Crude Ore Dumping Sequence of a Haulage Truck - 1

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This 200 tonne haulage truck backing up in preparation to dump its load of crude iron ore into the loading pocket. The opening of the pocket is surrounded by a thick concrete foundation. Once the trucks rear wheels contact this foundation, the truck driver engages the hydraulics allowing the dump to rise and for the ore to fall into the pocket. This foundation acts as a buffer so that the truck does not back up too far and end up in the pocket instead of the ore. The pocket is about 200 feet (61 m) deep from top to bottom. Once in the pocket it is loaded by pan feeder onto the ATO (Automated Train Operation).

To get some idea of the size of this truck, the tires are roughly the height of the red school bus in the background which is bringing more guests to view the mine. The operating cab of the truck is approximately twenty feet (6 m) from ground level.

The truck is in position and ready for the operator to engage the hydraulics to start dumping.

The dump has been raised sufficiently to start dumping the crude iron ore into the pocket.

As the dump raises higher, the remaining ore gathers momentum (and noise volume) as it slides out of the truck into the pocket.

The dump is almost fully upright and most of the ore has been deposited into the pocket. As the tour bus drove off, the driver, a young lady, gave us a saucy wave and big smile.