ENGLISH for Study and Work том 1

Unit 2 Surface Mining

Focus on

•reading for specific information

•taking notes

•listing

•summarising main points

•drawing conclusions

By the end of the unit you will be able to:

•distinguish and summarise information from different texts

•report about the main information obtained in texts

Discussion

1. You are going to read the article about surface mining. Before you read, discuss the following:

•the role of surface mining in the mineral supply;

•the equipment used in surface mining;

•the major achievements in modern mining in Ukraine, particularly, in surface mining.

Scan reading

2. Read the first part of the article and check your answers.

The pressure to cut mining costs has driven many producers to maximise the overall scale of operations and to use the latest and largest available and applicable excavating loading and haulage equipment. However, the weak mining product markets of the past year have mitigated against this by driving down the investment

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capital available for new equipment. Nevertheless, manufacturers continue to develop better and bigger machines with, for example, the 3001 truck capacity barrier well and truly broken last year.

Manufacturers continue to take an ever increasing role on the mine itself, providing a variety of services in addition to supplying spare parts. They now offer to take on the maintenance tasks, to varying levels ranging from only the most extensive maintenance work to completely replacing a mine's own team of maintenance engineers. Such contracts leave the mining company to focus on its core business; that of mining.

Surface mining plays the dominant role in world mineral supply, and as these operations get ever larger, their number decreases. According to market researcher The Parker Bay Company, "Worldwide there are fewer than 1,000 surface operations that combined account for 1,500 Mt of coal, more than 80% of the world's copper production, two-thirds of its iron ore, one-third of all gold output and a large portion of the world's bauxite, phosphate rock, lead, zinc, oil sands and more than 30 other minerals."

Parker Bay conducted a census of large excavating, loading and haulage equipment. It reports that, "In total, nearly 14,000 machines, valued at more than $30 billion, are operating at just 760 locations in 63 countries." Parker Bay breaks those machines down as 9,969 mining trucks (payloads of 90 t and above) valued at $11,282 million, 450 10 m3 and above bucket capacity draglines ($7,812 million), 1,335 electric shovels with bucket capacities from 10 to 50 m3 ($6,768 million), 956 hydraulic excavators with operating weights of 140 t and greater ($3,622 million) and 1,032 wheel loaders with net power ratings of 600 kW and above ($911 million).

(From the Mining Magazine)

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Discussion

3. Whole-group work. What new information about surface mining did you get from the text? Share it with your groupmates.

Reading and Note-taking

4. Read the second part of the article about the main developments in trucks and take notes using Worksheet 3.2. There is an example at the beginning.

WORKSHEET 3.2

Name of the company	Innovations
Caterpillar	Engine with electronic unit injection

Most of the major developments in trucks were at the top of the payload range, trucks carrying in excess of 300 t. Komatsu Mining Systems' (KMS) 930E was the first truck since the short-lived Titan, 20 years earlier, to break the 300 s. ton (272 t) ceiling. By last year it had established a significant lead at the top range of mine truck hauling capacity. At the end of March, the 100th 930E was commemorated at Thunder Basin Coal's (Arch Coal) Black Thunder mine in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. The first 930E fleets were commissioned at the Phelps Dodge mines of Chino in New Mexico and Morenci in Arizona.

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Fuel and tyres represent the highest operating costs for mine haulers. Excessive tyre wear is no longer the insurmountable obstacle that plagued the first big truck during the 1970s. New tyre technology has produced lower profile tyres with new compounds that handle the big payloads with remarkable durability, even when compared to smaller trucks. At its launch, the 930E payload was rated at 300 s. ton but, soon after, the new 50/90/R57 tyres boosted that to 320 s. ton (290 t). Fuel operating costs have been less an issue with the 930E. New injection technology is showing terrific efficiency potential, KMS reports.

Although not be commercially available until 2001, Caterpillar has put the 797 mechanical drive truck into the field. Its standard capacity is 220 m3 (nominally 326 t), with a design operating weight of some 558 t, fitted with 55/80R63 tyres. The 2,535 kW engine, Caterpillar's 3524B LS, features electronic unit injection, an ADEM II electronic controller and a 3500 series fuel system with after-cooling and four single-stage turbochargers.

Meanwhile, the president of Terex Earthmoving, Ernie Verebelyi, recently confirmed that a plus-300 t truck from Unit Rig, the MT 5500, will be available by the end of the year. Unit Rig achieved the biggest single truck fleet order, selling 160 Mark ЗОВseries units to Coal India.

Liebherr Mining Equipment, back in the days when it was Wiseda, was the first manufacturer to develop a 218 t truck. With the development of the T282, a 327 t capacity machine that features AC drive, Liebherr once again leapfrogged to the head of the truck field. Liebherr says it will provide users with fuel savings and reduced maintenance requirements, and increase productivity. The truck is equipped with a 2,052 kW Detroit Diesel engine and Siemens ac drive system. The ac control system also provides an additional margin of braking, allowing total dynamic retarding capacity up to 4,500 kW and down to 0.8 km/h, at which point the service breaks are activated to bring the track to a final stop.

Caterpillar significantly upgraded its three top trucks. The new 785C, carrying a 136 t payload, and the 789C, carrying as much as 177 t, replaced the B-Series models.

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The 218 t capacity 793C was the first of the C-Series mining trucks when introduced in 1996. It has been further upgraded, but retains the C-Series designation.

Hitachi Construction Machinery now manufactures trucks - with payloads from 29 to 254 t (the R280) - in Guelph Canada and Gliwice, Poland. Its new С series offer up to 20% more productivity through higher working speeds, faster uphill speeds, shorter stopping distances and improved downhill retarding.

