Rebecca Long Pyper, Dome Technology, USA, outlines how domes beat flat storage in longevity, strength, and capacity.
D
urability; innovative foundation systems; more storage in a smaller footprint; and simpler product loading and unloading. These benefits have been enticing coal, copper, limestone, molybdenum, potash, bentonite, and other mining companies to choose dome storage for decades. And with systems increasing in sophistication all the time, companies who select a dome invest in longevity too. Two bulk-storage options dominate the mining industry today: domes and flat storage (warehouses). When choosing a storage facility, companies should consider necessary capacity, site conditions, stored-product requirements, and features built into the two options.
Space requirements and storage ability The first Dome Technology domes were hemispherical – they required a large footprint, and their diameter was greater than their height. This model is still the go-to option for mining storage, best where capacity is king and land is inexpensive. Domes store a large volume in a smaller footprint, stacking product deeper and taking up less property at a site. While some customers require three to five warehouses to store product, a single dome will likely accommodate the same amount of material. The double curvature of a dome lends itself to the ability to build up,
global mining review // September 2021
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