Chilean Mine Haul Road Stabilization | T-PRO® Polymer Technology – Lithic Industries

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Chilean Mine Haul Road Stabilization | T-PRO® Polymer Technology

Project Overview
Lithic Industries successfully stabilized a major haul road at a large iron ore mine in Chile using T-PRO® polymer soil stabilization. The project focused on reducing rolling resistance, fuel consumption, and maintenance costs while improving overall road performance under extreme heavy-haul conditions.

Project Objectives
The primary goal was to lower operational costs per tonne by reducing rolling resistance, extending tire life, and minimizing water usage for dust control on the high-traffic haul road.

The Challenge
Poor haul road conditions caused high rolling resistance, excessive fuel use, rapid tire wear, and significant dust generation. Traditional maintenance methods were expensive and insufficient for the demanding conditions of a large-scale open-pit mine.

The Polymer Soil Stabilization Solution
Lithic Industries applied a comprehensive T-PRO® polymer soil stabilization program using in-situ materials. The road was graded, moisture-conditioned, and treated with a topical polymer seal coat to create a stable, dust-resistant wearing surface.

Proven Results
The T-PRO® treatment delivered exceptional outcomes:

- Up to 23% fuel savings
- Up to 18% increase in tire life
- Up to 90% reduction in water usage for dust suppression
- Up to 75% reduction in spray fleet requirements
- Up to 70% reduction in grading frequency
- Significant improvement in rolling resistance and overall road stability

Application Details

- Equipment Used: Grader, Water Truck with Spray Bar, Compaction Equipment
- Application Method: Topical polymer seal coat with in-situ stabilization
- Coverage Rate: Optimized for heavy-haul traffic conditions

Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance is simple and cost-effective:

- Periodic removal of loose material
- Light topical re-coat as needed for continued performance

Why Mining Operations Choose T-PRO® for Haul Roads
This project demonstrates how modern polymer soil stabilization transforms haul road performance, delivering major cost savings and operational efficiency in demanding mining environments. It is an ideal solution for mines seeking to reduce costs per tonne while improving safety and environmental compliance.

T-PRO® is a proven, carbon-neutral polymer soil stabilization technology backed by Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) validation. It consistently delivers strong, long-term results using in-situ materials.

Ready to Lower Your Cost per Tonne?
Contact Lithic Industries today for a free haul road assessment. Let us show how T-PRO® can deliver lasting results for your mining operation.

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• Brake Test Data (32 km/hr & 22 km/hr)

Monthly Operational Savings 

• Labor: R 88,220
• Equipment: R 308,335
• Earth-moving tires (10% saving): R 41,600
• Diesel (7% saving): R 175,000
• Total real monthly saving: R 1,046,435

One-Time Stabilization + Ongoing Maintenance Economics (10 km × 25 m road)

• Stabilization (one-time): R 9.03/m² = R 2,257,500 (recovered over road lifespan)
• Monthly maintenance (Year 1): R 1.22/m² = R 305,000/month

Conclusion:

Turning Haul Roads from Cost Center to Profit Driver T-PRO® polymer soil stabilization transforms challenging mine haul roads into smooth, stable, dust-controlled surfaces that deliver optimum production, higher road availability, and dramatically lower cost per tonne. With up to 7× compressive strength gains (TTI-validated), superior water resistance, and carbon-neutral chemistry, T-PRO® provides the best long-term haul road stabilization available — proven globally and trusted where performance matters most.

Lithic Industries continues to deliver these field-proven, environmentally responsible results for mining, energy, infrastructure, and heavy industrial operations worldwide.

Ready to lower your cost per tonne and reduce rolling resistance? Contact Lithic Industries today for a free haul road assessment and discover how T-PRO® can deliver 3% rolling resistance performance and substantial operational savings at your site.

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