US3340693A - Method and apparatus for inducing hardening or cementing in a mass of back-fill in a mine opening - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for inducing hardening or cementing in a mass of back-fill in a mine opening Download PDF

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Publication number
US3340693A
US3340693A US444531A US44453165A US3340693A US 3340693 A US3340693 A US 3340693A US 444531 A US444531 A US 444531A US 44453165 A US44453165 A US 44453165A US 3340693 A US3340693 A US 3340693A
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fill
mass
air
cementing
stope
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William S Row
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21F—SAFETY DEVICES, TRANSPORT, FILLING-UP, RESCUE, VENTILATION, OR DRAINING IN OR OF MINES OR TUNNELS
    • E21F15/00—Methods or devices for placing filling-up materials in underground workings

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  • the present invention relates generally to the filling of subterranean cavities and more particularly to a method and apparatus for strengthening back-fill materials used in closing mine openings.
  • a back-fill which is desired in mining operations is one which may easily be placed in mine openings or cavities and which will set into a rigid mass sufiicient to fill the mined-out area.
  • the preferred mass or back-fill should be able to support the filled opening in approximately its original dimensions and able to later support such weight which may come upon it when further mining is carried out adjacent or near the area.
  • the present invention employs back-fill comprising in part materials which may be reacted with a suitable reagent to form a rigid mass of back-fill when the fill has settled and the reaction completed.
  • backfill sand containing amounts of sulphide materials developedthrough the desliming of milled tailings may be oxidized by the passage therethrough of air to provide a strong and rigid back-fill structure.
  • a method of forming a rigid mass in a subterranean cavity which comprises charging said cavity with fill material and passing a reactive agent through the material whereby hardening or self-cementing of the material is induced.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section of the bulkhead with a cross-section portion of the scram drift
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section of the scram drift and lower portion of the stope area
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of the lower stope area showing one arrangement of the gas outlets.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional View of the overall stope area.
  • a scram drift 1 as shown in FIG. 1, and stope cavity generally indicated at 2 are sealed off by concrete bulkheads 3.
  • Drainage units 4 are installed along the scram drift 1 to drain any surplus water from the area through pipes 8 which pass through the bulkhead 3.
  • Pipes 8 may be connected to the main pumping system of the mine (not shown) or discharge to a gravity flow ditch and may be closed by drain valve 9 as indicated later in the description.
  • a main air line 5, controlled by a flow valve 10 and meter 11, also passes through the bulkhead 3.
  • the air line 5 extends the length of the scram drift and is branched to form a plurality of lines 12.
  • the air lines 12 extend upwardly entering the draw points 13 of the stope.
  • the lines 12 terminate in valve 14 which is a one-way valve allowing air to pass through into the stope area.
  • the piping system 5 and 12 is so laid as to provide a system of air outlet points 14 a few feet higher in elevation than the drainage units 4 and in a grid pattern over the plan area of the stope to provide a substantially uniform air flow over the stope area.
  • the branched air line 12 may be of any desired length and may extend just into the draw point 13 or may be extended to form additional branches 16 and 17 as indicated in FIG. 2 or branches 18, 19, 20 and 21 as indicated in FIG. 3.
  • Each of the lines terminate in a oneway air valve 14 so designed that the back-fill material cannot enter through the valve when the system is not pressurized.
  • Flow rates may be controlled in accordance with previously made calculations in which factors such as per-. centage of voids in the fill, plan area of the stope, percentage of sulphides in the fill material and the reactive characteristics of the sulphides, particularly as to their afiinity for oxygen would be taken into account.
  • factors such as per-. centage of voids in the fill, plan area of the stope, percentage of sulphides in the fill material and the reactive characteristics of the sulphides, particularly as to their afiinity for oxygen would be taken into account.
  • the means of determining these factors is well known to the skilled engineer and therefore need not be discussed in detail here.
  • thermocouples may be located during the filling of the stope cavity or later if desired.
  • thermocouples or other apparatus which may be located at a point .a few feet from the bulkhead or even at the centre of the mass will be effective to keep the operator informed of temperatures within the mass during the gradual reaction of the fill. It is considered that the present method will be elfectiv'e on back-fill having a sulphide content as low as about 5% and indeed as low as 2% sulphide content has been tested and is known to be practical.
