitive trucks. In fact, the 793F
has been found to be up to 20 percent faster
and 15 percent more productive in performance
studies. A third F-Series truck, the new size class
795F AC, will begin limited production starting
in 2011.

Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint 15


A mining model developed in Australia and
Canada is being reproduced with successful
results at a mine in China whose geology
resembles a site in the United States—a true
example of the global nature of the mining
industry. An industry where mines learn from
past experiences and the best practices of
one another in a never-ending search
to become more productive.
Jinfeng
mine:
Until recently, the Jinfeng mine in Guizhou
province was an open pit gold mine. Today, mining
has also moved underground, making the gold-rich
site—which resembles the Carlin mine in Nevada,
USA—the second largest gold mine in China.
Mining in China
The Jinfeng gold deposit is located within the
Qianxinan Prefecture, Guizhou Province, about
240 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of the capital
city of Guiyang, at an elevation of 750 meters (2,460
feet). The project area is lightly populated (mainly
the Bouyei minority group) and has a subsistence
farming economy.
Mining activity in the region has been ongoing from
at least the latter part of the Qing Dynasty—more
Going
underground
to create the
second largest
gold mine in China
than 100 years—when mercury and arsenic mining
of the central section of the main Jinfeng deposit
was recorded.
During the mid-1980s, renewed interest in gold
resulted in the completion of large government
sponsored stream-sediment geochemical programs
across China. This work resulted in the detection
of 14 significant gold anomalies in the Jinfeng
region, and follow-up in 1984 and 1985 defined
22 discrete prospects, one of which was the
previously inspected arsenic occurrence on the
main deposit at Jinfeng.
Intense exploration activity by a local exploration
group commenced, and from 1986 to 1993 some
15 kilometers (9 miles) of diamond drilling and
8 kilometers (5 miles) of underground aditing
were completed. This work successfully defined
more than 50 tonnes (55 short tons) of gold and in
1992 the deposit was listed by the Central Chinese
Government under the 892 National Plan because of
its likely impact to the economy.
Despite the deposit’s significance, exploration and
development work was curtailed in 1993 due to
a lack of funding and metallurgical challenges,
and Jinfeng was offered to a number of large
foreign gold companies. However, aside from a
limited drilling program in 1997, activity remained
subdued, and it wasn’t until Sino Gold Mining Ltd.
commenced negotiations in late 1999 that interest
in development was reinvigorated.
Discovering a significant deposit
The largest known Carlin-type deposit in China,
Jinfeng lies within Triassic clastic sedimentary
rocks overlying the Permian and Carboniferous
limestones of the Laizhishan Dome. The Jinfeng
orebody is a structurally controlled gold deposit with
some replacement style mineralization.
The deepest drilling at Jinfeng has intercepted
strong gold mineralization and intense alternation
at more than 1000 meters (3,280 feet) depth. This
deep, down-lunge zone has now been followed
to near the contact of the Triassic sediments
and underlying Permian limestones, which is
considered very prospective for gold deposition.
Several gold
deposits in
China’s Golden
Triangle region are
located in a similar
stratigraphic position
near the Triassic-Permian
contact.
JINFENG
The Golden Triangle region of China represents one
of the world’s great remaining under-explored gold
regions. Recognized for its gold potential relatively
late in the latest gold cycle and suffering from a lack
The Golden Triangle region
of exploration funding or application of modern
of China represents one of
exploration techniques over the last decade, the the world’s great remaining
under-explored gold regions.
region presents one of the few remaining genuine
Recognized for its gold potential
opportunities to discover significant gold deposits relatively late in the latest
gold cycle and suffering from
within a relatively low-risk environment. The region
a lack of exploration funding
has the potential to become one of China’s most or application of modern
exploration techniques over
important gold producing areas.
the last decade, the region
presents one of the few
Much has been written about the deposits of remaining genuine opportunities
the Golden Triangle and their affinities (and to discover significant gold
deposits within a relatively low-
differences) to the Carlin deposits of Nevada, USA. risk environment. The region
Chinese academics and their American colleagues has the potential to become
one of China’s most important
have long recognized that the deposits in general gold producing areas.
share many distinct characteristics to Carlin and,
in a direct sense, represent the Chinese analogy of
this important class of mineralization. Recent work
has not only strongly reinforced this concept and
confirmed the key characteristics for Jinfeng, but
also significantly added to the exploration appeal
of the area.
Jinfeng is a significant deposit, with ore reserves
containing 91000 kilograms (3.2 million ounces)
at an average grade of 5.2 grams per tonne (0.16
ounces per short ton) of gold. This world-class ore
body has an underground grade of 5.7 grams per
tonne (0.18 ounces per short ton), and the mine has
a potential life of 15 to 20 years.
Drilling of this deep zone from surface was
completed in early 2008. A 600-meter (1,970-foot)
hole targeting the down dip extension of the main
mineralization is currently under way. Testing for
further down plunge extensions to the orebody
is planned to resume in 2010, possibly from an
underground drive.
Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint 17

