What Is a Drift in Mining? A No-Nonsense Emergency Order Checklist

In mining, a drift is a horizontal tunnel cut into rock for access, haulage, or ventilation. That sounds simple, but if you're the person responsible for keeping that drift operational, simple is the last word you'd use. Especially at 3am when a drill rig just quit and the blast schedule hasn't moved.

This checklist is for you if you're facing a breakdown, a new heading to support, or a deadline that can't slide. I've got six steps for you, plus one thing that catches everyone. And yes, I've made every mistake here so you don't have to.

A quick note on drifts

A drift is typically oriented parallel to the ore body, while a crosscut goes perpendicular. In practice, you'll hear the word used for any horizontal opening that allows trucks, drills, or personnel to move. The width and height vary a lot. A small exploration drift might be 3.5 meters by 3.5 meters. A production drift can be 6 meters or more. That variability is why step one is the most important.

Step 1: Measure the drift before you call anyone

When I'm triaging an order, the first question is not "What's the part number?" It's "What are your drift dimensions?" I've seen a brand-new drill rig delivered to a mine with a 3.8-meter drift when the rig was designed for a 5-meter heading. There's no amount of rush shipping that fixes that.

Take these measurements yourself, from the actual site plan or a tape measurement if you can get one:

• Height from the floor to the highest obstruction
• Width at the widest point, including any timber or cable trays
• Turning radius at intersections where the equipment must pass
• Maximum grade, because ramp slope affects equipment like a mine truck or a mobile rock breaker

If the drift is curved, measure the inner radius at the tightest point. A drill boom that works in a straight heading might not swing through an S-curve. Write those numbers down. Keep them on your desk. In the next steps, you'll see why.

Step 2: Define what you need: machine, attachment, or part

There's a big difference between ordering a complete hydraulic drill and replacing a rock drill's seal kit. If you're replacing a part, find the serial number on the old component. Then photograph the nameplate. That photo will save you hours of back-and-forth emails. It also helps the distributor confirm the right revision level.

If you're ordering a new machine, this is the moment to make decisions about automation. Epiroc's newest rigs have digital integrations that can work with Mobilaris and other fleet management systems. That's a strong choice for a new drift. But only if your site has the IT backbone to support it. If you're not ready, a semi-automated rig is still a solid option. Don't let a salesperson push you into something your operators won't use.

Also note: contracts and customs documentation often refer to the legal entity as Epiroc AB, and the company's history goes back to Epiroc Rock Drills Aktiebolag. Make sure the purchase order matches the entity your supplier expects. It sounds like a finance detail, but it can delay an urgent order.

Step 3: Be honest about the deadline

Not every emergency is the same. I classify rush orders into three tiers:

• Tier 1: must be on-site within 24 hours
• Tier 2: within 72 hours
• Tier 3: within one week

Most clients think they're Tier 1. The way I see it, the real question is: when does the equipment need to be operating? If a drill pattern is scheduled for Friday morning, the new rock drill must be installed and tested by Thursday night. That reduces your available time by a full day.

Some parts are stocked locally; some are not. Knowing which one sits in a regional warehouse can change the whole tier. I'd argue it's worth a phone call to ask before you pick a shipping method.

I've learned to add a 12-hour buffer to every realistic estimate. One time, we scheduled a delivery for a production drift with no buffer. A rainstorm flooded a low-lying road, and the truck was stuck for ten hours. The client had to pay overtime to install the part through the night. A buffer would have covered the delay.

Step 4: Call the right people, not just the closest supplier

Epiroc has a global distribution network, which can be both an advantage and a test of your contact list. I've had a hydraulic hammer flown from Sweden to Western Australia in less than 48 hours. That worked because we called the regional distributor first and then looped in the original parts center. The second call, to the local branch, was quick because the first call gave us the part number and dimensions.

Before you pick up the phone, prepare this list:

• Machine serial number and model
• Part number or attachment name
• Drift dimensions (yes, again)
• Site delivery address and gate hours
• Installation deadline, not just arrival date

Once you're on the call, say "This is a Tier 1 rush order for a drift that's 4.2 meters wide." That sentence tells the supplier this isn't a routine quote. They'll ask the right next questions.

Step 5: Verify specs before you sign anything

In my opinion, more emergency orders fail from specification errors than from logistics. I once watched a mine superintendent named Henry spend an entire afternoon chasing a "roof bolter" that turned out to be the wrong size for the drift. The order had been rushed, but the spec had never been verified.

So slow down, just for a minute. Ask for a written spec sheet. If there's any doubt about compatibility, request a video call with Epiroc's technical support. They're usually available during business hours for urgent requests. It takes 20 minutes and it can prevent a 3-day wrong-shipment saga.

Also, ask about the actual part revision. Mining equipment parts get updated over time. A seal kit for a rock drill from 2019 may not fit a 2024 model. The serial number, not the part name, is what prevents that error.

Step 6: Lock down logistics and site access

The last mile is where rush orders die. In one case, a machine arrived at the mine site, but the access road was blocked by a parked haul truck. The unloading crane was on site, but not available until the next morning. The order had been shipped on time, but it was still a failure.

Before you approve any shipping method, confirm these details with the site:

• On-site lifting capacity (crane or forklift)
• Access road width, weight limits, and overhead clearance
• Customs and import paperwork status
• Whether a service technician can be scheduled for installation

If you're renting a crane, make sure the operator has underground certification. Not all crane operators are allowed underground. That's a subtle thing that can block an installation for hours.

While you're at it, walk through the parts house. I'm not joking: a "critical" part is sometimes sitting in inventory, hidden behind filters or other stock. Checking the parts store before placing a rush order sounds too simple, but it saves money and time. In a real emergency, you look there first.

The mistake to avoid: skipping the basics in a hurry

The biggest cause of failed rush orders is not a slow supplier. It's the customer abandoning basic procedure because they feel pressured. I've done it myself. When a client called at 4pm on a Friday with a shutdown threat, I skipped the dimension check and ordered a drill that arrived the following Wednesday — two centimeters too wide. That was a hard lesson, and it took three years and about 200 orders for me to understand that speed and caution aren't opposites. In fact, a little caution early creates speed later.

Something else changed over that time. The mining industry has evolved. What was best practice in 2020 — phone calls, faxed purchase orders, vague delivery windows — has given way to online portals, real-time inventory, and automated shipping alerts. Epiroc's digital tools have improved this process significantly. But the fundamentals haven't changed: you still need the right part for the right drift, installed before the deadline. Technology helps, but it doesn't replace knowing what you need.

Bottom line

Measure twice, order once. Use this sequence on every emergency order. It has saved me more times than I can count. And honestly, there's something satisfying about turning a five-day disaster into a forty-eight-hour rescue. After the stress and the coordination, seeing the drill running on schedule is a good feeling.

If you're not 100% sure whether you need a new rig or a remanufactured component, say so. Rebuilds often ship faster and cost less, but they aren't always the right answer. The only bad question is the one you don't ask.