Feasibility of a mine-wide continuous closure monitoring system for gold mines.

Abstract

Previous fundamental research projects have indicated the value of continuous closure measurements for improved support design and hazard assessment and for quantifying the effect of seismicity on stope closure. This project examines the feasibility of a mine-wide continuous closure monitoring system and proposes solutions to the practical problems associated with such a system. It is envisaged that the system would consist of a closure meter in every panel of the mine, connected to a data communications system to transfer the data to surface for analysis. This study focused on two main areas, namely, generic issues applicable to all mine-wide closure systems and some actual hardware designs.