Optimization of mining method in subsea deep gold mines: A case study

The mining method optimization in subsea deep gold mines was studied. First, an index system for subsea mining method selection was established based on technical feasibility, security status, economic benefit, and management complexity. Next, an evaluation matrix containing crisp numbers and triangular fuzzy numbers(TFNs) was constructed to describe quantitative and qualitative information simultaneously. Then, a hybrid model combining fuzzy theory and the Tomada de Decis?o Interativa Multicritério(TODIM) method was proposed. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed approach was validated by an illustrative example of selecting the optimal mining method in the Sanshandao Gold Mine(China). The robustness of this approach was demonstrated through a sensitivity analysis. The results show that the proposed hybrid TODIM method is reliable and stable for choosing the optimal mining method in subsea deep gold mines and provides references for mining method optimization in other similar undersea mines.

Optimum mining method selection using fuzzy analytical hierarchy process–Qapiliq salt mine,Iran

Mining method selection is the first and the most critical problem in mine design and depends on some parameters such as geotechnical and geological features and economic and geographic factors. In this paper, the factors affecting mining method selection are determined. These factors include shape, thick- ness, depth, slope, RMR and RSS of the orebody, RMR and RSS of the hanging wall and footwall. Then, the priorities of these factors are calculated. In order to calculate the priorities of factors and select the best mining method for Qapiliq salt mine, Iran, based on these priorities, fuzzy analytical hierarchy process （AHP） technique is used. For this purpose, a questionnaire was prepared and was given to the associated experts. Finally, after a comparison carried out based on the effective factors, between the four mining methods including area mining, room and pillar, cut and fill and stope and pillar methods, the stope and nillar mining method was selected as the most suitable method to this mine.

Optimization of Open-cast Mining Procedure Based on RSR Method

To explore the optimal evaluation mechanism of open-cast mining procedure,this paper takes the actual operation status of Huolinhe No.1 Open-cast Mine as the research basis,and makes a deep analysis of the four representative mining procedures proposed by this mine.A detailed and comprehensive evaluation system is constructed using rank-sum ratio(RSR)method.The system covers 17 key indicators and aims to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each scheme in an all-round and multi-angle manner.Through the calculation and analysis by RSR method,the comprehensive evaluation of the four types of mining procedure schemes is carried out,and finally the secondary river improvement project is determined as the optimal mining implementation scheme,and the joint mining scheme of the south and north areas is the alternative strategy.The research results of this paper are objective,clear and definite,can not only reveal the effectiveness and feasibility of RSR method in solving the problem of open-cast mining procedure optimization,but also provide a strong technical support and decision-making basis for the future production development of Huolinhe No.1 Open-cast Mine.Thus,this study is expected to further promote the scientific and refined process of mining operations.

Method of Monitoring Three-dimensional Mining Surface Deformation Based on InSAR

In order to solve the problems of small monitoring range,long time and high cost of existing sedimentation observation methods,based on two-view sentinel No.1 radar images of Guqiao mining area in Huainan City from November 4,2017 to November 28,2017,surface change information was obtained in combination with D-InSAR,and the three-dimensional surface deformation was monitored by two-pass method and single line of sight D-InSAR method.The results show that during the research period of 24 d,the maximum deformation of the mining area reached 71 mm,and the southern subsidence was the most obvious,which was in line with the mining subsidence law.The maximum displacement from the north to the south was about 250 mm,while the maximum displacement from the east to the west was about 80 mm,and the maximum subsidence in the center was 110 mm.It is concluded that D-InSAR technique has a good effect on the inversion of the mining subsidence,and this method is suitable for three-dimensional surface monitoring in areas with similar geological conditions.The monitoring results have certain reference value.

Determining the Quality of Mine Gushing and Mixed Water Using Coupled AHP and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Methods

This study focused on analysis of the chemical characteristics of mine waters. The aim of this study is to correlate the degree of different ionic components in mine water and the influence of their convergence using a combination of the three-scale AHP and fuzzy evaluation methods for the comprehensive evaluation of water quality. Ion chromatography (ICS 1100) has been used to analyze the content of the water sample while portable pH/EC/TDS/Tem- perature meters (SX 811 and SX 813) were used to test physical-chemical parameters. The results of this study show that chemistry of in No.11 gushing mine is dominated by HCO3-Na and HCO3-Ca, and had a pH between 7.1 and 8.00, belonging to neutral or slightly alkaline water. In addition, water were found to have the hardness between 18 mg/L and 542.5 mg/L. Results also show that the TDS of the roof sandstone and goaves water are higher than Cambrian limestone water, while the turbidity of the mixed water is 20 NTU in the sump, again higher than in other samples such as Cambrian limestone water. Total dissolved solids and the total hardness of Cambrian limestone groundwater mainly depend on the content of K+ + Na+, Ca2+, B={b1,b2,…,bj} and SO2-4. Thus, chemical composition changes remarkably after mine water mixing. Results showed that the coal roof sandstone water is class V while that in the sump is class III, and the Cambrian limestone groundwater is class I. In gushing, the quality of water can vary greatly;thus, water from the coal face roof sandstone and the Cambrian limestone should be stored and treated separately before being utilized.

