Anyone use their tractor for mining?

[Dr_Zinj]

Like the title says.
Anyone use their tractor for mining operations, either hobby or business?
I'm going to assume that if someone does, it's open pit unless they have VERY well ventilated and spacious tunnels, and spark arresters on the tractors.

 

[tractchores]

I'd imagine you would need either very rich mining ground or a very big tractor!

 

[aczlan]

Power Trac's main business is mining machines.

Aaron Z

 

[crashz]

Dr. Zinj - do you mean open pit excavation and processing the soil for minerals?

I've never done it, but the pit mines near me are huge operations. The soil and rock is so hard, that blasting is done and huge machines are used to feed crushers. I feel that my tiny machines would be no more productive than if I were to mine by pick and shovel. I'm not sure if that type of operation could be scaled down to hobby size, but would be interested to see if anyone does.

 

[crazyal]

I've watched people on TV mine dirt for gold with nothing more than a hand shovel and bare feet. So I'm sure you could but you would need to have the right conditions. Maybe if you lived in a region of Alaska where eons of river flow have condensed lots of gold into the river banks you probably would do fine. But for anything in rock, I doubt you would do anything but beat up your equipment.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I worked with a guy back in the 80's that lived in western Va and the family had a "coal mine". A seam of coal came to the surface on their land and they used it to heat their house. The gov. came and told them that they were operating an unlicensed mine and to stop or face jail. He said after that they often went cold because his widowed mom could not make enough money to pay for coal and feed her 5 or 6 kids. Sad story but that is gov. for you. Ed

 

[tractchores]

Most of mining is moving huge amounts of dirt and rock to either get down to valuable minerals or to process and extract trace amounts of valuable stuff. With that said it would be pretty cool if it could be scaled down.

Sometimes when I dig a hole I feel like I'm mining for rocks. If they had any value I would be rich!

 

[Baby Grand]

A small tractor with backhoe would make a great tool for placer mining an existing claim - especially if you're working a sluice!

 

[joeu235]

Most the local gravel pits here use large excavators to remove the overburden. I guess a tractor could do the same thing, just a lot slower

 

[bdog]

I guess it all depends on scale. A commercial mine probably processes more yards of material in an hour than a compact trqctor could move in a week.