  • the upper range of sulphide content may be as high as
  • the reaction may of course be greater with a higher sulphide content but by controlling the air flow the reaction in the mass may be maintained and controlled. In controlling the reaction within the mass it is not necessary for the flow of air to be continuous. Indeed in certain situations it may be found desirable to shut off the air supply completely and add Water to the stope from the top thereof. The presence of some water in the mass is essential to the successful operation of the method, and this water addition may be relied on if the reaction conditions in the mass so dictate.
  • the sulphide minerals react with the oxygen in the air and residual water in the back-fill and may be assisted by the presence of a bacteria such as Thio-baccillus Ferro-oxidans which may be incorporated either with the fill material at the time of placing or introduced in an aqueous solution through the air line 5 or by pumping the solution back through the drain line and through the drainage devices into the backfill. This reaction results in the formation of various sulphates, sulfites, oxides and associated compounds.
  • the air flow may be so controlled that the reaction will not be rapid enough as to generate undesirable quantities of heat or gas.
  • the rate of reaction will be indicated by the temperature changes shown by the thermocouples T. Gas or air is allowed to emerge freely from the top of the stope 23 and escapes into the exhaust air system 24 of the mine openings.
  • the air can then be alternatively introduced through the drainage system after equipping the water drainage pipe with valves, flow metre, and like apparatus. This is an important alternative method of achieving the introduction of air (or oxygen) and hence the hardening or cementing of the backfill mass.
  • the exhausted gases may be checked for temperature and analyzed for oxygen, S0 and other gas content in the usual manner.
  • a feature of this invention of inducing hardening or cementing in back-fill material is accomplished by the introduction of a reagent into and within the material in such a way that it is able to work its way completely through the fill thereby causing oxidation and producing compounds from the minerals contained in .the fill which act as cementing agents.
  • a reagent into and within the material in such a way that it is able to work its way completely through the fill thereby causing oxidation and producing compounds from the minerals contained in .the fill which act as cementing agents.
  • oxygen and a sulphide containing fill has been used in the example herein, it is clear that the concept taught may be applied to fill containing material other than sulphides.
  • liquid reagent is used instead of a gas
  • dilute sulphuric acid may be used as a liquid reagent in the application of the present method to a sulphide-containing mass of back-fill.
  • the reagent would, of course, be diluted to the point found most satisfactory for the mass being treated.
  • the piping used will be selected on the basis of the most desirable type and material of piping to carry any specific reagent and careful regard must be had to the choice of pipe in the case of the use of a reagent such as dilute sulphuric acid.
  • a reagent such as dilute sulphuric acid.
  • the piping should not be deleteriously affected by contact with the reagent transported therethrough.
  • Other types of gas or reactive solutions may be applied to masses of back-fill to induce hardening of selfcementing and likewise would be introduced by the same method.
  • the type of gas or solution employed would, of course, depend upon the nature of the back-fill material used. The suitability of a particular reagent to a particular mass may be determined by tests within the knowledge of the man skilled in the mining art.
  • the use of air is proposed where the back-fill materials contain sufiicient amounts of sulphides that the desired cementing action will be effected. Where the fill may be more inert a more chemically active gas
  • a method of forming a substantially rigid mass in a mine opening which comprises:
  • the reactive fluid is air which is passed through said material by introducing the air to the base of said mass;
  • the reactive fluid is an oxygen-containing gas 4.
  • the sulphide materials are deslimed milled tailings.
  • backfill material contains reactive material in the proportions of between 2% and of said fill material.
  • a method as claimed in claim 1 including the steps of:
  • Apparatus for hardening and cementing a mass of a fill material in a mine opening such as rock or gravel and which contains a reactive substance comprising:
  • control means is adapted to control the flow into said mass in a substantially uniform manner.
  • Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 including means for quickly determining the temperature within the back- 5 fill material.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Curing Cements, Concrete, And Artificial Stone (AREA)
  • Consolidation Of Soil By Introduction Of Solidifying Substances Into Soil (AREA)
US444531A 1965-02-15 1965-04-01 Method and apparatus for inducing hardening or cementing in a mass of back-fill in a mine opening Expired - Lifetime US3340693A (en)