Discussion on the application prospect of the transient electromagnetic method based on the dual launcher and mine advanced detection

The dual transmitter implements the equivalent anti-magnetic flux transient electromagnetic method, which can effectively reduce the scope of the transient electromagnetic detection blind area. However, this method is rarely reported in the detection of pipelines in urban geophysical exploration and the application of coal mines. Based on this, this paper realizes the equivalent anti-magnetic flux transient electromagnetic method based on the dual launcher. The suppression effect of this method on the blind area is analyzed by physical simulation. And the detection experiment of underground pipelines is carried out outdoors. The results show that the dual launcher can significantly reduce the turn-off time, thereby effectively reducing the impact of the blind area on the detection results, and the pipeline detection results verify the device’s effectiveness. Finally, based on the ground experimental results, the application prospect of mine advanced detection is discussed. Compared with other detection fields, the formation of blind areas is mainly caused by the equipment. If the dual launcher can be used to reduce the blind area, the accuracy of advanced detection can be improved more effectively. The above research results are of great significance for improving the detection accuracy of the underground transient electromagnetic method.

Safe mining technology of undersea metal mine

Xinli district of Sanshandao Gold Mine is the first subsea metal mine in China.To achieve 6 kt/d production capacity under the premise of safe mining,high-intensity mining might destroy the in-situ stress filed and the stability of rockmass.According to sampling and testing of ore-rock and backfill and in-situ stress field measurement,safety factor method calculation model based on stress-strain strength reduction at arbitrary points and Mohr-Coulomb yield criterion was established and limit displacement subsidence values under the safety factor of different limit stoping steps were calculated.The results from three years in-situ mining and strata movement monitoring using multi-point displacements meter showed that the lower settlement frame stope hierarchical level filling mining method,mining sequence are reasonable and rockmass stability evaluation using safety factor method,in-situ real-time monitoring can provide the technical foundation for the safety of seabed mining.

A model for extracting large deformation mining subsidence using D-InSAR technique and probability integral method

Due to the difficulties in obtaining large deformation mining subsidence using differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar （D-InSAR） alone, a new algorithm was proposed to extract large deformation mining subsidence using D-InSAR technique and probability integral method. The details of the algorithm are as follows：the control points set, containing correct phase unwrapping points on the subsidence basin edge generated by D-InSAR and several observation points （near the maximum subsidence and inflection points）, was established at first; genetic algorithm （GA） was then used to optimize the parameters of probability integral method; at last, the surface subsidence was deduced according to the optimum parameters. The results of the experiment in Huaibei mining area, China, show that the presented method can generate the correct mining subsidence basin with a few surface observations, and the relative error of maximum subsidence point is about 8.3%, which is much better than that of conventional D-InSAR （relative error is 68.0%）.

Longwall mining “cutting cantilever beam theory” and 110 mining method in China——The third mining science innovation

With the third innovation in science and technology worldwide, China has also experienced thismarvelous progress. Concerning the longwall mining in China, the ＂masonry beam theory＂ （MBT） wasfirst proposed in the 1960s, illustrating that the transmission and equilibrium method of overburdenpressure using reserved coal pillar in mined-out areas can be realized. This forms the so-called ＂121mining method＂, which lays a solid foundation for development of mining science and technology inChina. The ＂transfer rock beam theory＂ （TRBT） proposed in the 1980s gives a further understanding forthe transmission path of stope overburden pressure and pressure distribution in high-stress areas. In thisregard, the advanced 121 mining method was proposed with smaller coal pillar for excavation design,making significant contributions to improvement of the coal recovery rate in that era. In the 21st century,the traditional mining technologies faced great challenges and, under the theoretical developmentspioneered by Profs. Minggao Qian and Zhenqi Song, the ＂cutting cantilever beam theory＂ （CCBT） wasproposed in 2008. After that the 110 mining method is formulated subsequently, namely one stope face,after the first mining cycle, needs one advanced gateway excavation, while the other one is automaticallyformed during the last mining cycle without coal pillars left in the mining area. This method can beimplemented using the CCBT by incorporating the key technologies, including the directional presplittingroof cutting, constant resistance and large deformation （CRLD） bolt/anchor supporting systemwith negative Poisson＇s ratio （NPR） effect material, and remote real-time monitoring technology. TheCCBT and 110 mining method will provide the theoretical and technical basis for the development ofmining industry in China.