New from Belaz was the all new 55 t capacity 7555-B offered with the Cummins KTTA-19C engine rated at 516 kW. Additional equipment has been added to the specification of the 80 t 75491/75492 truck. Belaz believes this is the only truck available today to offer fully independent rear suspension. In the larger range, the 200 t 75303 has gone into full production following the completion of a successful mine evaluation.

Articulated dump trucks (ADTs) continue to attract interest from the mines, particularly in Southeast Asia where their ability to haul through poor underfoot conditions makes them very useful during monsoon rains. Moxy Trucks launched its new MT36 and MT40 В models and the whole Moxy concept for ADTs. Bell Equipment launched its new 'C' series, representing a 'significantly upgraded and improved range of trucks which has the capability to excel in the productivity race and, more importantly, cost less to own and operate than any competitive make', according to group managing director, Gary Bell.

Volvo's ADTs were upgraded for increased power. Furthermore, the service brake pedal with hydraulic retarder function, previously only available on the A40C, is now fitted as standard on the Volvo A25C, A30C and A35C series of articulated haulers. The new brake pedal ensures easier operation and less wear on the service brakes. It allows the operator to adjust the retarding effect from the retarder according to local conditions. Improved stability during loading and dumping is achieved with a new service brake facility available as optional equipment. The new line from Terex Arctic, with a new colour scheme, features what the company describes as a "dramatic new pricing strategy .... passing on the significant benefits of substantial investment and technology programmes. Benefits in manufacturing and assembly

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techniques have generated significant cost savings that are being passed directly to the customer base."

Used in trucks and other earthmovers, L&M Radiator's new Mesabi V-Pack cooling package saves space because the engine radiator and oil cooler share a common framework and fan. It offers all the field-changeable features of Mesabi removable-tube neat exchangers and is designed for applications where low profiles are desirable.

(From the Mining Magazine)

5. Whole group-work. Discuss how different companies upgraded their equipment. Use the necessary functional phrases from Part II Self-study Resources (Functional Phrases for Discussions). Put the information into the following worksheet.

Reading for detail

6.Read the following extract which includes the information about conveyor belts and their components.

7.Pair-work. Make a list of conveyor performances. Fill in the worksheet given after the text. The first one has been done for you.

Globalisation is currently the trend and this is certainly what Continental Conveyor, today's largest supplier in belt conveying, has been doing recently taking on such companies as Meco, FSW and Huwood.

Specific conveyor components have been developed recently which greatly enhance overall conveyor performance capabilities. These include large, very powerful drives and small drives which are quick and easy to align, in addition to being extremely portable; constant tension winch technology which is precise and quick;

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belt storage units which are trouble-free; and high angle conveying which is simple and reliable, even in high-volume applications.

Among the technologies Continental has acquired recently are conveyor belts that can turn at 90° angles, systems which advance and retreat while the conveyor is in full operation and specific, noise-limiting Stealth Roller components.

Partnerships with manufacturers are increasingly popular. For example, Martin Engineering signed two major long-term deals. One of those, in Germany, is a three-year contract with Rheinbraun, the world's largest lignite mining company, to supply belt cleaning systems, including blades, mainframes and tensioners for Rheinbraun's four surface mines. Managing director Goran Ottosson commented: "Through this contract, Rheinbraun hopes to improve cleaner performance and system standardisation, while reducing operating costs and the overall number of suppliers. Martin Engineering will provide a full range of cleaning systems to suit even the widest, fastest belts serving Rheinbraun's high-volume bucket-wheel excavators."

(From the Mining Magazine)

WORKSHEET 3.3

Conveyor Performances

1.Powerful drives

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Discussion and Presentation

8.Group-work. In small groups, discuss the main developments in surface mining.

9.Present your findings to the whole group. Use the necessary functional phrases in Part II Self-study Resources (Functional Phrases for Discussions).

Grammar Reference:

Present, Past and Future Simple.

Irregular verbs (e.g. rise-rose-risen; fall-fell-fallen).

Adverbs.

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Unit 3 Underground Drilling

Focus on

•ordering

•comparing

•matching

•exchanging information

•writing a summary

By the end of the unit you will:

•be aware of a summary structure

•be aware of functional phrases for making a summary

•be able to use functional phrases typical for writing a summary

Predicting

1. When you present the article you have read what kind of information do you give? Make a prediction.

Making a summary

2. Read the following elements of the summary structure you need to use when presenting the information about the article, compare with your ideas and arrange them in a logical order.

The conclusion of the article. The main idea of the article.

The author of the article; where and when the article was published.

Your opinion of the article.

The contents of the article (facts, names, figures).

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3.The logical order of the summary elements is given in the table below. Compare them with your list.

4.Pair-work. Match the summary elements with their corresponding functional phrases given in Table 3.1.

Table 3.1

Structure of a Summary

	Elements of	Functional phrases
	the summary
	1. The title of	A To sum it up …
	the article	In conclusion the author says …
		The author concludes that …
		The author makes it possible to conclude that …
		The author draws/comes to/reaches a conclusion …
	2. The author	B The main idea of the article is …
	of the article;	The article is about … (is devoted to …, deals with …,
	where and	touches upon …)
	when the
		The aim of the article is to give the reader some
	article was
	published	information on … (is to provide the reader with
		some data on …)
		The article discusses … (expresses the view that …)
	3. The main	C The author starts by telling the readers about …
	idea of the	The author writes (states, stresses, thinks, points
	article	out that …)
		According to the text …
		Further the author reports/says that …
	4. The contents	D I found/find the article interesting (important, dull,
	of the article	of no value, too hard to understand)
	(facts, names)
	5. The	E The author of the article is …
	conclusion of	The article is written by …
	the article	It is published in …
	6. Your opinion	F The article under review is entitled as …
	of the article	The article is headlined …
		The headline of the article is …
		The title of the article I have read is …

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