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CA923323 1965-02-15

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FI (1) FI41007B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1048704A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3459003A (en) * 1967-11-21 1969-08-05 Exxon Research Engineering Co Disposal of waste spent shale
US3469405A (en) * 1968-08-14 1969-09-30 Layne New York Co Inc Mine water barrier
US3478520A (en) * 1967-11-16 1969-11-18 Albert Andy Method for filling abandoned mines
US3508407A (en) * 1968-03-04 1970-04-28 American Cyanamid Co Mine backfill process
US3957305A (en) * 1974-02-11 1976-05-18 Rapidex, Inc. In situ values extraction
US4019327A (en) * 1971-09-20 1977-04-26 Thyssen (Great Britain) Limited Mining
US4412760A (en) * 1980-02-13 1983-11-01 Henri Vidal Method for producing a structure having cohesion by means of a material comprising non-coherent solid particles
US6086289A (en) * 1998-08-11 2000-07-11 Mueller Industries, Inc. Mini drainage immobilization system and method
US6428107B1 (en) 2000-11-28 2002-08-06 Inco Limited Heat added to underground cemented fill to obtain both early and long term strength increases
KR100565866B1 (ko) * 2003-08-20 2006-04-04 최춘식 폐구조물 내부공동 충전시스템 및 이를 이용한 충전공법
RU2290513C1 (ru) * 2005-07-11 2006-12-27 Государственное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Кузбасский государственный технический университет" (ГУ КузГТУ) Способ закладки вертикальной горной выработки угольной шахты
US9441474B2 (en) 2010-12-17 2016-09-13 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Systems and methods for injecting a particulate mixture

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108035769B (zh) * 2017-11-29 2019-04-02 中国矿业大学 一种微生物改性充填采煤方法

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US508523A (en) * 1893-11-14 Method of recovering lost coal from mines
US1820722A (en) * 1929-04-17 1931-08-25 Siemens Bauunion G M B H Komma Process of solidifying layers of ground and similar masses
US1827238A (en) * 1928-11-14 1931-10-13 Tiefbau Und Kalteindustrie Ag Process of solidifying permeable rock, loosely spread masses or building structures
US2634960A (en) * 1948-02-06 1953-04-14 Walter B Lang Method of mining and apparatus therefor
US3077740A (en) * 1962-01-02 1963-02-19 Dow Chemical Co Stabilization of clay soils and aggregates-so4-po4

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US508523A (en) * 1893-11-14 Method of recovering lost coal from mines
US1827238A (en) * 1928-11-14 1931-10-13 Tiefbau Und Kalteindustrie Ag Process of solidifying permeable rock, loosely spread masses or building structures
US1820722A (en) * 1929-04-17 1931-08-25 Siemens Bauunion G M B H Komma Process of solidifying layers of ground and similar masses
US2634960A (en) * 1948-02-06 1953-04-14 Walter B Lang Method of mining and apparatus therefor
US3077740A (en) * 1962-01-02 1963-02-19 Dow Chemical Co Stabilization of clay soils and aggregates-so4-po4

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3478520A (en) * 1967-11-16 1969-11-18 Albert Andy Method for filling abandoned mines
US3459003A (en) * 1967-11-21 1969-08-05 Exxon Research Engineering Co Disposal of waste spent shale
US3508407A (en) * 1968-03-04 1970-04-28 American Cyanamid Co Mine backfill process
US3469405A (en) * 1968-08-14 1969-09-30 Layne New York Co Inc Mine water barrier
US4019327A (en) * 1971-09-20 1977-04-26 Thyssen (Great Britain) Limited Mining
US3957305A (en) * 1974-02-11 1976-05-18 Rapidex, Inc. In situ values extraction
US4412760A (en) * 1980-02-13 1983-11-01 Henri Vidal Method for producing a structure having cohesion by means of a material comprising non-coherent solid particles
US6086289A (en) * 1998-08-11 2000-07-11 Mueller Industries, Inc. Mini drainage immobilization system and method
US6428107B1 (en) 2000-11-28 2002-08-06 Inco Limited Heat added to underground cemented fill to obtain both early and long term strength increases
KR100565866B1 (ko) * 2003-08-20 2006-04-04 최춘식 폐구조물 내부공동 충전시스템 및 이를 이용한 충전공법
RU2290513C1 (ru) * 2005-07-11 2006-12-27 Государственное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Кузбасский государственный технический университет" (ГУ КузГТУ) Способ закладки вертикальной горной выработки угольной шахты
US9441474B2 (en) 2010-12-17 2016-09-13 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Systems and methods for injecting a particulate mixture

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1048704A (en) 1966-11-16
FI41007B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-04-30

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