Re-entry into blast fume affected underground areas is a safety and productivity concern for most mines. Overestimation of the re-entry time may improve clearance of noxious gases but can result in production delays and decreased overall productivity while underestimation of the re-entry time will also lead to safety and health problems. At Chirano Gold Mine Limited (CGML), studies show that, the blastmen use their experience to guess the re-entry time and most often their guesses overestimate or underestimate the re-entry time. This project seeks to eradicate the guess of the re-entry time by conducting explosive simulations using VentSim software to serve as a tool to predict the re-entry time of any development blast. In this work, three different ventilation models were run to evaluate the re-entry time in single and multiple headings. The models were based on the Paboase mine at Chirano Gold Mine Limited (CGML). The results showed that, the VentSim can serve the purpose of always predicting the re-entry time and by comparing the data collected with the results from the three scenarios, it is very clear that the blastmen in their guess of the re-entry time always overestimate it.
Key words: Re-Entry Time, Gold Mine, Underground
|
