Development Status
Prototype Launch
The first SORDMiner head has been built and engineered by RCR Tomlinson one of Australia's most respected mining engineering houses.
While close to the full size of a production model, the prototype has a production capability of 100 tonnes per hour, about one third of the planned capability of a production model.
The prototype SORDMiner has been developed to operate in a mineral sands environment, thus inducing materials sub 1" and filtering all greater size materials over the head.
The Shield Deployment tool can be constructed once all umbilicals and space requirements inside the head have been completed. SORD Co cannot build the deployment tool until the SORD head is complete and operational, and this is expected by May 2007 and the deployment tool by July 2007.
Mining Trials Program
A mining trials site has been located in a sand deposit south of Perth Western Australia. A three-month in-ground testing phase is planned for this prototype. Early trials will focus on the tool achieving both extraction goals and directional control.