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By Steve Signer

The San Juan Mine and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conducted a study to measure how development mining effected bolt loads. Twelve fully grouted, instrumented roof bolts were installed at two three-way intersections as part of the standard bolting pattern. Newly developed miniature data acquisition systems (MIDAS) were used to measure bolt load changes during initial face advance and cross-cut breakthrough. The effects of cut placement and depth on roof bolt loads were studied This test showed how bolt loads increased at five positions along the bolt length during initial mining. Both entry advance and cross-cut breakthrough produced a similar percentage of increase in bolt loads. Geologic differences between the test sites were probably responsible for the differences in amounts of bolt loading. The test site with more top coal and a higher rock quality designation (RQD) had lower bolt loads.

Jan 1, 2004

By Cao Shenggen

Experiences in the developed countries have shown that continuous increase of panel width (or face length) is one of the major technical trends for high production high efficiency mines. Increasing the panel width will increase not only the panel output, simplify the gateroad layout, facilitate high concentration of production, but also increase resources recovery and facilitate protection of surface structures. This paper uses the No.4326 super- wide panel, Wangzhuang Coal Mine as an example. This mine employs the fully-mechanized top-coal caving longwall mining method. Through surface subsidence monitoring, the dynamic characteristics of surface movement were obtained. The dynamic surface movement during mining and the final surface movement after mining were predicted using the Mining Subsidence Prediction System. The results indicate that after mining, the surface above the super-wide panel reached a state of full subsidence, So it can ensure the No.309 National Highway above is located in the flat bottom of the subsidence basin, and there is little impact on the national highways when panels on both sides of 4326 Panel are mined.

Jan 1, 2003

By John C. Stankus

The success of cable bolts for mine ground control have been well documented in papers presented at this conference too numerous to reference. Cable bolts have proven effective over the years mainly utilized in the form of supplemental support. Some limited work has been conducted on the use of cable bolts as primary support This work has been mainly confined to the West and the bolts utilized were of a non- tensioned type MSHA requirements for primary support have been that the bolt system he tensioned or if non-tensioned, then fully encapsulated with resin. Many operators are now interested in using cable bolts as primary support Further, despite the enormous success of cable bolts, there have been questions raised about the longevity and corrosion characteristics of the cable itself particularly for long tern applications. To improve the corrosion characteristics of cable bolts, galvanized cable has been used for some applications However. although improving the corrosion resistance of cable, galvanized cable for mine ground control does not provide complete protection under certain types of situations and mine environments. Realizing a need for a cable bolt that can be used for primary support and provides consistent installed tension, complete corrosion protection, and a fast installation, Keystone Mining Services. LLC (KMS), an affiliate of Jennmar Corporation, has developed the INSTáL CableOx system. This paper will detail the development and specifics of this system including two underground case studies

Jan 1, 2000

By Megan N. Witkowski

The purpose of this study is to investigate the susceptibility characteristics of domestic and agricultural water supplies that may be vulnerable to diminution or total loss of supply when active longwall mining is in the vicinity of the potable aquifer systems of southwestern Pennsylvania. The study focuses on water supplies in Greene and Washington Counties with reported losses or reductions in supply that were attributed to the seven active longwall mines in operation between 2003 and 2008. The undermined water supplies represent a variety of hydrogeological settings and mining conditions prevalent in the southwestern Pennsylvania longwall coalfield. The susceptibility characteristics investigated include hydrogeological setting, proximal location to mining, and climatic conditions at the time of impact. The investigation considers the relationship between geological and mining characteristics. Geological characteristics include overburden composition and geomorphology of the surface; mining characteristics include mining method, depth, and extraction thickness. It was determined from the study that the average overburden thickness at each mine site is indicative of hydrological changes to potable aquifer systems, with the overall impact frequency at each site decreasing as depth to mining increases. However, depth to mining was not the governing factor when hydrological responses were determined on a case-by-case basis. To fully analyze and hopefully predict potential impacts by longwall mine subsidence, it is necessary to consider additional factors including topography, distance to mining, mining method, and climatic conditions at time of undermining. The investigation serves the purpose of enhancing our understanding of hydrogeological responses to longwall mining and will aid in predicting potential impacts to southwestern Pennsylvania?s wells and springs in proximity to future mining.

