Can old bord-and-pillar workings be mapped from surface?
Desktop review updating two earlier assessments, weighing borehole scanning, robots and unmanned aerial platforms as routes to locating old workings ahead of opencast drilling and blasting.
No surface geophysical method can map individual bords and pillars at the depths typical of the Witbank coalfield, a limit the review attributed to physics rather than to technology, since the targets are small relative to their depth and conductive layers often lie above the seam. Borehole laser scanning remains the workable option, with sonar suited to flooded workings.
R1500,00
Description
Related Products
Cleaning Near Moving Conveyors
2011
First phase of a two part investigation into conveyor cleaning practice at South African coal mines, covering the legal position, current mine practice and available machinery.
What this report foundConveyance legislation promulgated in 2008 and enforced soon after left the coal industry without a lawful way to clean near and under running conveyors.
R1500,00
Conveyance legislation promulgated in 2008 and enforced soon after left the coal industry without a lawful way to clean near and under running conveyors. The first phase defined the problem, recorded the cleaning practices mines already use successfully, and built a structured database of mechanised platform options worth pursuing. High risk areas remain drives, take ups, snub and tail pulleys and transfer points.
Causes, Symptoms, Prevention and Alleviation of Soil Compaction on Mined Land
2006
A review of South African opencast coal experience, written for environmental officers and mine management who must correct legacy compaction and plan operations that avoid creating more.
What this report foundCompaction on rehabilitated opencast land restricts effective rooting depth so severely that only a small proportion of arable and grazing areas reach their...
R1500,00
Compaction on rehabilitated opencast land restricts effective rooting depth so severely that only a small proportion of arable and grazing areas reach their stated capability. The review sets out the causes and symptoms, argues that symptoms are usually treated without addressing the cause, and recommends site specific, resource based management, mechanisation choices weighed against compaction, and land capability standards aligned with international codes.
Models for Predicting Methane Gas Release from Coal Seams
2005
Emission factors and calculation models for national greenhouse gas reporting, built from mine seam gas measurements and ventilation sampling, for environmental staff and inventory compilers.
What this report foundEmission factors derived from measured South African seam gas data give simple models for methane released by underground mining, surface mining and coal after...
R1500,00
Emission factors derived from measured South African seam gas data give simple models for methane released by underground mining, surface mining and coal after mining. Applied across the industry they put total methane emissions at 52 000 to 93 000 tons a year. The models follow the IPCC Tier 2 approach using country specific factors.