All About Block Caving Safety & Environmental Issues
Block caving is one of the most hazardous forms of construction activity. It involves the controlled demolition of solid structures, especially buildings and homes. Such demolitions are done mostly by experienced contractors who plan the job out very carefully, identifying the most convenient location for the collapse and making sure there will not be any risk of stray debris or injury by way of falling debris. The process is generally a long, arduous, messy and dangerous task that involves a lot of heavy equipment and highly trained personnel.
Block caving also goes by other names, such as blast cave, earthworm tunnel, earth treck and tremble wall. Caves or mines are basically hollow spaces, which are made by nature to provide a home for many different animals, including fish, amphibians, crabs, worms and even insects. During the past million years, humans have been using natural cavities in the ground as outposts, dens, hiding places, storehouses, farms, and war fronts. They have been using blocks of earth and stacking them up in such a way as to create cave-like passageways and rooms. These human-made cavities have helped many cultures build impressive palaces and defensive walls throughout the ages.
Underground mining also refers to different underground mining methods utilized to dig up hard minerals, typically those containing iron, gold, silver, lead, copper, tin and nickel, but also includes the use of the same methods for digging up ores of rare gems like rubies or emeralds. This type of mining usually takes place deep inside the ground, in the cavities that are often created by mountain springs and by man-made works such as bridges and skyscrapers. Usually, miners use high-pressure water jets or mechanical drills to chip away at the layers of ore. This process may release poisonous gases and substances into the air during the mining process. However, most countries have banned the practice of block caving due to the detrimental environmental effects that it causes.
There are two types of block caving, surface and sub-surface. In surface mining, miners will tunnel through the earth deep enough to expose an orebody. After finding the orebody, it is removed from the cave. Sub-surface mining, on the other hand, involves a very different strategy. Instead of using a surface cutter to cut into the orebody, workers will dig directly into the earth's surface. The depth of the hole they dig will determine the quantity and quality of the materials they will find.
There are several ways to control the depth of a cave-in, including the installation of wardrobes and structures, placing of warning signs, and blasting. Wardrobes and warning signs are designed to direct workers away from the prospect of danger. If blasting is necessary, the operators must be taught how to properly use it in such a way that will protect them from the possibility of harming themselves. Another method of controlling underground mining operations is the use of mark-up. Block caving companies may hire a professional company to perform this job, or they can do it themselves with the help of some well-trained employees who know how to use underground blasting machines.
When operating a mining operation, you must take note that most countries strictly regulate the removal of materials underground. Some countries also prohibit the overhead creep of orebody. This means that you will only be allowed to remove the materials in a single linear path, which is often determined by your contract with the mine. Observing proper protocol can reduce the risks of encountering any unwanted situations during your mining operation, as well as help minimize damage to the environment as a whole.
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