FILLING ABANDONED MINE WORKINGS WITH ROCK PASTE

Mine workings are to be filled with waste rock materials mixed with water to the consistency of thick non-setting paste in a new method developed by Ove Arup. The method does not require human entry to the workings and reduces the need for surface disposal of waste rock materials. The filling process, at present on trial at the building research establishment, is similar to a large-scale tremie concrete operation performed with a concrete pump. The spacing of boreholes into the shafts and the number needed will be determined by the configuration of the workings and by the distance the rock paste spreads filling the voids passing over and around collapsed material. In flooded workings, mixing water will be obtained by displacement from the workings up venting boreholes subsequently used for injection. An injection trial into an old working is planned to confirm theoretical predictions of the spreading action. The amount of support required for the stability of old workings is quite small, the smaller voids need not be filled at all, and there is no need to fill with strong expensive material. Although the method is still costly it has the potential to be the most cost effective means of filling old workings. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00174653
• Corporate Authors:

  Foundation Publications Limited

  7 Ongar Road
  Brentwood CM15 9AU, Essex,   England 
• Publication Date: 1983-5

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 32-34
• Serial:
  • GROUND ENGINEERING
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue Number: 14
  • Publisher: EMAP CONSTRUCT LIMITED
  • ISSN: 0017-4653

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Boreholes; Cost effectiveness; Earthwork; Fillers; Fills; Location; Mechanical stability; Mines; Pumps; Rocks; Wastes; Water
• Uncontrolled Terms: Injection; Injection (Materials)
• ITRD Terms: 5711: Bore hole; 226: Cost benefit analysis; 4599: Filler; 3617: Injection (mater); 9061: Location; 5117: Mine; 3833: Pumping; 4154: Rock; 5930: Stability; 4355: Water
• Subject Areas: Environment; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00386074
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 30 1984 12:00AM