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Our
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Mine Ventilation Projects
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Akzo
Nobel Salt, Inc., Hampton Corners Project, Retsof, New York, USA
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Agnico-Eagle Mexico, Sa
de CV, Pinos Altos-Chihuahua, Mexico
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BRS/Uranium One, Inc.,
Velet Mine, Moab, Utah, USA
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Dynatec/Mid Tennessee
Zinc, Gordonsville, Elmwood & Cumberland Mines, Cumberland, Tennessee, USA
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Echo Bay Mining Company,
Congress Mine, Congress, Arizona, USA
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Endeavor Silver Mining,
SA, Guanacevi Mines, Durango City, Mexico
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Fairmount Minerals'
Wisconsin Industrial Sand, Maiden Rock Mine, Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, USA
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Minera Boleo, Boleo
Mines, Santa Rosalia, Baja California Sur, Mexico
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Molycorp, Inc., Quest Mine, Questa, New Mexico, USA
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PB Energy Storage
Services, Inc., Marathon Ashland Well #2-Neal, West Virginia, USA
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Savage Zinc, Inc.,
Gordonsville and Cumberland Mines
 Akzo
Nobel Salt, Inc., Hampton Corners Project, Retsof, New York, USA
AAI completed Phases I and II Front-End
Engineering to provide the concept for and definitive engineering,
procurement, and construction bid documents for a new mine with two shaft
accesses to produce 5 MTY of rock salt. Work included -5% to +15%
capital and operating cost estimates for all shaft and underground mining.
AAI was one of three engineering groups participating in Phase I and was
selected to complete the more extensive Phase II.
Phase I included an evaluation of
alternate mining hoisting and surface layouts, selection of the preferred
alternatives, costing, and presentation to Akzo personnel. Phase II
incorporated ideas from other proposals and Akzo, and resulted in the
development of bid packages for shafts, headframes, hoists and underground
mining equipment, a detailed cost estimate, supporting materials for permit
applications, and a final feasibility report. Stone & Webster
Engineering Corporation was responsible for the site and surface plant.
Geohydrology--AAI
provided geohydrological services to assess groundwater inflow potential
during construction of mine access shafts and subsequent mining operations.
Information from this study was integrated with geologic, geotechnical, and
other hydrologic data to form a Geotechnical Design Summary Report (GDSR).
The GDSR was subsequently incorporated into an Engineer, Procure, and
Construct Proposal request for development of the access shafts.
Shaft Lining through Water Bearing
Ground and Evaporites--The shaft lining is designed for waterbearing
strata near surface at an approximate depth of 600 ft. Minor inflows
occur below the 600-ft level down to the top of the evaporates. The
near-surface liner includes a walk-in water ring with a small pump to return
residual inflow directory back to the surface. Water rings are
installed at depths of approximately 600 and 1000 ft to collect residual
water from a backwall drainage system, transfer it into collector pipes in
the shaft, and then deliver it to the main pit bottom sump. Shaft
lining in the vicinity of waterbearing strata and in those locations through
the evaporate series is designed as 7500-psi microsilica concrete.
Backwall grouting is used in selected locations to seal off or minimize
residual inflows.
Mining
Engineering--AAI developed mine room-and-pillar design criteria with
consideration for long-term stability of the underground mine structure, as
well as minimizing rates of surface subsidence. Mine manpower and
equipment schedules were developed to support production demands, and
operating and capital cost estimates were prepared. Long-range mine
plans were generated to assure adequate resource availability to meet
projected marketing goals. Specifications for mine mobile, utility,
ventilation, and conveying equipment were generated for inclusion in a
comprehensive bid package.
The pit bottom design incorporates a
24,000-T capacity mine surge and a 77-ft-high by 60-ft-wide by 200-ft-long
(expandable) mine process gallery. Ramps provide interconnections from
two main mining horizons and from the bottom of the process gallery to the
top of a 500-T bin at the production shaft. Ventilation design
provides for 600,000 cfm at 5 inches w.g. and includes low-pressure blowers
and natural gas intake air heaters.
Mine Ventilation Engineering--For this
proposed new salt mine, AAI performed Phase I and II design of the complete
ventilation system, leading to specification for the main fans, mine air
heaters, and other ventilation equipment. The optimum shaft diameter
was selected based on a trade-off between ventilation operating cost and
capital construction costs.