Jan 1, 2011

By Alan Campoli

The Eclipse System was developed by Minova USA Inc. formerly Fosroc Inc. to improve the performance of 5/8-inch deformed rebar fully grouted into a one inch borehole. An 1/8-inch offset bolt head combined with specially formulated Eclipse Lokset resin cartridge results in reduced gloving and increased mixing efficiency. The benefits of the Eclipse System have been demonstrated, under the supervision of MSHA, in Kentucky, West Virginia and Illinois coal mines in partnership with Excel Mining Systems, a leading roof bolt manufacturer. Over 100,000 units have been installed to date. Eclipse system bolts exposed during overcast construction at the Panther Mine of Cumberland Resources displayed an extremely well mixed, uniform resin anchorage over the entire bolt length.

Jan 1, 2003

By Timothy Batchler

"Standing roof supports help to provide a stable working environment in coal mine gateroads. NIOSH participates in the development of these support systems by conducting full-scale tests in their Mine Roof Simulator. These tests have established the performance characteristics of every coal mine support system currently in use in the United States. Through these tests, mine operators and regulatory officials have acquired a fundamental understanding of the various types of support performance that guides the assessment and use of these support systems. However, some little known factors that influence support behavior can lead to misconceptions and, perhaps, a poor assessment of support behavior at times. This paper highlights several of these factors and discusses their significance. The paper also examines a current longwall tailgate support and discusses the inefficiency with this approach. Finally, the NIOSH Mine Roof Simulator (MRS) is the world’s most powerful load frame built specifically to test full-scale roof supports, including longwall shields. are addressed in this paper to provide a more in-depth assessment of the limitations of the MRS and what the MRS testing protocol is designed to do. INTRODUCTION Over the years, considerable research has been conducted to develop standing support technologies and to evaluate their performance characteristics. The load and displacement characteristics of the standing supports have been determined from full-scale testing conducted using the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Mine Roof Simulator (MRS) (Barczak and Tadolini, 2008) located in Bruceton, PA. Performance traits, installation patterns, and ground responses are observed in various geological and mining conditions and are evaluated to determine the support performance in the field (Dolinar, 2010; Campoli, 2015; Zhang et al., 2012). Despite widespread use of standing supports, not every aspect of their performance and resulting ground support capability are always well understood. This paper discusses 10 factors, several of which are surprising, that impact standing support performance."

Jan 1, 2017

By Terry Medhurst

Geophysical logging is routinely undertaken as part of most Australian coal mining exploration programs. Typically, the main application is the determination of coal seam depth and the qualitative estimation of coal quality, lithology and rock strength. For rock strength estimation, sonic transit times relate to the elastic properties of the rock and provide a general correlation with uniaxial compressive strength. However, experience has shown that site-specific relationships are necessary to account for different geological environments. In this paper we describe results from a series of recent studies that have provided a more comprehensive method of geotechnical strata characterisation using detailed lithological interpretation and rock property estimation from borehole logs. This has resulted in an improved method of estimating rock strength via the determination of the proportions of quartz and clay plus the porosity. We also propose a rock classification scheme based on geophysical log analysis. This builds on the existing acceptance of the sonic log as an indicator of rock strength and adds scores according to the moisture, cohesion, porosity and quartz content inferred from the geophysical logs. The new scheme can be related to existing mapping based schemes such as CMRR and the Q-system.

Jan 1, 2005

By Fred Leighton

Outbursts, or the sudden and sometimes catastrophic expulsion of coal and gas into the working area of a coal mine, are a little understood and growing problem. The AE/MS (Acoustic Emission/Microseismic), or rock talk, activity prior to and associated with several outbursts has been recorded using ultrasonic and micro- seismic equipment and has been analyzed by the Bureau of Mines. Analysis of these data indicates that outbursts are comprised of several failures in rapid succession and that anomalous AE/MS data suitable for providing failure warning are generated 15 to 45 minutes prior to the failure. This paper discusses the techniques for recording and analyzing these data and presents sane case histories.

