Underground iron ore mining

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Underground iron ore mining
an eco-friendly option
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by

• V K Jain, Director (Production)
• NMDC

• D Vidyarthi, GM (Mining)
• NMDC

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Indian Iron Ore Scenario
Over view
Forests
Underground mining
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Indian Iron Ore Scenario
Over view
Forests
Underground mining
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Occurrences of Iron Ore in India

Zone A


Zone B

Zone D
Zone C

Zone E
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Iron Ore Production (2006-07)
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Indian Iron Ore Scenario
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Iron Ore Production Public Sector Vs Private
Sector
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Indian Iron Ore
Abundant Iron Ore
National Steel policy
Skilled Human Resource
Growth factors
High GDP growth
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Table - 1
Iron Ore Resources of India (MT)
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Consumption Pattern of Iron Ore

• Domestic Consumption 45
• Exports 55

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Per Capita Steel Consumption
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Steel trend
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National Steel Policy 2005

• Domestic production to grow at CAGR
  .. 7.3
• Consumption at CAGR .. 6.9
• Production by 2011-12 .. 65 mt
• Production by 2019-20 ..110 mt
• Actual growth in Steel
• production in 2006-2007.. ..10.9
• Growth in Consumption .. .. 11.6

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Steel Projections

• Revised estimates
• Production by
  2011-12 .. 80 mt
• Production by
  2019-20 .. 175 mt

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Magnetite deposits

• most of the magnetite deposits in India are in
  the forest areas and by conventional method of
  mining it is likely to cause damage / degradation
  of forests.
• Therefore the technology for excavation should be
  such that it causes minimum disturbance to the
  eco-fragile areas.

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Magnetite deposits

• It may be seen that Magnetite ore is locked up
  in huge quantities (10,619 million tonnes) in
  forests / national parks blocking 42 of the
  total reserves !

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Magnetite deposits

• Therefore, in the National interest it becomes
  imperative to mine the Magnetite ore which will
  ensure extension of life of iron ore reserves
  besides consumption of a good blend of high and
  low grade ore deposits.

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Reserves Life
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Iron Ore Resources
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Exploration

• As may be seen from the previous graph, iron ore
  resources in India have been fluctuating year
  after year.
• Therefore there is a strong need for
  strengthening efforts on exploration front and
  prove more reserves / resources.

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Indian Iron Ore Scenario
Where we are
Forests
Underground mining
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• a peep into the forests
• eco sensitive areas

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Indias forest resource Constitutes 1
ofWorlds forest resource
Caters to

• 1bn people (Indias population) that equals
  16 of World population

• 19 of Worlds Cattle Population

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Geographic area
Indias Forest cover
328.70 m ha
1983 19.40 2003 19.39
Forest cover
76.50 m ha
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Options

• In order to excavate the iron ore deposits with
  least environmental degradation least
  deforestation, the best alternative is by
  Underground mining.

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Indian Iron Ore Scenario
Where we are
Forests
Underground mining
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Concept of underground mining
a fool proof method !
Least disturbance to the forests / flora fauna
Hassles of Solid Waste Disposal
NO
Blasting Noise
Spoil banks
Vibrations
Dust
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Advantages of underground mining

• Noise Vibrations would be confined to
  underground locations
• No pollution due to dust in transportation
• No spoil banks
• No deforestation
• Flora fauna can be maintained
• Solid waste disposal would not cause any
  environmental problems as beneficiation would be
  away from the forest areas

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Additional Advantages

• Mineral conservation
• Socio economic development of the area
• Poverty alleviation
• Co-existence of mining environment
• Sustainable development of Nations natural
  treasure

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Case study Highly mechanized underground iron
ore mine
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Method of mining

• Initially by Open cast subsequently switched
  over to Underground
• Method Sub level Caving
• Drifts X Section 7m x 5m at 25 m vertical
  intervals
• Cumulative length of underground roads app. 400
  kms
• Ring drilling at 3 m to 3.5 m

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Ore Transportation

• by LHDs up to the ore passes

• by driverless trains at haulage level from ore
  passes to vertical bins

• by skip hoisting from underground to surface

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Driver less underground train
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Unmanned train
Hauling .. 500 tph
Cycle time .. 1 hour
Operation .. 365 days a year
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Remote Controlled Operation

• To obviate the risks/hazards of u/g mining
• 100 t loaders down the mine operate through
• revolving lasers on top reflectors on side
  
• walls
• Longer hours of operation
• Mine can be operated at any time even
• night without a single person being down the
• mine

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Communication

• Fiber optic cables connect key
• positions in the mine via feeder
• cables to other blocks.
• Each block has a base station for
• wireless communication.

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• Ground Support

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Rock bolting in conjunction with wire mesh
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Shotcreting
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Guniting
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• Proposal for Mining of locked up Magnetite Iron
  ore deposits in reserve forests and national
  parks in India

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and
Ramps
Shafts
Shaft
Ramps
Shaft
Level
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Underground Mine Construction

• Method of Construction
• Shafts
• Declines

• Method of Mine Development
• Drives/Tunnels
• Raises
• Ore Passes
• Storage Bins
• Underground Crushers

Contd
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Underground Mine Construction

• Ore Transportation from Mine to
  Beneficiation Plant
• Rail / Road / Conveyor / Pipeline

• Restoration
• Back Filling of mined out area with
  Tailings / waste rock
• Construction of Tailings Dam near
  Beneficiation Plant

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Shafts / Ramp Mining

• Method of underground mining by Shafts and Ramps
  / Declines is already being practiced in
  non-ferrous metal mines in India e.g. HCL UCIL
  etc.
  

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Conclusion

• U/g mining is dusty, noisy dangerous work for
  those who descend in the dark bowels of the earth
  for winning of ore.
• Armchair mining with tele-operations guarantees
  absolute safety to human lives no doubt it adds
  to the cost.
• U/g mining is the only solution in sight for
  excavation of iron ore in eco-fragile areas in
  India.

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Sri Rana Som, CMD, NMDC
Sri PS Upadhyaya, D(T), NMDC
Sri LK Bose,Chairman, Tech. Committee MGMI
Hon. Secretary, MGMI
Convenor Organizers of 2nd Asian Mining
Congress
Acknowledgements
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Thank you
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Questions ?
contact
vkjain_at_nmdc.co.in vidyarthikud_at_hotmail.com