Long Haulage
vs. Hoisting
The Jinfeng mine uses the
decline haulage method,
shown in the left illustration.
A downward spiral tunnel
circles either the flank of the
deposit or circles around the
deposit. This newer method of
access may eliminate the need
for hoisting shafts because
workers, equipment and ore can
be transported via trucks and/
or conveyor belts. The more
traditional hoisting method,
shown at right, uses a shaft—a
vertical excavation sunk
adjacent to the ore body.
The hoist and cage provide
access to the shaft station,
where workers, equipment
and ore are transported.
OPEN PIT
ORE BODY
DRAW
POINT
18 Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint / issue 6
Accelerating development
In April 2001, Sino Gold Mining, Ltd. earned an
82 percent interest in the project for the staged
payment of US$800,000 and a commitment to bring
the deposit into production. In late 2009, Vancouver,
Canada-based Eldorado Gold Corp acquired
Sino Gold to form the leading international gold
exploration and mining company in China. With
the acquisition, Eldorado now has three operating
mines in China: the Tanjianshan, Jinfeng and White
Mountain mines.
Eldorado is active in exploration and development
in Brazil, China, Greece, Turkey and surrounding
regions. The company has set a goal to produce over
28300 kilograms (1 million ounces) of gold annually
by 2013. As one of the lowest cost gold producers—
one with a strong balance sheet—analysts say the
company is well positioned to grow in value with the
creation and pursuit of new opportunities like those
in China.
VENT VENT
HOIST
OPEN PIT
RAMP
ORE BODY
SHAFT
Initial mining of ore was from the Jinfeng open pit,
with 0.7 million and 1.4 million tonnes (0.8 and 1.5
million short tons) of ore mined in 2007 and 2008
respectively. Ore is now being sourced concurrently
from the open pit and the underground mine, with
1.2 million tonnes (1.3 million short tons) of ore
mined in the first nine months of 2009.
In 2007, Jinfeng produced 56,981 gold ounces
and in 2008 it produced 150,928 gold ounces at a
cash operating cost of US$400 per ounce. In 2009,
Jinfeng produced 166,828 gold
ounces at a cash operating cost
of US$405 per ounce. Ore is
currently being mined from the
Jinfeng open pit with the use of
a mining contractor and the new
development of the underground
mine. Jinfeng’s production is
planned to increase as higher-grade ore from the
underground mine increasingly supplements ore
from the open pit.
When working at full capacity, the underground
mine is expected to operate on three main levels,
with each level providing approximately 400000
tonnes (441,000 short tons) of ore.
Accessing the underground mine
Eldorado Gold has used an Australian/Canada
mining model at other sites, and has reproduced it
at the Jinfeng underground development. This is
the first example of this type of mining in China,
with the company’s White Mountain underground
development being the second. The model’s main
feature is the use of a large haulage decline.
The mine is accessed via a 5.5-by-5.5 meter (18-by-
18 foot) haulage decline and its gradient is averaged
at 1 in 8. To date, 1.7 km (1 mile) of the decline has
been developed and it will be extended to over 5 km
(3.1 miles). Traditionally mines in China prefer the
shaft hoisting ore handling method. While decline
haulage is common in many underground mines, it
is not common in China.
Chief mining methods at Jinfeng underground
are overhand and underhand cut-and-fill methods.
When fully developed, the underground production
capacity will reach 1 million tonnes (1.1 million
short tons) per year.
“We’ve been able to consistently achieve a decline
advance rate of over 150 meters per month,” says
Dr. John Chen, manager of mining technical
services for Eldorado Gold. “We give credit to our
efficient mobile fleet for helping us meet this high
production target.”
Both the Jinfeng and White Mountain mines use
Cat underground equipment. Jinfeng operates Cat
R2900G and R1700G Load Haul Dump loaders and
AD45B trucks, purchased from China Cat dealer
ECI-Metro Engineering Machinery Co. Ltd.
The AD45B and R2900G were delivered to the
Jinfeng site at the beginning of March 2008 and
started work March 5. At the end of January 2010,
both units had clocked over 10,000 hours, averaging
nearly 458 hours per month. The site also took
delivery of an R1700G and AD45B in early 2009 and
another R1700G in late 2009. Another AD45B will
be delivered to the site this year.
“This fleet is on target to reach 5,500 hours for
a 12-month period,” says Ron de Haan, a senior
product specialist for Caterpillar Global Mining,
based in China. “For a mine that is currently
undergoing development, this is a great example
of best practices.”
The AD45B trucks were selected to help meet
production targets, while the R1700G is used to
muck horizontal development and ore headings.
“We have really benefited from
buying Cat equipment—in
particular due to the support of
our dealer,” says Chen. “From
training to parts availability,
the partnership with Caterpillar
and our dealer has truly helped
make this venture a success.”
With warehouses in Singapore, Shanghai and a
number of cities in China, spare part availability
and services have met or exceeded the mine’s
expectations, Chen says.
A Caterpillar team provided on-site operator A team from Caterpillar and
Cat dealer ECI-Metro spent
and service training for both the dealer and several days evaluating operator
customer as the machines were the first Caterpillar performance in an effort to
reach the optimum cycle time at
Underground units in China. This training was also Jinfeng’s new underground site.
followed up in June with a site study, production
study and Fleet Production & Cost (FPC) Analysis
and an operator review.
Improving cycle times
Continuous Improvement is an aspect of every
relationship between Caterpillar, Cat dealers and
their customers. A variety of processes are use to
identify, implement, track, measure and replicate
value-added activities.
“We don’t just build machines,” says de Haan.
“Along with the dealer, we do all we can to make
sure our customers get the most from their Cat
equipment and get their cost-per-tonne to the
lowest level possible.”
For example, during an operator review, a team
from Caterpillar, ECI-Metro and the mine conducted
a study of operator performance and provided
additional training where required. Their goal was
to lower cycle times.
“We spent several days traveling underground and
viewing the operators working,” says de Haan.
“Trainers from the mine owner also accompanied
us and gained a firm understanding of how the
machines should be operated.”
The study showed that operator skill was good,
with only a few small improvements needed to
get the optimum cycle time. The team suggested
a small improvement in the decline and also first
bucket readiness to reduce loading times and truck
cycle times.
Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint 19
 “All the areas we visited were
new developments, which makes
it difficult to have consistent cycle
times,” says de Haan. “Now that
the mine is in full production,
the operation can be fine-tuned
to get the optimum cycle times.
in a conventional CIL circuit. In order to extract
gold at economic recovery rates, the Jinfeng gold
processing plant was designed and constructed
using BIOX® technology, a process that has been
available commercially for more than 15 years.
Rights to the technology are currently held by
Biomin Technologies SA, a subsidiary of Gold
Fields Ltd.
The BIOX process, which pre-treats refractory

