Block caving methods rely on gravity to break and transport large amounts of ore and waste. Despite the importance of gravity flow, there is debate within the literature about the influence that the height of draw, particle size and particle size distribution has on the geometry of extraction and movement zones. This paper presents the results of an experimental programme conducted in the largest three-dimensional (3D) physical model to investigate the mechanisms of flow of cohesionless materials when drawing from a single drawpoint. Experimental results showed that isolated draw zones are mainly influenced by mass drawn and height of draw. Particle size was found to have a slight effect on extraction zones and no significant effect on movement zone width. Particle size composition (wide or narrow distributions) and drawpoint width were found not to have a major role on drawzone geometry. Those conclusions were based on statistical analysis of experimental data to define the controlling parameters in isolated draw. Model theory principles were used to investigate within the physical modelling framework the possibility of directly scaling the geometry of the extraction zones, which indicated that flow zones could be scaled in cohesionless materials under a set of assumptions. A mechanistic model of isolated draw is also postulated from experimental data from observations of stresses and the IMZ's geometry. r

Current production level design guidelines in block caving mines are based on the concept of interaction of movement zones and the spacing of draw-points at which mass flow is achieved. The limit of the isolated movement zone (IMZ) interaction has been determined by observations of the flow of sand and finely fragmented caved rock. This paper presents a study of the mechanisms and limit of IMZ interaction in coarse fragmented caved rock using a large 3D physical model. Results showed that when drawing from multiple drawpoints, the unmoved zone between IMZs is characterised by an increase in vertical load and a decrease in horizontal load. However, it was observed that the unmoved zones between the movement zones of adjacent draw-points did not enter the flow zone, despite drawpoints being spaced at less than 1.2 times the width of the IMZ. This result is in marked contrast to previous findings obtained in sand models, where movement zones have been observed to interact at draw-point spacings up to 1.5 times the width of the IMZ. The major reasons for the differences between the two different model results was found to be that significant stress arching and less induced vertical stress during flow was observed in the gravel model, in contrast to limited stress arching and more induced vertical stress in the sand models. It is hypothesised that significant stress arching would occur in block caving mines, and therefore that the results obtained in the gravel model maybe more representative of full-scale conditions. Movement zones in block caving mines may therefore not interact at draw-point spacings greater than the width of the isolated movement zone. r

A major part of the European Union’s (EU) project Sustainable Intelligent Mining System (SIMS) is investigating the development of diesel-free/carbon–neutral underground mines in order to ensure sustainable underground mining in the future. Replacing diesel machines with electric vehicles in underground hard rock mines has been widely acknowledged by the mining industry worldwide as a critical step to improve working conditions by reducing diesel exhaust–related contaminants, to reduce mine ventilation electrical power cost by reducing mine airflow quantity, and to reduce mine greenhouse gas emissions. All of these are major requirements to achieve sustainable future underground mining practices. A field trial of Epiroc’s 2nd generation of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) at Agnico Eagle Finland’s Kittilä mine was conducted during 2019–2020. Vehicles tested were MT42 mine truck, ST14 Load-Haul-Dump (LHD), and Boomer E2 jumbo drill rig. This paper outlines the improvement of the working conditions observed in the field trial, and the opinions of the mine personnel at Kittilä mine on using BEVs instead of diesel machines. Measurements of atmospheric contaminants and air temperatures taken during the field trial clearly demonstrated a significant improvement of working conditions when BEVs were operating as opposed to diesel machines. This field observation was supported by the opinion of the majority of the Kittilä mine workers. However, some remaining concerns must be addressed before BEVs can replace diesel machines.

This paper describes the ventilation system used in underground hard rock mines in Sweden and Finland, which differs in many respects from the system commonly used in other major mining countries such as Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the USA. The Nordic system utilizes auxiliary fans with a variable speed drive to distribute primary airflow to working levels instead of regulators, which are commonly used in other countries. In addition to comparing the Nordic system with the system used in other countries, this paper describes the system's ventilation-on-demand and air conditioning, as well as ventilation regulations in Sweden and Finland. A discussion regarding the potential to use natural-assisted refrigeration in the future is also described in this paper.