Jan 1, 1982

By Bruce W. King, David A. Newman

"Underground mines have always been an integral part of the limestone industry. However, beginning in the 1990s, the number of underground limestone mines has increased for many reasons including• Stripping ratios at surface quarries have become uneconomic.• Existing surface quarries have reached the mineral boundaries, and the remaining stone reserves are underground.• Surface access to the entirety of the limestone reserve is limited by development or infrastructure.• The once-rural setting of the surface quarry is now surrounded by subdivisions and development. An underground mine is less intrusive and takes the mining operation out of the public eye.• For larger markets, an underground mine enables year-round production without the sequence of overburden stripping in the winter to expose mineable stone for summer production. This is common at many surface quarries.Multiple-level operations are a natural extension of the decision to mine underground. Most limestone reserves, for example, the Tyrone-Oregon-Camp Nelson, Hermitage-CartersLebanon- Ridley, and Salem Limestones, are sufficiently thick to accommodate multiple levels. Multiple-level mines should be planned by considering each level separately and then integrating the individual levels into a larger mine plan. Failure to plan all the levels of a multiple-level mine in concert can result in ground control (back, pillar, floor, and inter-level sill pillar) problems attributable to stress transfer and interaction between the levels or the necessity to leave a thicker sill pillar between adjacent levels.Multiple-level mine planning begins with geology. Once the upper level back horizon is identified, the geology, rock strength, and physical properties in each level are used to• identify the optimal back horizon• quantify whether back support is required and, if so, the type, spacing, and length of the back support• determine the pillar centers• determine the total mining height, including floor shots"

Jan 1, 2016

By Joseph Hirschi, Naga S. Y. Tirumalaraju, Aditya Mishra, Anthony (Sam) J. S. Spearing

"Primary roof support in underground coal mines in the USA consists mostly of fully grouted passive rebar or grouted (partially or fully) tensioned rebar. Research conducted at two room-and pillar coal mines in the Illinois Basin and one longwall mine in Colorado monitored the performance of these passive and active rock bolts under similar geologic and mining conditions and found no significant initial loads in either passive or active rock bolts (Spearing et al., 2011). Active rock bolts showed significant loss of initial pre-load, although the exact reasons for this were not fully investigated. Subsequent laboratory testing has also shown that in weak rock, resin creep occurs, caused by slippage of the mechanical key between resin column and rock interface. These creep tests were studied in the laboratory in an effort to quantifythis phenomenon.INTRODUCTIONResin-grouted rock bolts are the first and main line of defense to counter roof and rib falls in underground coal mines of the United States. Rock bolts are categorized as active or passive. Active bolts are tensioned during installation whilst no (or limited) tension is applied to passive bolts, which need subsequent strata movement to generate reactive loads. During installation of passive bolts, some reactive pre-load may be generated by a significant up-thrust from the rock bolter boom.The selection of active or passive bolts is critical and is mostly dependent on the conditions and properties of the immediate roof (Unrug, 2009). This decision is frequently made based on personal experience, bias, and most recently cost. Active bolts are generally used in cases of highly laminated roof rock. When active bolts are tensioned, they develop compressive forces between these layers forming a beam, which helps to stabilize weak individual layers thereby increasing frictional forces between layers and decreasing effects of horizontal stresses. The fully grouted tensioned rebar system is high in stiffness as compared to mechanical bolts and provides higher surface area of contact along the length of the bolt due to the grout, which permits it to develop a strong anchorage mechanism."