INCORRECT LOADING The first key items to review sulphide gold ores such as pyrite, arsenopyrite and
pyrrhotite, was developed to increase gold recovery
CORRECT LOADING
would be truck placement and rates during the metallurgical extraction process.
loader efficiency.” The gold in these sulphide ores is encapsulated
Sites can achieve faster cycle times in a number in sulphide minerals which prevent the gold from
of ways, including improving floor conditions and being leached by cyanide. The process destroys
material condition, correcting the orientation to the the sulphide minerals and exposes the gold for
face and truck placement, and ensuring the proper subsequent cyanidation, increasing recovery rates.
tram distance to and from the truck.
Caring for people and communities
“We found load placement was good and material
INCORRECT LOADING As foreign companies like Eldorado move into
sizing was excellent,” says de Haan. “The load cycle
CORRECT LOADING China, they take great care in recognizing the
time was increased by about 20 seconds by the
impact they will have on the communities there.
operator patting the load down on the final load—
a practice that we pointed out was not required as Eldorado Gold recognizes that its existence
the haul road has plenty of clearance.” as a company depends on the goodwill of the
community within which it operates. The company
The team found the haul roads were in good
is committed to seeking any opportunity to bring
condition but suggested cycle times could be
benefit to communities—from exploration to
improved by removing any uneven areas in the
CORRECT LOADING
main decline, changing the camber on some of the
corners so that they are slightly banked, and putting
Over-loading, or off-centered
loading, can cause spillage down a firm aggregate base where there is tire
from the sides as the truck
penetration of more than 25 mm (1 inch).
goes around corners and from
the back as it climbs grades.
“Now that the mine is in full production, we’d like
to conduct another site study to see how we can give
them even more value from their Cat equipment,”
INCORRECT LOADING
CORRECT LOADING says de Haan.

Processing the gold

Both the open pit and underground ores are

stockpiled at the ROM pad near a surface crusher
station. A loader is used to muck ore from the
stockpiles to the crusher.

