Dust-Free Haul Roads

EarthZyme and Dust Stop are ideal for heavy industries that require strong reliable roads that are also friendly to the environment, says Cypher Environmental Ltd. The Winnipeg, Canada, company reports that these products have been successful in pilot operation at a major coal mine in Colombia where, to extract nearly 2 million mt/y of coal the mine moves approximately 15 million m3/y of material using Caterpillar 793 and 777 trucks on double truck lanes, normally creating a large volume of dust. According to the company, haul trucks have traveled on an EarthZyme-treated road for approximately 22 hours a day, with the 793s maintaining a five-minute frequency and the 777s cycling 1.3 times per five-minute interval, yet so effective was the product that any dust evident during haulage came from the material in the trucks. That is where Dust Stop comes in: a coating of this product prevents dispersion of hazardous particulate matter from the loads. Cypher Environmental claims the stability of the treated surfaces can dramatically reduce maintenance costs and produce savings in lost man hours, vehicle downtime, and medical and insurance costs. www.cypherltd.com