Jan 1, 2015

By Ry Stone

"There have been many design practices utilised within the coal mining industry to arrive at the minimum densities of primary ground support required during roadway development. This paper demonstrates the practical use of empirical databases, and focuses on the main drivers for ground support as demonstrated in conceptual models.Golder Associates’ empirical databases used for ground support include a Primary Roof Support Database and a Primary Rib Support Database. Both are based on successful ground support designs installed in mines in Australia, the US, the UK, South Africa, New Zealand, and Europe. The term “successful” refers to those designs that were used on a repeated basis for the purpose of roadway development.The Primary Roof Support Database indicates that the major factors influencing successful roof support designs are roof competency, expressed as the Coal Mine Roof Rating (CMRR), and in situ stress. As roof displacement is essentially a function of horizontal stress and roof competency, in order to provide some form of measure as to the likely magnitude of roof deformation during roadway development, the depth of cover is divided by the CMRR to arrive at a “Stress Strength Ratio” (SSR). The database indicates that the higher the SSR, the greater the likelihood that the roof will require higher densities of support.In regard to the Primary Rib Support Database, it is evident from the current database that the primary factors affecting the capacity of rib support required for a successful design are roadway height and depth of cover. In order to provide some form of measure as to the likely magnitude of rib deformation during roadway development, the depth of cover is multiplied by the height of the roadway to determine a “Rib Deformation Rating” (RDR). Similar to the roof, the database indicates that the higher the RDR, the greater the likelihood that the rib will require higher densities of support.These databases have been used to help determine the minimum primary ground support designs required at many mine sites in Australasia, Europe, and the US. This paper will demonstrate the effectiveness and practicality of these databases at two selected mines in Australia and the US.In order to improve the Primary Rib Support Database, this paper will also propose a new rib deformation rating based on the addition of site specific coal strength data for the Australian mines. The proposed rating attempts to capture the main variables that define the behaviour of a buckling column."

Jan 1, 2015

By Behdeen Oraee-Mirzamani

Tunnel stability has an important role in the production process of an underground coal mine. There are various methods for analysing tunnel stability, such as numerical methods and analytical methods. In this paper, numerical methods (Phase2 software) have been used to determine tunnel wall displacement in a mining tunnel of the Parvade underground coal mine. The Ground Reaction Curve has also been drawn using analytical methods to determine tunnel wall displacement. The comparison of results from the numerical method and the analytical method show a noteworthy difference in the tunnel wall displacement. The displacement calculated by the numerical method shows a lower value than that of the analytical method because the numerical method is more suited to modeling the various coal and rock layers, as well as the shape of the excavations found in coal mines. The methodology used in this paper together with the results obtained from both methods can serve as useful tools for the coal mine design engineer when determining the ground support requirements.

Jan 1, 2013

By Leigh J. Wardle

Significant coal reserves in New South Wales lie under areas with steep topography such as valley slopes and cliffs. Subsidence predictions are difficult to make for these locations as existing empirical databases cannot cover all permutations of topography and mining geometry. Two dimensional numerical model alternatives are of limited applicability. Consequently a novel three-dimensional numerical model is developed including the detailed panel layout, realistic rock mass properties including the full stratigraphy, goat behaviour and actual surface topography. Model results show the same trends as subsidence measurements from Baal Bone Colliery in the Western Coalfield of New South Wales