Jinfeng ore is refractory in nature, with the majority

of gold encapsulated in sulfide minerals. As such,
INCORRECT LOADING the gold is not readily amenable to dissolution
CORRECT LOADING

20 Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint / issue 6

development, to construction and training, to
mining and processing and finally reclamation
and closure.
Site development includes infrastructure initiatives,
such as improving roads, building sewage systems
and building water wells, according to the needs
of the communities. Eldorado makes it a priority
to hire local residents, training all employees and
instructing construction contractors in the best
environmental, health and safety practices.
Eldorado Gold provides on-the-job training and
works with local technical schools and universities
to enhance their mining-specific programs to help
increase employability. Safety is also a priority, with
a focus on making sites safe, buying equipment
with a strong safety record, and making sure
employees are trained in safe practices on an
ongoing basis.
Competitive salaries and benefits paid to
employees and contractors improves their families'
standard of living. In addition to job creation,
Eldorado promotes many sustainable economic
development initiatives. Since the life of any mine
is limited, the company encourages and works
with local communities to create new opportunities
for economic development, even after the mine
is closed.
Eldorado is also committed to protecting the
environment. Activities like continually monitoring
the quality of air, water and soil at Jinfeng are a high
priority. The company also implements programs to
preserve biodiversity, monitor noise and dust levels
and adopt waste reduction and recycling programs.
The commitment continues once a mine is no
longer profitable to operate. The mine is closed
and reclamation activities are conducted so that the
physical environment can successfully transition to
a productive ecosystem.
Looking toward the future
Jinfeng’s gold production is planned to increase
as higher-grade ore from the underground mine
increasingly supplements ore from the open pit.
When working at full capacity the underground
mine is expected to operate on three main levels,
with each level providing approximately 400000
tonnes (441,000 short tons) of ore. Developing
the underground mine will provide the capacity
to deliver in excess of the nominal 1-million-tonne
(1.1-million-short-ton) annual design capacity of
the plant. Jinfeng operates Cat R2900G
and R1700G Load Haul Dump
loaders and AD45B trucks,
purchased from China Cat
dealer ECI-Metro Engineering
Machinery Co. Ltd.
Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint 21
 As the demand for mined minerals increases, everyone—from students to miners,
governments to global corporations—must understand how to work together to meet those
needs while protecting the world in which we live. Caterpillar and Science North recently
produced a new film to raise awareness of all that the mining industry is doing to operate
sustainably and to highlight the importance of mined materials in everyday life.

FILM SHOWCASES COMPANIES THAT ARE

MINING RIGHT

“Ground Rules: Mining Right for a Sustainable
Future” features mines in countries on almost
every continent—Australia, Canada, Chile, Ghana,
Indonesia and the United States. It follows the
development of new and operating mines as
geologists, engineers and mine managers tackle
complex problems and draw on the experiences
and achievements of other mine sites to illustrate
creative and core concepts of sustainable
development and social responsibility.
“We’re proud to be part of an industry that is
making such great strides environmentally and
socially,” says Philip Kelliher, the Caterpillar
regional mining manager in Latin America. “This
new generation of mining professionals is doing
impressive work, and it has been our privilege
to capture their stories and share them with the
world. We’re also excited by the opportunity to
educate school children about the importance
of mining to our world and the steps mining
companies take to preserve the environment and
help the communities where they operate.”
EXPLORATION
in papua, indonesia: chapter 1
Years of systematic groundwork led geologists
for PT Freeport Indonesia to the remote
highlands of Papua, where they are engaged in
a classic treasure hunt in search of a deposit
of precious minerals. Advanced imagery 1
tools allow them to “see” inside the rock by 1/ A geologist in Indonesia
examining its magnetism, chemistry and uses core samples to
explore new areas.
structure. Piece-by-piece, a picture of the
2/ Minera Spence in Chile’s
geology beneath the jungle is revealed. Atacama Desert is a model
of modern mining.
3/ T
 he typical home is filled
MODERN with mined materials.
MINING
in Chile’s Atacama Desert: chapter 2
Chile’s Atacama Desert is one of the driest
places on earth, and home to some of the
planet’s greatest copper deposits. BHP Billiton
extracts this copper at Minera Spence, a
mine that is a model of how a modern mine 2
should be run. The mine produces about 2
200000 tonnes (220,462 short tons) of copper
every year, destined for markets around
the world, where it will be used in wiring,
pipes, electronics, and thousands of other
applications.
An important contributor to the worldwide
demand for copper, Minera Spence is
equally important to the people of the nearby
community of Sierra Gorda. The mine focuses
on sustainable operations that protect the
environment and has developed a culture of
safety and teamwork for the workers, many of
whom were born and raised in Sierra Gorda.
3
MINING AND THE
MODERN WORLD
in a typical home: chapter 3
A quick glance around a typical home in any
developed city reveals just how many minerals
are used in our everyday lives—all of them
extracted from mines around the world. From
wallboards and paint, to plastics, electronics
and even toothpaste—nearly everything is
connected to mining.
Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint 23
 ENGINEERING
CHALLENGES
in Papua, Indonesia: chapter 4

As Grasberg mine in Papua, Indonesia, continues

to tackle the engineering challenges of this remote
part of the world, owner Freeport McMoRan is
also committed to developing the local human
resource—the Papuans themselves. At the
Nemangkawi Mining Institute, Papuans receive
1 the skilled training required to operate the mine,
1 particularly at extreme elevations. New operators
1/ Operators receive comprehensive training train on custom simulators that teach them the
to prepare them to work in the challenging
elevation of Grasberg mine in Indonesia. techniques needed to be more productive and keep
2/ T
 he discovery of additional ore has led to themselves and other workers safe.
an expansion of the Creighton underground
mine in Canada.

