Following on from both the Surveying and CAD and Mining and Minerals Engineering modules in year 1, this course is partly classroom based (the mining element) and partly practical (the surveying element).

Pre-requisite modules: CSM1029; CSM1028; or equivalent. This module is unsuitable for non-specialist students and is not recommended for interdisciplinary pathways.

This course further improves your knowledge of the commercial use of explosives, and gives you an overview of mine development techniques, and the study of mine drainage. In addition, the module introduces you to the selection of underground mining methods and their associated extraction systems.

Furthermore, taking this module gives you a major practical surface surveying exercise, which is held over three weeks after the first year June exams at the Tremough Campus. The course also provides for one week of practical underground surveying, which you will undertake during Activities Week in the first semester.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 Understand the factors involved in the path to a blast design;

2 Grasp the various techniques available for all facets of underground mine development;

3 Appreciate the options and operating characteristics of various rock handling extraction systems;

4 Recognise the problems of mine water and the methods of its amelioration;

5 Use modern surveying instruments competently;

6 Carry out a topographical survey of a mine site;

7 Conduct underground surveying activities competently;

8 Apply theoretical knowledge of surveying techniques and calculations in a simulated industrial situation;

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

9 Evaluate and apply knowledge to appropriate mining and surveying situations;

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:

10 Identify key areas of problems and choose appropriate tools/methods for their resolution in a considered manner;

11 Interact effectively within a team/learning group, giving and receiving information and ideas and modifying responses where appropriate.

Explosives engineering - the explosion process, general principles of the dynamic effects of blasting and rock fracture:

- Optimum design of simple blasts for tunnelling, stoping and quarrying; fragmentation; design of multi-row blasts, influence of delayed detonation and rock structure; mechanics of rock breaking with inclined and vertical holes, operational problems; pre-splitting and smooth-wall blasting;

- Environmental problems; flyrock, air-blast and ground vibration;

- Shaft sinking and development - factors determining shaft selection and location;

- Collar designs, high speed sinking of vertical shafts, lining and equipping;

- Conventional and boring methods;

- Shaft deepening;

- Rock hoisting methods;

- Hoisting regulations;

- Development techniques for raising;

- Raiseboring;

- Mine drainage - inflow control;

- Active and passive dewatering methods and removal of mine water;

- Design and siting considerations for pumping stations, sumps, settlers and sludge pumping;

- Precautions in proximity to aquifers, mine and other workings including provisions of mines and quarries legislation;

- Flood control, watertight doors;

- Underground rock handling - gravitational systems, characteristics of orepasses;

- Operational characteristics of scrapers, rocker shovels, load-haul-dump equipment, influence on development design and mining techniques, future trends;

- Main haulage systems;

- Underground extraction systems - stoping: classification of methods; the influence of geological factors, virgin and induced stress fields and rates of extraction;

- Development ratios, recovery and dilution;

- Selection of methods, open, filled and caving systems, pillar recovery;

- Optimisation of extraction and mining efficiencies;

- Case examples.

Surface Survey Course:

- Layout of networks;

- Precise theodolite traverse;

- Use of theodolite, EDM and total stations along with DGPS;

- Standards of accuracy required;

- Calculations for station coordinates;

- Selection of instrumentation;

- Selection of survey stations;

- Computations for bearing, coordinates and elevations with closing errors and adjustments;

- Levelling;

- Station elevations determined by a range of instrumentation and techniques to precise and subsidiary survey standards;

- Calculation of reduced levels and distribution of closing error. Detail survey by total station, offsetting and radial pickup.

Underground Survey Course:

- Connection to underground grid from control stations on surface. Underground control network surveying using wall stations along with 3D detail pick up.

Both courses:

- Preparation of group (5 students) written survey report including computations and field records to meet client specification;

- Presentation of group (5 students) plan based on data input into LSS and onward to plan production using Auto Cad.

Basic Reading:

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Atlas Powder Company (1987). Explosives and Rock Blasting                                           

SME Handbook 2011 Edition (Darling)

Reading list for this module: