Patent ID: 8366201
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: B65G,E21C

Abstract:
1. A method of open pit bench mining of selected material deposits comprising: defining a bench disposed in front of a material deposit layer with overburden disposed atop the material deposit layer; providing an apron feeder having a feed end and an output end defining a conveying direction, the apron feeder having at least one extension wall positioned proximate to the feed end of the apron feeder; selectively loosening overburden atop the material deposit layer in areas adjacent said bench; positioning the apron feeder at a first location on said bench at a first section of the material deposit layer where the overburden has been loosened such that the apron feeder's feed end is adjacent the material deposit layer and the apron feeder is oriented with its conveying direction substantially perpendicular to the material deposit layer; pushing the loosened overburden toward the feed end of the apron feeder to a preferred height against the at least one extension wall to form a natural hopper adjacent the feed end of the apron feeder and moving the loosened overburden along the natural hopper onto the apron feeder's feed end to substantially uncover the first section of the material deposit layer; and removing the material deposits from the substantially uncovered first section of the material deposit layer.