3/ Newmont Mining is committed to creating

immediate opportunities and lasting benefits GOING UNDERGROUND
to the people in the Ahafo region of Ghana. in Sudbury, Canada: chapter 5

Workers at the Creighton mine in Sudbury, Canada,

know all about the challenges of underground
mining. Since the first deposit of nickel was
discovered there over a century ago, hundreds of
underground mines have been dug into the hard
rock of the Sudbury Basin, creating a community
that is founded on the nickel beneath its feet.
Creighton is now one of the deepest mines in the
world and one of the most modern.

Yet, even after a century of mining, geologists

believe there is still more ore to be found. At
an advanced underground exploration station,
geologists and geophysicists are using sophisticated
tools to look deeper into the rock. If all goes
according to plan, the new underground expansion
will double the amount of ore in the mine, adding
many more years of productivity.

MINING AND THE

2 COMMUNITY
in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana: chapter 6
2

When Newmont Mining introduced mining to the

Ahafo region of Ghana, the company knew its most
important job was to show the local people how they
would benefit from the mine. Newmont learned that
the key to a successful project was to communicate
regularly with the community, to be transparent,
3 3 and to listen to the peoples’ concerns.

To make sure locals could qualify for work at the

mine, Newmont established training and education

24
programs. At the same time, Newmont and the
community started working on a way to foster long-
term benefits that would outlast the mine itself. In
partnership with Ghanaian and non-governmental
organizations, the Livelihood Enhancement and
Empowerment Program called LEEP was created.
At LEEP, people learn skills not directly related to
mining, with the goal of diversifying the economy.
The health of the community was also an important
consideration. HIV/AIDS and malaria are very real
concerns in this area, so projects that help bring
resources to local health clinics, malarial nets
into households and educational resources into
communities create lasting benefits.
MINING AND THE
ENVIRONMENT
in North Australia’s rugged outback:
chapter 7
Around the world, mining companies like Xstrata
are going to extraordinary efforts to evaluate,
monitor and minimize the impact of mining on
the environment. The zinc deposit at its McArthur
River mine in Northern Australia’s rugged outback
lies directly below the riverbed. When the river
re-channeling was first proposed, the biggest
issue was whether it could be done in an
environmentally responsible way. Many
aboriginal groups live along the river, and
there were concerns about the effects of
Teaching new
generations
In addition to co-producing
Ground Rules, Caterpillar
commissioned a set of 75 lesson
plans to help educators further examine the themes
and concepts presented in the film.
“We’re encouraging everyone in the mining industry
to view the film, then share it with their communities
and encourage teachers and schools to take advantage
of the free curriculum,” says Charlie Zimmerman, a
Caterpillar marketing representative.
A series of hands-on classroom activities introduce
students to a number of mining topics, including the
phases of mining, different types of mines, how ore is
processed, how mineral deposits are formed, how
the mine on the water, the surrounding land, and on
the spirit of the river itself.
Xstrata studied the biodiversity of the river so that
the new channel would be as close as possible to
the river’s natural state. Working with local experts,
native plants and seeds were collected and cultivated
for planting in and around the new channel. The
new river bed was carefully sculpted to create the
unique ecosystems that are found in a natural river,
including snags made of boulders and tree trunks. 4
4
The water is monitored constantly by Xstrata and by
governmental and non-governmental agencies, and
the results communicated to the public.
RECLAMATION
in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin: chapter 8
In Wyoming, USA, Arch Coal’s Black Thunder
4/ A new river bed at McArthur
operation is mining some of the largest coal seams River mine in Australia was
in the world. The scale of the operation is huge; carefully sculpted to create the
unique ecosystems found in a
in fact, this one mine produces almost 9 percent natural river.
of America’s coal. The seam that Black Thunder is 5/ S
 ite reclamation was planned
even before the opening
mining is buried under nearly 60 meters (197 feet) of Black Thunder mine in
of earth and rock that must be removed to access Wyoming, USA.
the coal. That overburden is eventually used in the
restoration process, carefully planned out before the
mine was even opened, and future
generations will barely know a
mine was ever here.
5
5
modern mines can operate safely
and sustainably, and why minerals are
important to our everyday lives. This
material also introduces students to a wide variety of
mining careers.
All of the lesson plans have strong links to the
earth science curriculum, but many of the activities
incorporate additional connections to math, chemistry,
data management, mapping, environmental studies,
electricity, magnetism and problem-solving. Materials
were developed for three age ranges, 11 to 13, 13 to 15,
and 15 to 18.
Visit www.cat.com/groundrules to view the film
online, request a free DVD, or download the free
educational materials.
Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint 25