Jan 1, 1992

By Thomas W. McClain

This paper describes the importance of considering ground control measures when importing U.S. continuous mining technology in foreign countries. Important ground control factors are discussed. Each year the USA exports a significant amount of continuous miner equipment (i.e. continuous miners, roof bolters, coal haulers, shuttle cars, continuous haulages, scoops and feeder-breakers). International customers see the opportunity to significantly improve their productivity and increase their longwall gateroad development rates by implementing the room-and-pillar (place changing) mining systems used throughout the USA. However, a number of issues are often overlooked or not thoroughly evaluated when selecting the equipment, often resulting in lower than expected productivity. Ground control is one of the critical factors that must be addressed. Since 1993, the author has assisted numerous international customers and manufacturers with implementing or improving the performance of continuous miner and room-and-pillar systems in Australia, India, Mexico, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. An essential first step is to conduct a thorough ground control study, and then integrate its findings into mine layout, equipment selection and section operating plans. Based on actual case histories, the author will present a number of examples and "Do's and Don'ts." Another key to success is the involvement of manufacturers and suppliers with customers when implementing new systems and technology. The importance of allowing for cultural evolution by both management and workers for acceptance and successful implementation of any new system is also discussed. Over the past ten years, the global coal industry has gone through some very dramatic changes. Countries that previously experienced a freight advantage, such as Australia shipping coal to Japan and Korea versus the United States, are finding they are now in a world coal market similar to other commodities and products. Today, coal prices arc stated F.O.B. at the consumer, and the origin is often irrelevant. Also, previously state-run coal industries have been privatized, such as the United Kingdom, and others such as Poland and India are currently going through the same transition from state-run to the private sector. In all cases, the key to continued viability, or survival, depends largely on reducing costs in order to compete for a market share. Two ways exist to reduce costs. First, almost everyone tries to reduce expenditures. Depending on the circumstances at a given mine or in a specific country, this helps to some point. However, most find that secondly, production must be increased to achieve the necessary cost reductions to compete in today's global coal market. As a result, over the past ten years, foreign companies and countries have looked to the USA for new mining methods and systems to significantly increase productivity. Thus, a major portion of American equipment manufacturers and suppliers sales have been exports, which has played a major role in helping to "keep-the-doors-open" for a number of companies through the lean 1990's, when American coal companies were postponing capital expenditures and expansions. As foreign companies and countries have looked to the USA for ways to improve productivity, they have become particularly interested in continuous miner equipment systems and most often "room-and-pillar," "bord-and-pillar" or "place changing" mining systems for four reasons. First, in countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany, who have been longwall mining for generations, there remain numerous remnant small pockets of reserves in existing mines that are either too small or too difficult to longwall mine, and are conducive to the flexibility of continuous miner systems. Second, for countries such as Australia, who have experienced the constant problem of developing longwall gateroads in a timely manner to avoid longwall move delays, new or alternate methods are required. Third, companies and countries using roadheader machines on coal production are recognizing the increased productivity potential of continuous miner equipment. Fourth, countries such as South Africa and India, where a substantial amount of the production comes from conventional mining methods, "drill-and-blast", companies are recognizing the opportunity to improve by implementing continuous miner technology. Colliers & Associates, Inc. has found that over the past eight years too often foreign companies or countries purchase American continuous miner equipment without first conducting a thorough geologic, geotechnical and ground control study for the reserves to be mined. The problems are compounded by not developing mine plans, and submitting them to the regulatory authorities for approval prior to purchasing and even implementing the equipment.

Jan 1, 2001

By David Miller

Longwall gateroad support can be supplied by a variety of methods. The system of support also needs to be flexible as conditions change. This is especially true in the complex geological conditions of the west Kentucky # 13 seam. Methods of gateroad support used in this seam will be presented along with the successes and failures of the systems as conditions changed Lodestar Energy's gateroad support progression through the seven longwall panels retreated to date will provide an insight into planning for future panels

Jan 1, 1998

By Tom Vandergritft

With advances in system design driving higher productivity, safety, and coal recovery, highwall mining is becoming an attractive option for extending reserve life at surface mines. Typically, highwall mining is performed by contract, with the system owner charging the mining company on a per ton basis, plus a mobilization fee. For this arrangement to benefit both parties, geotechnical planning is required to minimize risk to highwall mining personnel and equipment, while maximizing coal recovery. This paper discusses how highwall mining has been successfully implemented at a large surface coal mine in Colorado, including design procedures, operational factors, and productivity. The operation includes an area where four seams are mined in succession from the lowermost upward, requiring careful attention to seam interaction issues.

