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By Lei Fu

In the wake of the collapse of the ceiling panels in the I-90 section of the Central Artery/Tunnel (CA/T) Project in 2006, the long term performance of tunnels became the focus of the tunneling industry. At the time of the accident, the tunnel had been open to traffic for about 10 years. This paper will discuss design methods and considerations to improve the long term performance and durability of a tunnel. The major problems found during the inspection of several tunnels will also be presented and the causes for these problems will be discussed.

Jan 1, 2008

By J. C. Cawley

This National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study was conducted to focus future research on the most significant electrical problems in the mining industry. Data from 1,926 mine electrical accidents (including 75 fatalities) that occurred between 1990 and 1999 were studied. Coal and metal-nonmetal operator- and contractor-reported data are presented. All data used in this analysis were MSHA closeout data, except 1999, which were preliminary data. Electricity was the 4th leading cause of death reported in mining despite being the 14th leading cause of injuries. Electrical shock, not electrical burns, caused 70 of the 75 electrical fatalities reported. About one-half of mine electrical accidents and fatalities occurred during electrical maintenance. Suggestions for mitigating electrical hazards are proposed.

Jan 1, 2002

Every two years, industry leaders and practitioners of tunneling and underground construction gather at the Rapid Excavation and Tunneling Conference (RETC) to learn from their peers about the most recent advances and breakthroughs in this unique fleld. Industry experts from around the world highlight their most recent projects and share real-world experiences. They also share with their colleagues new technologies and methodologies that attendees can take home to their respective projects. The 2013 RETC was held June 23-26 in Washing-ton, D.C., itself home to several major tunneling and underground construction projects. The conference is sponsored by SME. Attendance was 1,384 professionals. The accompanying exhibit hosted 159 companies in 188 booths. A few of the topics covered in the technical sessions dealt with caverns and large spans, contracting practices, tunnel linings, design and planning, geotechnical considerations and instrumentation. The conference was preceded by four short courses, all well attended. They were ?Grouting in Underground Construction,? ?Tunnel Lining Design,? ?Microtunneling Application? and ?Risk, Uncertainty and Hard Decisions.? In addition, a sold-out field trip to D.C. Water?s Blue Plains Tunnel took place following the conference. The Blue Plains Tunnel is part of the agency?s Clean Rivers Project. Also during the meeting, three students each received $5,000 scholarships from the UCA of SME, while another three students each received $2,500 scholarships from RETC (See page 53).

Sep 1, 2013

By M. Fornaro, E. Lovera, I. Sacerdote

"The analysis of the mining laws of the different European States reveals big diversities and, often, remarkable complications. This is due, firstly, to the history and culture of different States and, secondly, to the assets of natural resources. It is therefore difficult to find a common line between the text of the various mining laws, but it can be observed that nearly all the States distinguish the mining resources in two categories: the materials whose importance is considered strategic belong to the first category; in the second category the materials whose importance (above all economic) is mainly local are comprised. The paper, analysing in detail the planning procedures in some important Countries, investigates the possible perspectives of arranging some guide-lines for a correct approach to the sustainable exploitation planning/programming of mineral resources (with particular reference to "quarry" materials, such as aggregates), considering both the environment protection and the production needs."