Agnico-Eagle Mexico, Sa de CV, Pinos Altos-Chihuahua, Mexico
AAI prepared estimations of future ventilation fan requirements and
ventilation control locations using the simulation package VnetPC2007 for
the Agnico-Eagle Pinos Altos Mine. The mine is located in the Sierra
Madre gold belt approximately 280 ikm from Chihuahua Mexico and is actually
two interconnected mines, Santa Nino and the Ober Weber. Underground
mining will commence from an open pit mine via ramp access. The mine
is expected to use the long-hole sublevel stoping method to extract ore at a
rate of 3,000-4,000 tpd.
BRS/Uranium One,
Inc., Velvet Mine, Moab, Utah
AAI performed a series of mine ventilation analyses to facilitate
the proposed mine operating in compliance with applicable air quality
regulatory standards. Particular emphasis in the design was placed on
the main fan and raise locations that should, with appropriate controls,
enable the mine to meet applicable MSHA ventilation requirements. The
primary contaminants of concern for the ventilation system include radon,
diesel particulate matter (DPM), diesel exhaust gases (CO, CO2,
NOx, SOx), blasting fumes, and silica dust.
Dynatec/Mid Tennessee Zinc, Gordonsville, Elmwood & Cumberland Mines,
Cumberland, Tennessee, USA
The MTZ mines utilizes random room-and-pillar mining method that
results in complex ventilation networks. Upon decommissioning, the
mechanical ventilation units were removed and disposed of and several shafts
were sealed. In an effort to re-open the mines and operate in
compliance with MSHA DPM regulation of 160 µg/m3,
a new ventilation system was required. The new ventilation system was
developed based on the number of diesl equipment required to meet
production. Particular emphasis was placed on the DPM, main fan
sizing, and locations to enable the mines to meet MSHA's ventilation
requirements.
Echo Bay Mining Company, Congress Mine, Congress, Arizona, USA
AAI designed the ventilation system for
a multilevel gold mine being brought into production in 1988. The
ventilation network was optimized by computer analysis. Economic
trade-off studies were performed to establish the lowest cost for number and
size of ventilation shafts. Optimum fan size and specifications were
identified. A field program was conducted to characterize radon gas
production from underground excavations and potential backfill materials.
Ventilation capacities to dilute radon and diesel equipment emissions were
specified.
 Endeavor Silver Mining, SA, Guanacevi Mines, Durango City, Mexico
Endeavor's Guanacevi mines include one principal mine (El Porvenir)
and one small mine (Alex Breccia). Mining is by overhand cut-and-fill
in a classic high-grade narrow, epithermal vein deposit. Through a
site visit, AAI evaluated the existing ventilation systems and improvement
options under consideration.
Fairmount Minerals' Wisconsin Industrial Sand, Maiden Rock Mine, Maiden
Rock, Wisconsin, USA
Fairmount Minerals' Maiden Rock underground sand mine
historically delivered air to ventilate diesel-powered equipment at its
working faces through high-resistance, 380-mm- (15-inch-) diameter PVC
distribution lines. In support of plans for expanded production, three
new, lower resistance ventilation design alternative were analyzed.
The study determined that adequate ventilation for expanded production was
possible with various commercially available, high-volume, low-pressure fans
combined with a systematic layout of control structures. The
recommended redesign was implement in 2001, resulting in a significant
increase in flow volumes and a noticeable improvement in the mine
environment.
Minera Boleo, Boleo Mines, Santa Rosalia, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Underground mining operations in this bedded deposit consist of a
total of 36 underground mines with up to 6 continuous mining units operating
either on advance or retreat at any one time. No more than three units
will operate in a mine at one time. Three of the underground mines are
project to function as tunnels at some time during the project life.
AAI designed the detailed ventilation plans for each of the mines.
Design included fan specification for the main and auxiliary fans.
Molycorp,
Inc., Quest Mine, Questa, New Mexico, USA
AAI performed a ventilation survey,
network modeling, and ventilation technology transfer for this dewatered and
reopened block caving molybdenum mine. A new ventilation borehole was
sized to accommodate conversion from gravity draw to diesel equipment.
PB Energy Storage Services, Inc., Marathon Ashland Well #2-Neal, West
Virginia, USA
Developed detailed ventilation simulations using VnetPC2007 for the
construction progress on a weekly basis. Simulations were used for
decision making in the design state for consideration of ventilation control
device sequencing and management of air quality and quantity.
Savage Zinc,
Inc., Gordonsville and Cumberland Mines
For this highly complex, 100-year-old
random room-and-pillar base metal mine, AAI performed a detailed ventilation
survey prepared network models, and transferred network modeling technology
to the mine operation. The primary objectives of this project were to
reduce operating costs associated with power for the ten underground booster
fans.
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AGAPITO
ASSOCIATES, INC.