Conference Proceedings
12th AusIMM Underground Operators' Conference 2014
Conference Proceedings
12th AusIMM Underground Operators' Conference 2014
Use of a Pre-existing Microseismic Monitoring System to Detect Trapped Miners (with Reflections on Beaconsfield 2006)
Incidents that trap miners in underground mines have serious consequences for the miners and the mine operators involved. It is of utmost importance that mine operators utilise all available tools when trying to locate and rescue trapped miners. From testing conducted at underground hard rock mines, Cumming-Potvin et al (2013) found that pre-existing microseismic monitoring systems, which are routinely used for seismic risk management, have the potential to be used for detecting and locating trapped miners.This paper reflects on the Anzac Day seismic event that trapped two miners at Tasmania Mine, Beaconsfield, on 25 April 2006. The Anzac Day event occurred at 2123 on a Tuesday evening. Rescuers were unable to confirm that the trapped miners had survived until 1930 on Sunday evening. It is not possible to speculate on how the rescue operation may have been different had the technology to use the microseismic monitoring system for the purpose of detecting the trapped miners been available. However, it almost certainly would have been different. The recent research project has demonstrated that knowing the fate of the Beaconsfield miners might have been achievable up to 100 hours earlier than was the case in 2006. That knowledge would have been invaluable to the rescue effort.By examining the seismic array at the Tasmania Mine, the reliability of detection over the working levels of the mine could be quantified. Had the methodology been available, adding six additional sensors (at a cost of $40 000), would have been sufficient to increase the likelihood of detection to greater than 90 per cent in the working levels of the mine. This was true both at the time of closure of the mine in 2012, and just prior to the Anzac day event.CITATION:Cumming-Potvin, D and Hills, P B, 2014. Use of a pre-existing microseismic monitoring system to detect trapped miners (with reflections on Beaconsfield 2006), in Proceedings 12th AusIMM Underground Operators' Conference 2014 , pp 143-150 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).
Contributor(s):
D Cumming-Potvin, P B Hills
-
Use of a Pre-existing Microseismic Monitoring System to Detect Trapped Miners (with Reflections on Beaconsfield 2006)PDFThis product is exclusive to Digital library subscription
-
Use of a Pre-existing Microseismic Monitoring System to Detect Trapped Miners (with Reflections on Beaconsfield 2006)PDFNormal price $22.00Member price from $0.00
Fees above are GST inclusive
PD Hours
Approved activity
- Published: 2014
- PDF Size: 3.432 Mb.
- Unique ID: P201402017