…and the hammer that won the battle of Phoenix rock

Drilling conditions in the region known as the high desert in northern Nevada are among the most challenging in the world. The quartzite encountered here is notorious for its hardness, and nowhere is it more abrasive than at the Phoenix Mine, located just south of Battle Mountain. Mine Manager Mark Evatz stresses the abrasiveness when he says: ?Anything that touches Phoenix rock wears out fast. Here, the rock bites back.?
Despite these tough geological conditions, Atlas Copco was confident that the Pit Viper 271 and, in particular, Secoroc?s Total Depth TD 65 down-thehole hammer was up to the task. Robust and high powered The TD 65 is a robust, high-powered down-the-hole hammer designed for maximum productivity in combination with large drill rigs. At Phoenix Mine it is equipped with 165 mm (6¾ in) button bits but will also take bits up to 216 mm (8½ in). The TD 65 also ranks as the most powerful hammer on the market,
delivering 2,160 blows per minute at the maximum air pressure of 30 bar (435 psi).