Jan 1, 2005

By Denise Müller, Axel Preusse

"Due to multilateral underground use, mining subsidence is discussed more and more with regard to issues other than mining, such as post-mining topics, storage, or geothermal use. These discussions and the influence of the energy policy is why the situation in Germany is described as a transition from active to abandoned mining. Many PhD theses have been written within the last 20 years—every single one with a different topic but all with the same issue—the effects and challenges of mining subsidence.These challenges start with the research regarding geological and hydrogeological conditions, which is the basis for calculations like the angle of draw or predictions of subsidence due to water table drawdown. Furthermore, the research investigates issues like risk-management and financial planning. One of these issues is post-mining calculations; others include potential hazards of storage or the use of geothermal energy.This paper outlines an overview of German mining and the consequences due to subsidence. It deals with an overview of the circumstances related to hard coal mining, lignite mining, the use of geothermal energy, gas, and opportunities regarding underground storage. Basically, it describes the essential steps of processing mining subsidence, starting with monitoring to forecast and up to safety measures.With a glance back to the applied research of the prior two decades, we compare given forecasts with experiences already gained.Even though mining decreases, ground control does not.INTRODUCTIONAfter the Second World War, an economic recovery started in Germany, during which the mining industry provided an advantage. Areas like the Ruhr District or Saarland were characterized by hard coal mining. In addition, there was lignite mining in the Rhenish mining area and the middle German coal district. In the Lausitz area, there were gravel and sand companies for the construction industry and many other medium-sized mining companies. Especially in the Ruhr District and in Saarland, where large coal fields were built, mining played a major role. The number of mines increased, and the negative effects on the terrain got bigger. While minor open pits or quarries have influences on the landscape only, large open pits and underground mining lead to significant ground movements. This results in a larger importance of mining subsidence engineering. Calculations of subsidence and forecasts have been developed and refined within the last several years. Due to the fact that the mining areas were and still are densely populated, the forecasts are getting more and more precise."

Jan 1, 2018

By John Magyar

Special foamed cements were used to stabilize and secure caving ground in a newly-reamed 12.5-ft diameter underground ventilation raise. Two zones of very poor Rock Mass Rating (RMR) material were encountered during reaming of a ventilation raise at Placer Dome's Turquoise Ridge Mime in Northern Nevada These zones caved to large cavities, continued failing, and could not be safely secured using standard rock bolting, wire mesh, and shotcrete procedures. In stable sections of the raise, the ground control plan called for the contractor to install 8-ft and 124 length resin grouted No. 7 Dywidag bolts, chain-link fence mesh and shotcrete. This work was conducted on three decks installed on the raise bore reamer. The first of the caved areas was approximately 1,500 cubic yards in volume and extended out to 40 ft beyond the wall of the raise. Placer Dome considered several options for structural fill to repair the area including pumped shotcrete, concrete, and placing and grouting aggregate. A safe, cost effective, and expedient method of stabilizing the raise with foaming grout and bolted liner plate was selected and successfully executed. The special fast-setting, foaming cement grouts used were Tekfoam and Tekseal® manufactured by Minova. The raise was quickly placed in service. Factors considered in selecting the foaming grout are discussed.

Jan 1, 2005

By L. Mahony

This paper describes the design, construction and commissioning testing program for a laboratory facility at the School of Mining Engineering, UNSW, Australia, aimed at evaluating reinforcement tendon performance when subjected to shear loading. The project has been financially supported through the coal industry ACARP research initiative. The single failure plane design adopted in the test rig has been successful in allowing shear loading to be directly applied to fully installed (and where relevant, pre-tensioned) rock bolts. Initial results are extremely encouraging, and illustrate a significant axial component of load development as shearing takes place - particular in lower strength, softer material types. The paper also outlines future plans for use of this facility.

Jan 1, 2005

By Baisheng Zhang

The definition of Ultra-close multiple seams as defined by the floor disturbance depth, h, due to mining in the upper seam is proposed: it refers to those coal seams that are spaced very closely, i.e. h,, the distance between seams, is small or equal to h, , and mining of any one of the seams will significantly affect the others. Those seams are called the ultra-close multiple seam group. Theoretical formula for defining it and practical examples are given in this paper. Underground measurements and numerical analysis show that in ultra-close multiple seam mining, the characteristics of ground pressure due to lower seam mining is different from that of single seam mining. The major differences is that the roof, as a result of damaged caused by the upper seam mining, is full of factures; the roof broke up in the belt entry and fell down easily; support loading at the face was small without clear periodic weighting phenomenon. Based on these results the roof structure model and roof control theory for ultra-close multiple-seam are established.

Jan 1, 2005