Mining Methods II (Underground Mining)

At the end of this course, the students should be able to: 1. identify and describe the various developmental methods of underground mineral deposits, 2. select applicable underground method based on ore and host rock properties; 3. apply appropriate technology for the design and construction of underground mine openings and galleries, 4. apply the methods of roof and ground control in prevention of mine accidents and ground displacement; 5. acquire the needed technology of underground mining; and 6. relate cost and operational effectiveness in the various facets of underground mining operations.

Selection and development of most suitable underground mining methods based on the physical and geological properties of ore deposits. Unsupported and supported underground mining methods. Tunneling engineering; construction and maintenance. Underground mining systems. Mining of averagely thick and thick deposits. Application of novel techniques for some deposits: gasification, liquification and in-situ leaching. Equipment, conveyors, cable ropeways and rope haulage, tract and trackless mining systems, hydraulic transport and pipeline systems. Calculations of ore reserve estimates, development planning and preparations for development and extraction, and construction of development openings. Conservation and environmental systems. Case studies of typical underground mines: coal, metallic and non-metallic scheduled. Field trip(s) to operating mines and tunnels. Minimum Academic Standards Equipment Equipment and tools that are required for the Mining Engineering programmes are listed below according to the requirements of the major laboratories. The accessories and consumables needed for effective use of these equipment are not listed but will be requested by the department that operates this curriculum when purchasing the equipment. Rock Mechanics Laboratory 1. Rock coring machine (Table type) 2. Rock coring machine (Pillar type) 3. Uniaxial triaxial compression machine (e.g. MECATEST) 4. Triaxial compression machine 5. Digital compression machine 6. Rock grinding machine 7. Masonry saw 8. Point portable load tester 9. Slake durability apparatus 10. Laboratory oven 11. Pocket penetrometer 12. Rock cradle 13. Schmidt hammer 14. Compass clinometer 15. Digital multimeter 16. Digital clamp meter 17. Digital noise meter (Desk and pocket types) 18. Digital compass clinometer 19. Rock core trimmer Analytical/ Material Characterisation Laboratory  AAS, XRF, XRD, SEM  Provisions for wet chemical processes  Equipment and tools for other characterization test Survey and Photogrammetry Laboratory 1. Underground mining theodolite 2. Levelling instruments (analogue, digital and automatic) 3. Land theodolite (analogue and digital) 4. Mining compasses (analogue and digital) 5. Compass with tripods 6. Global Positioning System (GPS) – handheld and base 7. Total station (analogue and digital) 8. Printing machine for maps and plan (large formats A3 …) 9. Plane table with tripod 10. Digital planimeter with Laptop PC 11. Laser scanner for slope monitoring Mine Ventilation Laboratory 1. Mine air flow (Centrifugal fan rig) 2. Cross flow heat exchanger 3. Digital noise meter 4. Digital desk pH meter 5. Digital pocket pH meter 6. Manometers (analogue and digital) 7. Venturimeter (analogue and digital) 8. Photo-digital tachometer 9. Barometer (analogue and digital) 10. Differential pressure meters (analogue and digital) 11. Digital thermometers (analogue and digital) 12. Tachometer Mine Design and Modelling Laboratory 1. Computer with table and accessories (1 T HDD, 16GB RAM, 21” monitor) 2. Padded stools 3. Mining design, planning, processing valuation software packages and others 4. Multimedia projectors 5. Interactive board 6. Mining models Drilling and Explosives Tech. Laboratory 1. Laboratory table drill 2. Hand held drilling machine (pneumatic power) 3. Hand held drilling machine (electrical power) 4. Portable drilling rig 5. Models of different drilling rigs 6. Models of explosive magazine Mineral Processing Laboratory 1. Laboratory crusher (Jaw type) 2. Laboratory crusher (Cone type) 3. Laboratory crusher (gyratory type) 4. Laboratory type impact crusher 5. Laboratory ball mill 6. Roll mill 7. Mineral jigs 8. Hydro classifier 9. Shaking table 10. Spiral separators 11. Magnetic separators 12. Sluices 13. Ore microscope 14. Laboratory oven 15. Furnaces 16. Sieve shaker 17. Agitator/conditioner 18. Filters 19. Flotation machines 20. pH meter (digital and analogue) 21. Vacuum pump 22. Weighing machines Staffing Academic Staff The NUC guidelines on staff/student ratio of 1:15 for Engineering and Technology departments shall apply. However, there should be a minimum of six full-time equivalents of Staff in the department. There is need to have a reasonable number of Staff with doctoral degrees as well as sufficient industrial experience. With a minimum load of 15 Units per semester for students and a minimum of six full-time equivalent of staff in each programme, staff should have a maximum of 15 contact hours per week for lectures, tutorials, practical’s and supervision of projects. NUC requirement encourages all academic staff to have PhD degrees; hence appointment of academic staff is preferably to the Lecturer cadre. Only in exceptional cases are candidates with great promise appointed to Graduate Assistant and Assistant Lecturer positions for the purpose of being developed to the Lecturer cadre as registered PhD candidates. Academic Support Personnel Teaching Assistant/Demonstrators to help lecturers in the conduct of tutorials, practical’s and field work. This category of personnel is not expected to be regular staff as they are to be paid on the basis of approved hourly rate. Administrative Support Staff The services of the administrative support staff are indispensable in the proper administration of the departments and faculty offices. It is important to recruit very competent senior staff that are computer literate. Technical Support Personnel The services of technical support staff, which are indispensable in the proper running of laboratories and workshop/studios are required. It is important to recruit very competent senior technical staff to maintain teaching and research equipment. They are also to undergo regular training to keep them abreast of