Jan 1, 2005

By Jerry D. Pfarr, Gary Loving, David G. McDowall

Introduction The Open Cut is one of the best known landmarks in South Dakota's Black Hills. It is the site of the original discovery of the Homestake ledge, or lead, in 1876. Between that time and 1945, the Open Cut produced about 36 Mt (40 million st) of gold ore, the majority of which was drawn from underground operations. In 1981, a drilling program was undertaken to determine how much ore the old timers left behind. The results of this study indicated an ore body made up of broken and caved ground, and solid blocks in pillars and crowns. Reserves are estimated at about 6.8 Mt (7.5 million st) of gold ore, grading at 4 g/t (0.116 oz per st). Total tonnage of material, including waste, is estimated at more than 60 Mt (66 million st). The mining plan is a combination open pit and underground operations. The bottom 78 m (255 ft) will be mined by the underground panel-caving method. The open pit was designed as a contractor operation up to the expected milling stage or the point of sustained ore production. The pit was designed to avoid disturbance of US Highway 85 near Lead, SD. In 1983, the South Dakota Board of Minerals and Environment approved the mining and reclamation plan. Test mining began in the north of the Open Cut using open pit methods. Upon completion of the test pit, Homestake Mining's board of directors approved an expanded mine plan. They committed an additional $27.1 million to prestrip the ore body that is expected to yield 23 t (750,000 oz) of gold. Project life is estimated at 15 years. Exploration program In early 1980, 10 diamond drill holes were drilled from the surface in the vicinity of the east side of the Open Cut. The reserves delineated by that drilling were too small to justify their development. A continuation of this study attempted to quantify the tonnage remaining in the bottom of the Open Cut in the crushed remnants of old stope-and-crown pillars. This was originally thought to be minable by improved drawhole methods using highly mechanized procedures. By early 1981, however, thinking turned toward surface mining methods. The effort to quantify minable ore tonnage ultimately involved drilling 385 reverse-circulation rotary drill holes. These were drilled from August 1981 to March 1983 in several groups of holes. Each group, or drilling program, had a slightly different immediate goal or purpose. The holes were drilled to various depths using truck-mounted Drill Tech 40 drills with doublewalled 76 mm (3 in.) pipe with 134 mm (5.25 in.) three-cone rotary bits. Initially, wet drilling was employed using a cyclone collection system. Since cutting recovery was not as high as it should have been, all subsequent drilling was dry. The cuttings were collected and deposited by way of a cyclone into the sample bag. The pickup for the cuttings using the three-cone bits was about 50 mm (2 in.) above the bottom of the hole. Overall cutting recovery for the drilling program was estimated at 75%. Samples were taken on each 1.5 m (5 ft) of hole drilled. Each sample was split into three 48-g (1-2/3 assay ton) charges. The accepted value was the straight average of the three charges. Because of the known "nugget effect," assays were nearly impossible to duplicate. Therefore, to validate the regular assays, a series of screen fire assays were run. Based on this method of assays and checks, it was concluded that 10% more ounces would be produced than indicated by mine grade. Test pit The northernmost portion of the mine as planned is known as the Terraville test pit. This portion was mined ahead of the rest and separately. It provided answers to questions on slope stability, reserves correlation, mill recoveries, mining costs, and surface mining conditions in various weather and ground conditions since many boulders and much timber were expected. The mining plan for this portion of the pit was successful. More ore was mined than was expected. Mixing of Open Cut ore with underground ore in the mill feed was successful. Impact on the surrounding communities

Jan 10, 1987

By W. Petruk

Imaging is a fundamental requirement when characterizing minerals, ores and related products. Images are used for presentation, texture analysis, characterization, image analysis, identification, etc. The image mode that is utilized is dependent upon the application, mineral properties and available instruments. Different instruments produce images that display different features; in order of increasing complexity they are: hand specimens, a non-polarizing microscope, polarizing optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), low vacuum SEM, microprobe, secondary ion mass spectrometer, staining, cathodoluminescence, tomography and others. Image analysis uses images produced with either an optical microscope or a SEM, but the SEM images are superior in this application.

Jan 1, 2001

By Jan L. Reichelderfer, Thomas L. Richardson

Completion of the H-3 Highway Tunnel Project was a critical element in opening this award winning project. The exploratory tunnel was completed as a maintenance tunnel and included difficult shafts extending into the main tunnel cross passages. The project also involved a major addition to the traffic operations center including a deep excavation in close proximity to the tunnel portal structures. The projects also included various completions and improvements to the main tunnels, such as paving, drainage, maintenance, and a variety of critical life-safety issues, such as radio systems, telephones, etc. The highway opened in December 1997.

