Issue 3 - Hitachi

awakes
Woods is no stranger to Hitachi mining shovels.
Prior to Hycroft, he was general manager of Nome
Operations for NovaGold Resources—Alaska Gold.
He has over 30 years of mining experience, with
nearly 20 of those managing large-scale, open-pit
mines and projects in North America including the
Fort Knox mine in Alaska. Over the years, he’s been
in a position to witness Hitachi productivity and
quality for himself, and he knew he wanted it for
Hycroft Mine.
“Unfortunately, our frst 5500-6 shovel was literally
on the dock in Japan ready to be shipped when
the 2011 tsunami hit,” recalls Woods. “Although
there cannot be enough said to describe the hardship
the Japanese people went through as a result of that
disaster, it had repercussions around the world. And,
it certainly placed a real hardship on us. There was a
lot of gnashing and grinding of teeth on our end as
we tried to fgure what to do in the interim, because
obviously our entire order and production plan had
to be altered.
“But we felt strongly enough about the product,
and (our dealer) Arnold Machinery’s support of the
product, that we decided to stick it out. We really
like the Hitachi 5500s. They’re dependable and very
productive. And now that they’re here, I’m glad we
waited. In the interim, Arnold Machinery helped fnd
and refurbish a couple of used EX3500s. We plan
to keep them, and ultimately move them to another
mine we’re just getting ready to open up.
The EX5500-6 provides great production and is very dependable.
“Our mine plan calls for us to reach over 400,000
tons a day, and it will take at least two of the three
EX5500s along with the three rope shovels to maintain
that rate. So it could be that one of the three
EX5500s might eventually go to another property.”
The EX5500-6 is a little small for the 320-ton
truck, taking an average of six passes compared to
three for the new model rope shovel the mine bought.
But it will provide great fexibility for opening up
new areas — and the 5500 is certainly more effcient
and easier to move as opposed to the more elaborate
steps required to move the electric rope shovel. And
the 5500-6’s cost per ton of loaded material is quite
competitive, so the two kinds of machines will actually
complement each other.
From yAwN To wow
An awakening giant indeed! From a start-up of
six 200-ton used trucks loaded by four-wheel loaders
to a feet of 16 320-ton trucks, three EX5500s
with 30.5-m 3 (40 cu. yd.) capacities, and three rope
shovels with 61-m 3 (80 cu. yd.) capacities...an ultimate
annual production that skyrockets from a 2008
start-up of zero to a projected annual production of
616,800 ounces of gold and 25.9-million ounces of
silver by around 2015. Hycroft and Allied Nevada
are now defnitely on the fast track to success.
Hycroft Mine is serviced by Arnold Machinery
Company, Elko, Nevada.