Top Hammer Drilling in Mining

What is mining?

Mining is the extraction of valuable geological materials and minerals from the surface of the Earth. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agricultural processes, or feasibly created artificially in a laboratory or factory. Ores recovered by mining include metals, coal, oil shale, gemstones, limestone, dimension stone, rock salt, potash, gravel, and clay. Mining in a wider sense includes extraction of any non-renewable resource such as petroleum, natural gas, or even water.

Modern mining processes involve prospecting for ore bodies, analysis of the profit potential of a proposed mine, extraction of the desired materials, and final reclamation or restoration of the land after the mine is closed. Mining materials are often obtained from ore bodies, lodes, veins, seams, reefs, or placer deposits. The exploitation of these deposits for raw materials is dependent on investment, labor, energy, refining, and transportation costs.

Some of the most common mining tools and equipment include: Drills: Used to create holes in the ground to access minerals and ores. Blasting equipment: Used to break up rock and make it easier to extract minerals. Excavators: Used to remove large amounts of earth and minerals from the ground.

What is top hammer drilling in mining?

Top hammer drilling is a method of drilling used in mining and construction operations. In this technique, a drill rig is equipped with a hammer that is located at the top of the drill string. The hammer delivers rapid, repetitive blows to the drill bit, allowing it to penetrate rock and other hard materials more efficiently.

Top hammer drilling is commonly used in mining operations to create blast holes for explosives, as well as for drilling holes for exploration and production purposes. This method is preferred for its speed and precision, as well as its ability to handle a wide range of rock types and conditions. It is also known for its ability to produce straight and accurately sized holes, which is important in mining operations where precise drilling is necessary for safety and efficiency.

What are the advantages of top hammer drilling?

This technique is valued for its efficiency in surface drilling and smaller-scale projects. Key advantages of Top Hammer drilling include: Speed and Efficiency: Top Hammer drilling excels in surface drilling applications, offering higher drilling speeds and efficiency for shallower holes.

Availability, variety of drill bit designs, and low operating cost make top hammer drilling an advantageous method in many different industries 

Versatile and flexible, top hammer drilling is used by various industries all over the world. Arguably, the biggest advantage of top hammer drilling is the size, availability and low cost of drilling rigs.

On the drilling consumable side, top hammer drill string is also cost-efficient, fast to set up and, thanks to the wide range of available bit designs, top hammer bits can always be optimised for the ground conditions.

What is a top hammer drill bit?

Top hammer drill bits are drill bits that are used in top hammer drilling rigs. These rigs are commonly used in mining and construction applications for drilling blast holes or boreholes in hard rock formations. Top hammer drill bits are designed to withstand high-impact forces and provide efficient drilling performance in challenging rock formations. Top hammer drill bits are known for their durability, precision, and reliability in demanding drilling operations. Top hammer drill bits offer extended wear life, higher penetration rates, straighter holes, and longer bit life. 

Top hammer drill bits typically use cemented carbide buttons. These carbide buttons are strategically placed on the drill bit to provide cutting and crushing action on the rock formation during drilling. The carbide buttons are extremely hard and wear-resistant, making them ideal for drilling in hard rock formations. They come in various shapes and sizes, such as spherical, ballistic, conical, and parabolic, to optimize drilling performance based on the specific rock type and drilling conditions. The selection of the right carbide button design is crucial for achieving efficient drilling results and maximizing the lifespan of the drill bit.

The latest innovation is to use diamond button bits for making top hammer drill bits.

The Diamond Button Series bits buttons have an industrial diamond, which lasts many times longer than a regular bit and does not need to be sharpened. The diamond is made on the buttons in the same way as diamonds are also created, namely by subjecting it to high pressure and heat, which makes it even more durable than natural diamonds.The diamond button ensures adherence and enables the diamond bit to withstand the shocks and heat fluctuations of Top Hammer drilling. 

ZZbetter produces diamond buttons for these drill bits. Except for our standard sizes, customized sizes are also available. Welcome to contact us for the diamond buttons.