Jan 1, 2001

By M. Botz

For leach solutions containing primarily free cyanide, the silver nitrate titration method is a rapid and acceptably accurate means of analyzing for cyanide. However, in leach solutions containing elevated levels of copper, the titrimetric method significantly over-estimates the concentration of free cyanide and under-estimates the concentration of weak and dissociable (WAD) cyanide. The authors have developed a modified potentiometric titration method for determining WAD cyanide that overcomes issues with high copper levels in solution. The new MP-WAD method involves addition of a chemical ligand to the sample prior to silver nitrate titration to fully release cyanide bound to copper. Once released from copper, cyanide in solution is no longer affected by the presence of copper and titration results are quantitative rather than empirical. In multiple laboratory trials with synthetic solutions and complex actual leach solutions, accurate WAD cyanide measurements were achieved using the MP-WAD method. Analyses obtained with the new method were found to be within about ±10% of analyses obtained with the USEPA OIA-1677 WAD cyanide analytical method.

Feb 27, 2013

By A. K. Majumder

Particle motion in fluids is a subject of considerable practical importance to engineers working in fields such as hydraulics, river mechanics, chemical engineering and mineral processing. Many mathematical models have been proposed to predict the terminal settling velocities of particles in a fluid medium. The selection of an appropriate mathematical model has, therefore, become a challenging task for practicing engineers. This paper reports on an attempt to identify some of the useful models found in the literature for predicting particle-settling velocities in a fluid under free- and hindered-settling conditions. From this study, it was concluded that there is no well-accepted model validated by experimental data available for predicting particle hindered-settling velocities in a suspension of polydisperse and polydens particles. Collective efforts should, therefore, be made towards developing a hindered-settling model, as this is an absolute prerequisite for many model structures in mineral processing and other engineering disciplines.

Jan 1, 2007

By Steve Kral

The upswing in prices for base and precious metals, industrial minerals and coal has allowed the global mining industry to ramp up production at existing mines and begin construction of proposed projects. In addition to satisfying shareholders, the industry is also providing good paying jobs and creating needed infra-structure in places that previously did not have either. However, the industry has learned that the prospect of jobs and infrastructure is not necessarily a guarantee that communities will allow mines to be built. The industry must maintain even higher environmental and reclamation standards. And mining companies must help communities plan for life after a mine is closed and the company moves out.

Jan 1, 2005

By Steve Kral

For an industry that provides more than half of the nation’s energy needs, the U.S. coal industry still attracts negative publicity. However, the nation’s energy appetite continues to increase. And political leaders and the public are beginning to understand that alternative fuels will not be enough to keep up with that appetite. Does that mean the nation will now embrace the coal industry? No, according to speakers at the Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute (RMCMI) meeting. The industry still needs to sell the public on coal’s advantages over other fuels. And the industry must continue to develop technology that will allow coal to meet and exceed strict clean air and clean water regulations.

Jan 1, 2002

By Shawn Collins

BACKGROUND The history of the Pine Point Mine is a rich one. This property once boasted one of the largest and most profitable lead-zinc mines in Canada's long and storied mining history. The Pine Point mine used open pit technology to extract the ore, but they faced several challenges. In addition to logistics problems with haul distances and metal prices, the mine faced the challenge of a large in flow of water from the Great Slave Lake. Eventually, the Pine Point Mine was closed leaving behind a large deposit of lead-zinc ore. Following the closing of the Pint Point Mine, Tamerlane Ventures Inc. acquired this property which includes approximately 70 million tonnes of lead-zinc reserves. The initial phase of this project will concentrate on the R-190 deposit as a test site to prove their new approach for extracting the ore. The R-190 reserve is believed to have approximately 1,014,000 million tonnes of high grade ore varying from 5% to 52% combined lead-zinc. Once the pilot project proves the approach is valid, the process will be repeated in approximately 33 other ore bodies on the property. This paper is written to discuss the design process to determine the most effective means of placing production and service equipment in the same shaft. Currently the design work and the mining scheme is complete, but lead-zinc pricing has prevented Tamerlane Ventures Inc. from moving forward with the project.

