14‐09‐2022
ACCESS TO MINERAL
DEPOSITS
ADIT
INTRODUCTION
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
To understand the access to the deposit to be excavated by
underground mining.
To understand adit as horizontal access to the deposit.
To learn the method of construction of adit.
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ACCESS TO MINERAL DEPOSITS
ACCESS
• Access to a mineral deposit means the construction of entry to reach up
to the point at which the ore body is situated.
• For an underground mining method, it is the connection of openings
from the surface to the underground point at which the mineral is
situated.
• Thus accesses are made of different sizes, shapes, inclinations etc.
ACCESS TO MINERAL DEPOSITS
Purpose
the ingress and egress of man and materials.
Providing the fresh air for ventilation
Allow the movement of the machines
Accommodate the required fittings like air pipes, water pipes, electrical
fittings etc……..
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ACCESS TO MINERAL DEPOSITS
ACCESS
Access can be classified as –
Access between surface to underground
Access between underground to
underground on a level
Access between underground to
underground between levels
HORIZONTAL ACCESS TO THE DEPOSIT
ADIT – horizontal access
Adit is a horizontal or near horizontal
Ref: Highum
access between surface to
underground.
Adit is similar to tunnel.
It is applicable only if there is a hilly
terrain exists.
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Ref: Highum
HORIZONTAL ACCESS TO THE DEPOSIT
ADIT – Size and shape
Size of an adit depends on the dimension of the largest equipment which is allowed
to move.
In general, it is preferred to keep a gentle inclination of the adit towards its mouth.
Shape of the adit can be anything – Rectangular, circular, ‘D’‐shape, horse‐shoe
shape etc. The choice of shape of the adit largely depends on –
Insitu stress condition
Stability of the opening
Space utilization
EXCAVATION TECHNIQUES – HORIZONTAL OPENING
Size As per the requirement, Highest size of plying machine, space requirements ……
Shape Rectangular, Circular, ‘D’ shape, Horse‐shoe shape
Influencing factors
Strength of rockmass: Weak rock Circular/’D’/Horse‐shoe
Maintenance cost: Circular is more stable less maintenance cost
Ventilation requirement: Less resistance Circular
Capacity requirement: More capacity Rectangular
Depth of Opening: High insitu rock pressure (more stable) Circular or Horse‐
shoe
Space requirement: Better Rectangular
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EXCAVATION TECHNIQUES – HORIZONTAL OPENING
Ventilation
duct
Air,
water,
power
Ref: web source
Ref: web source
EXCAVATION TECHNIQUES – HORIZONTAL OPENING
General arrangement for conventional Drive/drift/cross cut/tunnels : Ventilation
duct
Air,
water,
power
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HORIZONTAL ACCESS TO THE DEPOSIT
ADIT – Location
Draw points
Strike length
If the location is considered for
winning the ore material, a
minimum transportation distance
Adit point is considered.
positioned
to reduce
surface
distance
Crushing plant
HORIZONTAL ACCESS TO THE DEPOSIT
ADIT – Method of Construction
Adit construction is basically horizontal rock excavation technique.
Horizontal excavation technique can be –
(i) Discrete excavation
(ii) Continuous excavation
(iii) Semi‐continuous excavation
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HORIZONTAL ACCESS TO THE DEPOSIT
ADIT –Method of Construction
The main unit operations involves are –
Excavation operations Auxiliary operations
Drilling Roof Scaling
Blasting Roof support
Cutting Extension of lightings
Mucking Extension of ducts
Transportation Extension of other installations
Extension of drainage
EXCAVATION TECHNIQUES – HORIZONTAL OPENING
ADIT:
Discrete method of excavations Continuous method of excavations
1) Drilling 1) Continuous mechanised excavation
2) Blasting 2) Simultaneous Loading transportation
3) Loading
4) Transportation Semi‐Continuous method of excavations
1) Continuous mechanised excavation +
Loading + Transportation
2) Drilling + Blasting + sizing + continuous
Loading transportation
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EXCAVATION TECHNIQUES – HORIZONTAL OPENING
Discrete method –
Drilling Jumbo drill, handheld drill
Blasting Wedge cut, burn cut
Mucking LHD, SDL, Cavo loader
Transportation Mine car, Haulage, Locomotive, Shuttle car, Low Profile Dump Truck,
Videos
Jumbo drilling rig, Mining boomer, Siton single boom crawler
Drilling jumbo working video
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exUQvg5XbrE
Underground Drilling and Blasting Training Video ‐ ACG
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Hs51QDszc
LHD Command Underground Automated
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPZCkqyyoQw
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EXCAVATION TECHNIQUES – HORIZONTAL OPENING Pictures from web source
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EXCAVATION TECHNIQUES – HORIZONTAL OPENING https://image.shutterstock.com/image‐photo/roadheader‐drills‐tunnel‐rock‐underground‐260nw‐1168557061.jpg
Continuous method –
Excavation Road header, TBM
Transportation belt Conveyor, Chain Conveyor, slurry pipeline
In general TBM is not preferred for a short length. TBM has long
setting and dismantling time apart from the price and setting both
are costly.
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EXCAVATION TECHNIQUES – HORIZONTAL OPENING
HCC Pir Panjal Road Header Film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1kAS6AHdBM
EXCAVATION TECHNIQUES – HORIZONTAL OPENING
https://image.made‐in‐china.com/43f34j00mjdtFnyBDOzN/Fixed‐Long‐Distance‐Mining‐Durable‐Chain‐Conveyors.jpg
https://5.imimg.com/data5/JD/BM/GLADMIN‐7295723/mining‐chain‐conveyor‐500x500.jpg
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