An Alternative Cemented Hydraulic Sand Backfill Method for Large Spans in an Underhand Cut-and-Fill Deep Metal Mine

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bren M ; Dehn K
• Description:
  This paper documents the development and implementation of an alternative backfill design method using cemented hydraulic sand backfill (CHSB) for mechanized underhand cut-and-fill (UCF) mining along a wide vein structure by NIOSH researchers and mine staff for U.S. Silver Corporations' Galena Mine. The mine historically mined discrete silver-copper veins with widths ranging from 0.3 m up to 3 m using conventional overhand cut-and-fill mining and hydraulic sand backfill. A cement-mixing circuit added to the backfill plant in 2001 enabled backfilling with CHSB for mechanized UCF mining of the 72.Vein and extraction of remnant pillars. The CHSB design method, initially developed in 2001, allowed for a stable exposed backfill span up to 3.6 m wide for distances less than 6 m in length. In the mid-2000s, a high-grade lead-silver vein was discovered approximately 1,580 m below surface with ore zones up to 10 m wide and 21 m long. To facilitate UCF mining along the wide vein structure, an alternative CHSB design and support method was required to allow for stable backfill spans in excess of 3.6 m for extended lengths. The alternative CHSB design and support method developed, using available materials and equipment, allowed for safe extraction of the wide, high-grade ore with minimal delay to mining and only marginal increases in overall costs. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Mining Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Cements Compressive Strength Environmental Stress Extended Cut Mining Failure Analysis Fracturing Geotechnical Engineering Ground Control Horizontal Stress Hydraulic Equipment Materials Testing Mathematical Models Mechanical Properties Metal Mining Rock Mechanics Safety Engineering Sampling Sand Stope Mining Structural Design Structural Engineering Tensile Strength Underground Mining

  More +
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• Publisher:
  American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  Idaho ; OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  SMRD - Spokane Mining Research Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053097
• Citation:
  52nd US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, June 17-20, 2018, Seattle, Washington. Alexandria, VA: American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA), 2018 Jun; :ARMA 18-1031
• Contact Point Address:
  K. Dehn, CDC NIOSH, Spokane, Washington, USA
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  52nd US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, June 17-20, 2018, Seattle, Washington
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9500dceb3a2bab18352912c36dad3f63b88b48cf2f6cbb5430e099cbd53b6029ab3c81a317b6c97ebe95ecdcf94fcf1cd705bc048ff750eda50963f2ba739d80
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/227740/cdc_227740_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 627.25 KB ]