By Takuji Yamamoto

High-speed TBM excavation requires rapid ground assessment ahead of excavation, particularly in complex grounds. The Tunnel Reflector Tracing technology (TRT) developed by authors, uses seismic reflections to produce volumetric images of ground anomalies. To further minimize interruption in the TBM excavation the authors modified surveying technique switching from cable (wired) to radio (wireless) data acquisition system. This paper presents the outline of the Wireless TRT system, and compares the results for the wired and the wireless surveys. The comparison shows that the wireless system offers high precision data, is more efficient and economical and significantly less intrusive in tunneling operations.

By Guosheng Zhan

The Homestake Mine included the open cut and underground workings up to 2,484 m (8,150 ft) deep. The mine ceased mining activities in December 2001 after 125 years of operation. Pumping from the underground workings continued for 18 more months until June 10, 2003. Homestake had completed a comprehensive hydrologic evaluation on post-closure underground flooding prior to the shutdown of pumping. After closure, the mine was selected by the National Science Foundation as the site for the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL). An interim laboratory facility will be set at the 1478 m (4850 ft) Level. The final facility will be set at the 2256 m (7400 ft) Level or deeper. Pumping from the underground workings began on June 5, 2008 by the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA). During the period of June 2008 through March 2009, the pumping rate increased from 41 L/s (650 gpm) to 81 L/s (1,290 gpm) with an average rate of 60 L/s (950 gpm). As a result, the water level had been lowered more than 95 m (310 ft). It was found that the observed rebound and later decline to date is in close agreement with the model projections. Because of this, the authors of this paper reject claims of a lack of sufficient measurement devices in place and a lack of understanding of the hydrologic system at the Homestake Mine prior to shutdown of pumping in 2003 (Davis et al, 2009). Furthermore, it is believed that this validated model can serve as a useful tool for the SDSTA to manage future underground dewatering for the DUSEL operation. This paper evaluates the hydrologic conditions in the Homestake Mine area and projects the post-closure groundwater rebound and decline due to DUSEL pumping.

Jan 4, 2010

By R. Hipsley, D. Arbonies, P. J. Dobak, M. Visher

The Storm deposit is a high grade breccia hosted “Carlin-type” gold deposit located at the north end of the Carlin Trend. Storm consists of 3 smaller deposits: 1) 49er Zone, 2) End Zone, 3) Discovery Zone. Structural intersections and favorable stratigraphy at the Paleozoic Popovich/Rodeo Creek formation and Bootstrap limestone formation contact are the primary known controls to gold mineralization at Storm. High grade silica-sulfide breccia occurs in the footwall of the north-south trending, dike filled, Dee fault. This mineralization cross-cuts silicified heterolithic breccia zones localized above the Bootstrap limestone where northwest, dike filled, reverse faults cut this structural-stratigraphic horizon. 40Ar/39Ar dates of 37.57+ 0.34 Ma (basalt dike) and 162 Ma (lamprophyre dike) have been obtained from dikes in the Dee pit which are locally mineralized by the same event as Storm. This paper will focus on the descriptive aspects of the Storm deposits.

Jan 1, 2001

By Ali Kazmi, Wern-ping N. Chen

A load rating procedure was performed to evaluate safe load capacity of the Port of Miami Tunnel (POMT), FDOT Tunnel No. 871071 SR 887. The rating procedure performed on a total of eleven stations beneath roadways and with fill depth less than the tunnel exterior diameter (42 ft). Calculations on tunnel sections passing beneath roadways were performed to evaluate the structural response of the sections subject to moving vehicular loads, dead load, and earth pressures. Ratings were performed in accordance with AASHTO and FDOT guidelines. The procedure considered two types of vehicles (HL-93 and FL-120) and two rating levels (Design level and Permit level). As part of HL-93 vehicle, Tandem load was also considered for rating, separately. For HL-93 and HL-93 Tandem, inventory and operating level ratings were performed. The results show rating factors are high. The minimum rating factor is 16.8 using Inventory truck HL-93. For Permit level using FDOT FL-120 truck the minimum rating factor is 6.9. As can be seen, rating factors are higher than comparable analysis for bridges. This paper explains how the procedure can be implemented for tunnels and evaluates the rating results.

