Rapid excavation and mining (REAM) system - Revisited

The rapid excavation and mining (REAM) system utilizes large and medium caliber smoothbore cannon to launch inert kinetic energy projectiles to spall rock fascias for mining and excavation applications. Historically, field tests had been conducted against various obstacles and two test bores 3.5 m in diameter were excavated into granite, one of which was taken to a test depth of 17 m. A cost analysis had been performed using the experimental data collected from the program in the 1970s. Advance rates that were limited only by the estimated ability to remove muck were assumed in this analysis. These assumptions lead to boring rates that were not only more than three times faster than conventional drill and blast techniques but also considerably cheaper. The economic analysis has been recomputed with the aid of empirical cost functions from the US Bureau of Mines. It has been found that under certain circumstances the REAM technique uses less propellant per kilogram of ore produced than conventional drill and blast methods. Also, if cost is not an issue then the REAM technique can provide advance rates unobtainable by conventional methods.