object
detection:
Making mine sites safer
by reducing blind spots
26 Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint / issue 6
Visibility is always an important topic on a mine site. And when
you’re a machine operator—sitting three stories high in a large
mining truck—the importance becomes a matter of life and death.
Using a combination of site design and
available technologies, mining companies
take advantage of every option for increased
visibility for operators and others on site.
One of the primary scenarios where lack
of visibility can be a dangerous problem is
stopped trucks, such as when they are at
the dump site or just beginning start-up.
That’s why operator visibility is high on
the list of safety initiatives for mining
companies. In fact, visibility is one of the
top 15 priority areas identified by the Earth
Moving Equipment Safety Round Table—
a group of leading mining companies that
joined forces to encourage equipment
manufacturers to improve the design of
equipment in order to minimize health
and safety risks.
Limited visibility is a potential cause for
many types of collisions—a truck hitting
another from behind, a vehicle moving into
an oncoming lane, sideswiping or turning
into the path of a machine while passing,
and one of the most common: slow speed.
Slow speed collisions occur when a
machine is in a loading area, maintenance
area or fueling station, and it reverses,
turns or pulls forward into a light vehicle,
heavy equipment or structure.
“When you’re starting up a machine, it’s
what you don’t see that should concern
you the most,” says Ken Edwards, Health,
Safety, Environment and Community
Manager in Caterpillar’s Global Mining
Division.
Large machines, like mining haul trucks,
have equally large operator visibility blind
spots. Once an operator climbs into the cab,
he or she may be unable to see if another
machine, vehicle, or a person on foot enters
one of these blind spots, creating potential
safety hazards.
To date, one of the only ways to protect
against collisions in the blind areas of a
truck has been procedural barriers—like
no-go zones for light vehicles, standard
parking and start-up procedures, and
audible reversing alarms that warn those
nearby. But even with these procedures in
place, the problem of slow speed collisions
has not been eliminated.
An improved approach is to provide
enhanced driver vision supplemented by
an automatic detection system that looks in
all high-risk directions at once, identifies
potential problems and attracts the driver’s
attention to those areas where potential
collisions could occur.
LOOKING FOR A TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION
“Every year we interview our mining
customers and every year that tell us that
safety is their number one priority,” says
Edwards. Several years ago, Caterpillar
brought in four of its mining customers
and gathered data on over 300 accidents
from their mine sites. The data showed that
over half of those accidents could have been
avoided by the use of technology to help
operators see what’s in their blind spots.
“Our customers want to make sure
operators and all personnel on their sites
go home safely at the end of every shift,”
says Edwards. “As a leading manufacturer
providing equipment to them, it’s our
challenge to work with them and help
them to deliver on that goal.”
So Cat engineers set out to determine what
technologies could be developed to help
avoid slow speed collisions. After reviewing
a number of possibilities, including
RFID tagging and sonar technologies,
the company determined that the use of
cameras and radars would provide the

