A liner would wear out in a few days there. They are looking into various bi-metalics and even some polymers for the wear items on the shovels though. Much effort is put into trying to find stuff that lasts. The environment is so nasty that not much holds up.
The temps get so low it really makes steel very brittle as well. Combine that with the ultra abrasive oilsand and its just nasty business (the pay is stupid good though!)
For those of you guys who are into bugs, there is one critter that lives up there and makes the heartiest roustabout run like a 7th grade girl - the Tarsand Beetle. Those critters actually live in the tarsands and from what most of the folks tell me they can take a good chunk out of you when they bit. They are know to get into your shirts and shorts. Nasty buggers.
The guy in this photo has some nuts - they say that they get bigger than this and are able to withstand one of those 930E's running over them. Myth or not, not into them!
