Patent ID: 6857706
Filing Date: 2005-02-22
Classification: E21C

Abstract:
1. A method for mining a valuable material in a steeply dipping deposit, comprising: (a) in a deposit of a material to be excavated, the deposit having a dip of at least about 35° and a plurality of intersecting excavations, the plurality of intersecting excavations including at least first and second spaced apart excavations extending at least substantially in a direction of a strike of the deposit and at least a third excavation intersecting the first and second excavations and extending at least substantially in a direction of the dip of the deposit, the first, second, and third excavations defining a block of the deposit, deploying an articulated excavator in the third excavation, the articulated excavator comprising a rotating boom, at least one excavating device positioned on an end of the rotating boom, and a plurality of actuators positioned on the excavator, the plurality of actuators engaging the hanging wall and footwall of the third excavation to maneuver the excavator into a desired position and orientation relative to the block, wherein the articulated excavator is deployed in the third excavation using a mobile deployment system positioned in the first excavation; (b) remotely transmitting electronic commands to the articulated excavator to control the position and orientation of the articulated excavator; (c) the articulated excavator removing a first segment of the block, the first segment extending at least substantially the length of a side of the block and being adjacent to and accessible by the third excavation; and (d) the articulated excavator thereafter removing a second segment of the block, the second segment extending at least substantially the length of the side of the block and being adjacent to the first segment before the removing step (c).