best solution. The result is the new Cat®
Integrated Object Detection System™.
The system enhances haul truck operators’
awareness during the critical period when
they are starting their truck and during the
first several seconds of movement. The
system consists of a touch screen display,
short range radar (up to 7 meters / 23 feet),
medium range radar (up to 20 meters / 66
feet) and cameras on the front, rear and
sides of the machine.
“Our goal was to take advantage of multiple
technologies integrated with each other
and the mining machine to provide as few
inputs to the operator as possible,” says
Steve Rieker, marketing supervisor in the
Electronic and Machine Systems Division
of Caterpillar. “Radar and cameras were the
best choice in our opinion.”
Radar is considered the most robust
technology to address the greatest number
of scenarios because it works at night
and can see through rain, dust and snow,
says Rieker. “By partnering the radar with
cameras, we have vision and detection
functionality in one. And unlike RFID
systems, our technology does not require
the object being detected to be tagged—an
issue our customers told us they didn't
want to manage.”
The system was introduced at Caterpillar’s
Tinaja Hills Demonstration and Learning
Center in Tucson, Arizona, USA, in fall
2009 and is available now as a retrofit
system for existing Cat 785-797 mining
trucks. In mid-year 2010, the system will
also be available as a retrofit for the new
F-Series large mining trucks, and will come
factory-fit for D- and F-series large mining
trucks in early 2011. The future could see
the system offered for other large trucks,
wheel loaders, motor graders, articulated
trucks, large track-type tractors and
hydraulic excavators. Under consideration
are similar systems for drills, shovels and
competitive trucks.
HOW IT WORKS
The Cat Integrated Object Detection System
consists of an interactive, color, touch
screen display in the cab; four short-range
radars in the front and rear of the machine;
medium range radars on all four sides; and
cameras on all four sides.
At startup and whenever a truck stops for a
set period of time, the touch screen display
alerts the operator when objects have
entered critical areas around the machine.
The radar view provides a visual indication
of where the objects are relative to the
machine. Objects in the front, rear or side
critical zones, or the truck’s turn radius, will
cause that zone on the display to blink red.
An audible alarm sounds when an object
has been detected and if the operator has
not acknowledged it when the machine is
placed in gear.
The system remains active through 20
meters (66 feet) of start-up travel; the
system is always on when the truck is
traveling in reverse. Once the truck is safely
moving, the radar system enters standby
mode while the cameras remain active.
“Of course, using the system does not
replace the basic safety precautions that
operators should follow every day,” says
Rieker. “But we believe this can have a
significant impact on making mine sites
safer for everyone.”
Caterpillar considers object detection one
of the building blocks for what it sees as the
future of mining—autonomy. That vision
goes beyond haulage to bring together
various mining systems to create a fully-
integrated, autonomous mine site, where
every piece of equipment “knows” the
location and status of every other—and
where mine managers can see and control
the entire site.
FEATURES OF THE CAT Integrated
Object Detection SYSTEM
Durability. The Cat system was built for mining
customers and the rugged environments in
which they operate.
Integration. The self-contained Cat system
is integrated into the machine onboard
system and tied into Cat data link. This allows
the machine system and electronics to pick
up and feed information into the Object
Detection System.
Ease of use. The system starts up when the
machine starts up, so no operator interaction
is required. The intuitive touch-screen display
can be customized in multiple languages.
Operator quick-reference cards and online
tutorial make learning the system easy.
Convenience. There are multiple operator
display mounting locations—in the head liner
or instrument panel. The display is dimmable
and adjusts brightness automatically.
Multiple alert levels. The Cat system provides
multiple alert levels to give operators flexibility
and to ensure that detected objects are indeed
recognized.
The “Caution Zone” warning is active when an
object has been detected in the caution zone.
The audible warning alarm is not active and the
operator is not required to acknowledge this
warning in order to avoid an audible alarm.
The “Critical Zone” warning is active when
an object has been detected in the critical
zone. The audible warning alarm is not
active; however, the operator is required to
acknowledge this warning in order to avoid
an audible alarm.
An audible alarm will become active in the
event the operator has not acknowledged a
Critical Zone warning, places the machine in
gear, and attempts to move in the direction of
the detected object.
Scalability. The system allows the user to start
with a vision system and later upgrade to the
full detection system.
Cat support. The system will be sold, serviced
and supported by the Cat dealer network,
with parts available through the global parts
distribution network.
For more information visit cat.com/objectdetect
Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint 27
 777F at work in Colombia
Caterpillar produces
50,000th off-highway truck
In 2009, Caterpillar produced its 50,000th rigid-
frame off-highway truck out of its facility in Decatur,
Illinois. Representatives from Prodeco group, which
purchased the truck, and Cat dealer Gecolsa were
on hand to celebrate as the truck was completed.
Today, the 91-tonne (100-short-ton) capacity 777F
is hard at work at Prodeco coal operations in
28 Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint / 2010: issue 6
Colombia. This was the 112th 777 truck delivered
to Prodeco, which recently expanded its haulage
fleet with 61 new 777F trucks and 22 new Cat 789C
trucks. Colombia’s fastest growing coal exporter, the
Prodeco group produces high quality steam coal.
The group’s all Cat fleet receives full support from
Cat dealer Gecolsa.
 New engine technologies
will meet Tier 4 standards
Caterpillar recently unveiled its Tier 4 Interim/
Stage IIIB engine technology, which includes
an integrated system design built upon the
success of the company’s ACERT technology.
