Mining Publication: Ventilation Planning Layouts for Large Opening Mines
Original creation date: February 2004
Stone mines represent the highest percentage of operating underground nonmetal mines in the United States. With the introduction of stricter diesel particulate matter (DPM) regulations, large-opening underground room-and-pillar stone mine operators are faced with implementing one or more alternative methods to reduce concentration levels, including: install and maintain an effective ventilation system, install lower DPM emission diesel engines, and the adding of DPM filters. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is actively researching various aspects of fan and stopping designs in an effort to improve the ventilation of these mines. NIOSH has identified and further developed three alternative methods for use in large-opening underground mines: split-mine, perimeter, and unit-ventilation. This paper describes the implementation of the three methods with respect to their use in mines of various levels of development.
Authors: RB Krog, RH Grau, TP Mucho, SB Robertson
Conference Paper - February 2004
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20024577
2004 SME Annual Meeting, Feb 23-25, Denver, Colorado, preprint 04-187. Littleton, CO: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., 2004 Feb; :1-9
See Also
- Comparison of the Transverse Load Capacities of Various Block Ventilation Stoppings under Arch Loading Conditions
- Maximizing the Ventilation of Large-Opening Mines
- NIOSH Ventilation Research Addressing Diesel Emissions and Other Air Quality Issues in Nonmetal Mines
- Novel Stopping Designs for Large-Opening Metal/Nonmetal Mines
- Roof Stability Issues in Underground Limestone Mines in the United States
- Stability Analysis of a Backfilled Room-and-Pillar Mine
- Technology News 443 - Design Practices for Multiple-Seam Room-and-Pillar Mines
- Technology News 519 - EZ-Up Curtain Stoppings: A Practical Solution for Directing Ventilation Airflows in Large-opening Metal/Nonmetal Mines
- Toward Pillar Design To Prevent Collapse of Room-and-Pillar Mines
- Using Mine Planning and Other Techniques to Improve Ventilation in Large-Opening Mines
- Page last reviewed: 9/21/2012
- Page last updated: 9/21/2012
- Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program