E. De Souza

Ten years of continuous monitoring in a mining panel

Abstract In 1978, brine leakage occurred in a mining panel at IMC Kalium operation in Colonsay, Saskatchewan. Stringent controls were immediately imposed to control the inflow; with further investigative and remediation work in 1981–1982 and in 1984–1985. The work involved investigative diamond drilling, grouting, instrumentation and backfilling. The instrumentation program was designed to gather information on the grout/backfill system as a mechanism of brine flow control and to monitor the long term stability of the inflow area. The result of this extensive work was the successful control of the inflow. As important, the instrumentation program gave valuable information which permitted a sound and rational engineering decision for complete abandonment of the area. This paper describes the instrumentation planning and design process, the rationale for selecting the rock mechanical instrumentation, the reasons for their placement, the data communication system, the data recorded and interpretation.

Mitigation of Environmental Hazards and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Through Use of Post-Consumer Glass as a Cementing Agent in Mine Backfill

This paper examines aspects of mine backfilling operations that may be implemented to assist in reducing solid waste production, lowering energy costs, and restricting Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Many underground mines use cemented backfill to provide ground support and to mitigate environmental effects associated with tailings disposal. In Ontario, mining operations contribute approximately 700,000 - 840,000 tonnes/year of CO2 and Greenhouse Gas emissions to satisfy backfill cement consumption needs alone. Potential reductions of cement in backfill would significantly reduce emission of these gases and lower their adverse environmental impacts. This paper introduces post-consumer glass as an alternate, equally effective and lower cost binder agent strategy for backfill that may be implemented to assist in reducing backfill energy costs; and ultimately reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions levels generated by the mining industry. Extensive engineering testing, consisting of pipe flow loop tests and strength tests, has been implemented in order to demonstrate the technical feasibility of process integration within industry. An economic analysis has demonstrated that glass is competitive in cost relative to cement and a socioeconomic study has further indicated that the utilization of glass in mine backfill would create a new market for waste glass that requires less processing and reduces costs.

Environment Contamination By Salt Tailings,Modelling Of Causes And Assessment Of Control

Contamination of porous media by contaminant carrying liquids dissipated from mine tailings has, in recent years, become a serious environmental concern as these pollutants can increase the levels of dissolved contamination in excess of those acceptable by drinking water standards. This paper describes a scientific study undertaken to assess the release of brine and salt contaminated rain water from tailings piles to the vadose zone and groundwater and to, based on model results, engineer waste management techniques and decommissioning programs which would minimize brine migration and environment contamination.

Rock classification as an influence in mine design operations

Abstract This paper establishes a proposed methodology by which geomechanic rock classification procedures may be used to influence mine design operations. The outlined procedures serve, on a preliminary basis, to optimize steps for mine method selection, mine design and rock mass stability evaluation. Typical procedures are presented in the form of general case studies which can be expanded for an unlimited number of mining applications. The sum of analytical work which is contained herein should be developed at advanced stages by personnel who are trained and sufficiently experienced to interpret the results.