Additional technologies, including powertrain
innovation and after-treatment devices, will be
specifically tailored and applied to products
to meet the stringent emission requirements
required by law. The project is one of the most
aggressive product development initiatives in
Caterpillar history and is necessary to meet
new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
and European Union standards that require
emissions of particulate matter and oxides
of nitrogen to be reduced by more than 90
percent. Caterpillar estimates the new engine
technology will accumulate nearly one million
hours of testing by the end of 2010.
New company in China to
provide remanufacturing
Caterpillar (China) Investment Co., Ltd. And
China Yuchai International Limited, through
its main operating subsidiary, Guangxi Yuchai
Machinery Co., Ltd., have signed a joint-venture
agreement to establish a company that will
provide remanufacturing services for Yuchai
diesel engines and components and certain
Cat diesel engines and components. The new
company will provide remanufactured engines
and components to its customers worldwide
by leveraging remanufacturing technology
through the Caterpillar Remanufacturing and
Sustainable Solutions Division, Cat Reman. The
joint venture will be the first remanufacturing
joint venture for Caterpillar in China.
R&D facility will support
operations in Asia Pacific
Caterpillar recently opened a new multi-
functional research and development center
in Wuxi, Jiangsu province to support growing
operations in China and the Asia Pacific region.
The Wuxi R&D center will focus on engine and
component product and process development,
validation, localization and technological
training. Among its many functions, the new
center will have an engine test facility with
performance and emissions development
capability, an advanced materials laboratory, an
electronics laboratory, a system and machine
integration facility and validation capability.
» For more Caterpillar news,
visit www.cat.com
Specialized chassis designed
for water trucks
Caterpillar recently began offering specialized
chassis to improve performance and customer
satisfaction for customers in the water truck
market. The first Water Truck (WTR) models to
be offered are the Cat 773F WTR and 777F WTR
Off-Highway Trucks and the 785D WTR Mining
Truck. Caterpillar supplies a table of suggested
sizes for water tanks, which are available from
various tank manufacturers around the world.
MineStar™ FleetCommander
features upgrades
Caterpillar recently released FleetCommander
3.0, which includes software and hardware
updates that expand capabilities for
improving day-to-day mine site operations.
news
This comprehensive surface mine
monitoring and control system
uses technology to improve
productivity and lower costs. Real-
time interaction with mobile field
equipment allows mine managers
caterpillar
to improve machine utilization,
manage operators, track material
movement and monitor production
in near real-time. Operations that
have switched from manual control
to FleetCommander typically have experienced
a 10- to 15-percent productivity improvement.
FleetCommander 3.0 builds on these proven
results with an additional 5 percent productivity
improvement compared to previous versions.
Gateless coal body boosts
productivity
A new gateless coal body designed for the
Cat 777F mining truck significantly enhances
performance in coal applications, while
eliminating the many disadvantages of bodies
that are field-modified to increase capacity.
This body joins a family of coal-specific bodies
available for the Cat 785, 789 and 793 mining
trucks. The gateless body combines a robust
understructure with a floor that angles upward
toward the rear for nearly two-thirds of the
body length. The precise geometry of the
floor positively retains the load and results
in hauling target payloads consistently with
minimal spillage. In addition, the relatively low
height greatly increases loading efficiency for
faster cycles.
Simformotion™ to deliver
simulator solutions
Caterpillar has reached an agreement with
Simformotion LLC to deliver operator training
simulator solutions to heavy equipment owners
and training organizations. The company will
develop, manufacture and distribute Caterpillar
branded operator training simulator products
through its Morton, Ill., USA, headquarters.
Simformotion is an affiliate of CSE Software,
which offers integrated Information Technology
services for clients worldwide. Caterpillar
Equipment Training Solutions has been
developing and building personal simulators
for heavy equipment training since 2004.
This agreement will result in an expansion of
the Cat simulator product line.
From
Caterpillar joins clean-coal
partnership
Caterpillar recently announced its intent to
join the FutureGen Alliance, a public-private
partnership established to build a first-of-its-
kind coal-fired, near-zero emissions power
plant in Mattoon, Ill., USA. The facility is
designed to be the cleanest coal burning
plant in the world and will integrate advanced
technologies for coal gasification, electricity
production, emissions control, carbon dioxide
capture and permanent storage and hydrogen
production on a commercial scale.
Mining trucks travel across
Gobi desert
After a journey of thousands of kilometers
across the United States, the Pacific Ocean and
China, two Cat 785C mining trucks reached
the border of Mongolia, where they then began
the most difficult portion of their trip: across
the wilds of Gobi desert. Wagner Asia, the Cat
dealer in Mongolia, assembled the trucks upon
their border crossing into Mongolia. It then
took 48 hours of driving across the desert to
deliver them to Ukhaakhudag, a coal mining
project near Tavan Tolgoi in Mongolia. A month
later, three other trucks followed the same
route, and more are slated to follow.
Cat Global Mining / Viewpoint 29
Viewpoint is published in English, Spanish,
Portuguese and Chinese. Text-only versions of
many articles in Chinese, French, Portuguese,
Spanish and Russian are available at www.cat.
com/viewpoint.

Viewpoint es publicado es Inglés, Español,

Portugués y Chino. Versiones de varios artículos
en Chino, Francés, Portugués, Español y Ruso
están disponibles en texto únicamente en www.
cat.com/viewpoint.

杂志采用英语、西班牙语、葡萄牙语和汉语发表。

汉语、法语、葡萄牙语、西班牙语和俄语的纯文
字版本可从www.cat.com/viewpoint网站获取。

Viewpoint est publié en anglais, espagnol,

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