Principles of the roof cut short-arm beam mining method (110 method) and its mining-induced stress distribution

Since the 1960 s, mining science and technology in China has experienced two technical innovations, i.e.the ‘‘Masonry Beam Theory(MBT)" and ‘‘Transfer Rock Beam Theory(TRBT)". Based on those theories, the conventional mining method(being called the 121 mining method) was established, consisting of excavating two tunnels with a pillar left for mining a working panel. However, with increasing mining depth,engineering geological disasters in the underground caverns have been frequently encountered. In addition, the use of the coal-pillar mining results in a large amount of coal resources unexploited. In order to address the problems above, the ‘‘Roof Cut Short-Arm Beam Theory(RCSBT), being called the 110 mining method)" was proposed by He Manchao in 2008. The 110 mining method features the mining of one coal seam panel, excavating necessarily only one roadway tunnel and leaving no pillars. Realization of the 110 mining method includes the following steps:(1) directional pre-splitting roof cutting,(2) supporting the roof by using high Constant Resistance Large Deformation bolt/cable(CRLD), and(3) blocking gangue by hydraulic props. This paper presents an overview of the principles, techniques and application of the 110 mining method. Special emphasis is placed on the numerical simulation of the geostress distribution found in the mining panel using the 110 method compared to that of the 121 method. In addition, the stress distribution on the ‘‘short beam" left by the roof cutting when performing the 110 method was also investigated using both numerical simulation and theoretical formulation.

DEVELOPMENT OF A DATA MINING METHOD FOR LAND CONTROL

Land resources are facing crises of being misused,especially for an intersection area between town and country,and land control has to be enforced.This paper presents a development of data mining method for land control.A vector_match method for the prerequisite of data mining i.e., data cleaning is proposed,which deals with both character and numeric data via vectorizing character_string and matching number.A minimal decision algorithm of rough set is used to discover the knowledge hidden in the data warehouse.In order to monitor land use dynamically and accurately,it is suggested to set up a real_time land control system based on GPS,digital photogrammetry and online data mining.Finally,the means is applied in the intersection area between town and country of Wuhan city,and a set of knowledge about land control is discovered.

Analysis of factors and countermeasures of mining subsidence in Kaiyang Phosphorus Mine

Ground crack and subsidence were investigated in Kaiyang Phosphorus Mine as an example. Contribution factors to cause ground crack and mining subsidence were studied, including mining method, mining depth and ore thickness and stope size, dip angle of orebody, geological structure, nature of overburden and water contents, and roof supports, etc. Countermeasures against cracks and subsidence were put forward. The uniaxial compressive strength of compounded phosphorus gypsum after 28 d of curing period was tested to be more than 1 MPa. Phosphorus gypsum can be used as materials for the backfill of stope. By comparison and numerical simulation, cut and fill mining method with middle-deep drilling holes and ore transportation by blasting force was selected as the optimum mining method in Kaiyang Phosphorus Mine.

Dynamic Analysis of Deep-Ocean Mining Pipe System by Discrete Element Method

The dynamic analysis of a pipe system is one of the most crucial problems for the entire mining system. A discrete element method （DEM） is proposed for the analysis of a deep-ocean mining pipe system, including the lift pipe, pump, buffer and flexible hose. By the discrete element method, the pipe is divided into some rigid elements that are linked by flexible connectors. First, two examples representing static analysis and dynamic analysis respectively are given to show that the DEM model is feasible. Then the three-dimensional DEM model is used for dynamic analysis of the mining pipe system. The dynamic motions of the entire mining pipe system under different work conditions are discussed. Some suggestions are made for the actual operation of deep-ocean mining systems.

Optimization model of unascertained measurement for underground mining method selection and its application

An optimization model of underground mining method selection was established on the basis of the unascertained measurement theory.Considering the geologic conditions,technology,economy and safety production,ten main factors influencing the selection of mining method were taken into account,and the comprehensive evaluation index system of mining method selection was constructed.The unascertained evaluation indices corresponding to the selected factors for the actual situation were solved both qualitatively and quantitatively.New measurement standards were constructed.Then,the unascertained measurement function of each evaluation index was established.The index weights of the factors were calculated by entropy theory,and credible degree recognition criteria were established according to the unascertained measurement theory.The results of mining method evaluation were obtained using the credible degree criteria,thus the best underground mining method was determined.Furthermore,this model was employed for the comprehensive evaluation and selection of the chosen standard mining methods in Xinli Gold Mine in Sanshandao of China.The results show that the relative superiority degrees of mining methods can be calculated using the unascertained measurement optimization model,so the optimal method can be easily determined.Meanwhile,the proposed method can take into account large amount of uncertain information in mining method selection,which can provide an effective way for selecting the optimal underground mining method.

An improved influence function method for predicting subsidence caused by longwall mining operations in inclined coal seams

Prediction of surface subsidence caused by longwall mining operation in inclined coal seams is often very challenging. The existing empirical prediction methods are inflexible for varying geological and mining conditions. An improved influence function method has been developed to take the advantage of its fundamentally sound nature and flexibility. In developing this method, the original Knothe function has been transformed to produce a continuous and asymmetrical subsidence influence function. The empirical equations for final subsidence parameters derived from col- lected longwall subsidence data have been incorporated into the mathematical models to improve the prediction accuracy. A number of demonstration cases for longwall mining operations in coal seams with varying inclination angles, depths and panel widths have been used to verify the applicability of the new subsidence prediction model.

Research and application of mechanical models for the whole process of 110 mining method roof structural movement

For the 110 mining method,it is challenging to accurately calculate the support resistance of the roadway due to the lack of understanding of the dynamic movement of the overlying strata in this method.The consequential excessive support results in a significant increase in the cost of roadway support.The authors explored the overlying strata movement and roadway deformation of the gob-entry retaining in the 110 mining method to solve this problem.First,the typical stages of the roof-cutting gob-side entry were defined.Second,the mechanical model and calculation formula of the support resistance on the roof were explored.Then,using numerical simulation software,the starting ranges of the specific supports at different stages were verified and the feasibility of the support scheme was examined.Finally,combined with the field measurement data,the stress and the deformation of the gob roadway at different stages under the influence of two mining processes in the 110 mining method were obtained.The numerical simulation results obtained are consistent with the field test results,providing a theoretical basis for precision support at different stages by the 110 mining method.

Investigation and characterization of mining subsidence in Kaiyang Phosphorus Mine

In Kaiyang Phosphorus Mine, serious environmental and safety problems are caused by large scale mining activities in the past 40 years. These problems include mining subsidence, low recovery ratio, too much dead ore in pillars, and pollution of phosphorus gypsum. Mining subsidence falls into four categories: curved ground and mesa, ground cracks and collapse hole, spalling and eboulement, slope slide and creeping. Measures to treat the mining subsidence were put forward: finding out and managing abandoned stopes, optimizing mining method (cut and fill mining method), selecting proper backfilling materials (phosphogypsum mixtures), avoiding disorder mining operation, and treating highway slopes. These investigations and engineering treatment methods are believed to be able to contribute to the safety extraction of ore and sustainable development in Kaiyang Phosphorus Mine.

Characteristics of rockburst and its mining technology in mines

In order to resolve how to mine under the condition of high stress with rockburst, this paper analyzes the law of rockburst, and considers that most of the rockbursts occur in the high stress area of stope. A method of rockburst forecast and its steps are given, and three different stages of rockburst are identified. Furthermore, this paper considers that blasting energy can effectively control rockburst by changing the characteristics of rock mass, which decreases the probability of rockburst happening. According to characteristics of rockburst, two feasible mining techniques under rockburst conditions are put forward, that is stoping and filling method, and sublevel caving method of mining without any sills in hanging wall.

An influence function method based subsidence prediction program for longwall mining operations in inclined coal seams

The distribution of the final surface subsidence basin induced by longwall operations in inclined coal seam could be significantly different from that in flat coal seam and demands special prediction methods. Though many empirical prediction methods have been developed, these methods are inflexible for varying geological and mining conditions. An influence function method has been developed to take the advantage of its fundamentally sound nature and flexibility. In developing this method, significant modifications have been made to the original Knothe function to produce an asymmetrical influence function. The empirical equations for final subsidence parameters derived from US subsidence data and Chinese empirical values have been incorpo- rated into the mathematical models to improve the prediction accuracy. A corresponding computer program is developed. A number of subsidence cases for longwall mining operations in coal seams with varying inclination angles have been used to demonstrate the applicability of the developed subsidence prediction model.

Stability and reliability of pit slopes in surface mining combined with underground mining in Tonglushan mine

Slope stability is of critical importance in the process of surface-underground mining combination. The influence of underground mining on pit slope stability was mainly discussed, and the self-stabilization of underground stopes was also studied. The random finite element method was used to analyze the probability of the rock mass stability degree of both pit slopes and underground stopes. Meanwhile, 3D elasto-plastic finite element method was used to research into the stress, strain and rock mass failure resulting from mining. The results of numerical simulation indicate that the mining of the underground test stope has certain influence on the stability of the pit slope, but the influence is not great. The safety factor of pit slope is decreased by 0.06, and the failure probability of the pit slope is increased by 1.84%. In addition, the strata yielding zone exists around the underground test stope. The results basically conform to the information coming from the field monitoring.