Solutions for Underground Mining
Being underground demands high safety considerations from strata control, and the maintenance of underground road networks is undertaken in confined spaces. These challenges – as well as protection of portal entrances and water quality considerations – make our range of underground mining solutions quite exciting for mine operators.
Roof Control
Tensar mining grids have been widely used in Australia over the past 20 years as an alternative to steel mesh as strata control in underground coal mines. Tensar mining grid is a high strength, lightweight flame-retardant, self-extinguishing polymer grid provided for supplemental support of the roof and ribs of a combustible underground opening (such as within a coal mine), to prevent roof materials from falling and rib materials from spalling.
In recent years, a range of stronger polymer mesh grades have been added to the portfolio, providing mine operators with greater flexibility in their use of light-weight polymer mesh compared to traditional steel meshing systems.
Underground Roads
While the road network in underground mines are critical to the efficiency and safety of a mines operations, some mines require frequent maintenance of their road network due to water ingress, soil conditions or vehicle loads.
C&C Taylor has completed many projects using Tensar geogrids, TenCate reinforcement or Geoweb geocells where the maintenance cycle for the underground road network is greatly extended, reducing costs and increasing mine productivity.
Drainage, Sediment & Washdown Ponds
Underground mining can be a dirty business, and we have solutions to help mine operators achieve greater performance and environmental outcomes – including the use of TenCate Geotube dewatering systems for coal wash down areas.
Sediment ponds around the mine sites are also common, with ELCOSEAL GCL used many times as a simple-to-install lining system, otherwise HDPE geomembrane with needle-free bidim geotextile is another common solution.
For drainage in underground mines our Megaflo flat panel drain offers operators high crush resistance and an unmatched drainage response time.
Portal Entrances
At every mine portal entrance, there is a need to minimise or eliminate falling debris from the rock face above the portal. For many years, CCTE has worked with mine operators or drilling contractors to create a safe working environment through use of Maccaferri rockfall netting and other rockfall control systems.