Mining

Sub-level caving operations for gold extraction in the Abitibi region of Quebec

Operated by Agnico Eagle Ltd., the Goldex mine uses a sub-level caving method employing three large stopes and long blast holes to extract gold particles contained within quartz-tourmaline veins.  The site is located near Val-d’Or in the Abitibi region of Northwestern Quebec, Canada and has been in commercial production since mid-2008.

Background

Controlled Solution Salt Mine Collapse in Romania

The Ocnele Mari salt deposit located in the sub-Carpathian hills of southern Romania actively extracted salt through dissolution in four fields beginning in 1954.  Following the removal of 13.5 million tones of salt from Field II, operations were permanently halted after a major collapse in 1991.  These events highlighted the risks associated with the presence of a dissolution chamber near to a densely populated area and provided an opportunity to safely monitor corrective actions to reduce risks using a microseismic system.  

Background

Rockburst re-entry protocol at a deep underground Nickel mine in Sudbury, Ontario

Currently operated by Vale Inco Limited, Creighton nickel mine in Sudbury, Ontario is Canada’s deepest mine. In operation since 1901, Creighton mine has a long history of rockburst events due to the geological structure of the mine.  The microseismic monitoring system was expanded in 1999 to monitor mine-wide operations and provide insight into rockburst re-entry conditions, thus playing a significant role in the management of hazard and risk associated with deep mine operation.

Background

Use of a destress slot for underground gold mining in Northern Ontario

Operated by the Newmont Mining Corporation until 2006, the Golden Giant gold mine was located in the Hemlo gold deposit approximately 40 km east of Marathon Ontario.  Situated between the Williams and David Bell mines, the Golden Giant mine produced over 6 million ounces of gold over 21 years of operation.

Background

Underground coal mining in Anhui Province, China

Currently operated by the Huainan Coal Mining Group, the Xin Zhuang Zi and Wan Fang Gun coal mines in Huainan, China recently incorporated ESG microseismic monitoring systems into their operations.  These systems are used to assess the microseismic activity associated with underground longwall coal excavation, and play a significant role in the management of hazard and risk associated with coal mine operation.

Background

Microseismic analysis to identify the caving front associated with cave mining operations in New South Wales

Operated by Newcrest Mining Ltd., the Ridgeway gold mine uses a block-caving method to extract a gold-copper deposit in central New South Wales, Australia.  An ESG microseismic system was implemented to compliment existing geomechanical monitoring tools, to study the ability of microseismic analysis to characterize the cave front over time.

Background

Microseismic monitoring of remnant pillar block-caving in mining operations in shizhuyuan mine china

A seismic system has recently been installed at Shizhuyuan mine in Hunan Province, the site of a world famous poly-metal deposit extremely rich in rare metals.

The Shizhuyuan mine is located under a mountain and lies in a relatively low-stress environment. The need for minerals in recent years led to a faster advancement of the excavations than previously anticipated, which pushed mining activities to deeper levels. A series of large remnant pillars are currently mined out at depth in transition from a room-and-pillar to block caving mining method.

ESG deploys a portable microseismic mine monitoring system at the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research

ESG has successfully deployed the first portable microseismic mine monitoring system for the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research in Asansol India.

The mine monitoring system was specifically made mobile by mounting the acquisition systems and centralized computer in a bus, enabling it to be transported to various locations for different monitoring projects.

Underground Monitoring

ESG provides microseismic monitoring of underground gold, silver, palladium, copper, nickel, potash, coal, salt, trona and limestone mines from around the world. These systems are used to monitor a wide range of mining activities such as:

  • Caving
  • Vertical retreat mining
  • Sub-level caving
  • Room & pillar
  • Block caving
  • Under cut & fill
  • Open stope

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