developments in equipment operation and maintenance. The minimum of academic staff to technical staff ratio of 5:1 should be maintained. Minimum Number of Staff Subject to the general standards specified by NUC: 1. there should be a minimum of two PhDs and four M.Eng degree holders full-time academic staff to mount the programme; 2. each workshop or laboratory should have an adequate number of staff with the right mix, such that each unit or section in that workshop or laboratory can run efficiently; and 3. there should be an adequate number of administrative staff of the appropriate caliber for the office of the Head of Department to run. Student/Staff Ratio The minimum staff-to-student ratio should be 1:15 from 200 level to 500 level. Library In addition to the university and faculty libraries, the programme must have a departmental library well equipped with specialised books and journals in both physical collections and e-collections (E-Resources) of various types. Various field and research reports of the programme must also be available in the library for staff, students and researchers. The library must be connected to subscribed repository of: 1. institutions (national and international); 2. open access sources; 3. professional bodies’ e-learning platforms, and 4. relevant international organizations; The library must also have adequate facilities. a. for reading; b. provisions for lending, and c. Reservation unit for specialised materials. Classrooms, Laboratories, Workshops Clinics and Offices Although other laboratories and workshops not listed here will be shared with many other departments in the faculty and university in general, the laboratories and facilities listed in the table below should be provided and equipped specifically for every Mining Engineering programme. Laboratories & Workshop Required for the Programme Laboratory/ S/N Requirements Required Size (m) Workshop Should provide equipment and tools for practical experiments, tests (laboratory and field) and research in Mine and Mine Surveying Engineering Surveying including 18.5 x 10 x HRM and 1 remote sensing with the GIS. (with technologist’s Photogrammetry Computer systems, relevant office and a store). Laboratory software and hardware with supply of consumables should be provided for preparation of maps and plans. Should have physical models of surface, underground and other mining systems for research and demonstration. Computer systems and appropriate software packages for mine design and simulation. Mining System 18.5 x 10 x HRM Provisions should also be made 2 and Design (with technologist in this laboratory for other Laboratory office’s and a store) hardware, equipment and tools for design of surface, underground and other mining techniques. There should also be provisions for data processing, analyses and presentation. This laboratory should have equipment and tools such as Drilling and jack hammer (electric, 50 x 20 x HRM 3 Explosives mechanical or fluid powered) (with technologist’s Laboratory for drilling; physical models or office and a store). table-top drilling rig. Tools such as hand augers. Models of explosives magazine and facilities for safe preparation of ANFO. Samples of the various initiation and detonation devices and large posters of various equipment for teaching aid. Serves as rock testing and analysis, lapidary and gemology laboratory. Provisions should therefore be made for Rock Mechanics 4 equipment and tools for rock Laboratory and stone cutting, polishing, mounting and finishing for teaching and research in all areas of rock engineering. Ventilation and air conditioning equipment and facilities should be provided in this laboratory. Models of underground mine galleries for flow demonstrations are required. Various environment parameter 18.5 x 10 x HRM Mine Ventilation 5 measuring equipment such as (with technologist’s Laboratory gas and dust analysers, office and a store) particulate counters, weather trackers are required for teaching and research. Large posters of mine galleries and equipment that will serve as teaching aid must be provided Should be adequately spacious Mineral (if a single laboratory is Processing and provided) to accommodate 50 x 20 x HRM 6 Extractive equipment and facilities for (with technologist’s Metallurgy teaching and research in all office and a store). Laboratory. sections of mineral processing and extractive metallurgy. Should provide equipment and tools for practical experiments, 18.5 x 10 x HRM Geotechnics 7 tests (laboratory/field) and (with technologist’s Laboratory research on soil and other office and a store) earthen materials. Wire rope type, uses and preparation, pumps and pipeline models, models of Mine Machinery / 50 x 20 x HRM mine machinery for 8 Equipment (with technologist’s demonstration, equipment for Workshop office and a store) metal cutting and joining including welding and measuring tools. This laboratory will provide material analyses and characterisation services for  3 rooms of 10x6 other laboratories in the each with Analytical/ programme. Should have an office Material 9 analytical equipment such as  store Characterisation AAS, XRF, XRD, SEM and  maintenance Laboratory provision for wet chemical room processes. Equipment and tools for other characterisation tests are also required. The NUC recommends the following physical space requirement: Academic m2 Professor’s Office 18.50 Head of Department’s Office 18.50 Tutorial Teaching Staff Space 13.50 Other Teaching Staff Space 7.00 Technical Staff Space 7.00 Science Staff Research Laboratory 16.50 Engineering Staff Research Laboratory 14.50 Seminar Space per student 1.85 Drawing Office Space (A.O. Board) (Per Student) 4.60 Drawing Office Space (A.I. Board) (Per Student) 3.70 Laboratory Space 7.50 Non-Academic Secretarial Space 7.00 Office Facilities S/No Office No in Room Facilities 1. HOD 1 Table, chairs, A/C, filing cabinet, bookshelves, computer unit, Secretary and facilities. 2. Professor 1 Table, chairs, A/C, filing cabinet, bookshelves, computer unit, Secretary and facilities. 3. Reader 1 Table, chairs, A/C, filing cabinet, bookshelves, computer unit. 4. Senior 1 Table, chairs, A/C, filing cabinet, bookshelves, computer Lecturer unit. 5. Lecturer I 2 Table, chairs, fan, filing cabinet, bookshelves. 6. Lecturer II 3 Table, chairs, fan, filing cabinet, bookshelves