Dec 1, 2022

By Brian Fulcher

While tunneling in Europe has been a tradition for centuries, many companies and countries have embraced tunnel innovation with considerable vigor and creativity. Indeed, local needs and site conditions have provided the initiative for improved means, methods, materials and equipment to complete progressively more challenging projects. Many recently completed tunnels have expanded tunneling technology and contributed to the development of highly specialized and productive equipment ? such as the mixed-mode tunnel boring ma-chine (TBM) presently in operation at the SOCATOP A- [ ] 86 road tunnel and the high-pressure slurry TBMs for the Westerschelde Tunnel in the Netherlands and Hollandsas near Malmo, Sweden. This paper describes some of the key technologies employed by European tunnel builders and designers including the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM), advanced earth pressure-balanced (EPB) machines, pres-sure-faced (slurry) tunneling machines as well as ?hybrid? or mixed-mode TBMs. While these tunneling methods and equipment generally involve significant equipment investment, they may also involve highly trained, experienced and specialized tunneling and support crews as well as materials and tools specifically developed to supplement or complement tunneling performance. For example, mechanized pipe arch placement substantially improves ground support measures and NATM advance and on larger tunnel cross-sections.

Jan 1, 2007

By S. Devasahayam

Acid production or acid drainage is a major environmental issue that also has negative implications on the aquifer system surrounding the mine tailings area. The approach to controlling acid mine drainage involves physical and geochemical characterization that affect acid production. The material permeability determines the availability of oxygen, which is paramount in acid production in coal rejects, and varies with depth. In this paper the author presents the variation in oxidized pyrite/acid production with depth in black coal mine washery wastes. Chemical kinetic parameters and the diffusive parameters have been used to obtain the variation in oxygen content and the oxidized pyrite content with respect to the depth and time. Its dependence on porosity and moisture content is illustrated.

Jan 1, 2007

The 23rd annual American Mining Hall of Fame Awards Banquet sponsored by the Mining Foundation of the Southwest will be held at the Tucson Marriott University Park Hotel, Tucson, AZ on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005. The Mining Foundation of the Southwest is a non-profit organization. It educates the public about the mineral industries and reports outstanding accomplishments in the fields of mining and the earth sciences. This year’s inductee, guest of honor and featured speaker at the banquet will be Pierre Lassonde, president of Newmont Mining and resident of the World Gold Council. He is one of Canada’s leading gold analysts.

Jan 1, 2005

By K. Heasley, A. Yassien, A. Khair, S. Peng

There are three major components of a fully grouted roof bolt which primarily determine its ability to develop and sustain load: the steel rebar, the resin annulus, and the rock/grout interface. The untensioned, fully grouted roof bolt is subjected to loading only when the surrounding rock deforms. Vertical rock deformation is generally a result of strata sagging and bedding plane separation, whereas horizontal deformation is typically a result of bedding plane sliding. These two types of deformation create different types of internal loads with-in the roof bolt, tensile stress for vertical rock deformations and shear stress for horizontal rock deformations. Also, as a result of the mutual load transfer between the rock and bolt, shear stress will be developed along the grout/rock interface. According to the exact bolt loading conditions, different failure modes may occur: bolt axial failure, bolt shear failure, and shear failure along the grout/rock interface. Understanding these possible failure modes and their root causes is the key to eliminating roof failures in underground mines employing fully grouted resin bolts. Using ABAQUS 5.8, a finite element model was developed to simulate the components of the fully grouted bolt and its interaction with the surrounding roof strata. Several models were conducted to investigate how load transfer occurs between the rock and the bolt under different geological and mining conditions. The effects of bed-ding plane location and properties, and strata sequence on bolt stability were studied. Also, the effects of hole roughness on bolt stability were discussed. Bolt axial failure was not observed within the range of the studied parameters; however, a combination of high overburden depth, a bedding plane located at 2 to 3 ft from the roofline or a low coefficient of friction along the bedding plane caused strata sliding and shears failure in the bolt. Also, in the case of a weak immediate roof, the shear stress at the grout/rock interface could exceed its ultimate capacity lead to slippage.

Jan 1, 2004